Sept. 13 East Carolina 28, at Virginia Tech 21 
And You Care Because … East Carolina got up to a 21-0 first quarter lead, but needed a one-yard Shane Carden run with 16 seconds to play to pull off the win. Carden threw three touchdown passes to three different receivers to cap off three long drives for the big lead, but Virginia Tech woke up and came back with 21 straight points on three Michael Brewer touchdown passes including two to Isaiah Ford from 21 and 15 yards out. ECU had one last drive, and Carden came through with two long pass plays to Cam Worthy, and helped by two penalties, to down to the one for his game-winning score. 
What Else? Virginia Tech’s defense was ripped apart early, but it made the changes needed and allowed the offense to get back in the game. It wasn’t enough, but the Hokie offense ended up holding on to the ball for 36:40 with Michael Brewer throwing 56 times for 298 yards and three scores with two picks. 
– East Carolina QB Shane Carden was magnificent early and late, completing 23-of-47 passes for 427 yards and three scores, and running for 13 yards and the game-winning touchdown. 
– ECU star WR Justin Hardy caught four passes for 47 yards. Cam Worthy was the star, catching six passes for 224 yards including the two key plays on the game-winning drive. 
– East Carolina stalled way too often because of penalties. The team committed 13 for 114 yards. 
Game Rating: A- 

Sept. 12 At Cincinnati 58, Toledo 34 
And You Care Because … Welcome to the Gunner Kiel era. The new Cincinnati quarterback threw six touchdown passes with three of them on the way to a 34-0 first half lead, but Toledo made this really, really interesting. Logan Woodside threw three touchdown passes and found Alonzo Russell twice to help get the Rockets within 41-34 in the fourth, but Kiel and the Bearcats took control again in the fourth on the way to 17 unanswered points, putting the game away with a 22-yard scoring play to Shaq Washington. 
What Else? That’s exactly what you wanted to see out of the new quarterback – Cincinnati might really be that good if Gunner Kiel can keep doing this. He was fantastic, completing 25-of-37 passes for 418 yards and six touchdowns, but he had some help. The entire offense worked – Hosey Williams ran well, taking off for 103 yards on 14 carries. 
– It took a little while for Toledo to wake up, but that offense is going to be terrific as the season keeps rolling. Logan Woodside completed 27-of-40 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns with Alonzo Russell catching five passes for 114 yards and two scores. 
– It didn’t take much time for Cincinnati to come up with the explosion, cranking out 584 yards in 24:48. Toledo held the ball for 35:12.
– The Toledo running game was excellent, with Kareem Hunt running 12 times for 101 yards and a score and Marc Remy averaging 7.3 yards per carry with 80 yards on 11 carries. The line did a great job. 
Game Rating: B 

Sept. 11 at BYU 33, Houston 25 
And You Care Because … BYU built up a 23-0 first quarter lead but had to push in the second half after Houston rallied. Jamaal Williams ran for an 11-yard score and Taysom Hill ran for a five-yard touchdown and found Mitch Mathews for a short score to put the Cougars up early, but Houston roared back late in the first half with 15 points in the final few minutes helped by two John O’Korn touchdown passes. BYU took the momentum back on Williams’ second scoring run, but once again, the D had to on as O’Korn and Greenberry hooked up for their second touchdown connection of the game. The Cougars were able to hang on. 
What Else? If BYU could look lousy and still come up with a big win, it did it. With 11 penalties, three turnovers, and a slew of silly mistakes, the Cougars did their best to keep the other Cougars alive. 
– BYU QB Taysom Hill was terrific, completing 21-of-34 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown, but he threw two picks. His real worth was on the ground, running 26 times for 160 yards and a score, while Jamaal Williams ran 28 times for 139 yards and two touchdowns. 
– Houston QB John O’Korn completed 30-of-52 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns. Houston ran 13 times for ten yards. 
– Houston got outplayed and couldn’t stop the BYU ground game, but it kept fighting. O’Korn did his best, but there were too many stalled drives and BYU was able to control the clock when it had to. 
Game Rating: C+ 

Sept. 13 Boise State 38, at Connecticut 21 
And You Care Because …Connecticut somehow hung around with Boise State, despite playing sloppily throughout. The Huskies made a series of gaffes and turnovers, yet only trailed the Broncos, 24-21, at the outset of the fourth quarter. Boise State, though, closed the deal with a pair of touchdowns over the final 10 minutes, capped by a Donte Deayon 50-yard interception return, the team’s second defensive touchdown of the afternoon. 
What Else? New UConn coach Bob Diaco has a laundry list of things to work on in his first year. Topping that list will be improving in pass protection after allowing eight sacks to Boise State. 
– It was a buy day for Bronco pitch-and-catch combo Grant Hedrick to Matt Miller. Hedrick threw a pair of touchdowns to Miller and caught one … from Miller. 
– Despite getting battered from start to finish, Husky QB Chandler Whitmer stood tall in the pocket to help keep UConn in the game. He went 16-of-29 for 209 yards, two touchdowns and two picks. 
– Boise State won despite not getting its usual production from star RB Jay Ajayi. Ajayi only managed to rush for 39 yards on 18 carries, while being a non-factor in the passing game. However, it was encouraging that the Broncos could win a game with defense and Hedrick’s arm. 
Game Rating: C 

Sept. 13 at Missouri 38, UCF 10 
And You Care Because … Maty Mauk threw two touchdown passes to both Jimmie Hunt and Bud Sasser as Missouri rolled up a blowout win after a rough start. UCF took a 10-7 lead on a two-yard William Stanback touchdown catch, but Mizzou scored 31 unanswered points with Mauk finding Sasser from 22 and 21 yards out and Duron Singleton finishing things off with a fumble return for a score in the final seconds. 
What Else? Maty Mauk continues to have issues with his accuracy, completing 14-of-24 passes, but he made them count with 144 yards and four scores with a pick. 
– Missouri was able to run without much of a problem with Marcus Murphy taking off for 94 yards on 14 carries and the team averaging over five yards per pop. 
– Turnovers killed UCF. The late one didn’t matter, but four on the day hurt any chances of keeping the early lead. Justin Holman threw for 209 yards with a touchdown and two picks. 
– UCF LB Terrance Plummer led all defenders with 12 tackles and a tackle for loss, but Mizzou DE Shane Ray was the star making seven tackles with two sacks, a forced fumble and four tackles for loss. 
Game Rating: C 

Sept. 13 at Utah State 36, Wake Forest 24 
And You Care Because … Wake Forest started out the scoring with a 70-yard Josh Banks interception return for a score. Utah State went on a 29-point first half run with Devin Centers returning a fumble 47 yards for a touchdown, Zach Vigil returning an interception 35 yards for a score, and Chuckie Keeton and Ronald Butler each throwing touchdown passes. Wake Forest scored 16 third quarter points helped by two John Wolford touchdown passes, but the offense was too mistake-prone and Utah State was able to pull away on a five-yard Wyatt Houston touchdown pass from Darell Garretson. 
What Else? Utah State QB Chuckie Keeton suffered an apparent leg injury. He completed 20-of-27 passes for 166 yards and a score before getting knocked out. Darell Garretson completed 11-of-16 passes for 121 yards with a touchdown with a pick. 
– Both teams kept screwing up. Wake Forest committed ten penalties for 103 yards with three turnovers, and Utah State committed eight penalties for 65 yards with three turnovers. 
– Wake Forest was held to minus-25 rushing yards. 
– Utah State’s Hunter Sharp caught 12 passes for 138 yards. 
Game Rating: C-

Sept. 13 NC State 49, at South Florida 17 
And You Care Because … NC State’s offense exploded, and the defense came up with three takeaways, in the easy blowout. The Wolfpack to up 49-7 with Bra’Lon Cherry scoring three touchdowns from 17, 17 and three yards out, and Matt Dayes taking off for a 34-yard touchdown. USF tied the score at seven on a 75-yard Ryeshene Bronson touchdown catch, but didn’t get back on the board until the final minutes, getting the only other touchdown on a 46-yard pick six from Lamar Robbins with 46 seconds to play. 
What Else? NC State WR Bra’Lon Cherry caught three passes for 50 yards and a score, and ran twice for 20 yards and two touchdowns. 
– Other than the 75-yard Ryeshene Bronson touchdown catch, USF managed just 84 yards of total offense. 
– NC State QB Jacoby Brissett completed 20-of-29 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns.
– USF quarterbacks combined to complete 5-of-20 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown with two picks. 
Game Rating: D+ 

Sept. 13 at Florida Atlantic 50, Tulsa 21 
And You Care Because … FAU got its first win of the year as Jacquez Johnson completed 15-of-20 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns and he ran for a score. Tulsa turned it over three times and was never in the game. FAU took a 17-0 first quarter lead and got up 33-7 going into halftime on a 59-yard touchdown catch from Henson Stoshak. Tulsa was outgained 518 yards to 363 and couldn’t stop giving up the really big pass play – FAU averaged 14.8 yards per pass. 
Game Rating: D