3 Winners
1. Oregon
Dan Lanning and his Ducks were able to go on the road to USC and get a big-time conference win. Not to mention, they did it without their starting QB and Heisman hopeful, Dante Moore, for most of the game. Dylan Raiola, the former Nebraska QB, was able to keep the team together and help secure the victory. A lot of noise has been made after the first three weeks of the year as Oregon really hasn't looked like the bonafide National Championship contender that most people expected them to be. Them answering this tough test against an undefeated and ranked team on the road, with their backup QB, could be the kickstart they need as they navigate the rest of their schedule. They get a bye week, followed by the new and improved UCLA Bruins coming to town. We'll see if Lanning can keep his guys moving in the right direction.
2. Florida
It's very clear that Florida found their guy in Jon Sumrall. The guy can flat out coach. They welcomed Ole Miss to the swamp this weekend and beat them up the entire game. It was back and forth in the first half, but the Gators pulled away with 52 total points against the 4th ranked Rebels. Sumrall still doesn't have all his own players quite yet and is raising eyebrows across the country with how well his team is playing. There has always been a sense that Florida could potentially get back to the Urban Meyer days where they were competing for titles but I'm not sure most thought Sumrall would have the Gators making this much noise this quick. They definitely have the attention of the rest of the country now.
3. Iowa
Kirk Ferentz took his Hawkeyes into the Big House and beat Michigan on the last play of the game. Iowa does this every year. They're competitive in virtually every game, even without a competent offense at times. Ferentz always has disciplined teams that don't make mistakes and are able to capitalize when their opponents make errors. A last second win on the road in a tough environment has Iowa fans feeling hopeful that a Playoff berth could be in their future. Unfortunately, they can't celebrate too much as Ohio State comes to town next weekend for what surely is their biggest game of the season. No shot the Hawkeyes can pull off back-to-back wins of this caliber...right? College Gameday has already announced they'll be headed to Iowa City next weekend for this exciting matchup. We'll see if Iowa has any magic left for the Buckeyes.
3 Losers
1. Maryland
Maryland hosted UCLA over the weekend but I'm not sure they knew there was a football game happening. a 54-3 loss at home is really tough to bounce back from and Mike Locksley may be on his way out sooner than he expected after this performance. 3 points in the second quarter is all his team could salvage. Maryland actually ran more plays than UCLA but was outgained 475 to 181. It's one thing to lose a contested game against a good, up and coming opponent but to lose this way at home in front of your own fans...not a good look for anyone involved. I'm sure Scott Van Pelt is sick to his stomach. I fear changes, like a rearview mirror, may be closer than expected.
2. USC
Lincoln Riley is in his 5th season at USC and continues to prove he just can't seem to win the big game. He gets a ton of opportunities given USC's status, but the same story seems to repeat itself as he ends up on the wrong side of almost every battle. He produces great quarterbacks, that much is true. From a team aspect though, he can't seem to get over the hump. People think USC should be the way they were back in the early 2000s when they were producing Heismans and competing for championships. It hasn't been that way in a long time. Every year, the thought is that maybe, with all that talent (including the top ranked recruiting class), they'll secure a Playoff spot and make a run. However, that can't happen if you don't win the big games. If not now, when? That's a question Riley is going to continue to have to answer until he finally does it.
3. Louisville
The Cardinals had a big win over SMU last weekend just to follow it up with a loss to Wake Forest at home. Not to say Wake Forest is a bad team but as double-digit home favorites, you're expected to win those games. This game wasn't like some sort of fluke loss either. Wake was in the game from start to finish. This gives Louisville an unexpected conference loss that puts even more pressure on them the rest of the way as they hope to meet Miami in the ACC title game. Looking at their remaining schedule, I'd say they still have a good shot at getting to Charlotte but games like this won't things any easier for them moving forward.