Some Week 13 Recaps

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After tomorrow morning I'm not going to get to much.

CUSA

Rice built a halftime lead for the second straight week, and for the second straight week did not score in the 2nd H and had to hang on for the win. Rice scored on 4 of their first 5 possessions and would lead 20-0. Rice had a 228-51 TY edge at HT with NT having just 2 FD! NT made it 20-7, then 20-14 when Rice fumbled the KO with 7:32 left and NT took over deep in Rice territory but were be incomplete in the EZ for SOD. Rice picked up two key first downs to kill the final 4 minutes giving the Owls their first winning streak since 2016. NT was held 211y and 19 pts below their offensive averages. Rice finished with 328-238 (4.6-4.2) TY edge. Each team turned it over twice and each had 3 sacks.

Southern Miss came in among the best CUSA teams in 3rd down O and RZ scoring – WKU held them to 3-of-14 3rd down (and 1-of-4 4th down) along with just 1-for-3 scores in the RZ (the 1 was a FG, fumble and SOD were the other 2). The biggest red zone failure for SM was a game changing play. SMiss was poised to tie the game 14-14 mid 2nd Q when Quez Watkins was stripped at the goal line after a 14y reception, WKU picked up the fumble and ret’d it 46 yards and 4 plays later instead of a 14-14 game, it was 21-7 Toppers. There was no direct down the goal line camera view, the ball may’ve crossed the goal line but there was no way to overturn the call on the field. WKU got 14 pts off turnovers including a 5y scoop-and-score in the 4th Q. WKU held them to 10 pts (SM’s fewest at home since 2013). SMiss D was held without a sack for the first time since 2014 (WKU D 3 sacks). Abraham was injured and left the game mid 4th Q. Southern Miss outgained them 388-365 (5.3-5.6) but were -2 TOs and lost 28-10.

LaTech led 7-3. Teams combined for just 3-of-15 3rd down in the 1st H. UAB twice had bad snaps on FG attempts, not called fakes, they converted on one of their fire-drills to keep a drive alive that would eventually lead to a TD. UAB would score 17 unanswered pts in the 2nd and 3rd Q. LT was SOD at the AB24. At the end LT was SOD at their own 23 to end their hopes with 2:20 left where UAB ran out the clock. 20-14 F. UAB is now 18-0 at Legion Field since brining back football (they will have new stadium next year). UAB had a 237-114 1st H yard edge and finished with a 353-270 (5.3-4.2) TY edge.

FAU led 17-3 HT and 33-11 entering the 4th Q. 40-26 F. UTSA scored back-to-back garbage TDs accumulating 155 of their 401 total yards (5.9 ypp). FAU kicked two short FGs and also missed a FG. FAU gained 526y (6.6). Each team rushed for 190 yards with an equal 5 ypc.

Butch Davis returned to the site of the OB at Marlins Park and handed Miami perhaps their most embarrassing loss ever 30-24. FIU beat a P5 team for the first time in their school history. Miami became the first team in over 40 years to lose 3 times in one season as a 14pt or more favorite. FIU led 13-0 HT, 16-0 3rd Q and 23-3 before Miami got anything going. Miami QB Jarren Williams was just 5-of-15-78y-0-3 entering the 4th Q, in the 4th he went 14-21-171 with 2 TDs. Several other INTs were dropped by defenders. FIU credits film study during the bye week on Miami’s RPO passing predictability for their LBs getting the picks. FIU did have two FG “drives” where they failed to gain a first down result in FGs after INTs. Miami outgained them 413-297 thanks to a 4th Q that saw Miami gain 200 yards and score 21 pts.

MTSU led 28-10 HT and extended that to 35-10 with a pick-six. Old Dominion put up a season high 423 yards and actually outgained them 423-391 (4.9-6.3) but were only 2 of 5 in the RZ (missed FG, SOD M14 and M13) and penalized 10-120. ODU did benefit from a 4p 13y TD “drive” following a dropped punt snap.

 

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AAC

UConn led 7-0 on a deep pass, but ECU would pull ahead 17-7 HT (UConn threw 1st down INT from the E18 to the E03 right before the half). UConn hit another deep pass and then a trick play TD for a 17-14 game. ECU got a TD and UConn got a FG…24-17. UConn tied on a 94y TD reception end of 3rd Q. 24-24. ECU threw INT, but UConn missed a 50y FG and ECU drove for a TD…31-24. Starting with 3:31 left, UConn would drive to the E05, but their hopes died with an INT in the EZ with :01 left. UConn outgained them 527-509 (7.6-5.9). UConn lost 3 TOs, ECU 2.

UCF led 10-0 and 17-7 HT. 24-7 3rd Q. Tulane got it to 24-17 (98y KO ret TD), then UCF extended it to 34-17 mid 4th. It was 34-24 when UCF had the ball at the T14 1st down, but they would lose yardage and eventually be SOD with 1:49 left. Tulane scored a TD on 4th down with just :26 left. UCF recovered the onside kick. 34-31 F. UCF outgained them 484-402 (5.4-4.9) with 150 of Tulane’s yards coming on their final 2 possessions. UCF D 4 sacks (Tulane 0).

Cincinnati kicked two FGs from the RZ to lead 6-0 HT, one FG came after the Temple punter’s knee was ruled down at the C06. UC then got a TD in the 3rd to lead 13-0. Temple missed a 32y FG mid 3rd, but Owls would later get on the board with a TD at 11min left in the game, however UC blk’d the xpt and ret’d it for 2 the other way…15-6. Temple scored again making it 15-13 7min left. UC then missed a 40y FG with 3min left. But Temple’s comeback hopes were dashed with an INT. Temple finished with a 310-210 yard edge (4.2-3.0). Ridder was only 9-25-62-0-1, sacked 3x, this coming the week after Ridder had season lows in completions (9) and yards (78) vs USF and was sacked 4x in that one.

USF finished the Memphis game with program lows in first downs (5), passing yards (44) and finished with more punts (9) than pass completions (6). USF finished with 170 yards, their second worst of the year. Despite that USF did have leads of 7-0 and 10-7 thanks to big plays from RB Kelley Joiner (Cronkrite and Sands out with injury). Memphis threw back-to-back INTs, but then settled in to score TDs on 6 of their next 7 possessions in the 49-10 win. Memphis finished with a 560-170 (6.3-3.4) TY edge.

Tulsa outgained Houston 380-231 although they played conservative early and didn’t open it up until they were playing from behind. Houston scored 2 nonoffensive TDs (pick-six and KO ret). As it has all year, the Tulsa OL let them down again leading to -1 net rushing yard and a QB under a lot of pressure (UH D 4 sacks). Tulsa lost 4 TOs (UH lost 1).

Navy owned a 40-20 TOP edge, including 13:31 to 1:29 3rd Q TOP. SMU’s O didn’t always help their D stay fresh due to KO ret TD and a 2 play TD drive and SMU was just 5-of-13 on 3rd down. While SMU led 21-10 2nd Q, their D would get worn down and lead to Navy winning 35-28. SMU only scored once in the 2nd H. Ponies did get to the N12 on their final drive but were SOD and Navy killed the final 2+ minutes (SMU went offside on 4th-and-2 with 1min to go). At the end of the day Navy would have a 540-344 TY edge (6.1-6.1) with Navy actually passing 9-15-162-1-0.

 

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Marshall scored first with a blk’d punt for TD and added a FG to lead 10-0. Charlotte finally scored late 2nd Q on a 8p 86y drive…10-7 and would miss a 39y FG before HT. Charlotte made a 23y FG to tie in the 3rd on a 11p 69y drive….10-10. A 31y FG put Marhsall back on top late 3rd 13-10. Charlotte was at the M44 but threw INT at the M19 late 3rd. MU punted and UC went 7p 77y to take a 17-13 lead. Exchange of punts then MU threw INT at the C38. UC was killing clock, at the M25, 4th and 10 when they threw for TD to ice it with :48 left…24-13 F. Charlotte had 26-13 FD and 422-230 TY edge (5.8-4.4) including 256-144 (5.0-4.2) RY. Teams struggled on 3rd down 5-of-21 combined. Charlotte was 2-for-2 4th down. Charlotte lost 3 TOs, Marshall lost 2.

 

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Big Ten

Northwestern started 3-and-out on three of their first four drives accumulating negative yardage on their first 4 series which saw starting QB Hunter Johnson sacked 3x plus TFL once and knocked out of the game. Tanner Morgan was cleared to play for Minnesota and he was sharp early, a theme that would continue for the Gopher QB until late in the 1st H. It was 14-0 after the 1st Q and 21-0 went NW got a 66y punt downed at the M06 that would result in a intentional grounding in EZ for safety..21-2. Then NW went 14p 69y converting 3rd down twice with Marty at QB to make a 21-9 game late 2nd Q. Morgan threw INT at the N40 with :34 left, but NW could do nothing with it. Min opened going 11p 73y for TD…28-9. Then NW answered 15p 64y…28-16. Early 4th Q, PI kept an Min drive alive that would go 10p 62y for the 35-16 lead. Min kicked a 37y FG with 6min left…38-16. NW scored with 2min left (2pt no good), Min recovered onside kick. 38-22 F. Min outgained them 423-223 (6.8-3.7).

Wisconsin got up 7-0 with a Cruickshank wildcat 27y run. Purdue went 15p 66y converting a 4th down along the way for a 28y FG. Wright dropped a nicely thrown ball and Hopkins couldn’t corral a tipped pass both in the EZ that should’ve been a TD. A 51y Taylor run made it 14-3. 38y flea-flicker pass and 27y run at the end of the 2nd Q sent PU for a 7y TD pass first play of the 2nd Q. 14-10. UW's AJ Taylor fumbled on a sweep at the P37. PU was TFL on 3rd down, but offside gave them a FD and two plays later Boilers did a WR pass for 37y TD and Purdue was winning! 17-14! That didn’t last long, UW went up 21-17. Near the end of the 1st H UW fumbled again at the P29. PU went 3-and-out, but with :22 left UW got 9 and 17y runs plus a quick 3y pass to set up a 62y FG…..good! 24-17 HT. PU was moving the ball well on a 8p 43y drive to open the 2nd H, but Boilers threw deep INT at the W04. A 49y WR sweep run keyed UW’s TD drive…31-17. Late in the 3rd with WR Cruickshank at QB, he and Taylor didn’t execute their handoff and PU fell on the fumble at the P37 but PU would end up being sacked on 4th down. Cephus made a great 29y TD catch to make it 38-17 late 3rd Q. PU went 5 chunk plays down the field to make it 38-24. UW threw a deep INT early 4th Q. UW would later add their final TD with 4min left in the game 45-24 F. UW outgained them 606-376 (8.2-5.9) including 403y rushing (7.3). UW lost 4 TOs (PU lost 1). UW was 9-of-11 3rd down (PU 3-of-10).

Indiana and Michigan traded scores early being tied at 7-7 and 14-14 until Mich took a 21-14 HT lead. IU had 113 yards in the 1st Q to Mich’s 75, but after the 1st Q, IU’s O went 3-and-out 3x the rest of the 1st H and Mich outgained them 232-158 at HT. It didn’t get any better in the 2nd H with IU’s only decent drives coming on the final two of the game (SOD at M04 and end game M35). Mich kicked a short FG in the 3rd Q then got a 76y TD reception and a 1p 19y “drive” for TD following an IU fumble and Mich threw an INT at the I17 on their final possession. 39-14 F. 453-321 (7.4-4.8) TY edge for Mich. Both teams were 5-of-12 3rd down.

Nebraska led 34-0 HT and 54-0 before Maryland got a 54y TD run with 3min left in the game. Neb had a 531-206 (6.1-4.0) TY edge and forced 4 Turnovers! Got 6 Sacks (had 6 sacks in previous 5 games combined)! Terps had just 57y on 7-of-21 passing by 4 different QBs. Husker Luke McCaffrey played some WR due to injuries and depth issues (illness swept through team last week), but relieved Martinez at QB later and is not expected to play a role at WR going forward.

 

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Independents

BYU QB Zach Wilson impressed in his second game back going 17-20-293-4-0 in just the 1st H vs UMass. Jackson McChesney rushed for a BYU Fr record 228y. BYU put up 49 1st H points on 440y. UMass ran just 26 plays gaining just 31y in the 1st H! First Downs were 20-2. In the 2nd H, BYU muffed a punt that UMass used to score TD then a FG, but BYU would add a TD to make it 56-10 end of 3rd. UMass scored 2 4th Q TDs with 108 yards on those and BYU ended the game at the M18. For the game BYU outgained them 628-292 (9.2-4.4)

Boston College and ND were close 1st H, with BC having a 7-6 lead mid 2nd Q. ND only had 85y passing up to that point (Claypool did drop a potential TD), but ND converted a 4th-and-3 on their way to a TD then BC QB Grosel fumbled and had to punt and aided by a PI called, ND moved into FG position and nailed a 45 yarder to 16-7 at the break. Grosel fumbled again at own 40 and ND would score 21 pts in an 8 minute span 3rd/4th to blow the game open. BC never ran a play in ND territory 2nd H. BC came in averaging 282y rushing, but were held to 128. Dillion finished with ssn lows in carriers (14) and yards (56). Book led ND in rushing on 12att for 66y and passed 26-40-239-3-0. Grosel would only go 9-21-63-0-1 and was sacked 4x. ND had 27-11 FD edge and 501-191 TY edge (5.9-3.0).

UTEP took a 1 pt lead first play of the 4th Q 22-21 (2pt no good). Ags were up 27-22 when Locksley threw a critical INT then fumbled (scoop-and-score) on back-to-back possessions to let NMSt get up by 2 scores…37-22. It would end up a 44-35 F with UTEP scoring as time expired (xpt not tried). UTEP did post a season high 557 yards behind Locksley’s career game with 358 passing and 103 rushing. NMSt RB Jason Huntley had 167y and 2 TDs on just 6 attempts in the 1st H. UTEP had 27-17 FD edge and 557-441 TY edge (7.9-7.1). Each team missed a FG, NMSt being +2 TOs was the difference in the game…UTEP also settled for 2 FGs on their RZ trips.

 

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Stanford scored on a 40y TD pass first possession due to a busted coverage and from there Stanford maintained the lead or stayed tied until the final 2minutes of the game. Cal had some momentum on a drive before HT but a penalty stalled it and Cal’s FGA was blk’d to keep the score 10-10. Stanford twice turned it over in Cal territory 2nd H ,but Cal couldn’t do anything with it then a bad punt set up Stanford to take a 17-10 lead late 3rd Q. Cal hit some big plays to tie mid 4th Q…17-17. Stanford made a 44y FG with 2:23 left to take a 20-17 lead. Garbers would go 3-of-4 passing that included a key 37y pass along the sideline and then Garbers had the game winning 16y TD run with 1:19 left. After completions of just 6 and 3 yards, Stanford was stuffed on 4th-and-1. Cal had 22-15 FD and outgained them 424-344 (6.3-5.8) including 139-61 (3.8-2.5) RY edge. Each team 3 sacks. Each team 6-of-13 3rd down. Chase Garbers was the difference 20-30-285-1-0, leading rusher 72 net yards. Cal also had their first 100y receiver of the year, Nikko Remigio 9rec-157-TD.

 

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Sun Belt

ULL handed Troy their worst loss in their Sun Belt history 53-3 (third time Troy has allowed 50+ this year). Total yards at HT were just 357-229 for ULL but they led 31-3. Troy did have 3 drives get to the ULL27 or beyond that only netted 3 pts. Troy finished the game 1-of-3 RZ scores. For the game ULL owned a 598-359 (7.8-4.8) TY advantage.

Coastal Carolina led 7-0, then ULM scored back-to-back including a 98y TD reception to lead 14-7 then CC would tie 14-14 still 1st Q! ULM led 21-14 when CC QB was hit and ULM D got an INT. 21-14 HT. CC D had an INT overturned by replay and ULM would go on for FG…24-14. CC faked a punt and would go on to make it 24-21 mid 3rd. From here there would be 6 lead changes. CC would return a punt 72y for TD to retake a 28-24 lead. Early 4th ULM went back up 31-28. CC answered and were back on top 35-31. ULM went back up 38-35. CC had a 75y TD run..42-38. 3 plays later ULM had the 42-38 lead mid 4th. ULM threw INT, but CC fumbled with 2min left and ULM killed the clock. Each team ran for 200+, ULM outgained them 563-452 (8.2-6.7).

South Alabama led 3-0, but Georgia State scored 28 unanswered. USA scored 2 garbage TDs. USA has lost a school record 9 straight games (have lost 15 straight away games). GaSt QB Dan Ellington again played on his torn ACL going 21-27-208-2-1. Tre Minter did move into first in USA school history all purpose yards (4,210). Final stats show GaSt only having a 384-326 (5.1-5.1) TY edge, but 172 of USA’s yards were on their final 4 drives.

App St went on top 7-0 with a 45y TD pass and would lead 14-3 with just 1min left in the 1st H. Texas State’s FG was a gift after an App St fumble (TxSt gained no yards on the possession) and then got a 53y TD pass with just :03 left in the half to make it 14-10 HT. Texas St made a 48y FG early 3rd…14-13, but App St would score the final 21 pts on Evans runs…35-13 F. App St had a 468-208 (7.1-3.5) TY edge, including 280-54y rushing (5.7-2.2) and 23-11 FDs. App St missed a 24y FG following a 68y drive.

Arkansas State had 1st H leads of 21-3 and 35-10, but after a safety sack and a TD drive, Georgia Southern cut it to 35-19 HT. GSU was SOD at the A22 and A03 in the 1st H. In the 3rd, ASU kicked a FG to go up 38-19 but would not score over the final 24min of the game (missed 2 FGs). GSU cut it to 38-27 entering the 4th. GSU scored again under 5min left, 2pt no good…38-33. GSU had the ball with under 2min left, but Wert’s 4th down scramble was stopped inches short at the A24. GSU outgained them 481-445 (6.3-7.9) and ran for 299 (6.0), but ASU passed for 354 (79% completions). GSU D got 4 sacks, ASU D got 5.

 

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Big Xll

Kansas moved the ball well early, but had two drives stall where they settled for 36 and 37 yard FGs then missed a 35y FG. ISU would lead 7-6 then 14-6, KU managed a 30y FG to make it 14-9 HT, KU outgained them 264-231 at HT. Roughing the passer kept an ISU drive alive and they would make it 21-9. All the yards for KU finally turned into a TD…21-16, then ISU threw INT and KU was soon back in the EZ with the lead…24-21 (2pt good)! ISU quickly regained the lead 27-24. The teams kept trading scores…31-27, 34-31, then ISU went up by 10 with just 1min left…41-31. KU got as far as the I30 as time expired. FDs, TY, YPP all even. Only 1 TO which was ISU INT. KU was only 1 of 5 RZ TDs (3 FGs and missed FG) while ISU was 4-for-4 RZ TDs.

Texas scored TD with :01 left to make the score look closer than it was. 24-10 F. Outside of a 68y Ingram run (injured on play) that occurred with under :20 left in the first half (kicked 48y FG), Texas struggled to run the with just 123y on the 30 other attempts. TY were the same 391-391 with similar ypp 6.1-5.8 as were 3rd downs teams combined for just 9-of-26, but the difference was Baylor D getting 5 sacks and an underthrown Ehlinger INT on one of Texas’ better drives. Their best drive wasn’t until the game was out of reach in the waning minutes. Baylor also lost a fumble in the RZ to open the game. Lynch broke the Baylor career sack record with 18.5. Ehlinger has thrown 7 INTs the last 6 games. Texas was penalized 9x-104y. Charlie Brewer was knocked out of the game in the 4th Q.

Kansas State kicked 2 FGs from the RZ to lead 6-3 HT. KSt stopped a TT fake punt, but missed a FG before the half. Offenses woke up with both teams scoring TDs to open the 3rd then KSt got a 100y KO ret TD to lead 20-10. KSt led 23-17 entering the 4th when a key and controversial play happened. TT appeared to have a TD as their WR caught a pass and touched the pylon with the football, officials gave contradictory signals and replay determined he did not maintain control and TT kicked a 27y FG…23-20. Next possession TT was at the K39, but were sacked and punted. KSt made it 30-20, then Duffy was INT’d in the EZ on 1st down from the K24 mid 4th. KSt threw INT then TT got a 48y TD on 4th down to make it just 30-27 late 4th Q. KSt faced a 3rd and long, but Thomspon beat the blitz running for a FD and KSt was able to run out the clock. TT outgained them 512-372 (6.3-5.7) and TT actually outrushed them 144-126 (4.6-3.4) but Raiders threw 2 INTs to KSt’s 1 and the FG instead of the TD in the 3rd Q proved to be the difference.

Oklahoma jumped out to a 21-0 lead as TCU’s O struggled mightily to start, but OU would only win 28-24. There was a 14 pt swing in the 4th Q as TCU ret’d a 98y pick-six. OU also fumbled at the T07 on their very next series. Then with about 1:30 left, TCU appeared to stop Hurts on a 3rd-and-1 run but the officials spotted and replay upheld a first down when it appeared Hurts was a full yard short. OU ran out the clock from there. OU had 30-11 FD, 511-204 TY (6.0-4.5) including 366-139 (5.7-5.8) edge. OU lost 3 TOs (TCU lost 1). TCU was just 1-of-9 3rd down (OU 7-of-13).

Oklahoma State escaped Morgantown with a 20-13 win largely due to WVU’s failure to get it done in the RZ, just 2-for-3, both FGs then a SOD at the end of the game. WVU outgained OSU 333-285 (5.5-4.3) and held Hubbard to just 106y on 26att (his lowest output of the year vs IA opponents).