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Goodbye to Romance College Football
Pitt accumulated school record 707 TY scoring scoring 77 points in the process, the most since 1926. New Hampshire was a top 25 FCS team.
Penn State and Villanova was a game between unbeatens. Sean Cliffored passed for a personal best 401 yards. Villanova was ranked 11 FCS. Penn State led 38-3 early 4th Q before 'Nova got a couple late TDs. Prior to their final two drives for scores, 'Nova was only able to cross midfield on 2 of their first 10 drives. Curiously, Penn State still struggled to run the ball, leading RB rusher avg'd just 4.1ypc and as a team they averaged just 2.4ypc. 'Nova had 8 TFL. Penn St also only converted 3-of-12 3rd downs.
Minnesota goes from a dominating 30-0 win at Colorado to an embarrassing home loss to Bowling Green. BG actually never drove into Minnesota territory the entire 1st H on 7 possessions. But Minnesota gave them the ball at the M24 when Fleck choose to go for a 4th-and-1 deep in his own territory mid 2nd Q and Potts was stopped for a 5y loss. 4 plays later BG led 7-3. If we remember, Minnesota went for a 4th-and-1 at their own 29 vs Ohio State, which resulted in a big run and sparked Minn to a 1st H lead vs the Buckeyes. Not so much here. BG loaded up to stop the run and Min couldn't pass, failures in every facet of the passing game. Morgan finished 5-13-59-0-2. Gophers had possessions in BG territory end in 36y FG, Morgan fumble at BG43 after 18y run, got a 54y run to the B37, but would only gain 4 more yards and missed a 52y FG. BG took that possession and regained a 14-10 lead late 3rd Q (converted 4th-and-1 along the way). Min's final 4 possessions didn't cross midfield, the last two ended in back-to-back INTs. FDs were even at 12. Min had a 182-22 RY (4.0-.9), but only outgained them 241-192 (4.2-3.1). Min lost 3 turnovers, BG lost 2. Each D got 4 sacks. BG just 2-of-14 3rd down, Min 5-of-14. Min WR Autman-Bell played one series then appeared injured walking on the sideline. QB McDonald ran for both of BG's TDs, he was sacked 4x so it doesn't show in the stats, but he had some key runs on BG's drives.
Virginia Tech only outgained Richmond 318-237 (5.1-4.0) in the 21-10 win, and VT O accounted for just 14 points as they had a 60y punt return score. Richmond's QB was injured in the 1st Q and did not return. Richmond only really had one or two decent drives in the game, their TD was set up off a 16y "drive" following an INT deep in VT territory.
Wagner scored first, Temple scored the next 41 to win 41-7. Mathis returned for Temple 22-32-292-2-0. Temple outgained them 407-159 (6.6-2.8) ,but only rushed 115 (4.0).
Army is 4-0 for the first time since 1996. MiamiO struggled to keep drives alive (2-of-11 3rd down) while Army QB Anderson ripped 72 and 75y TD runs and rushed for 236y before injury. Miami did kick FG from the A11 and were SOD at the A01. Predictably, Army took that one 18p 99y in a classic 10min 51sec Army TD drive to lead 23-3. MiaO got an 80y TD pass early 4th, it went final there at 23-10 after Army's final two drives killed 10 minutes.
Notre Dame - Wisconsin were locked in a tight one, with ties of 3-3 and 10-10. ND had missed a FG and UW was SOD at the N21. Coan had been knocked out of the game two possessions before UW got a 3rd Q sack/fumble and recovery at the N39, Badgers drove for 1st-goal but had to settle for 27y FG to lead 13-10. ND returned the ensuing KO 96y for TD and it was lights out. UW went 3-and-out after a sack on 3rd down, ND went up 24-13, UW missed a long FG, then Mertz threw INT with long return set up ND on a short field resulting in 37y FG...27-13 UW, then ND got back-to-back pick-sixes! 41-13 F. ND scored 31 4th Q points to UW's 3, but UW actually outgained them 110-60 in the quarter! For the game UW would outgain them 314-242 (4.6-3.5), but threw a total of 4 INTs and lost a fumble (led to 31 ND pts). ND lost 1 turnover (led to 3 UW points). UW converted just 1-of-14 3rd downs! ND was 5-of-16. Badger D did get 12 TFL and 6 sacks!
Mississippi State turned it over on 2 of their first 3 drives both in LSU territory. LSU took the first for a TD (had to convert 4th-and-1 along the way). MSU had 1st-goal but had to settle for 23y FG...7-3. MSU D got INT, but would have to punt. 7-3 would be HT score. LSU got a 64y TD pass to open the 3rd Q...14-3. MSU drove down to the L21, but would have to settle for 33y FGA, which was missed. LSU later got a 58y TD pass to go up 21-3, but MSU would drive for TD just before end of 3rd Q. 21-10. MSU roughed the LSU punter and 3 plays later LSU would lead 28-10. MSU responded mid 4th Q...28-17 and they forced an LSU 3-and-out, 5 minutes later it was 28-25 (2pt good) under 2min to go. MSU's onside kick did not go 10 yards and MSU only had 1 timeout, LSU took knees. MSU scored 15 4th Q points. LSU's TDs were 11y pass, 64y pass, 58y pass, 41y pass. Due the big plays and to MSU's the early drives resulting in turnovers, MSU did have a 29-15 FD edge. MSU outrushed them 115-63 (4.4-2.3) and outgained them overall 486-343 (5.5-6.4). MSU did convert 12-of-18 3rd down to LSUs 5-of-13. LSU D forced MSU to kick 2 RZ FGs.
Missouri had leads of 7-0, 14-7 and 17-14 in the 1st H. But Boston College would have leads of 24-17, 27-17, 27-24, 34-31 in the 2nd H. Both teams kicked a RZ FG. Both teams only punted twice all game. Both teams converted 3rd downs in the 60% range. Both teams threw an INT in regulation, however BC's led to no damage, Mizz's INT in regulation led to a BC FG and Tiger's second INT ended the game in OT. Mizz K made a career long 56y FG to force OT as time expired. In OT BC got TD pass, Mizz threw INT in EZ (thrown into double coverage on first down). BC ran for 275 (5.6). BC ran it so well, they rarely needed to pass, but choose to. BC went 3-and-out twice, those drives saw 2 incomplete passes each. Grosel 18-29-175-2-1, 35y rushing. Bazelak 30-41-303-1-2.
Georgia outgained Vanderbilt 532-77! Georgia nearly had more points, than Vandy had yards! 62-0. UGA led 35-0 after 1st Q! UGA passed for 291y and rushed for 241y. FDs were 28-4!
Defense optional for SMU-TCU. There were wide open receiver and big plays early and often. SMU 68y TD, TCU 20y TD run, SMU 46y run on way to a 14-7 lead. TCU got a 60y pass on way to tie 14-14. SMU threw INT, but TCU would miss FG. TCU got a 46y TD to lead 21-14. SMU tied on a 29y TD pass. 21-21. SMU was on a long drive to end the 1st H, faced a 4th-goal at the T02 and opted to go for it with :03 left, but threw INT in EZ...21-21. Seems like that would've mattered, but it didn't. Duggan was sacked/fumbled first play of the 3rd Q and SMU got a 2p 3y TD "drive" to lead 28-21 and they never looked back. SMU would lead 28-24, 35-24, TCU SOD, 35-27, 42-27, 42-34 with 4min left. TCU kicked off deep, but could not stop the Ponies. SMU outgained them 595-446 (7.4-7.7) and outrushed them 350-170 (6.7-5.7). SMU threw 3 INTs (led to TCU missed FG and made FG), TCU lost a fumble (that Duggan fumble at his own 3 yard line = SMU TD).
Texas led 14-0 and 42-14 scoring TDs on all 5 possessions with a pick-six. Teams traded INTs to open the 3rd Q then a big punt return set up Horns at TT07 and soon it was 49-14. Teams would quickly trade 4 TDs on the ensuing possessions with big plays for a 42 point 3rd Q! 49-21, 56-21, 56-28, 63-28. Each team scored 1 more TD in the 4th. Tex 639-520 (8.5-7.8), Tex rushed for 336 (6.5). Thompson 18-23-303-5-1, 29y net rushing with TD. B Robinson 18-137, 2rec-54-TD. TT QB Slough was injured and left game 1st H. Colombi 17-23-324-3-1.
Northwestern started Ryan Hilinski at QB. He went 12-20-88-0-0. Evan Hull rushed 22-220-2TD. NW was in the RZ 7x, but only scored 3 TDs, made 2-of-3 FGs and fumble. NW added two late TDs off short fields following Ohio SOD and INT. NW 461-348 TY (6.5-5.5). Was 35-0 before OU got a 55y TD run to end the game.
Central Michigan went to the bench late 3rd Q and back up QB Daniel Richardson led a comeback win. FIU led 14-3 late 2nd Q when a punt bounced off the ground and touched an FIU player at the F07 giving the Chips an easy TD and a 14-10 game HT. FIU again stretched their lead to DD with a 27-10 score. Enter Richardson. He led TD drive to start the 4th Q...27-17. CM D stiffened up. FIU went 3-and-out, Richardson led another TD mid 4th Q, FIU drove down to C12 with a FD, but had to settle for a 28y FG, which they missed! FIU D forced a punt, but Panther O went 3-and-out and had to give it right back, now 2min left. CM quickly and easily went 80y for the go-ahead TD...31-27 1:11 to go. FIU got as far as the C18, but 2 incompletions and an INT in the EZ ended the game. CM did have 599-437 TY edge (6.7-6.2). CM had 256y in the 1st H, but just 10pts as they were SOD at F25 and made and missed medium distance FGs. Each team lost 2 turnovers, none bigger than the touched punt before HT for FIU. Richardson entered for a struggling Sirmon and went 16-23-276-3-0 in just over 1 quarter of play. Lew 25-152 and CM had two 100y receivers. Bortenschlager had a career game 20-38-395-2-1 (was sacked 5x) and FIU had two receivers over 170y (career days for both Chambers and Singleton)! Price was limited 17-50-TD, 2rd-15y.
Utah State outgained Boise St 443-435 (6.1-5.4), but lost 27-3. Utah St's 1st H possessions ened in INT (Boise got FG), SOD, blk'd 41y FG, INT at the B01 and a missed 35y FG. Boise led 10-0 HT with Utah State gained 317y but zero points. Was still 10-0 when Utah St ran a called fake punt at their own 26 on 4th-10 which Boise sniffed out from the beginning. That led to an easy Boise TD and 17-0 lead and later Boise added a second short field TD following a fumble. Teams were a similar 35-40% on 3rd down. Utah St lost 3 turnovers plus the SOD deep in own territory. USU was also penalized 13x for 86y. Boise still can't run, Holani 13-46. Much of Boise's running success came from Bachmeier and WRs.
Penn State and Villanova was a game between unbeatens. Sean Cliffored passed for a personal best 401 yards. Villanova was ranked 11 FCS. Penn State led 38-3 early 4th Q before 'Nova got a couple late TDs. Prior to their final two drives for scores, 'Nova was only able to cross midfield on 2 of their first 10 drives. Curiously, Penn State still struggled to run the ball, leading RB rusher avg'd just 4.1ypc and as a team they averaged just 2.4ypc. 'Nova had 8 TFL. Penn St also only converted 3-of-12 3rd downs.
Minnesota goes from a dominating 30-0 win at Colorado to an embarrassing home loss to Bowling Green. BG actually never drove into Minnesota territory the entire 1st H on 7 possessions. But Minnesota gave them the ball at the M24 when Fleck choose to go for a 4th-and-1 deep in his own territory mid 2nd Q and Potts was stopped for a 5y loss. 4 plays later BG led 7-3. If we remember, Minnesota went for a 4th-and-1 at their own 29 vs Ohio State, which resulted in a big run and sparked Minn to a 1st H lead vs the Buckeyes. Not so much here. BG loaded up to stop the run and Min couldn't pass, failures in every facet of the passing game. Morgan finished 5-13-59-0-2. Gophers had possessions in BG territory end in 36y FG, Morgan fumble at BG43 after 18y run, got a 54y run to the B37, but would only gain 4 more yards and missed a 52y FG. BG took that possession and regained a 14-10 lead late 3rd Q (converted 4th-and-1 along the way). Min's final 4 possessions didn't cross midfield, the last two ended in back-to-back INTs. FDs were even at 12. Min had a 182-22 RY (4.0-.9), but only outgained them 241-192 (4.2-3.1). Min lost 3 turnovers, BG lost 2. Each D got 4 sacks. BG just 2-of-14 3rd down, Min 5-of-14. Min WR Autman-Bell played one series then appeared injured walking on the sideline. QB McDonald ran for both of BG's TDs, he was sacked 4x so it doesn't show in the stats, but he had some key runs on BG's drives.
Virginia Tech only outgained Richmond 318-237 (5.1-4.0) in the 21-10 win, and VT O accounted for just 14 points as they had a 60y punt return score. Richmond's QB was injured in the 1st Q and did not return. Richmond only really had one or two decent drives in the game, their TD was set up off a 16y "drive" following an INT deep in VT territory.
Wagner scored first, Temple scored the next 41 to win 41-7. Mathis returned for Temple 22-32-292-2-0. Temple outgained them 407-159 (6.6-2.8) ,but only rushed 115 (4.0).
Army is 4-0 for the first time since 1996. MiamiO struggled to keep drives alive (2-of-11 3rd down) while Army QB Anderson ripped 72 and 75y TD runs and rushed for 236y before injury. Miami did kick FG from the A11 and were SOD at the A01. Predictably, Army took that one 18p 99y in a classic 10min 51sec Army TD drive to lead 23-3. MiaO got an 80y TD pass early 4th, it went final there at 23-10 after Army's final two drives killed 10 minutes.
Notre Dame - Wisconsin were locked in a tight one, with ties of 3-3 and 10-10. ND had missed a FG and UW was SOD at the N21. Coan had been knocked out of the game two possessions before UW got a 3rd Q sack/fumble and recovery at the N39, Badgers drove for 1st-goal but had to settle for 27y FG to lead 13-10. ND returned the ensuing KO 96y for TD and it was lights out. UW went 3-and-out after a sack on 3rd down, ND went up 24-13, UW missed a long FG, then Mertz threw INT with long return set up ND on a short field resulting in 37y FG...27-13 UW, then ND got back-to-back pick-sixes! 41-13 F. ND scored 31 4th Q points to UW's 3, but UW actually outgained them 110-60 in the quarter! For the game UW would outgain them 314-242 (4.6-3.5), but threw a total of 4 INTs and lost a fumble (led to 31 ND pts). ND lost 1 turnover (led to 3 UW points). UW converted just 1-of-14 3rd downs! ND was 5-of-16. Badger D did get 12 TFL and 6 sacks!
Mississippi State turned it over on 2 of their first 3 drives both in LSU territory. LSU took the first for a TD (had to convert 4th-and-1 along the way). MSU had 1st-goal but had to settle for 23y FG...7-3. MSU D got INT, but would have to punt. 7-3 would be HT score. LSU got a 64y TD pass to open the 3rd Q...14-3. MSU drove down to the L21, but would have to settle for 33y FGA, which was missed. LSU later got a 58y TD pass to go up 21-3, but MSU would drive for TD just before end of 3rd Q. 21-10. MSU roughed the LSU punter and 3 plays later LSU would lead 28-10. MSU responded mid 4th Q...28-17 and they forced an LSU 3-and-out, 5 minutes later it was 28-25 (2pt good) under 2min to go. MSU's onside kick did not go 10 yards and MSU only had 1 timeout, LSU took knees. MSU scored 15 4th Q points. LSU's TDs were 11y pass, 64y pass, 58y pass, 41y pass. Due the big plays and to MSU's the early drives resulting in turnovers, MSU did have a 29-15 FD edge. MSU outrushed them 115-63 (4.4-2.3) and outgained them overall 486-343 (5.5-6.4). MSU did convert 12-of-18 3rd down to LSUs 5-of-13. LSU D forced MSU to kick 2 RZ FGs.
Missouri had leads of 7-0, 14-7 and 17-14 in the 1st H. But Boston College would have leads of 24-17, 27-17, 27-24, 34-31 in the 2nd H. Both teams kicked a RZ FG. Both teams only punted twice all game. Both teams converted 3rd downs in the 60% range. Both teams threw an INT in regulation, however BC's led to no damage, Mizz's INT in regulation led to a BC FG and Tiger's second INT ended the game in OT. Mizz K made a career long 56y FG to force OT as time expired. In OT BC got TD pass, Mizz threw INT in EZ (thrown into double coverage on first down). BC ran for 275 (5.6). BC ran it so well, they rarely needed to pass, but choose to. BC went 3-and-out twice, those drives saw 2 incomplete passes each. Grosel 18-29-175-2-1, 35y rushing. Bazelak 30-41-303-1-2.
Georgia outgained Vanderbilt 532-77! Georgia nearly had more points, than Vandy had yards! 62-0. UGA led 35-0 after 1st Q! UGA passed for 291y and rushed for 241y. FDs were 28-4!
Defense optional for SMU-TCU. There were wide open receiver and big plays early and often. SMU 68y TD, TCU 20y TD run, SMU 46y run on way to a 14-7 lead. TCU got a 60y pass on way to tie 14-14. SMU threw INT, but TCU would miss FG. TCU got a 46y TD to lead 21-14. SMU tied on a 29y TD pass. 21-21. SMU was on a long drive to end the 1st H, faced a 4th-goal at the T02 and opted to go for it with :03 left, but threw INT in EZ...21-21. Seems like that would've mattered, but it didn't. Duggan was sacked/fumbled first play of the 3rd Q and SMU got a 2p 3y TD "drive" to lead 28-21 and they never looked back. SMU would lead 28-24, 35-24, TCU SOD, 35-27, 42-27, 42-34 with 4min left. TCU kicked off deep, but could not stop the Ponies. SMU outgained them 595-446 (7.4-7.7) and outrushed them 350-170 (6.7-5.7). SMU threw 3 INTs (led to TCU missed FG and made FG), TCU lost a fumble (that Duggan fumble at his own 3 yard line = SMU TD).
Texas led 14-0 and 42-14 scoring TDs on all 5 possessions with a pick-six. Teams traded INTs to open the 3rd Q then a big punt return set up Horns at TT07 and soon it was 49-14. Teams would quickly trade 4 TDs on the ensuing possessions with big plays for a 42 point 3rd Q! 49-21, 56-21, 56-28, 63-28. Each team scored 1 more TD in the 4th. Tex 639-520 (8.5-7.8), Tex rushed for 336 (6.5). Thompson 18-23-303-5-1, 29y net rushing with TD. B Robinson 18-137, 2rec-54-TD. TT QB Slough was injured and left game 1st H. Colombi 17-23-324-3-1.
Northwestern started Ryan Hilinski at QB. He went 12-20-88-0-0. Evan Hull rushed 22-220-2TD. NW was in the RZ 7x, but only scored 3 TDs, made 2-of-3 FGs and fumble. NW added two late TDs off short fields following Ohio SOD and INT. NW 461-348 TY (6.5-5.5). Was 35-0 before OU got a 55y TD run to end the game.
Central Michigan went to the bench late 3rd Q and back up QB Daniel Richardson led a comeback win. FIU led 14-3 late 2nd Q when a punt bounced off the ground and touched an FIU player at the F07 giving the Chips an easy TD and a 14-10 game HT. FIU again stretched their lead to DD with a 27-10 score. Enter Richardson. He led TD drive to start the 4th Q...27-17. CM D stiffened up. FIU went 3-and-out, Richardson led another TD mid 4th Q, FIU drove down to C12 with a FD, but had to settle for a 28y FG, which they missed! FIU D forced a punt, but Panther O went 3-and-out and had to give it right back, now 2min left. CM quickly and easily went 80y for the go-ahead TD...31-27 1:11 to go. FIU got as far as the C18, but 2 incompletions and an INT in the EZ ended the game. CM did have 599-437 TY edge (6.7-6.2). CM had 256y in the 1st H, but just 10pts as they were SOD at F25 and made and missed medium distance FGs. Each team lost 2 turnovers, none bigger than the touched punt before HT for FIU. Richardson entered for a struggling Sirmon and went 16-23-276-3-0 in just over 1 quarter of play. Lew 25-152 and CM had two 100y receivers. Bortenschlager had a career game 20-38-395-2-1 (was sacked 5x) and FIU had two receivers over 170y (career days for both Chambers and Singleton)! Price was limited 17-50-TD, 2rd-15y.
Utah State outgained Boise St 443-435 (6.1-5.4), but lost 27-3. Utah St's 1st H possessions ened in INT (Boise got FG), SOD, blk'd 41y FG, INT at the B01 and a missed 35y FG. Boise led 10-0 HT with Utah State gained 317y but zero points. Was still 10-0 when Utah St ran a called fake punt at their own 26 on 4th-10 which Boise sniffed out from the beginning. That led to an easy Boise TD and 17-0 lead and later Boise added a second short field TD following a fumble. Teams were a similar 35-40% on 3rd down. Utah St lost 3 turnovers plus the SOD deep in own territory. USU was also penalized 13x for 86y. Boise still can't run, Holani 13-46. Much of Boise's running success came from Bachmeier and WRs.
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