Somewhere in another dimension, I stand as a fan of Bowling Green State University. I applied to BGSU in 2005. For some reason, they rejected my 1.1 GPA and 19 ACT score. I begrudge the institution to this day.
In this dimension, I stand as an Ohio State dropout and Toledo loyalist with a sliver of internet fame. Looks like the joke was on them.
And why shouldn't it be? Bowling Green is the Purdue of Ohio, without the sterling academic degree. Its students consider Frisch's Big Boy a culinary delicacy to the point it has two of them.
95% of BGSU alums are cheering for Ohio State today, and the other 5% are "I hope BG keeps it close" mealy-mouthed liars.
Still, Bowling Green is the perfect Week 1 sparring partner for this Ohio State team. Its coach, Mike Jinks, is swaggy. But Ohio State's depth will carry the day.
Specific shoutout to Grant Edgell, our graphics designer, for the (series of fire emojis) header photo. You should follow him on Twitter.
As for today's slate, well, Marionaires have a specific word for it: Banger.
| TIME (ET) | GAME | FAVORITE | TELEVISION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 | No. 3 OKLAHOMA vs. No. 15 HOUSTON | OU (-11½) | ABC |
| 12:00 | HAWAI'I at No. 7 MICHIGAN | UM (-40½) | ESPN |
| 2:00 | RUTGERS at No. 14 WASHINGTON | UW (-27) | PAC-12 |
| 3:30 | No. 16 UCLA at TEXAS A&M | A&M (-3) | CBS |
| 3:30 | No. 5 LOUISIANA STATE vs. WISCONSIN | LSU (-11) | ABC |
| 3:30 | MIAMI (OH) at No. 17 IOWA | IOWA (-27½) | ESPNU |
| 5:30 | No. 12 GEORGIA vs. No. 22 NORTH CAROLINA | UGA (-2½) | ESPN |
| 8:00 | No. 20 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA vs. No. 1 ALABAMA | BAMA (-12½) | ABC |
| 9:00 | No. 2 CLEMSON at AUBURN | CLEM (-8) | ESPN |
I would appreciate ABC if Houston–Oklahoma plays only while Bowling Green–Ohio State is on commercials. That's going to be the best game of the day.
Oh, and Alabama will wash USC.
THE FALCON FILE. Here's what you need to know on Jinks' lads:
- Preview
- Film Study
- Roundtable
- Week 1 viewing guide
- Game poster
- 11W's official 2016 hype video
- Ohio State's official trailer
Be sure to follow @11W, @EricSeger33, and @TimShoemaker for up-to-the-second news and laughs.
HERE COMES NOAH BROWN. Today is a proud day for me, the guy who's been on your couch for way too long. It's the day Noah Brown makes his official return from injury.
Brown only has one catch to his name, but that will change in seven hours. He has the best catch radius on the team and is going to be a nightmare for smaller DBs.
From njherald.com:
"I'm definitely excited for my sophomore year to finally get back out there on the field after the injury I had," Brown said Tuesday night in a telephone interview. "I'm expecting to pick up where I left off last year, have a great year and help my team win any way I can."
[...]
"Even coming back then, I felt a little rusty," said Brown, who also slimmed down to 218 pounds. "But I felt like toward the end of camp, I started to feel like myself again. At this rate, I am there."
The Buckeyes hope that is the case because the sixth-ranked team in the nation has big expectations for Brown. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer — one of the best coaches in the country — even said at this year's Big Ten media days in July that Brown has great potential to be one of the best in the Big Ten Conference because of how Brown was playing before his injury.
Brown made a similar ascension late in camp last year. Meyer called him "unguardable" at times. His hard work will make me look like I know something.
TROJAN REVENGE. When some of USC's team last saw Lane Kiffin, he had just been fired in an airport parking lot. It's not a tenure they cherish, apparently.
Lane Kiffin's lasting legacy at USC? https://t.co/KtWILtAMgq
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 2, 2016
Unfortunately with them, one of the toughest outfits in the sport gave Kiffin sanctuary. There's also now a 100% chance Kiffin wears a visor and is caught smirking while his team is up three touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
#PERTINENTWIRE. I wasn't made to play the son.
THOSE WMDs. Last chance: The unofficial 11W CFB Pick 'em... How fugitive slaves kept their freedom deep in the swamps... The mysteries of the least known Brontë sister... LSU–Wisconsin highlights different recruiting styles... From Bucknell professor to Ethiopian rebel commander.
