Labor Day College Football Open Thread

Two and a half minutes to drive the length of the field for a 7-0 lead. Tony Pike was 6 for 6 for 71 yards, and looked to be in mid-season form for Cincinnati. That should have gotten the attention of everyone in the Oregon State secondary.

from last year, the all-new Bearcat front in the 3-4 got ground up by a 20 play scoring drive that took over 11 and a half minutes, and included two fourth down conversions. This by a Scarlet Knight offense that looked slow at best, but was able to overcome a couple of big negative plays.

Based just on the first exchange, the Bearcats look like a team constructed to play a 55-52 game against a team like the Beavers.

and that was a good decision, and a good throw. And he can run in the open field too. A blitz finally slows down the Bearcat offense as the first quarter ends, with the score tied 7-7.

after Pike’s third down throw is caught, but short of a first down, early in the second quarter. Pike continues to look better than any QB in the Pac-10. He is just about the whole show though, at least so far.

Here comes the punt for Rutgers.

by dropping a LB onto the line, so they were in a 4 man front, whether they call it that or not. A coverage sack, a penalty, and the Bearcats start their third possession in Rutgers territory. The Scarlet Knights look like a second division team so far, even in the Big East, as they don’t seem quick at all.

Rutgers ball down 10-7.

I’m getting pretty excited for our game against them on the 19th.

Pike threw into heavy traffic. A DE that dropped into coverage made the interception.

Rutgers messes up the exchange though, and a sack happens. But Aaron Webster, the only returning starter on defense for the Bearcats gets his clock cleaned, and has to come out. He looks like he will be fine though.

Comes back into the game and picks off the Rutgers QB. First and 10 for Cincy.

and a pass off a Rutgers receiver’s hands is intercepted. Pike is 14 of 17 now, running a lot out of the no huddle, and running Rutgers ragged.

For the Bearcats. With Pike through the air and Kelce on the ground, the Bearcats are set at Quarterback.

The call stands. 16-7 Bearcats.

and he gets a big gain, and then the touchdown. Bearcats up 17-7 with 6:35 left in the first half.

Cincy takes the lead 17-7 with 6:35 left in the half.

but they are bringing extra blitzers to be effective. This one was an overload against the Rutgers left tackle.

Another Rutgers punt, and Cincy has the ball at their 29 with 4:34 until halftime.

Maybe even as good as Stroughter. I’m starting to worry about our game against them. Should I be?

Two timeouts for Cincy before they run their play.

Cincy takes a 17 point lead. Rutgers needs a score before halftime or it’s going to be awfully tough for them to come back in the second half.

With no pressure, he is deadly. And though they throw a lot, over 220 yards already, they are so efficient, they shorten the game. Pike doesn’t look at all like he did in the Orange Bowl, and another touchdown toss to Gilyard makes it 24-7 with 2:30 left until halftime.

The Beaver defense that couldn’t pressure Drew Hubel will have to find a way to get a lot more pressure on Pike, or the secondary will be scorched. At best, the Beaver offense will still need to score often.

Rutgers is looking horrible ever since I tuned in.

This isn’t even close anymore. 31-7 Cincy.

and Pike has 1:46 to try to knock Rutgers out. First down on the first completion, six yards on the next catch, and a touchdown on a screen route that turns into a long run by Isiah Pead. 284 yards passing and a 31-7 Bearcat lead.

And the Boo Birds are out in Piscataway.

when the Bearcats were crunched, they have adjusted. But without a four man rush, they give up a huge play.

Back to a four man rush, and Rutgers QB Dominic Natale throws up his third interception of the half. This one wasn’t a tipped ball though, he threw it right to a Bearcat.

31-7 at halftime.

The Miam-FSU game tonight. That game just got 10x better.

who promptly drives Rutgers into Bearcat country, but an overload on the left side of the Rutgers line (are you paying attention, Michael and Grant?), leads to another sack. And Rutgers stalls, but pins Cincy at their 7.

and varied. Pike leads the Bearcats down to the two, and Kelcey comes in for the finishing shot from the Wildcat. A 93 yard drive makes it 38-7. The Rutgers defense hardly offered any real resistance.

but the Bearcats don’t. Jacob Ramsey goes for 62 yards on a draw on third and twelve.

For a team that some were talking about contending for the Big East title, the Scarlet Knights are in shambles. They remind me of WSU last year. A few good players, and a team that can do some things good. But absolutely no team speed.

Pike leads another 9 play, 85 yard scoring drive, bringing the total yardage up to 510 yards with 1:10 left in the third quarter, and a 45-7 lead.

But the Scarlet Knights have played so poorly since the first offensive series that it raises questions about how much to read into the Bearcats’ performance. It doesn’t change the fact that if Pike isn’t pressured, he will be spectacular.

Cincinnati-45, Rutgers-7

are Howard, Florida International, and after Maryland (who California destroyed), Texas Southern. So even if they go 4-0, until they play Pitt, we won’t learn anything more about this team. For those that question having an FCS opponent on your schedule, what about anyone that has two?

Cincinnati should shell FCS foe Southeast Missouri State, so there is nothing to learn there either.

The freshman Savage leads Rutgers on a long 80 yard scoring drive, but it is still 45-15 in the fourth quarter, despite a successful two point conversion pass. Hard to tell how much of that was the Bearcat defense being vulnerable, and how much was the Bearcat defense taking the fourth quarter off.

with a 362 yard throwing day. Kelly is doing what Riley did in the fourth quarter, getting a look at a lot of reserves on offense.
We get the first look of the day at the Bearcat punter, who pins Rutgers at their 10 yard line.

costs Rutgers a safety, and why their game with Pitt will be an ESPN game is an absolute mystery.

and would the Civil War be better served if it was the first game every year like FSU-Miami so it would be easier to work out a Nat’l TV deal?

and has had five different starting QBs in that time. His stock as a head coach took another justified tick up today.

The Bearcat defense didn’t face any speed today, and the three man front doesn’t work. But when they augment it with a blitz, which is the idea, it might be another matter.

Even against a slow defense, Pike and the Bearcats are obviously a quality offense. Beaver defensive coach Mark Banker has his work cut out for him.

It will not look like the last outing against a Big East team, that 3-0 win over Pitt, in two weeks in Reser.

7-0

game on!

Miami leads it 38-34 with 1:55 left.

What a crazy game.

Miami-38, Florida State-34

seems like if it was incomplete there should be 1 second left

which was caught, but hit the turf, and was incomplete. A couple inches higher, and FSU wins.

And the Miami QB threw the winning TD with only two fingers not numb.

As far as the time goes, the last play started with 5 seconds only left. Time ran out, and the ball was caught or not. Also, I think it was fourth down anyway.

does the university dole out a certain amount of tickets for students? or do I just have to buy them on craigslist?