USC just cannot catch a break. I love it.
Arik Armstead, considered to be the top offensive/defensive line prospect on the West Coast by sports folks who care about such things, originally committed to the University of Spoiled Children Trojans football program on June 19, 2010. For those playing along at home, that’s nine days after the NCAA smacked down the program for what they called “improper benefits” given to then-Heisman Trophy winner and current Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush.
It was another exciting week in college football this weekend. The top teams are starting to move themselves from the rest of the pack, and just in time as the first BCS poll came out Sunday night.
Now here are some highlights from this weekend’s games:
Oklahoma State 38, Texas 26
Living in Chicago, I really hate winter. But man, do I love fall and football! It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Hopes are still high for a National Championship. Well, unless you’re Notre Dame. Let’s get to a recap of this past week’s most exciting games!
Arizona State 37, Missouri 30 (OT)
I am ashamed to admit that I fell asleep before this game was over. I missed a hell of an ending. ASU donned their new all black uniforms and everyone in the crowd wore black, creating a blackout at Sun Devil Stadium. They built up a 30-16 lead and in true Sun Devil fashion, blew it. But thankfully in OT they scored a touchdown and the defense held down the Tigers for an upset of the 21st-ranked team in the country.
Auburn 41, Mississippi State 34
The reigning National Champions survived another close game to go 2-0 on the season. Their wins aren’t pretty, but a W is a W. Thanks to a goal line stand at the end of the game that stopped MSU, the Tigers got a big SEC win and a win over 16th-ranked Mississippi State.
Alabama 27, Penn State 11
For the second year in a row, Penn State proved that the Big Ten can’t hang with the SEC as the third-ranked Crimson Tide rolled over the Nittany Lions. (See what I did there?)
South Carolina 45, Georgia 42
This was a heck of a battle that went down to the last minute. The two teams went back and forth in a typical SEC rivalry game and the 12th-ranked Gamecocks held on for the win. Georgia looked to have the game locked up after going ahead 35-31 with about six minutes to play. But a quick TD by South Carolina, and then a fumble recovery for a touchdown, put South Carolina up 45-35 with three minutes left. Georgia added another score, but couldn’t find another way to tie up the game and the Cocks squeaked out the win.
Michigan 35, Notre Dame 31
Another exciting, down-to-the-wire game on our hands! In the first game played under lights in the Big House, Michigan scored with two seconds left to beat rival Notre Dame. The Irish went up early and were up 24-7 in the third quarter. The Wolverines answered in the fourth quarter with three straight touchdowns to finally go ahead. But Notre Dame silenced the NCAA-record crowd of 114,804 with the go-ahead score with just 30 seconds left in the game. Michigan never gave up and instead of kicking the field goal to tie the game and send it to overtime, new Michigan coach Brady Hoke went for it. And it paid off for the Maize and Blue.
:::::
Kristabella drinks heavily on Sundays watching NFL games, which is why her recaps are always so delayed.
A typical exciting week in college football and we have the same number one team as we did last week. I’m not sure that has happened since early on in this parity-filled 2010 college football season.
I’m still pissed about my Sun Devils losing to USC on missed kicks by a Lou Groza award winner, so let’s get to some of my thoughts on some of this week’s games:
Oregon 53, Washington 16
In typical Oregon fashion, this game was close in the first half. And then in typical Oregon fashion, their high-powered offense outscored the Washington Huskies 35-10 in the second half to roll to their ninth win of the season. It’s the first time in 115 seasons that the Ducks have started the season 9-0.
Penn State 35, Northwestern 21
Joe Paterno became the first collegiate head coach to win 400 games, as Penn State came back to beat Northwestern, after being down by three touchdowns. My question, though: if you’re Pat Fitzgerald, head coach of Northwestern, do you let the Nittany Lions win? Do you let Joe Pa get his 400th win at home?
Michigan 67, Illinois 65 (3 OT)
This was the highest scoring game in Michigan history and in Big Ten history. It was an offensive barn burner! It was nuts! Defense be damned, apparently! Thankfully there is a rule in college football that come the third overtime, extra points are no longer allowed – you have to go for two. Otherwise, I’m pretty sure this game would still be going on.
TCU 47, Utah 7
Well, considering at the time TCU was ranked fourth and Utah was ranked sixth, this should have been a close game. It was not, clearly. This bodes well for the new Pac-12 conference next year, of which Utah will be a part. Maybe my Sun Devils can beat the Utes.
LSU 24, Alabama 21
The win by the Tigers probably has shut Saban and the Crimson Tide out of contention for the National Championship. I’m sure this saddens not too many college football fans and Saban haters. This game was won on a crucial fourth-and-one play towards the end of the game, where DeAngelo Peterson ran a reverse and gained 23 yards which led to the game-winning touchdown for the Tigers. But the weirdest thing we learned from this game is that LSU head coach Les Miles eats grass from each stadium he plays in, every game. “I have a little tradition that humbles me as a man, that lets me know that I’m a part of the field and part of the game,” Miles said as a smile widened on his face. “You should have seen some games before this. I can tell you one thing: The grass in Tiger Stadium tastes best.”
Um, ohhhh-kay. The South is weird.
Texas A&M 33, Oklahoma 19
Texas A&M snapped a seven game losing streak to Oklahoma in a huge upset of the 11th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners. The Big 12 as a whole is mirroring the theme of this season of college football with the shift in who holds the power. Teams like A&M, Baylor and Texas Tech are on top of the Big 12 South, as opposed to teams like Texas and Oklahoma. Gig ‘em.
Stanford 42, Arizona 17
As I mentioned in a previous post, the University of Arizona has never been to the Rose Bowl. (insert maniacal laughter) And with Oregon rolling along as they are, and hopefully going to earn a spot in the title game this year, it means that the Rose Bowl team for the Pac-10 is still to be determined. And as an Arizona State alum, which comes with an extreme HATRED of the U of A Mildcats, I would like to keep them out of the Rose Bowl. Thankfully, Stanford had the same idea. Whew.
:::::
Even though Kristabella rooted for Stanford, she wants to remind you she still hates Jim Harbaugh.
Well, holy crap sports fans! What a weekend in college football! The number one team in the country got knocked off! That always equals a good week to me! Clearly! By my overuse of exclamation points! (As long as my team isn’t the number one team, which will never happen since I went to Arizona State.) (Hahahaha! I’m laughing just thinking about that preposterous situation!)
Here are my thoughts on some of this past weekend’s action:
South Carolina 35, Alabama 21
I would like to give a slow clap to the South Carolina Gamecocks for knocking off the number one ranked team in all the land. I didn’t think it would happen. My friend was telling me all week it would happen, and I just laughed at her optimism! Maybe wearing dresses to football games is a good thing!
The only downside is now there is a new number one team in the country, and they don’t deserve to be number one. Actually I’m not sure any of the top three teams deserved to be ranked that high, but that’s a different topic for a different post.
Oregon State 29, Arizona 27
Did you know U of A is the only team in the Pac-10 that has never been to the Rose Bowl? Dear Oregon State Beavers, those orange and black roses are from me. Thank you for beating the Mildcats and helping to ensure this is one streak that stays alive.
Florida State 45, Miami (not Ohio) 17
Remember when these schools were the powerhouses in college football? Now no one even really talks about these teams, unless it is about the players going to jail or something. Did you even know they are both ranked? Clearly Miami didn’t deserve that Top 15 ranking. If they need a new head coach, they can have Dennis Erickson back. He’s worn out his welcome in Tempe.
Michigan State 34, Michigan 17
The Battle of the Mitten! The Spartans are playing inspired football and this week their head coach, Mark Dantonio, was back leading his team (albeit in the press box). Michigan State has won three straight in this series, the first time they’ve accomplished this feat since 1965-67. Michigan hasn’t beaten MSU in football or men’s basketball since 2007. I love seeing the maize and blue falter. And fall out of the Top 25.
Stay tuned this weekend to see if South Carolina can keep up the winning, and to see how Alabama recovers against Mississippi, and to hopefully see the nuts of Ohio State get knocked off by Wisconsin.
[photo via my friend Crist] [photo] [photo]
norm: I am so happy the Giants won the big one because that makes the 49ers ...
Heather B.: The flight attendants totally knew what we were all doing. As they did...
GoonSquadSarah: I love this so much, Heather. I think there is something wrong with me...
VeggieTart: I'm going to politely disagree with you on one point: Yes, Ovie's hit...
flutter: Exactly what Trix said....