WEEK 2

Trailing 23-3. 2:14 to go in the 3rd quarter. 4th and 9 from their own 42. These were the ashes from which the Longhorns arose.

Arch Manning had looked like shit. His receivers looked even worse. Then, as the 4th quarter began, touchdown Texas. Touchdown Texas. Missed Buckeye field goal. Touchdown Texas. 

 

Texas 24. Ohio State 23.

 

And just to make sure nobody accidentally remembered it as anything other than an epic collapse, Julian Sayin threw an interception to end it.

It was the largest fourth quarter comeback ever against a #1 team in the country. Ever.

And Michigan beat #11 Oklahoma after their loss to a MAC school in Week 1. 

College football. I’ll tell ya.

The carnage wasn’t limited to Austin.

Last year, Oregon beat Oklahoma State 69-3. Entering Saturday, Oklahoma State had lost 21 straight games against FBS opponents. Yes, I’ll write it again: TWENTY-ONE STRAIGHT LOSSES TO FBS PROGRAMS. Dan Lanning on the other hand was 35-0 against unranked teams. 

 

Final score: Oklahoma State 39. #6 Oregon 31.

 

Ducking crazy.

 

And one could argue those weren't even the strangest things that happened.

Akron let a random fan call its offense.

Marty Whims II, a 46-year-old CFO and season-ticket holder, won an Arby's promotion to serve as “Offensive Coordinator of the Game.” He helped script the opening possession and called the plays. It ended up being four to be exact. For a total of 23 yards. And a fumble. Tough career for Coach Marty. Still better than Ryan Day on Saturday.

Then there's Chicago State, which didn't have a football team until approximately five minutes ago. The Cougars picked up the first win in program history Saturday by beating Kentucky Christian 78-7. Amen.

As for the rest of the OTC slate, Wake Forest survived Purdue 38-36 in double overtime, needing a reviewed 4th-and-15 conversion before scoring the tying touchdown and winning two-point conversion.

USF trailed Army 24-14 with five minutes left before scoring twice, including the winner on 4th and 6, to stun the Black Knights 28-24.

Mississippi State rolled the Gophers 38-13. 13 also happened to be the same number of rushing yards Minnesota had. Adrian Peterson is rolling in his grave (Note: he’s not dead).

Pitt downed UCF 12-7 in a steady downpour. Cal walked into Syracuse and won 21-18 despite being outgained 436-247. Syracuse committed 15 penalties for 134 yards and threw three interceptions. Duke upset the Illini 31-27. Boise State spotted Memphis a 17-3 lead and then scored 32 of the final 35 points to win 38-20. And North Dakota State beat Air Force 38-32, jumping ahead 35-13 before the Falcons made it interesting with 19 fourth-quarter points.

North Dakota State just might be my darling this season. Stay tuned.

 

In OTC, we’re two weeks in, and we officially have our first triple-digit degenerate. PickleRicks RicklePicks stands alone atop OTC with exactly 100 points and a name that inexplicably makes me giggle. Rylaw247 sits second with 91, while WahooWa rounds out the podium at 88.

Then there's John Cochtosin, who scored a mind-numbingly pathetic 13 points this week. You almost have to try.

And somehow, the honor of league stinker belongs to Diamond Dave's 1st Entry, sitting dead last with 50 points, exactly half as competent as our leader.

Week Three awaits, friends. Study up. 

 

               
                     VEGAS

#11 Oklahoma (-4.5) @ #16 Michigan

Wake Forest (-2.5) @ Purdue

USF @ Army (-3.5)

Mississippi State (-1.5) @ Minnesota

UCF @ Pitt (-7.5)

Cal @ Syracuse (-3.5)

Duke @ Illinois (-5.5)

Memphis @ Boise State (-9.5)

#1 Ohio State @ #4 Texas (-1.5)

NDSU (-2.5) @ Air Force