Buffalo at Coastal Carolina, 1 pm ET (ESPN+)
Bucknell at Central Michigan, 1 pm ET (ESPN3)
Murray State at Ball State, 2 pm (ESPN+)
Ohio at Iowa State, 2 pm ET (ESPN+)
Cincinnati at Miami, Noon ET (ESPNU)
Vanderbilt at NIU, 3:30 pm ET / 2:30 pm CT (CBS Sports Network)
Marshall at Bowling Green, 5 pm ET (Network TBD)
Akron at Tennessee, 7 pm ET (ESPN+)
Toledo at Ohio State. 7 pm ET (FOX)
Pittsburgh at Western Michigan, 7:30 pm ET (ESPNU)
Eastern Michigan at Arizona State, 11 pm ET (Pac-12 Network)
Noon -- Saturday, 9-17-22
Dix Stadium -- Kent, OH
ESPN3
The Flashes catch a break in their brutal non-conference schedule this week, hosting the Long Island Sharks before meeting No. 1 Georgia after that. KSU is coming off a 33-3 loss to No. 7 Oklahoma in Week Two action.
LONG ISLAND SHARKS (0-2)
➤ Like Kent State, the Sharks are 0-2. After falling to Villanova 38-21 in its opener, Long Island was blanked by Toledo 37-0 last week. LIU, a member of the Northeast Conference, went 2-8 last year, posting wins over Central Connecticut and Wagner. Among the losses was a 42-7 setback at Miami (OH).
➤ Toledo out-gained the Sharks 437-113 and had a 21-7 edge in first downs last Saturday. LIU went 3-for-16 on third down attempts.
➤ Luca Stanzani and Derek Green combined to complete 14-of-26 passes, totaling 68 yards (2.6 yards per completion) with one interception. That was the Sharks only turnover. Victor Nelson Jr., meanwhile, intercepted one UT pass.
➤ Pat Bowel led LIU rushing with 12 carries for 38 yards. However, the Sharks averaged just 1.3 yards per carry overall.
KENT STATE (0-2)
➤ No. 7 Oklahoma held the high-powered KSU offense to 295 yards and three points -- Andrew Glass’ 37-yard second quarter field goal.
➤ Collin Schlee and Marquez Cooper led Kent State rushers with 55 yards apiece. The clashes rushed for 164 yards and passed for 131 with one pick. Schlee completed 11-of-19 pass attempts. Dante Cephas was the only Kent State receiver with more than two catches. He registered four catches for a team-high 50 yards.
➤ KSU allowed 296 yards through the air. Three of OU’s four touchdowns were pass receptions.
Buffalo at Coastal Carolina,
1 pm ET - Saturday 9-17-22
Brooks Stadium - Conway, SC
(ESPN+)
The Buffalo Bulls will attempt to get their first win of the 2022 campaign Saturday when they meet Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers went 11-2 last year, defeating Northern Illinois in the Tailgreeter Cure Bowl. Two games into a new season, CCU has yet to taste defeat.
COASTAL CAROLINA (2-0)
➤ The Sun Belt East Division members are averaging 34.5 while allowing 27.5 ppg. CCU downed Army 38-28 in Week One and edged Gardner-Webb 31-27 last week.
➤ Gardner-Webb outgained CCU 495-354 and had three more first downs. However, Coastal Carolina committed just two turnovers to five by the Bulldogs.
➤ After leading G-W 24-10 midway through the third quarter, the Chanticleers trailed 27-24 before Jacob Jenkins scored the game’s final TD in 6:25 to give Coastal Carolina the win.
➤ Gardner-Webb passed for 448 yards, but managed just 47 yards rushing.CCU likewise struggled, producing only 46 yards on the ground. Grayson McCall completed 22-of-30 passes for a total of 308 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
➤ Sam Pinkney led CCU receivers with seven catches for 87 yards. Tyson Mobley had three receptions, with two reaching the end zone.
BUFFALO BULLS (0-2)
➤ The hosting Bulls appeared headed for overtime against Holy Cross last week. Tied at 31-all with time for one play remaining, Holy Cross QB Matthew Sluka lofted a pass from near midfield into a crowd near the goal line. Jalen Coker pulled it down and fell into the endzone for a Crusader touchdown to win the game.
➤ Sophomore Cole Snyder completed 23-of-34 pass attempts, totaling 305 yards with three TDs. He also ran eight times for 51 of UB’s 159 rushing yards.
➤ As a team, UB averaged 5.1 ypc. Mike Washington’s 12 carries for 55 yards led the way.
➤ Two Buffalo receivers eclipsed the century mark. Justin Marshall registered five catches totaling 116 yards with two TDs. Quian Wiliams owned eight catches for a total of 105 yards with one score.
➤ Shaun Dolac and James Patterson combined for 26 tackles (2 TFL).
➤ Alex McNulty was perfect on four extra points and one field goal try (52 yards).
Bucknell at Central Michigan
1 pm ET - Saturday, 9-17-22
Kelly Shorts Stadium -- Mount Pleasant, MI
(ESPN3)
A pair of 0-2 teams battle for their first win Saturday as Central Michigan hosts Bucknell. The Chippewas are averaging 34.0 ppg, but have given up an average of 48 ppg. Meanwhile, the Bison have been involved in lower scoring contests. They lost to Towson 14-13 in Week One and fell at VMI 24-14 last week.
BUCKNELL BISON (0-2)
➤ After trailing by 24 points, Bucknell scored two TDs before falling to VMI last Saturday. Junior QB Nick Semtimphelter came off the bench to lead the rally. His 13-yard pass to Rushawn Baker with 1:05 left in the third stanza finally got Bucknell on the board. After a VMI turnover, BU came back with another scoring drive. Semtimphelter found tight end Kyle Fontes from four yards out to cap the trip.
➤ Overall, VMI out-gained the Bisons 326-183.
➤ Semptimphelter and Ethan Grady combined to complete 19-of-38 passes, good for 149 yards and two TDs with two interceptions -- one by each QB.
➤ Bucknell averaged 1.1 yards per rush against VMI.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS (0-2)
➤ CMU’s only lead against visiting South Alabama was 7-6. However, the Jaguars scored 31 straight points and took a 31-10 lead to the locker room. USA was up 38-10 before the Chippewas scored two fourth quarter touchdowns.
➤ South Alabama held a 502-348 advantage in total yardage.
➤ Daniel Richardson completed 22-of-46 pass attempts, totaling 267 yards with one TD. Joel Wilson led receivers with seven catches for 73 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown.
➤ CMU gained 81 yards on the ground, averaging 3.0 ypc. Marion Lukes and Lew Nichols III each scored one TD.
➤ Kyle Moretti and Justin Whiteside recorded 10 tackles each. Trey Jones had an interception.
Murray State at Ball State
2 pm -- Saturday, 9-17-22
Scheumann Stadium - Muncie, IN
(ESPN+)
After dipping a cleat into conference play last week, the Ball State Cardinals return to non-conference play Saturday when they host Murray State. Neither team owns a win yet, but the Cardinals are favored to win this one. The Racers have scored a total of 13 points over two games. Meanwhile, BSU seemed to get its offense untracked last week against Western Michigan.
MURRAY STATE (0-2)
➤ The Racers are members of the Ohio Valley Conference. A three-game win streak to close 2021 allowed MSU to finished 6-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play.
➤ Murray State managed just one field goal last week while falling to undefeated Jacksonville State (3-0) last Saturday.
➤ MSU was outgained 568-267 despite a 3-1 turnover advantage.
➤ The Racers completed just 6-of-19 passes against JSU. thirty-seven of the 92 passing yards were by kicker Lewis Halton.
➤ Jawaun Northington led Murray State rushing with 10 carries for 56 yards. As a team, MSU gained 175 yards on the ground.
➤ Senior kicker Aaron Baum has hit both field goal tries this season. His long is 45 yards (against JSU).
BALL STATE CARDINALS (0-2)
➤ After losing at Tennessee (59-10) in Week One, BSU lost to Western Michigan 37-30 in MAC play last Saturday.
➤ Ball State kicker Ben VonGunten converted all three PATs and three field goal attempts (with a long of 44 yards)
➤ Junior QB John Paddock completed 23-of-40 pass attempts, good for 291 yards and two TDs.
➤ After getting just 27 yards against Tennessee, sophomore RB Carson Steele turned 26 attempts against WMU into 147 yards with a touchdown.
➤ Amechi Uzodimma II picked off one Bronco pass.
2 pm ET -- Saturday, 9-17-22
Jack Trice Stadium -- Ames, IA
(ESPN+)
The Ohio Bobcats will try to bounce back this week after falling at Penn State 46-10 last Saturday. That evened the ‘Cats record at 1-1. They’ll be on the road facing an Iowa State team that is now 2-0 after edging in-state rival Iowa last week.
IOWA STATE (2-0)
➤ The Cyclones are coached by former Toledo head coach Matt Campbell. Now in his seventh year at ISU, his Cyclone teams have gone 44-34 overall and 2-3 in bowl games.
➤ The Cyclones own a five-game home winning streak and look to start 3-0 for the first time since 2012.
➤ Iowa State mixed an outstanding defensive effort with a timely 21-play, 11:49 drive that went 99 yards to beat Iowa (10-7) for the first time since 2014. Iowa State survived three turnovers and blocked two punts to gain their first road win in the in-state rivalry since 2014. They forced three Hawkeye turnovers.
➤The Cyclones held Iowa to just 150 yards of total offense ... ISU is 21st nationally in rushing defense (78.0 per game) and 23rd in passing defense (157.0) ... after allowing Iowa just 92 yards through the air.
➤ On the other side of the ball, quarterback Hunter Dekkers and wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson continue to have one of the nation’s best connections ... through the first two weeks, Hutchinson has 19 receptions (T-5th nationally), 226 yards (T-19th) and four touchdowns (T-3rd) ... Hutchinson had 11 receptions against the Hawkeyes, his fourth career game with double-digit receptions ... he pulled in the go-ahead TD with 8:27 left, capping off a 21-play, 99-yard drive that spanned 11:49 ... the drive is one of four 99-yard drives in college football this season
➤ Colby Reeder was named Big 12 CoNewcomer of the Week after recording an interception to go along with four tackles, including one for a loss, and two QBH
➤ Will McDonald IV has recorded 22 sack in the last two seasons, the second most nationally during that span. His 10.5 sacks last season ranks sixth nationally and equals his own mark set in 2020
OHIO BOBCATS (1-1)
➤ Ohio opened 2022 with a 41-38 win over Florida Atlantic. The ‘Cats didn’t get their first 2022 victory until Week Five, when they defeated Akron 34-17.
➤ The Bobcats and Cyclones have competed seven times since 1962. Overall, Ohio is 0-7 against Iowa State. The teams last met on Sept. 6, 2003 when the Bobcats traveled to Jack Trice Stadium for their first away game of the season. Ohio ultimately fell, 48-20
➤ Penn State outgained Ohio 572-264 in the Nittany Lions 46-10 win last week. PSU registered 338 passing yards and added 234 on the ground.
➤ Neither Ohio nor Penn State committed a turnover.
➤ Redshirt freshman running back Sieh Bangura scored the Bobcats’ only touchdown of the day with a one-yard rush in the second quarter. Freshman kicker Nathanial Vakos was 1-for-1 on field goals, maintaining his perfect start to his collegiate career.
➤In the air, redshirt junior quarterback Kurtis Rourke was 14-for-30 with 119 yards while redshirt freshman quarterback Parker Navarro made his Ohio debut, going 2-for-7 with 28 yards.
➤ On defense, both redshirt seniors John Gregory and Bryce Houston had six tackles with three solo tackles each, while graduate student safety Tariq Drake finished the day with five solo tackles.
Noon - Saturday, 9-17-22
Paycor Stadium - Cincinnati, OH
ESPNU
By MIKE SMITH
While some of the faces have changed, Miami Head Coach Chuck Martin knows his RedHawks will still be facing a top-tier opponent when MU meets area rival Cincinnati Saturday at Paycor Stadium.
Cincinnati has won the "Battle for the Victory Bell" 15 straight years now and is in a position to pull on top in the longest lasting collegiate football series west of the Allegheny Mountains. The series currently stands at 59-59-7.
Both teams are 1-1, losing to strong . . .
Full story HERE
3:30 pm ET / 2:30 pm CT
Huskie Stadium - DeKalb, IL
CBS Sports Network
The Huskie defense will be tested Saturday when Northern Illinois goes after a “Boneyard Win” against visiting Vanderbilt. The Commodores (2-1) are averaging 43.3 ppg, although they were held to 25 points in last week’s 45-25 loss to No. 23 Wake Forest.
NIU, meanwhile, has been pretty productive itself on offense, scoring 34 and 35 points in the Huskies first two outings.
➤ NIU and Vanderbilt have met four times previously, as the Huskies have faced the Commodores twice as many times as any other Southeastern Conference opponent. Vanderbilt has won each of the previous meetings, including three in Nashville, most recently on Sept. 28, 2019, by a 24-18 score.
➤ The series dates to Oct. 29, 1994, a 17-16 Vandy win. VU also won in DeKalb in 1997 (17-7) and in Nashville in 1999 (34-31). Three of the four games have been decided by one score.
Vanderbilt is the only SEC team to play in Huskie Stadium.
➤ NIU will play consecutive games versus Southeastern Conference teams for the first time in school history with Saturday’s game versus Vanderbilt followed by next week’s contest at Kentucky. This year marks just the second time the Huskies have faced two SEC teams in a season.
VANDERBILT COMMODORES (2-1)
➤ After wins over Hawaii (63-10) and Elon (42-31), the Commodores fell to No. 23 42-25 last week. The Deacons outgained Vanderbilt 451-294 overall and had a 21-11 advantage in first downs.
➤ The Commodores committed three turnovers, including two fumbles.
➤ Vanderbilt quarterbacks A.J. Swann) and Mike Wright (16/26) combined for 181 yards, two TDs and one pick. Swann, a freshman, recorded his first career passing touchdown finished 8-of-11 for 146 passing yards with a pair of scores.
➤ Senior Re’Mahn Davis (5-9, 205) led Vanderbilt rushing with 18 carries for 87 yards (4.8 ypc) and a touchdown. Overall, the Commodores averaged 3.3 ypc and totaled 113 yards on the ground.
➤ Wright accounted for a program-record six touchdowns -- four passing and two rushing -- in the win over Elon. He became the first Vanderbilt quarterback to account for six scores in a single game.
➤ Will Sheppard is tied for the nation’s lead in receiving touchdowns with five on the season.
➤Vanderbilt has recorded a takeaway in 12 consecutive games, dating to last season. The 12-game streak serves as the longest active streak in the SEC and the seventh-longest in the FBS.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES (1-1)
➤ Down 17-0 at one point and 24-7 at intermission, NIU scored three straight TDs to pull ahead of Tulsa 28-24 early in the final stanza. After trading touchdowns, the Hurricane held Northern Illinois on downs and took over near midfield. Five plays later, Steven Anderson scored on a 1-yard run to put the hosts one more time. And interception with 32 seconds left ended the Huskies final drive.
➤ Quarterback Rocky Lombardi completed 18-of-31 passes for 259 yards with three TDs and one pick.
➤The Huskies rushed for 126 yards and two TDs overall. Antario Brown led the way with 20 carries for 73 yards and a score.
➤ Cole Tucker led NIU receivers with seven catches for 123 yards and a TD. Kacper Rutkiewicz found the end zone on two of his three receptions.
5 pm ET - Saturday, 9-17-22
Doyt L. Perry Stadium - Bowling Green, OH
(Network TBD)
One of the nation’s biggest names from last week’s college football action will visit Bowling Green this week. The Marshall Thundering Herd are fresh off their upset of No. 8 Notre Dame last Saturday and bring a 2-0 record into Week Three action. Meanwhile, the Falcons are still in search of their first win. BGSU is trying to bounce back from a 59-57 seven-overtime loss to Eastern Kentucky last week.
MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD ((2-0)
➤ The Herd pummeled Norfolk State 55-3 to open 2022 and then edged the Irish in South Bend last week. Notre Dame led 15-12 early in the second quarter, but Marshall scored two touchdowns in less than a minute.The second was a 37-yard interception return by Steven Gilmore. That gave MU enough of a cushion to withstand Notre Dame’s final TD with 14 seconds left.
➤ Marshall forced three Irish turnovers while playing turnover-free football itself.
Micah Abraham also snared an interception against Notre Dame, the fourth of his career and the second straight game in which he intercepted a pass after also picking one off against Norfolk State.
Marshall’s third interception of the game was taken by defensive end Owen Porter - Porter’s second straight game with a takeaway after he returned a fumble 21 yards for a touchdown against Norfolk State.
➤ Senior quarterback Henry Colombi previously played at Utah State and Texas Tech. In two games this year, he is completing 85.1 percent of his passes (40/47). Against Notre Dame, he completed 16-of-21 passes, good for 145 yards and one TD.
➤ Most of MU’s yardage against the Irish came on the ground. Khalan Laborn (5-11, 212) was the workhorse, logging 31 carries for a total of 163 yards (5.3 ypc) with one score.
➤ True freshman place kicker Rece Verhoff missed his first PAT attempt of the game, but bounced back to connect on two field goals and two PATs after that. Prior to the PAT miss, Marshall had made 123 consecutive PATs, dating back to 2019.
BOWLING GREEN FALCONS (2-0)
➤ The Bowling Green Falcons (0-2) rallied from 21 points down to force overtime, but visiting Eastern Kentucky (1-1) prevailed in seven extra periods. Parker McKinney hit Braedon Sloan for a two-point conversion in the final stanza,
➤ The contest was the longest game in BGSU history. Matt McDonald threw for 283 yards and five touchdowns and ran for 64 yards and another score for the Falcons. BGSU scored 21 consecutive points in the second half to take a 38-31 lead with 3:39 to go in regulation. But, EKU put together a 14-play, 75-yard drive and tied the score on the final play of the fourth quarter.
➤ The Falcons PAT pass attempt in the seventh overtime was tipped and fell incomplete. EKU, however, was successful, bringing an end to the game and a win to Eastern Kentucky.
The seven overtimes are a MAC record and tied for the second-longest game in FBS history.
C.J. Lewis and Odieu Hillare combined for 10 catches, 120 yards and three TDs.
➤ Saturday is the 30th all-time meeting between Bowling Green and Marshall in a series that began in 1954 when the Herd first joined the Mid-American Conference. • BGSU leads the all-time series, 21-8, however Marshall has won five of the last eight meetings. • Marshall was a member of the MAC from 1954-1969 and then again from 1997-2005.
➤ Bowling Green has blocked a punt in each of the first two games. Only six FBS programs have blocked 2+ punts this season.
➤ Bowling Green is No. 9 in the nation with eight team sacks. The eight sacks lead the Mid-American Conference.
7 pm ET - Saturday, 9-17-22
Neyland Stadium - Knoxville, TN
(ESPN+)
Fresh off an overtime win over No. 17 Pittsburgh last week, the Tennessee Volunteers host Akron Saturday. The Zips, 1-1, are one of two MAC teams on the UT schedule this year. The Volunteers opened 2022 with a 59-10 win over Ball State. UA had its own overtime victory when it clipped St. Francis (PA) to open the season. However, the Zips fell hard (52-0) at No. 14 Michigan State last Saturday.
NO. 15 TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
➤ UT upset Pitt last week despite fumbling twice and allowing a blocked punt -- all in the second half. It was an even game as just one yard and one first down separated the two teams in team stats.
➤ Senior QB Hendon Hooker completed 27-of-42 passes, good for 325 yards and two TDs against Pitt. He has completed 67.2 percent of his passes on the year and has yet to throw an interception.
➤ Cedric Tillman registered nine catches for 162 yards with one TD last week.
➤UT totaled 91 yards on the ground against Pitt, averaging 2 ypc,
➤ Senior LB Aaron Beasley had 14 tackles.
➤ UT gives up 18.5 points per game and allows 379.0 yards per game.
➤ A year after setting a school-record for points in a season and becoming the FBS’ most improved offense (No. 7, 39.3 ppg), Tennessee has picked up where it left off. The Vols are averaging 46.5 points per game, which is No. 1 in the SEC and No. 14 in the FBS. UT has put up at least 30 points in five straight games. They average 492.5 yards per game of total offense this season, a mark that ranks No. 2 in the SEC and No. 23 in the FBS. Georgia leads the league at 525.0.
AKRON ZIPS (1-1)
➤ The Akron Zips’ football team came up short in its non-conference showdown at No. 11/14 Michigan State as the Spartans registered a 52-0 triumph over the Zips on Saturday East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State capitalized on four Akron turnovers en route to posting the victory in the first meeting between the two schools since the 1914 campaign.
➤ The Zips finished with 225 yards of total offense, including 203 through the air, led by 123 yards from redshirt junior QB DJ Irons and 80 yards from redshirt junior QB Jeff Undercuffler, Jr. Together, they completed 20-of-35 pass attempts for 203 yards.
➤ Redshirt junior WR Daniel George (Fort Washington, Md.) pulled in four catches for Akron for a team high 44 yards, while redshirt TE TJ Banks added four receptions for 29 yards.
➤ Irons and redshirt sophomore RB Cam Wiley (Las Vegas, Nev.) garnered 30 yards apiece on the ground for the Zips.
➤ Sophomore DB Darrian Lewis and redshirt junior LB Jeslord Boateng led the Zips’ defensive efforts with eight tackles each, including three solo stops. Redshirt senior LB Bubba Arslanian added seven tackles, while senior DB Jalen Hooks and redshirt senior DL Zach Morton each garnered an interception.
➤ Twenty-six different Zips registered a tackle against Michigan State, including 11 newcomers
7 pm ET - Saturday, 9-17-22
Neyland Stadium - Knoxville, TN
(ESPN+)
Fresh off an overtime win over No. 17 Pittsburgh last week, the Tennessee Volunteers host Akron Saturday. The Zips, 1-1, are one of two MAC teams on the UT schedule this year. The Volunteers opened 2022 with a 59-10 win over Ball State. UA had its own overtime victory when it clipped St. Francis (PA) to open the season. However, the Zips fell hard (52-0) at No. 14 Michigan State last Saturday.
NO. 15 TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
➤ UT upset Pitt last week despite fumbling twice and allowing a blocked punt -- all in the second half. It was an even game as just one yard and one first down separated the two teams in team stats.
➤ Senior QB Hendon Hooker completed 27-of-42 passes, good for 325 yards and two TDs against Pitt. He has completed 67.2 percent of his passes on the year and has yet to throw an interception.
➤ Cedric Tillman registered nine catches for 162 yards with one TD last week.
➤UT totaled 91 yards on the ground against Pitt, averaging 2 ypc,
➤ Senior LB Aaron Beasley had 14 tackles.
➤ UT gives up 18.5 points per game and allows 379.0 yards per game.
➤ A year after setting a school-record for points in a season and becoming the FBS’ most improved offense (No. 7, 39.3 ppg), Tennessee has picked up where it left off. The Vols are averaging 46.5 points per game, which is No. 1 in the SEC and No. 14 in the FBS. UT has put up at least 30 points in five straight games. They average 492.5 yards per game of total offense this season, a mark that ranks No. 2 in the SEC and No. 23 in the FBS. Georgia leads the league at 525.0.
AKRON ZIPS (1-1)
➤ The Akron Zips’ football team came up short in its non-conference showdown at No. 11/14 Michigan State as the Spartans registered a 52-0 triumph over the Zips on Saturday East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State capitalized on four Akron turnovers en route to posting the victory in the first meeting between the two schools since the 1914 campaign.
➤ The Zips finished with 225 yards of total offense, including 203 through the air, led by 123 yards from redshirt junior QB DJ Irons and 80 yards from redshirt junior QB Jeff Undercuffler, Jr. Together, they completed 20-of-35 pass attempts for 203 yards.
➤ Redshirt junior WR Daniel George (Fort Washington, Md.) pulled in four catches for Akron for a team high 44 yards, while redshirt TE TJ Banks added four receptions for 29 yards.
➤ Irons and redshirt sophomore RB Cam Wiley (Las Vegas, Nev.) garnered 30 yards apiece on the ground for the Zips.
➤ Sophomore DB Darrian Lewis and redshirt junior LB Jeslord Boateng led the Zips’ defensive efforts with eight tackles each, including three solo stops. Redshirt senior LB Bubba Arslanian added seven tackles, while senior DB Jalen Hooks and redshirt senior DL Zach Morton each garnered an interception.
➤ Twenty-six different Zips registered a tackle against Michigan State, including 11 newcomer
7 pm ET - Saturday, 9-17-22
Ohio Stadium - Columbus, OH
(FOX)
After cruising past Long Island University and UMass to open their season, the Toledo Rockets will face a monumental test this week when they meet No. 3 Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have not lost a game to an in-state school since a 7-6 loss to Oberline in 1921, although Wooster tied OSU in 1924. However, Toledo was involved in a close call, as the Rockets fell just short in a 27-22 loss to Ohio State back in 2011. Trailing by five, the Rockets drove to the Ohio State 16 with 52 seconds to play, but a 4th-and-5 pass attempt fell incomplete.
NO. 3 OHIO STATE (2-0)
➤ OSU opened the season with a 21-10 victory over then-No. 5 Notre Dame. It followed that by blasting Arkansas State 45-12.
➤ This is the fourth meeting on the gridiron between the Buckeyes and the Rockets, two teams located just 140 miles and two roads – U.S. Route 23 and Interstate 75 – apart. Ohio State leads the series, 3-0.
➤ Coach Ryan Day’s teams have scored 30-or-more points 32 times in his 40 games as head coach. Ohio State is 32-0 in those games. His teams are 4-4 in games when scoring less than 30 points, and OSU will be facing a Toledo defense that has shined early.
➤ The Ohio State defense is among the Top 25 defenses nationally in three key categories so far this season. The Buckeyes are 11th against the rush, allowing 64.5 yards per game. They are 23rd in scoring defense (allowing 11.0 points per game) and 24th in total defense (allowing 264.5 yards per game).
➤ The one-two RB duo of TreVeyon Henderson (6.8 yards per carry) and Miyan “Chop” Williams (6.6 ypc) are combining to average 6.7 yards per carry. f The duo has 308 combined rushing yards this season and three touchdowns.
➤ Quarterback C.J. Stroud finished 16-of-24 for 351 yards and four touchdowns last Saturday. It was the 10th 300-yard game for Stroud in 14 career starts. Since 2017, Ryan Day-coached quarterbacks have thrown for 300 or more yards 39 times. Only Alabama (40) has more 300-yard games. The Buckeyes are 35-4 in those 39 games
➤ Ohio State has yet to turn the ball over on offense, but it has also not had a takeaway on defense. OSU has one turnover: a fumbled punt last week vs. Arkansas State
➤ Through two games, Ohio State’s defense has allowed just one touchdown: a one-yard run by Notre Dame’s Audric Estime. The unit has forced punts on 15 of its opponents’ 23 possessions through two games (65 percent), including seven in a row to end the Notre Dame game and through the start of the Arkansas State contest. Nine other teams nationally have given up just one touchdown so far this season, including Saturday’s opponent: Toledo.
TOLEDO ROCKETS (2-0)
➤ Toledo is coming off a 55-10 win over UMass on Saturday that featured an offensive explosion that matched a dominating defense that shut out LIU 37-0 a week earlier in the season opener
➤ Toledo’s defense ranks tied for second in the nation in points allowed (5.0), passing yards allowed (58.0) and passing efficiency (66.85), and fourth in total defense (183.0).
➤ Toledo’s defense held UMass to just 253 yards of total offense, including just 48 yards through the air. Senior defensive tackle Desjuan Johnson led the defensive front with 1.5 tackles for loss.
➤ Sophomore quarterback Dequan Finn threw for a touchdown and ran for two more to lead Toledo vs. the Minutemen. Finn completed 12-of-26 passes for 177 yards and added a team-best 74 yards rushing to lead the offense. Sophomore Peny Boone added a pair of short yardage touchdowns in the first half, helping the Rockets jump out to a 28-0 lead early in the second quarter.
➤ Junior linebacker Dallas Gant, an Ohio State transfer, leads Toledo with 20 tackles. He had a team-high 11 tackles in the opener vs. LIU and tied for team best with nine vs. UMass. Gant, a native of Toledo, played for four seasons at Ohio State from 2018- 21. He had 54 tackles for OSU, with his best season coming in 2019 when he had 30 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
7:30 pm ET - Saturday, 9-17-22
Waldo Stadium -- Kalamazoo, MI
(ESPNU)
Western Michigan meets its second Top-25 team in three weeks Saturday when the Broncos battle No. 23 Pittsburgh. The Panthers will be looking for revenge as WMU was one of two teams to defeat Pitt during the 2021 regular season.
Both teams are 1-1. Both teams allow 32.5 ppg.
PITTSBURGH PANTHERS (1-1)
➤ Jared Wayne’s 4-yard TD catch with 2:23 in the fourth quarter force overtime, but No. 24 Tennessee scored the extra period’s only touchdowns as the Vols edged Pitt last week at Acrisure Stadium.
➤ UT had just one more yard (416-415) and one less first down (20-21). Both teams committed two turnovers.
➤ Kedon Slovis and Nick Patti combined to complete 23-of-44 passes, good for 274 yards with two TDs and one interception. The duo was sacked four times.
➤Israel Abanikanda led Panther rushing, carrying 25 times for 154 yards and one score.
➤ Panther defenders registered three sacks and six TFL.
➤ Pitt compiled a 5-0 road record during the 2021 regular season. It marked the Panthers' first undefeated road record since 1987.
➤ Pitt is 32-5 all-time against Mid-American Conference members (4-2 on the road). The Panthers' last MAC road game occurred on Sept. 12, 2015, a 24-7 win at Akron.
➤ In 2021, Head Coach Pat Narduzzi and QB Kenny Pickett led Pitt to one of the most accomplished seasons in school history. The Panthers’ stormed to 11 victories—their most since 1981—and claimed their first outright conference title with a 45-21 triumph over Wake Forest in the ACC Championship Game
WESTERN MICHIGAN (1-1)
➤ Saturday’s game against the Panthers will mark just the fifth time in program history that the Broncos have hosted a nationally ranked team at Waldo Stadium. WMU is 0-4 in those games, with the last one coming against No. 5 Michigan State in 2015. No. 5 Virginia Tech, led by Michael Vick, visited Waldo Stadium back in 2002, while the other two ranked games were against Miami Ohio back in 1975 and 1973.
➤ WMU edged Ball State 37-30 in an early-season MAC game last week. After trailing 23-14 midway through the fourth quarter, WMU scored three of the game’s last four touchdowns. Sean Tyler’s 60-yard burst at 7:33 of the final stanza put the Broncos in front one final time.
➤ A week after hitting eight different receivers in a game for the first time since Nov. 4, 2020 (Kaleb Eleby), redshirt freshman quarterback Jack Salopek did it again in the 37-30 win at Ball State. Corey Crooms (10), Jehlani Galloway (4), Anthony Sambucci (2), La’Darius Jefferson (2), A.J. Abbott (2), Blake Bosma (2), and Sean Tyler (2) all had receptions in the victory.
➤ Salopek, Jefferson and Crooms all had career days in the win over Ball State. Salopek set new career marks in completions (25), yards (230) and he threw his first career touchdown pass. Jefferson had a career-high three touchdown runs. Crooms had a career-high 10 receptions on the day, with 102 yards receiving and a touchdown.
➤ After giving up 264 yards in the first half of the Ball State game, the Bronco defense clamped down in the second half, allowing just 187.
➤ The Bronco defense has forced turnovers in both games this season. After an interception and a fumble against Michigan State, the Broncos forced a fumble on Ball State’s first drive of the game, which led directly to a WMU touchdown.
11 pm ET - Saturday, 9-17-22
Sun Devil Stadium -- Tempe, AZ
(Pac-12 Network)
After giving up 49 second half points in a 49-21 loss at Louisiana last week, the Eastern Michigan Eagles hope to regroup for this battle at Arizona State. Both teams posted victories in Week One but fell in last Saturday’s action.
ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS (1-1)
➤ ASU blasted Northern Arizona 40-3 to open the season, with much of the damage coming on the ground. The Sun Devils ran for 267 yards and four touchdowns. Xazavian Valladay led the way with 15 carries for 116 yards and two scores. NAU was held to 97 yards passing and 23 rushing.
➤ The 6-0, 200-pound senior was again productive last week, carrying 21 times for 118 yards and a TD. However, No. 11 Oklahoma State proved too much, posting a 34-17 victory. Overall, the Cowboys outgained ASU 465-354.
➤ Junior QB Emory Jones completed 12-of-24 pass attempts, good for 223 yards with one TD.
➤ The Sun Devils were the only team in the FBS to not allow a 50-yard play last season, and extended the program’s active streak of games without a 50-yard play allowed to an FBS-leading 17 games against Oklahoma State
➤ The Sun Devils have an interception in four straight games dating back to last season and nine of the last 10 games.
➤ ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 31 of 45 games under Herm Edwards, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back to a span from 2013-17
➤ Last season in non-garbage time against FBS opponents, teams gained 7 or more yards on a play just 18.5 percent of the time (11th-lowest in the FBS) and 10 or more yards just 8.9 percent of the time (16th in the FBS).
EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES (1-1)
➤ EMU fanned the flames of last week’s Ragin’ Cajuns rally by committing five turnovers after intermission. Louisiana scored all 49 of its points in the second half..
➤ Eastern Michigan attempted 51 passes against Louisiana. That number is tied for the 13th-most single-game pass attempts in program history, and the most in a game for EMU since it attempted 57 tosses against Ohio University, Nov. 9, 2021. The 32 offensive completions for EMU is tied for 11th all-time in a single game at EMU. Individually, quarterback Taylor Powell amassed 31 completions against the Ragin’ Cajuns. That is good for 15th all-time in EMU single-game laurels. It is the most for an EMU passer since Ben Bryant completed 41 passes against the Bobcats in the previously mentioned Ohio game. Powell’s 52 attempts are the 14th most in program history.
➤EMU’s red zone success has kept the field goal unit off the field for EMU through two games this season. The 2022 season marks consecutive campaigns in which the EMU special teams unit did not attempt a field goal through the first pair of contests in the season.
➤ The Eagles averaged 1.8 ypc while rushing for 41 yards against UL.
➤ Tanner Knue leads EMU receivers with 12 catches for 132 yards and three of the Eagles five receiving touchdowns.
➤ Kicker Jesus Gomez has not attempted a field goal in 2022. He is perfect on all nine PAT boots.
By MIKE SMITH
When “veteran” Miami University or Northwestern fans hear the name Randy Walker, it typically evokes fond memories. Walker, who played at Miami, coached at both MU (1990-98) and Northwestern (1999-2006). Before passing away in June of 2006, he left a legacy of building both teams and men.
The two schools have met on the gridiron just once since then, but they will face off again Saturday at historic Ryan Field in Evanston (IL). Both teams are 1-2, so Saturday is a chance to get back to .500 before entering the grind of conference play.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Northwestern won the last meeting (2009), 16-6, as defenses ruled most of the day. It also took a 21-3 decision in Oxford just a few months after Walker’s sudden passing in 2006. That game marked the debut of Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald.
However, Miami actually . . .