After BC's future football opponents started the season a combined 10-1 in Week 1, it got particularly ugly for the Eagles soon-to-be-vanquished-foes in Week 2. BC's remaining ten opponents finished the weak with a paltry 4-6 record, with two of those four wins coming against FCS fodder. The only win against an FBS non-conference opponents was N.C. State's 28-21 win at Central Florida. The other win was Wake's 54-48 victory over Duke. BC plays both Wake Forest and Duke later this year, so somebody had to win.
Let's take a trip through the box scores and recaps to learn more about how the Eagles next few upcoming opponents fared in Week 2.
James Madison 21, Virginia Tech 16: [ed. note: WOOO!!!] Most game recaps focus on the full meltdown going on in Blacksburg, where the preseason pick to win the ACC is now 0-2 and has more questions than answers. But that does a disservice to the James Madison Dukes, who played an amazing game in all three phases, outcoaching Frank Beamer and the rest of the Hokies coaching staff. The Hokies are a mess. Can't tackle. Linebackers can't cover anybody. Couldn't stop anyone up the middle. The Dukes capitalized, running the ball down the Hokies' throat to the tune of 114 yards.
The Hokies uncharacteristically shot themselves in the foot with three turnovers, including two fumbles and a Tyrod Taylor-thrown interception. If there was a bright spot on the day, it was the play of RB Ryan Williams (20 carries, 91 yards) and the secondary. But that's where the list stops. Also, no one seems to be focused on the fact that a) James Madison is a very good FCS team and b) the Hokies only had four days rest after losing to Boise State in the opener Monday night. The Hokies need to right the ship, and fast. They host the ECU Pirates this weekend, a team that has racked up 100 points in their first two games against Tulsa and Memphis. Could Dominique Davis get his pound of flesh from Virginia Tech's ACC Championship Game victory over Boston College in 2008? [Gobbler Country, Box Score]
Michigan 28, Notre Dame 24: Michigan QB Denard Robinson pretty much single-handedly gave Brian Kelly his first loss as the Irish head coach. Robinson finished the game passing for 244 yards on 24-of-40 passing to go with 258 yards rushing on 28 carries, including an 87-yard touchdown run that was the longest in Notre Dame Stadium history. Irish QB Dayne Crist, who missed most of the first half with blurred vision in his right eye, brought the Irish back in the second half when he connected with TE Kyle Rudolph on a 95-yard TD pass. Crist finished the day passing for 277 yards, two TD and an interception on 13-of-25 passing. The Irish next face Michigan State on the road before returning home to face 19th-ranked Stanford. [Rakes of Mallow, Box Score]
N.C. State 28, UCF 21: It may have been an "ugly effort offensively," but the Wolfpack still came away with the victory. N.C. State build up a 21-point lead going into the fourth quarter only to see UCF storm back and score the game's final two TDs. The defense played well, but the offense struggled for most of the day. The 'Pack offense was held under four yards/play for only the fourth time under head coach Tom O'Brien. N.C. State starts the season at 2-0 for the first time since 2002. O'Brien and the Wolfpack have a short week as the prepare to host defending Big East champ Cincinnati on Thursday night (7:30 P.M., ESPN). [Backing The Pack, Box Score]
Oklahoma 47, Florida State 17: The Seminoles went to Norman looking to become the first team in five years to win in Oklahoma. The Noles came away with a beating and lessons learned in a 47-17 Sooner romp. The young Seminoles defense isn't quite ready for prime time. The FSU defense decided to focus on taking away the run, stopping Sooners RB DeMarco Murray and making inexperienced QB Landry Jones beat them through the air. Beat them through the air Jones did, throwing for 380 yards and four touchdowns on 30-of-40 passing, outplaying the Noles Heisman-hopeful QB Christian Ponder. The Seminoles next prepare to host BYU on Saturday at 3:30 (ESPNU). [Tomahawk Nation, Box Score]
Maryland 62, Morgan State 3: Crabcakes, football and I-AA beatdowns -- that's what Maryland does. Not much you can glean from a 62-3 thrashing of your in-state I-AA opponent. I guess Maryland should be happy they didn't put James Madison back on the schedule, as they needed OT to knock off the Dukes last season. The Terrapins have already matched their 2009 win total in the first two weeks of the season. In a game where Maryland was favored to win by 38, the Terps surpassed that spread in the first half. Yeah, it wasn't pretty, but I guess the Terps (and the rest of the ACC) should be pleased that Maryland, you know, beat their I-AA opponent. Might there be a newly kindled QB competition in College Park? Backup QB Danny O'Brien threw three touchdown passes in relief of starter Jamarr Robinson -- all in the first half. Then again, this performance was against Morgan State. [Testudo Times, Box Score]