Here is Part Two of my top ten most intriguing games ahead over the opening weekend of the 2015 college football season:
5. Texas at Notre Dame
A match-up of two huge programs, heavyweights of college football, and a game that could honestly go any other way Texas had a tough 6-7 run in Charlie Strong’s debut season in Austin, and will be looking for improvement in year two, before the Longhorns’ typically testy and expectant fan base start making adverse noise. A win against Notre Dame would help immensely.
The Irish are an interesting team, and if things go bad, we may just see some pressure heaped upon coach Brian Kelly. The Irish started well in 2014, but stumbled down the stretch – including a belting at the hands of USC, which I loved – but rebounded with a huge win against LSU in their Bowl Game in Nashville. As much as I hate to admit it, that was a giant effort. We’ll see how Kelly gets new QB Malik Zaire going. He’s the main guy now, with all the pressure on his shoulders.
4. Washington at No. 16 Boise State
Something of a grudge match, featuring Chris Petersen, the guy who really brought Boise to national prominence before heading to Washington beginning last season, and a Bronco team that beat Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl last year, scarcely missing a beat under new head coach Bryan Harsin. There was no real angst between Petersen and Boise when he departed, so the reception for him won’t be one of real malice, I wouldn’t have thought.
The Broncos are extraordinarily tough to beat at Bronco Stadium, and Washington, who didn’t have the greatest season in 2014, will be up against it. Yes, the Broncos have lost important players – RB Jay Ajayi chief amongst them – but like other consistently good programs, they seem to be able to reload and keep going.
3. #13 Wisconsin vs #4 Alabama (Cowboys Stadium, Arlington)
The last time Wisconsin played an SEC squad on opening weekend, one year ago, they had a nice lead against Louisiana State, but, for whatever reason, went away from their first half game plan after the break and were run down by the Tigers. It was a disappointing finish for the Badger fans, and one that helped Big Ten bashers further their argument that Big Ten schools couldn’t match it with the other power conferences.
Wisconsin’s opening assignment doesn’t get any easier a year later, under new coach Paul Chryst. Star Badgers running back Melvin Gordon has moved onto the NFL, so Wisconsin will be hitching it’s ground game wagon to Corey Clement. Gary Andersen stayed in Madison for a good time not a long time, leaving after two seasons for Oregon State, with Paul Chryst now running the show. It’s a period of great change for the Badgers.
You just know that Alabama will be smarting after losing in the Sugar Bowl to Ohio State last year, and may look to make an example of Wisconsin as a way of getting over their last game against a Big Ten opponent.
As is the Nick Saban Way, the Tide, who lost quarterback Blake Sims and top receiver Amari Cooper, have brought in a stack of new talent, and Wisconsin will have to be very much on their game inside Bryant-Denny Stadium to have even a glimmer of hope. Getting Alabama first up is probably the best way to get them.
2. Michigan at No. 21 Utah
A classic Big Ten/Pac-12 battle out in Salt Lake City, and all eyes will be on this one because it marks the debut of Jim Harbaugh as Michigan coach. Fair to say, the former Stanford and San Francisco 49er head coach has a lot of work to do, because the Wolverines were terrible last year, but Harbaugh is exactly the right sort of guy to turn the program around quickly.
The Utes will start favourites, courtesy of their returning QB Travis Wilson and 1500-yard rusher Devontae Booker, after their best season since joining the Pac-12. To be honest, Michigan probably only need to be somewhere approaching competitive in this one to give the giant maize and blue fan base hope for the future. Don’t forget, Harbaugh is working with a lot of talent brought in by his predecessor Brady Hoke.
I’ve had a few Harbaugh-related conversations with a friend from Ann Arbor since the appointment was made public, and it seems like there’s an incredible groundswell of support and hope for the future. Harbaugh will doubtless be instilling in his players the need to keep a lid on things.
Yes, Harbaugh is a Michigan Man and all of that stuff, but so was Hoke, who was similarly warmly welcomed, and look how that turned out. Baby steps for the Wolverines, and hanging with the Utes will be a good start. Neither Hoke nor his predecessor Rich Rodriguez could beat Utah in Ann Arbor, so a win on the road would be something approaching a miracle. Whether the Wolverine defence is going to be able to stop Booker, that’s the question.
1. #1 Ohio State at Virginia Tech
We’re all watching this one to see which of OSU’s three brilliant quarterbacks get the start, right?
Last year, the Hokies went into Columbus Stadium and beat Ohio State, leading many scribes – myself included – to decide that the Buckeyes season was basically over. I mean, if they couldn’t beat a middling ACC squad, how were they ever going to beat anyone who was actually good?
Clearly we erred in our judgement, because it was the following week where Ohio State, decimated by quarterback injury, went on a memorable playoff run that ended with a defeat of Oregon in the National Championship Game, to hoist the silverware in Arlington, Texas.
After the corresponding game last season, we thought VT were on the up and Ohio State were headed into a downward spiral after that game, but the trajectories of the two programs switched around by the end of the year.
No matter who the Buckeyes have as their starting quarterback this year – and what an epic quarterback duel it’ll be – they’re going to cause a lot of trouble for a lot of teams. Then there’s Ezekiel Elliott, the running back who ripped Alabama and Oregon in the Sugar Bowl and National Championship Game respectively. The Buckeyes are so hard to defend.
This night game is probably going to be little more than a tune-up for the Buckeyes, although, crazier things have happened, and, given it’ll be the first week of the season, there’s an outside upset chance if the Hokes have absolutely everything going their way at home.
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