College football Week 2 winners, losers: Sun Belt dazzles, Gators fizzle

College football Week 2 losers

There were a lot of candidates to consider when determining who to crown for my Week 2 losers, but in the end, it has to start with Notre Dame’s fan base.

Loser: Notre Dame fans

It’s a tough time to be a Notre Dame fan.

In the 116-year history of Notre Dame, no man had ever lost their first three games as head coach of the Fighting Irish—until now, with Marcus Freeman. The lackluster play at quarterback is really concerning. And, the team just got smoked by an unranked Sun Belt team at home.

Fans really thought Notre Dame would be in the mix for a return to the College Football Playoff, but with an 0-2 record to start 2022, that seems about as likely as Ed Orgeron returning to coach LSU again.

Loser: Florida Gators

No. 20 ranked Kentucky went into The Swamp and made all those AP voters eat crow. Florida had no business going from unranked to No. 12 in the country after one game.

Kentucky’s experience, discipline, and coaching made them a no-brainer pick in my weekly college football picks and predictions.

The Wildcats knew if they could shut down Anthony Richardson, they’d be able to win the game. Head Coach Mark Stoops did exactly that.

His team held Richardson—a quarterback everyone was ready to anoint as a Heisman Trophy candidate and a possible top pick in next year’s NFL Draft after one great game— to just 14 completions on 35 attempts. He recorded 143 passing yards, 0 TDs, and 2 INTs. He was a non-factor rushing the ball this week, netting just 4 yards on 6 carries.

Richardson didn’t get much help from his Florida teammates— RB Trevor Etienne had the team’s lone offensive touchdown.

Loser: Big-name starting college quarterbacks

Notre Dame QB Tyler Buchner was 18/32, 201 yards, 0 TD, 2 INTs in the loss to Marshall. He didn’t finish the final drives, possibly due to an injury. His backup Drew Pyne came in and threw a touchdown (and an INT).

South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler, whose Gamecocks lost to No. 16 Arkansas in Week 2, still has not shown that he can play at an elite level. The highly touted high school recruit and Oklahoma Sooners transfer has thrown more interceptions (3) than touchdowns (2) this season and has been sacked nine times in two games. Yikes.

Texas A&M QB Haynes King was a total non-factor in the loss to App State. The starting quarterback for the No. 6 ranked Aggies was 13/20 for 97 yards. He did not throw any touchdowns or interceptions. The poor play from the signal caller even compelled Aggie legend Johnny Manziel to tweet if he still has any eligibility left.

Texas QB Quinn Ewers suffered an injury vs No. 1 Alabama and couldn’t come back in the game. It’s unknown how long he might be out of action.