SI Mid Major Report

[Harry]

Three down

• Tulsa: On Saturday, this didn’t look like the team USA Today’s Paul Myerberg ranked 26th in his annual preseason countdown. It could be that Bowling Green is just that good, or it could be that Tulsa laid an egg on the road against a team it was supposed to beat. The Golden Hurricane won 11 games in 2012, and this is their final season in Conference USA before they move to the American in 2014.

Coach Bill Blankenship has plenty of issues to address, starting with the running game, which averaged just 2.1 yards per carry. Tulsa will work on that against Colorado State before traveling to Oklahoma on Sept. 14.

• Ohio: The advanced numbers were on Ohio’s side entering its matchup with Louisville, but a couple of suspensions and an absolute buzzsaw of an offensive performance from the Cardinals buried the Bobcats out of the gates. This was as bad a performance as Ohio could have possibly had, and it’s likely not indicative of what we’ll see from the team in league play. The Bobcats were simply overwhelmed by a superior opponent:

Frank Solich: I don't think there is any question that they are a Top 10 team. They are the best team we have played since I've been at Ohio

— Mark Blankenbaker (@UofLSheriff50)

September 2, 2013

Still, Sunday’s effort was not a good look for Solich’s team, which upset Penn State to open the season a year ago.

• Boise State: Maybe Washington really is that improved in 2013. If so, the Pac-12 race just got a whole lot tougher. Regardless, a lot of eyes were on Boise State after it beat Washington in the Las Vegas Bowl in ’12 and won 10-plus games for what felt like the 20th straight season, and the Broncos flopped: The Huskies rolled them 38-6. Boise looked thoroughly outmatched.

Quarterback Joe Southwick was inaccurate even when he did have time to throw the ball, and the running game was held in check. This was the worst loss Chris Petersen has suffered as Boise’s head coach, and it actually seemed worse than the lopsided final score.

[trussbussdad]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/TUs_Demarco_Nelson_ruled_ineligible_for_rest_of_season/20130904_94_0_TheNCA982192

Tulas safety, Demarco Nelson, (3 year starter) is academically ineligible per NCAA. Will miss the rest of the season.

[Harry]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/TUs_Demarco_Nelson_ruled_ineligible_for_rest_of_season/20130904_94_0_TheNCA982192

Tulas safety, Demarco Nelson, (3 year starter) is academically ineligible per NCAA. Will miss the rest of the season.

That is a huge loss for Tulsa. He was a difference maker.