College football kickoff takeaways: Vols stumble, Jackson"s record-setting day

2016 College Football Season Preview

It feels good to be here again, live blogging and wrapping up a night of college football.

You can catch up on all the action from the Live Blog below, but here are a few things to know about the first full night of college football action.

1. Appalachian State exposed Tennessee: The Vols, ranked No. 9 in the polls and picked to win the SEC East, were ineffective on offense and presented almost no downfield threat in the passing game. Josh Dobbs was far from the Heisman dark horse that some were hoping to see, and his most successful play -- a 67-yard touchdown pass to Josh Malone -- was as much a credit to Malone"s physicality as Dobbs" arm.

The Mountaineers overpowered the Vols" offensive line all night, scored a touchdown off of a muffed punt and prevented one with a red zone interception. They also got a tremendous performance from All-Sun Belt running back Marcus c*x. Appalachian State won 11 games last year and is a favorite to win its league, but no one expected this Tennessee team to struggle on Thursday night.

2. Lamar "Action" Jackson: Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson was a cheat code on Thursday night. Jackson didn"t play after halftime because he already scored eight touchdowns to give the Cardinals a 56-0 lead at the break. He set a school record for total touchdowns, had 289 passing yards and more than 100 rushing yards. Bobby Petrino said they spent the offseason working on Lamar Jackson"s ability in the pocket, but he was burning defenders all over the field on Thursday night.

3. Fun with Names on Jerseys: I think this is going to be a thing during college football broadcasts this fall. Camera operators know the shots are popular, so they will look for the perfect sideline shot and we will share those moments with you.

4. Crazy endings: Thursday night provided thrills throughout the evening.

• Tennessee"s OT win against Appalachian State: The game-winning score was even controversial with goal line cams showing Dobbs" fumble and Jalen Hurd"s recovery for a touchdown.
• South Carolina stormed back against Vanderbilt: Elliott Fry booted a 55-yard field goal to down Vanderbilt after trailing 10-0 in Nashville. Friday, he"ll try to get out on the course and work on his power fade off the tee.
• Minnesota and Oregon State went 12 rounds: Offensive expectations were low in this game, but this game had us up watching the Golden Gophers sustain three targeting ejections to hold on for a win.
• UConn didn"t lose: We kept an eye on Bob Diaco"s Huskies all night and were pleased to see they held on with a field goal against the Maine Bears.

5. Vanderbilt let a win slip away: The Commodores jumped out to a 10-0 lead, had established an advantage at the line of scrimmage and then got nothing in the second half. Even with only 133 yards of second half offense, there was one scoring opportunity that ended in a missed goal. It"s a huge win for Will Muschamp and the Gamecocks, but a potentially damaging loss for Vanderbilt"s bowl chances.

6. Hey Alabama, here come the Hilltoppers: Western Kentucky lost Brandon Doughty but that hasn"t stopped the "Toppers from being an apparent offensive juggernaut. Mike White threw for 517 yards in a 46-14 pummeling of Rice that has us looking down the schedule to a date with the Tide in Week 2.

If you are unable to view the live blog below, please click here to view it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Source: http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/takeaways-tennessee-stumbles-early-lamar-jackson-has-record-setting-day/

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Thursday Tailgate: Ranking tonight"s college football games

Hardest Hits of the 2015-16 College Football Season || Part 2 ᴴᴰ

The defensive brilliance of Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason should not be underestimated, but will his team score enough to win consistently?(Photo: Mark Humphrey, AP)

Last weeks kickoff Down Under provided a jump start, but the college football season begins in earnest on this night, fittingly the first of September.

Heres a quick ranking of the most meaningful tilts on the Thursday TV slate. All times Eastern.

1. South Carolina at Vanderbilt

Time/TV: 8 p.m., ESPN

Sure, neither of these teams is expected to contend for the SEC East title. But its a game that counts in the league standings nevertheless, and the winner can claim, for the moment at least, to be atop the division. In truth both squads likely need this "W"to avoid bringing up the rear when the campaign concludes. Gamecocks faithful are hoping that the hire of a former Florida head coach again leads to success.

Given Will Muschamps defensive bona fides and the strides made by the Commodores stoppers under head coach Derek Mason, dont expect this game to challenge any scoring records. The outcome will likely hinge on which team makes fewer mistakes. That might not bode well for Vandy, which has been undone by turnovers while dropping its last four season openers.

2. Rice at Western Kentucky

Time/TV: 8 p.m., CBSSN

The other game that will count in league standings is in Conference USA. Despite the graduation of QB Brandon Doughty, the host Hilltoppers are expected to contend for the league crown and will be solid favorites tonight. The Owls are well-coached and make the most of their available talent but figure to struggle to contain WKUs superior depth and talent. The Owls first and foremost must find a way to contain Hilltoppers RB Anthony Wales.

3. Appalachian State at No. 10 Tennessee

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m., SEC

The transition from long-time Southern Conference and perennial FCS title contender to Sun Belt Conference mainstay has gone well for Appalachian State, a program with a good track record that enjoys solid support from its community. Thoughan upset of the projected SEC East favorite would seem to be asking a lot, there isnt a Vols player or coach who isnt aware of the Mountaineers historic takedown of Michigan at the Big House a few years ago.

Tennessee should nevertheless take charge thanks to its physical advantage along the lines, but QB Joshua Dobbs will have to choose his targets carefully as he challenges an experienced Mountaineers secondary. Appalachian StateQB Taylor Lamb can make plays himself.

4. Oregon State at Minnesota

Time/TV: 9 p.m., BTN

Its a clash of power conference teams, though calling either of them a true contender in its respective league would be a bit of a stretch. The Golden Gophers are a bit farther along in the Big Ten.QB Mitch Leidner is back after directing a Quick Lane Bowl triumph against Central Michigan last season, and h**l look to get the new season off on the right foot in front of the home crowd.

The Beavers first season under coach Gary Andersen failed to produce a Pac-12 win, and they enter 2016 on a nine-game losing streak. Utah State transfer and new starting QB Darell Garretson, however, provided a reason for optimism with a big performance in OSUs spring game.

5.Indiana at Florida International

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m., ESPNU

For the Panthers, this rare home game against a power conference opponent should generate some early electricity in the stadium. But the Hoosiers, who ended a lengthy bowl drought a season ago, will be quite motivated to avoid the step back that a loss to FIU would represent.

THIS WEEK"S 10 BEST GAMES

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Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2016/09/01/ranking-tonights-college-football-games-south-carolina-vanderbilt-appalachian-state-tennessee-oregon-state-minnesota/89675788/

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Plenty of new college football fans for 1st game of season (Aug 27, 2016)

Conference champions should NOT automatically make the College Football Playoff - "The Herd"

SYDNEY (AP) It was more than two hours before the start of Saturday"s U.S. college season opener between California and Hawaii, and Anthony Goodluck and his son were already milling outside Sydney"s Olympic stadium, soaking up the early atmosphere.

The rental company manager, dressed in a Cal Bears jersey, and son Jaiden, with a long ""Cal"" scarf wrapped around his neck, came 950 kilometers (590 miles) south from Brisbane for the big game.

The weather was cooperating, with sunny skies and light winds on a late winter day and high temperatures of around 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit). Despite nearly 75 millimeters (three inches) of rain in the past week, the stadium turf was firm

""I actually coach some gridiron in Brisbane, and I"d take college football over the NFL any day,"" said Goodluck. ""I"m a big Miami fan - go Hurricanes - but after that I love Cal State. We"re really looking forward to seeing our first game.""

It was the first time college football had been played in Sydney. The last American football of any kind was an NFL preseason game at the Olympic stadium that attracted 73,000 spectators in 1999.

Organizers said two weeks ago they hoped for a crowd in excess of 65,000, and Saturday"s attendance was close to that - 61,247 in the 83,500-seat stadium. The final score wasn"t close - Cal beat Hawaii 51-31.

Early arrivals Saturday had a chance to try their luck throwing an American football through a hole in a net in a radio station promotion. Foot-long hot dogs were big sellers at the outdoor booths, but in keeping with the multicultural nature of western Sydney where the stadium is located, Asian and middle Eastern goods also featured prominently on the menus.

Michelle Hubbard of Melbourne was an early arrival for another reason - her son, Ben Scruton, is a walk-on player for Hawaii and will travel back with the team when the Rainbow Warriors leave for Honolulu right after the game.

""I had to get him his visa,"" Hubbard said. ""And I have four tickets if anyone needs them. Ben bought them nearly a year ago for him and his mates. Now he"s in the stadium as an official member of the team.""

Scruton was offered a spot after Hawaii conducted a scouting camp in Melbourne earlier this year. He"s like many other Australian Rules players who have earned spots on college teams and in the NFL, mostly as punters.

Another set of parents were dressed in Cal uniforms - Greg and Cynthia Madden - who travelled from southern California to support their son, Cal defensive end DeVante Wilson.

""We can"t wait to get in there, to get this thing started,"" Greg Madden said as a marching band warmed up inside the stadium.

Both teams brought cheerleading squads to Australia, and Hawaii had 30 members of its marching band for Saturday"s game.

The fans mostly supported Hawaii, the underdogs, and other than reports of beer running out in parts of the stadium, most of the fans appeared to enjoy what was likely their first taste of American football.

Source: http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/plenty-of-new-college-football-fans-for-1st-game-of-season-082716

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How college football defenses are gaining on offenses

Conference champions should NOT automatically make the College Football Playoff - "The Herd"

Alabama coach Nick Saban is shown here talking to the defense, including preseason All-American Eddie Jackson.(Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)

By the numbers, 2006 was the strangest defensive season in college football history.

Offenses averaged just 3.07 touchdowns per game, the lowest FBS-wide average since 1992. Teams gained only 346.9 yards per game, the lowest average since 1984. It was a year when defenses across the country dominated at a rate never seen before or since, relative to the era.

So for a few months, at least, defense did indeed win championships fulfilling the long-held yet flimsy adage preached by uninventive coaches and pundits alike.

In hindsight, that 2006 season was an aberration. Offenses had dominated during the previous half-decade; offenses would dominate the sport even more during the decade following.

For years, spread-based and no-huddle offenses have dictated the tempo of games, the flow of action and, far more often than not, the final result. The Southeastern Conference washesitant to fully embrace the movement,but even that changed: Alabama, among others, embraced a quicker style, needing a more potent offensive attack to maintain its perch atop the sport.

I still think the spread is a difficult offense, said Alabama coach Nick Saban. But I think the rules of college football favor the offense, favor the no-huddle.

Yet as teams prepare for September, defenses across college football have taken steps toward closing the gap.

Repetition, increased familiarity, tweaked personnel packages and increased communication have helped to turn back time offenses still rule, but more so than at any point in the last decade, defenses can hold their heads high.

Defense has adjusted, said Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly. Defense has caught up to the lightning no-huddle, the fast-break no-huddle.

Adjusted, but with a caveat: Defensive numbers will never return to 2006-like levels, let alone those of earlier generations, as more and more teams stress total possessions as their most vital offensive statistic.

Because we have more snaps, in essence theres more game, said Miami (Fla.) defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. Its as if baseball went to an 11-inning game and were shocked that everyones production went up.

***

For defenses in this era, its not about winning the war; the opposition is always going to score points, often in bunches, and rare is the defense that can singlehandedly carry a team to a successful season. Its about winning individual battles on third down, for example, or in the red zone.

And no development has played a greater factor in a subtle defensive revival than the proliferation of spread offenses themselves. Ten years ago, a defense might face one or two early adopters of the style during the course of a single season. Now, teams will face an up-tempo opponent more often than not, and in many cases spend an entire year defending the system during practice.

The more teams that do that, the more defense is going to study it. The more defense studies it, the more variety of schemes you get, Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said.

What we see now how teams are defending us now are much different than what they were defending 15, 20 years ago just because they see it all the time.

Yet defenses had been seeing the up-tempo style for years and had done little to stem the uptick in offensive production. Its only in the recent past that head coaches and coordinators have found two ways to take advantage of their growing understanding: one, with an increased level of in-game communication, and two, by mirroring offensive shifts with a more tailored approach to defensive personnel.

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly, shown here talking to Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, believes defenses are catching up to superb offenses.(Photo: Matt Cashore, USA TODAY Sports)

In the beginning, one of the biggest advantages tempo-based offenses held was in their ability to simply move quicker than the opposition; defenses were unable to maintain the same pace, with that effect snowballing over the course of a single drive, let alone a single game.

The big thing was their inability to have a defensive structure to handle that fast pace, Kelly said.

Now, defenses have found an ability thanks in large part to repetition and an increased comfort level to communicate effectively their calls, he said.

In turn, this has allowed defenses to utilize their personnel to match wits with a quick-twitch offense. Several coaches interviewedequated their defensive approach with line changes in hockey: If the opposition sends on three wide receivers, defenses will quickly adapt with multiple defensive backs of their own, for example.

***

This has also led some programs to alter the way they recruit. In the past, Rodriguez would split his teams 85 scholarships evenly between offense and defense. Recently, however, its been flipping the other way, he said: Arizona may have as many as 50 scholarships devoted to defense, compared to 30 on offense.

Arizona Wildcats head coach Rich Rodriguez see the value in more defensive scholarships than offensive ones.(Photo: Casey Sapio, USA TODAY Sports)

It"s become a little bit of a chess match, said Rodriguez.

In a sense, however, the fact that defenses have found ways to combat this generations offensive explosive shouldnt be too surprising: In college football as in life, one trendreplacesanother, so the return of defensive competitiveness may be inevitable.

The game of football has never been the same for a long period of time, said Brigham Young coach Kalani Sitake. Its rotated quite a bit.

Offenses still rule, with the final game of last season as evidence: Alabama 45, Clemson 40. Yet as teams find ways to combat what once seemed the unstoppable, its possible to envision an era when defenses, not offenses, are again college footballs defining force.

Therell be a point in time where the defense is catching up and there will be some new scheme or technique that people are using defensively, California coach Sonny Dykes said. It"s all cyclical. Football"s cyclical.

Contributing: Daniel Uthman, George Schroeder.

USA TODAY SPORTS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS

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Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2016/08/27/offense-vs-defense-in-college-football/89253348/

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