NEWS AND NOTES: Miami was dominant in their 31-3 win over Pitt. In the 1H they had a 12-3 FD edge and in fact, Pitt’s first FD came with under 6:00 to go in the 1H but UM was int twice, once in the EZ and once at the Pitt 7 and only led 10-0. Pitt closed it to 17-3 at the start of the 4Q but fumble’d a punt and UM went 43/4pl for a TD. Pitt gained 71 of their yards on their final drive ending the game at the UM5 trailing 31-3. UM came in leading the NCAA in sacks and tfl and had 5 sk and 9 tfl vs the Panthers.

SMU gave TCU a much tougher game than expected. TCU only had a 21-19 FD edge and 375-361 yd edge. In fact at the half TCU only led 14-10 with SMU having a 209-183 yd edge. TCU was int’d on the 2nd play of the 3Q and ret’d to the 1 and SMU got a TD to lead 17-14. TCU got an 83 yd KR to regain momentum and drove 13 yds for a TD then scored TD’s on their next 2 poss to lead 35-17 early 4Q. SMU got a TD but TCU got a 19 yd IR TD with 7:14 left but missed the xp. TCU was SOD at the SMU38 with 2:19 left and SMU even got to the TCU17 but was SOD on 4th & 9.

It was BC’s first shutout loss at home since 1998, which was also administered by Virginia Tech. In the 2H, behind backup QB Marscovetra, BC managed 39 yds offense. BC had 3 blown scoring opportunities in the 1H which really cost them the game. BC took their 2nd poss 64/9pl and had a 1st & gl but were int’d in the EZ for a TB and VT drove for a TD. BC was pinned at its own 1 but drove 69/9pl. They missed a FG. BC’s last drive of the half went 84/13pl with :15 left and no time-outs, QB Shinskie ran and dove for the EZ. The ball hit the goal line but it was ruled down on the 1/2 yd line and the half ran out. At the half BC had a 211-164 yd edge. Shinskie was taking hard hits all day and after a fumble and int, he was pulled and VT got the shutout.

Ball St was shutout for the first time since 2005 and Iowa got to play a lot of players. Iowa did only lead 14-0 with 2:55 left 2Q when they rec’d a fumble and they went 38/3pl for a TD to make it 21-0. At the half, however, Iowa had 15-3 FD and 284-54 yd edges. Iowa opened the 3Q with 65/6, 74/6 and 80/10pl drives for TD’s to take command, 42-0 and on their 4th poss went 61/9pl for a 25 yd FG in the 45-0 win.

Michigan QB Denard Robinson, a Heisman frontrunner, injured his knee in the 1Q and DNR. In one brief quarter, Robinson hit 4-4-60 and rushed 5x for 129 yards. Remember the rumors of Tate Forcier transferring from Michigan? Forcier came off the bench after backup QB Gardner had drives that ended on a TD, a fumble and SOD and Forcier led Michigan to 5 TD’s on 5 poss. He, unfortunately, also hurt his knee at the end of the game. UM scored TD’s on their first 3 poss to lead 21-0 but Bowling Green thanks to a fumble and UM being SOD (BG a 71 yd TD pass on the next play) only trailed 21-14. That’s when Forcier led 5 straight TD drives and then Gardner came off the bench for a sixth consecutive TD drive, this one with 3:11 left to make it 65-21. UM had 721 yds offense to BG’s 283.

For the 2nd straight week, Buffalo played closer than the final as they lost by 24 but had an 18-17 FD edge vs Connecticut and were only outgained 399-368. Cody Endres came off the bench in the 3Q for UC after Zach Frazer (4-4 on first drive) went into a 3-10 slump. UC was playing without its star RB Jordan Todman who was injured. The game was tied at 14 at half with Buffalo having a 234-119 yd edge. Endres led UC to 4 scores on their first five 2H poss and in their first eight 2H poss they got 1 FG, 3 TD’s, fumbled at the UC10 which set up a Buffalo TD, were SOD at the UB33, fumbled at the UB28 and had a 42 yd FG blk’d.

VMI had just fallen to William & Mary 45-0 the previous week and brought almost its entire Corps of Cadets (21 busses) to the Virginia game so they could cheer. They actually only trailed 14-7 after 1Q. Virginia did finish with 25-8 FD and 466-179 yd edges.

Maryland was without starting QB Jamarr Robinson and Danny O’Brien hit 18-27-250 yds in his first start. MD got a lot of big plays vs FIU. They got an 85 yd PR TD by Logan, a 56 yd TD run by Da’rel Scott, a 68 yd TD pass to Smith and had a 76 yd TD run by Meggett in the 4Q on their first offensive play after FIU closed within 7. Wes Carroll hit 35-58-355 yds for FIU. O’Brien’s 68 yd TD pass came after a pass interference call wiped out a 3rd down incompletion.

Michigan St, in their first game without HC Dantonio had 1 punt in the 1H and also fumbled at the Northern Colorado 22 and scored TD’s on their other 5 poss and led 35-0 with a 387-141 yd edge. N Colorado broke the shutout trailing 42-0 with a TD early in the 4Q.

Toledo got their first win in Ross-Ade Stadium since 1992. An amazing stat is that Toledo came into the game last in the NCAA in total offense but had 378 total yards which was 157 more than their season average. UT led 17-0 at the half with a commanding 203-95 yd edge. PU played most of the game without starting QB Marve who was injured for the second straight week. PU got as close as 24-20 with 8:07 left but UT returned the KO 50 yds and drove 47/7pl for a TD to basically clinch it 31-20 with 5:24 left.

Three weeks ago UCF’s D held Russell Wilson of NCSt to 10-30 passing. This time they took on the nation’s #2 rusher in Daniel Thomas and held him to 76 yards on 22 carries. Kansas St managed just 3 yds in the 1Q and UCF had a 170-43 yd edge at the half. The Knights missed crucial FG’s of 42 and 23 yards which kept K-St in the game. UCF also settled for a 27 yard FG with 5:14 left and K-St drove 67/13pl and got a 7 yd TD run with :24 left for their first lead of the game and won. UCF had 20-11 FD and 344-272 yd edges.

USC may not be having a memorable start under Lane Kiffin but he is the first USC coach to begin his career 4-0 since Jess Hill did in 1951. USC had a 613-323 yd edge but Washington St surprisingly opened with an 80/9pl drive for a TD. USC got a 59/1pl run then a 25 yd IR TD to go up 14-7. WSU drove 45/6pl for a TD and only trailed 21-13 in the 2Q and it was just 28-13 at the half with USC having a 312-230 yd edge. USC dominated the 3Q going 93/4pl, 98/12pl, 64/9pl for TD’s, the 3rd drive behind backup QB Mustain and came with 12:02 left in USC’s 50-16 win.

Turnovers did have a big factor in the Army/Duke game as Duke had a 5-0 TO deficit with QB Renfree having 2 int that were ret’d to the 3 and 5 yd lines - both setting up Army TD’s. Army did have a long drive with a 33 yd FG blk’d and led 21-7 at the half and Army had a 173-80 yd edge. It was 35-7 when Duke gained the majority of their yards. They went 82/8pl for a TD, 43 yds but were int’d in the EZ from the Army34 then went 67/5pl for a TD with 1:41 left which made the final stats 372-333 in favor of Duke.

Ohio St has been impressive so far this season but surprisingly their D gave up 3 long drives to Eastern Michigan. One came early 2Q, a 75/9pl TD and at the end of the half, 73/7pl TD and OSU only led 38-14. EM pulled within 45-20 after an 80/6pl TD drive but OSU scored TD’s 4 of their 5 next poss to get their highest point total since 1950 at 73. Dane Sanzenbacher became the first OSU player with 4 TD rec in a game since Terry Glenn did it in 1995. OSU did finish with a 33-13 FD edge and had over 300 yards both rushing and passing while EM had 248 total.

North Carolina was playing once again without 12 players including 7 starters. Linebacker Bruce Carter had a big day with a 55 yard IR which set up a 28 yd TD drive and he also had a blk’d punt which set up a 27 yd drive for a 25 yd FG and NC led 17-13. RU got to the NC19 but was int’d at the 7 with 2:42 left. They had 1 more shot after a 26 yd NC punt. They took over at their 34 but on 4&14 fired incomplete.

Northwestern and Central Michigan were tied 13-13 at the half but NU went on an 11pl drive for a 27 yd FG then after an int, got a 25/1pl TD pass to lead by 10. After punting on their next drive, NU went 47/5pl for a TD and had the ball back up 30-13 in the 4Q and were driving when they fumbled at the CM36. CM went 64/8pl for a TD and then went 86/11pl including a 4&15, 20 yd pass to the NU25 which set up a TD with 1:11 left, 30-25. NU rec’d the onside kick and took a knee.

If you followed along the scores on Saturday you were probably under the impression that Temple outplayed PSU for most of the game as TU had a 13-6 lead after 1Q, 13-9 at the half and late 3Q still led 13-12. The story of the game was PSU moved the ball but settled for Collin Wagner tying a school record with 5 FG’s. Royster rushed for 187 yds and PSU had 216 yds rushing and 223 yds passing with a 20-8 FD edge as they held TU to just 202 yds. In the 1H PSU had 10-4 FD and 220-131 yd edges. A fumble set TU up for a 28 yd TD drive and PSU was also SOD at the TU25 late 1H. Leading 15-13 PSU went 96/12pl for a TD and then got it back and got to the TU25 where they were SOD again with :19 left.

Missouri had a 19 yd FR on Miami Oh’s first offensive play for a TD and simply dominated. In the 1H, up 28-3, MO drove 61/10pl and had a 1st & 5 at the 10 but was int’d in the EZ for a TB. They extended it to 51-6 after 3Q’s and were about to make it 58-6 when they were SOD at the MU2 with 9:31 left in the game. If you look at the final stats and you’ll see Missouri “only” had 469-316 yd and 25-19 FD edges, but MU gained 98 of their yds on a 15pl drive and got 5 FD getting a garbage TD with 1:40 left.

Wyoming led AF 14-7 after 3Q’s and AF needed a TD with 3:41 left to pull out a 20-14 win. Statistically the game was not even close with AF having 27-12 FD and 445-240 yd edges. AF was int’d in the EZ on 2nd & gl on their first drive, missed a 26 yd FG after an 11pl drive and at the end of the half, went on a 48 yd drive for a 39 yd FG but had a bad snap. In the 3Q AF was SOD at the WY38 and int’d before driving 78/16pl and 80/14pl for 2 TD’s and a 20-14 lead. AF ended the game at the WY28 yd line taking a knee.

NC State did have a 27-15 FD edge vs Georgia Tech and a 527-363 yd edge but the game was closer than the final score. NCSt jumped out to a 10-0 lead despite missing a pair of 32 yd FG’s and led 17-7 at the half with a 264-137 yd edge. They extended it to 31-14 then GT was SOD on 4&3 at the NCSt48 (1:39 3Q). GT got back in it with a 38 yd TD pass then Russell Wilson, who had 168 passes without an int, was not only int but ret’d 33 yds for a TD which made it 31-28 with 12:05 left. NCSt drove for a TD with 8:31 left and then GT out of desperation went for it on 4th & 10 at their own 31 and the pass was incomplete. NCSt tacked on a TD 6 plays later for the 45-28 final.

UAB deserved much better vs Tennessee. For the game UAB had 23-15 FD and 544-287 yd edges. UAB had just 1 TO but it was a 9 yd IR TD just before the half which actually put UT up 23-7. The key to the game was that UAB missed FIVE FG’s during regulation. After missing 3 FG’s in the 1H they went on a 67/13pl drive and missed a chipshot 30 yd FG in the 3Q. With the game tied, UAB drove for the winning FG but missed it from 54 yds with :38 left. In the 2nd OT UAB made a FG but UT got a 25/1pl TD.

At times Arkansas appeared to be poised to upset #1 ranked Alabama. They got a TD with :15 left 1H to lead 17-7 then took their 3Q opening drive 53/10pl for a 48 yd FG and a 20-7 lead. Bama battled back with a TD and FG to get within 20-17 with 6:01 left. The key play happened when Mallett, on 3&11 was int’d and ret’d 33 yds to the 12. Bama got a TD 3pl later for its first lead of the game with 3:18 left, 24-20. Ark got to midfield but was int’d at the Tide 35 and Saban went for it on 4th & 1 at his own 45 and converted for a FD with :54 left.

Florida St dominated Wake Forest with 28-12 FD and 485-185 yd edges but after fumbling at the WF7, settling for a 35 yd FG and missing a 51 yd FG and fumbling at the WF36, FSU only led 10-0 early 3Q. Up 17-0, WF was driving when they fumbled at the FSU32. FSU went 68/9pl for a TD with 7:28 left. WF went on a 61/10pl drive but was SOD at the FSU18 with 3:44 left. FSU with excellent backup QB EJ Manuel in went on an 82/6pl drive and going for the throat they got a 23 yd TD pass with 1:04 left for a 31-0 final.

Middle Tennessee K Alan Gendreau hit a 55 yd FG, the 2nd longest in school and SBC history to give MT a 6 pt lead at half. The game was fairly close with 2 big plays sealing it for MT. They got a 62 yd TD pass with 10:02 left 3Q and after UL was SOD at the MT19, at 27-14, Kyles got a 74 yd TD run 3pl later, 34-14.

Riley Dodge took over as the starting QB for North Texas. He had been the starting QB at NT LY but with an injured shoulder limiting his throwing ability, he moved to WR. With injuries to their top 2 QB’s, he’s back at the QB spot and hit 10-15-146. He guided NT to a 423-357 yd edge at FAU, a game NT led 21-10. FAU did rally back and at the end had a FD at the NT28 down by 4 but a sack forced a 4th & 16 and FAU fired incomplete.

Nebraska spent most of the 1Q vs South Dakota St bottled up inside their own 20 and was very unimpressive as a 44 pt fav vs SDSt. They did get a 96/6pl drive for a TD on their 3rd poss then went 54/4pl for a TD on their 4th but only led 14-0 at the half. Taylor Martinez, who had rushed for 100 yds in each of the first 3 games, was held to 67 and also had a fumble and 2 TO’s. SDSt blew some chances. They had a 1st & gl at the NU2 in the 1H and were SOD. SDSt went 73/11pl on their 2nd 3Q poss but settled for a 35 yd FG, 14-3. NU went on a 10pl drive for a 30 yd FG. SDSt was int’d at the NU1 and SOD at the NU37 in the 4Q.

Georgia had a 221-120 yd edge vs Miss St at the half. They had a 20 yd pass to the 1 originally ruled down but it was reversed and ruled there was a fumble and a TB. UGA had a 40 yd TD pass called back on a hold and settled for a 35 yd FG and trailed 7-6 at the half. MSU, clinging to a 10-6 lead, went for it on 4th & 1 at their own 39 and converted. Two plays later they got a 34 yd TD pass. UGA went for it on 4th & 10 at their own 20 with 3:53 left and fired incomplete. MSU, 3pl later tacked on a TD, 24-6. With the game secure, MSU allowed UGA to go 91/8pl for a 40 yd TD pass with 1:27 left. MSU rec’d the onside kick.

Idaho appeared in control vs Colorado St as they had 4 long drives in the H. On the first they were SOD at the CSU29 but they got 1 TD and settled for 31 and 32 yd FG’s to lead 13-0. CSU took over with 4:32 left in the half and got a TD with :28 left. UI got a FD but was sacked and fumbled with :19 left and CSU got a TD 3pl later for a stunning 14-10 lead. UI took the lead back and led 27-17 but CSU tied it with 11:32 left. UI got a 59 yd TD pass with 9:46 left and while CSU went 64/7pl, they missed the xp and trailed by 1. UI punted with 2:46 left and CSU got 5 FD and got a 35 yd FG on the final play for the upset.

Stanford was very impressive vs Notre Dame as their D pressured Dayne Crist throughout the game. SU QB Andrew Luck did throw his first 2 int’s of the year. SU got a 36 yd FG on the last play of the half to go ahead 16-6. Trailing 19-6 the Irish were SOD at the SU49 and SU got a TD 11pl later. On the next play, ND was int’d and ret’d 20 yds for a TD and a close game turned into a blowout, 34-6. ND got a 14 yd TD pass in the final seconds called back on a hold and SU walked away with a 37-14 win which was ND’s 11th straight loss vs a Top 25 team and 3rd straight loss of the season as they now have lost 7 of their last 8 games.

All week long Urban Meyer talked about how excited he was that the offense had finally come together and was much improved. The offense had slogged its way through the first 3 games of the season but Trey Burton helped ignite them as he scored 6 TD’s and even had a 42 yd pass. He had those TD’s despite having just 3 rec, 5 rushes and 1 pass. Florida led 21-0 but Kentucky faked a 28 yd FG for a TD to make it 21-7 at the half. The Gators scored TD’s on all 4 poss of the 2H to take a 48-14 lead with 6:38 left and UK gained 65 of their yards on their final drive. UF has now outscored UK 155-26 in the last 3 games incl 73-0 in the 1Q.

Marshall/Ohio was interesting as MU did have a 233-105 yd edge at the half and led 13-3. OU battled back using a fake 23 yd FG for a TD to take a 17-16 lead with :04 left in the 3Q. MU converted on 3&11 and 3&10 on their next drive, the latter for a 12 yd TD pass and a 25-17 lead. OU opted to punt with 2:31 left on 4th & 14 at its own 16 but MU was SOD with 1:01 left at the OU28. OU went 72/7pl and with :08 left got a 36 yd TD pass as the clock ran out but Solich went for 2 and it failed and MU escaped with a 1 pt win.

In the 1H Texas turned the ball over 5x and UCLA took advantage but only with a 13-3 lead. At the half UT had 101 total yards offense on 36 plays and UCLA 75/32pl. UCLA got the most impressive drive of the game to open the 3Q going 80/8pl with 78 on the ground for a TD, 20-3. UCLA led 27-6 in the 4Q and UT drove 80/12pl getting a TD with just 2:28 left to make it 27-12. The onside kick went OOB and UCLA started at the UT27. On 3&2 when a FD would have ended the game as only :53 remained and UCLA could have taken a knee, Coleman ripped off a 29 yd TD run.