The Good, the Bad, the Ugly: Week 2

Week two of the college football season is behind us, and it was a solid week for the Mountain West. They took care of business against FCS teams, had a Power Five win, a rivalry win, and all three losses against Power Five opponents. Let’s take a look at the good, bad, and ugly moments of this past weekend.

The Good:

Boise State

The Broncos did what they needed to do and dominated an inferior UTEP squad. The offense and special teams had superior performances. Six turnovers forced by the defense took away any hope the Miners had at staying in the game. The Broncos did not leave the game unscathed; they will be without senior linebacker RIley Whimpey during the first half of the Oklahoma State game since he was ejected for a targeting penalty. Safety Tyreque Jones and wide receiver Stefan Cobbs both left the game with injuries.

Utah State

I considered putting the Aggies in the “Bad” category for their first-half performance alone. But they pulled it together in the second half and ran away with the victory. They have found their quarterback in Logan Bonner. We will see what they are made of the next three weeks as they will face Air Force, Utah State, and BYU.

Air Force

I love watching the games between the service academies. They are almost always competitive and have a great atmosphere, but this game was a bit of a snoozer, Air Force was the far superior team, and it is clear that the Navy football team has regressed significantly in recent seasons. Regardless of the opponent, Air Force’s defense is special and should be a force this season. I think they are the biggest threat to Boise State in the Mountain Division.

New Mexico

The Lobos are 2-0! Sure, the wins are against an FCS opponent and one of the worst FBS teams, but 2-0 for this program is a step in the right direction. They have a good quarterback and an excellent defensive scheme. They will surprise a few teams this season. It will be fun to see this team grow throughout the year.

Fresno State

This offense looks really special. Jake Haener continues to make his case for best quarterback in the conference, and the defense is improved. Fresno State has a chance to really make news this weekend if they can beat UCLA on the road. Honestly, I like their chances.

Nevada

It was a slow start, but the Wolf Pack took care of business against an FCS team. That is really all you can ask for. Nevada can really get the attention of the national media this weekend if they can go into Manhattan and get the victory over Kansas State. Two P5 wins in a season would be a huge step in the right direction for the Wolf Pack.

San Diego State

The Aztecs completely dominated a PAC 12 foe in Arizona. They were able to be a multi-faceted offense with a solid passing performance by Jordon Brookshire and a big running game by Greg Bell. The offense stalled a bit in the second half, but that was likely because the Aztecs were playing with a big lead.

The Bad:

Wyoming

Sure, they came away with a 50-43 victory, but they had been ahead 42-16 and needed a late offensive drive to leave with the victory. If I were a Cowboy fan, I would be really concerned about the defense. Northern Illinois moved the ball with ease. If it weren’t for three interceptions, the Cowboys would have lost this game. They will have a tougher opponent this weekend when they play host to Ball State.

Hawaii

The final score may not reflect it, but the Rainbow Warriors fought hard throughout the game. The offense overcame a slow start to finish the game with a respectable start. The beginning of the season has not gone like Hawaii had hoped, but they will have a chance to salvage it this weekend if they can upset the Spartans on the island.

UNLV

I was really impressed with the first-half performance of the Rebels. They fought hard and had a good game plan on the defensive side of the ball. It wasn’t the outcome that they had hoped for, but I would consider it progress.

The Ugly:

Colorado State

On the surface, a three point loss to an SEC team seems solid. However, they were up 21-7 and found a way to lose to a terrible Vanderbilt squad. Steve Addazio is firmly on the hot seat and rightfully so.

That’s it for this edition of “The Good, the Bad, the Ugly.” What were some moments from this past weekend that stood out to you? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.