I cannot tell a lie, this was a pretty disappointing weekend of football when compared with the wild and wonderful Week 7. Notre Dame destroyed USC, Penn State was dominant over Michigan and Tennessee is playing to get head coach Butch Jones fired. None of the top games were even in the neighborhood of competitive. Nevertheless, there was still plenty to take away, with a terrific show from a class of workhorse backs who showed up to play in yet another week.
Here is your weekend breakdown:
Gopher Recap
The Minnesota Golden Gophers broke their three-game losing streak with a 24-17 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini. Kobe McCrary stepped up for another Shannon Brooks injury, rushing for 153 yards and a touchdown. On the defensive side, Jonathan Celestin had a 31-yard pick-six while the defense racked up three sacks and eight tackles for loss in an impressive showing.
Read a full breakdown of that game here.
The Weekend Report
This weekend had some very crushing blowouts from top-level teams. In a season with so many hyped quarterbacks, the play of running backs on top-25 teams has been the difference for most of these rosters.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish took it to USC with the 192-yard, three-touchdown show from running back Josh Adams. The Alabama Crimson Tide used a three-headed backfield of Damien Harris, Najee Harris and Bo Scarbrough for 140 yards and three touchdowns. Saquon Barkley racked up 108 yards and two touchdowns for Penn State.
Derrius Guice had 276 yards and a score for LSU in his first game that he has looked healthy. Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor racked up 126 yards and a touchdown. All teams in the top 25, all teams with blowout showings.
These running backs are special not only because of their production but also their versatility. All are bigger backs who can throw key blocks for their quarterback in pass protection. Their combination of size and speed makes them every-down backs who can power between the tackles or stretch to the outside, racing up the edge of the field and forcing a defense to play from sideline-to-sideline. These running backs are elevating the teams they play on.
The rookie class in the NFL proved that the running back position is still vital in an offense, despite the fact that many questioned the spot’s importance in an age of pass-first offense. Now, after an offseason of bestowing the Heisman to quarterbacks and arguing which one goes first in the draft, the running backs are stealing the show. This college running back class has stormed into the season with a dominant showing to remind us how important the position really is.
Game Of The Week – Oklahoma Tops Kansas State 42-35
In a weekend of blowouts, this game was a gem. The No. 9 Sooners went right down the wire with the Wildcats, edging them out 42-35. The Wildcats were up 21-20 headed into the fourth quarter with a phenomenal performance from quarterback Alex Delton, who finished with 286 yards and four scores. But Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield would not go quietly, leading the Sooners to a 22-point final quarter, edging out the Wildcats to steal a victory. Mayfield finished with 410 passing yards and two touchdowns in the comeback win, adding 69 yards along with two scores on the ground. The performance was enough to rocket Mayfield back into the top tier of the Heisman conversation — amongst a crowded field of running backs, of course.
Play Of The Week
Every once in awhile, having the stones to ignore the situation and surroundings by totally diving into a moment of pure cockiness and brazenness must be recognized. The play of the week is just such a moment.
Here we see sophomore linebacker Daniel Bituli make an interception and return it for a 97-yard pick-six. Trailing him is cornerback Rashaan Gaulden. As Bituli enters the end zone, Gaulden emphatically gives the Alabama crowd the double finger. This is the play of the week because, not only is Gaulden not the one with the touchdown, he is also down 21 points at the time, to a team which he has never beaten in his collegiate career. But he put all reality or understanding of the moment aside to give the crowd what he thought of them. It takes a cocky pair to do so, and Gaulden gave two to the Alabama crowd.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8MBWj6YzqQ
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