Sun Devils, Wildcats among surprises
Arizona State and Kansas State headline the list of five college football teams that have surprised us the most so far this season.
Arizona State is 3-0 for the first time since 2016, with the Sun Devils finding themselves ranked in the Associated Press top-25 poll for the first time since 2015. Herm Edwards’ team survived a close call on the road at Michigan State Saturday after a late penalty on a game-tying field goal by the Spartans resulted in a missed kick that preserved the ASU win. The strong start can be attributed to a defense that has allowed just 21 points through the first three games this season.
New Kansas State coach Chris Klieman is no stranger to winning football games. The 51-year-old Klieman won 92% of his games at North Dakota State, including four Football Championship Subdivision national championships. Now he has the Wildcats 3-0 for the first time since 2015. The Wildcats outlasted Mississippi State Saturday for their first road win over a Power 5 opponent since 2011. K-State has 12 rushing touchdowns through three games after rushing for 20 touchdowns all of last season.
The American Athletic Conference has five undefeated teams so far this season, including SMU, which is 3-0 for the first time since 1984. Former Texas transfer Shane Buechele has fueled the Mustangs on offense, passing for 871 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions, while running back Xavier Jones has rushed for 291 yards and seven touchdowns. The offense is averaging nearly two touchdowns more per game than it did through three games last season. The real challenge comes this week on the road against TCU. SMU hasn’t beaten a ranked Power 5 opponent since 1986, according Steele. to Phil
It was a banner weekend for the Jayhawks, who snapped a 48-game road losing streak to Power 5 opponents with an impressive win over Boston College Friday night. Kansas amassed more than 567 yards, the most the program has produced since the 2016 opener against Rhode Island (570). This is the second consecutive season Kansas has started 2-1, but even that is worth noting for a program that has won only 19% of its games during the past decade.
Another former North Dakota State coach making a name for himself is Craig Bohl at Wyoming. The Cowboys are 3-0 for the first time since 2011, including a win over Missouri in the season opener. Even more impressive, this team ranks last in the Mountain West Conference in total offense and is one of five teams in the FBS without a touchdown pass this season. A win on the road against Tulsa this week would give Wyoming its first 4-0 start since 1996.