Week one winners and losers

Winners:

• Bowling Green--The Falcons, coming off of an 8-5 season in 2012, dominated the defending Conference USA champions in this season opener. 396 yards of total offense and a massive 38:47-21:13 win in time of possession were the storylines of this huge win for the MAC. The Falcons held Tulsa to 51 yards rushing and ran for 233 yards on 53 carries. BGSU opens conference action with a trip to Kent State on Sept. 7.
• Northern Illinois--The Huskies avenged a season-opening loss from 2012 with a late field goal to beat Iowa 30-27. Heisman candidate Jordan Lynch threw for 275 yards but only rushes for 56 yards while leading the Huskies to 438 yards of total offense. The NIU defense struggled though giving up 458 yards including over 200 yards passing and rushing. The Huskies travel west to the Kibble Dome to face the newly independent Idaho Vandals.
• Western Kentucky--The Hilltoppers, playing their first game under new head coach Bobby Petrino, dominated SEC foe Kentucky in beating the Wildcats for the second straight year. The new-look Hilltoppers gutted the Wildcats for 487 yards of total offense including 271 yards passing from quarterback Brandon Doughty. The Hilltoppers travel to Knoxville for a second straight game versus an SEC team facing the Volunteers on Sept. 7.
• Derek Carr, Fresno State--After throwing for over 4,100 yards last season despite plaguing injuries throughout the season, many wondered how well Carr could perform while healthy. Carr answered critics in emphatic fashion throwing for 456 yards and 5 touchdowns in the 52-51 win over Rutgers. Carr found Adams, Burse, and Harper for a combined 41 receptions and 360 yards. The Bulldogs host FCS opponent Cal Poly before facing Pac-12 foe Colorado on Sept. 14.
• Corey Robinson, Troy--After watching his playing time diminish with a season-long quarterback battle, Robinson put all quarterback concerns on the back burner in a historic week one performance versus UAB. Robinson went 30-32 passing for 319 yards in the 34-31 win over the Blazers. The 93.8% completion rate was good for an NCAA record. Robinson has a shot to put up huge numbers again with FCS foe Savannah State coming to visit the Trojans in a week two matchup. 

Losers:

• South Alabama--The Jaguars looked to get off to a positive start in 2013 after struggling to a 2-11 season in 2012. The start was anything but positive with FCS foe Southern Utah jumped to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter before USA came back taking a 21-13 lead in the fourth quarter. Southern Utah gave up the next nine points including a 28-yard field goal as time expired to fall 22-21 and start the season 0-1.
• Georgia State--Despite holding FCS foe Samford to under 300 yards of total offense and compiling 463 yards of total offense, including 391 yards passing, the Panthers fell to 0-1 with a 31-21 week one loss. The Panthers gave up a season opening kickoff return for a touchdown as well as a 33-yard pick-six and trailed by 17-points with under five minutes left in the game. The Panthers host another FCS foe, UT-Chattanooga, before going on the road to West Virginia on Sept. 14.
• Brigham Young--With a great defense led by All-American candidate Kyle Van Noy, the Cougars needed a season-opening win over Virginia with a tough schedule stretched out over 2013. The defense had an excellent night holding the Cavaliers to only 223 yards of total offense on the night. The Cougar offense again was the issue with quarterback Taysom Hill completing only 17 of 40 passes for 175 yards including a back-breaking late-game interception. Hill's interception gave Virginia the ball on the BYU 13-yard-line where they scored the game winning touchdown. BYU hosts #14 Texas in week two before a bye week heading up to the "Holy War" versus Utah on Sept. 21.
• Southern Miss--The Golden Eagles fell for the thirteenth straight time, dating back to 2012, 22-15 to Texas State in week one. Southern Miss threw for 377 yards on 28 of 53 passing with a total of 400 offensive yards in the opening game. Despite putting up 400 yards of offense, the Golden Eagles turned the ball over six times including a fumble that the Bobcats took back 44 yards for a touchdown to open scoring. Southern Miss travels to #22 Nebraska in an attempt to break the nation-leading 13-game losing streak.
• San Diego State--Losing to an FCS team is embarrassing for any FBS team but losing in emphatic fashion is much worse as the Aztecs found out in week one. The Aztecs had 440 yards of total offense including 318 in the air but turned the ball over five times in addition to giving up 533 yards of offense to Eastern Illinois. San Diego State was outscored 21-3 in the second half. San Diego State travels to #3 Ohio State on Sept. 7 before a home game versus Oregon State on Sept. 21.
• Boise State--Installing a new offense after the first year post-Kellen Moore, Boise State played poorly in losing a week one game versus Washington 38-6. The Broncos, installing a new spread offense, threw for only 175 yards despite 46 passing attempts among two quarterbacks. The Broncos struggled in the second half defensively giving up 28 second-half points and 592 total yards to the Huskies in the defeat. The Broncos look to get back to winning ways with FCS foe UT-Martin coming to Bronco Stadium for a week two encounter.