Florida’s Big 4: Florida State, Miami, UCF and Florida Week 2 Preview
Florida’s “Big 4” are all in action this Saturday as week 2 of the college football season continues. The Miami Hurricanes have the most influential game of the day as they #23 Texas A/M at Hard Rock Stadium. Lets take a look at all 4 matchups on Saturday in this week 2 preview.
(23) Texas A&M at Miami, 3:30 ET on ABC Week 2 matchup
This is the fifth meeting between the teams, who have split the four previous meetings. Both teams finished with losing records last season, but they met in a ranked matchup in Week 3 with No. 24 Texas A&M beating No. 13 Miami 17-9 in Bryan-College Station.
The Aggies scored a total of 51 points in their three non-conference games against FBS opponents last season; they scored 52 points in the season opener against New Mexico.
Conner Weigman threw for five touchdowns in the win against the Lobos. He has a 13-to-0 touchdown-to interception ratio since making his debut on Oct. 22 last season; that’s the most passing touchdown without an interception in FBS over that span.
Miami has lost five straight games against SEC opponents since beating No. 12 Florida in 2013.
McNeese at Florida, 7:30 ET on ESPNU and ESPN-SWFL
This is the first time these teams have met on the gridiron. Florida is 22-1 against FCS opponents since the FBS/FCS split in 1978 (lost to Georgia Southern in 2013).
Graham Mertz threw for a career-high 333 yards in the season opener but was also sacked five times in the game (tied for the most in his career). He was blitzed on 49% of his dropbacks in the game.
Mertz completed 64% of his passes for 5.5 yards per attempt when facing five or more rushers; those numbers jumped to 77% and 9.6 yards per attempt when facing four or fewer rushers.
Next up for week 2, Southern Miss at #4 Florida State 8:30pm on ACC Network
Kind of a weird start time for this one, however it shouldn’t matter much and the Noles should roll easily in this one against the Golden Eagles.
The Seminoles are coming off a huge 45-24 rout of then #5 LSU on Sunday night in Orlando. The Seminoles (1-0) scored on six straight possessions after a slow start, getting 342 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in the air from quarterback Jordan Travis.
Southern Miss also opened the season 1-0, cruising to a 40-14 win last weekend against FCS foe Alcorn State in Hattiesburg, Miss. New starting quarterback Billy Wiles, a Clemson transfer, completed 21 of 28 passes for 267 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.
Finally for week 2, UCF at Boise State 7pm on FS1
The Knights are going from the Bounce House to the legendary “Smurf Turf” for their game with the Broncos of Boise State on Saturday night.
Despite coming off a 56-19 loss at Washington last week, Boise State (0-1) is a slight favorite over UCF (1-0). The Broncos are favored by 3.5 as of this post. The Knights meanwhile blasted visiting Kent State 56-6 as they prepare for their first season in the Big 12.
UCF coach Gus Malzahn said the Knights will practice on a blue field in Orlando at least once this week as they prepare for the blue turf at Albertsons Stadium. Over the past 23 years, only Oklahoma (90.8 percent) has been more successful at home than Boise State (130-15, 89.7 percent).
The Knights rushed for 389 yards and five touchdowns against Kent State. The Broncos on Saturday will look for a rebound game from Taylen Green, who completed just 19 of 39 passes for 244 yards, one TD and two interceptions against the Huskies.
The “REAL” College Football Top 25 Week 1 Rankings
#25 Clemson
Riley Leonard #13 of the Duke Blue Devils runs with the ball against the Clemson Tigers during the first half of the game at Wallace Wade Stadium on September 4, 2023 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
I thought about dropping this team out of the top 25 completely but I will give the Tigers another chance. They fell 28-7 on the road to Duke on Monday night. If you look at some of the stats, you might have thought the Tigers won the game. However, special team blunders and a lack of red zone production did the Tigers in. Plus, as I’ve been saying for a while now, Duke is a very good football team.
#24 Colorado
Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes walks the field before the game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Colorado Buffaloes at Amon G. Carter Stadium on September 2, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Are you kidding me coach Dion Sanders? Lots of people including me, are eating a ton of “crow” after the Buffalo’s beating of TCU on the road 45-42.
Shedeur Sanders – son of Deion – had 4 touchdown passes and a school-record 510 passing yards; it’s the most passing yards by a player in their FBS debut over the last 25 years. The previous Colorado record for passing yards in their first start for the school was 418 by Koy Detmer in 1992.
#22 Tulane
Lawrence Keys III #6 of Tulane University in action against the University of Southern Alabama at Yulman Stadium on September 02, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Quarterback Michael Pratt completed 14 of 15 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns and the Green Wave beat South Alabama 37-17 on Saturday night.
#21 Oklahoma
Quarterback Jackson Arnold #10 of the Oklahoma Sooners breaks away from the grasp of defensive end Dennard Flowers #18 of the Arkansas State Red Wolves for a six-yard gain ahead of a touchdown early in the fourth quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2023 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 73-0. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
earned its 100th season-opening win in program history with a 73-0 no-doubter over Arkansas State. It’s the 4th-largest margin of victory in a season opener in program history.
#20 Ole Miss
Cayden Lee #83 of the Mississippi Rebels catches a touchdown pass against Tommy Bliss #45 of the Mercer Bears during the second half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 02, 2023 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
Jaxson Dart matched his career high with 4 touchdown passes as 22nd-ranked Ole Miss beat Mercer, 73-7. All 4 of Dart’s scores went to Tre Harris, giving him the most Rec TD in a single game in Ole Miss history.
#19 Wisconsin
Braelon Allen #0 of the Wisconsin Badgers rushes the ball third quarter against the Buffalo Bulls at Camp Randall Stadium on September 02, 2023 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
Wisconsin outscored Buffalo 24-7 in the 2nd half en route to a 38-17 victory in Luke Fickell’s regular
season debut with the Badgers (coached in bowl game last year).Wisconsin put up 501 yards of total offense, its most in a season opener since 2013, as it runs its win streak against MAC opponents up to 28 straight (last loss: 1988 vs Western Michigan).
#16 Duke
Riley Leonard #13 of the Duke Blue Devils runs with the ball against the Clemson Tigers during the first half of the game at Wallace Wade Stadium on September 4, 2023 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
I have been talking about this Duke team for the last couple of months trying to tell anyone who would listen that they should not be underestimated. Well, the whipped then #9 Clemson 28-7 on Monday night. Watch out for Mike Elko’s Blue Devils this year. They could be this years “TCU”.
#15 LSU
Azareye’h Thomas #20 of the Florida State Seminoles breaks up a pass intended for Brian Thomas Jr. #11 of the LSU Tigers in the third quarter at Camping World Stadium on September 03, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
The Tigers got their butts whipped in the second half getting outscored 31-7 on way to a humiliating 45-24 loss to Florida State in Orlando. The Tigers now are going to be forced to “win out” if they want to reach the College Football Playoff.
#14 Utah
JaTravis Broughton #4 of the Utah Utes breaks up a pass intended for Ricky Pearsall #1 of the Florida Gators during the second half of their game at Rice Eccles Stadium August 31, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
Bryson Barnes threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Money Parks on Utah’s first play of the game, rushed for another score and the No. 14 Utes beat Florida 24-11 on Thursday night in the opener for both teams.
#13 North Carolina
Debo Williams #0 of the South Carolina Gamecocks trips up Drake Maye #10 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of the game at Bank of America Stadium on September 02, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Drake Maye went 11-14 for 155 yards and 2 TD against the blitz in the Tar Heels 31-17 win over South Carolina. He had just 1 such TD during North Carolina’s 4- game losing streak to end the season in 2022 after having 16 pass TD against the blitz in the 1st 10 games.
North Carolina had 9 sacks, its most in a game in the last 25 seasons. The Tar Heels pressured Rattler on 19 of his 52 dropbacks (37%), the 2nd-most pressures he has faced in a game in his career.
#12 Texas
Quinn Ewers #3 of the Texas Longhorns rushes for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Rice Owls at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Texas beat in-state foe Rice, 37-10. Quinn Ewers became the 4th Texas player over the last 20 seasons with 3 Pass TD and a Rush TD in a season opener (David Ash, Colt McCoy 2x, Vince Young. Owls QB J.T. Daniels fell to 0-3 in his career versus Texas (started for West Virginia and USC in previous 2 meetings).
#11 Oregon
Puddles the mascot of the Oregon Ducks does push ups during the game against the Portland State Vikings during the first half at Autzen Stadium on September 2, 2023 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
Oregon put up video game numbers against Portland State, winning 81-7. It’s the most points in any game by the Ducks in the AP Poll era (since 1936) and their most in a season opener since Oct. 7, 1916 versus Williamette (97). The Oregon Duck had to do 546 push-ups (he does 1 push-up for every point Oregon has on the scoreboard after every Oregon score).
Bo Nix threw 3 touchdowns and 4 incompletions (23-27); his 85.2% completion percentage is the second highest in a game in program history.
#9 Tennessee
Joe Milton III #7 of the Tennessee Volunteers calls a play against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half at Nissan Stadium on September 2, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)
Joe Milton III threw 2 touchdowns and rushed for 2 more as Tennessee beat Virginia 49-13, becoming the 2nd Vols player to reach those thresholds in a season-opening game over the last 20 seasons, joining Hendon Hooker, who did so in the 2022 opener against Ball State. Since joining Tennessee in 2021, Milton III has 14 Pass TD and 0 interceptions across his 18 games played (5 starts).
#8 Notre Dame
Sam Hartman #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on prior to the game against the Tennessee State Tigers at Notre Dame Stadium on September 02, 2023 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Notre Dame won its first-ever game against an HBCU, beating Tennessee State 56-3. The Fighting Irish have scored 40+ points in each of its first 2 games of a season for the first time since 1951. Sam Hartman threw 2 touchdowns to bring his career Pass TD total to 116, tying him with Matt Barkley for 12th on the all-time FBS list.
#7 USC
Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans hands the ball to teammate MarShawn Lloyd #0 during the first quarter against the Nevada Wolf Pack at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 02, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Caleb Williams went 18-24 with 319 yards and 5 Pass TD against Nevada as USC rolled, 66-14. Caleb Williams is the 3rd player in USC history with 300 passing yards, 5 pass TD and 75% comp pct in a game, joining Cody Kessler and Matt Barkley.
#6 Penn State
Zakee Wheatley #6 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Beaver Stadium on September 2, 2023 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Drew Allar threw for 325 yards and 3 TD in his 1st career start, the most passing yards by a Penn State player in his first career start in the last 20 season as the Nittany Lions beat West Virginia 38-15. He’s the 1st Penn State player with 300 passing yards and 3 passing touchdowns in a season opener since Daryll Clark in 2009 vs Akron. KeAndre Lambert-Smith had 123 rec yds and 2 rec TD, his 1st career game with multiple receiving touchdowns.
#5 Ohio State
Jamier Johnson #9 of the Indiana Hoosiers makes the tackle on Chip Trayanum #19 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second half at Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2023 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
You can’t do better than a 23-3 win over the Indiana Hoosiers on the road? Pathetic! The Buckeyes have now won each of their last 29 games against the Hoosiers, the longest on-the-field win streak by one team over another in Big Ten history. It’s also the longest active on-the-field win streak by a current FBS team over another current FBS team. Craig, your boys put up a good fight, and covered.
#4 Michigan
The Michigan Wolverines takes the field to play the East Carolina Pirates at Michigan Stadium on September 02, 2023 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Michigan had no issues with East Carolina, winning 30-3 — with the 3 points coming on a field goal as
time expired. The Wolverines have now won 16 straight home games, the third-longest active streak in FBS only behind Alabama and Georgia. J.J. McCarthy tied his career high with 3 touchdown passes, with all 3 going to Roman Wilson. However, great job by the Pirates covering the 36 point spread!#3 Florida State
Jordan Travis #13 of the Florida State Seminoles reacts after scoring the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter against the LSU Tigers at Camping World Stadium on September 03, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. The Seminoles defeated the Tigers 45-24. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
A dominating second half by the Seminoles in their 45-24 bashing of the LSU Tigers in Orlando on Sunday night. The Noles are for real and are one of my CFP picks. The Tigers meanwhile are going to have to win out now to have a shot at the CFP.
#2 Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs cheerleaders perform during the third quarter against the Tennessee Martin Skyhawks at Sanford Stadium on September 2, 2023 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Georgia extended its win streak to 18 games with the 48-7 win over UT Martin, the longest win streak in school history. The previous record was 17 from 1945-47. It’s their 13th win by 30 points since the start of the 2021 season, most in the FBS.
#1 Alabama
Tyler Buchner #8 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks to pass against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders during the fourth quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 02, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Alabama beat Middle Tennessee 56-7. The Tide have now won 22 straight season openers, the 4th-longest win streak in the Poll Era (including vacated wins). It is also the 2nd-longest active win streak in season openers, trailing Ohio State. It’s the 1st time in school history scoring at least 55 points in consecutive season openers (won 55-0 vs Utah State last year).
Jalen Milroe went 13-18 for 1984 yards and 3 Pass TD, and added 48 rush yards with 2 TD on the ground. He’s the 1st player in school history with 3 Pass TD & 2 Rush TD in a single game. The Tide had 3 QB’s with a Rush TD in a game for the first time in at least the last 25 years (Milroe – 2 | Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson – 1 each).
