The opening stretch of the college football season has already delivered plenty of loud results, but not every team making noise is getting the attention it deserves. While the heavyweights keep grabbing headlines, a few other programs have stacked up strong early wins and put themselves on the radar after Week 2.
Mississippi State was one of the most convincing teams of the weekend, and the Bulldogs did it on the road in a 38-13 win at Minnesota. Kamario Taylor keeps looking like a quarterback on the rise, flashing the kind of arm talent and athleticism that can change the way people talk about this team.
Mississippi State wasn’t just sharp through the air, either. The Bulldogs rolled up 252 rushing yards and held Minnesota to just 13 rushing yards, a complete performance that let them dictate the game from the opening whistle.
That kind of win gets attention, but it still hasn’t pushed Jeff Lebby’s team into the “SEC contender” conversation just yet. That could change quickly. Mississippi State heads into a massive Week 3 test against South Carolina, and then the schedule tightens up fast with five straight Top 25 opponents waiting after that.
UCLA is another team that has started to make a case for more respect. Bob Chesney’s group is 2-0 after a road win at Cal and a solid victory over San Diego State, and the Bruins have done a lot of their damage on the ground. Wayne Knight, Anthony Woods, and Jaivian Thomas have all helped carry the rushing load, giving UCLA a steady identity early.
It’s tempting to draw a straight line to 2024 Indiana because of the Cignetti/Chesney James Madison connection, but this UCLA team is starting to look the part on its own. Even so, the Bruins still haven’t shown their full ceiling, especially with Nico Iamaleava yet to put together his best four-quarter performance.
North Dakota State has also made a smooth transition to FBS life, and the results have been hard to ignore. The Bison are 3-0 and have scored more than 30 points in every game so far. Their resume already includes wins over Jacksonville State and a Week 2 road victory at Air Force, both of them coming in convincing fashion.
This team still does what it has always done well on the ground, but the early surprise has been the play of first-year starting quarterback Nathan Hayes. With the schedule ahead, North Dakota State has a real shot to be favored the rest of the way and could find itself in the mix for that Group of Six playoff spot by season’s end.
Utah belongs in the conversation too, even if the attention hasn’t followed. The Utes are ranked in the Top 25, but they’ve flown a little under the radar after losing Kyle Whittingham, several coaches, and key players in the offseason. Through two weeks, though, they’ve looked like Utah.
The schedule hasn’t been brutal, but a 33-point win over Arkansas in Week 2 stands out no matter how you slice it. Morgan Scalley, now the head coach after being promoted from defensive coordinator, appears to have the defense playing at a high level again, and Devon Dampier gives the Utes one of the top quarterbacks in the sport. With Texas Tech off to an uneven start, the Big 12 picture may be more open than expected, and Utah has every reason to stay on watch as the season unfolds.
In Other News...
UCLA Just Made A New Move That Reaches Far Beyond The Sidelines
UCLA Athletics has lined up another off-field addition for its marquee programs, announcing a multiyear partnership with JLab that makes the company the Official Headphone Sponsor of UCLA Football and UCLA Mens and Womens Basketball beginning this fall. The deal extends beyond a logo placement, with JLab branding set to appear on coaches headsets and the company also working with select student-athletes through its NIL roster.
The agreement was put together with JMI Sports, UCLA Athletics multimedia rights partner, and it adds another commercial layer around a department that has been leaning into outside deals across major programs. For UCLA, the broader value of a partnership like this is as much about visibility and modern branding as it is about the equipment itself, especially with football and both basketball teams carrying so much of the schools public profile. [Read more 🡒]
UCLAs First Big Ten Test Will Say A Lot About Chesneys Start
UCLA has opened 2-0 under new coach Bob Chesney, and the early returns have given the Bruins a little breathing room before the schedule gets real. A trip into Big Ten play against Purdue now offers a better read on where this team actually stands, especially with an offensive line built in part around several transfers from James Madison holding up well through the first two games.
Purdue brings its own challenge, and this one should tell a lot about Chesneys start because the Boilermakers have looked better in their second season under Barry Odom. Quarterback Ryan Browne and running back Fame Ijeboi give Purdue enough balance to make UCLA defend with discipline, which is exactly the kind of test that can reveal whether the Bruins fast start is built to last. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Is 2-0 But The Bruins Already Have One Big Concern
UCLAs home opener at the Rose Bowl ended with a comfortable 28-10 win over San Diego State, and Bob Chesneys team is 2-0 to start the season. Wayne Knight powered the offense with three rushing touchdowns, including a late 36-yard burst, while the defense settled in after halftime and helped put the game away by tightening up against the run and creating turnovers.
Still, the result came with an obvious concern for the Bruins. Nico Iamaleava never really found a rhythm behind shaky protection, and his passing numbers reflected a night in which UCLA leaned more on the ground game than it probably wants to long term. For a team trying to build momentum early, the next step is getting the offense cleaner around its quarterback, because the defense may not be able to carry that load every week. [Read more 🡒]