NEWS AND NOTES: California’s Mike Mohamed who led the Pac-10 in tackles last year was a late scratch from the Nevada game. In the 1H NV had a 182-126 yd edge and led 24-14. The key play of the game happened in the 2H after Cal had trimmed it to 24-21 and was driving for the go-ahead TD, Riley was int’d and ret’d 65 yds for a TD, a 14 pt swing. Cal would then go on a 76/8pl drive and settle for a 22 yd FG, go on a 65/14pl drive but was SOD at the NV13 and went 49/8pl but was int’d at the NV10. One of NV’s TD’s came after they recovered an onside kick and drove 41 yards for a TD in their 52-31 win. Cal actually had the yardage edge at 502-497.

Ohio St dominated Ohio with a 289-52 yd edge in the 1H, 16-2 FD edge and led 34-0. They extended it to 43-0 before OU got a garbage TD with 6:14 left. Terrelle Pryor hit a school record 16 consec passes, topping Jim Karsatos’ 1985 record (12, vs Wisc).

Penn St looked like they would be on their way to a rout going 45/10pl and 70/5pl on their first 2 poss for TD’s. PSU did finish with 382-228 yd and 21-12 FD edges but KSU held Royster to 38 yards on 11 carries. PSU punted on their next 4 poss then turned it over on their next 3 poss, all at midfield. They finally drove 80/17pl for a 27 yd FG, went on an 8pl drive and missed a 43 yd FG and then after a Kent St 17 yard punt with a 48/1pl TD pass to Smith with 8:27 left. PSU’s last drive was SOD at the KSU38 with :47 left. KSU missed a 47 yd FG on their only scoring threat.

Daniel Thomas rushed for 181 yards. Kansas St led 10-7 when they faked a 36 yd FG and were stopped late 2Q. They opened the 3Q driving for an apparent 10 pt lead when they were int’d 69 yds for a TD and actually trailed 14-10. Iowa St led 20-17 when KSt got a TD with 6:47 left and ISt fumbled at their own 25 with 1:58 left and KSt got a 42 yd FG with 1:38 left for the 7 pt lead. ISt was SOD at the KSt36 with :13 left.

West Virginia dominated the 1H vs Maryland with a 250-62 yd edge and led 21-0. It could have been worse as WV fumbled at the MD15, was SOD at the MD34 and fumbled at the MD38. Two plays kept MD in the game when they got 60 and 80 yd TD passes from Jamarr Robinson. MD, down by 14, was SOD then went on an 11pl drive but settled for a 35 yd FG to get within 28-17. WV clinched it with a 76/16pl drive for a 23 yd FG with 3:07 left.

Perhaps it’s bad karma that Mississippi picked up transfer Jeremiah Masoli as they have now lost 2 games as a large favorite. The first 9 poss of the Ole Miss/Vanderbilt game were actually punts and while each team would score a TD, VU got a 21 yd IR TD and led 14-7 at the half. UM tied it but Norman ripped off an 80 yd TD run to retake the lead 21-14. UM missed a 32 yd FG, was SOD at their own 49 and then fmbl’d at their own 15 with 8:09 left and VU tacked on a 15 yd TD run on the next play to make it 28-14. UM was SOD at their own 45 and int at the VU18 on their final 2 poss and lost despite 18-12 FD and 385-300 yd edges.

North Carolina was playing without 12 players again including 10 def starters but had a great shot at defeating GT. In fact, NC led 24-17 when GT was SOD at the NC44 late 3Q but the FB knocked the ball out of QB Yates’ hands on the next play and GT would get a TD and 2 FG’s on their next 2 poss to lead 30-24. NC got to the GT39 but was SOD with 1:16 left.

Temple is now 3-0 for the first time since 1979 when they finished 10-2. The Owls also got their first win over a BCS foe since 2004. Connecticut had a 245-143 yd edge at the half but trailed 7-6 as they settled for 3 FG’s and missed one of them. TU trailed 16-14 when they ret’d a fumble 24 yds for a TD and the lead. They then got a 50 yd PR to set up a 5 yd drive for a TD to lead 27-16. They got a 39 yd run by Pierce that was originally ruled a TD but after review it was spotted on the 1 and they settled for a 32 yd FG in the 30-16 win despite being outFD’d 16-13 and outgained 390-356.

North Texas is one of the most beaten up teams in the country. They lost QB Tune to inj, their 7th starter lost to inj and 5th for the season. Backup QB Thompson came in and played well but then broke his leg and is probably OFY. Riley Dodge, last year’s starter who was not able to QB this year due to shoulder problems, which limits his throwing, had to QB the rest of the game. Depth-shy NT did play well. In fact, trailing 7-0 they fmbl’d into the EZ for a TB and then Army, after recovering a fumble, drove 14 yds for a TD with 4:57 left in the half to lead 14-0. NT was also SOD at their own 45 with :14 left. Army finally broke it open in the 3Q with a 79/11pl drive for a TD and NT was also SOD at the Army24 with 7:21 left. It was the first game all season NT had been outgained and outFD’d.

Purdue lost its top RB in the spring then lost their top WR Keith Smith last week. Robert Marve was inj in the 3Q vs Ball St and Rob Henry hit 3-6-89 in his place. The majority of Henry’s passing stats came on a 3rd & 17 pass which should have been int but bounced off a BSU defender and Smith, who was behind the secondary, caught the deflection and took it 76 yds for a TD. Ball St started rFr Keith Wenning and he it 11-21-89 yds. BSt had a 1st & gl at the PU10 late 1H but were int in the EZ. PU got a 26 yd IR to set up a 23 yd FG but BSt got a TD with 4:50 left.

Michigan almost had its 2nd embarrassing defeat to an FCS foe. UMass actually led 17-7 when Michigan got a 66 yd TD pass with 1:01 left 1H to pull within 3. UMass fmbl’d 2pl later and UM got a 55/5pl drive for a TD with :16 left in the half to take the lead to the lockerroom. They did open the 3Q with 69/6pl and 94/8pl drives for TD’s to lead 35-17 and were up 42-24. UMass got a TD with 5:15 left then blk’d a punt and got another TD with 2:05 left but UM recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock. While UMass had a 26-22 FD edge, UM had a 525-439 yd edge.

East Carolina had leads of 17-7 at the start of the 2Q and 24-21 at the half. They extended it to 27-21 vs Virginia Tech. VT battled back to lead 35-27 then got 2 big plays. A 68 yd IR TD with 13:22 left gave them some breathing room then following another int, and then got a 69/1pl TD pass to Boykin with 10:53 left. The next 3 poss were punts until VT ran out the clock. RB Ryan Williams was inj and David Wilson saw his most extensive PT rushing 12 times for 89 yards.

Georgia was playing w/o susp’d WR AJ Green. They got down early to Arkansas, 17-7 at the half and it was 24-10 after 3Q’s. UGA battled back with a pair of TD’s, the 2nd with 3:55 left. The Bulldogs forced a punt and had the game in their hands with the ball at midfield but was sk’d on 3&4 then Ark got a 30 yd TD pass with :15 left. UGA started at its 36 but a Hail Mary pass which went 65 yds in the EZ on the fly was tipped and incomplete.

Oklahoma took its opening drive 60/12pl for a TD but led just 10-3 at the half. AF tied it on their opening drive of the 3Q but OU took charge by going 41/2pl, 31/7pl and 76/10pl for 2 TD’s and a FG and led 27-10 after 3Q’s. AF went on a 14pl drive even converting on 3&15 and got a TD with 10:43 left. A key play happened when OU, at the AF35, had a 4&8 and went for it and Broyles was open for what could have been a TD but it was overthrown. AF went 65/10pl including another 3&15 conversion and got a 15 yd TD run with 3:39 left. OU got 2 FD’s and ran out the clock.

Hawaii led Colorado 10-0 at the half with a 237-124 yd edge. CU got a TD, safety and TD to open the 3Q to take a 17-10 lead. Up 17-3 on 3&8 they got a 73 yd TD pass with 9:24 left then went 59/7pl for a TD with 3:12 left. UH’s 2&4 pass was int at their own 37 with 2:32 left. CU finished with 26-13 and 452-337 yd edges.

Alabama had their most pts since scoring 62 in 1991. Their 45 pts in the 1H were the most since 1973 and amazingly Bama did not face a 3rd down until the 3Q!! David Cutcliffe is an Alabama grad. Mark Ingram in his first game of the season took his first carry 48 yds and his third 50 yds and finished with 152 yards on just 9 carries as the Tide had 315 yds rushing and 312 passing.

SMU led 14-7 vs Washington St when they fmbl’d a punt and it rolled into the EZ and Washington St fell on it for a TD with 2:23 left 1H to tie it. SMU opened it back up to 28-14 and WSU was SOD at the SMU26 and then on 4&20 SOD at the SMU25 with 6:11 left. SMU got a TD with 2:08 left to extend it to 21 but WSU got a 67 yd TD pass on their next offensive play with 1:50 left.

Say goodbye to the Heisman candidacy for Jake Locker. Team success is important but so is individual performance and Locker hit just 4-20-70. His 20% comp was the 3rd lowest in a single game behind Pat Julmiste of USF in ‘04 and Alan Evridge of KSt in 2005 who completed 15% and 18.5%. Taylor Martinez is trying to take some of Denard Robinson’s thunder as he was very impressive in his first road start rushing for 139 yards and hitting 7-11-150 passing. Nebraska led 28-14 at the half when Martinez took the 1st play of the 2H 80 yds for a TD. NU brought in backup QB Green during the 2Q and he fmbl’d on the first play but Martinez would return and guide a TD drive with 1:19 left 2Q, 28-14. NU led 49-21 and WU waved the white flag as they punted on 4&3, 4&4 and 4&12 on their next 3 poss.

Florida St’s D bounced back from their loss to Oklahoma. They held BYU to just 191 ttl yards incl 39 in the 2H and recorded 8 sacks. FSU led 13-0 but BYU got a FG and TD in the final 2:46 of the 1H to make it 13-10. After going with Riley Nelson in the 2H vs AF, Heaps took the majority of the snaps but hit just 15-31-114 yds. Nelson was 1-4-1 and an int. FSU had a 126-6 yd edge in the 1Q but only led 3-0. They finished with 427 yds offense.

Wisconsin was without 2 offensive players (WR’s Toon and Gilreath). Spec tms almost cost UW the game. They gave up a 97 yd KR for a TD and then an 80 yd PR for a TD but luckily it was called back. Before the half, ASU got a 95 yd KR by Middlebrook but he was tkl’d at the 1 as time ran out. ST ended up saving UW as Arizona St got the apparent tying TD with 4:09 left but Jay Valai blk’d the xp. UW got 2 FD and ran the clock.

Portland St QB Conner Kavanaugh completed just 8-18-24 yds. At the half Oregon led 45-0 and had a 446-35 yd edge. They scored TD’s on the first 4 poss of the 2H despite having the 2nd unit in. Duck RB LaMichael James rushed for 227 yards on 14 carries and PSt gained 83 of their yards on their final 2 drives when trailing 69-0. UO’s point-a-minute offense came in with 120 pts in 120 minutes and extended that in the win.

Brandon Weeden hit 23-32-409 yds and had the 4th highest passing total in Oklahoma St history despite being pulled after 1 drive in the 3Q. OSU led 27-7 and Tulsa was trying to get back in it when they were at the OSU15 and were int in the EZ and returned 79 yds. OSU got a 21 yd TD pass on the next play and then added a TD with :14 left in the half for a 41-7 lead. OSU led 58-7 mid 3Q before Tulsa went 80/9pl, 76/15pl and got an 81 yd IR TD to pull within 58-28 but backup QB Chelf led an 84/10pl drive for a TD with 3:48 left. OSU had a school record 722 yards offense, breaking the record set by a Barry Sanders led 1988 team.

One week after throwing for 400 yards, Ryan Aplin hit 20-32 for 243 yards and ASU rolled over ULM. They led 21-0 in the 2Q and finished with 234 yds rushing and 240 passing. ULM did gain 391 yds. Trailing 31-14, ULM went 73/8pl for a TD with 5:40 left but ASU rec’d the onside kick and added a FG. 

Indiana got an 88 yd KR to open vs WKU but fumbled at the WKU9 and WKU went 91/10pl for a TD. WKU only had 1 FD in the 3Q and would have just 197 yards the rest of the game. IU missed a FG but then would go 59/6, 70/11pl and 77/8pl for 2 TD’s and a FG to lead 17-7 at the half and they opened the 3Q with a 39/7pl and 82/13pl drives for TD’s to lead 31-7. It was 38-14 when WKU got a 31 yd TD pass with 5:24 left. Indy QB Ben Chappell had a career high 366 yds.

It was an impressive night for the non-BCS teams trying to make their mark. TCU scored TD’s on their first 5 poss vs Baylor with the school’s less than 90 miles apart and they used to be in the SWC together. They led 35-3 with 6:03 left in the 2Q and at the half had a 335-87 yd edge. TCU extended it to 45-10 on a TD with 9:53 left and QB Andy Dalton hit 91% of his passes (21-23) which was a single game TCU & MWC record. The Frogs have won all 3 matchups vs Baylor since the SWC disbanded by a combined score of 89-17 and BU had come in 2-0 and is led by Robert Griffin.

The last 6 times Iowa has played west of the Central time zone they have lost all 6.

Kentucky had a slow start vs Akron as they missed a FG, were SOD, punted and settled for a 33 yd FG on their first 4 poss and UA went 53/12pl for a 30 yd FG and the game was tied 3-3 early 2Q but UK scored on their next 7 poss incl 6 straight drives for TD’s. They led 20-3 at the half with a 249-46 yd edge and it was 47-3 with 9:03 left. UA went 73/8pl getting a 30 yd garbage TD pass one play after converting on 4&7. The TD came with 1:31 left and UK had a 552-99 yd edge prior to the garbage drive.

Navy threw for 219 yards with 179 of them in the 1H but Louisiana Tech led 23-16 at the half and had a 327-326 yd edge. Amazingly Navy came into the game allowing just 190 ypg but LT had 137 yards more than that at half. Navy went back to the ground game for the 2H adding just 40 more passing yards. With it tied at 23, LT was int’d and Navy went 55/10pl incl a 4th & 2, 17 yd run to the 7. They got a TD with :31 left 1H to take the lead and their next drive went 81/8pl for a TD and LT did not threaten after that.

There were a couple of key plays in the Florida/Tennessee game. UF was stopped on 4&1 at the UT43 and UT got 2 FD when Daniel Lincoln tied a career high with a 49 yd FG was the first time they scored first vs the Gators since ‘01. UF led 7-3 and fmbl’d the punt at their 40 but UT was int’d in the EZ on 3&gl from the 3. In the 3Q UF got a 44 yd FG to lead 10-3 but UT got a 49 yd TD pass to tie it at 10. UF faked a punt from its own 39 gaining 36 yards and continued on a 65/10pl drive. UT was int and UF went 45/5pl for a TD and it appeared it would be a repeat of the previous wk vs Oregon when UT faded in the 2H. In fact Simms was called for intentional grounding in the EZ for a safety but they reviewed and overturned it spotting it at the 1 which was huge as UF fmbl’d 2pl later and then on 4&6 UT got a 35 yd TD pass to make it 24-17. UF went 60/9pl for a TD, 31-17 with 6:15 left.

Clemson had a great situational edge vs Auburn as it was their biggest game in the month of Sept while Aub was in an SEC sandwich. CU dominated the 1H and had a 17-0 lead and a 267-68 yd edge scoring a TD with 1:14 left 1H. AU on 3&10 got def pass interf for a FD and then Newton ran for a couple of FD and AU got a 35 yd FG on the final play of the half to gain some momentum. AU was int at the CU1 but went 61/6pl, 72/8pl for TD’s then got a 78 yd TD pass to stunningly take a 24-17 lead after 3Q. CU tied it and it went to OT where AU got a FG. CU QB Parker was banged up and missed an open rec in the EZ and they settled for a 26 yd FG to send it to the 2nd OT but the C moved the ball and after the 5 yd pen, CU missed their 31 yd FG.

Two big plays kept San Diego St in the game. The game was just 10-7 when Missouri scored with 1:00 left in the half to go up 17-7. SDSt appeared headed for half when they just ran the ball on 3&6 but frosh Hillman broke though and got a 75 yd TD run to change the dynamics of the game to make it 17-14. Trailing 20-14 the Aztecs had a 2nd & gl at the 3 but were int’d in the EZ. The next drive they were at their own 7 when Hillman got a 93 yd TD run to take the lead, 21-20. Hillman finished with 228 yards. Missouri punted on its next poss and was int and ret’d to their 45 an the Aztecs added a 25 yd FG for a 24-20 lead with just 2:03 left and the game appeared over while Missouri threw an int at their own 37 with 1:48 left. SDS punted with just 1:13 left and it was fair caught at the 12. MO had 1 time-out but got a 20 yd pass to Jackson and their big play happened when a short pass to TJ Moe saw him break a tackle on the left sideline and race 68 yards for the game winning TD with :51 left.

Texas A&M turned it over 5 times vs FIU and actually trailed 20-6 in the 4Q, the key being a 54 yd IR TD by Gaitor which made it 20-6. A&M scored a TD with 13:51 left and then tied the game with 7:07 left. FIU punted with 5:33 left and A&M got a 31 yd pass followed by a 40 yd TD run by Gary with 4:29 left. The Panthers were not done. FIU drove to a 1st & gl at the 8 but on 4&gl from the 7 gained 3 yds and A&M escaped.

TURNOVERS: Marshall had 5 TO’s to BG’s 2. At the half MU had a 231-196 yd edge but BG led 28-14. BG got the 14 pt turnaround with a 78 yd IR TD and after another int drove 16 yds for a TD for that 28-14 lead. MU had a 42 yd FG blk’d to open the 3Q. BG fmbl’d on their 1 and MU got a TD to tie at 28. BG got a 31 yd TD pass on 3&8 with 9:21 left then got a 2nd IR TD, this one 29 yds to make it 44-28 which was the final.

Western Michigan had a 24-11 FD edge over Toledo and 416-268 yd edge but could not overcome QB Alex Carder’s 6 TO’s. Things started early for WM as they fmbl’d at their own 30 setting up a TD drive and WM was SOD at the UT26 and trailed 21-7 at the half. Toledo got a 24 yd FG on a 19 yd drive following a fumble then got a 15 yd IR TD to lead 31-7. WM scored on their next 3 drives to make it 31-24 but UT got a 98 yd KR TD. WM’s final 3 drives ended on an int at the UT27, were SOD at the UT31 and int at the UT20.

It was standard practice for LSU to be outgained once again, this time 267-262 but came away with a comfortable 29-7 victory which was never in doubt. Five TO’s were the key and Patrick Peterson grabbed 2 tipped int with long returns showing why he is one of top CB’s in college football. MSU QB Relf QB’d the 1H and had int at the LSU2 and 30. LSU led 12-0 at half with a 112-107 yd edge. Each team went on a long drive for a TD to open the 3Q but Russell came in at QB and was int at midfield and at their 39 setting up LSU’s 28 yd TD drive and a 6 yd drive for a 21 yd FG which extended the margin. MSU did gain 40 yds on their final 5 plays of the game to end with the yardage edge...

Misleading Games: While Miami, Oh rolled to a 31-10 win over Colorado St, they did only have 17-15 FD were actually outgained 306-299. CSU led 3-0 when they fumbled a punt on their own 15 setting up a UM FG. UM got a 56 yd IR TD to lead 17-3. It was 17-3 at the half but only a 139-122 yd edge. CSU was SOD at the UM2 and UM on 3&11 got a 62 yd TD pass with 2:35 left. CSU did drive 71/9pl getting a garbage TD with 1:19 left.

Northern Illinois Coach Jerry Kill spent a good portion of the week in the hospital but returned to the field for the game. Illinois only had a 208-203 yd edge at the half but led 18-12. There were 7 punts on the first 8 poss of the 2H. UI got a 32 yd FG with 7:07 left and NI got a TD to pull within 21-19. UI went 63/10pl for a 29 yd TD run to lead 28-19. It was a strange ending as NI got to the UI31 with :24 left then opted for a 48 yd FG which pulled them within 6. UI rec’d the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.

USC missed a 48 yd FG and was int’d at the UM28 in the 1H and only led 13-7 despite a 176-106 yd edge. USC was driving but was int’d at the UM25 and the Gophers got a TD to lead 14-13. USC then got a 97 yd KR, went 88/11pl and 91/6pl for TD’s. HC Lane Kiffin actually went for it on 2 pt conversions after 3 of their 5 TD’s and failed on all 3. USC still had the game locked up as on 4th & 1 they got a 2 yd run to the UM33 and only 1:18 was left in the game. On the next play, Bradford fmbl’d. UM went 69/8pl and got a 22 yd TD pass with :11 left.

EXCITING FINISHES: UAB blew some opportunities vs Troy. They were SOD at the Troy28, fmbl’d at the Troy8, were SOD at the Troy38, fmbl’d at the Troy26 and int at the Troy10 in the 1H. Despite only a 338-273 yd deficit, they trailed 23-7. UAB opened the 3Q in the same way being int at the Troy10 but battled back. Troy got a TD with 9:50 left to lead 33-20 but UAB went 60/4pl for a TD. Troy went on a 14pl drive and had a FD at the UAB40 but after a hold they punted with 1:09 left. UAB went 99 yds incl a couple of 3&10 conversions and on the last play threw a 44 yd Hail Mary pass for the miracle win, 34-33.