NCAA Football 2021 Week 2 results

 Well, as expected, the Top 25 has shaken up. Some of the shakeups were due to upsets, and others due to teams playing FBS teams for the first time.  Let's see how it shapes up this week, before it finally settles down a bit after next week's results:

Top 25 [Last week's position]

1. Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0) [1]
2. Georgia Bulldogs (2-0) [2]
3. Iowa Hawkeyes (2-0) [6]
4. Cincinnati Bearcats (2-0) [4]
5. UCLA Bruins (2-0) [5]
6. Auburn Tigers (2-0) [8]
7. Florida Gators (2-0) [10]
8. Oregon Ducks (2-0) [19]
9. Michigan State Spartans (2-0) [17]
10. Michigan Wolverines (2-0) [18]
11. Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0) [20]
12. Ohio State Buckeyes (1-1) [3]
13. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-0) [23]
14. Arkansas Razorbacks (2-0) [NR] : They dominated Texas.  Maybe the Longhorns don't want to move to the SEC now?
15. Virginia Tech Hokies (2-0) [21]
16. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-0) [13] : They nearly lost to an unranked Toledo team.  Where was their defense?
17. Kansas State Wildcats (2-0) [14] : Like the Irish, they squeaked by in a game they should have easily won
18. Arizona State Sun Devils (2-0) [NR]
19. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (2-0) [NR]
20. Texas A&M Aggies (2-0) [11] : Their defense kept them in the game until their backup QB found his footing, but things don't look too good so long as he's under center
21. Tennessee Volunteers (1-1) [7]
22. UCF Golden Knights (2-0) [22]
23. NC State Wolfpack (1-1) [9]
24. Pittsburgh Panthers (2-0) [NR]
25. Marshall Thundering Herd (2-0) [26]

On the Edge: Fresno State Bulldogs (1-1), Virginia Cavaliers (2-0), Wisconsin Badgers (1-1), Mississippi State Bulldogs (2-0), Boise State Broncos (1-1), Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-1), Appalachian State Mountaineers (1-1)

Big Ten Report

Obviously the biggest surprise was Ohio State's loss, mainly because the unit that collapsed was their defense.  Their run defense has been dwindling the past couple of years, but halftime adjustments have propelled them.  They didn't seem to adjust at all during halftime, and that squad seemed lackluster.  Let's see if they get it together.

The other surprise was Nebraska, who thoroughly dominated Buffalo.  The Bulls were supposed to be a good team this season, and the Cornhusker defense seemed completely lacking after their game against Illinois.  Apparently they got their defense worked out (say, maybe someone from Ohio State should spy on their practices and get some pointers!).

Upset Report

Most people are taking about the Ohio State loss, but that just goes to show how much the national media wants to criticize the Big Ten above all other conferences.  What makes me say that?  Ohio State lost to a ranked team.  How about the teams who LOST to UNRANKED teams, like USC, Texas, and Utah.  All of those losses were by a larger margin than Ohio State, too.  Let's not forgot the two teams who NEARLY LOST (and probably should have lost) to unranked teams:  Notre Dame and Texas A&M.  However, not a peep about those once an hour had elapsed after those losses.

But that's why my Upset Report exists, and let's start with the darling of the national media -- the SEC.  Tennessee lost to Pittsburgh and South Carolina almost lost to East Carolina, Now, to be fair, SEC teams also ENGINEERED upsets.  Arkansas humbled Texas, Mississippi State crushed NC State, and Vanderbilt beat Colorado State.

Let's not forgot our stalwart FCS teams.  They had two more upsets against FBS teams, as Duquesne beat Ohio and Jacksonville State knocked off Florida State, further spiraling their standing.  Two other teams nearly pulled off upsets:  Southern Illinois against Kansas State and Stephen F Austin against Texas Tech.