Football Feelings: Running Back Opening Weekend

09/07/2021 Football Feelings: Running Back Opening Weekend

By: Jeff Yoder

From Notre Dame’s OT Thriller to Alabama’s Beatdown, These Were the Best Games From Week 1 in College Football

The wait is over! College football’s opening weekend brought a long-awaited return for fans at full capacity across the country. The No. 3, No. 10 and No. 12 teams all fell in Week 1, and a plethora of young quarterbacks made their college debuts. Here are the top highlights and recaps from the first weekend on the gridiron.

 

#9 Notre Dame Holds Off FSU (41-38, OT)

The Sunday night thriller in Tallahassee nearly brought the biggest upset of the weekend when Florida State took Notre Dame into overtime with an 18-point 4th quarter, but the Irish prevailed with a field goal. ND’s senior QB Jack Coan was the star of the game (26/35, 366 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT).

 

#5 Georgia Shuts Down #3 Clemson (10-3)

The Clemson Tigers had only lost three games since the start of the 2018 season (39-3), but they opened 2021 with a brutal offensive performance against the Georgia defense. New Clemson QB D.J. Uiagelelei struggled (19/37, 178 yards, 1 INT).

 

#4 Ohio State Survives Minnesota Scare (45-31)

The Buckeyes trailed the Golden Gophers at halftime (14-10) in Thursday night’s marquee matchup, but the No. 4 team in the country rallied for 35 second-half points. New OSU quarterback C.J. Stroud got things going late (13/22, 294 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT).

 

#2 Oklahoma Thwarts Tulane’s Upset Bid (40-35)

The Sooners were rolling early in Norman after putting up 37 points in the first half, but a late surge from Tulane made things interesting. Sophomore QB Spencer Rattler was brilliant in the first half before failing to score in the second (30/39, 304 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs).

 

#1 Alabama Crushes #14 Miami (44-13)

A no-doubter for the Crimson Tide to open their title defense. Alabama buried Miami at a neutral-site opener, and new QB Bryce Young was as good as advertised (27/38, 344 yards, 4 TDs).

 

Other Scores & Highlights

Six FCS Teams Beat FBS Opponents

#6 Texas A&M def. Kent State (41-10)

#7 Iowa State def. Northern Iowa (16-10)

#8 Cincinnati def. Miami (OH) (49-14)

Virginia Tech def. #10 North Carolina (17-10)

(Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)