Wyoming, Hawaii, and Rice Sum Up College Football's Week 0

So that's what they call it when big brands are waiting to take the stage.

Who knows? Maybe some of these schools read the calendar wrong when they were scheduling games.

Or maybe the Mountain West didn't take global warming into account and wanted a few of their teams in action before biting winter storms hit the Rockies.

 

After all, how many plays like those did it take before the Buffalo Bills realized that Josh Allen was destined to be their dude?

He'll fit like a glove when all is said and done.

 

Thus, while universities of this world are chipping away at turning carbon dioxide into rocks to keep our seasons where we've come to expect them, a few of their PR branches paved the way for another autumn of dudely dudes being pissed when someone invites them to a fall wedding.

 

Week 0 is more than an undercard for what's to come in the weeks ahead, it's usually proof that another week of practice wouldn't have gone amiss.

Just ask Oregon State when they tried to replace more reps with the Jordan god last season:

 

This year, with Hawaii, there's coolness in the face of natural damage:

 

Duly inspired the Rainbow Warriors produced the season's first upset.

Hawaii not only covered a 17½-point spread, they also out-batter ed the Colorado State Rams in Ft Collins, 43-34:

 

Having the college football kliegs all to themselves, Wyoming looked to serve notice that they're ready to take the proverbial next step under coach Craig Bohl.

Dude's posted two straight eight-win seasons, taken the Cowboys to the Mountain West title game and two bowls, and looks like he's got the club firing on all cylinders again in topping newly-independent New Mexico State, 29-7:

 

Not that it was a total bummer for the Aggies.

They actually had fans in the stands at Las Cruces:

 

Down in Houston, maybe the Rice Owls were playing early to get out in front of hurricane season, which until Harvey landed was mostly an afterthought.

Most football programs have trophies on display. Prairie View A&M's been so abysmal, it's surprising they haven't mounted doormats on their walls. In this one, though, the Panthers took Rice to the final whistle before falling, 31-28:

 

What the hell did he expect?

It's Week 0, for chrissakes.