Friday Night Recap

September 3, 2022 by CollegeFootballPoll.com Staff

Old Dominion scored late to upend Virginia Tech for the second time since 2019 and improved to 2-2 vs. the big boys from Blacksburg while ruining Brent Pry's  debut as head coach. ODU's only offensive touchdown came with just 37 seconds remaining. Virginia Tech's only touchdown of any kind came in the first quarter.

Grant Wells, the Hokies transfer QB from Marshall, threw 4 picks in his first start in the Friday night game in Norfolk.. Virginia Tech also had a first half field goal attempt go awry on a snap over the holder's head that the Monarchs scooped and scored for a 10-7 halftime lead.

That game begs the question, why are Power 5 schools playing away games against G5 opponents? In Virginia Tech's case, it's all about the 757, the area code of the Tidewater in Virginia which is hot recruitment bed for high school stars. But that doesn't answer why North Carolina is playing at Appalachian State on Saturday, or NC State is playing at East Carolina. Those types of games have no real reward for winning, but create big problems when you lose them.

Virginia Tech will have a few days to try address deficiencies and mistakes before its ACC and home opener against Boston College next Saturday night..

Meanwhile, a Big Ten opener took place on Saturday night. Indiana, which had 70 yards the entire second half before the final drive, marched 75 yards for the game-winning 1-yard TD run with 23 seconds left in a 23-20 upset of Illinois at Bloomington. Illinois had a definite touchdown ruled as an incomplete pass, and turned the ball over on downs on another drive after reaching the 1-yard line. The win snapped an 8-game losing streak for the Hoosiers, and a 9-game skid against Big Ten foes.

The last game on Sunday saw TCU score the first 31 points of the second half en route to a 38-13 rout of Colorado at Boulder.  The Horned Frogs led 7-6 at the half. TCU starting quarterback Chandler Morris left the game with a knee injury late in the 3rd quarter and Max Duggan came off the bench to mostly hand off or run as the Colorado defense went AWOL over the last 20 minutes or so.

The FCS picked up its first win of the season over a FBS school as William & Mary outscored Charlotte 21-0 in the 4th quarter for the 41-24 win. It was the first win for the Tribe against a FBS program since toppling the Virginia Cavaliers in 2009.

Also on Friday night, Duke opened the Mike Elko era with a 30-0 shutout of Temple. That was a bit of an eye-opener. Yes, Duke was suppose to win but the line opened at 7 and closed at 9.5. This was the first shutout for a Blue Devils team since a 55-0 win over FCS member North Carolina Central in 2015. We'll find out more about Elko's team when Duke travels to Northwestern next Saturday.

Michigan State scored a 35-13 knockout of Western Michigan in a game that was 21-3 at halftime, but 21-13 going into the final quarter.

Other games saw Eastern Michigan hold off FCS Eastern Kentucky, 42-34, and Kansas romp to a 56-10 win over FCS Tennessee Tech.

57 games involving at least one FBS will take place on Saturday.

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