During the offseason I had just one weekend blog but each week during the season I will take a look at the Top 25 performances from the just completed week with a little analysis as well as a quick review of the past weekend. On Monday I will give you my News & Notes where I delve deeper into every game that was played this past weekend, breaking down individual drives and giving you misleading finals and other interesting tidbits.

As far as my game grades go after the 2008 season was completed I devised a power ratings system, which lets me analyze at what level each team played during an individual game. This “game grade” takes into account the yards rushing, yards passing, points scored, rushing yards allowed, passing yards allowed and points allowed and factors them in against the opponent played and even factors in the site the game was played at.

With all these factors taken into consideration you will see teams that lost the game having a better individual game grade than teams that beat them simply because the team they played was superior and much less was expected of them.

Top 25 Game Grades (Team Performances) Week 5

News and Notes Week 5 Part 1

Toledo was without starting RB Adonis Thomas but Morgan Williams rushed for 130 yards. TOL drove 10/3pl for a TD after a fumbled punt and 2 pt conv to go up 8-3. After an int the Rockets went 41/5pl for a TD, 15-3. They were up 22-13 at the half and despite being outFD’d 17-12 and outgained 318-305, they rolled to three 2H TD drives in a 36-13 win.

Michigan had their most lopsided win since beating Indiana 58-0 in 2000. MarQueis Gray, the QB for Minnesota DNP and true frosh Max Shortell (1st start) hit 11-22-104 and had -16 yards rushing on 4 carries. In the 1H Mich had a 384-69 yd edge and the Gophers’ first snap in Mich terr didn’t happen until there was less than 1:00 left in the 3Q. Mich won The Little Brown Jug leading 38-0 at the half scoring on all six 1H poss.

Penn St let Indiana hang around blowing some scoring opportunities and IU had the ball down by 6 at the end. PSU finished with a 464-256 yd edge and once again Matt McGloin moved the team the best with Rob Bolden hitting 6-14-67 and McGloin 10-22-204. PSU had a TD called back on a hold on 2&gl from the 15 and then had a pass tipped and int’d near the goal line. PSU later would go on a 66/12pl drive but from the 5 yd line settled for a 22 yd FG and despite a 242-105 yd edge at the half, the game was tied at 3. PSU settled for a 27 yd FG then went on a 12pl drive and fmbl’d at the IU2. PSU got a 74 yd TD pass from McGloin to Moye for some breathing room, 13-3 after 3Q’s and drove 64/13pl and settled for a 32 yd FG, 16-3. IU converted on 4th down on a 77/14pl drive for a TD with 3:51 left and got the ball back with 2:06 left getting to the PSU40 with :02 left but their pass fell incomplete.

Kansas shockingly jumped out to a 20-0 lead vs Texas Tech with 191 yards and 3 TD’s on their first 15 plays. Texas Tech survived that punch in the stomach and rolled to a 45-27 lead after 3Q’s and finished with a 530-478 yd edge. KU got a TD with 3:30 left to close it to 45-34 but TT rec’d the onside kick and got to the KU11 with 2 FD’s taking a knee.

In the 1H Cincinnati had a 3-0 TO deficit and only led 6-0. In the 2H MU missed a 34 yd FG and UC got a 72 yd pass setting up a TD. Later they drove 80/12pl for a TD to lead 20-0 and then when a snap went over MU’s P’s head, UC fell on it for a TD to make it 27-0. UC was int’d in the EZ twice in the game and had a 398-264 yd edge.

For the 2nd straight week Syracuse’s game came down to a replay at the end. In the 2nd OT SU fumbled. The replay appeared to show the RB was down but another showed the ball came out so it was inconclusive and SU’s fumble which was ruled rec’d by Rutgers, ended the game. RU had missed a chance to win the game in regulation missing a 44 yd FG. At the half, RU had 13-2 FD and 187-88 yd edges yet trailed 7-3 as SU had a 65 yd FR TD. RU had a 23-13 FD edge but only a 302-295 yd edge.

Tennessee had 541-264 yd and 27-10 FD edges. They led 17-7 after 1Q and 31-7 at the half. UT extended it to 41-7 with 11:32 left with BUF getting a 30 yd FG with 8:38 left and then rec’d an onside kick but they were SOD on 4&4 at the UT18 with 6:42 left. UT faked a punt for a FD, got 2 FD’s and ran out the clock.

A 3rd straight road game and having to face the option is not the ideal scenario for any defense and Army rolled to a 423-199 yd edge vs Tulane with a 21-10 FD edge. Raymond Maples rushed for a career high 144 yards. TU jumped out to a 6-0 lead after Orleans Darkwa had a 66 yard run on the 2nd play of the game but TU did not score again and after having 165 yards at the half they finished with just 199.

Montel Harris returned to BC’s lineup and rushed for 108 yards becoming the school’s all-time leading rusher topping Derrick Knight (2003). Still, WF finished with a 392-336 yd edge and never trailed. They scored a TD on their opening poss and led 17-9 at the half. Harris fumbled at the WF10 trailing 26-9 and BC was int’d at the 2 with 4:59 left in the 3Q. BC got a TD with 13:05 left and settled for a 32 yd FG with 6:00 left to pull within 24-19. WF got a 22 yd FG with 2:59 left and BC on 4&4 at the WF45 was SOD with 1:43 left.

Georgia dominated Mississippi St more than the final score as they had 20-13 FD and 315-213 yd edges. Isaiah Crowell topped 100 yards rushing for the 3rd time in 3 SEC games. MSU’s only score came on a 72 yd IR TD with 9:10 left in the 4Q as UGA was looking to add to a 24-3 lead. UGA was int’d at the MSU20 but still led 21-3 at the half. UGA had a bad snap on a 22 yd FG and was tkl’d for a 12 yd loss, settled for a 27 yd FG, was int’d at the MSU29 and missed a 47 yd FG in their 14 pt win.

Michigan St entered the game vs Ohio St #1 in the country in total D (172 ypg) and finished with a 321-178 yd edge. In fact, OSU’s only score came with :10 left in the game with Joe Bauserman at QB. Braxton Miller hit 5-10-56. MSU ended a 7 game losing skid to the Buckeyes. The Spartans scored a TD on their 2nd poss on a 65/6pl drive for a 7-0 lead which they never relinquished. OSU was int’d at the MSU6 but MSU had a 170-87 yd edge at the half. MSU had a 3rd & gl at the 6 and was int’d in the EZ early 4Q but with the score 10-0 OSU punted with 8:52 left, punted on 4&13 from its own 4 with 5:31 left, was SOD on 4&10 at the MSU43 with 3:06 left then took over with 1:51 left and went 62/6pl for a TD with :10 left in the 10-7 final.

Virginia blew numerous opportunities in the 1H. They had 496-296 yd and 27-12 FD edges for the game but they let Idaho stay in the game and almost lost. In the 1H UVA went on consecutive drives of 67 and 73 yds for TD’s to lead 14-0. UVA was int’d at the UI20, fmbl’d at the UI43 and fmbl’d at their own 26 and despite a 277-147 yd edge, only led 14-6 at the half. At the end of the half, UVA’s QB Rocco took off on a run and was tkl’d at the 10 but they ran out of time. UVA had a 41 yd FG blk’d, missed a 36 yd FG and IU blk’d a punt for a TD with 3:11 left and the 2 pt conv tied it. In OT each team scored a TD but UI went for 2 and their pass was incomplete.

QB Teddy Bridgewater made his first start for Louisville and had a couple of key int’s in the 2H. In the 1H Bridgewater hit a 41 yd TD pass with :33 left in the half to give UL a 13-7 lead and the Cards had a 167-130 yd edge. Marshall went on an 85/13pl drive but had a 19 yd FG blk’d. UL went on a 9pl drive and missed a 47 yd FG. Marshall went on a 62/7pl drive settling for a 24 yd FG and only trailed 13-10. UL was int’d at their own 30 with 4:32 left and MU went 30/5pl for a TD with 1:49 left for the lead. UL got to the MU45 but Bridgewater was int’d at the 37 and MU got 1 FD and took a knee for the upset.

The talk all week was how Robert Griffin had thrown more TD passes than incompletions. Well, he had 5 TD passes and 8 incompletions vs Kansas St and his first int of the year. KSU trailed 35-26 in the 4Q but he threw an int on the 2nd last drive of the game and his 4th & 2 pass fell incomplete at the end and KSU got the home win, 36-35 to move to 4-0. Baylor actually came in ranked #15 in the country.

West Virginia was off a loss and their O-line opened up some big holes. Dustin Garrison rushed for 233 yards at the half and 291 for the game. WV finished with 643-217 yd and 30-14 FD edges. WV led 38-10 at the half and scored TD’s on their first 3 poss of the 2H to lead 55-10 in the rout.

Auburn had 358-289 yd and 22-13 FD edges vs South Carolina who was playing with double revenge. Stephen Garcia tossed a couple more int’s hitting just 9-23 passes. AU took over with 5:27 left trailing 13-9 and went 57/12pl. They got a 9 yd TD pass to Philip Lutzenkirchen with 1:38 left and then SC got to the AU30 and thought they had :01 left but ran out of time.

Northwestern got Dan Persa back in the lineup and appeared headed for an upset of Illinois. They led 28-10 midway thru the 3Q. Persa hit 10-14-123 but threw for 4 TD’s. Illinois went 74 and 58 yards for TD’s to get back within 28-23 and Persa was injured. Illinois took the lead 31-28 but fumbled at their own 36 and Northwestern got a TD with 1:15 left to appear to pull out the win. IL went 69/7pl and with just :13 left Scheelhaase’s 1 yd TD run gave IL the come from behind win.

FIU had a 568-384 yd edge vs Duke. It was tied at 17 at the half when FIU got a FG and a TD to lead 27-17 with 13:30 left. Duke got a TD with 11:56 left to pull within 3 then Panthers QB Carroll on 2&8 had the ball slip out of his hands and Duke rec’d at the 9. Duke got a 9 yd TD run by Thompson with 6:52 left on the next play to take a 31-27 lead. FIU got to the Duke12 but on 4&10 fired incomplete in the EZ with 2:29 left.

Troy was playing with legitimate revenge after UAB used a Hail Mary pass to beat them the year before but this time Troy needed a late TD to pull out the win. Troy did have a 521-356 yd edge. UAB was playing without starting QB Ellis and Jonathan Perry hit 19-39-196 yds. UAB got a 91 yd PR setting up a 5pl 1 yard TD run in the 1H but Troy led 14-13 at the half. Troy missed a 43 yd FG and UAB got a 41 yd FG to lead 16-14 then UAB got a 52 yd IR TD to lead 23-14. Troy fumbled at the UAB30, punted and was int’d at the UAB30 on their next 3 poss. They got a FG with 5:18 left then got an int on a screen pass ret’d to the 12. On 3&11 pass interfer gave them a FD to the 2 and they got the go-ahead TD with 4:07 left to lead 24-23. UAB was SOD on 4&2 at the Troy48.

Louisiana Tech/Hawaii was blown open in the middle of the 3Q as UH got 2 defensive TD’s in a :04 span. Leading 20-13, UH went 65/10pl getting a TD with 9:29 left in the 3Q to lead 27-13. LT got to midfield but was int’d and ret’d 49 yards for a TD. LT then fmbl’d the KO and UH ret’d it 12 yards for a TD and it was 41-13. UH finished with a 494-368 yd edge.

It was Turnovers=Turnaround for Utah which came in +9 in TO’s but were -4 in TO’s. Washington led 17-7 when Utah QB Jordan Wynn came out with injury. Backup QB Hays’ first pass was int’d and UW went 52/4pl for a TD. The Huskies led 31-7 and on 4&21 just ran the ball for 3 yards with 2:29 left. Utah would go 62/10pl and got a garbage TD with :07.

Texas dominated leading 34-0 at the half and gave up two 4Q TD’s. The Longhorns have now won 2 straight on the road vs teams that beat them in Austin last year. It was billed as one of the biggest HG’s in recent memory for Iowa St but Texas dominated and Iowa St had 86 and 63 yd drives for TD’s in the 4Q to make the stats a bit misleading as they show UT only had a 400-380 yd edge and ISU had a 26-19 FD edge. TO’s were a factor but the bottom line is UT got its revenge.

Ohio did have a commanding 391-217 yd edge vs Kent St and 22-14 FD edge. They survived a blk’d FG and a blk’d punt in the 1H and KSU’s only TD came on a 21 yd drive for a TD after recovering a fumble. OU led 10-7 at the half but had a 220-80 yd edge. OU extended it to 17-7. KSU got a 31 yd FG with 5:42 left to pull within 7 and OU punted 34 yds to the 1 with 2:00 left and KSU was SOD at their own 8.

Bethune-Cookman actually outplayed Miami, Fl early and the game was a lot closer than the 45-14 final. BC had 24-15 FD and 422-335 yd edges. BC went 71/12pl but fmbl’d at the UM2 then went 52/9pl for a TD. BC also had a 59/11pl drive end in a missed 38 yd FG. UM had some quick scores like a 56/1pl TD pass in the 2Q and had a 34 yd drive for a TD after kick/catch intef on a PR. UM with 2:00 left got a 59 yd IR TD to lead 45-14 and BC ended the game at the UM6.

WKU nearly ended the nation’s longest home losing streak which was was 18. They did lead 14-10 but Arkansas St rallied for a 19-14 lead with 11:12 left. WKU got a 42 yd TD pass with 10:03 left to go up 22-19 and ASU missed the game tying FG from 44 yards with 5:51 left. WKU got 2 FD’s and then went for the win on 4&1 at the ASU32 and were SOD with 2:39 left. ASU went 66/9pl and got a TD with :36 left and escaped.

Western Michigan was up 14-0 in the 2Q and UC did not cross midfield until 6:00 remained in the 2Q on a 60 yd run. WM led 17-7 at the half. WM fumbled on consec poss and Conn took its first lead with 12:40 left on a TD. The score was 17-17 after 3Q’s. The two teams combined for 35 points in the 4Q. WM retook the lead, 31-24 with 5:53 left but UC on 4&5 got a 26 yd TD pass to tie. WM got a 41 yd TD pass where the WR grabbed the ball over the DB’s head for a TD with 1:35 left and UC threw a deep pass but fmbl’d at the WM13 with :45 left.

TCU’s 22 game home streak was snapped and SMU actually led throughout the game blowing a 16 point 4Q lead but won it in OT. SMU had a 461-454 yd edge. TCU dropped out of the AP Top 25 for the first time in 46 weeks.

Trent Richardson took another positive step towards the Heisman with 181 yards rushing (incl 2 TD’s) and another 27 yards receiving. Alabama has outscored Florida 101-29 in their 3 meetings. UF actually got a 65 yd TD pass on their first offensive play and the game was tied at 10 after 1Q but Bama led 24-10 at the half. UF QB Brantley was inj’d in the final seconds of the 1H and missed the 2H but Bama finished with 21-9 FD and 366-222 yd edges in the 38-10 win.

Washington St had a 455-336 yd edge vs Colorado and 28-20 FD edge. The Cougars were int’d at the CU28, SOD at the CU44 and trailed 13-10 at the half despite a 220-122 yd edge. CU led 20-17 when they got the apparent game clinching TD with 5:11 left, 27-17 but WSU got a TD 7pl later with 2:35 left with all 3 timeouts left, they kicked off deep and forced a punt with 2:03 left and got a 63 yd TD pass with 1:10 left for the lead. CU got a 24 yd pass but Richardson fumbled at the end at the WSU38.

Memphis could have easily beaten Middle Tenn. They led 17-0 early 2Q and it was 17-10 at the half. Memphis was SOD on 4&2 at the MT32 in the 2H but got a 23 yd TD pass with 1:33 left to tie it at 31. MT was backed up to their 6 after the KO. They ran for zero yds and Memphis called time-out with 1:22 left. MT got a 7 yd gain and MT called time-out with :48 left. MT got a 14 yd run to their 27 and opted to go for it and got 17 and 23 yd passes on the next 2pl. After a spike they got a 32 yd TD pass with :11 left for the win.

A key play in the FAU/Louisiana game happened late 1H. FAU had led 17-7 mid2Q but up 17-14, opted to go for it on 4&1 at their own 39 and were SOD. UL took a gift 38/5pl drive for a TD to take the lead, 21-17. UL went up 34-20 on a 46 yd FG with 7:43 left but FAU got a TD with 5:41 left then went 40/5pl for a TD with 1:48 left to tie it. UL went 65/10pl and got a 26 yd FG on the final play to pull out the 37-34 win.

Southern Miss was even more dominant than the 48-24 score but surprisingly they trailed 24-20 mid3Q. SM had a 654-229 yd edge and 33-15 FD edge for the game. Rice scored when SM fmbl’d the KO and Rice ret’d it 17 yds for a TD, 14-13. SM got a 75 yd FR TD in the 2Q and led 20-17 at the half. SM went on a 76/10pl drive and on 4&1 at the Rice4 they fumbled and Rice ret’d it 96 yds for a TD and stunningly led 24-20. SM was int’d on their next drive but scored TD’s on drives of 44, 75 and 63 yds on their next 3 poss to lead 41-24. Rice had a 4&gl at the 6 but they were SOD with 10:20 left and 2 poss later SM went 94/7pl and got a 23 yd TD pass with 3:13 left.

Texas A&M had another dominating 1H leading 35-17 with a 404-271 yd edge. Once again they had another poor 2H and Arkansas would rally for the win. The Hogs got a TD with 1:41 left to take their first lead of the game, 42-38 and A&M on 4&2 from their own 39 was SOD. Tyler Wilson threw for a school record 510 yards. A&M Christine Michael ran for 230 yards and 3 TD’s and A&M which is joining the SEC fell to 0-6 vs the SEC since 1996. WR Wright broke the school receiving record at 204 yards by half and finished with 281 on 13 catches. A&M had 628-581 yd and 30-28 FD edges.

Jordan Jefferson’s susp was lifted and he was called on for a 4th & gl at the 1 QB sneak and a TD early vs Kentucky. Morgan Newton missed on his first 9 throws hitting 2-11 passes in the 1H and was sacked 3 times. LSU had a 201-45 yard edge at the half and took a 35-0 lead with 10:39 left in the game. Kentucky would go 70/12pl getting a TD with 4:22 left and did end the game at the LSU28. The game started at 11:21 am and everyone knows LSU is not as ferocious during the day at Tiger Stadium.

Matt Barkley passed for a school record 468 yards and 4 TD’s. Arizona compiled a 37-26 FD edge and USC had a 582-554 yd edge but this one appeared put away for USC as they led 34-12 in the 3Q. It was 48-34 when USC went for it on 4&1 at the UA37 with 1:51 left. UA stopped them and went 53/5pl with 1:00 left on a 4 yd TD pass.

Boise St was playing with revenge vs Nevada after the Pack had ended their perfect season the previous year. BSU’s D was the key factor as BSU finished with a 329-182 yd edge and a 22-12 FD edge. Cody Fajardo had been splitting snaps with Tyler Lantrip was recovering from a shoulder injury and DNP. BSU only led 20-0 at half but had a 187-54 yd edge. Nevada did not cross their own 38 yd line until 8:23 was left in the 3Q and it happened on a 31 yd KR and NV at that point led 30-0. NV got a 21 yd FG with 14:48 left to make it 30-3. BSU was SOD on 4&2 at the NV29 with 1:39 left and NV got a FD then a 53 yd TD pass with :46 left to only lose by 20.

NC State had a banged up D missing 6 starters and Georgia Tech surprisingly only had a 413-387 yd edge but did score on their first 3 poss to lead 21-0 but it was just 21-14 late 3Q. GT got a TD with 12:29 left then got a 34 yd IR TD and NCSt was SOD on 4&1 at its own 38. GT got a 38 yd TD pass on the next play to make it 42-14. Trailing 45-21 NCSt got a TD with :34 left on a 13 yd pass. GT backup QB Days fmbl’d and NCSt ret’d it 33 yards for a TD with :20 left.

Air Force led 21-3 at the half and it was just 21-10 after 3Q’s. Each team got an early 4Q TD. With just 2:04 left in the game Navy completed a 73/16pl drive incl a key 4th down conversion and got a 37 yd FG. They then rec’d an onside kick and then went 59/7pl for a TD & the 2 pt conv forced OT with :19 left. In OT QB Proctor scored a TD and said something to an AF player and was called for a 15 yd pen which moved them back on the xp and the xp was blocked and AF after their TD kicked a regular xp and won it.

Eastern Michigan had some poor punts of 19, 22 and 20 yards, which kept Akron in the game. EM went 50/9 and 84/9pl for TD’s, 14-0 but only led 17-10 at the half. EM rushed for 328 yards on 56 carries only passing 9 times. EM led 31-16 when UA converted on 4&2 and then got a TD 2pl later with 3:18 left, 31-23. EM only got off a 20 yd punt and UA got to the EM30 down by a TD and 2 pt conv but on 4&14 fired incomplete with 1:01 left.