WEEK 3: WINNERS & LOSERS
WINNERS Memphis: After the 2015 season, when Justin Fuente departed for Virginia Tech and Paxton Lynch headed for the NFL, it was fair to wonder how Memphis would fare. So far under Mike Norvell’s leadership — and with another dangerous quarterback in Riley Ferguson — the answer is: just fine. And the Tigers might just be ready to build off that eight- win debut season.
A 48- 45 win against UCLA ranks as the best in Norvell’s short tenure ( and a very nice one for the American Athletic Conference in its continuing P. R. efforts — Power Six, anyone?). Ferguson outdueled Josh Rosen, throwing for 398 yards and six touchdowns; two to stud receiver Anthony Miller, who had nine catches for 185 yards.
Texas A& M: Could have gone into the “Losers” category, too. Yes, the Aggies won 45- 21. But at halftime, trailing Louisiana 21- 14, Texas A& M’s journey to the locker room included some heckling from the home fans. In return, freshman receiver Will Gunnell shot back the universal No. 1 symbol with both hands — only he used that other fingers Gig ‘ em, Aggies? Gunnell later tweeted an apology, saying it was “an ill- advised gesture in no way aimed at the fans.”
Even though Texas A& M pulled away in the second half to win 45- 21, things are not good in Aggieland. At one point during the first half, A& M used an all- freshman offensive line, apparently in frustration or an attempt to send a message. Wisconsin: No, BYU turns out to not be very good. But the Badgers looked very good — again — in dismantling the Cougars in Provo. While all the attention gets focused on the Big Ten East, Wisconsin just keeps winning. Could the Big Ten’s best team reside in the other division? We’ll see. Purdue: Not much was expected, at least immediately, from Jeff Brohm’s rebuilding effort. But with a convincing victory at Missouri, the Boilermakers are 2- 1. Even the
loss to Louisville in the season opener was encouraging; Purdue led 28- 25 in the fourth quarter. Who knows what happens from here, but already Purdue isn’t a pushover. LOSERS
Tennessee: The Vols traveled to Gainesville with a 2- 0 record, but anyone who had watched that overtime win in the opener against Georgia Tech knew the Vols had issues. And then, after somehow rallying from 10 points down against Florida to tie in the final minute in Gainesville, they didn’t get to overtime, victimized by a Hail Mary. It won’t be a good week for Butch Jones.
UCLA: Life hack for a West Coast athletic director: When you schedule games back east — and you should do that — include some sort of stipulation requiring the game to kick off no earlier than lunchtime in your own time zone. Let’s be clear: the 9 a. m. Pacific kickoff wasn’t why the Bruins fell to Memphis — that can be attributed to a porous defense — but it didn’t help.
Kansas: Despite the on- field results, there was offseason optimism David Beaty was gradually rebuilding Kansas’ football program, and that it would become at least competitive in the Big 12. Check that. After a 42- 30 loss at Ohio, the Jayhawks are not competitive in the MAC ( they’d lost to Central Michigan last week) — and under Beaty, they’re 3- 24 and still have only one win over an FBS opponent.
— George Schroeder, USA Today