This weekend was all about the tight games, with Washington State vs. Boise State, Georgia vs. Notre Dame, Iowa vs. State, Nebraska vs. Oregon and even a tight three quarters between Oklahoma and Ohio State. Here are the quick hits from the college weekend.
Gophers Offense Looks Strong
The Minnesota Golden Gophers beat up on the Oregon State Beavers by a score of 48-14. While the defense for the Gophers had three forced fumbles and locked up against the run, the biggest takeaways were on the offensive side of the game. The Beavers had no answer for running back Shannon Brooks (three touchdowns) and wide receiver Tyler Johnson (121 yards), as both did as they pleased. They also found their quarterback, with Conor Rhoda winning the job and officially getting named the starter heading into next week.
Teams On the Up And Up?
The teams that really performed beyond expectations last weekend were the Georgia Bulldogs, Oregon Ducks and Iowa Hawkeyes. They all had to play incredibly tight games and came out on top. Both Iowa and Oregon were also forced out of their game rhythm but still came out victorious, which was even more impressive.
The Hawkeyes are a traditional defensive power, but were tested by a combination of the Iowa State Cyclones’ explosive offense and the failure from their defensive side which forced them into an offensive match. Iowa quarterback Nathan Stanley responded with 333 yards and five passing touchdowns.
The Ducks put up 42 points in the first half, leading 42-14 and dominating the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half. They then shut down offensively, failing to put up a single point in the second half. Their defense was able to hold onto the lead despite the feverous comeback attempt from Nebraska, with a defense they have not been able to trust in years forcing two turnovers to bog down the comeback.
Georgia, on the other hand, played exactly like the SEC stereotype. Running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel combined for 136 yards on the ground with a late score from Michel. Other than an interception, young quarterback Jake Fromm did not kill the team and the defense sunk their teeth into the Fighting Irish. The defense had three sacks and nine tackles for loss, with Lorenzo Carter and Davin Bellamy counting for two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. The game sealing play was Bellamy’s sack off the edge, which rocked Notre Dame quarterback Brandon Wimbush hard enough to force a fumble, which Carter scooped up to seal the game.
These teams put people on notice with some great performances over the weekend.
Big 12 On The Rise
The Oklahoma Sooners’ revenge game over the Ohio State Buckeyes was a big win because they won it on both sides of the ball and did not need to depend on their offense alone to win a shootout. Baker Mayfield had 386 yards and three touchdowns in the 31-16 win. On the other side of the ball, tough defense was the name of the game for the Sooners, playing stingy in the red zone in holding the Buckeyes to three field goals. Mayfield put the offense on his back and drove down the field while the defense kept J.T. Barrett and company out of the promised land.
While the Oklahoma State Cowboys have not had a big game yet, their wins have still been impressive, outscoring their opponents 103-31 in just two games. Quarterback Mason Rudolph has tossed for 638 yards and four touchdowns and the offense has cruised with a great balance of the passing attack with a hammer of a running game.
Both these teams may just be good enough to get a Big 12 squad to the College Football Playoff.
Game Of The Weekend
The Boise State Broncos and Washington State Cougars went to triple overtime late Saturday, with both teams losing their starting quarterbacks to injury in the Cougars’ 47-44 win. Both teams needed their defense to score a touchdown and Washington State needed a punt to bounce off a Broncos player’s helmet to complete the comeback and force overtime. It was a game that made both coaches probably want to pull their hair out but the chaos was entertaining and college overtime is one of the best parts of life. Solid watch.
Best Play Of The Weekend
Terry Goodwin is a wide receiver for the Georgia Bulldogs. He is also the hands behind an amazing one-handed touchdown grab against some very tight Fighting Irish coverage.
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