In the final quarter of Saturday afternoon’s 42-0 victory over Middle State Tennessee, the Army finished a 19-game, 99-yard landing that lasted 12 minutes and 26 seconds.In total, the Black Knights tried two passes and ran the ball 64 times, with seven players between 28 and 91 yards.
The university is back. All this is different: no fans, silent whistles, mask (and mask) and fewer games, period.
In general circumstances, Week 1 of the 2020 season would introduce almost each and every one of the 130 members of the Bowl Subdivision team; instead, the first full Saturday of the season had only six games, of which only part of FBS’s opponents (the other 3).faced FBS opposite groups from the championship subdivision).
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Of the groups in action, one, Memphis, won votes in amway’s preseason coaching poll.
As an indicator of how the season will unfold, Saturday’s list provided the first genuine vision of football in the midst of a pandemic, but will not resolve disputes over groups that triumph in school football playoffs.Here are five things we learned from the week.1:
Games are a kind of spectacle
The stands are absolutely empty: Memphis had about 4,500 enthusiasts on Saturday night, while previous games in Marshall and the army had crowds with a similar limit: the army’s involvement consisted entirely of about 4,300 cadets at Michie Stadium.
Still, the backdrop contrasted with the pomp of Saturday’s general school football: coaches wore masks.Players stopped along more than the sidelines, thanks to a replacement for the NCAA rule that allowed groups to stand from 15 yards to the next (this area exists between the two 25-meter lines).
Even whistles are different, replaced by concerns that their popular arbitration whistle will splash drops.Instead, referees used electronic whistles attached to their waists, making it difficult to hear even matches with limited crowd noise.
Unfortunately, the inability to hear a referee’s whistle is just a nuisance, it is also a potential protection issue, as some players may hear the whistle and prevent while others continue as if the game had been cancelled.next weekend.
Memphis wins Saturday’s game
Arkansas State is likely to be one of the Sun Belt’s most productive groups again, making the Red Wolves a smart barometer to measure Memphis as a Six Bowl contender.
Led by Quarterback Brady White, who released four touchdowns, the Tigers beat Arkansas State 37-24 on the debut of coach Ryan Silverfield, the former offensive line assistant who replaced the new one.Florida state coach Mike Norvell.
Memphis joins UCF and Cincinnati in the most sensible of the American Athletic Conference, with the convention champion being the big favorite to succeed in a January bowl.
SMU’s findings outper get over the state of Texas
For SMU, last September’s 47-17 win over Texas State, one of 8 direct victories at the start of the year and one of 10 overall in a decisive season under coach Sonny Dykes.can trigger the first alarms about the Mustangs’ chances of approaching last year’s success.
The state of Texas is better. The Bobcats appear to have discovered a ground game after completing in the back of the Sun Belt and near the FBS basement last season, gaining 189 yards in 38 hauls after just over 155 yards in a game in 2019.
Like the top teams, as we will see for much of September, the timing and overall execution of EMS have suffered from the inability to carry out a general low season.However, quarterback Shane Buechele finished 26 of 36 attempts for 367 yards and a touchdown, appearing as to why he may be the starter at the American.
Difficult to prepare for army (and navy)
Defensive coordinators complain about the concept of temporarily preparing for parties opposed to the triple-choice attack used through the army and navy.Normally, groups prefer to face one of the service academies in the initial game, as that would give the defense several weeks to slowly get a concept of the offensive plan.
The course of this off-season has led to a maximum of groups catching up throughout the month of August. This army has controlled a formula for years that you can only gain perks from the Black Knights all season long.
The Army’s effectiveness in attacking Middle Tennessee may be just a sign of what will happen Monday night, when the Navy welcomes Brigham Young in one of the games outside the conference of the year.Yu’s next opponent after the Midshipers?It would be the army on September 19th.
A de Conference USA
With 4 USA Conference in action – Middle Tennessee, Marshall, North Texas and UTEP – saturday provided a more detailed review of the Group of Five conference (the UAB conference favorite won 45-35 against Central Arkansas on Thursday night).
Of this group, UTEP has been ranked as one of the weakest groups in the FBS, while North Texas is looking for the result of 4 wins last year while replacing one of the most prolific passers-by in school history at Mason Fine.In clashes opposing FCS, North Texas defeated Houston Baptist 57-31 and UTEP beat Sam Houston State 24-14.
Marshall from an Eastern Division contender with a 59-0 win over Eastern Kentucky.Freshman Quarterback Grant Wells set a new program record in air yards (307) and tied the record for a touchdown program (four) released through a quarterback in its early start.
Follow Paul Myerberg on Twitter @PaulMyerberg.