⚡ CFB Dashboard

This past weekend, I watched all or parts of several Big 10 contests. Here are some thoughts and observations from those games... Massachusetts 37, Rutgers 21 -- Not a good game for the Scarlett Knights. This wasn't like they played poorly and lost on a late field goal by an overmatched team. They were "out-physicalled" and run over by a team that had the worst offense in the country in 2025. -- One thing that I noted when watching this game and then watching a replay, I never once saw Greg Schiano starting to panic. He didn't blow up at anybody, he wasn't yelling at people. I get the sense he was frustrated, but he also understands it's a long season and one game, especially the first game, shouldn't be what tells the tale of the team over the next 12 weeks. -- Pop Watson, UMass' quarterback, was unreal. He went 19 of 22 for 197 yards and three scores and also scrambled for 40 yards, netting some key first downs. He's small, maybe 5'9" (yeah, I know he's listed at 6'0"), but he's tough, he's smart and he's a guy who can make plays with his arm or his legs. It will be interesting to see how he does the rest of the season. Have a feeling the Minutemen, who hadn't beaten an FBS team since 2024 and had lost 16 straight, are going to sneak up and get some wins against teams that had already put down a "W" on the schedule. ----------------------------------------- Oregon 34, Boise State 27 -- This game was only the fourth time that Oregon has trailed at halftime in Autzen under Dan Lanning. -- Boise State's final series before halftime was very poorly managed. They left way too much time for Oregon and the Ducks made them pay for it. Oregon was able to go down and draw within three, 17-14, and they got the ball first coming out of the half. Really have to wonder if this gave the Ducks the momentum they needed to go out and get the win. -- In the end, talent beat three stars with better coaching. It will be interesting to see how the Ducks do over the remainder of the season (of course we'll be watching it). There are teams on their schedule with pretty much equal talent and possibly better coaching, can they beat those teams? -- Was surprised how many yards Boise State was able to manage on the ground early on, but as the game went along, they lost effectiveness and that's why Oregon was able to keep themselves in the game and eventually pull out the win. -- Was impressed with Maddux Madsen's toughness. He was hit on almost every drop back in the final 15 minutes of the game, but he showed the ability to stand in and make some remarkable throws. His touchdown pass to Matt Wagner was in the face of a strong rush and he fit it into a very tight window. Didn't look like the same QB the Huskies saw back in December. ----------------------------------------- USC 39, Fresno State 0 -- After two games, it's pretty obvious that picking up Trent Mosely was a great move by Lincoln Riley and the Trojans. In two games, he's posted 11 receptions for 222 yards and three scores. Against Fresno State, he posted four receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns. It will be interesting to see how Big Ten defenses plan for him. He plays bigger than his listed height/weight (5'10", 180) and he's very explosive. -- Fresno State isn't very good or talented, but they totaled just 116 yards of offense against the Trojans and they managed just 49 yards of offense through the first three quarters. I don't care who you are playing, that's just utter dominance right there. ----------------------------------------- UCLA 45, Cal 24 -- I honestly didn't expect much from UCLA to start the season. I thought it might take Bob Chesney some time to get the guys playing well enough to be a decent team like Cal on the road. I was wrong. Chesney had the Bruins playing well and being physical. I really liked their drive to go up 14 late in the game, using the running of tailback Wayne Knight to really bludgeon the Golden Bears' defense. This came after Nico Iamaleava went down with what appeared to be a lower-leg injury. He returned later on, so it doesn't appear to be anything serious. -- Speaking of the Bruins' running game, as I noted, Knight ran very tough in the fourth quarter, but Anthony Woods also had a good night (8 carries for 118 yards and 2 TDs). They combined for 189 yards and five touchdowns between them. If the Bruins can get that kind of productivity out of their running game, they could be very hard to stop as the season progresses. -- UCLA used 37 new players in this game. Good lord, I barely recognize the game I grew up watching. ----------------------------------------- Michigan 13, Western Michigan 12 -- For 60 minutes, Western Michigan felt they were making history. They didn't realize the game lasted 60 minutes and one second. I'm going to be honest, I thought the Big Ten's explanation was believable, but I watched the final play over and over and it sure looks like the clock is at 0:00 when the ball touches the Bronco safety's hands. I think it's sad that Michigan needed a miraculous play and what many believe to be the interference from the conference to get the win. -- Speaking of the successful Hail Mary play, regardless of whether you think it should have been allowed or not, that was one heck of a catch by JJ Buchanan. He was fully extended, reaching back and being hit by half of the Western Michigan secondary and he still managed to hang on to the ball. Impressive. Sadly, his play is overlooked because of the circumstances. -- Watching Bryce Underwood, yow, I really was not impressed with his decision-making and placement of his passes. He just doesn't seem to be very confident. Wonder if the NIL funders will be happy paying him the kind of money he's been rumored to be receiving.