College football Week 3 — Auburn’s first Big Ten road game since 1931, Alabama-Florida and more

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We’re only in Week 3, but this college or university soccer time already has a decidedly chaotic really feel, with massive upsets having spot very last weekend and several other contenders brushing off close phone calls. This week, we have history remaining created by some huge names struggling with every single other for the initial time.

Harry: Just one of the largest matchups we’ve obtained this week is Auburn viewing Penn Point out in State University. Equally groups struggled in 2020 but have begun out 2- this year. What are your typical feelings towards this match heading in?

Dave: First of all, how shocking is it that this will be Auburn’s first-at any time game at a Big Ten university due to the fact the SEC was formed? It’s generally enjoyable when two model-title teams confront off in a nonconference sport, but that is really wild to me.

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Harry: That caught out to me as perfectly. I think a different issue, at least from an fast video game point of view on this matchup, is that it feels like whoever wins this one particular could be in for a excellent comeback calendar year. Both of those groups have some similarities — they struggled in 2020, have defenses that will punch opponents in the mouth, and their accomplishment largely is dependent on whether or not the offense exhibits up just ample.

Dave: Suitable. And we genuinely never know accurately what to expect from Auburn just yet. The Tigers have outscored opponents 122-10, but those people opponents had been Akron and Alabama Condition. They’re going to be strolling into Penn State’s White Out game, and the Nittany Lions currently have a rough street earn more than Wisconsin.

Harry: I agree. The X aspect listed here, and I consider this has been the circumstance at Auburn for a whilst now, is Bo Nix. Auburn conquer Alabama Point out 62-, but he went just 9-of-17 by way of the air for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Jarquez Hunter and Tank Bigsby were having up yards on the floor, which took away some of the interest from what Nix wasn’t performing to Alabama State’s defense. He’s heading to have to enjoy one of his greater video games on Saturday. You know, the online games that keep some individuals keeping on to this hope of him remaining anything more than what he’s consistently revealed us.

Dave: Also, Auburn has to hope it truly is not what he is consistently shown absent from residence, possibly.

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Harry: Considering that we’re bringing up documents by game spot: Auburn has a 1-6 report when opponents host University GameDay and has not won because it defeat Tennessee 34-10 on Oct. 2, 2004.

Dave: And they also have accurately a person nonconference road victory against a top-10 crew. Ever. In 1984, against Florida Point out. All in all, they are up against a great deal of heritage.

Harry: But this weekend is a new match! Who do you sense like demands it much more?

Dave: Penn Condition. A get in this article goes a long way in a College Football Playoff discussion later on this year if it can continue to be in the blend.

Harry: I think which is correct. For the sake of being distinct, I am going to say Auburn. The Tigers haven’t experienced anything resembling even the slightest kind of check this season, they have a new head coach, and they could achieve some significant momentum right here with a highway acquire in that ecosystem. Having said that, equally teams can find the money for to reduce this a person and would eventually manage their possess destinies if they were being to earn out and get their respective conferences (which is a TALL job, specifically for Auburn).

Dave: In two weeks, Auburn begins a 5-sport stretch that features road online games at LSU, Arkansas and Texas A&M and home video games from Georgia and Ole Miss. That is indeed a tall task. It feels like a good deal of doom and gloom for Auburn. This is maybe 1 issue for optimism: Penn Point out has misplaced five straight games in opposition to SEC teams! So who ya bought?

Harry: I am heading to take Auburn. The Tigers will do just plenty of offensively to win the sport, but a whole lot of that is dependent on no matter whether they can run on that Penn State protection. What about you?

Dave: QB Sean Clifford can be as unpredictable as Nix, and that Auburn protection will be hunting to pounce. But I feel it is all also much at after for Auburn. I am going to just take Penn Condition. Then we can sit again and watch all the James Franklin-to-USC rumors fly.

The Cornhuskers check out the No. 3 Sooners (midday ET, FOX) in an aged rivalry recreation, 50 years following the Activity of the Century amongst the two storied applications.

Unbelievably, this is the initially conference in between the two considering that the 2010 Large 12 championship match, which Oklahoma won 23-20. Nebraska very last defeat the Sooners in Norman in 1996.

Several users of the 1971 teams will be in attendance to rejoice the anniversary and are hoping for a return to the battles the squads experienced when nationwide titles were on the line.

They reunited at a activity the moment before, in 2008, which proved to be a referendum on the various directions the programs had taken due to the fact individuals days. Powering Sam Bradford’s 5 landing passes, the Sooners received that night time 62-28.

“We were being sitting there with the ’71 Oklahoma gamers, and Oklahoma was up 21 to zip right before our seats received warm,” said Mike Beran, a Nebraska offensive lineman on that 1971 national title workforce. “The guys from Oklahoma were even shaking their heads, indicating, ‘This isn’t really the way it is intended to be. This is just not appropriate.'”

Nebraska and Oklahoma final satisfied in the 2010 Major 12 championship game through the Huskers’ farewell period just before heading to the Huge 10. AP Image/Tony Gutierrez, File

The odds are not in the Huskers’ favor this time about. They’ve dropped 11 straight versus leading-5 groups and haven’t crushed a top-5 crew on the road considering the fact that 1997. Nebraska is -6 in all those video games considering the fact that then.

Best of the 7 days

No. 1 Alabama at No. 11 Florida (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS): This is a matchup amongst an Alabama group that has appeared like its dominant self over the previous 15 several years and a Florida staff with an rising quarterback controversy. It’s a recreation you can expect to unquestionably make time for due to the fact of the talent involved in this matchup.

From the Alabama aspect, we just hope Jordan Struggle performs effectively. Both equally for his have sake and because we definitely want to see him do more press conferences.

Michigan Point out at No. 24 Miami (midday ET, ABC): Michigan Condition seems to be considerably improved from 2020, however it has not faced a check very like Miami nonetheless. Immediately after getting a whooping from Alabama in Week 1, the Canes recovered with a 25-23 gain more than a superior Appalachian Point out team.

The most significant issue to appear for in this match: Is the slipping cat from Miami’s match vs. Application Point out someway going to be the factor that turns Miami’s fortune around?

Fresno State at No. 13 UCLA (10:45 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network): The Bulldogs ended up a popular upset decide on around Oregon a couple of weeks ago, and they should present a fair take a look at to UCLA if their shut loss to the Ducks was any indication. The matchup to enjoy listed here is UCLA’s offense (sixth in SP+) towards Fresno State’s protection (91st in SP+).

No. 8 Cincinnati vs. Indiana (midday ET, ESPN): When this sport may not have the exact same spice it would have had the Hoosiers knocked off Iowa in Week 1, it really is nevertheless a significant activity. For the Hoosiers, they are coming off of a rebound blowout of Idaho as they attempt to get their period back on monitor immediately after huge anticipations were set from 2020’s breakout calendar year. For the Bearcats, it is the to start with exam in a vital extend in which Cincinnati also travels to South Bend in 7 days 5.

These two excellent teams are likely to appear out with a large amount of passion and come to feel like they have a little something to show. Make time for this one.

No. 19 Arizona State at No. 23 BYU (10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Only Alabama (15-) has a far better history than BYU (13-1) given that the begin of final time. But Arizona State is on a four-match profitable streak as well. These two teams performed each individual year in between 1965 and 1978 but have played just four situations since then, with the most new conference in 1998 — when BYU coach Kalani Sitake was a fullback for the unranked Cougars, who upset the No. 14 Solar Devils 26-6.

Tulane at No. 17 Ole Pass up (8 ET, ESPN2): Two of the major six offenses in the FBS confront off in Oxford as the Rebels (48.5 points for every game) experience the Eco-friendly Wave (52 PPG). Tulane presently took No. 3 Oklahoma to the last possession of the recreation in a 40-35 reduction that lifted eyebrows. “I told our children these days, if you will not know about meeting and you just look at film and check out them play, this is an SEC opponent,” Lane Kiffin mentioned this 7 days.

Tulane, 1 of the founding members of the SEC before leaving in 1966, had a little entertaining with the remark in the sort of some historic helmet stickers.

? #RollWave ? pic.twitter.com/Iv0FA3oS7Y

— Tulane College Soccer (@GreenWaveFB) September 14, 2021

Bruce Barnum seriously wants lovers to arrive to Saturday’s property opener against Western Oregon. As a make a difference of point, he told the Oregonian that he’ll invest in beer for lovers who exhibit up.

“I never care if you happen to be seeing the Oregon (or Oregon State) video game,” he mentioned. “Watch them on your telephone. Acquire your ticket and come to the recreation, I consider you are going to like what you see.”

Barnum stated enthusiasts just had to go to the Barney Beer Backyard in the stadium and inform them they listened to about the offer. He’ll foot the invoice, but for how a lot of?

“All of them,” he explained.