FSU, Kansas, Duke lead surprising college football starts

Forty names, video games, groups and trivialities making information in school soccer, the place cussed previous Iowa can rank final within the nation in yards per play (2.8) and nonetheless not really feel the necessity to make a quarterback change:

MORE DASH: Frost Fired | Who’s Subsequent?

THIRD QUARTER

SIGNS OF LIFE

There are some early stirrings of success in uncommon locales, and a few comebacks from forgotten individuals and locations. A Sprint breakdown of what’s going properly that we would not have seen coming:

The Atlantic Coast Convention (21) has eight undefeated groups and a 19–4 nonconference report. Final 12 months, simply 5 ACC groups made it to 2–0. For a league recognized for a few years as Clemson or Bust, it’s good to have some extra colleges making headlines. (Three different ACC groups are ranked, after the No. 5 Tigers: No. 13 Miami, No. 16 North Carolina State and No. 19 Wake Forest.)

On Saturday the ACC took the present on the street and held up properly, going 5–1 in nonleague play. That included upset victories by Duke and Louisville, plus the return of Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman sooner than some had anticipated to guide the Demon Deacons previous Vanderbilt. North Carolina received consecutive street video games and is averaging 51.3 factors regardless of main receiver Josh Downs lacking the previous two contests (freshman quarterback Drake Maye is legit).

Essentially the most shocking ACC groups to this point:

Florida State (22). The Seminoles very almost blew a certain victory in opposition to LSU within the ultimate minute Labor Day evening, however however held on for a uncommon ACC victory over the SEC. (Final 12 months the report was 8–1 in favor of the SEC.) FSU is off to its first 2–0 begin since 2016, which tells you ways unhealthy it’s been in Tally in current seasons. Quarterback Jordan Travis is off to a very good begin, and there are a number of switch portal additions making a direct impression.

Duke (23). The Blue Devils dragged an eight-game dropping streak into this season and have turned that round emphatically, beginning 2–0 below new coach Mike Elko. The previous defensive coordinator at Texas A&M has instantly upgraded that aspect of the ball at Duke: The opening shutout of Temple was this system’s first in seven years, and first in opposition to an FBS opponent since 1989. The Blue Devils haven’t but trailed this season, and with an upcoming recreation in opposition to FCS North Carolina A&T they need to be 3–0 heading to Kansas on Sept. 24 for a uncommon significant contest between the 2 colleges not involving spherical balls and hardwood. Talking of which …

The sight of Kansas (24) at 2–0 is sufficient to make you wish to get your eyesight checked. That hasn’t occurred since 2011, and the Jayhawks haven’t received their Huge 12 opener since ’09. But right here we’re, with Lance Leipold working a reformation of America’s worst Energy 5 soccer program. That is the primary time Kansas has scored greater than 50 factors in every of its first two video games for the reason that ’07 group, which was the perfect in program historical past. Kansas’s 7.53 yards per carry is third nationally, trailing solely Alabama and Air Pressure.

The state of Washington (25) is off to a brisk starting, with each Washington and Washington State 2–0 for the primary time in 5 years. The Cougars scored the massive win, upsetting Wisconsin in Camp Randall Stadium and making the promotion of 2021 interim coach Jake Dickert look higher with every passing week. Maybe the perfect information thus far for Wazzu is that it’s profitable with out prize switch quarterback Cameron Ward enjoying lights-out but.

Washington, in the meantime, is getting excellent play from its switch QB. Indiana import Michael Penix Jr. is again, after a tough 2021 season. The competitors hasn’t been stellar (Kent State and FCS Portland State), however Penix has an effectivity ranking of 183.47 thus far, good for twelfth nationally. The Huskies struggled to attain factors in opposition to any semblance of protection final 12 months, which is why Kalen DeBoer is now the coach. Placing 97 of them on the board the primary two video games introduced some welcome enthusiasm to Seattle. However the problem steps up appreciably Saturday with Michigan State—a well-known opponent for Penix—coming to city.

Clay Helton (26), Georgia Southern. Most Solar Belt coaches are rising up the ranks. Helton goes the opposite means, however the fired USC coach might have discovered his consolation zone within the South and within the Solar Belt. He’s led the Eagles to a 2–0 begin capped by the upset of Nebraska—a fireable offense for Scott Frost however a validating victory for Helton. He added Buffalo switch quarterback Kyle Vantrease to an skilled returning offense, and the early returns have been a vastly improved passing assault. In a loaded Solar Belt East, don’t overlook Georgia Southern and Helton.

The whole Huge Ten East (27) is undefeated, a mixed 14–0. Whereas that isn’t a shock on the high it’s notable on the subsequent tier, the place Indiana, Rutgers and Maryland are concurrently 2–0 for the primary time in a decade. The highlights have been dramatic, late-game landing drives by the Hoosiers to beat Illinois and the Scarlet Knights to beat Boston Faculty—Indiana going 75 yards to attain within the ultimate 30 seconds, and Rutgers going 96 yards totally on the bottom. Maryland has had no want for late drama but, rolling over Buffalo and Charlotte. There’s a protracted approach to go for these applications to threaten the institution, however these powers won’t have any walkovers inside the division.

Mohamed Ibrahim (28), Minnesota working again. The workhorse’s Achilles tendon tear within the season opener in opposition to Ohio State final 12 months was one of many largest bummers of 2021. Now he’s again and battering defenses once more, producing two almost equivalent stat traces: 21 carries for 132 yards and two touchdowns in opposition to New Mexico State; 23 carries for 130 yards and two TDs in opposition to Western Illinois. The Gophers haven’t performed anybody with a pulse but however is perhaps the brand new favourite within the smoking crater that’s the Huge Ten West.

Charlie Jones (29), Purdue extensive receiver. A receiver going from Iowa’s offense to Purdue’s is like sending a baby accustomed to liverwurst to Willy Wonka’s chocolate manufacturing facility. Jones caught 21 passes all final season as a Hawkeye; he has a nation-leading 21 in two video games as a Boilermaker. Accidents and graduations left a giant opening within the Purdue receiving corps, and Jones has stuffed it ably.

The Military passing recreation (30). The Cadets threw for 304 yards Saturday in opposition to UTSA, which is merely probably the most stunning statistic of the final 20 years in school soccer. Final time probably the most ground-bound program in FBS handed for extra yardage than that was 2001. Consider it this manner: Military threw for 361 yards the whole season in ’17, and solely 4 instances within the earlier 13 seasons had even thrown for 200 in a recreation. The remainder of the story: Military is 0–2 for the primary time since ’15. However blame that extra on the competitors than a sudden betrayal of all that Jeff Monken considers holy—Coastal Carolina and UTSA are high-quality Group of 5 applications.

MORE DASH: Frost Fired | Who’s Subsequent?