Ask Farrell: Which Week 1 loss cranks up heat on a coach?
There were not a bunch of top-25 matchups in the opening weekend of college football but there were still plenty of storylines - and numerous shocking losses.
Georgia State went to Tennessee and won, 38-30. It was Georgia State’s first-ever win over a Power Five team since the school started the program in 2010 and it’s the Vols’ first home loss in a season-opener since 1983.
Florida State looked like it had things under control against Boise State as the Seminoles went ahead 31-13 late in the second quarter. But after that touchdown, FSU was held scoreless and the Broncos chipped away, pulled ahead early in the fourth and never relinquished the lead, winning 36-31.
In the battle of the Carolinas, the Gamecocks led 20-9 heading to the fourth quarter but freshman quarterback Sam Howell threw two fourth-quarter TDs and South Carolina could not answer back, losing 24-20. It was North Carolina’s first win over the Gamecocks since 1991.
Missouri was in a little bit of a danger zone heading all the way to Wyoming for a Saturday night contest - and they got caught - as the Cowboys won, 37-31 and basically dominated the game after Mizzou took an early 14-0 lead.
The Saturday night game was a treat as one of the best matchups all weekend and the hype was backed up as Auburn and Oregon battled it out. The Ducks were in control, 21-6, midway through the third quarter but then freshman Bo Nix, a former five-star, threw two TD passes, including one with nine seconds left to give the Tigers the 27-21 win.
In the post-mortem, it seems that Tennessee and Florida State had by far the two most disappointing losses. But there were some others that were huge missed opportunities.
FARRELL'S TAKE:
We ask Rivals National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell which Week 1 loss was most surprising and devastating, especially for some coaches who are inching closer to being on the hot seat?
“The worst loss is the Tennessee loss of course because it’s embarrassing, but I don’t think it puts Jeremy Pruitt anywhere near a hot seat. The loss I was probably the most concerned with when it comes to hot seat is the Florida State loss, because it just puts more pressure on Willie Taggart. I don’t think he’s going to lose his job after this season, even if FSU finishes with a losing record, but it certainly doesn’t help his cause because the Seminoles gave up a lead and seemed to be out coached and lost to a true freshman quarterback.
"I was concerned by the South Carolina loss to North Carolina as well, but the Florida State loss probably puts more pressure on Taggart and the fans are getting worried and restless.”