Oregon at Michigan State
Game Recap: Oregon's comeback bid fell short on a wayward pass from Vernon Adams late. The Spartans pulled off the huge home win 31-28. Michigan State converted a pair of 4th down attempts that both led to touchdowns while stopping Oregon on four 4th down attempts, which was the difference in the game.
Key Players: Starting RB Madre London again started the game quickly, this time with a 62-yard run on the Spartans first drive. After the big early run, he only managed 41 yards on his final 17 carries (3.0 YPC). The total output of 18 carries for 103 yards looks good on paper, but it was mostly from the one big play. The breakout star of the game for Michigan State was backup RB LJ Scott. We mentioned the true freshman as our player to watch last week and he looked the part of a future star with 11 carries for 77 yards and 2 touchdowns. Connor Cook played well but the system is not designed for the quarterback to put up big numbers and he threw for only 192 yards and 2 touchdowns. Aaron Burbridge is the clear #1 WR and again topped 100 yards with 101 yards and a touchdown on 8 catches. #2 WR McGarrett Kings had 6 receptions and TE Josiah Price caught another touchdown pass.
Injuries: None
Players to Watch: Burbridge looks like he is going to be a solid weekly option as the top pass catcher and Scott is the running back to watch going forward. Once he gains more experience, he should gradually become the centerpiece of the Spartans' offense.
Hawaii at OHIO STATE
Game Recap: The Buckeyes struggled offensively and averaged just over 4 yards per play. Neither quarterback played particularly well but the defense dominated and the Buckeyes running game picked up in the second half allowing the Buckeyes to cruise to a 38-0 victory.
Key Players: RB Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 101 yards and 3 touchdowns on 27 carries. He had less room to operate than he usually does. Cardale Jones started the game but struggled, throwing for 111 yards and no touchdowns. J.T. Barrett came in to try to give the offense a spark, but fared no better than Jones. He threw for 70 yards on 15 attempts and missed some open receivers. Urban Meyer announced that Cardale Jones will remain the starter, but both Quarterbacks should see game action for the foreseeable future. #1 WR Mike Thomas had a quiet day with 5 catches for 52 yards. Braxton Miller caught only 2 passes for 16 yards, but rushed for 57 yards on 8 attempts, as he got snaps as Wildcat QB.
Injuries: None.
Players to Watch: Sophomore Curtis Samuel is sharing time at the key H-Back position with Braxton Miller and occasionally getting some snaps as a true outside WR as well. After an impressive touchdown catch against Virginia Tech, he led the team in receiving with 7 catches for 53 yards and also had a 9-yard carry.
Oregon State at Michigan
Game Recap: Michigan overcame a little bit of a slow start in Jim Harbaugh's home debut to roll to an easy 35-7 win.
Key Players: RB De'Veon Smith was a breakout star for the Wolverines. He rushed 23 times for 126 yards and 3 touchdowns. Backup Derrick Green added 35 yards and a TD on 8 carries. Jake Rudock had a quiet day with 180 yards and a touchdown with Michigan going run-heavy throughout the second half. Top WR Amara Darboh had 4 catches for 50 yards. Top TE Jake Butt had 4 catches for 25 yards.
Injuries: None.
Players to Watch: De'Veon Smith is on the fantasy radar in a major way as he is clearly the focal point of the offense. He looked great pounding his way through tacklers against Oregon State. The key to his success will be whether the Michigan line can dominate tougher competition in the same way they pushed around Oregon State's weak defensive front.
SOUTH ALABAMA AT NEBRASKA
Game Recap: The Cornhuskers gave up more passing yards than they wanted to, but a balanced offensive attack led Nebraska to a 48-9 romp over USA.
Key Players: QB Tommy Armstrong, Jr. had another strong passing game. He hit 21-of-30 passes for 270 yards and 2 touchdowns. Armstrong was again a non-factor in the running game and it does not look like that part of the offensive playbook has survived the regime change. After splitting carries in Week 1, Nebraska used RB Terrell Newby almost exclusively in Week 2 and the veteran responded with a great performance. Newby rushed for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also caught 2 passes for 38 yards and another touchdown. Top WR Jordan Westerkamp had a quiet day (3-31-1) and did not play as much in the blowout as he will going forward. Brandon Reilly (5-71) and Alonzo Moore (5-39-1) are the other starting wideouts.
Injuries: None.
Players to Watch: After employing a 3-back RBBC against BYU, Newby dominated the RB touches against USA and responded by producing huge numbers. Newby should emerge as one of the conference's top backs if Nebraska decides to continue featuring him.
MIAMI (OH) AT WISCONSIN
Game Recap: With star RB Corey Clement sidelined, the Badgers relied heavily upon their passing game to build a 37-0 halftime lead, before taking the air out of the ball in the 2nd half and cruising to a 58-0 win against over-matched Miami (OH).
Key Players: QB Joel Stave passed for 225 yards and 3 touchdowns in the first half but only passed for 11 yards in the second half. Backup runners Taiwan Deal and Dale Ogunbowale struggled in the first half, but got rolling in the second half. Ogunbowale rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Deal had 52 yards and 2 touchdowns on 15 carries. Top wideout Alex Erickson caught 5 passes for 73 yards.
Injuries: Corey Clement remains out with a groin injury and is unlikely to suit up this coming weekend against Troy. Clement is targeting a return for the conference opener on September 26th.
Players to Watch: WR Robert Wheelwright had a big game with 6 catches for 79 yards and 2 touchdowns. He is the #2 WR, but has plenty of talent and if the Badgers can't get their running game back on track, they will have to continue to rely on Wheelwright and Erickson. Dare Ogunbowale looks to be the top backup at RB and should be a good option over the next two weeks if the Badgers line can show some improvement.
MINNESOTA AT COLORADO STATE
Game Recap: QB Mitch Leidner led a late comeback that included a key 4th-and-6 conversion to help get the game to overtime. The Gophers forced a fumble on the first play of overtime and then kicked a field goal to finish off Colorado State 23-20 for a key road win.
Key Players: Leidner had a rough game up until the final drive. He completed only 23-of-45 passes for 233 yards and 2 touchdowns. He did add 47 yards rushing. Drew Wolitarsky had a big day receiving with 9 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. KJ Maye was quiet until the final drive when he caught a 22-yard touchdown pass. He had 6 catches for 54 yards and a touchdown. Rodney Smith rushed for 108 yards on 21 carries.
Injuries: KJ Maye was injured on the go ahead touchdown catch with 54 seconds left and is not practicing but has a decent shot at suiting up on Saturday. Minnesota lost starting guard Jon Christenson for a month to a knee injury.
Players to Watch: Freshman Rodney Smith has clearly emerged as the bellcow back for the Gophers. He had 21 carries to only 6 for veteran Rodrick Williams. The talented young runner should see a heavy workload and will have some big games against weaker competition.
BuffALO AT PENN STATE
Game Recap: Penn State didn't give up a sack in their 27-14 win, but the offense still struggled and averaged less than 4 yards per play.
Key Players: Christian Hackenberg had only 128 yards passing and 1 touchdown on 27 passes. Last week's player to watch, WR Chris Godwin, led the receivers with 5 catches for 75 yards. Daesean Hamilton had 3 catches for 15 yards and a touchdown. Akeel Lynch averaged only 2.4 yards per carry on his 19 carries. RB Saquon Barkley was the only real bright spot for PSU. He rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
Injuries: Starting LT Andrew Nelson is likely out this week.
Players to Watch: Talented true freshman RB Saquon Barkley sparked the offense with 8 rushes for 91 yards in the fourth quarter. With Akeel Lynch struggling, Barkley is going to continue to take on a bigger role in the backfield. He could be the centerpiece of the Penn State offense going forward.
Eastern Illinois AT NORTHWESTERN
Game Recap: Northwestern coasted to an easy 41-0 win over EIU on the strength of another strong defensive effort.
Key Players: RB Justin Jackson carried 22 times for 78 yards and a touchdown. Even in blowouts, he gets plenty of touches. QB Clayton Thorson scored a rushing touchdown for the second straight week and passed for 152 yards and a touchdown on only 16 passes. TE Dan Vitale led the team with 4 receptions for 40 yards.
Injuries: None
Players to Watch: Vitale is a "superback" in the Northwestern offense but has TE eligibility. He is one of the top targets in the passing game.
IOWA AT IOWA STATE
Game Recap: QB C.J. Beathard led a 2nd half comeback and passed for the game-winning score with just over two minutes left.
Key Players: Beathard had a really nice game. He threw for 215 yards and 3 touchdowns and also rushed for 77 yards. He is a true dual threat at the position. Starting RB Leshun Daniels, Jr. went down with an injury after 8 carries for 56 yards and backup Jordan Canzeri stepped in and had a big game. Canzeri rushed 24 times for 124 yards and a touchdown. He also had a 19-yard catch. WR Matt VandeBerg hauled in 60% of the team's receptions. He had 9 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown.
Injuries: Leshun Daniels, Jr. went down with a foot/ankle injury that Coach Ferentz originally described as "significant." But on Monday, he said the team received "decent news" and it is possible Daniels could be ready to go for the Pittsburgh game.
Players to Watch: Canzeri should see an increase in touches even if Daniels is able to play against Pittsburgh. Given his regular use in the passing game, Canzeri is an intriguing fantasy option, especially if Daniels is out.
BOWLING GREEN AT MARYLAND
Game Recap: The second half was a disaster for the Terps. Bowling Green QB Matt Johnson threw 6 touchdowns on the day, with 5 coming after halftime. Bowling Green pulled away late, beating Maryland 48-27.
Key Players: QB Perry Hills struggled throwing the ball with only 168 yards on 15-of-30 passing and 2 touchdowns and an interception. He also added 94 yards on 8 carries. However, with Hills struggling, the team looked to backup QB Caleb Rowe for a late spark. The decision proved costly with Rowe throwing 2 interception on his three pass attempts. Wes Brown rushed only 9 times for 53 yards and Brandon Ross rushed 8 times for 10 yards. Maryland's top two WRs, Amba Etta-Tawo (5-49-0) and Levern Jacobs (3-32-1) both had quiet games.
Injuries: None.
Players to Watch: Despite the horrible showing late in Week 2, Caleb Rowe has been named the starting Quarterback in place of Perry Hills. In fact, Hills has fallen to 3rd on the depth chart behind both Rowe and Oklahoma State transfer Daxx Garman. Perhaps Rowe or Garman can give the struggling Terps passing game a jump start.
WASHINGTON STATE AT RUTGERS
Game Recap: The Scarlet Knights gave up 478 passing yards in a 37-34 home loss.
Key Players: Chris Laviano threw for 204 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Josh Hicks rushed 16 time for 91 yards. Backup Robert Martin added 61 yards rushing and a touchdown on 9 carries. Leonte Carroo had 4 catches for 52 yards.
Injuries: None. However, star WR Leonte Carroo was suspended indefinitely for a domestic violence incident that occurred after the game on Saturday night. In front of the football facility, he reportedly slammed a woman with whom he was romantically involved onto the concrete walkway. He was arrested for domestic violence and disorderly conduct.
Players to Watch: Big-play threat Janarion Grant set a school record with 337 all-purpose yards. He scored on a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown and on a 55-yard punt return. Grant also rushed for 21 yards and caught 6 passes for 65 yards. With Carroo suspended, Grant should see his offensive touches continue to increase. He is the biggest playmaker on the roster.
WESTERN ILLINOIS AT ILLINOIS
Game Recap: The Illini cruies to a 44-0 win over Western Illinois. It was a dominant performance in which Illinois outgained the opposing Leathernecks 500-141.
Key Players: QB Wes Lunt passed for 316 yards and a touchdown before resting for much of the final quarter. Josh Ferguson had a quiet day with only 39 yards rushing and a touchdown but he added 6 catches for 42 yards. He is one of the nation's top receiving backs. #1 WR Geronimo Allison had a big game with 8 catches for 124 yards.
Injuries: None.
Players to Watch: Marchie Murdock may be emerging from a packed field of candidates as the #2 target in the passing offense. Through two weeks, he has 8 catches for 93 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Florida International AT INDIANA
Game Recap: The Hoosiers took advantage of turnovers to pull away late against FIU.
Key Players: RB Jordan Howard rushed 27 times for 159 yards but it was QB Nate Sudfeld who found the end zone with 2 short rushing touchdowns. Sudfeld also threw for 234 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Top WR Ricky Jones caught 5 passes for 56 yards.
Injuries: None.
Players to Watch: Jordan Howard should continue to put up huge rushing numbers with Western Kentucky coming to Bloomington this week.
Indiana State at Purdue
Game Recap: Purdue cruised to an easy 38-14 win over Indiana State with a balanced offensive attack.
Key Players: QB Austin Appleby is emerging as a solid dual threat player. He rushed for 50 yards on 12 carries and passed for 289 yards and 4 touchdowns. D.J. Knox rushed 16 times for 91 yards and added a pair of catches as well. #2 RB Markell Jones rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown. WR DeAngelo Yancey led the team with 68 yards and a touchdown on 2 catches.
Injuries: None
Players to Watch: Appleby could be an inexpensive QB option worth noting against favorable matchups. He is going to be involved in the running game and has a deep cast of WRs and RBs to throw the ball to. Keep an eye on him with a favorable matchup coming up soon against Bowling Green.
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