A yr in the past, the world was a really completely different place. A highschool group named Bishop Sycamore was the talk of the country. Now, it is a school group referred to as Nebraska making questionable monetary choices off the field and looking embarrassing on it.

A yr in the past, school soccer followers couldn’t escape an Applebee’s industrial. This yr, it is Nick Saban chasing a goat.

A yr in the past, Georgia was 3-0, having totally dominated its early schedule, however there was one huge crimson flag, one clear Achilles’ heel for an in any other case terrific soccer group. His identify was Stetson Bennett IV.

What a distinction a yr makes.

Bennett wrapped his day early Saturday, main the Bulldogs to a 48-7 thrashing of South Carolina. Within the recreation, Bennett accomplished 16 of 23 passes for 284 yards and two TDs, then added one other 36 yards on three rushes, one going for a landing.

How good was Bennett on Saturday? He did all this whereas, in keeping with the ESPN broadcast, he was sick and throwing up on the sidelines through the recreation.

The play earlier than Bennett vomited featured probably the most spectacular grabs a decent finish has ever made.

After he vomited, Bennett was 6-of-10 for 159 yards with a passing and dashing rating.

The person is a legend.

A yr in the past, Bennett was retaining the QB1 chair heat for JT Daniels. Now, he is finishing 74% of his passes and averaging 11 yards each time he throws the ball.

In a recreation wherein no Georgia participant ran for greater than 36 yards (that was Bennett, by the way in which), the Bulldogs nonetheless cruised to a simple highway victory in opposition to an SEC East foe. It is mind-boggling simply how good this group has appeared.

Like final yr, Georgia opened in opposition to a ranked foe. However this time, somewhat than a slim 10-3 win over Clemson behind a stagnant offense, the Bulldogs dominated Oregon, 46-3.

Like final yr, Georgia moved to 3-0 with a simple win over the Gamecocks, however this time round, it wasn’t a take a look at run for Bennett helming the offense however somewhat the newest instance that he is simply constructed completely different.

A yr in the past, Georgia outscored its first three opponents by a rating of 106-23.

One nationwide title and a busload of NFL draft picks later, the Dawgs are 3-0 once more by a mixed rating of 130-10.

No, this isn’t the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs. This group may be even higher as a result of this is not 2021’s Stetson Bennett. The man spent final season doing what nobody believed doable, then celebrated with a championship and an look on “Good Morning America.”

This yr? As unimaginable as it’d sound, he may find yourself doing much more.

Sooners make an announcement

The change at Nebraska was instantaneous. Scott Frost is gone, and immediately the Huskers aren’t shedding shut video games anymore.

As a substitute, Nebraska obtained blown out by former Massive 12 rival Oklahoma, 49-14.

OK, so the issues in Lincoln did not finish with a training change. As a substitute, Saturday supplied emphatic proof that Oklahoma’s fortunes have not shifted with a training change both.

In its first recreation in opposition to a Energy 5 foe with Brent Venables on the helm, Oklahoma appeared an terrible lot just like the Sooners we have come to count on. The offense was potent, with Dillon Gabriel throwing for 2 touchdowns and operating for an additional. The protection dominated. After Nebraska scored on its opening drive, the Huskers did not sniff the tip zone once more till the sport was properly out of hand. As with Venables’ finest Clemson groups, the Oklahoma defensive entrance dominated the road of scrimmage, tormenting Casey Thompson to the tune of 4 sacks.

For the Sooners, it was an announcement that Lincoln Riley’s departure will not hold this group from being within the playoff hunt.

For the Huskers, it was an ideal alternative to interview City Meyer for the open head-coaching job. In spite of everything, Nebraska has numerous wide-open areas for a person to show his picture frames.

Across the horn for the FCS

Week 3 once more had its share of FBS-FCS mismatches, however that did not imply the video games got here with none curiosity.

The great: Southern Illinois’ protection pressured 4 turnovers because the Salukis scored the upset over Northwestern, 31-24, on Saturday. Reminder: Northwestern beat Nebraska however is no longer even near being the most effective group within the state of Illinois.

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The dangerous: Virginia Tech cruised to a 27-7 win over Wofford, however that wasn’t all dangerous for the Terriers. Nathan Walker‘s 3-yard TD run with 9:34 to play marked the primary factors of the yr for 0-3 Wofford. That is progress!

The ugly: Kent State earned its first win of the season, thumping Lengthy Island College 63-10. LIU cashes its share of FBS checks, however what it has carried out with that cash is anybody’s guess. Along with Saturday’s defeat, the Sharks (we appeared that up) misplaced 37-0 to Toledo in Week 1, 42-7 to Miami (Ohio) and 66-0 to West Virginia final yr, and opened the 2021 season with a 48-10 loss to a Florida Worldwide group that did not win once more that season.

So, should you’re retaining rating at house, that is 5 video games vs. FBS foes prior to now 13 months that resulted in an 0-5 file by a mixed rating of 256-20. Lengthy Island College is to school soccer groups as Lengthy Island iced teas are to drinks — it is comprised of a haphazard assortment of elements and leads to a seemingly infinite collection of dangerous choices.

Massive bets and dangerous beats

In case you had the underneath within the Purdue-Syracuse recreation, you have been feeling fairly good on the half. The whole closed at 59.5. The sport went to the break with Purdue nursing a 9-3 lead.

Even after the third quarter, the scoring was nonetheless briefly provide. However within the fourth, that is when issues obtained bizarre.

Purdue scored with 11:25 to play to take a 15-10 lead. Then Syracuse scored. Then Purdue threw a pick-six. Then the Boilermakers accomplished a 55-yard landing throw and located the tip zone once more on their subsequent drive, taking a 29-25 lead with simply 51 seconds to play.

Nonetheless, the underneath would cowl if Purdue may hold Syracuse out of the tip zone.

Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Two penalties after Purdue’s landing gave Syracuse wonderful subject place for its ultimate drive, and Garrett Shrader related with Oronde Gadsden II for a 25-yard TD with 7 seconds to go.

Remaining rating: Orange 32, Purdue 29. The over hit after 42 factors have been scored within the ultimate quarter.

Oh, and should you additionally had Purdue +1.5 — good luck recovering from this one.

Michigan hasn’t precisely challenged itself with its nonconference schedule to start out the season. In Week 1, the Wolverines have been 31-point favorites in opposition to Colorado State. In Week 2, Michigan was a 52-point favourite in opposition to Hawaii. And on Saturday, UConn arrived on the Massive Home as a 47.5-point underdog.

In line with ESPN, Michigan is the primary group for the reason that FBS/FCS cut up in 1978 to be favored by no less than 45 factors in consecutive video games and the primary group to be favored by no less than 31 in its first three video games of the yr since 2001 Florida.

And even with the hefty unfold, Michigan nonetheless had no hassle overlaying Saturday. Behind 5 touchdowns from Blake Corum, the Wolverines topped UConn 59-0.