Miss some of this week’s fantastic games? Well, you should go back and watch some of the memorable performances from week two, but we can catch you up here.
CLEMSON vs. NOTRE DAME
This one was expected to go down way differently than it actually did, and it’s a shame because of the talent on Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish tumbled early and then things snowballed. They just couldn’t get up off the mat to counter the effectiveness of Clemson signal-caller Will Slay, who put up 443 yards through the air with four touchdown passes. Compound that with Notre Dame quarterback Leo Asiata throwing four interceptions, and this game went the wrong way for all parties, save Clemson.
Final: Clemson 38, Notre Dame 3
OHIO STATE vs. Auburn
One of the best games of the week, and this contest was about what we expected. An all-out slugfest between two favorites to win their conferences. Seriously, this very well could have been the National Championship preview, and it was great. Auburn tailback Robert Davis had the game we expected a week ago, turning in an 18 carry night for 107 yards and a pair of scores. Still, the ferocity of the Ohio State defense, led by safety Kevin Brackett’s 10 tackle performance, stifled the Tigers on third downs, providing junior signal-caller Xavier Garcia-Allen with some short fields to work with, on a night when he was nigh impossible to stop as a runner, rushing for two scores.
Final: Ohio State 33, Auburn 23
oregon vs. texas
In one of the more surprising games of the week, the Ducks came away with a major upset. Though given last week’s fight with Clemson we shouldn’t be too surprised. Still, this Texas defense – despite linebacker Howard Cook’s 12 tackle game – had no answer for senior quarterback Devonta Cribbs’ swan song of a season. 312 passing yards, three touchdowns, another 114 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown. Oh, and receiver Dijon Swann had three more catches for another 100+ yards and two more scores. This Ducks offense is ferocious. Texas’ dual-threat Walker Mills didn’t look too shabby either, putting up 266 yards through the air with two scores, but his 29 of 41 passing night didn’t help on third downs, which hurt.
Final: Oregon 34, Texas 17
NEBRASKA VS. ALABAMA
Despite the controversial ending, this game was fantastic to watch from start to finish. It truly was a race up until the late stages of the fourth quarter, when Nebraska’s momentum seemed to vanish after falling behind two scores. Nebraska quarterback James Kovach had two touchdown passes and an interception, which was a questionable call, but a costly one for the Cornhuskers, as it was returned for six points. Oddly enough, it was the last points scored on the night by Alabama. On a night where Balion Siege aired it out for 144 yards and two scores, accompanied by another 120 on the ground with a rushing score. Bama tailback Joe Pantoja turned in his own 162 rushing yard, two rushing touchdown performance.
Final: Nebraska 35, Alabama 42
MIAMI vs. USC
The first of two games on Thursday, a night that saw both games end on Hail Mary incompletions. Still, a fun back and forth that saw a duel of two dual-threat quarterbacks. Miami’s Jose Bueno and USC’s Kingston Fox volleyed back and forth, with Hurricane receiver Nick Bagg opening things up with a whirlwind 76 yard touchdown catch. Fox responded with a pretty impressive drive, and had a 72 yard touchdown pass to his receiver Mason Winters, who showed why his nickname is “Ace”. Bueno and Fox both traded 40+ yard runs for scores in what was an exciting matchup. A late interception by Jose Bueno, though, is what sealed Miami’s fate, giving USC a drive that ended in the game-winning field goal.
Final: Miami 27, USC 30
MICHIGAN vs. FLORIDA
This one could have gone a lot of different ways, and certainly not the way either team expected. This game was rocky for the Wolverines out of the gate, where they quickly fell behind by 14. They managed to cut into that lead before the Gators scored again. It was a much better performance for freshman quarterback Mathias St. John, one we expected a week ago. Then corner Dakota Wolf hauled in another interception, which he turned into six points himself. Wolf finished the day with three interceptions, and Michigan was down by 21 at one point in the second quarter. Then the second half happened. The senior signal-caller, Dewey Ainge, led his Wolverines back from the brink, including an impressive two minute drill that enabled the Wolverines to pull ahead for their first lead of the night. And it was the one that mattered.
Final: Michigan 36, Florida 35
