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College football Week 2: 1 biggest takeaway for every Top 25 team

By Patrick Schmidt

TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 08: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks to pass against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 08: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks to pass against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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MADISON, WI – SEPTEMBER 08: Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor (23) rushes for a touchdown during a college football game between the University of Wisconsin Badgers and the University of New Mexico Lobos on September 8, 2018 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, WI. (Photo by Lawrence Iles/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MADISON, WI – SEPTEMBER 08: Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor (23) rushes for a touchdown during a college football game between the University of Wisconsin Badgers and the University of New Mexico Lobos on September 8, 2018 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, WI. (Photo by Lawrence Iles/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Here is the one biggest takeaway for every Top 25 team after Week 2 of the 2018 college football season, including Alabama having kicker woes, again.

The opening week of the 2018 college football season delivered a number of ranked matchups for fans to enjoy. The second week of the season didn’t have the same number of marquee matchups, with only Georgia-South Carolina and Stanford-USC being the only two games pitting ranked opponents against each other. Therefore, there were plenty of blowouts across the country as several teams scheduled FCS opponents as they prepare to enter their conference schedule with plenty of momentum behind them.

As we put a bow on the Week 2, let’s whip around the nation and identify the biggest takeaway for every Top 25 team.

1. Alabama – Tua Tagovailoa had three touchdowns on his first six completions as Alabama cruised to a 40-0 lead at halftime vs. Arkansas State. He finished with four as the Tide put it in cruise control the rest of the way. The only concerning thing is Austin Jones was 1/3 on extra points before he was benched in favor of Joseph Bulovas.

2. Clemson – The Tigers had to sweat out a close one at Texas A&M where an interception on what would have been the game-tying two-point conversion in the final moments. The vaunted Clemson defense didn’t look, especially the secondary who routinely got torched by Kellen Mond. Kelly Bryant settled the team down and led the team in passing and rushing. Trevor Lawrence had a 64-yard touchdown on his first pass but was largely ineffective after that. Expect Dabo Swinney to continue playing both, especially next week vs. Georgia Southern before opening ACC play vs. Georgia Tech. This competition is far from over.

3. Georgia – Congratulations on winning the SEC East. Georgia destroyed South Carolina in their building and in the process showed how much better they are than the second-best team in the division. Of course, they still have rival Florida on the schedule, which could make things interesting, but after they lost to Kentucky, I’m calling it. Georgia effectively just clinched the division on Saturday.

4. Wisconsin – The Badgers got off to a sluggish start vs. New Mexico, only leading 10-7 at halftime, but it was all Wisconsin after the break. Jonathan Taylor ran for 253 yards and three scores on 33 carries as he continues to be among the front-runners for the Heisman.

5. Ohio State – Dwayne Haskins continues to impress in his first year as the starting quarterback. After five touchdowns last week, he added four more on 20-of-23 passing. Backup quarterback Tate Martell also shined vs. a bad Rutgers team, completing all 10 of his passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. He was also the team’s leading rusher with 96 yards on eight carries, including a 47-yard scamper for a score.

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