Phew! After five straight days of college football, my eyes and brain could take a break, but wasn't it great to have the greatest sport in the world back? Of course it was.
The most glorious time of the year is officially back, and while there will always be some overreactions to Week 1 (looking at you, Alabama fans and Arch Manning haters), I'm already looking forward to Thursday night when... oh no! We have to wait an extra day for college football this week due to the NFL returning.
I can wait until then. At least I think so. In the meantime, let's get into some random thoughts following five spectacular days of the great game.
- Every Auburn fan I know who attended the Baylor game in Waco has said the same thing: Baylor fans were fantastic. Also, Bears' fans were quick to point out how many Auburn fans were there supporting the Tigers. You could definitely hear it on television.
- Things continue to go wrong for Champ Anthony, as he will miss some time due to a broken thumb. He's a difference-maker in Auburn's secondary.
- Speaking of, I'm pretty sure one of Auburn's defenders somehow just missed another tackle as I type this. Amazing.
- Knowing Hugh Freeze, it took a lot for him to stick to running the ball against the Bears and not taking deep shots, given the amount of talent he has at wide receiver. Maturity? I think so.
- Many people thought that the Bill Belichick era at North Carolina would be a disaster, but after Week 1, it is definitely leaning that way. What a no-show by the Tar Heels on Monday night against TCU.
- Tulane taking it out on Northwestern for not letting them wear the same white jerseys the Green Wave wore 20 years ago in the first game since Hurricane Katrina makes me think Jon Sumrall will be a coach in the SEC, and soon.
- Gus Malzahn? GUS MALZAHN! Holy renaissance for the Gus Bus against his old foe, Alabama. And, for Kalen DeBoer's sake, that was the worst-case scenario to start the season.
- Arch Manning will be fine. He was just thrown into a pack of wolves who had been hearing all offseason long about how great the Texas quarterback was, and, by the way, are pretty darn good themselves.
- Has the catch of the year already been decided? This catch by a Miami wide receiver is phenomenal, especially when you add in the rainy elements.
- Zach Calzada underperforming in his first game at Kentucky should come as no surprise to anyone who watched him during his time at Auburn.
- Speaking of former Auburn quarterbacks, TJ Finley is still playing college football, this time with Georgia State. It makes sense that the Panthers would take a chance on him, considering his one career highlight came against them. What a moment that was for Finley and Bryan Harsin.
- Jackson Arnold was excellent running the ball against Baylor, but the commentators making a comparison to Cam Newton was a little much.
- Everyone knows that David Letterman graduated from Ball State, Auburn's opponent this week. Still, there is another alumnus who should be recognized: Jim Davis, creator of Garfield, the grumpy cat who loves the best food in the world: lasagna.