Point/Counterpoint: Which college football team looked best in week one?

Carmine Colangelo: I will admit that a 72-0 win is impressive by any means, but don't get caught up in such big numbers. Oregon beating New Mexico is like the UConn Huskies beating my high school football team - and my team was abysmal. Oregon was ranked 11th in the country and they played a team who was 1-11 last season. According to sportsrankings.com, the Lobos had a preseason ranking of 117. Nothing about that game should have been overly impressive. Whereas the Boise State Broncos beat the No. 10 Virginia Tech Hokies, in an incredible come-from-behind victory, silencing all doubters that this team could not hang with perennial powerhouses. The Broncos proved they came to play. The Ducks proved that they can beat bad teams.

Mike McCurry: Don't even get me started on a soft schedule. Boise State's schedule includes cupcakes such as Wyoming, New Mexico State, San Jose State, and Utah State. Oregon had New Mexico on their schedule, and needless to say they took care of business. Star RB LeMichael James sat this game out, so backup halfback Kenjon Barmer filled in and took it to the house 5 times. I got a couple insane stats for you: 72 points, 720 total yards of offense, and a 59-0 lead at the break. Yeah, the Broncos played their hearts out and beat a pretty good Va Tech team. They also lost a 17-0 lead and their defense looked awful. Oregon quickly stomped on the little bit of hope UNM had and closed the door within the first 15 minutes.

Colangelo: I will admit that Boise State has a very weak schedule, but that doesn't seem to phase voters in the AP poll as the Broncos gained seven more first place points. This is a non-conference team climbing its way through BCS rankings and has a definite shot to play in the BCS game.

Oregon, although they are a very good team, will not likely climb into first place and possibly will hang outside the top ten all season.

Boise State put up 17 points in a hurry the other night and seemed to disappear in the second and third quarter, but with their backs against the wall and Virginia Tech hoarding all the momentum, they fought back in fantastic fashion. In their final scoring drive, down 30-26 with 1:47 left in the game, the Broncos went 56 yards downfield, resulting in a game-winning touchdown that stunned the Hokies. Kellen Moore was absolutely in the zone and did not show even an ounce of fear or panic, which is impressive, because if they hadn't scored on that drive, their season would have been over.

McCurry: Oh, without question it was a crucial and season-saving win for the Blue Turf Smurfs. Kellen Moore is a legitimate contender to win the Heisman. However, Oregon was still way more impressive. Their defense is scary-good and as fast as any team in the nation. The Ducks' offense is explosive and the crazy thing is that they could have broken 100 points.

Oregon used every single player on its roster who was not redshirted, and that in itself is extraordinary. Oregon came out and annihilated New Mexico, starting the year off in the best way possible. With such a concise and remarkable win, Herbstreit or Fowler would be smart to pick Oregon as defending Pac-10 champs. This team is going places this year and Boise still has a long way to go.

Colangelo: The fact that Oregon used all of their eligible players is truly an impressive and rare event, but Oregon is still a pack of lame Ducks compared to these Broncos. While Oregon debuted its scrubs against a junior varsity football team, Boise State was displaying its best and brightest against a young, but fast defense that would give any team an issue. Kellen Moore threw for three touchdowns, including two touchdowns to senior wide receiver Austin Pettis. Not only did Pettis catch two touchdowns, including the stunning game winner, but he also blocked a punt resulting in a drive that ended in a receiving touchdown by none other than himself. Boise State has some serious weapons; not only do they have a Heisman contender in Kellen Moore, but Pettis is a do-it-all type of player. How many teams have players that can block a punt and catch a game-winning touchdown in the same game? Not many. The Broncos have truly shown that their conference means nothing; they have the weapons and skill level to beat the best teams in college football.

SUMMARIES:

Colangelo: In summation, last Monday the Boise State Broncos were the most impressive team in all of college football. In a do or die game, where losing would have meant the implosion of the entire season, the Broncos showed that they are just as deserving of a number one ranking as teams like Alabama or Ohio State.

Kellen Moore displayed that he is one of the best quarterbacks in college football with three passing touchdowns and a final drive that sends chills down viewer's spines. In that final drive Moore played like he had ice water in his veins. Un-phased by the pressure, he did what many quarterbacks couldn't have, even on the professional level. In one drive, that came and went in 38 seconds, he saved a season based on making it to the national championship game. If that is not impressive then I do not know what is.

McCurry: Oregon's offseason did not run as smoothly as planned, as they lost their star quarterback Jeremiah Masoli due to off-the-field issues. Whereas it was a devastating blow to most of the team, it was a moment of truth for sophomore QB Darron Thomas to step up and lead the wounded Ducks. Thomas responded quite well to the challenge, throwing for 220 yards and two scores. By the way, he also led the team to a 72-0 victory over New Mexico in what was the most noteworthy showing of college football's first week. Oregon was clearly the most impressive team and they were without their arguably best player, RB LeMichael James. Kenjon Barmer filled in for James and had five touchdowns on the day.

The Ducks offense put up over 700 yards of total offense and demolished the Lobos right Mike McCurry: Oregon's offseason did not run as smoothly as planned, as they lost their star quarterback Jeremiah Masoli due to off-the-field issues. Whereas it was a devastating blow to most of the team, it was a moment of truth for sophomore QB Darron Thomas to step up and lead the wounded Ducks.