Behind the Steel Curtain
Halfway through September, and the college football landscape is already dramatically changing from what was being predicted this summer. While seven of the teams that were in the top 10 of the AP Poll in Week 1 remain so, the order has been shuffled, except for Penn State, which remains firmly entrenched in the AP’s No. 2 spot. For now.
That’s also shifting our view on some of the potential quarterbacks available for this draft. We track it all so you don’t have to. Let’s dive in.
The result: Indiana State 0 — Indiana 73
The stats: 19-20 (95.0%), 270 yards, 5 TD, 1 Big Time Throws, 0 Turnover Worthy Plays, 8.6 ADoT, 0 sacks
6 rushes, 19 yards, 3.2 ypc, 1 TD
Indiana has been taking advantage of an easy opening slate of non-conference games to get the team in rhythm, and the exclamation point on that was a thorough beatdown of Indiana State, an FCS school. While we can’t crown Mendoza as QB1 for putting up huge numbers against a small school, it is a breath of fresh air compared to some of his peers in this quarterback class. A team that was in the college football playoffs just a year ago, now with a potential first-rounder at quarterback, SHOULD be putting up video game numbers against teams from a lower level of competition.
Mendoza looks comfortable in the Hoosiers’ offense, and now the real test begins. This week, they begin Big Ten play, against a Top-10 opponent to boot. We’ll be watching Mendoza with great interest this weekend.
Next up: hosting No.9 Illinois
The result: Clemson 21 — Georgia Tech 24
The stats: 15-26 (57.7%), 207 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2 BTTs, 1 TWP, 8.5 ADoT, 0 sacks
17 rushes, 57 yards, 3.4 ypc, 1 TD, 2 fumbles
Next up: hosting Syracuse
The result: Florida 10 — LSU 20
The stats: 15-27 (55.6%), 220 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 3 BTT, 1 TWP, 6.5 ADoT, 0 sacks
Next up: hosting Southeastern Louisiana
The result: Villanova 6 — Penn State 52
The stats: 16-29 (55.2%), 209 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 BTT, 2 TWP, 11.1 ADoT, 0 sacks
2 rushes, 18 yards, 9.0 YPC
Next up: off week, then hosting Oregon on Sept. 27
The result: UTEP 10 — Texas 27
The stats: 11-25 (44.0%), 114 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 0 BTT, 1 TWP, 7.0 ADoT, 0 sacks
10 rushes, 46 yards, 4.6 YPC, 2 TD, 1 fumble
Next up: hosting Sam Houston
The result: Vanderbilt 31 — South Carolina 7
The stats: 6-7 (85.7%), 94 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 0 BTT, 1 TWP, 9.3 ADoT, 1 sack
3 rushes, -6 yards, -2.0 YPC (Did not return after halftime with concussion)
Next up: at No. 23 Missouri, Sellers’ status is questionable
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