Top 5 Most Surprising Results - Week 1

Although it will be hard for anything to top the Appalachian State-fueled drama and craziness of Opening Weekend 2007, the first week of the 2009 college football season definitely had some memorable moments. A mega-upset, a total implosion, and some surprising blowouts all served to let us know that this season could feature more wacky turns and unexpected outcomes than what we had in 2008, a season that was as boring and by-the-books as they come. Here's hoping that the excitement and momentum generated this weekend will continue to build over the next few months into an all-out orgy of BCS chaos and debate.


1. BYU 14, Oklahoma 13

The Sam Bradford injury definitely helped make this upset possible, but BYU was playing Oklahoma toe to toe even before the 2008 Heisman winner got hurt. This upset is a total game changer for the 2009 season. It virtually ensures that OU won't back-door their way into the National Championship game for the third time in 7 years (or, if you're an Auburn fan, for the 4th time in 7 years). It gives hope to any number of teams that would have likely been barred from playing for the national title had the Sooners cruised through their schedule with the ease that was expected.

Along with Florida, Texas, and USC, Oklahoma was one of the 4 teams that seemed to start the year in a different stratosphere than everyone else, but it only took OU one week to find themselves back amongst the common folk. The same team that in 2008 scored the most points in NCAA history has now lost two games in a row (including the loss in the title game this past January) and has failed to score more than a couple of TDs in each one.  Bradford is projected to be back in as few as 2 to 4 weeks, but the fall-out from this loss is certain to last much longer than that.

2. Oregon's Implosion



I haven't seen anything like Oregon's deer-in-the-headlights performance since 2007, when Notre Dame started off 0-5 and looked magnificently bad in each loss. It's fascinating to watch a team coming off a successful season or two and with high expectations for the new year get suddenly and emphatically exposed. Oregon scored at least 31 points in 11 of 13 games last year, and with their QB Jeremiah Masoli and RB LeGarrette Blount returning,  there were murmurs that the Ducks could be the ones to finally end USCs seven-year Pac-10 reign.  However, in supposed-offensive guru Chip Kelly's first game as head coach, the Ducks failed to get one freaking first down until mid-way through the 3rd quarter and they ended up with fewer total yards than any Oregon team has gained in nearly 15 years. The Ducks looked totally out-classed, in spite of the fancy new feathers on their uniforms.

If Oregon hopes to rebound, they'll have to do it without Blount,  who was suspended for the season after losing his mind in a much more violent fashion than what you'll see whenever Lou Holtz brings the crazy.  Not only is he done for the year, but since he's a senior, his college football career is effectively over. To make matters worse...the dude rushed for minus 5 yards in the Boise State game after rushing for 1002 yards in 2008, his only year as a Duck. That means that he's no longer a 1000 yard rusher! His performance Thursday night brings his total career yardage at Oregon down to 997. It's rare that one mistake can screw up your past, present, and future, but, with his post-game antics, Blount managed to pull off the trifecta.

I honestly don't think Blount would have been suspended for the entire season if he had just punched the Boise player and his own teammate. but when he tried to go after fans, Oregon had no choice but to suspend him for the year. By the way, I love how Boise State coach Chris Peterson didn't even glance over at Blount even though the punch landed inches from his face.  He was totally unfazed. What a champ!

3. Train wreck teams somehow stay on the tracks

Would anyone have been surprised if Notre Dame and Michigan lost their openers? Would anyone have totally shocked if a Lane Kiffen-coached Tennessee team or a Gene Chizik-coached Auburn team bumbled and stumbled their way to closer-than-expected wins?  The real surprise lies in the fact that these four teams actually looked like they know how to play football. Granted, their competition this weekend wasn't the best, but especially in Tennessee's case I would think the fact that Kiffin was able to find his way to the stadium and the team knew how to line up correctly would make the first game a raging success... let alone them scoring 60 something points. Their game against Florida might actually be interesting for a series or two now...

4. Missouri somehow makes Gary Pinkel look good

I thought for sure once Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin, et al. left town that Missouri would go back to being a middling team with a hot-seat coach. But the Tigers made sure that Zook sat his ass down in the hot seat instead.  Check out his "accomplishments" at Illinois: 3 losing seasons in 4 years, including a two-win season in 2005 (0-8 in the Big 10) and another two-win season in 2006 (1-7 in the Big 10). And this is the team that the Rose Bowl bastards thought they should match up against USC instead of Georgia in 2007??

5. Virginia loses to William & Mary by 12 points

Nothing short of an appearance in the ACC title game will save Al Groh's job now. Has a coach ever been fired after the first week of the season?

-Drew