Into the great wide open
Under them skies of blue
Out in the great wide open
A rebel without a clue
Week zero of the college football season showed us again how lovable and crazy and unpredictable college football is.
Ten seconds left to play, down by a touchdown to Hawaii (an 11.5-point underdog) Khalil Tate scrambles out of the pocket and breaks into the open field. Cutting back over the middle he gets tackled inside the one as time runs out, and Arizona loses
In the early game 8th-ranked Florida overcame three turnovers by quarterback Felipe Franks, rallying back to best Miami 24-20.
The Florida defense had 10 sacks and 16 tackles for loss.
It's the great wide open as the season begins. We analyze and postulate, worry about injuries, project and predict, but truly, the game is unpredictable. Nobody, not even Mario Cristobal or Troy Dye, can be sure how the Ducks will react under the bright lights against a 16th-ranked SEC opponent.
Will Justin Herbert take command?
Will Oregon's young, athletic defense dominate and disrupt Auburn's offense, led by a true freshman starter at quarterback in Bo Nix? Gus Malzahn says "he's no ordinary freshman," advanced in his poise and ability to create outside the pocket.
Can Oregon's veteran offensive line, rated one of the best in the country, win the line of scrimmage against Auburn's defensive line, also rated one of the best in the country?
Has Marcus Arroyo improved? Is the Oregon scheme better and more productive?
Are the Ducks ready to be a better road team with an improved focus and mindset away from Autzen Stadium?
Can they overcome the rash of injuries at receiver?
Win or lose, can they adjust their expectations and turn their full attention to the rest of the schedule?
All indications are the Ducks have better talent, depth, strength and athletic ability this year, but the schedule is much harder. Can they reach that 10-win plateau, break through to a New Year's Bowl or the playoff? Are they ready to take their place as one of the top teams in the North? Over the last few seasons they are 1-2 against UW, 0-3 against Stanford, 0-4 against WSU.
Can they avoid a slipup or a trap? Cal? Colorado? USC? ASU? In the last few years, including last year, they've been a team that has lost a game or two they should have won.
There are hundreds of questions, challenges and unknowns at the beginning of a college season, perhaps this year more than most. So much is possible. I could see this team winning anywhere from 7 games to 12, depending on injuries, breaks, development, internal leadership, and the coaching ability of this reconfigured staff. It's wide open. Hopefully they always play from the heart.
Under them skies of blue
Out in the great wide open
A rebel without a clue
Week zero of the college football season showed us again how lovable and crazy and unpredictable college football is.
Ten seconds left to play, down by a touchdown to Hawaii (an 11.5-point underdog) Khalil Tate scrambles out of the pocket and breaks into the open field. Cutting back over the middle he gets tackled inside the one as time runs out, and Arizona loses
In the early game 8th-ranked Florida overcame three turnovers by quarterback Felipe Franks, rallying back to best Miami 24-20.
The Florida defense had 10 sacks and 16 tackles for loss.
It's the great wide open as the season begins. We analyze and postulate, worry about injuries, project and predict, but truly, the game is unpredictable. Nobody, not even Mario Cristobal or Troy Dye, can be sure how the Ducks will react under the bright lights against a 16th-ranked SEC opponent.
Will Justin Herbert take command?
Will Oregon's young, athletic defense dominate and disrupt Auburn's offense, led by a true freshman starter at quarterback in Bo Nix? Gus Malzahn says "he's no ordinary freshman," advanced in his poise and ability to create outside the pocket.
Can Oregon's veteran offensive line, rated one of the best in the country, win the line of scrimmage against Auburn's defensive line, also rated one of the best in the country?
Has Marcus Arroyo improved? Is the Oregon scheme better and more productive?
Are the Ducks ready to be a better road team with an improved focus and mindset away from Autzen Stadium?
Can they overcome the rash of injuries at receiver?
Win or lose, can they adjust their expectations and turn their full attention to the rest of the schedule?
All indications are the Ducks have better talent, depth, strength and athletic ability this year, but the schedule is much harder. Can they reach that 10-win plateau, break through to a New Year's Bowl or the playoff? Are they ready to take their place as one of the top teams in the North? Over the last few seasons they are 1-2 against UW, 0-3 against Stanford, 0-4 against WSU.
Can they avoid a slipup or a trap? Cal? Colorado? USC? ASU? In the last few years, including last year, they've been a team that has lost a game or two they should have won.
There are hundreds of questions, challenges and unknowns at the beginning of a college season, perhaps this year more than most. So much is possible. I could see this team winning anywhere from 7 games to 12, depending on injuries, breaks, development, internal leadership, and the coaching ability of this reconfigured staff. It's wide open. Hopefully they always play from the heart.
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