Takeaways from Week 1 of 2015 NCAA football season

Battaglia TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin (2) is tackled for a 5-yard loss by Minnesota defensive lineman Robert Ndondo-Lay (92) and another defender during the first half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015, in Minneapolis. AP Photo/Paul Battaglia) Week 1 of the 2015 NCAA football season left an indelible smile on the face of every fan lucky enough to witness the glorious spectacle.

There were some astronomical highs, a few devastating lows, new beginnings and old rivalries renewed throughout the opening weekend of action.

Without further ado, it’s time to wrap up with the biggest takeaways from Week 1.

1. Heisman pressure may be getting to Trevone Boykin

Boykin entered the 2015 NCAA football season as a heavy favorite to win this year’s Heisman Trophy.

However, the dual-threat quarterback kicked off his Heisman bid with a rocky start against Minnesota on Thursday night. While there were some positives to take away from the performance, Boykin looked awfully tight.

He finished the game against the impressive Golden Gophers having completed 26 of 42 passes for just 246 yards (5.86 yards per attempt) with one touchdown and one interception. He overthrew wide-open receivers on a number of occasions, suggesting excitement, or perhaps nerves, were to blame. He never did get into a groove in the passing game.

Not surprisingly, Boykin’s natural athleticism shined through and helped make an otherwise mediocre night into a tolerable success. He added 92 yards on 18 rushing attempts, scoring a touchdown on a nifty dash in the third quarter.

With a 23-17 win over Minnesota, No. 2-ranked TCU’s playoff hopes are still alive and well. Boykin’s Heisman bid is also still alive and kicking, but he’ll need to quickly put his shaky performance behind him in order to remain one of the favorites going forward.

2. Baylor’s high-flying offense in mid-season form

The Bears may have the most explosive offense in college football once again in 2015 after scoring more points on average than any team in the FBS last season. No. 4-ranked Baylor was unstoppable on Friday night against SMU, scoring 56 points with four touchdowns in both halves of play.

The scary part for the rest of the Big 12? Seth Russell was actually off his game.

Russell only completed half his throws (15 of 30) but still managed to pass for 376 yards. Four of his receivers caught passes longer than 40 yards, helping boost his yards-per-attempt average to a gaudy total of 12.5.

Baylor’s rushing attack was equally potent, with three backs gaining at least 71 yards. In total, the Bears gained 300 yards on the ground, averaging 8.1 yards per carry.

SMU’s defense isn’t comparable to the elite units of the college football landscape, so it’s fair to wonder what Baylor will do when it takes on the likes of Oklahoma and TCU later in the season. That said, when you consider there is plenty of room for improvement, Baylor’s offense is clearly in a league of its own.

3. Michigan State in trouble with Oregon looming

Stifling defense has been the hallmark of Michigan State football for years. However, heading into Week 2, there are legitimate questions regarding this year’s squad—particularly its pass defense, which gave up 365 yards through the air to Western Michigan on Friday night.

The Spartans were downright putrid in the second half of the contest, and not just on defense. If not for a torrid start to the game, with 20 points in the first quarter, an opening-week loss could easily have been in play. Instead, they squeezed out a 37-24 win.

The Broncos outscored MSU 14-10 after halftime, out-gaining the Spartans 229 to 181 in total yards. By the end of the game, Western Michigan had put up 24 points and chewed up 383 total yards while winning the time-of-possession battle.

Connor Cook didn’t have his best game, either. The senior completed less than half his passes (15 of 31) for 256 yards, though he didn’t turn the ball over while throwing two touchdowns.

This performance by the Spartans is troubling with the mighty Oregon Ducks looming in Week 2. Michigan State better get its act together, because another performance of this nature will result in a blowout loss next weekend at Spartan Stadium.