Inside College Football: Can Notre Dame Improve to 3-0?

Week 2 Rewind

Top-25 Takeaways

3 Georgia vs 24 South Carolina

Last week we wondered if Georgia’s youngsters were ready to take on a talented South Carolina squad. They were, cruising to a 41-17 win, outscoring the Gamecocks 21-7 in the second half. If the Bulldogs keep playing like this, they’ll have a legitimate shot at avenging last year’s heartbreaking loss in the National Championship game.

 

17 USC vs 10 Stanford

I also predicted that the Cardinal would pull this one out if RB Bryce Love found his mojo. That’s exactly what happened, with Love punishing the Trojans for 136 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Unfortunately for Stanford, Love will miss this week’s game against UC Davis with an undisclosed injury. Love’s health will be one of college football’s top storylines as the season progresses.

 

Kentucky vs 25 Florida

Heading into last Saturday night’s tilt, the Gators had a 31-game winning streak against Kentucky. If that sounds ridiculously lengthy, that’s because it was the nation’s longest active win streak in the FBS. Now that the streak and Dan Mullen’s chances of getting dinner on the house at any Gainesville restaurant for the remainder of the season are both over, we’ll find out if Mullen is capable of keeping the wheels turning after a horrific loss.

 

Week 3 Fast Forward

Upset Alert

 4 Ohio State vs 15 TCU (+12)

For the first time ever, the Buckeyes are traveling to Texas to play the Horned Frogs at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. This primetime matchup will be Ohio State interim head coach Ryan Day’s last game as boss before Urban Meyer returns from his three-game suspension. While emotions will be high on OSU’s sideline, TCU head coach Gary Patterson will have his team chomping at the bit as the 12-point underdog.

“We’ve always done things that people say we couldn’t do,” Patterson said via The Dallas Morning News. “That’s what we’ll try to get done this week.”

To do that, the Frogs will have to outscore an offense that’s averaging 64.5 points per game through the first two weeks of the young season.

Enter TCU QB Shawn Robinson.

The sophomore has already passed for four touchdowns while rushing for three on the ground, proving why he’s one of the nation’s most electric dual-threat quarterbacks. TCU’s offense runs through him, and if his line can stop Ohio State DE Nick Bosa from terrorizing the backfield, Robinson will have enough time to use his arm and legs in what could be a legendary win at Jerry’s World.

 

Coach’s Corner

Whether he’s been at South Florida or Western Kentucky, first-year Florida State head coach Willie Taggart has had success. But after a 1-1 start to his tenure in Tallahassee, the honeymoon is absolutely over. When you only manage to score three points against Virginia Tech AND have to rally in the fourth quarter in order to beat the Samford Bulldogs, it’s fair for fans to be furious (which they are).

Luckily for Taggart, he’ll have a chance to change the perception of the football program when his Seminoles take on Syracuse Saturday afternoon. Picking up an ACC win against the undefeated Orange won’t silence all the haters, but it will allow for FSU’s fanbase to take a deep — and well-deserved — breath after a bumpy start to the season.

 

Tweet of the Week

 

Must-See Matchups

Vanderbilt vs 8 Notre Dame

Notre Dame looks to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2015 when they host the Commodores on Saturday. Vandy will have to play a perfect game to upset the Fighting Irish, but if their upstart offense continues to put up points like they have through the first two games of the season (averaging 38 PPG), Notre Dame could have their hands full in a tight game.

 

17 Boise State vs 24 Oklahoma State

Come for the high-powered offenses, stay for Boise State’s best opportunity at strengthening their resume for the College Football Playoff. A win alone won’t guarantee that the Broncos play in a New Year’s Six bowl, but it would be a great start.

 

12 LSU vs 7 Auburn

It doesn’t matter that LSU head coach Ed Orgeron always sounds like the Cookie Monster gargling mouthwash while attempting his best impression of Farmer Fran from “The Waterboy.” What matters is that his players love him and he’s got the Tigers at 2-0 ahead of the weekend’s biggest game in the SEC. Expect for LSU’s athletic defense to consistently pressure Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham, but he should ultimately come up clutch on a game-winning drive late in this pivotal SEC West showdown.