on to have a bad year? Momentum, morale, hype matters more in college football than most sports. An early season loss to a perceived "nobody" can also alter the trajectory of the season, not because the team got less skilled but b/c of the loss of momentum/morale/hype. This is where I dislike what has become of college football; the whole "there's nothing to play for" mantra that sinks in once a team loses that dreaded second game.