Bandwagoning: Some fan bases are feeling better than others after Week 2
Disclaimer: Bandwagoning is not a ranking of the best or worst teams, the biggest wins or worst losses. It’s instead an inexact assessment of the emotions experienced by various fan bases following their most recent game. There is nothing scientific about this. Not a thing.
JUMPING ON: Akron held a promotion promising one lucky season-ticket holder a chance to script the team’s opening drive during the Zips’ game with Robert Morris. Akron alum Marty Whims II had his name drawn and he worked with head coach Joe Moorhead in the days leading up to the game.
How’d it work out? Well, Whims’ stint as an FBS offensive coordinator lasted all of four plays, with the Zips rolling up 21 yards through the first three plays before a false start penalty and fumble stalled things. But all was not lost – Akron (1-1) went on to win 45-10, continuing a nice surge that began last season when the Zips finished 5-7 and almost made their first bowl game since 2017.
That on-the-field victory was merely a bonus, however.
The promotion went viral, notching more than 23 million views on various social media platforms and getting national media attention. InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field’s luxury suite inventory sold out for the first time, and season-ticket sales jumped 63 percent from 2025.
So why doesn’t every school hold such promotions? Because football coaches are a paranoid bunch, especially as the stakes seemingly raise daily and with millions of dollars at stake. Access of any kind – especially in this age after Wakeyleaks, when Wake Forest’s radio color analyst went rogue by slipping plays to opposing teams – has become increasingly tight. Allowing an outsider inside and with access to the books is an anxious proposition.
Akron, however, smartly realized the risk was grossly outweighed by the potential reward.
A school with the second-lowest athletic budget among public Football Bowl Subdivision schools (less than $39 million annually) and a .353 winning percentage in 39 years at that level saw an opportunity to pad its coffers and elevate its brand. The extra ticket revenue and enthused fan base will presumably lead to upgraded facilities, which would bolster recruiting; the school should receive more applications thanks to the enhanced exposure.
Every school at the Group of 6 level should consider similar promotions.
Because in this age when the G6 has essentially become a developmental level for the power conferences, why the heck not?
JUMPING OFF: Remember when Oregon quarterback Dante Moore was being hyped as a legit Heisman contender? Yeah, that’s not happening, especially after the Ducks’ 39-31 loss at Oklahoma State. Moore was 14-of-29 passing for 191 yards and two scores in the defeat, but missed some throws down the stretch and failed to inspire his offense against a team that lost to Tulsa a week earlier. Moore, a senior, has thrown for 569 yards and five scores through the first two weeks for a dismal 52.9 quarterback rating.
WHEELS BUCKLING: It’s kind of happened under the radar, but Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz is on a pretty nice run. The Tigers are now 2-0 after beating Kansas 38-21 in the Border War. That made Drinkwitz 31-10 since 2023, the fourth-best record among Power 4 coaches during that span.
SEATS GOING FAST: On one hand, South Carolina’s Vicari Swain gave up a 23-yard touchdown pass against Towson, the Tigers’ lone touchdown in an otherwise lopsided 45-9 defeat.
But it was also Swain – a junior defensive back from Carrolltown, Ga. – who recovered to block the ensuing point-after attempt following that touchdown. He also returned two punts for touchdowns against Towson (58 and 45 yards, respectively), giving him a school record five for his career. Swain was afterward named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time.
The question now for South Carolina coach Shane Beamer: How do you integrate him into the Gamecocks’ (2-0) offense?
HOT TICKETS: Barefoot kickers on “College GameDay” … Utah … Duke RB Nate Sheppard… Kansas State defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson … Auburn CB Andre Jordan, Jr. … Southern Cal’s third-down offense … Towson WR Aaron Enterline … James Madison’s punt return team … Tulane’s Mardi Gras Uniforms … Replay booth access.
COLD TICKETS: Kansas’ social media team … Oregon … Oklahoma QB John Mateer … Liberty coach Jamey Chadwell … Rutgers QB AJ Surace … Kentucky’s third-down offense … New Mexico State K Ilya Uvaydov … Louisiana Tech’s pass protection … South Carolina’s Cocky helmets … Post-game interviews.
