The Bum's 2016 College Football Best Bets,Trends,Stat, News !!

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Ferentz, 16th-ranked Hawkeyes host Iowa State
September 9, 2016

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Kirk Ferentz began his latest rivalry week by signing a massive contract extension that should keep him at Iowa for life .

Ferentz will try to end the week by showing the new guy, Iowa State coach Matt Campbell, why the Hawkeyes keep giving him so much money.

No. 16 Iowa (1-0) will host the Cyclones (0-1) on Saturday, a week after dominating Miami (Ohio) 45-21. Though the Hawkeyes weren't perfect, especially in defending the run, the outcome was never in doubt.

Iowa State's opener was all too familiar to beleaguered Cyclones fans.

Fears that the Cyclones inexperienced offensive line would stop them from running the ball effectively were realized in a 25-20 loss to Northern Iowa of the FCS .

Star back Mike Warren rushed for just 30 yards, and Iowa State's inability to sustain drives left its defense gassed in crunch time.

The Cyclones have bounced back from shaky starts to stun the Hawkeyes before, most notably in 2014 after a loss to North Dakota State. Iowa wasn't nearly as good then as it is now though, and Iowa State's line figures to be further tested by the Hawkeyes talented front.

But Ferentz - now armed with a contract through the 2025 season at $4.5 million per year -knows that strange things can happen in a series in which the road team has won four in a row.

''If you look over the last five years, you can predict a close game,'' Ferentz said. ''Doesn't seem to matter if it's (at) home, what happened the week before, all that stuff,'' Ferentz said.

Here are some of the keys to watch for as the Hawkeyes look to win their fifth straight trophy game.

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING

Iowa's offensive line was brilliant against the RedHawks, opening massive holes for Akrum Wadley and LeShun Daniels Jr. to run through . The bruising Daniels and the speedy Wadley combined for 204 yards and four touchdowns on just 22 carries, and they'll likely split snaps against the Cyclones as well. ''I love splitting reps with LeShun. LeShun deserves it...and it works out for both of us. He gets to tell me what I need to work on. I get to tell him what he missed, and (the two of us) are like brothers,'' Wadley said.

LANNING'S TIME: Iowa State quarterback Joel Lanning made some big-time throws against the Panthers, tossing three touchdowns for the third time in his career. But Lanning, a junior, also threw a pair of costly fourth-quarter interceptions. ''He made some huge plays, got us back in the football game,'' Campbell said. ''We didn't help Joel out whatsoever. Obviously, Joel would like to have a couple of those plays back.''

JEWELL'S BACK: Iowa star linebacker Josey Jewell, who was ejected for targeting in the first quarter of the win over Miami, will return for Saturday's game. Jewell said earlier this week that his hit was unintentional, adding that he hopes he'll never have to go through another ejection. ''I wish it didn't happen. I wish I would've maybe veered off from it,'' Jewell said.

CYCLONES DEFENSE: Iowa State's defense played better than the score indicated last week, allowing just 4.3 yards per play and stopping Northern Iowa on 76 percent of its third downs. But the offense kept putting the unit in tough spots, turning it over four times. ''It was a challenge, but I think our defense played really (well). But it's still part of a process,'' safety Kamari Cotton-Moya said.

HE SAID IT

''One of the things that I've always preached in terms of the process is knowing how much growth happens between the first week and the second week in the world of college football. And we have a lot of growth to do,'' Campbell said.

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No. 14 Oklahoma looks to rebound vs. ULM after Houston loss
September 9, 2016

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) Oklahoma has been against the ropes before.

Just last season, the Sooners unexpectedly lost to Texas, and Oklahoma was considered an afterthought in the national title race. Oklahoma rallied, won seven straight games and reached the College Football Playoff. The first game after the Texas loss was a 55-0 thumping of Kansas State, the first of four straight games in which the Sooners scored at least 50 points.

The Sooners opened this season with a 33-23 loss to Houston that dropped them from No. 3 to No. 14 in the AP poll . They believe they can regain their footing again, starting with Saturday's game against Louisiana-Monroe.

''I have all the confidence in the world,'' Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield said. ''Houston's a great ballclub. All the credit in the world to them for coming out and out-competing us on Saturday. We're a good team too.''

The Sooners need to get back on track quickly-- they host No. 4 Ohio State the following week in a make-or-break game. For now, Mayfield said the team simply wants to play better.

''It's about not focusing on the loss too much, learning from your mistakes and moving on,'' Mayfield said.

Here are some things to look for as Oklahoma tries to bounce back.

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SOONER SECONDARY: Oklahoma's secondary got shredded by Houston's Greg Ward Jr ., especially in the first half, so the Sooners plan to do some experimenting at cornerback. Michiah Quick and P.J. Mbanasor are likely to get their fair share of action this week.

''I think it starts in practice and it starts with your attitude, effort and technique and how you prepare,'' Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said. ''Every time you think you have all the answers, you're going to get slapped; it's the world we live in. Whether it's me or a player, if you get too full of yourself -- and you can be overly confident and not prepare the right way -- then you're gonna get humbled.''

JOE MIXON: The Oklahoma running back was a bright spot against Houston. He ran for a 32-yard touchdown against the Cougars and finished with 181 all-purpose yards. Starting running back Samaje Perine's shoulder was dinged up last week and, though coach Bob Stoops said Perine is fine, Mixon might get some extra work if the Sooners decide to play it safe with their workhorse.

GAME BREAKER: Mayfield was hesitant to throw at times last week , but he may have found someone he can trust in Mark Andrews . The 6-foot-5 tight end caught three passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns against Houston. Andrews has 22 career receptions, and nine have gone for scores. Wide receiver Dede Westbrook had eight catches for 70 yards last week. It may be worth watching to see if Mayfield looks for Andrews more often.

GARRETT SMITH: Louisiana-Monroe's quarterback passed for 208 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 150 yards and another score in a season-opening win over Southern last week.

NEW LOOK: The Sooners will play in updated Memorial Stadium for the first time. The changes include a newly enclosed south end zone and an 8,500-square foot video board that the school says is the second- largest in college sports.

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SMU already better, now faces challenge at No. 23 Baylor
September 9, 2016

WACO, Texas (AP) SMU coach Chad Morris believes his team is already better than at any point in his first season with the Mustangs. Now they get a big challenge at 23rd-ranked Baylor.

''Just building the program and changing the culture,'' Morris said. ''It was great to get the first win underneath us. I knew we were better coming into this season. I didn't know how much better. But I definitely feel like we've improved in a lot of areas, defense being the main one.''

After going 2-10 last year, SMU opened this season with a 34-21 win at North Texas, the first time since 2009 to be 1-0.

The young Mustangs, who have already played 31 of Morris' 47 signees, go into Saturday's matchup of former Southwest Conference rivals and against a Top 25 team as more than four-touchdown underdogs.

Baylor is down to about 70 scholarship players, but still has plenty of talent on offense. Senior quarterback Seth Russell , who played only seven games last season before a neck injury, returned to throw for 163 yards and four touchdowns in less than a half in the opening 55-7 win over FCS team Northwestern State.

That was the most points ever scored in a game for Baylor acting head coach Jim Grobe, who is in his 20th season as a head coach. He previously spent 13 seasons at Wake Forest and six at Ohio before taking over the Bears in the wake of the offseason turmoil that led the departure of Art Briles.

''I thought our kids had fun. I thought they were excited to be out there,'' Grobe said. ''I didn't see a lot of selfishness. ... Our guys were focused on the team.''

Some other things to know about the SWC reunion, which also includes Baylor defensive coordinator Phil Bennett facing the team for which he went 18-51 as head coach from 2002-07.

SHOCK THE RECORD

While Baylor has become known for its big passing numbers, senior running back Shock Linwood is coming off consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons and goes into Saturday only 107 yards shy of becoming the school's career rushing leader. Walter Abercrombie's record of 3,665 yards has stood for 35 years. Linwood had nine carries for 97 yards playing only in the first half of the opener.

SMU SIGNAL CALLERS

Senior quarterback Matt Davis started the SMU opener at North Texas, and threw for 155 yards with two touchdowns before getting hurt in the third quarter. Redshirt freshman Ben Hicks had already gotten a few snaps before then, including an 88-yard TD pass, and finished 5-of-9 for 145 yards. ''Ben is a guy that we think really high of,'' Morris said. ''He doesn't move as well as Matt as we all know, but he can definitely make some plays with his arm and his feet. If he's the guy, then he'll be ready to go. If it's Matt, he'll be ready.''

ALL OF A SUTTON

SMU sophomore Courtland Sutton had four catches at North Texas for 162 yards and three touchdowns. Sutton's scores included an 88-yard catch-and-run and a 46-yarder on a third-and-45 play. As a freshman last season, Sutton led the Mustangs with 49 catches for 862 yards and nine touchdowns, the first coming against Baylor.

BAYLOR BACKUP

When Jarrett Stidham decided to leave Baylor this summer, true freshman Zach Smith became senior Seth Russell's backup. Smith, who went through spring drills after graduating high school early, got to play in the season opener and completed 5 of 7 passes for 60 yards with at a touchdown. While Grobe wishes the Bears had gotten Smith a few more snaps, the coach said he feels ''much better about having him back up Seth right now after watching him.''

TWO-TIMERS

SMU was the first opponent when Baylor opened its new campus stadium along the banks of the Brazos River two years ago. Baylor won that 2014 season opener 45-0. But the Mustangs aren't the first two-time visitor to McLane Stadium. Baylor opened this season with a 55-7 win over Northwestern State, the FCS team the Bears beat 70-6 in the second week of the 2014 season.

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No. 5 Michigan expected to rout UCF just as it did Hawaii
September 9, 2016

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) Michigan was expected to beat Hawaii by nearly six touchdowns.

The odds makers didn't give the Wolverines enough credit.

Michigan routed the Rainbows 63-3 in its opener, the storied program's most lopsided win in almost four decades.

The fifth-ranked Wolverines (1-0) moved up a couple spots in The Associated Press college football poll and are expecting to keep rolling. They're favored to beat Central Florida (1-0) by more than five touchdowns Saturday at the Big House.

Here are some things to watch when Michigan hosts the Knights:

GROUND GAME

The Wolverines had 10 players combine for 306 yards rushing last week led by Chris Evans, who ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns in his debut. The ability to run early, often and effectively took a lot of pressure off Wilton Speight in his first start. ''Anytime the quarterback has a run threat, it helps a lot,'' he said. ''To have that balance and guys like we have, weapons after weapons, it makes my job a lot easier.''

FIGHTING KNIGHTS

UCF'S first-year coach Scott Frost helped the program do something it failed to do last year by winning its opener, beating South Carolina State 38-0. That confidence-boosting game and a nothing-to-lose mentality have Frost believing his team will be prepare to compete with Michigan. ''I don't think our kids are going to be intimidated or scared,'' he said. ''They're going to go in there fighting, but we know we have a challenge in front of us.''

The Knights will have 110,000-plus people rooting against them, but they don't sound worried.

''It's going to be a big crowd, but I know what me and my teammates can do if we stick together,'' receiver Tre'Quan Smith said.

HE ASKED FOR IT

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh pounded Speight's chest, slapped his shoulders, his hips and the side of his helmet last week before he took against Hawaii. The relatively unique scene was caught by a TV camera and shared on social media. Speight insisted a couple days later that he asked Harbaugh to physically fire him up.

SO FAR, SO GOOD

Frost, a former Nebraska quarterback, has brought the up-tempo scheme he used as Oregon's offensive coordinator UCF. He hopes the hurry-up, no-huddle offense helps the Knights move the ball, score and draw fans. All went relatively well last week. UCF routed South Carolina State, its first win since Dec. 4, 2014, with 92 plays for 462 yards in front of 36,260 fans.

FLOOD OF FRESHMEN

Harbaugh has not hid the fact that he wants to get talented freshmen on the field even if they play a limited number of plays, ending their chances of redshirting to potentially have a fifth year of eligibility. A few weeks ago, Harbaugh said seven or eight players had earned the right to play right away. That total later went to 10. And by the time the Wolverines finished off Hawaii, 18 freshmen were on the field. Evans and highly touted defensive end Rashan Gary were two of the 16 freshmen on scholarship to play at least a snap. ''There will be 17 or 20 when it's all said and done,'' Harbaugh said.

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5 Things For Week 2 of the college football season
September 9, 2016

Week two of the college football season is quite a letdown after a loaded first weekend. Still, there are plenty of things to keep an eye on.

BEST GAME

Arkansas at No. 15 TCU. Not a lot from which to choose on the menu this week, but the Horned Frogs are considered a Big 12 contender and the Razorbacks aspire to push Alabama in the SEC West.

Neither team looked capable of those lofty goals last week. Arkansas had a one-point victory against Louisiana Tech and TCU got into a scorefest with FCS South Dakota State before pulling away in the fourth quarter. Maybe both were looking ahead?

The style matchup could provide some intrigue. Bret Bielema's Hogs, ideally, like to ground-and-pound. Gary Patterson's Frogs play fast and like to go deep.

Subplot: The SEC got knocked around a little in week one. This is its best shot this week to get some bragging rights back.

HEISMAN WATCH

Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson gets a Friday night spotlight game after accounting for eight touchdowns last week against Charlotte. Eight!

In a season with lots of big stars, Jackson is a B-list Heisman contender for now. The next two weeks could get his name on the marquee.

Syracuse is good spot to show off and get some momentum before Florida State comes to Louisville on Sept. 17. Two weeks after that the Cardinals go to Clemson. Knock off the `Noles or the Tigers (or both) and Jackson could jump to the front of the Heisman pack.

NUMBERS TO KNOW

11 - The second-longest winning streak in the country belongs to San Diego State. The Aztec's streak is also the second-longest in school history. They won 21 in a row under the great Don Coryell from 1968-70. San Diego State faces California on Saturday and the Aztecs are seven-point favorites against the Pac-12 team.

14 - Number of tackles for loss allowed by Auburn, most in the nation. The Tigers play coach Gus Malzahn's old team, Arkansas State. The Red Wolves had six tackles for loss in a loss to Toledo last week.

16 - Number of years it has been since Penn State and Pitt played. The Nittany Lions and Panthers renew a rivalry on Saturday in Pittsburgh that many Penn State supporters seem to view as more of a nuisance than an obligation.

16.7 - Average yards per pass attempt for Western Kentucky QB Mike White, best in the nation by more than three years. The Hilltoppers play No. 1 Alabama on Saturday.

OFF THE RADAR

New Mexico State hosts New Mexico in the 106th edition of the Rio Grande rivalry. The Lobos have won four straight after the Aggies had taken three straight. Overall, New Mexico holds a 70-31-5 lead.

COACH IN NEED OF A WIN

Kentucky's Mark Stoops started an important season with a deflating loss to Southern Mississippi last week. The Wildcats led by 25 in the first half and lost 44-35 at home. Now they visit Florida, trying to snap a 29-game losing streak to the Gators.

It is the longest current losing streak (or winning streak, depending on your perspective) in an uninterrupted series and the fourth longest such streak in major college football history.

Stoops has had three losing season at Kentucky so simply getting to six wins and bowl eligibility would be a step forward. It's going to be much tougher to get there now, though a $12 million buyout likely increases his security in Lexington.

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Purdue trying to find right balance against Cincinnati
September 9, 2016

Purdue's balancing act made a good first impression.

Now the Boilermakers are looking to keep everything in synch.

One week after nine different receivers caught passes in a win against Eastern Kentucky and Purdue had an almost perfect 50-50 split between yards rushing and yards, it will get a chance to see how well the new, simplified offense does against a stronger opponent in Cincinnati.

''If we're able to run the ball for 250 yards, that's a lot of rushing yards. But if you also can spread it around and throw it, it keeps people off balance,'' coach Darrell Hazell said. ''As much balanced offense as we can play, we'll keep (opponents) off balance.''

It seems like a strange notion at a school dubbed The Cradle of Quarterbacks. But times are a changing at Purdue (1-0).

Sophomore quarterback David Blough knows he'll be more efficient with a little help from friends like running back Markell Jones.

A year ago, Jones rushed for 845 yards and 10 touchdowns as a freshman. He inherited the feature back job when D.J. Knox tore the ACL in his left knee during April's spring game and so far, he's been a hit.

He ran 24 times for 145 yards and one touchdown and caught four passes for 24 yards, wearing out the Eastern Kentucky defense. This week, he faces a Cincinnati defense that held Tennessee-Martin to seven points and 3.6 yards per carry.

Coach Tommy Tuberville knows it will be a lot tougher for Cincinnati (1-0) to keep up with Jones.

''They have an experienced quarterback and a very good running back. Their offensive line is bigger and stronger than almost any team we will see. And their receivers have good speed,'' Tuberville said. ''It's a typical Big Ten team in that they line up and try to run the ball. It's going to be a real challenge for us.''

Blough's challenge will be replicating last week's numbers - and coming up with another win.

But with Jones leading the way, Blough has already become a big believer in what the Boilermakers are capable of this season.

''I remember coming off the field after the first quarter and telling guys that we have a superstar running back,'' Blough said, reflecting on last week's victory. ''We're going to feed him. He is a workhorse for us.''

Here are some other things to watch Saturday:

STAYING POSITIVE

Hazell constantly addresses the need to avoid self-inflicted problems and it's starting to pay dividends. Purdue ran 83 plays against Eastern Kentucky - none went for negative yards. In addition, the Boilermakers committed only two penalties in Week 1, tied for the fewest in the nation .

ROAD TROUBLE

Cincinnati beat Purdue 42-7 in its 2013 home opener, which was Hazell's first game as coach. Hitting the road against the Midwest's top conference has been a little more rugged for the Bearcats. Cincinnati hasn't won at a Big Ten school 1959 when they won at Indiana. Since then, the Bearcats are 0-11. Tuberville doesn't mind the trip.

''It's part of what makes college football fun,'' Tuberville said. He's just wants to rewrite the ending.

GOING FOR 600

The Boilermakers need one more win to become the 10th Big Ten school with 600. Currently, the Boilermakers are 599-545-48. A win Saturday also would give Purdue its first two-game streak under Hazell, and its first 2-0 start since 2007.

WELCOME BACK

Purdue's defense should get a boost this week with the anticipated return of cornerback, Da'Wan Hunte. After missing last week's game with a sprained ankle, he's listed as probable this week. Defensive end Austin Larkin, the nephew of baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, also missed last week's game after injuring his ankle in practice and could be a game-time decision this week.

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With Akron next, No. 10 Wisconsin looks to keep momentum
September 9, 2016

MADISON, Wis. (AP) For an encore to the upset victory over LSU, No. 10 Wisconsin will host Akron.

This matchup doesn't have quite the same zip as a showdown against an SEC power. But the Badgers have vowed to stay focused , and to build on their big win with Big Ten play looming in a few weeks.

''You want to go into those games with as much momentum as possible,'' Wisconsin running back Corey Clement said.

The two-week honeymoon period in the schedule starts on Saturday with the home opener at Camp Randall Stadium against the Zips, a Mid-American Conference team.

Akron, which has been picked to finish third in the MAC East division, is coming off a 47-24 win over FCS school VMI in its opener last week. The Zips were the big-school target in that game.

Now they're looking to score a huge upset.

''We realize the monumental task we have,'' Akron coach Terry Bowden said.

First off, the Zips will be challenged up front by the bruising Badgers defense, which outmuscled LSU in a 16-14 win in the season opener last week at Lambeau Field. For the most part, the front seven controlled the line of scrimmage in that game. Outside linebackers Vince Biegel and T.J. Watt disrupted the backfield.

Wisconsin has held its last nine nonconference opponents at Camp Randall to an average of 5.6 points a game. The Zips are piecing together five new starters on the offensive line.

The Badgers could get a little pushy on Saturday.

''When you play Wisconsin, you're going to be challenged physically in the trenches first,'' Bowden said.

Other notes and things to watch as Wisconsin tries to win its 21st straight home opener:

HOUSTON'S ARM

Wisconsin senior quarterback Bart Houston had a so-so debut in his first collegiate start, going 19 of 31 for 205 yards against LSU. Houston showed some accuracy, but also threw two interceptions - one returned for a touchdown, and another picked off in the end zone.

Houston said he needs to improve while scrambling.

''It's sort of that fine line,'' coach Paul Chryst said. ''It's not so much the science of quarterbacking but the art of quarterbacking.''

ABOUT AKRON

The Zips finished 2015 at 8-5, its best record since becoming an FBS program in 1987. Akron also also won its first bowl game as an FBS school, having beaten Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. But Akron returns just seven starters from that team.

SPREAD IT OUT

Akron quarterback Thomas Woodson was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week for the East Division after throwing for a career-high 407 yards and school record six touchdowns in the victory over VMI . Akron's spread offense will give the Wisconsin secondary a different test after facing LSU's big receivers last week. Chryst said the Badgers will have to play disciplined defense and stick to their assignments.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT:

While he might have more than a dozen new starters, Bowden himself has a lot of experience in big games. Bowden has been to four bowl games in a 23-year career on the sideline. His father is former Florida State coach and Hall of Famer Bobby Bowden. Akron associate head coach and defensive coordinator Chuck Amato used to be a head coach at North Carolina State, as well as an assistant at North Carolina State.

''You've got some coaches who have coached a lot of games, where we're not in awe,'' Bowden said, ''and so I think the player sometimes feed off their coaches.''

MILESTONE MARKER

Clement carried a career-high 21 times for 86 yards and a score against LSU. He is 197 yards short of becoming the 16th player in Wisconsin history to rush for 2,000 yards, a mark that the speedster could very well reach either this week, or next week against Georgia State at home.

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Charleston Southern players could be suspended for FSU game
September 9, 2016

(STATS) - Player suspensions could leave Charleston Southern very shorthanded on Saturday when the No. 7-ranked FCS team plays at FBS No. 3 Florida State.

The university announced last week an internal review for possible NCAA rules violations. It has led to players being suspended for using scholarship money allocated for books to purchase other items at the school bookstore.

Some players sat out last Saturday's win over Kentucky State. More one-game suspensions could occur for the Florida State game, as players wrote on social media Thursday.

Senior wide receiver Colton Korn posted on Facebook: "As many of you have heard or haven't... CSU Football has been dealing with a witch hunt the first 3 weeks... We have sat 16 players the first 2 weeks and now me and many other seniors and juniors who have helped lead this program and school to unprecedented highs on and off the field will be suspended against Florida State this Saturday."

Also on Facebook, senior Ben Robinson posted: "So basically about 30+ players on my team including me have been suspended for using book money to buy other things in the book store like pencils, binders, and electronics, out of our school bookstore. We would have left over book money and the workers in the bookstore advised us to spend the money because we would not get it back, so we did."

Perhaps the strongest statement, however, came in a Facebook post from offensive lineman Frank Cirone, who says that he and the rest of his unit are suspended for Saturday's game. Cirone apologized to fans who spent money on tickets and hotel rooms in Tallahassee, then slammed the university over its handling of the situation.

"It is unfortunate Charleston Southern University only cares about itself as an institution," Cirone wrote Thursday night. "The protection of its students/athletes should be a number one priority. This is the second time in two years I am ineligible to participate due issues that could of been avoided if the necessary steps were taken by Charleston Southern. Again, I apologize to those that took off time & spent money to come watch the game. They might not care, but I do. God Bless."

The university, a member of the Big South Conference, did not make an announcement Thursday regarding suspensions.

In a separate incident, a Charleston Southern assistant is set to serve a one-game suspension against Florida State for an impermissible social media contact with a high school player. Fourth-year head coach Jamey Chadwell also is suspended one game for the incident and will sit out against Albany State on Oct. 8.

The Buccaneers bring a 1-1 record into Saturday's game in Tallahassee. Florida State is 1-0 after rallying from 22 points down to beat Ole Miss 45-34.

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Northwestern looking to bounce back against Illinois State
September 9, 2016

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald did not need to search too far to remind his players that a loss in Week 1 does not squash their goals.

He just jogged their memories.

The Wildcats enter Saturday's game against FCS powerhouse Illinois State looking to rebound from a season-opening loss to MAC favorite Western Michigan and the knowledge that the team they beat in last year's opener did quite well in the end: Stanford went on to win the Pac-12 championship game and the Rose Bowl after Northwestern kept the Cardinal out of the end zone in a surprising 16-6 victory.

''I would say we beat them a lot more than Western Michigan beat us and (I) reminded the guys what they decided to do collectively as a program is learn from it and get better,'' Fitzgerald said. ''At the end of the year, you could say they were one of the best teams in the country.''

The Wildcats clearly have some work to do if they're going to match last season's school record-tying 10 wins, let alone challenge for the Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl berth. Dominant on defense last season, they allowed Western Michigan to control the ball for 39 minutes and convert 4 of 4 fourth downs in a 22-21 loss.

Quarterback Clayton Thorson also fumbled at the goal line in the closing minutes, stopping the comeback attempt. And Northwestern lost by one after going 5-0 in games decided by seven points or less a year ago.

Yet as discouraging as the opener was, Northwestern can still achieve big things.

Safety Kyle Queiro found inspiration in the 1983 Miami team that beat Nebraska for the national championship in the Orange Bowl after getting blasted by Florida in the season opener and Jim Valvano leading North Carolina State to the NCAA basketball title that year.

''That kind of just fueled me up,'' Queiro said. ''It's a long season, and there's still work to do. I'm really excited about those things. It's not like we're going into uncharted territory. There's other teams that have done that before.''

Here are some things to look for as Northwestern tries to rebound against Illinois State:

RUNNING AWAY

Second in the Big Ten to Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott last season with 1,418 yards rushing, Justin Jackson opened his junior year on a strong note. He now has 14 career 100-yard games after running for 124 yards and a career-high three touchdowns last week. He is about to face a team that forced three turnovers and gave up just 22 yards rushing while stomping Valparaiso 50-13.

ABOUT ILLINOIS STATE

The Redbirds are just two years removed from the FCS championship game and are coming off a run to the quarterfinals. Quarterback Jake Kolbe threw for 166 yards and a touchdown last week, and had an interception returned for a TD. George Moreira ran for 93 yards on just seven attempts, and linebacker Alejandro Rivera returned an interception for a TD.

ARMED

The Wildcats are banking on more from Thorson now that he has a season behind him. But his sophomore year opened on a difficult note. Thorson completed 15 of 22 passes for 196 yards, but the offense basically stalled. And the goal-line fumble was a crushing blow.

TAKEDOWN

Linebacker Jaylen Prater set career highs against Western Michigan with nine solo and 18 total tackles, the most in a Northwestern opener since Pat Fitzgerald took over in 2006. Prater had 46 tackles as a junior last year before suffering a season-ending eye injury.

SECONDARY PROBLEM

Northwestern's secondary could have its hands full with Anthony Warrum. A third-team All-American last season, he set a school record and led the Missouri Valley Football Conference with 15 touchdown catches and was second in the league with 1,290 yards receiving.

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No. 2 Clemson looks for win vs. Troy - even if it's ugly
September 9, 2016

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) Clemson coach Dabo Swinney had a message for Tigers fans worried about the team's too-close-for-comfort victory over Auburn last week: ''We won.''

Swinney and the second-ranked Tigers (1-0) look to do more of the same Saturday when they open their home season against Troy (1-0).

Swinney understands the angst of supporters who dream of long touchdown passes, quick scores and points nearly every time the Tigers touched the ball. Now that it did not happen in Clemson's 19-13 season-opening win only means the stakes have risen dramatically for Swinney's team.

''I'm sorry we disappointed them. That's all I can tell them,'' Swinney said. ''We went to win the game and that's what we did.''

Swinney's not ignoring the mistakes and poor execution he saw at times in the win. There was a dropped TD pass and a fumble by Mike Williams, missed connections from quarterback Deshaun Watson to receiver Deon Cain and tight end Jordan Leggett and some failures on offense Clemson didn't have much last season.

''We weren't quite as clean,'' Swinney said.

Watson said any bobbles are things that can and will be worked out this week as Clemson tries for its 17th straight win at Death Valley. ''So it's just a learning process,'' Watson said.

Troy comes in off a 57-17 win over Austin Peay that coach Neal Brown said enfused them with confidence heading into week two.

''We're taking the field with belief,'' he said.

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Things to watch when Troy plays at Clemson:

CLEMSON'S ROCK: The inspirational Clemson talisman, Howard's Rock, turns 50 this season and will be honored by the program all year long. It was coach Frank Howard who in 1966 put the rock on a pedestal at the stadium, telling players if they weren't willing to give maximum effort they should ''keep their filthy hands off of my rock.'' Ever since, Tigers have rubbed the rock before entering the field believing in the power and spirit of those who've gone before.

USING THE WEAPONS: Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson figures to utilize many more players on offense than he did in the opener against Auburn. Look to receivers Deon Cain and Ray Ray McCloud, tight end Jordan Leggett and freshman running back Tavien Feaster to see more action against Troy. Clemson's offense averaged more than 500 yards and 40 points on the way to an Atlantic Coast Conference title. It put up 399 yards and 19 points at Auburn last week.

DON'T I KNOW YOU? It will be the second straight week Clemson and coach Dabo Swinney will see a defensive coordinator he used to employ. Last game, it was Kevin Steele who led Auburn's defense and who was in charge of Clemson's group under Swinney from 2009 through 2011. This time, it's Vic Koenning, who directs Troy's defense and was at Clemson for four seasons from 2005 through 2008, including six games that final year when Swinney was elevated to interim coach. When Swinney gained the fulltime job, he told Koenning he would not be retained and the defensive assistant resigned before the bowl game. Koenning says he still has friends on staff, although he and Swinney have not maintained a relationship.

LAST MEETING: Clemson's run to the top of the college football world started in earnest in 2011 in a season opener with Troy. The Tigers had come off their last losing season, 6-7 in 2010, and trailed Troy 16-14 at halftime with some disgruntled fans at Death Valley booing Swinney and the Tigers. Things turned around in the second half as Clemson rolled to a 43-19 win. The Tigers started 8-0 that season and won the ACC crown, starting a run of five straight seasons with 10-or-more victories.

BUYING IN: Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and wife Kathleen donated $1 million to the school's booster group, IPTAY, in support of the football team. The fund-raising group helps pay for athletic scholarships. Swinney received a new contract in April that will pay him $30.75 million over six years. It also raised his salary $1.1 million from last year to this as he'll make $4.55 million in 2016.

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North Carolina could use another Illinois boost
September 9, 2016

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) A year ago, a 48-14 win over Illinois got North Carolina going and propelled the Tar Heels on a run to the ACC championship game and a bowl

Coming off a 33-24 season-opening loss to Georgia that knocked them out of the Top 25, the Tar Heels could use a repeat performance Saturday when they travel to Illinois.

''It would be a confidence booster,'' receiver Ryan Switzer said. ''The 2016 team hasn't won a game yet. We're going into a Power Five team who had a good showing in week one, who's got new energy and a new staff, and a night game at their own place.''

The Illini are one big win into the tenure of new coach Lovie Smith. That 52-3 victory over Football Championship Subdivision school Murray State was nice, Smith said, but Saturday's game is a bigger deal.

''I don't know how North Carolina's looking at the game - the way the beat us up last year, you know,'' he said. ''But for us, it's a big game, and a true measuring stick to see where we are.''

Things to watch for Saturday when North Carolina visits the Illini:

DEFENSIVE FRONT

North Carolina gashed the Illini for 254 yards last year, 130 of them by then-sophomore tailback Elijah Hood. But the Illinois defensive line lived up to its billing in this season's opener as the strength of the team, holding Murray State to minus-10 yards rushing and sacking Racers quarterbacks six times. Holding Hood in check might mean the Illini will see more of quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who produced just 156 yards on 24-of-40 passing against Georgia and threw more than Tar Heel coach Larry Fedora intended.

''When you start to get behind the chains the whole time, and you're in long yardage situations, it's tough to sit in there and say we're going to run the football. I've never done that,'' Fedora said.

HOOD'S WORKLOAD

Hood was one of the ACC's top runners with 1,463 yards and 17 touchdowns last year, but he got just 10 carries for 72 yards against Georgia while UNC threw 40 passes. Hood is a tackler-punishing runner with the ability to wear down defenses. Getting him going on the road would be a big help.

GOING DEEP

The Tar Heels like to take deep shots in their fast-paced offense, but Trubisky failed to connect on a couple that could have changed the Georgia game. When the Tar Heels' offense is humming, they're churning out big yardage totals and pushing the tempo to wear down defenses. Fedora was pleased Trubisky protected the ball in his first start, but said he needed to do a better job with his footwork on those long balls.

''The offense will work, just do what you're taught to do,'' Fedora said. ''And I think he was trying to do too much.''

STOP THE RUN

UNC came into the year knowing it would have to improve its run defense, but it didn't happen against the Bulldogs and Nick Chubb. Georgia ran for 289 yards in the opener, and the Tar Heels have now surrendered 1,561 yards on the ground in the last four games dating to last season. UNC has to reverse that trend soon.

ILLINOIS ON THE GROUND

The run game the Tar Heels will be trying to stop churned out 287 yards and four touchdowns against an overmatched Murray State defense. But only 49 of those yards belonged to starting tailback Ke'Shawn Vaughn. Illinois stuck with Vaughn, giving him 17 carries in a game it had in hand early. A more productive Vaughn will help pound the North Carolina defense and keep the Tar Heel offense off the field.

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Odom, Missouri eager for win in home debut vs E Michigan
September 9, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) The home opener for Missouri carries a lot of weight for new coach Barry Odom.

The game comes against Eastern Michigan - the same opponent Missouri played when Odom was a sophomore linebacker for the Tigers. He and his teammates got a win that day, 44-24 back on Sept. 6, 1997.

His first home game as coach at his alma mater also carries a bit of pressure after last weekend's 26-11 loss at West Virginia to open the season.

''I tried to look at things that I thought that I did OK, and things that I didn't do well enough,'' Odom said of his coaching debut. ''There's a long list of things that I need to improve on. The ability to try to make in-game adjustments with both sides of the ball ... I was probably a little too quiet at times.''

The Eagles (1-0) won their home opener easily, pounding Mississippi Valley State 61-14 - the most points the Eagles have scored since 2004.

''It's hard to score 60 points in college football and they did it,'' Odom said. ''I'm really impressed with what they did on offense, and equally as much defensively. They're sound.''

Odom served as defensive coordinator for the Tigers in 2015, and his defensive mentality was on display against the Mountaineers. Despite allowing 494 yards in an up-tempo game, Missouri forced three turnovers, matching its 2015 game high.

''They're a really good football team,'' Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton said of the Tigers. ''Defensively, it's well documented that they've been an incredibly talented and productive defense.''

Here are some things to watch Saturday:

TIGER TEMPO

Against West Virginia, Missouri's offense ran 100 plays, more than any team in the nation that week. Until then, the Tigers had run 100 plays of offense just four times since 1958. Additionally, after averaging 15 first downs per game in 2015, Missouri picked up 26 first downs against the Mountaineers, the most since defeating Arkansas 21-14 on Nov. 29, 2014.

''They play really fast on offense,'' Creighton said. ''Essentially, almost everybody now is no-huddle, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you're an up-tempo team. Even if you're a tempo team, there's usually some variance, and they'll vary things as well, but their norm is super fast. Just as fast as you can go.''

SEC STRUGGLES

The Eagles are 0-8 all-time against members of the SEC. Their last matchup came on Oct. 3, 2015, when Leonard Fournette and LSU handed them a 44-22 loss in Baton Rouge.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Missouri has not lost a home opener since 2005, when New Mexico won at Memorial Stadium, 45-35. The Tigers are 91-31-4 in their last 125 home openers.

''We've got a tremendous home field advantage,'' Odom said. ''It's exciting for our kids to play at home, especially at night. We're looking forward to that.''

ELUSIVE EAGLES

Eastern Michigan running backs Shaq Vann and Ian Eriksen both found the end zone twice against Mississippi Valley State. Vann had a career-high 156 rushing yards while Eriksen had 97 in his collegiate debut as a ball carrier.

''The story for us was our other backs stepping up and having good games as well,'' Creighton said. ''We're not surprised at all by that ... We couldn't take any steps backward in terms of the one-two punch with Darius Jackson and Shaq Vann.''

MEMORY LANE

About that 1997 game ... Odom ended up with five tackles and a pass deflection against Eastern Michigan.

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Tulsa rides wave of confidence into matchup with Ohio State
September 9, 2016

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Tulsa will be a huge underdog coming in to face No. 4 Ohio State Saturday in front of 100,000 fans in storied Ohio Stadium, but the Golden Hurricane won't be lacking in confidence.

A good old-fashioned blowout will do that for a team. Nearly every aspect of Tulsa's game was clicking last week when it pummeled San Jose State in its opener 45-10, showing signs that there could be major improvement from last year's 6-7 squad.

Of course, Ohio State - which beat Bowling Green 77-10 in week one - will be a much tougher opponent, but Tulsa coach Philip Montgomery said his team played with maturity and emotion, and he expects players will carry that right into Columbus.

''We've got to be free,'' Montgomery said. ''We can't go in there and be hesitant about what we want to do. I don't want to walk off the field and still have bullets left, so we're going to shoot them and see what happens.''

OFFENSE GALORE

Both teams showed they are loaded with offensive weapons. Tulsa running back D'Angelo Brewer rushed for 164 yards and three touchdowns last week on 22 carries. Quarterback Dane Evans, directing the spread offense, was 12 for 23 for 198 yards and a touchdown as Tulsa rolled up 512 total yards. The Golden Hurricane was 13th in the country in total offense last year.

''Very talented receivers, two NFL prospects at wide receiver, a returning veteran at quarterback,'' Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. ''They just force you to play in space.''

Ohio State broke a school record for offensive yards by piling up 776 against Bowling Green. Quarterback J.T. Barrett passed for six touchdowns and ran for another.

Montgomery, a former Baylor assistant, recruited Barrett out of high school in Texas and knows how dynamic he is.

''He got them in and out of plays, he got them in and out of situations, threw the ball very effectively, and he's a dual-threat guy,'' Montgomery said. ''I mean, he's a guy that can pull it down and hurt you with his feet just as well as he can do it with his arm.''

BUCKEYES EXPECT MORE FIGHT

It was designed to be another tuneup game, but several Ohio State players said this week they expect Tulsa to put up more a fight than their week one opponent.

''I feel like we're going to get some more experienced people,'' cornerback Gareon Conley said. ''I know a lot of guys had left from Bowling Green, and watching some of the film from Tulsa I know (they have) an experienced quarterback, so we've got to get ready for that. And they have a faster tempo.''

Said center Pat Elflein: ''They've got better players. They run some more stuff (on defense), they're going to blitz us more, so it's just kind of like another step up from Bowling Green.''

BURROW SHOWS HIS STUFF

Meyer said he was pleased to see backup quarterback Joe Burrow get some significant playing time last week. Burrow, a redshirt freshman who likely is the Buckeyes' quarterback of the future, took over for Barrett in the third quarter for mop-up duty. He was 6 for 8 for 68 yards and threw his first career touchdown pass.

''He confirmed what we all thought and what he's shown: He's a tough guy who has talent, and it means a lot to him,'' Meyer said.

Asked if he was confident Burrow could do the job if Barrett got injured, Meyer wouldn't answer. ''I'm not going there,'' he said.

Injuries forced Meyer to use his second- and third-string QBs to win the national championship in 2014.

SMALL SCHOOL IN THE BIG TIME

Tulsa has the smallest undergraduate enrollment of FBS schools with 3,473 students; Ohio State is ranked third with 55,508.

With a capacity near 105,000, Ohio Stadium will host the largest crowd ever to see Tulsa play football. The Golden Hurricane played in front of 85,657 last year at Oklahoma.

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After stunning start, No. 11 Texas wants steady against UTEP
September 9, 2016

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas started the season with a stunner. The Longhorns unveiled their new offense, found their quarterback(s) and eased some of the pressure on coach Charlie Strong.

They also leaped back into the Top 25 for the first time in three years following the overtime win against Notre Dame.

The No. 11 Longhorns (1-0) want to keep that momentum going at home Saturday night against UTEP (1-0) when a stumble would be a disaster.

''One game does not make a season,'' said Strong, who is in a pivotal year after consecutive losing season. ''We know that we're still rebuilding.''

But one game can sure give a team a boost. Freshman quarterback Shane Buechele and his senior backup Tyrone Swoopes delivered the biggest plays and answered the biggest question heading into this season. Buechele passed for two touchdowns and ran for another against Notre Dame and Swoopes ran for three touchdowns, including the winning score in overtime.

The Miners will be trying to spoil all this fun, but it will take a pretty big punch up in class to do it. And UTEP will be starting backup quarterback Kavika Johnson. Regular starter Zach Greenlee strained a knee ligament in a 38-22 season-opening win over New Mexico State.

''I'll be honest, we'll probably have to play a perfect game for us to beat this team,'' UTEP coach Sean Kugler said. ''There's not a single kid in our program that even probably got a recruiting letter from the University of Texas.''

Some things to look for when the Longhorns and Miners kick off Saturday night:

DYNAMIC DUO

The Miners have quite a pair in twin brothers Aaron and Alvin Jones. Aaron is the nation's leading rusher with 249 yards in the first game against New Mexico State. It was an impressive return after missing most of 2015 with an injury. Alvin is a starting linebacker and had 12 tackles in the first game. He led the Miners with 93 tackles and 6 + sacks last season.

TEXAS QUARTERBACKS

Buechele and Swoopes got Texas fans excited about the potential of coordinator Sterlin Gilbert's offense with their 1-2 punch of passing and running. Look for of the same with Buechele throwing deep and Swoopes running the ''18-Wheeler'' package as a change of pace.

Swoopes, a former starter, had been harshly criticized by Texas fans over the past two season. He said he won't get back on social media to see what people are saying about him now.

''I know just as fast everybody can lift me up, they can put you back down,'' Swoopes said.

MINER ADJUSTMENTS

Aaron Jones is the catalyst in the offense but the loss of Greenlee could have a huge impact if limits the Miners' ability to keep the Longhorns from packing the line of scrimmage. Johnson took a few snaps last week in a wildcat formation, rushing for 15 yards with one incomplete pass. He also caught two passes for 26 yards.

TEXAS DEPTH

The Longhorns played 10 freshmen in their season and the number could go higher this week as Strong continues to try to build depth before the Big 12 portion of the schedule. Texas has 25 sophomores and freshmen on their two-deep depth chart.

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CFB BEST BETS:

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 40-28-2 58.82% +4600

O/U Picks 9-9-0 50.00% -450

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

MD at FIU 07:30 PM

MD -11.5

U 56.5


LOU at SYR 08:00 PM

LOU -14.5

U 68.0