Some Saturdays require a little more reflection before truly analyzing the weekend's events. This was one such instance. After turning off the wildest college football finish I can recall around midnight, I knew it would take a Sunday of pondering the week that was.
From Arizona's disappointing performance in Stillwater on Thursday night, Paul Rhoads celebratory jig in Iowa State's win over Iowa, Auburn's goal line stand, Toledo's attempt at a program win and the last two minutes in Ann Arbor, there's no doubt we are smack dab in the middle of what appears to be another gloriously routine college football season.
Non-BCS Love
I'm as guilty as anyone when it comes to ignoring the little fellas and focusing on the BCS powers, however even this guy can't ignore what Chandler Harnish has done through two weeks. The Northern Illinois quarterback, whom we liked to emerge as a top national quarterback, has been incredible through two weeks, and as we head into Week 3 he's already surpassed 100 Fantasy points.
He's obliterated both Army and Kansas, posting 11 total touchdowns against only one pick to date. And he's going to give Wisconsin all they can handle in this week's Soldier Field showdown. This game was likely booked in part as a chance for a whole bunch of cheeseheads to raise a little hell in Lincoln Park, but there's a very real possibility that the best quarterback on the field will not be Russell Wilson.
Chuckie!
One thinks that we'll be hearing the name Chuckie Keeton for a long time. After two games this Utah State freshman has proven he has that special something, and playing a WAC slate will allow for four years O' Fantasy fun.
Eugene Cooper?
Bowling Green wide receiver Eugene Cooper caught 17 balls in 2010. So far this season the former JUCO transfer has 10 catches for 244 yards and six scores. It would appear he's gotten the hang of things.
A Case for Keenum
Great to see Case Keenum back to his surgical ways, dissecting the North Texas defense to the tune of 458 yards and a five scores. He looked every bit the Fantasy star who threw 88 touchdown passes over 2008 and 2009.
Certainly Keenum has nothing left to prove, but when you watch a guy win a hotly-contested quarterback battle seemingly 10 years ago and then take off like a Rocket, you want him to go out with a flourish.
Enough of that ... how bout the big boys?
I used to think that the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Lions were the best at finding new ways to lose games. Brian Kelly has is quickly making up for lost time.
Factor in Purdue's Danny Hope-led loss to Rice and Indiana's heartbreak against UVA along with Notre Dame's gut-wrenching defeat, and you may want to wait a couple of days to talk football in the Hoosier State. With the Colts getting slapped around on Sunday it may be time to look forward to basketball season.
Watching Steele Jantz operate against Iowa and the word winner kept popping into my head. The Cyclones have themselves their best quarterback since Seneca Wallace.
I watch Wisconsin, and I'm really not sure anyone will be able to stop this offense. Gonna have to win a shootout to beat the boys from Madtown.
I know the SEC gauntlet is on the horizon, but Tyler Bray is the real deal. Next week's trip to Da Swamp should interesting.
How's this for some Insider Expertise? Two weeks ago I benched Robert Griffin. Saturday I decided to bench Colorado's Paul Richardson, who only caught 11 balls for 284 yards and two scores.
I've been pointing to this game since June, but after Toledo's near miss in Columbus I'm even more intrigued to see Boise visit The Glass Bowl on Friday night.
Oklahoma State's Joseph Randle is one impressive back. He was good as a freshman, and he's made a huge leap in Year Two.
It's easy to look back on Saturday's game in Ann Arbor and point out the bad football, because there were enough turnovers and blown coverages to last a month. However when a game between Michigan and Notre Dame is played on that stage and sees three dramatic touchdown in the final 1:12 you just accept the fact that is was incredible drama and a hell of a lot of fun.
Already looking towards Week 3 ...
Boise at Toledo (Friday): I'm telling you, this will be a game.
Oklahoma at Florida State: The stage will belong to the quarterbacks.
Virginia at North Carolina: Winner will look like an ACC factor.
West Virginia at Maryland: Holgorsen vs. Edsall should be fun.
Washington at Nebraska: Fact that this is the 3rd time these teams will meet in under a year makes this intriguing.