Dave Preston is an AP Top 25 voter. Read his ballots here.
College football’s Week Zero (although due to the lack of quantity and quality of games, it could be spelled “weak”) was certainly light on the FBS level. No. 14 USC was the only ranked team in action and beat San Jose State 42-26, although former Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo’s Spartans were 35.5-point underdogs (thus the phrase “good teams win, great teams cover”).
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- Beau Pribula dazzles in Virginia debut as Cavaliers overwhelm NC State 34-8 in season, ACC opener
- William & Mary scores 13 points in final minute to beat Villanova 35-32 in season opener
- Jayden Maiava, new playmakers lead No. 14 USC to 42-26 win over San Jose State in season opener
The marquee matchup in Ireland saw North Carolina behind former Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. slog their way past TCU 15-10 (Edwards has also attended Wisconsin and Wake Forest so if there’s anyone best prepared for traveling across the Atlantic for a game), proving that less-than sharp football overseas isn’t just an NFL thing.
But in FCS play, D.C.-area schools had their chance to shine and took it. Howard’s Ja’Shawn Scroggins threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Bison past Alabama A&M 31-24 on ABC Saturday night in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge. William & Mary turned a double-digit deficit with two minutes left in regulation into a 35-32 victory at FCS No. 8 Villanova. Even Georgetown saw lightning strike-literally-in their opener against Lafayette. Unfortunately, the lightning would not let up and the 23-7 third quarter lead over the Leopards was ruled a “no-contest.” Better luck next time.
Virginia (1-0, 1-0 ACC) began its season with a bang by blasting NC State 34-8. The Cavaliers’ defense dominated early, holding the Wolfpack to 24 yards on 13 first quarter plays while the offense turned a short field after an interception to score a touchdown and give the University of Virginia a double-digit lead for the rest of the day.
Cavalier Congrats: Beau Pribula in his University of Virginia debut completed 9-11 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns while also running for 110 yards. The offense rumbled for 258 yards on the ground and maintained possession for 38 minutes. The defense held the Wolfpack scoreless for three quarters and 168 total yards on 51 plays from scrimmage. Daniel Sparks averaged 45.4 yards per punt while Will Bettridge converted on both of his field goal attempts (long of 47).
Cavalier Concerns: The offense converted only 3-14 third downs (although they made up for it by going 4-4 on fourth down) and the team committed five penalties. Very tough to find blemishes with a season-opening win like this one.
Next: On Friday, Sept. 11, they host 1-0 Norfolk State at 7:30 p.m. in Charlottesville.
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