Happy Labor Day: A look back at Week 1 and the new Top 30 for 2015

The 2015 College Football season has kicked off play.

Here's a look at the 2015 Top 30 as Labor Day arrives ...

Ohio State RB 15 Ezekiel Elliott was held to 8 carries, 33 yards, 1 TD in
last year's 35-21 loss to Virginia Tech, in Week 2, in Columbus.

1. Ohio State (14-1 in '14) 1 - The Buckeyes open in Blacksburg tonight vs. #27 Virginia Tech (7-6 in '14) on ESPN tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN, as the Hokies seek to knock off #1 for the second straight football season (35-21, last year in Columbus). The Big Ten is only 7-6 in opening week games ...
2. Alabama (1-0) 2 - The Crimson Tide rolled in Arlington in the season opener, defeated the then #20 Wisconsin Badgers (0-1) 35-17. The SEC opened 2015 with a 12-1 record. Next up: vs. Middle Tennessee (1-0), who buried Jackson State 70-13 in season opener, as the CUSA program heads to Tuscaloosa this week.
3. TCU (1-0) 3 - The Horned Frogs opened 2015 with a 23-17 win at Minnesota (0-1), after defeating the Golden Gophers last season in Ft. Worth 30-7. The Big 12 opened Week 1 with a 8-2 record. Next up: vs. Stephen F. Austin (0-1), coming off 34-28 loss to Northern Arizona (1-0).
4. Baylor (1-0) 4 - The Bears opened 2015 with a 56-21 win at SMU (0-1), after a 45-0 home win, in last year's season opener at home. While the Big 12 finished 8-2, the AAC finished 9-3 for the first week. Next up: vs. Lamar (1-0), who beat NAIA Bacone 66-3, as Cardinals head to Waco for the Bears home opener in Week 2.



MSU senior QB 18 Connor Cook leads the Spartans ...

GAME of Week 2: #5 Oregon (1-0) at #6 Michigan State (1-0)
5. Oregon (1-0) 5 - The Ducks opened 2015 with fifth year, transfer senior Vernon Adams at QB, as Oregon defeated Adams' alma mater Eastern Washington (0-1) 61-42 in the season opener in Eugene. Last year, the Ducks defeated MSU 46-27 in Eugene. The Pac 12 opened 2015 with a combined 7-5 record, 0-1 vs. Big Ten.
6. Michigan State (1-0) 6 - The Spartans opened at Western Michigan (0-1), with a 37-24 road win to kick off 2015. Last year, MSU opened in East Lansing, with a 26-13 win over the Broncos. Senior QB Connor Cook is back, as a third year starter for the Spartans offense.
7. Auburn (1-0) 7 - The Tigers opened in Atlanta with a 31-24 win over Louisville (0-1) to kick off the 2015 season. Next up: vs. Jacksonville State (1-0), who defeated Chattanooga 23-20 on the road.
8. Georgia (1-0) 8 - The Bulldogs opened the 2015 season with a 51-14 win over Louisiana-Monroe (0-1). Next up: @ Vanderbilt (0-1), after a 14-12 loss at home vs. Western Kentucky (0-1), as UGA and Vandy open SEC conference play in Week 2.
9. USC (1-0) 9 - The Trojans opened the new season with a 55-6 win over Arkansas State (0-1) for their 16th straight home opener in Los Angeles. Next up: vs. Idaho (0-1), as Vandals fall at home in opener 45-28 to Frank Solich's Ohio U (1-0) Bobcats.
10. Florida State (1-0) 10 - The Seminoles defeated the Texas State (0-1) Bobcats 59-16 in Tallahassee to kick off the 2015 season. The ACC is 10-3 thus far in Week 1. Next up: vs. South Florida (1-0), beat Florida A&M (0-1) 51-3 in their own home opener.
11. Notre Dame (1-0) 11 - The Fighting Irish open 2015 with a sound 38-3 win over Texas (0-1) in South Bend. The half-ACC scheduled team is still an Independent, but hits the road for the first of six games against ACC opponents for the Irish. Next up: @ Virginia (0-1), who fell 34-16 @ #12 UCLA to open the 2015 season.
12. UCLA (1-0) 12 - The Bruins open 2015 with a sound 34-16 win over Virginia in the Rose Bowl. Next up: @ UNLV (0-1), who lost 38-30 @ Northern Illinois to kick off the 2015 season.
13. LSU (0-0) 13 - Opening the season at #13 wasn't good for the Tigers, since thunderstorms (lightning) cancelled the season opener on Saturday in Baton Rouge against McNeese State (0-0). Next up: @ Mississippi State (1-0), who took down Southern Mississippi (0-1) 34-16 in the non-conference road opener. Big SEC West opener now for the season for the Tigers ...
14. Clemson (1-0) 14 - The Tigers opened 2015 with a 49-10 win over Wofford (0-1). Next up: vs. Appalachian State (1-0), as the Sun Belt program opened 2015 with a 49-0 win over Howard. The Sun Belt finished a disappointing 2-9 in Week 1, so Mountaineers carry the banner into Week 2.
15. Ole Miss (1-0) 15 - The Rebels rolled up points in a 70-3 win over Tennessee-Martin (0-1) to kick off the 2015 season. Next up: vs. Fresno State (1-0) opened with a 34-13 win over Abilene Christian in the home opener.
16. Georgia Tech (1-0) 17 - The Yellow Jackets crushed Alcorn State (0-1) 69-6 in the season opener in Atlanta. Next up: vs. Tulane (0-1), who lost 37-7 in home opener vs. Duke (1-0), against another ACC club.
17. Texas A&M (1-0) 26 - The Aggies came to play in Houston with a solid 38-17 win over former #16 Arizona State (0-1) to kick off the 2015 season. Next up: vs. Ball State (1-0), the Cardinals opened with a 46-34 win over VMI at home, in Muncie, IN.
18. Arkansas (1-0) 22 - The Razorbacks beat another Texas team with a 48-13 home opening win over UTEP (0-1) in Fayetteville, as Bret Bielema opens third season. Next up: vs. Toledo (0-0), as the Rockets were unable to open 2015, due to weather cancelling game against Stoney Brook (0-0).
19. Boise State (1-0) 19 - The Broncos opened 2015 with a 16-13 home win over Washington (0-1), to spoil former coach Chris Petersen's homecoming. The MWC finished 10-2 in Week 1. Next up: @ BYU (1-0), who won 33-28 on a Hail Mary at Nebraska (0-1) to spoil Mike Riley's debut in Lincoln.

    

    OU coach Bob Stoops, like his old
    college coach, J. Hayden Fry, rids
    himself of headphones on sidelines.

    Game 2 of the Week 2: #20 Oklahoma (1-0) @ #21 Tennessee (1-0)
20. Oklahoma (1-0) 21 - The Sooners opened 2015 with a 41-3 win over Akron (0-1) ahead of a Big 12 vs. SEC East showdown in Knoxville in Week 2. Bob Stoops' alma mater was roughed up by the Vols in the TaxSlayer Bowl 45-28, so can the Sooners provide their coach with a little payback at #21 Tennessee in Week 2? 
21. Tennessee (1-0) 23 - The Vols won season opener 59-30 in Nashville over Bowling Green (0-1) in the third season under Butch Jones. Can they make it three games in a row, dating back to 45-28 bowl win over Iowa in 2014?
22. Arizona (1-0) 24 - The Wildcats opened the 2015 season in Tucson with a 42-32 win over UTSA (1-0), after 26-23 in Week 2 at Roadrunners home in 2014. Next up: @ Nevada (1-0) in Reno, as the Wolf Pack opened the season with a 31-17 home win over UC Davis.
23. Missouri (1-0) 25 - The Tigers opened the 2015 season at home with a 34-3 win over SE Missouri State (0-1). Next up: @ Arkansas State (0-1), as Red Wolves fell hard 55-6 @ #9 USC (1-0).
24. Mississippi State (1-0) 28 - The Bulldogs opened @ Southern Mississippi (0-1) with a 34-16 win against the in-state Golden Eagles. Next up: vs. #13 LSU (0-0) as SEC West play begins in Week 2.
25. Arizona State (0-1) 16 - The Sun Devils' trip to Houston ended in a loss to then #26 Texas A&M 38-17, as Todd Graham falls in his first season opener in four years at the helm. Next up: vs. Cal Poly (1-0), as the Mustangs won 20-19 @ Montana (1-1), who defeated four-time FCS champion North Dakota State (0-1) 38-35 in Division I football's Week 0 opener.
26. Wisconsin (0-1) 20 - The Badgers open the Paul Chryst era with a 35-17 loss in Arlington to #2 Alabama (1-0). Is any team in the Big Ten West worthy of a Top 25 ranking at this point? The Badgers have been the most consistent team, but finished 8-6 in 2012, and the 9-4 and 11-3 seasons under Gary Anderson are in the books. Next up: vs. Miami-OH (1-0), as the RedHawks opened with a 26-7 over Presbyterian in the Oxford, OH home opener.
27. Virginia Tech (0-0) 27 - The Hokies open tonight vs. #1 Ohio State (0-0) in rematch in Blacksburg on ESPN. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. tonight.
28. Oklahoma State (1-0) 29 - The Cowboys won 24-13 in season opener on the road @ Central Michigan (0-1). Next up: vs. Central Arkansas (0-1), who lost 45-16 @ Samford in season opener.
29. Marshall (1-0) 41t - The Thundering Herd took care of business on Sunday with a 41-31 win over Purdue (0-1) for the first win over a Big Ten opponent in program history. The CUSA finished Week 1 with a 8-4 record. Next up: @ Ohio U (1-0), who won 45-28 in road opener @ Idaho (0-1).
30. Northern Illinois (1-0) 35 - The Huskies won season opener 38-30 over UNLV to kickoff the 2015 season. The Huskies have five straight 10+ win seasons, as they enter the third season under Rod Carey. The MAC finished Week 1 with a 5-6 record.  Next up: vs. Murray State (1-0), opened with a 52-12 win over Kentucky Wesleyan.  

Out of the Top 30 - Former #18 Stanford (0-1) fell 16-6 @ Northwestern (1-0), in an 11:00 am start in Evanston (9 am start Pacific time), as the Wildcats surprised the Cardinal in the 2015 opener. The Wildcats are coming off back to back 5-7 seasons in Pat Fitzgerald's 10th season, but the 5th season opener for David Shaw was a downer ...

FBS losers of the Week to FCS programs: 

• Fordham 37, Army 35
• South Dakota State 41, Kansas 38
• Portland State 24, Washington State 17
• North Dakota 24, Wyoming 13

Jake Rudock opened Week 1 as Michigan's number one QB in 24-17 loss @ Utah. Recap

Games to Watch in Week 2 - rivalry wars in-state:

• Utah (1-0) @ Utah State (1-0) - Battle for the Beehive Boot (112th meeting in this series)
• Iowa (1-0) @ Iowa State (1-0) - Battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy (9 of last 16 to ISU)

"It will be the first road trip for this football team and then with a lot of new players, that is going to be a great challenge. It's a great environment to play in. Historically, the series has proven to be extremely competitive. It gets down to playing your best football.

Kirk Ferentz

UI football coach

looking ahead to game @ Iowa State ...