By: Nate Murphy (@bigmurph23)
Week 2 of Season 22 is about to get underway. But is there any possible way that Week 2 or beyond can get any better than what we just saw? I have been in the league since Season 10 and I have never seen anything like what we did in Week 1. Does that mean it can’t be topped? No, of course not. But what we saw was something beyond special.
With the league composed of 24 teams each week is made up of twelve total games. Quick, without looking back tell me how many of those twelve games WERE NOT one possession games? THREE…TWO….ONE….did you get it? The answer is just three. That’s right, nine of the twelve games in week one were decided by eight points or less. North Carolina, Ohio State, and Oregon were the only three teams that were somewhat breathing easy as the clock started toward all zeros.
Week 1 kicked off with two games that did not disappoint. USC and Texas A&M squared off in a title game rematch and USC once again bested the Aggies. But unlike in the Season 21 Championship Game, the outcome was in doubt right down to the end. USC held on for a five-point victory. Game two of the night was no different. Florida and Penn State tangled in the Smith Bowl. Not to be outdone, Auburn and Florida State put on a show to start Tuesday night. Florida State came from behind and then held on for a seven-point win.
Thursday may have been the best night of the entire week. Four games, four one-score results. Two of the four games were decided by just a field goal, one game was settled by four points, and one game was decided by just a touchdown. Kentucky and Miami tested the lightbulbs on the scoreboard, combining for 127 points in Miami’s 65-62 victory. Oklahoma and Virginia Tech battled to a 37-34 Sooner win. Clemson and LSU battled in the Tiger Bowl. In Josh Claydon’s return as an AD, his Tigers were able to hold off a very good Clemson squad 49-45. In Thursday’s other game, Tennessee picked up their first win since season 20 winning a 38-31 duel with Notre Dame.
But it wasn’t just the close games that made week one nearly un-toppable. The viewership we saw, especially on Monday and Tuesday nights was beyond incredible. Each of the first four games saw well over 100 viewers on Twitch. But it was Wednesday night, with split viewership, that we saw history being made. A record 177 people tuned in to watch the Georgia Bulldogs and Michigan State Spartans battle to one of those one-score games. Georgia ran the ball well all night but eventually ran out of steam falling to Sparty 52-46.
So can we beat Week 1? Well, I say we go for it. So call your friends as we kick things off in Week 2 and have them join you as we enjoy maybe the best action we have seen in the CFSL.
