* USF’s Charlie Strong has been blunt about the Bulls unimpressive wins over San Jose State and Stony Brook to start what has been hyped as a special–as in nationally prominent–season. “We’ve played two games, and we have yet to play four quarters,” said Strong. Yes, the Bulls, who play Connecticut on Saturday, are undefeated, but it feels like 2-and-uh oh.
A couple of teams, however, would surely settle for the Bulls’ record. UNLV lost at home to 45-point underdog Howard University and Baylor was beaten in Waco by Jerry Falwell’s Liberty U.
* The Alabama defeat and the loss of starting quarterback Deondre Francois was the most noteworthy football news out of Tallahassee last weekend, but not the only grid-related news. A New York Times story alleged academic favoritism toward Florida State players from the 2013 national title team. FSU is refuting it. However it shakes out, FSU had to know there was a red flag attached to online hospitality courses–on coffee, tea and wine–favored by Seminole football players.