- Copyright 2024 © CollegeFootballPoll.com
- About CFP / Contact
- Legal Statements
The 2017 college football season officially got under way at a little after 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday when Colorado State christened its new stadium with a sell-out crowd and later celebrated a 58-27 win over Oregon State. The Rams only led 24-20 at halftime, and were up by just 10 (37-27) in the 3rd after a Beaver TD. However, CSU closed out the game with 21 unanswered points to give the Group of 5 conference member a solid win over what's expected to be a bottom half Power 5 team. Oregon State assisted the Rams with 5 turnovers that led to 27 opposition points. The Congrove Computer Rankings at CollegeFootballPoll.com favored CSU by 10.25, far more than the 3.5-point opening line.
The next game to kick off was Portland State at BYU. The FCS school held the Cougars to 14 first downs and 365 total yards. The Vikings trailed 17-6 and were driving late in the game before throwing an interception with 3:29 left. It was not a fashionable debut for BYU, to say the least, but it was a win. The Cougars were 9-4 a year ago and are projected to go 11-2 this season. Portland State was just 3-8 a year ago.
Hawaii had its hands full with UMass but this one wasn't supposed to be a cakewalk. Especially when you consider that the visitors had to fly halfway across the Pacific, and all the way across the U.S. Mainland. The Minutemen were tied, or held the lead, for most of the game until the Rainbow Warriors tallied the last 10 points. The game-winning TD came with just 48 seconds left on the clock. Hawaii is 1-0 for only the second time in the last 6 years.
USF spent the first quarter appearing as though their preseason press clippings had gone to their head. The Bulls spotted home-standing San Jose State a 16-0 lead in the 1st quarter, then pounded the Spartans 28-0 in the 2nd. South Florida went on to a lackluster 42-22 win in Charlie Strong's debut as head coach. USF has won 6 in-a-row, and 16 of its last 19.
The final game of the day saw Stanford crush a completely outmanned Rice squad, 62-7, in the Sydney Cup in Australia. We'll learn a lot more about the Cardinal in their next game which won't take place until September 9 at USC. The Owls also get a week off before visiting UTEP on that same date.
98 FBS teams play 1 FCS opponent this year, which is down substantially from 2016 when 110 schools played 113 games against FCS foes.
BYU's win over Portland State was the only such game in what has been dubbed "week zero" with the first full slate beginning Thursday, August 31.
Since 2003, FBS schools are 1,131-108 (.913) vs. the FCS.
Alabama - Had 26-game winning streak (was FBS longest) snapped in a 35-31 loss to Clemson in the National Championship game. Won 36 straight regular season nonconference games (FBS longest). Won 11 straight road games (tied FBS longest). Won 17 straight conference games (FBS record). Won 24-7 vs. Washington in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on December 31. Lost 35-31 to Clemson in National Championship game on January 9.
Oklahoma - Won 12 straight overall (FBS longest). Won 11 straight road games (tied FBS longest). Won 35-19 vs. Auburn in the Sugar Bowl on January 2.
Houston - Won 15 straight home games (tied FBS longest). Lost 34-10 to San Diego State in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 17.
Fresno State - Lost 10 straight overall (FBS longest). Lost 13 straight FBS games (FBS longest).
Rutgers - Lost 14 straight conference games (FBS longest).
Kansas - Lost 41 straight road games (FBS longest).