Here’s the update from this weekend’s college football action.

OSU Opponent Watch

• Youngstown State (1-1) – Played South Dakota State at home, won 23-17. Conclusion: Expected Win
• Akron (1-1) – See game review, lost at Ohio State 20-2. Conclusion: Expected Loss
• Washington (2-0) – Played Boise State at home, won 24-10. Conclusion: Unexpected, Quality Win
• Northwestern (2-0) – Played Nevada at home, won 36-31. Conclusion: Lucky Win
• Minnesota (1-1) – Played Miami of Ohio at home, won 41-35 in triple overtime. Conclusion: Lucky Win
• Purdue (2-0) – Played Eastern Illinois at home, won 52-6. Conclusion: Expected Win
• Kent State (1-1) – Played Kentucky away, lost 56-20. Conclusion: Expected Loss
• Michigan State (2-0) – Played Bowling Green at home, won 28-17. Conclusion: Expected Win
• Penn State (2-0) – Played Notre Dame at home, won 31-10. Conclusion: Expected Win
• Wisconsin (2-0) – Played UNLV away at night, won 20-13. Conclusion: More difficult than expected Win.
• Illinois (1-1) – Played Western Illinois at home, won 21-0. Conclusion: Expected Win.
• Michigan (0-2) – Played Oregon at home, lost 39-7. Conclusion: Debilitating Loss.

Buckeye opponent’s records after the second week, 17-7. Last week, I stated that Wisconsin would have to be considered the heavy favorite to win the Big 10. Now, I’ll rank Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin as a pick ’em choice to win. Iowa and Indiana won against Syracuse and Western Michigan respectively to propel the Big 10 to a 10-1 record on the week. Michigan’s collapse is stunning – I never would have predicted them to start 0-2. Next week’s “toilet bowl” (you heard that here first…) between Notre Dame and Michigan will be for the first win between the two teams…Ohio State has a tough game on the road in Seattle next week.

Quick Hits from Around College Football

Division IAA Champion Appalachian State carried on where it left off last week beating Lenoir-Rhyne 48-7. The Mountaineers worry that Michigan’s play this week will hurt their strength of schedule in the computers…

Teams that look like MNC contenders from week 2: LSU, Oklahoma, and USC.

The jury is out on these teams who are technically still in the running, but their play to-date leaves room for doubt: Florida, West Virginia, Louisville, Texas, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Ohio State, Nebraska, Oregon, Texas, and Penn State.

These teams stand virtually no chance of contending for the MNC, but still looked good in week two: Rutgers, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Alabama, Arizona St, and Hawaii.

This is the first time both Notre Dame and Michigan start a season 0-2. Someone will have to win next week, right now, I think it will be Notre Dame. Michigan seems to have given up. If ND lines up in 4-5 wide receiver sets, it’ll be a long day in Ann Arbor.

Game of the week, South Florida’s win over Auburn in OT. Runners-up, Minnesota’s 3OT win over Miami of Ohio, Texas A&M’s 3OT win over Fresno State, Nebraska’s win over Wake Forest, and Hawaii over Louisana Tech.

Mismatch of the week, Western Kentucky over Western Virginia Tech 87-0. Runner up, LSU over Virginia Tech 48-7.

In the coming week I’ll post an Washington/OSU preview, a game review of Washington/OSU, and a Weekend Update Sports edition.