BERKELEY, CA - OCT. 19: Oregon State's Onesimus Clarke (65) celebrates the Beavers' 21-17 victory over the California Golden Bears at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Instant reaction to Week 2 developments across college football …
1. Big week in the PNW
After the runt of the group survived yet another Saturday scare at Autzen Stadium, rivalry week in the Pacific Northwest is upon us with a double-shot of perfection.
We’re deploying a hefty dose of sarcasm, of course, because nothing about Oregon football reflects runt status. Except for the results.
Consider two weeks of evidence:
— Washington beat Weber State and Eastern Michigan by a combined score of 65-12.
— Washington State hung 70 on Portland State and just smacked Texas Tech around by three touchdowns.
— Oregon State bullied Idaho State in the opener, then shut out San Diego State.
Meanwhile, the Ducks are 2-0 the hard way after fending off Idaho — Idaho! — and then edging Boise State on a walk-off field goal.
Four undefeated teams.
Two rivalry games.
Yes, they are early. Too early. But if the Apple Cup and Civil War were on the final Saturday of November and not the second Saturday of September, we would not have the pleasure of witnessing two matchups of undefeated teams.
The stakes are highest this week for the Cougars and Beavers, not because of the postseason implications but because of the post-season implications — because of what may or may not happen with their conference affiliation starting in 2026.
The Cougars and Beavers must remain relevant this fall and remind the college football world they are worthy of Power Four recognition.
Both were in vulnerable spots Saturday. It would have been easy to cast an eye beyond the present to what lies ahead.
Instead, they took different paths to the same end: Washington State scored 37 points and rushed for 301 yards against Texas Tech while Oregon State allowed zero points and just 72 yards rushing to San Diego State.
But those details are largely meaningless. Here’s what matters: They are undefeated; their rivals are undefeated; and the spotlights will be bright in Corvallis and Seattle (Lumen Field, not Husky Stadium) on Saturday afternoon.
Given the way the four teams have performed thus far, it’s reasonable to expect competitive games.
2. “Something’s off”
As noted above, one member of the Pacific Northwest quartet is not like the others.
Fox studio analyst Chris Petersen, the former Boise State and Washington coach, summed up the perplexing state of the Ducks when he said at halftime: “Oregon’s offense — something’s off. It’s boom or bust.”
Indeed, the Ducks look nothing like the team we expected to see when the season began, the team billed as a threat to Ohio State in the Big Ten.
If anyone thought the lackluster performance against Idaho was an outlier, well, Boise State tossed that notion into the garbage can.
The Broncos rushed for 221 yards, converted nine third downs (in 19 attempts), averaged 5.1 yards per play and scored on all five trips into the Red Zone.
But Oregon’s biggest problem against both Boise State and Idaho was supposed to be one of its greatest strengths this season: the offensive line.
As Petersen said, “Something’s off.”
The unit is not performing to the expected standard. Not even close.
The Ducks averaged just three yards per rush against the Idaho schools and allowed seven sacks — two more than they permitted in 14 games last season. They managed just three offensive touchdowns against a Boise State defense that gave up 45 points to Georgia State last week.
Now, here’s the good news for the Ducks: They’re 2-0 with correctable problems and preseason goals that remain attainable.
September scares do not guarantee December disappointment unless, of course, you don’t make the proper repairs.
3. Water cooler talk
Anyone else have the following three reactions (in order) to the play that injured quarterback Cam Rising in Utah’s victory over Baylor:
— Goodness, those water coolers are close to the field.
— Baylor should have been penalized for the extra shove.
— And eventually: Maybe the hand injury isn’t too bad.
Rising eventually returned to the sideline in street clothes with tape on his fingers, and after the game, coach Kyle Whittingham indicated the injury “wasn’t too serious.”
The Utes play Utah State next weekend, then have a dastardly back-to-back against Oklahoma State (road) and Arizona (home) that will shape the Big 12 race. So Rising has a fortnight to get healthy.
4. Missing In T-Mac-tion
One week after he dazzled the country with 10 catches for 304 yards and four touchdowns, Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan managed a whopping two receptions for 11 yards against NAU.
And that, folks, is exactly why receivers are rarely serious contenders for the Heisman Trophy.
For all his talent, McMillan is heavily reliant upon external factors for production — from the offensive line’s protection to the quarterback’s decisions in the pocket to the defense’s coverage schemes.
But what’s bad for McMillan’s personal statistics is good for Arizona’s offense, because his presence opens the field for other players.
Case in point: Four players not named McMillan had at least two receptions Saturday night in the victory over the Lumberjacks. In the opener against New Mexico, with McMillan dominating, only one other player recorded multiple receptions.
5. Wash, rinse, repeat
Stop us if you’ve heard this before: Colorado heads on the road for a major early-season matchup and gets run off the field.
Last year, the undefeated Buffaloes were demolished at Oregon in their fourth game.
This time, they were embarrassed at Nebraska in their second.
Now as then, CU’s trouble unfolded in the trenches.
The Buffaloes could not contain Nebraska’s pass rush, which recorded six sacks and flummoxed quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Nor could the Buffs run the ball effectively (16 net yards).
And their defensive line wasn’t exactly stout.
Sanders and receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter (10 catches) have first-round talent. But until proven otherwise, the Buffs are a two-man team, which is only 20 short of what they need to compete in the Big 12.
— One final nugget for those scoring at home:
The former and current Pac-12 schools have a combined record of 21-2 through two weeks (losses by Colorado and Stanford), with a 5-2 mark against power conference opponents. Not bad for a non-existent conference.
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Originally published at Jon Wilner