Week 13 Top 25 Team Performances

GAMES NOTES:
Akron gave Toledo a game. In fact, leading 3-0 they brought in backup QB Pole on the 3rd series and Pole led them 81/14pl and UA took a 10-0 lead with 14:03 left in the 2Q. The drive began when UT was SOD on 4&2 at their 19. UT went 75/6pl and 85/8pl. Austin Dantin hit a 55 yd td pass to Pasquale and finished 29-35-327 yds. UA answered with an 81/7pl drive for a td with 5:44 left, 17-14. UT punted on their next poss but then took the momentum going 77/5pl for a td with 1:37 left in the half. At the half UT had a 295-257 yd edge. The 3Q opened with 3 punts. UA then went 46/17pl but were SOD on 4&gl from the 16. UT went 51/7pl but was int’d at the UA19 but UT went 62/12pl for a td, 28-17 (9:56) then after an int drove 25/3pl for a td with 8:19 left to go up 18 pts, 35-17. UT fmbl’d a punt with 5:59 left and UA went 45/7pl for a td with 3:30 left but UT rec’d the onside kick, got a FD to the UA36 and took a knee.

Zac Dysert finished with 12,013 yards, the 20th ranked passer in NCAA history and one of 25 seniors to play his final game for Miami. It was a disappointing season for the RedHawks which finished just 4-8 and despite facing a Ball St team that was playing backup QB Kelly Page. Page hit 11-21-137. Trailing 14-7 MU was SOD on 4&4 at the BS45 and BS went 55/9pl for a td and a 21-7 lead (7:28 2Q). MU got a td with :28 left in the half to pull within 21-14. BS took its 2nd 3Q poss 59/10pl inc a 4&1 conv at the MU28 and its next 65/12pl for a 27 yd FG to lead 31-14. BS then went to the future bringing in true frosh Kyle Kamman and he would QB the final 3 series. MU went 88/9pl for a td with 8:14 left then settled for a 23 yd FG after having a 1&gl at the 6. The FG came with 4:01 left. The kicked off deep but BS got 1 FD and punted with :45 left and MU fumbled the punt at their own 13 and BS took a knee.

Bowling Green’s defense dominated once again holding Buffalo to 2 FD’s and 24 yards in the 1Q. UB continued to go with Licata at QB (13-30-168) and he was sacked 7 times for 40 yds. BG’s Matt Schilz was not sacked and hit 18-30-228. BG led 21-0 with UB getting a 4Q td. BG was int’d on a deep pass on the first play of the game at the UB32 and on their 2nd drive had a punt blk’d. On their 3rd drive, BG went 78/15pl and had a 28 yd FG blk’d but went 62/12pl and 67/4pl for td’s and a 14-0 lead. UB’s biggest threat had them sacked on 4&3 from the BG30 with 3:15 left in the half. At the half BG had a 207-53 yd edge. BG was int’d at the UB13 and drove 47/8pl for a td. The other 7 beginning poss of the 2H all ended in punts for the 2 with a combined 2 FD’s on those drives. BG was int’d at their own 41 and ret’d 22 yds setting up a UB 19/2yd drive. UB was SOD at their own 48 with 6:12 left and at the BG13 with 2:53 left and at the BG31 on the last play.

LSU was still clinging to hopes of an SEC West Title needing a win here, a win by Texas A&M and a loss by Alabama on Saturday. LSU led 17-3 but Arkansas generally outplayed them with a 24-16 FD edge and 462-306 yd edge and LSU benefitted from a 86 yd KR by Michael Ford to generate 7 points. UA’s opening drive went 62/8pl but on 1&gl at the 9 they fumbled at the 2. LSU was SOD on 4&1 at the UA42 but UA missed a 40 yd FG and then with :03 left in the half UA missed a 43 yd FG blowing 3 scoring opportunities. The yards were even at 165 but LSU led 10-0. UA drove 50/9pl for a 25 yd FG and then came an 86 yd KR by Ford setting up a 1 yd td run by Hill and a 17-3 lead. It appeared LSU was on its way but UA went 74/7pl for a td with 5:52 left. They then went 79/10pl and on 4&gl from the 1, opted for a 17 yd FG, 17-13. 4 punts. LSU went 78/11pl and got a 27 yd FG to go back up by 7 with 1:26 left. UA22 went 60/10pl getting to the LSU18 but they spiked it and their final 2 passes were incomplete.

Massachusetts was SOD on 4&2 at its own 48 on its opening drive setting up Central Michigan for a 48/10pl drive for a td and CM then went 77/10pl for a td, 14-0. CM was int’d and ret’d to their 9 yd line and that changed the momentum. UM went 9/3pl for a td to pull within 14-7 then went 54/10pl but was int’d in the EZ. UM went 50/9pl for a td with :02 left in the half on 2&gl from the 8 and had a 203-127 yd edge and the game was tied at 14. UM appeared on its way to an upset driving 65/9pl for a td on their opening 3Q poss to lead 21-14 and forced a punt but CM then went 70/11pl for a td. After an int, CM went 9/1pl for a td. After another int, CM went 42/7pl for a td and after UM was SOD on 4&7, CM went 62/8pl with Tipton’s 61 yd td run with 6:19 left closing out the scoring. The FD’s were even at 18 and CM only had a 344-317 yd edge but won by 21.

East Carolina still held on to hopes for the CUSA Title needing a win over Marshall and a loss by UCF the next day. Last year Marshall knocked EC out of the post season with a win a home vs the banged up Pirate team. This time it was EC that knocked MU out of the post season as they finished 5-7. MU did lose starting QB Rakeem Cato after he hit 31-40-318 and Blake Frohnapfel hit 12-15-101. MU’s 59 pts were the most that they’d ever scored in a loss and this game reminded me of the 2001 GMAC Bowl which went to 2OT as well and was decided 64-61 with MU beating EC. It didn’t look like it would be much of a game. MU took its opening drive 80/9pl for a td but EC got a 59 yd td pass, went 65/10pl for a td, after an int went 41/6pl for a td, after a punt blk went 18/4pl for a td and with 12:10 left in the 2Q, they led 28-7. MU battled back and a 19 yd td pass with :26 left in the half gave them momentum and pulled them within 35-28. MU opened the 3Q with a 75/13pl drive for a td. EC went 81/9 for a td to lead 42-35 (7:10 3Q). After each team punted, Frohnapfel led MU 57/10pl for a 25 yd FG then Frohnapfel got a 51 yd td run to put them ahead, 45-42 Frohnapfel was int’d at their own 23 and EC got a 39 yd FG to tie with 7:16 left. MU went 75/15pl and got a 1 yd td run with 1:55 left for the lead but EC converted on 4&10 at the start of the next drive and got a 6 yd td pass with :04 left to force OT. Each team got a td in the 1OT with EC getting one on a 25/1pl pass and MU needing 9 plays converting on 3&gl from the 4. MU fmbl’d at the EC 11 on 2&1 and EC went 25/4pl and a 1 yd td run by Carden for the win.

Iowa St had already clinched a bowl but West Virginia came in with 5 straight losses and still needed a win to get to a bowl. Geno Smith, who at one time was anointed as the Heisman Trophy winner in September by numerous analysts, hit 22-31-236 yards. WV did finish with a 475-396 yd edge as Shawne Alston rushed for 130 yards. ISU’s new QB Sam Richardson rushed for 119 and hit 13-31-162 in his first ever start. He had 4 td passes vs Kansas off the bench the previous week. WV jumped out to a 10-0 lead as each team had a 46 yard FG bounce off the upright in their first 3 drives. It was 17-7 when ISU went 71/9pl getting a td with :18 left in the half. It was an 18 yd pass from Richardson 1pl after Richardson had run 21 yards on 4&6 for a FD. Prior to the drive, WV had a 271-140 yd edge but it was 271-211 at the half. WV opened the 3Q with a 42/15pl drive for a 44 yd FG and ISU went 62/7pl for a td and their first lead of the game, 21-20 (4:56 3Q). ISU was SOD on 4&4 at the WV35. 2 punts. WV got a 67 yd PR by Austin called back on a hold to the ISU36 and WV’s 35 yd FG hit the upright but went in to give them the lead 23-21 (9:35). ISU got a 48 yd FG 8pl later to lead 24-23 but Austin took a pitch from Smith and raced 75 yards for a td and the 2 pt conv made it 31-24 with 6:21 left. ISU converted on 4&6. After the play there was a PF face mask and later on 3&10, an incomplete pass WV was called for hands to the face by the DL giving them 2 FD’s on penalty. They had a 1&gl at the 7, Woody headed for the EZ but fmbl’d and WV recovered in the EZ for a tb with 3:59 left and got 3 FD’s and hung on for the win.

Colorado nearly got its first Pac-12 win as they had a 418-236 yd edge vs Utah and 25-18 FD edge but in a miserable 1-11 season, had some key mistakes and lost by 7. CU’s 2nd play of the game was int and Utah got a 14 yd td pass to lead 7-0. CU went 75/12pl for a td to tie it and after 3 punts, CU fmbl’d at their own 29 setting up Utah for a 21 yd FG. After 3 punts CU had a 43 yd FG blk’d after having a FD at the 15 then CU was int’d at the Utah46 with 5:59 left 1H and Utah went 47/6pl for a td, 17-7. CU got a td with :27 left in the half to pull within 17-14 but had a 179-130 yd edge. CU took the lead with an 80/10pl drive for a td with 8:46 left in the 3Q, 28-20. 3 punts. Utah went 75/12pl for a td and 2 pt , 28-28. CU had another TO, this time an int at their 30 and Utah got a 9 yd td run 4pl later to lead 35-28. CU returned the KO 100 yds for a td to tie but Dunn got his 4th 100 yd KR of the year to retake the lead, 42-35. CU’s final 2 drives were SOD on 4&3 at their own 45 (5:33) and on 4&8 at the Utah 38 (:55).

It was the largest comeback ever in the 105 meetings for the Apple Cup and allowed Washington St to avoid a winless Pac-12 season. WSU should not have had it this close to force OT vs Washington. They had a 25-17 FD edge and 369-269 yd edge. WSU was playing without WR Marquess Wilson and DE Travis Long. Wilson left weeks ago but Long missed the first game of his entire college career. WSU was SOD on 4&2 at the UW42 on their first series then drove 75/14pl but this time after a 1&gl at the 6, settled for a 21 yd FG, 3-0. They were int’d at their own 20 and UW got a td 3pl later. WSU went 81/10pl for a td, 10-7 at the half with a 183-96 yd edge. UW opened the 3Q with a 89/13pl drive incl a 4&1 conver then rec’d a fmbl and went 16/4pl, their 2nd td drive of 20 or less. WSU was int’d at the UW31, fmbl’d at their own 28 and UW got a 21 yd FR to the 7. They went 7/3pl for a td, their 3rd drive of less than 20 yds. WSU went 75/10pl for a td, 47/3pl for a td then 44/9pl but on 3&1 fired incomplete and settled for a 45 yd FG to tie it with 1:59 left. UW went 59/7pl on one of their best drives but missed a 34 yd FG and on the first play of OT, UW was about to get sacked QB Price had to throw it away but a DT caught it and ret’d it all the way down to the 5 yd line. WSU got a FD to the 9 and nailed a 37 yd FG for the win.

USF was down to 3rd string Matt Floyd who hit 21-39-176. Cincinnati had a large advantage as it was 38 degrees with wind gusts at KO and it got colder as the night went on in this Friday night game. USF fmbl’d on their 2nd poss and UC went 19/2pl for a td to lead 7-0. The next 7 poss were punts then UC went 81/11pl for a td with 2:58 left in the half to lead 13-0 with a 188-94 yd edge. USF went 65/10 but settled for a 25 yd FG. 2 punts. UC went 51/2pl for a 3 yd td run, 20-3. USF had a 51 yd FG bounce off the upright at the end of a 10pl drive and UC went 66/6pl for a td with 12:12 left to ice it. USF went 73/12pl for a td with 7:19 left then went 55/7pl but fmbl’d at the UC26 with 2:46 left.

Arizona had a 36-24 FD edge and 522-460 yd edge vs Arizona St but came up short thanks in part to a blocked punt and an int which led to ASU getting 8 and 2 yd td drives. In the 1Q UA went 69/11pl and got a 1 yd td run surprisingly the other 7 of the 8 first poss of the game were all punts. UA was int’d at the ASU25 and ASU got a 52 yd td run 6pl later. UA was int’d again and ASU went 62/9pl for a td to lead 14-6. ASU fmbl’d at the UA31 with 10:00 left in the half and UA went 62/11pl for a 33 yd FG, 14-9. ASU opened the 3Q with a 26 yd FG after a 10 pl drive and UA went 83/11pl for a td then 68/8pl for a td then after ASU fmbl’d, took over at the ASU24. They got 1 FD and settled for a 23 yd FG and UA led 27-17 with 4:14 left. After each team punted, ASU went 56/12pl for a 36 yd FG, 27-20. UA fmbl’d at the ASU18 up 7 pts and ASU went 57/6pl for a td, blk’d a punt and got a 66 yd IR setting up a 8 yd td drive to lead 41-27 with 2:51 left. UA got a td with 1:54 left to pull within 7 but ASU rec’d the onside kick.

Pat Fitzgerald matched Lynn “Pappy” Waldorf’s 1935-1946 school record for most coaching career wins with 49 as he moved to 49-39 with a 50-14 route of Illinois. Northwestern did only lead 27-14 at the half. NU RB Venric Mark had his 8th 100 yd rushing game of the season.

The Rutgers/Pitt game was actually meaningless for RU as if they beat Louisville the next week they would win the Big East Title and they played like it. Pitt had a 365-206 yd edge and keep in mind, a couple weeks ago, Pitt took ND to 3 OT’s with ND in a similar “C” game. It was the final home game for 18 seniors for Pitt. The Knights had the ball 8x in the 1H and punted all 8 times in a game played in blustery conditions with intermittent flurries. The first 8 poss were all punts with the teams combining for 3 FD’s. Pitt went 80/8pl for a td. 3 punts. Pitt fmbl’d at the RU2 but RU only got off a 29 yd punt and Pitt went 29/3pl for a td to make it 14-0 with 2:17 left then got an 18 yd PR with 1:17 left and Sunseri hit a 14 yd td pass with :07 left and Pitt not only led 21-0 at the half, they had a 245-50 yd edge. Pitt opened the 3Q with a 58/13pl drive for a 39 yd FG, 24-0. RU went 60/10pl and got an 11 yd td pass, 24-6 (1:33 3Q). On their next drive, they went 28/7pl to the Pitt25 and was int’d at the 12. 2 punts. Pitt went 45/7 for a 25 yd FG, 27-6 with 6:01 left.

UCF clinched a berth in the CUSA Title game but wasn’t as dominant as the 49-24 score indicates. In fact in the 1H UAB had a 322-237 yd edge and for the game a 599-473 yd edge. UCF went 65/5pl and got an 18 yd td pass. UAB went 74/8pl and fmbl’d into the EZ for a tb. UCF went 80/7pl for a td to lead 14-0. UCF was SOD on 4&1 at the 50. UAB went 40/10pl and was SOD at the UCF10. UAB went 59/7pl and settled for a 25 yd FG, 14-3. A 34 yd PR set up UCF for a 9/2pl drive for a td, 21-3 and then 9pl later with UAB at their 14, UCF got a 78 yd IR td to lead 28-3. UAB got a 76 yd td pass on 3&7 but UCF went 50/6pl for a td with :26 left in the half, 35-10. After a UAB punt to open the 3Q, the next 2poss were long drives for td’s, 42-17. UCF went 60/11pl but was SOD on 4&2 from the UAB10. UAB went 85/10pl for a td with 10:22 left. UAB rec’d the onside kick but on 4&2 were SOD at the UCF23 with 8:22 left and UCF went 77/8pl getting a 43 yd TD run by McDuffie with 4:00 left. UAB30 went 45/8pl but on 4&4 from the 15 was sk’d for a 10 yd loss back at the 25 with 1:53 left.

Robert Marve threw for 348 yards and Purdue became bowl eligible. Indiana QB Cameron Coffman hit 31-53-348. PU only had a 558-512 yd edge and the game was much closer than the 56-35 final. IU got a 51 yd td run and PU went 77/11pl and 60/8pl for td’s to lead 14-7 after 1Q. 6 punts. IU34 got a 55 yd pass to Wynn and went 66/4pl for a td, 14-14. PU37 got 1 FD and then threw a pass into the line which was batted around by 4 different players, int’d and ret’d 72 yds with 3:22 left in the half. IU went 16/5pl for a td, 21-14 at the half and had a 265-209 yd edge. PU opened the 3Q with a 58/4pl drive for a td and IU got 2 FD and on 2&8 from their 49 was int’d at the 5 on an over the shoulder catch and returned 36 yds. PU went 59/2pl for a td. IU fmbl’d 6pl later and PU went 48/3pl for a td, 35-21. IU went 71/5pl and 81/13pl for td’s to tie it with 12:14 left. PU was pinned at their 1 after the KO and got 2 FD and then hit a 73 yd td pass to Shavers who stiff armed the last guy and went for the td, 42-35 (10:40). IU was then int’d and PU went 43/5pl and converted on 4&2 for a FD to the 26 and on the next play hit Shavers with a 26 yd TD. IU was int’d 7pl later and ret’d 46 yds to the 5 and tacked on another td with 6:08 left and IU was SOD at the PU47.

Louisville had a big game vs Rutgers for the Big East Title game potentially on deck and fortunately for them, RU lost which kept those dreams alive. This was a game Connecticut led almost the entire game but UL scored with :21 left in regulation to force OT. UC QB Chandler Witmer was inj’d after hitting 7-21-72 and Johnny McEntee replaced him and hit 2-7-20. UL finished with a 401-241 yd edge. Both teams were off a bye and UC did have a 160-88 yd edge at the half. The first 4 poss were punts and UC went 51/8pl for a td. 3 punts. UC went 66/10pl for a td, 10-0. UL went on a 43/14pl drive to the UC22 but was sk’d and on 4&25 punted. The 3Q opened with 5 punts. UC was int’d at their own 35 but UL missed a 46 yd FG after gaining 6 yds. UL went 73/11pl and got a 19 yd FG after a 1&gl at the 2, 10-3. 3 punts. UL was SOD on 4&10 and UC46 with 2:39 left and UC got 1 FD and punted with 3:08 left and UL went 92/18pl and got a 6 yd td pass with :21 left to force OT. Each team got a 37 yd FG in the 1st OT and a td in the 2OT then Bridgewater was int’d in the 3OT on 3&gl from the 6 and UC got a 30 yd FG.

Syracuse opened up the season 2-4 but went 5-1 down the stretch and left the Big East a winner. Much like their season, its how the game vs Temple went as they gave up a 43/8pl drive for a td and actually fumbled at the TU30 and 26 on their first 2 poss. After the 2nd fumble, TU went 74/10pl for a td and a 10-0 lead. SU rallied back to lead 17-13 at the half settling for a 27 yd FG after a 1&gl at the 10. SU opened the 3Q with a 42/11pl drive but on 4&9 were SOD at the TU33 and TU drove 67/4pl for a td, 20-17. SU then went 75/12pl, 75/11pl for td’s and a 31-20 lead and added a 31 yd IR td with 2:37 left for the final margin. TU got to the SU21 but was int’d in the EZ on 2&15. SU finished with a 475-340 yd edge. Montel Harris who ran for 251 yards and 7 td’s vs Army, had 106 on 21 attempts. TU had a been bowl eligible in each of their first 3 years of the MAC but it was a tough step up in terms of competition to the Big East this year and they finished 4-7.

TCU was playing on Thanksgiving for the first time since 1928 and upset T-day veteran Texas on the road. The key to the game was turnovers as UT had a 4-1 TO deficit. UT finished the game with a 22-15 FD edge, 300-299 yd edge but TCU did have a 217-86 rush edge. On UT’s opening drive, they were int’d at the TCU6. On their 3rd drive from the 18 they were int’d at the 2. UT then trailing 7-3 gave TCU a cheap td before the half when Ash was sk’d and fmbl’d back at his own 16 with 2:45 left. TCU went 16/3pl for a td and led 14-3 despite only having a 176-150 yd edge. Each team got a short FG to open the 3Q and TCU added a 41 yd FG to lead 20-6. McCoy came in with 9:47 left but they were SOD at the TCU36 on 4&3. UT took over with 5:58 left and went 82/9pl for an 8 yd td run by Hills with 3:07 left. UT forced a punt 4pl later with 1:44 left and got a 13 yd FD run to the 47 but McCoy on 1&10 scrambled around and could have easily thrown the ball away but threw it into a crowd and was int’d at the TCU40 and the Longhorns’ BCS bowl hopes fell by the wayside.

The situation favored Ohio as Kent St had the MAC Title game on deck. TO’s were a key factor in this game. OU got 2 quick FD’s gaining 25 yards on their first 5 plays but fumbled and Wollet returned it 50 yds for a td and Kent led 7-0. Kent got a 44 yd pass to Adeyemi keying a 60/3pl td drive to lead 14-0 then got their 2nd def td with their 13 different player with an int and Malauulu who returned it 33 yds for a td and a 21-0 lead with 5:59 left in the 1Q. OU would chip away with 33 and 41 yd FG’s and at the half OU trailed 21-6 but actually had a 170-158 yd edge. To start the 2H, 7 of the first 8 pass were punts with Kent St fumbling at the OU24 on their 2nd 3Q poss. KSU went 50/6pl and got a 24 yd td pass with 11:44 left for a 28-6 lead. OU’s last drive drives went 68/11pl but were SOD on 4&1 at the KSU12 and 41/10pl but were SOD on 4&16 at the KSU15 with 2:44 left. Kent’s only loss was to Kentucky but they are still contending for a BCS Bowl slot and became the first MAC East school to go 8-0 in conf play since 2003.

The wind was dominant in the Iowa/Nebraska game and NU finished with just a 263-200 yd edge. NU got back RB Rex Burkhead from injury. He had not played since Oct 20th. The Huskers did suffer some key injuries with their starting C going out, 2 DL and a CB in the game all to injuries and all key players. NU went into the wind in the 1Q and had a 75/15pl drive but settled for a 26 yd FG. IU with the wind at their back went 62/12pl for a td. IU punted into the wind at the start of the 2Q but NU fmbl’d the punt but IU was SOD on 4&1 at the NU40. IU had a 42 yd FG into the wind with :04 left go wide left. At the half IU had a 130-92 yd edge and led 7-3. NU had the wind at their back in the 3Q and got a 52 yd FG to make it 7-6. IU was int’d at midfield. 2 punts. IU punted into the wind with 4:45 left 3Q and NU went 43/4pl for a td and a 13-7 lead. 6 punts. IU27 took over with 3:31 left and got 1 FD but was int’d at the 40. NU got 2 FD to the 10 where they took a knee.

It’s always fun to watch a football game in the snow and Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan had a snow covered field throughout the entire game. NI didn’t have anything to play for as they had the MAC Title game on deck and EM was playing their final home game for their seniors but Jordan Lynch hit 16-25-168 and rushed for 107. NI took their 2nd poss 53/5pl for a td but EM answered with a 82/11pl drive for a td, 7-7. NI got a 93 yd KR td to go up 14-7 then went 80/14pl and 65/7pl for td’s with 4:06 and :58 left to blow it open, 28-7. They opened the 3Q with a 73/10pl drive for a td, 35-7. NI missed a 28 yd FG, punted and EM went 62/10pl but on 4&gl were SOD at the NI6 (14:04). EM was int’d and ret’d 32 yds to their 42 and NI went 42/4pl for a td then after a 12 yd punt, NI went 33/7pl for a td with 2:01 left for the final margin.

UTSA’s Eric Soza threw for 2 td’s and ran for another vs Texas St. UTSA had a 499-392 yd edge. UTSA went 52/10pl for a 35 yd FG then got a 79 yd PR td, 10-0 (8:41). TS went 85/6pl with a 57 yd td pass. UTSA went 84/6pl with a 29 yd td pass 17-7 (3:18). TS went 58/9pl and missed a 34 yd FG. UTSA went 67/13pl and missed a 30 yd FG. Each team went on a long td drive with TS scoring with 2:46 left and UTSA going 75/13pl for a 5 yd td pass with :29 left, 24-14 and UTSA had a 283-203 yd edge. TS fmbl’d on the 2nd play of the 3Q and UTSA went 30/4pl for a td. UTSA was int’d and ret’d 10 yds to their 32. TS got 1 FD and a 23 yd FG, 31-17. UTSA was int’d and TS went 49/5pl to pull within 31-24. UTSA went 75/7pl for a td. TS fmbl’d the KO at their own 31 but UTSA missed a 41 yd FG. TS went 54/7pl but was SOD on 4&5. UTSA20 went 67/8pl and was int’d in the EZ. TS went 80/14pl incl 4&14 and 4&9 conversion for a td to pull within 7 with 1:40 left and UTSA rec’d the onside kick a and punted with :03 left. TS got 2 FD’s to their own 34.

Tulsa had clinched the CUSA Title game which would be played at their home stadium the next week. Statistically they beat SMU with a 32-13 FD and 591-305 yd edge but they did trail 35-6. TU at the end threw a Hail Mary which was caught gaining 34 yds to the 1 as time expired. That last drive gave them 93 of their yards. TU set school records for total plays with 103 and passes attempted with 65. with Cody Green hitting 36-64-413. The game opened with 3 punts. After a 20 yd punt, TU50 was SOD on 4&10 at the SMU24. 4 punts. SMU blocked a punt and rec’d at the 3 and got a td on the next play. TU fumbled and SMU went 31/4pl for a td, 14-0 (14:55 2Q). TU was int’d and SMU went 35/5pl for a td, 21-0 (11:42). TU went 75/12pl for a td, 21-6. SMU on 3&9 got a 74 yd td run by Gilbert, 28-6. TU went 58/9pl but on 4&10 were SOD at the SMU41 with :50 left. At the half, TU had a 198-171 yd edge. TU opened the 3Q with a 70/10pl drive but was SOD at the 5. SMU went 95/14pl for a td and a commanding 35-6 lead. TU fmbl’d 2pl later but SMU went for it on 4&1 with 1:59 left in the 3Q at the TU40. That would be a turning point in the game as they were SOD. TU went 60/5pl for a td then 64/9pl with a 4&5, 10 yd td pass. SMU playing conservative, trying to run clock, kept going 3&out. TU punted on 4&22 with 9:01 left but SMU went 3&out again. TU went 60/5pl for a td with 5:06 left to get back within 8. SMU25 got 2 FD and punted with :46 left and TU went 93/7pl getting down to the 1 yd line on the last play on a Hail Mary.

Miami, Fl declared it would not go to a bowl but still won a share of the ACC Coastal Title with the road win in what would be their final game of the season. Duke lost for the 4th straight week. UM finished with a 646-583 yd edge. The first 3 poss were punts. UM then went 58/4pl, 61/3pl for td, 14-0. Duke went 56/11pl for a 43 yd FG and 81/15pl for a 4 yd td run, 14-10 (8:57). UM went 75/9pl for a td and Duke faked a punt and was SOD at their own 47 with 2:36 left in the half and UM went 47/7pl for a td with :08 left. At half UM had a 269-224 yd edge and led 24-10. UM opened the 3Q with a 71/12pl drive for a 23 yd FG. Duke went 65/10pl for a td then 60/2pl for a td to get back to 31-24. UM got a 65 yd td run by Johnson, a 72 yd td pass to James to open it back up to 45-24. Duke was SOD at the UM50, UM was SOD at the Duke1. Duke got a 99 yd td pass then went 64/8pl and on 4&gl a 6 yd td pass, 45-38 (7:36). UM got a 65 yd td pass and Duke was SOD at their own 32. UM missed a 47 yd FG with 5:14 left. Duke went 70/11pl and got a 1 yd td run with 2:32 left, 52-45 but UM rec’d the onside kick and got 1 FD.

Antonio Andrews ran for 230 yards for WKU. WKU trailed the majority of the game. North Texas finished with their 8th straight losing record and moves to CUSA next year. After a 10 play NT drive ended in a punt, WKU went 82/10pl for a td, 7-0 (4:55). NT got a 61 yd td run by Byrd 2pl later then went 88/10pl for a Brown 20 yd td run, 14-7. WKU was int’d and ret’d 38 yds to the 10 and NT got a 22 yd FG on a 5 yd drive, 17-7. WKU went 32/5pl but was SOD on 4&7 from the NT33 (5:38 2Q). NT missed a 49 yd FG 6pl later. WKU went 47/9pl and got a 39 yd FG with :45 left in the half, 17-10. At the half, NT had a 212-177 yd edge. WKU went 48/4pl but fmbl’d at the 8. 2 punts. NT on 3&18 was int’d and ret’d 10 yds to the 28 but WKU fmbl on the next play and NT rec’d at the 43. 2 punts. NT went 65/6pl for a 12 yd td pass, 24-10. NT was int’d and ret’d 39 yds for a td (2pg ng) 24-16. After a 20 yd NT punt, WKU50 got a 43 yd pass to Henry and settled for a 27 yd FG, 24-19 (7:03). NT went 3&out punting with 4:57 left and WKU got a 53 yd run by Andrews to the 25 and a 21 yd td run by Andrews 2pl later, the 2 pt failed but they led 25-24 (3:21). NT was SOD on 4&3 at its own 34 and WKU got a 35 yd run by Andrews down to the 1 where they took a knee.

Tennessee avoided going winless in the SEC which would have been the first time in school history had it happened. They were playing with an interim HC while Kentucky was playing their final game under Joker Phillips. The announced crowd was 81,841 but Neyland Stadium was only about 75% full. UK had upset UT the previous year ending a 26 game win streak. OC Jim Chaney had worked in the pressbox for the first 11 games of the season but was on the sidelines as the coach here. UT had a 457-412 yd edge. Despite the win, it’s the first time UT had consecutive losing years since 1909-1911 and will not be playing in B2B bowls for the first time since 1978. Each team got a long drive for a td to open. UK onside kicked but UT recovered and went 38/4pl for a td. 5 punts. UT36 went 68/5pl and got a 42 yd td pass, 20-7. UK went 73/6pl and got a 45 yd td run, 20-14. UK13 went 28/10pl but on 4&inches was SOD at the UT42. After a UT punt with 2:07 left, UK went 53/10pl but missed a 37 yd FG after a bad snap. UK had a 261-234 yd edge at the half. UK opened the 3Q with a 63/17pl drive for a 30 yd FG to pull within 20-17. UT went 61/6pl for a 28 yd TD pass. UT went 79/6pl for a td, 34-17. 2 punts. UK4 went 63/12pl and on 4&1 was SOD at the UT33. UT got 1 FD and settled for a 33 yd FG. UK24 got 2 FD on 4&12 was SOD at the UT40. UT got 1 FD and ran the clock.

Virginia Tech was trying to keep its bowl hopes alive and they dominated Virginia with a 23-7 FD edge and also had a 303-217 yd edge but actually trailed 14-7 in the 3Q and needed a FG with :04 left to pull out the win. It will be the 20th straight year that VT goes bowling, the 3rd longest streak in the nation with Florida St having been to 31 consecutive and Florida 22. UVA fumbled at the VT29 on the first poss and there were 7 punts on the other 8 poss of the game. VT went 65/9pl for a td, 7-0 (10:30 2Q). 4 punts. UVA50 got a 42 yd td pass with 3:30 left to tie, 7-7 at half. UVA did have a 149-109 yd edge at the half. VT was pinned at their 1 and got 3 FD but on 3&10, Thomas was sacked and fumbled and UVA returned it 16 yards for a td and 13-7 lead. UVA44 got a 30 yd pass but on 4&8, faked a 45 yd FG and was SOD (7:41 3Q). VT went 85/15pl on a windy day and got a 40 yd td run, 14-14. The wind may have had something to do with the fake FG. VT went 42/12pl but on 4&2 were SOD at the VA34. VA punted 25 yds into the wind after a FD. VT went 43/7pl for a 42 yd FG was just left due to the wind. However on 3&10 Rocco threw a pass that was int’d and ret’d 12 yds to the 24. VT got 1 FD and this time got a 29 yd FG on the final play.

Georgia got themselves into the National semi-final game beating Georgia Tech for the 11th time in 12 years. GT did blow some opportunities in the 1H but UGA avg 10.5 ypp. In the 1H UGA had a 254-238 yd edge. GT held the ball for 21:23 of the 1H to UGA’s 8:37. UGA got a 47 yd KR to the GT44 and needed just 4 plays to go 44 yards for a td. GT16 went 82/10pl. The RB was struggling for extra yards down to the 2 when Rambo just pulled the ball out of his hands and raced to the 50. It took UGA 8 pl to go 50 yds for a td, 14-0. GT went on a 54/12pl FG drive that ate up 6:00. UGA went 85/3pl for a td, 21-3 (14:39). GT was SOD on 4&4 at the UGA49 then went on a 6pl drive but was int’d at the UGA7 and ret’d 35 yds. It took UGA 6pl to go 68 yards for a td, 28-3. GT took over with 2:49 left in the half, went 56/13pl and missed a 36 yd FG and trailed 28-3. GT had their first punt of the game on the opening drive of the 3Q and UGA quickly went 59/7pl for a td. After a 21 yd GT punt, UGA went 51/7pl for a td incl a 4&1 conv. GT fmbl’d on 4&1 at the UGA 24 and went 48/7pl but on 4&5 had a 17 yd td pass wiped out by a hold and on the next play fired incomplete and were SOD. GT went 65/6pl for a td with 7:25 left and was SOD on 4&2 at the UGA48.

Pat Hill had not led Fresno to a conference title in 13 years. It took new coach Tim DeRuyter just one. FSU destroyed Air Force with a 603-317 yd edge, Derek Carr hit 28-32-452 yards and 4 td’s and as QB Carr was holding the MW Champ trophy, he said he would come back for next year. FSU’s last conf title was 1999 when they shared the WAC Title with Hawaii and TCU. FSU took their opening drive 92/2pl as a bubble pass went for 28 yards and they got a 64 yd td pass to Adams. AF fmbl’d at their own 35 and FSU went 35/2pl for a td. AF went for it on 4&2 at their own 34 and was SOD. FSU went 34/9pl and on 4&gl got a 1 yd td. They also had a 4&1 conv at the start, 21-0. After a 25 yd AF punt, FSU fumbled at the AF38 and AF went 62/6pl for a td, 21-7. FSU went 61/5pl settling for a 26 yd FG then went 73/16pl for a td, 31-7 at the half and had a 326-154 yd edge. FSU was SOD at the AF15 after a 65/8pl drive but got an int 5pl later and went 77/8pl for a td, 38-7. AF fmbl’d and FSU went 61/3pl for a td, 45-7. AF was SOD on 4&6 at the FSU37. FSU went 52/10pl for a FG. 2 punts. AF with Tipton at QB went 80/10pl getting a td with 2:51 left. FSU gained 13 yards on the final 5 plays.

The situation favored Penn St. It was the final home game for a Penn St team that had overcome a lot of adversity. Wisconsin had the Big Ten Title game on deck so this was just for pride. Montee Ball rushed for 111 yds and set an NCAA record with his 97th career score. PSU’s Zach Zwinak rushed for 179 yards and K Sam Ficken, who earlier in the year had a poor game vs UVA, hit all 3 of his FG’s. PSU LB Michael Mauti did not play but was an emotional leader on the sidelines throughout. UW finishes in 3rd place in the Leaders div but is in the Big Ten Title game. UW opened with a 74/4pl drive for a td. PSU went 78/15pl for a td. The Badgers came back with a 53/4pl td drive and Ball’s NCAA td record td, 14-7. 3 punts. UW34 got 2 FD and on 4&6 got a FD pass but an illegal motion wiped it out and they punted 37 yds for a tb. 4 punts. At the half UW had a 204-131 yd edge and led by 7. PSU opened the 3Q with a 77/11pl drive and had a td pass called back and settled for a 23 yd FG. 3 punts. PSU went 72/14pl for a 32 yd FG, 14-13. UW went 3&out. PSU33 got 1 FD and on 4&6 a 41 yd pass to James with nobody within 5 yards of him and he went for a td. The 2 pt made it 21-14 (13:32). 2 punts. UW21 went 59/11pl, they ran on 3&8 but on 4&8 was int’d with 5:00 left. PSU went 3&out punting with 3:51 left. UW34 went 66/14pl and on 4&2 they got a td, a 2 yd pass to Duckworth, his first rec since the Oreg St game, 21-21. PSU barely got a 37 yd FG that snuck inside the upright on 4&4 and UW on 2&9 at the 9 had the ball knocked out of Phillips hand and fmbl’d and they fell on it for a 3&12. On 4&12 they settled for a 44 yd FG in the swirling wind and missed wide left.

North Carolina's Bryn Renner tied a school record with 5 td passes. Giovani Bernard rushed for 163 yards and frosh Quinshad Davis had 135 yards rec and 2 td’s on 9 catches but it was surprising that NC’s D gave up 404 yards and 38 points to Maryland with the Heels actually trailing at the half, 28-21 and only winning by 1 score. MD had just announced that they were moving to the Big Ten during the week. NC opened with a 79/3pl drive for a td then after a 44 yd IR, got a td, 14-0. NC punted and MD went 66/10pl inc a 4&1 conv, 14-7. 3 punts. MD went 80/4pl and got a 71 yd run by Ross and a td on the next play, 14-14 (7:31 2Q). Each team went on a long td drive, 21-21 with :13 left. NC fmbl’d the KO at their own 28 and MD got a 28 yd TD pass with :02 left for a stunning 28-21 lead scoring 2 td’s in the final :13 and at the half MD had a 304-206 yd edge. Diggs returned the 3Q opening KO 99 yds for a td and it appeared the Terps were on their way to an upset but NC went 61/3pl, 56/3pl for td’s, the latter with 12:10 left in the 3Q. NC went 27/8pl for a 22 yd FG, 51/10pl for a td while MD punted on their first 4 offensive poss as NC led 45-35 (3:06 3Q). MD was SOD on 4&4 at the NC38 with 9:48 left but drove 78/15pl getting a 27 yd FG with 3:07 left. They kicked deep and NC31 got 2 FD gaining 38/8 to run the clock.

New Mexico St was playing their final home game and BYU gave James Lark the start. Lark was more of a passing QB than Riley Nelson and brought back the BYU pass attack hitting 34-50-384 yds. BYU’s opening drive went 52/11pl for a 39 yd FG (missed) and they punted on their 2nd. NM went 78/12pl for a td and a shocking 7-0 lead. BYU would go 73/12pl for a td on 4&gl from the 5, 36/7pl after a 42 yd PR and then 66/8pl for a td 2:44 with :34 left to lead 20-7. At the half BYU had a 221-100 yd edge. BYU went 66/13pl for a FG, 23-7 but NMS 4pl later got a 67 yd td pass, 23-14 (9:32 3Q). 2 punts. BYU went 42/6pl and got a 31 yd TD pass, 30-14. After a 23 yd PR, BYU went 40/12pl for a td, 36-14. BYU got a 64 yd td pass with 9:09 left, 43-14 and went 72/8pl and Mendenhall got a 1 yd td run with 3:36 left to close the scoring, 50-14. Cody Hoffman who wasn’t supposed to play, had 12 rec for 182 yds and 2 td’s.

Last year Wake Forest had just clinched a bowl spot and Vanderbilt was playing to get to a bowl. VU waxed Wake. This year VU had just wrapped up a bowl while WF was at home playing for a bowl spot. Each team had 19 FD. Did WF get the victory? Nope. Final score 55-21 VU as VU’s 6th straight win is the school’s longest streak since 1955. They had a 432-310 yd edge and scored twice on ST’s with a blocked punt td and 83 yd PR td. Zac Stacy topped 1,000 yards rushing for the 2nd year and is the school career rushing leader with over 3,000 yards and Jordan Matthews set a single season record with 1,262 yards receiving and will add to that in the bowl. It was the 5th time VU had topped 40 pts in a season and that’s the first time that’s happened since 1915. VU scored td’s on 4 of their first 5 poss going 85/10pl for a td incl two 4&1 conv and followed the 2nd one with a 25 yd td pass. WF went 71/15pl for a td. VU went 63/12pl and fmbl’d at the WF17 but got a 27 yd PR and went 45/4pl for a td then got a 64 yd td pass after recovering a fmbl and led 28-7. WF was SOD at the VU44 on 4&10 with :13 left but each team threw an int in the final 2pl. VU did have a commanding 297-145 yd edge and 15-10 FD edge at the half. VU blocked a punt for a td on the 4th play of the 3Q. WF went 75/11pl for a td, 35-14. VU went 41/11pl for a 52 yd FG but WF on 4&1 was SOD at its own 34 and VU gained 1 yd and got a 50 yd FG. VU got an 83 yd PR for a td 9pl later, 48-14 then VU9 on 2&9 got a 90 yd td run by Stacy, 55-14 (8:56). VU was pinned at its 4 and fmbl’d and WF got a 4 yd FR td with 6:28 left and WF’s last drive ended on 4&9 at the VU37 with backup QB Brendan Cross getting a pair of FD’s.

It was the most lopsided Iron Bowl’s in 64 years and as expected Alabama dominated now that they are back in the National Title chase. Bama had a 25-7 FD edge and 483-163 yd edge vs Auburn. Jonathan Wallace hit 5-14-71 with 2 int vs the Tide D. Bama scored on their first 6 drives of the game going 75/10pl, 61/10pl, 88/6pl, 29/5pl (after int), 64/7pl then 35/3pl for a td (after fmbl) with :31 left in the half. Bama had a 328-99 yd edge and scored on the first poss of the 3Q as well on a 61/7pl drive and their 8th poss was only stopped after a 53/9pl drive by fumbling at the Auburn 7. Bama’s first punt came with 13:03 left in the game and at the end of the game, Bama faced a 4th & gl at the 5 and took a knee for a 3 yd loss giving Auburn the ball at the 8 with :11 left.