NCAA Football Report (Week 2)

Posted by thesportsjunky on September 12, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

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The NCAA is in the swing of things as they entered week 2 and many teams began playing their real schedules after their warm-up games. Some teams began their conferences schedules while others took on some big rivals as they all continue towards the #1 spot. Oklahoma Continues to have a hold on the #1 spot as LSU and Alabama battle for the #2 spot. Meanwhile Boise State and Florida State remain in the top five while Stanford is just on the outside led by Heisman favorite Andrew Luck. With some of these teams in action the movement at the top of the Top 25 was relatively low. One major aspect of the NCAA this year is the emergence of new QBs in some major programs. The biggest shoes to be filled are at Auburn where Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton has moved on to the NFL. In his place is Barrett Trotter as the Tigers look to repeat as National Champion but may be the only ones who believe they can. The loss of their QB was a big reason why the defending National Champs were ranked 23^rd to begin the season. Not many believed that Trotter could live up to the success of Newton but he is doing everything he can to do so. Unfortunately for Trotter, Newton’s shoes are very large but he is doing enough to be a true #1 starter throughout this year. He was not extremely sharp as the Tigers beat the #16 Mississippi State Bulldogs but he is throwing with a 71% completion rate as the Tigers lean on their running backs. Although he may not be the next Newton, Trotter is still more than capable of running the Auburn offence and could guide them to a top 10 finish if he continues to help them win. Meanwhile in Alabama the departure of Greg McElroy has led to the AJ McCarron era, well at least somewhat. Unlike the Auburn Tigers many of the big programs are still trying to find a QB and are using two QBs in order to find their next pivot. Alabama is one of these teams as AJ McCarron seems to be their #1 but has a Red shirt freshman, Phillip Sims, breathing down his neck. He is not alone as Ohio State has also used two QBs to replace Terrell Pryor as Braxton Miller and Joe Bauserman battle it out. Bauserman looks to be taking the lead as he remained in their game against Toledo who gave the Buckeyes a run for their money. As these teams continue to look for their QBs there are two that are showing why they will not be challenge by any others. Andrew Luck and Kellen Moore have been the top QBs in the league as they lead their teams in the race for #1. They have also become the top two players in the Heisman race with a number of different players nipping at their heels.

Heisman Watch:

1. Andrew Luck, QB (Stanford)

The Heisman is Luck’s to lose and there are a few players that are becoming favorites right behind him. He still has not done anything to end the favoritism as he led Stanford against a less than great opponent in Duke. He went 20/28, 290 yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT. Luck’s performance was not surprising or amazing but he did what was expected which is enough to keep him at the top in a week where a few of his biggest challengers took the week off.

Stats (2 games)

68.5 cmp%

461 yds

6 TD

1 INT

173.2 rtg

 

2. Kellen Moore, QB (Boise State)

Moore took advantage of the loss by the Oregon Ducks and LaMichael James and took over the second spot in the Heisman Race. Moore will have an easy road after facing Georgia, Boise State’s only BCS opponent. Moore will have a rough road as he will not face any strong teams and will need to dominate every defence or he will lose out to some up and coming stars. If Moore cannot put up very big numbers he will quickly slide in the Heisman race.

Stats (1 game)

82.4 cmp%

261 yds

3 TD

1 INT

170.1 rtg

 

3. Marcus Lattimore, RB (South Carolina)

With the Gamecocks big victory against Georgia Lattimore has gained some traction in the Heisman race. He made his biggest case in this game as the Gamecocks used him to their full ability calling his number 27 times as he burned the Georgia defence for 176 yards and a TD. Lattimore is one of the rising stars that looks to continue his strong performance and takeover the Heisman race. With South Carolina a dark horse favorite to make it to a BCS Bowl and a clear favorite to win the SEC Lattimore will get a lot of attention and if he keeps up his performance he will be in a strong battle at the end of the season.

Stats (2 games)

50 rsh

288 yds

5.8 avg

4 TD

 

AP Top 25:

1. Oklahoma Sooners (1)

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (3)

3. LSU Tigers (2)

4. Boise State (4)

5. Florida State (5)

6. Stanford Cardinal (6)

7. Wisconsin Badgers (8)

8. Oklahoma State Cowboys (9)

9. Texas A&M Aggies (7)

10. Nebraska Cornhuskers (10)

11. South Carolina Gamecocks (12)

12. Oregon Ducks (13)

13. Virginia Tech Hokies (11)

14. Arkansas Razorbacks (14)

15. Michigan State Spartans (17)

16. Florida Gators (18)

17. Ohio State Buckeyes (15)

18. West Virginia Mountaineers (19)

19. Baylor Bears (20)

20. South Florida Bulls (22)

21. Auburn Tigers (–)

22. Arizona State Sun Devils (–)

23. TCU Horned Frogs (25)

24. Texas Longhorns (24)

25. Mississippi State Bulldogs (16)

 

Key Scores:

Michigan Wolverines 35 vs. 31 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

– The two longtime rivals fought to the end as Michigan QB Denard Robinson made a TD pass with 2 seconds left in the game

 

#12 South Carolina Gamecocks 45 vs. 42 Georgia Bulldogs

– In this essential SEC matchup the Gamecocks came out on top giving them an early advantage to win the SEC conference

 

Auburn Tigers 41 vs. 34 Mississippi State Bulldogs #16

– The unranked Tigers took on the Mississippi State Bulldogs for a big SEC matchup and also a big top 25 matchup as the Tigers fought back into the Top 25 by beating #16 Mississippi State

 

Key Matchups:

#15 Michigan State Spartans vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Sept. 17^th; 3:30 pm ET)

– Longtime Rivals the #15 Michigan State Spartans will try to win the Megaphone and remain in the top 25.

 

Tennessee Volunteers vs. #16 Florida Gators (Sept. 17^th; 3:30 pm)

– The Vols and Gators are not the same teams as the past but are surprising many people and they will both face their stiffest competition in this contest.

 

#1 Oklahoma Sooners vs. #5 Florida State Seminoles (Sept. 17^th; 8:00 pm)

– The Sooners will look to keep their #1 ranking as they face their stiffest competition in #5 Florida State.

Filed under Football · Tagged with AJ McCarron, Alabama Crimson Tide, American Football, Andrew Luck, AP Top 25, Auburn Tigers, Barrett Trotter, Boise State Broncos, Braxton Miller, Florida State Seminoles, Football, Heisman Trophy, Heisman Watch, Joe Bauserman, Kellen Moore, LSU Tigers, Marcus Lattimore, NCAA, NCAA Football, NCAA Top 25, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma Sooners, Phillip Sims, Stanford Cardinal