Two weeks in is too soon to panic, right?
Not in college football, where slow or shaky starts to seasons send fans into a frenzy. Ohio State on Saturday lost its first regular-season game under third-year coach Ryan Day, and first at home since 2017. After Steve Sarkisian's promising debut against Louisiana, Texas got steamrollered by former Southwest Conference rival Arkansas. Sarkisian's old team, USC, made too many familiar mistakes in a 42-28 loss to Stanford, which had nearly been shut out the week before against Kansas State. Sarkisian's other former team, Washington, continued to look mostly punchless on offense in falling to 0-2.
Iowa State still can't beat Iowa, and three-year starting quarterback Brock Purdy was benched in the fourth quarter. Florida State lost to an FCS opponent for the first time since the FBS/FCS split in 1978, stumbling to 0-2, while Miami needed a late field goal to outlast Appalachian State and avoid the same start. Texas A&M needed its backup quarterback to rally past Colorado, and produced only 10 points. Notre Dame, meanwhile, had everyone frantically buying Peacock subscriptions as it needed a late touchdown to outlast Toledo.
Teams have ample time to turn things around, but some of the problems surfacing, especially after Week 2, are causing genuine panic. USC's loss to Stanford, for example, cost Clay Helton his job. Helton was fired Monday.
After talking to coaches over the weekend, here's a look at the issues plaguing some of college football's most prominent programs and what it will take to foster improvement. I've also assigned a panic level (1 is no big deal, 5 is full panic mode) for each team.
Ohio State's defense seeking a spark
The Buckeyes' biggest question entering the season wasn't new quarterback C.J. Stroud, but a defense that too often looked ordinary in 2020 then lost five players to the NFL draft. Those concerns were magnified Saturday after Ohio State surrendered 269 rush yards (7.1 yards per carry) and three touchdowns on Oregon's first four possessions of the second half.
Coordinator Kerry Coombs, who last year became a coordinator for the first time at the college level, is taking most of the heat. Coombs, an Ohio State assistant from 2012 to 2017, spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons coaching defensive backs for the Tennessee Titans.
"Kerry doesn't do very much coverage variation," a Power 5 defensive assistant said. "They were supposed to go to some of the 4-2-5 stuff to be able to play some quarters [Cover 4]. That was the word over the offseason. But as soon as they got in trouble, they threw that s--- away and went back to playing single high safety."
Oregon offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead capitalized with several creative (and gutsy) calls, especially after Ohio State's offense began to surge in the second half. Moorhead, who oversaw very productive offenses as Penn State's offensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017, always seemed a step ahead of the Ohio State staff.
"Kerry Coombs got really outcoached by Moorhead," a Power 5 defensive coordinator said. "It was embarrassing. Those running lanes, they were just playing man the whole game. They weren't fitting things right on unbalanced formations. It was bad. That shouldn't happen to Ohio State."
A Big Ten offensive assistant added of the Buckeyes: "They create some issues [schematically] on offense, but none on defense."
The Buckeyes' scheme didn't change dramatically in the transition from coordinators Jeff Hafley and Greg Mattison in 2019 to Coombs and Mattison last year. But the 2019 defense had two top-three NFL draft picks (Chase Young, Jeff Okudah), another first-round pick in cornerback Damon Arnette and four other players drafted.
Where's the star power now?
"They're very vanilla on defense," an FBS offensive coordinator said of Ohio State. "They just try to win with their skill. It really showed up last year in the playoff, too. They just didn't look creative enough or dynamic enough."
Coombs is known as a recruiter and an energy guy for Ohio State. But his ability to make schematic adjustments for the Big Ten season will be under the microscope. While it's still early, Ohio State's defense hasn't looked great in three of the past four seasons, an unsettling trend.
Panic level: 4
Notre Dame still adjusting on defense, offensive line
Since a 4-8 season in 2016, Notre Dame is 45-6 with two CFP appearances. Stout defense and offensive line play are likely the two biggest reasons for the program's run of consistent success. But both areas look shaky, somewhat predictably, to begin the 2021 season.
Notre Dame's hire of defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman, while justifiably celebrated, carried some level of mystery. The Irish had great results with defensive coordinator Mike Elko in 2017, and then with Elko's protégé, Clark Lea, the past three seasons. While Freeman arrived with strong credentials, his main coordinator experience came alongside Cincinnati's Luke Fickell, a head coach with significant influence over the defense. The Notre Dame job marked Freeman's chance to be a truly independent playcaller.
Through two games, Notre Dame's defense hasn't really stood out in any area. The Irish are allowing nearly 5 yards per rush, 42% on third-down conversions and a lot of big plays. Both Florida State and Toledo recorded a pass and a run of 60 yards or longer against Notre Dame.
"They're maybe trying to do too much defensively," said an FBS offensive assistant who watched the Toledo game. "They've got the athletes. They just need to put them in different positions. Marcus is a good defensive coordinator, but he doesn't have the answers that Luke Fickell had."
Notre Dame had three offensive linemen selected in the first three rounds of the NFL draft, and returned only one starter on the line in Jarrett Patterson. Starting left tackle Blake Fisher underwent knee surgery last week after getting injured in the opener at Florida State. The Irish allowed six sacks, 11 tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries to Toledo, and averaged only 3.4 yards per carry.
"We've got options to figure this thing out," coach Brian Kelly said. "It's not rocket science. Those kids are good, young players, but they're young. We can win with those guys."
Panic level: 3
Seminoles in familiar place of desperation
Florida State is 0-2 for the second straight year and for the third time in five years, but the mood after each loss this season couldn't be more different. FSU pushed a clearly better Notre Dame team to the limit on Sept. 5, erasing three deficits to force overtime before losing. Despite the result, the Seminoles looked like a team that had made obvious progress.
Then, they scored only two touchdowns and averaged 3.9 yards per pass attempt against FCS Jacksonville State, a team FSU beat 41-24 last season.
While the criticism is rightfully centered on the final play -- a 59-yard Jacksonville State touchdown against a surprisingly aggressive FSU defensive alignment -- many of the issues that have hurt the program for years, especially at wide receiver and offensive line, were on display Saturday night. FSU didn't have a reception longer than 17 yards, and the line drew six penalties. Linemen Dillan Gibbons and Dontae Lucas had particularly rough nights.
FSU is tied for third nationally in offensive penalties with 12.
"If it doesn't get corrected by the process, then we've got to reevaluate our personnel of how to get that fixed," coach Mike Norvell said. "That is something we cannot do. To be a good offense, you've got to play ahead of the chains, and there's too many times we're in long-yardage situations because of self-inflicted, mental mistakes."
The defense was mostly fine Saturday until the final sequence, when it rushed four and didn't push back its secondary to guard against a worst-case scenario. Norvell said the Seminoles played a two-deep zone and tried to pressure quarterback Zerrick Cooper. FSU seemingly was more concerned about Jacksonville State advancing the ball to set up a game-tying field goal attempt.
"There's like six seconds left in the game. How are you not in prevent? What are you doing?" an ACC coordinator said. "The scary part is they ran the same play the play before, and that same guy [Damond Philyaw-Johnson] was wide open. They just ran tempo, ran it again and [Florida State] ran the exact same defense."
Panic level: 5
Texas not quite ready for SEC spotlight
The Longhorns had a surprisingly stress-free opener against a good Louisiana team, storming out to a 21-6 lead early in the third quarter and never truly being challenged from that point. A young backfield of quarterback Hudson Card and running back Bijan Robinson looked sharp, and the defense held Louisiana to 2.6 yards per rush.
But Saturday's 41-20 loss to Arkansas showed that Texas is far from a finished product under coach Steve Sarkisian. Arkansas is one of the nation's most experienced teams and looked the part, while Texas lost the line of scrimmage and Card recorded only 61 pass yards. Sarkisian on Monday called Card "antsy" and announced that Casey Thompson, who replaced the freshman at Arkansas, will start this week against Rice.
A Power 5 defensive coordinator said Texas is running "a lot of the same stuff" as Alabama did when Sarkisian served as offensive coordinator, adding of Card, "Their young quarterback, I think he's going to be really good." The Longhorns simply need to execute better.
"It was more Texas looking bad than Arkansas looking good," an NFL scout told me. "There were plays left on the field that would have changed the game."
After rotating Card and Thompson in the opener, Sarkisian now goes with Thompson, who played decently in relief of Card against Arkansas (44 rushing yards and two touchdowns, 5-of-8 passing). A Power 5 coordinator cited a lack of wide receiver depth, as Jordan Whittington is the only Longhorns receiver with more than three receptions.
"You can tell they've still got some work to do for sure," another Power 5 offensive coordinator said.
Panic level: 2
Panic pressure points
Here's a quick look at other teams where panic may be setting in early this season.
Washington
The Huskies have scored 17 total points, are averaging 1.9 yards per rush and have reached the red zone just twice in as many games. Despite returning quarterback Dylan Morris, standout tight end Cade Otton and the entire starting offensive line from 2021, Washington has stalled out in an 0-2 start. Coach Jimmy Lake's hiring of offensive coordinator John Donovan surprised many in the industry at the time, and criticism for Donovan is ramping up. Donovan had been James Franklin's OC at Vanderbilt and then Penn State, but was fired in November 2015 and replaced by Moorhead, who helped the program to a Big Ten title the following season. Sources say Donovan could be out if things don't turn soon. Washington this week hosts Arkansas State, which allowed 55 points to Memphis on Saturday. Panic level: 5.
Texas A&M
After losing starting quarterback Haynes King early in Saturday's game against Colorado, Texas A&M struggled to get much going until two sustained drives in the fourth quarter. A 13-play, 77-yard push ended with a fumble by backup quarterback Zach Calzada. But Calzada responded by leading an 11-play, 77-yard drive that ended with the game-winning touchdown. King is out indefinitely following surgery for a "crack in his lower leg," coach Jimbo Fisher said Monday, so the Aggies will turn to Calzada, who averaged only 4.8 yards per completion against Colorado. The Aggies' offense has plenty of talented and versatile players -- running backs Devon Achane and Isaiah Spiller, wide receivers Ainias Smith and Chase Lane, and tight end Jalen Wydermyer -- but coaches aren't overly impressed with the quarterbacks, even before King went down. Fisher's strength is quarterback development, which will be tested as SEC play looms in two weeks. Panic level: 2
Iowa State
There are a few ways to look at Iowa State's poor offensive showing against Iowa. The Hawkeyes make a lot of offenses look bad, and ISU has responded well after losses to its in-state rival, which has now won six straight in the series. Iowa State also stumbled in its 2020 opener against Louisiana, only to reach the Big 12 championship, win the Fiesta Bowl and finish No. 9 nationally. But the 2021 Cyclones were supposed to be the best in team history, and through two games they're averaging 16.5 points per game and converting less than 31% of their third-down opportunities. "Now they're fighting an uphill battle because this was supposed to be the pinnacle to the Matt Campbell era," a Power 5 coordinator said. "They were supposed to get Iowa. They didn't do it, so its, 'How do we move on from it?'" Quarterback Brock Purdy, a three-year starter, was benched in the fourth quarter against Iowa. Coach Matt Campbell said he made the move so Purdy could "gather himself," and the senior should have time to get right during an upcoming schedule that includes UNLV (road), Baylor (road) and Kansas (home). But if Purdy and ISU's offense don't take off soon, expectations will need to be recalibrated. Panic level: 3.
Miami
The Hurricanes needed two field goals and a late defensive stand to overcome two fourth-quarter deficits against Appalachian State and avoid an 0-2 start. Few FBS programs have had a tougher opening schedule than Miami, which faced defending national champion Alabama and an Appalachian State team that is 64-16 since the start of the 2015 season. But there are some concerns at the U, namely an offense lacking much downfield passing and a defense struggling on third down (48.4% conversions against). The Hurricanes are making plays in the backfield (17 tackles for loss) but aren't getting to the quarterback (two sacks). "That's not the norm with Miami's defense," an ACC coach said. "They normally have good edge rushers." Miami's performance this week against an improved Michigan State team could be key in shaping the rest of the season. Panic level: 3