Season 1 is off to a wild & crazy start

After two weeks of hard-hitting action, RUTS4 is off and running. There have been some exciting games and surprising outcomes in weeks 1 and 2. Let's take a look at some of the big results from the first two weeks:

Week 1:
In a classic, early season game pitting the nation's #1 and #2 teams. Top-ranked Oklahoma outlasted #2 Alabama 34-31 in Overtime. The Crimson Tide went into the locker room at halftime with a sizeable lead, but the Sooners second half running game and defense enabled them to climb back into the game, forcing overtime and coming away with a huge victory.


Week 2:

Week 2 featured head-to-head matchups between the RUTS "4 Horsemen" --- as the #3 Oregon Ducks traveled to #4 LSU and coach utvol27's USC squad traveled to Tallahassee to battle #10 Florida State. In these two games, the SEC teams sent shockwaves across the nation, dominating their Pac 12 rivals. LSU defeated Oregon 34-7 behind a balanced offensive attack and stifling defense. The Ducks were held scoreless until the last minute of the game. LSU vaulted to #1 in the latest coaches poll, and who can argue? The Tigers victory over the Ducks may make them the team to beat in the SEC and in the nation.

In similar fashion, Florida State jumped ahead of the Trojans 34-7 and held on for a convincing 37-21 victory in rain-soaked Tallahassee. The Noles used big plays in the running & passing game and forced 3 turnovers (including one fumble recovery for a TD that killed a USC drive) to control the pace. Seminole QB EJ Manuel is off to a great start for the Noles and Coach UTVol54 is pleased with his team's poise and attitude.

LSU and Florida State face off in week 5, in what could be a preview to the SEC Championship Game.

In another tremendous game from week 2, Oklahoma defeated Tennessee 14-8 on a miracle finish.  In a low-scoring slobberknocker, the Sooners led 7-3 late in the 4th quarter.

Driving into Sooner territory, Vols QB Tyler Bray threw an interception in the end zone, or so we thought. The Sooners did intercept the ball, but the referees ruled it a safety, saying the DB caught the ball at the 1 yard line and was tackled in the end zone. Tennessee trailed 7-5 with just a few minutes remaining, and the Vols would get the ball back after the safety kick off.

Tennessee drove into field goal range and drilled a FG with 2 seconds remaining, giving the Vols an 8-7 lead, and what appeared to be a huge upset over the #1 team in the nation! The Vols were back! Right? Not so fast my friend!

Tennessee attempted an onside/squib kick in an attempt to run out the clock, but Oklahoma recovered the kick with 1 second remaining. With good field position, Coach Gump had time to run 1 last play....a Hail Mary attempt to the end zone. QB Landry Jones dropped pack and launched a pass to the end zone, and miraculously, Sooner WR Kenny "Tippy Toes" Stills hauled in the reception, giving the Sooners another dramatic nail-biting victory.

Oklahoma starts the season off 2-0 and may be considered the team of destiny after their first two wins.

Some other notes after Weeks 1-2:
- The Michigan Wolverines are off to a 2-0 start after slipping past Arizona in overtime in week 2. Coach roop1189 has his work cut out for him in week 3, as the Wolverines host #1 LSU in the Big House!

- The Miami Hurricanes suffered a tough 14-17 loss to Virginia Tech in week 2 and started the season 0-1. Coach stinvol's team was off in week 1, and allowed Miami boosters to fly him and the team to the Big Apple to watch the Yankees play. Apparently, the strategy backfired and the Canes players were still seeing the bright lights of NYC instead of the Hokies' players. Miami will need to bounce back fast, as they play Nebraska and Alabama in the next two weeks.

- Texas is off to a great start after defeating Alabama 31-15 in Tuscaloosa. The Longhorns may be a dark horse in the Pac 12. We look for Texas to enter its week 7 game against the Sooners undefeated. That will be a huge game in Dallas!