Saturday Postgame: Week 2

So it ended up being a pretty juicy steak after all! Guess that's another reason why nearly all predictions are wrong. Why do I do this every week?

• Even in defeat, Ohio State answered all the critics with a fast, aggressive defense that did a fantastic job shutting down USC's prolific rushing attack, at least through 3 1/2 quarters, and with the emergence of Dan Herron as a solid running back. Everyone expected Terrelle Pryor to have to do everything to even keep the Buckeyes close, and he played good, smart football (the early INT being the exception), but Dan Herron and the no-name receivers stepped up big. But in the end it was true freshman Matt Barkley who led his team with poise when it counted, and USC managed to score its only offensive touchdown after a long, Buckeye-crushing drive to win.
• Ohio State may have earned as much respect for itself and their conference in defeat as they would have in victory.
• Perhaps this was to be expected with so many games pitting a major conference team with a lower tier or even lower division foe, but it seemed like an abnormal amount of big time teams struggled this weekend. Check out this list:

Oklahoma State (lost to Houston, 45-35)

Colorado (lost to Toledo, 54-38)

Michigan State (lost to Central Michigan, 29-27)

Florida State (beat Jacksonville St., 19-9, trailed 9-7 until late in 4th)

Wisconsin (beat Fresno State in 2OT, 34-31)

Northwestern (beat E. Michigan, 27-24)

Kansas State (lost to La.-Lafayette, 17-15)

Missouri (beat Bowling Green, 27-20)

Maryland (beat James Madison in OT, 38-35)

Minnesota (beat Air Force, 20-13)

In addition to those scores, Alabama, Texas, and South Florida struggled through the first half of their games against Florida International, Wyoming, and Western Kentucky, respectively - possibly 3 of the worst 10 teams in the country.

• Tate Forcier ought to be anointed the full-time starter for Michigan. The kid has some moxie.
• Speaking of Michigan, it's probably too early to say, but it certainly looks like they're back. It looks like the Big Ten is back to dominance by the premier 3 programs: Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State. We'll see how the final order shakes out.
• While we're on the subject of the Big Ten, beyond those 3, the rest of the conference looks pretty paltry. Maybe worse than they were even expected to be.
• Coaches going in opposite directions: Colorado's Dan Hawkins and Cincinnati's Brian Kelly. Hawkins boasted that the Buffaloes would win 10 games; they need to win out to get there after falling to Colorado State and Toledo. Hawkins may not make it until October. Meanwhile, Kelly and his Cincinnati Bearcats were faced with completely rebuilding a defense that lost 10 starters, and were barely mentioned when predictions were made about who'd win the Big East, a conference that had by far the most diversity in championship predictions. I heard predictions of Rutgers, Pitt, West Virginia, and South Florida - half the conference - as winners. Yet after 2 weeks, Cincy clearly tops the list (with Pitt lurking). Brian Kelly will soon be piloting a bigger plane.
• What happens when you go out on a limb and pick a total sleeper to make the national championship game? They go out in week 2 and lose at home to Houston. Way to leave me hangin', Oklahoma State.
• Bonehead move of the week: UConn drawing a holding penalty in the end zone, resulting in a safety, with less than 2 minutes to play in a tie game. To the lineman who committed the foul: pick your head up buddy - it's just football, you have much greater significance in the eyes of God than for what you do on the football field.
• I have a hard time taking any ACC teams seriously, after so many have either lost to or struggled to beat 1-AA teams.
• Emerging star: Dion Lewis, Pitt freshman RB. Stat line from today: 24-190-2td. May I mention that he was on my list of 10 you should know? Possibly the only pick I've really nailed so far this year.
• The Penn State offensive line worries me. I can't see them running the table (which they'd have to do to have any shot at a title) if they have to rely on Darryl Clark's arm every week. One more week to develop chemistry and get the ground game going before Big Ten play comes calling.