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Props to the video board operator at New Mexico. The “Welcome! Connor Stalions (probably)” sign was brilliant.
Here’s what happened in college football on Saturday …
Live From Wrigley Field!
Iowa somehow controls Big Ten West
I changed my scenery Saturday and attended the Iowa-Northwestern game at Chicago’s Wrigley Field. The 10-7 Hawkeyes win is best known for its historically low over-under (29.5) and meme-worthy hole in the field that emerged after an Iowa goal-line stop. But in all seriousness, the game had major ramifications in the Big Ten West standings.
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With Nebraska losing to Michigan State, Wisconsin losing to Indiana and Minnesota losing to Illinois, the four-way tie atop the division collapsed, leaving Iowa in the driver’s seat. Despite more offensive woes, the game offered a slight escape from Iowa’s tumultuous week after interim AD Beth Goetz announced offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz will not return after this season.
Saturday’s trip to the Chicago Cubs’ home field also offered a road game that deserved an asterisk next to it.
“It felt like a home game coming here,” DB Cooper DeJean said. “All I saw was a lot of black and gold. I didn’t see much purple and white.”
Chicago native Leshon Williams, who led the Hawkeyes in rushing with 24 carries for 79 yards, gave away about 20 tickets to family and friends but joked he probably could have had 80 hometown people attend. Maybe he would’ve opted to play at the stadium on the other side of town.
“I’ve actually never even seen this stadium before,” Williams said. “I’m a South sider.”
He had never so much as driven past Wrigley, he claimed. As a born and raised Sox fan, I respect that.
Let’s Talk About Bama
Jalen Milroe puts it all together
Is it time we start talking more about CFP No. 8 Alabama? The Crimson Tide powered past No. 14 LSU in a 42-28 win. A major factor in the game was the play of the two quarterbacks.
- Milroe had a breakthrough game and led the Tide in rushing with 20 carries for 155 yards and four TDs. He completed 65.2 percent of his passes for 219 yards with no turnovers.
- LSU QB Jayden Daniels also passed for exactly 219 yards but exited the game early in the fourth quarter and entered concussion protocol after taking a hit from Alabama LB Dallas Turner. Daniels was also his team’s leading rusher with 11 carries for 163 yards (an average of 14.8 yards per carry).
Scores Around The Country
Clemson win highlights exciting day
- How about that, Tyler from Spartanburg? Clemson pulled off one of the biggest wins of the day by beating No. 15 Notre Dame 31-23. The Tigers committed zero penalties for the first time since 1952 😮. The Tigers’ defense held Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman to season lows in passing yards (146) and completion rate (13-for-30). With the win, Dabo Swinney became the winningest coach in Clemson history.
- No. 23 Kansas State spooked No. 7 Texas and forced overtime in Austin. The Longhorns were again without starting QB Quinn Ewers, opening the door for freshman Maalik Murphy to flash his arm strength (248 yards) and inexperience (two picks). The Wildcats lost 33-30 when a fourth-and-goal try failed.
- No. 1 Ohio State was sluggish against Rutgers, and the Scarlet Knights held a 9-7 halftime edge. But maybe the Buckeyes are just a second-half team. TreVeyon Henderson led Ohio State in rushing (22 carries, 128 yards, one TD) and receiving (five catches, 80 yards) as his team surged to a 35-16 road win.
- No. 2 Georgia escaped against testy 12th-ranked Missouri 30-21 at Sanford Stadium. The teams were tied at 10 at halftime, and Missouri was within three points in the fourth quarter. But a costly interception thrown by Brady Cook kept the Tigers from pulling ahead. Star wide receiver Luther Burden hurt his ankle during the second quarter, and even though he returned, he appeared to be banged up the rest of the game.
- Last week, Oklahoma was the team kicked out of the undefeated club. This week, No. 25 Air Force dropped a brutal 23-3 loss to Army. It marked the Black Knights’ first win against an AP-ranked team since 1972.
- Speaking of the Sooners, they lost their second game in a row, this time to No. 22 Oklahoma State in a 27-24 result. Cowboys star running back Ollie Gordon II had 33 carries for 137 yards and two TDs. Oklahoma lost two fumbles and went 0-for-2 on fourth downs.
- No. 4 Florida State was without two of its biggest playmakers (Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson) in a 24-7 win at Pitt. Even without his main targets, quarterback Jordan Travis threw a season-high 360 yards on a 61.1 percent completion rate.
- No. 5 Washington outlasted No. 20 USC 52-42. The teams combined for 63 points in the first half, making it the highest-scoring half in a Pac-12 game in five years. The game marked the Huskies’ 16th consecutive win – the second-longest active streak behind Georgia.
Must-See Plays
USC-Washington lights up the night
While we’re on the topic of USC-Washington, we have to discuss three plays from Saturday, including one play each from the Huskies and Trojans.
3: Washington’s Dillon Johnson had a career-long 53-yard run from the Huskies’ 9-yard line. Johnson then scored a TD to cap the drive and finished the game with 26 carries for 256 yards and four touchdowns.
2: Washington State quarterback Cam Ward dodged multiple tackles to keep this play alive, complete a pass to Josh Kelly and set the Cougs up for first-and-goal.
1: For the main event, check out this stunner by USC. Caleb Williams handed the ball off to Zachariah Branch, who sped to the left, turned around and tossed it back to Williams, who then completed the 41-yard touchdown pass to Tahj Washington. Incredible.
Quick Snaps
Ari Wasserman and David Ubben react to the best weekend of the season on the Until Saturday podcast.
In his Final Thoughts, Stewart Mandel takes a look at Bedlam’s finale and a lurking Alabama.
From Nicole Auerbach’s top 10, should Georgia be No. 1?
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(Top photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)