When analysts looked at the Atlantic Coast Conference this off-season, the question raised was simply, “who’s going to stand a chance against Clemson?” Several answers were brought up: Miami, Florida State, even North Carolina State. Not too many people mentioned the fellows from Blacksburg, Virginia. Virginia Tech only had three starters coming back on defense and some questions to be answered on the offensive end as well, but there might be a few more believers after their impressive showing on Labor Day evening, as they went to Tallahassee and emerged 24-3 victors over Florida State. That young Hokies defense forced five turnovers and held the Seminoles without a touchdown in a home game for the first time since 2008. In classic Virginia Tech fashion, they also blocked a punt and returned it for a score. While it doesn’t cement their status as top contenders behind Clemson in the ACC, it’s certainly a big step in the right direction.
West Virginia has a proud football tradition. The Mountaineers have been playing football since 1891, and in their existence have amassed 745 wins, good for 14th in the nation. However, they hold the dubious distinction as the program with the most wins that has never won a national championship or a Heisman Trophy. WVU has had a few close calls (a loss against Notre Dame in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl prevented a 12-0 season and a probable title, and 2007’s heartbreaking 13-9 loss to Pitt while ranked #2 by the AP and #1 by the coaches poll eliminated them from contention), but has never grabbed the brass ring. Neither has a Mountaineer ever lifted the bronze statue – Major Harris came closest by finishing 3rd in 1989’s Heisman voting. Could 2018 be the year they get off the schneid? Will Grier might have a lot to say about it. The West Virginia QB threw for 429 yards and five touchdowns in a 40-14 demolition of Tennessee. Grier threw for 275 yards and four of the touchdowns in the second half alone. With the wide-open playing style of the Big Twelve season ahead, Grier will have plenty of opportunities to further impress Heisman voters – and plenty of chances to continue moving the Mountaineers up in the polls.
In small-school news, you always know that it’s going to happen at some point during the season, and usually multiple times. A lower-division team is going to take down an FBS opponent. Nicholls State (a small school in Thibodaux, Louisiana) took a trip to Lawrence, Kansas and beat the Jayhawks 26-23 in overtime. East Carolina was tripped up by North Carolina A&T, 28-23. Temple was beaten by Villanova, 19-17. Northern Arizona beat UTEP 30-10. (The Lumberjacks beat the Miners. This game should be played with a dual-bladed axe for a trophy!)
Congratulations to JagAL, who wins week 1 via tie-breaker over Crimson Gator and AllySun! All three finished with 220 points. BEVO finished one point behind with 219, and Rocky Tide and Pachyderm each had 218 points.
Twenty-three games are on the slate this week, including some nice non-conference matchups. It’s a big point weekend! The first game this week is TCU at SMU (the “Battle for the Iron Skillet”), Friday, September 8 @ 8 PM ET, so make sure to get your picks in by then!