The weekend before rivalry weekend is usually a time for teams schedule an easy matchup to get ready for the difficult game ahead. Despite the weak slate of games, there were still clashes that hold weight for conference races and playoff seeding. Shoutout to the California schools that made this weekend watchable, along with some tight Big Ten games.
Here is your weekend recap:
Gophers Recap
The Minnesota Golden Gophers played the Northwestern Wildcats on the road and received a 39-0 beat down. The Gophers looked terrible on offense, turning the ball over five times and putting the ball in plus territory for the Wildcats three times. They made it easy for the Wildcats offense. Northwestern running back Justin Jackson’s 166 yards was enough to get him over the 5,000 mark for his career. For more on that game, go here.
Quick Hits
Unless you enjoyed Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield grab himself or Alabama destroy Mercer in a cream-puff game, then you probably watched one of the California games.
The Big Game
In the 111th meeting between the California Golden Bears and the Stanford Cardinal, running back Bryce Love showed up in a big way. The bell-cow back fought through what Cardinal head coach David Shaw described as “agonizing pain” to put his team up in the second half. Love ran for 101 yards and a score. He’s now recorded a score in the last 12 games he has played in – an FBS-leading active streak – and has scored on 11 runs of 50-plus yardage this season.
Prodigy vs. Process
The clash between the UCLA Bruins and the USC Trojans is also a storied rivalry, dating back to 1929. USC has quarterback Sam Darnold, who has exploded seemingly out of nowhere since last October, and brought the Trojans back to their former glory. The Bruins rolled in with quarterback Josh Rosen, the “chosen one”, who has been forced to bounce back after a back injury last season.
The quarterback duel was won by Darnold, who tossed for 264 yards in the 28-23 USC victory. Rosen was the more impressive quarterback, however, with 421 yards and three scores as he tried to overcome his team’s poor running game. Despite the premier quarterback matchup, the biggest play of the game was a punt return from Michael Pittman Jr., who scored on a 72-yard return to make the difference in the game early.
Wisconsin Keeps Rolling
The Wisconsin Badgers have stayed perfect, but also hold a weak schedule. Their game against the Michigan Wolverines was a great way to showcase their talent against a stout opponent. Wisconsin did just that, with great play from their defense that held Michigan to 58 rushing yards. Star running back Jonathan Taylor was eventually able to wear down Michigan’s front, and ended with 132 yards on the ground as Wisconsin captured a 24-10 victory.
Chain Gang
In honor of the Miami Hurricanes Turnover Chain tradition, this is the weekend’s best turnover:
It goes to Miami’s (OH) linebacker Brad Koeing for his toe-tapping grab after corner Heath Harding forced a fumble right along the chalk.
Heisman Highlight
This is the same problem Donnel Pumphrey faced when he played for the San Diego State Aztecs, putting together a nation-leading rushing performance without much attention. Aztecs running back Rashaad Penny is doing the same thing with 2,462 all-purpose yards, yet remains a dark horse. Here, he houses his first punt return attempt of the season.
Game Of The Week
Stunning the No. 13 Oklahoma State Cowboys on the road, the Kansas State Wildcats managed a 45-40 victory after surviving the Cowboys’ 20 point comeback attempt in the fourth quarter. Freshman Wildcats quarterback Skyler Thompson did a great job keeping up with the signal-caller across the field in Mason Rudolph, finishing with 204 yards and three scores.
Rudolph put on a show in the loss, dragging his team back into the game with a 425-yard game with three scores. The Cowboys defense has checked out since September, and their electric offense was unable to overcome the 35 points the Wildcats put up in the second and third quarters.
Play Of The Weekend
Special teams across the country were on fire this weekend. USC took a punt to the house with a bit of trickery, while Penny got the house call, and Florida State blocked a field goal attempt for the score. All were great plays.
However, Wisconsin breaking the early scoring drought with a punt return score on the hesitation return is the best of the special teams-crazed weekend. Here is Nick Nelson’s 50-yard return.