Winners and Losers from Week 8 of College Football
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Indiana QB Michael Penix Jr.Darron Cummings/Related Press
After a fairly sedated originate for the duration of the early slate, Week 8 of the 2020 faculty soccer season went off the rails.
AP Nos. 8 (Penn Scream), 17 (Iowa Scream) and 19 (Virginia Tech) every suffered losses by a one-fetch margin within lower than an hour of every other. Penn Scream’s loss became in particular absurd, because the Nittany Lions bought the ball wait on with the lead with lower than two minutes closing totally to by hook or by crook lose by a fragment of an shuffle in additional time.
Speaking of additional time, whereas all these “extra predominant” video games have been going on, Rice overlooked what would have been a sport-a success topic goal in additional time on a QUADRUPLE DOINK. Because of the COVID-19 cancellations, the Owls waited all this time to play their first sport of the season, supreme to exit take care of that. Brutal.
And, sadly, one in all essentially the most animated avid gamers in the nation suffered a season-ending damage.
What else carry out the evening and slack video games have in retailer for us?
Extra winners and losers will seemingly be added all the design in which by technique of the evening.
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Rutgers RB Isaih PachecoCarlos Osorio/Related Press
Three weeks ago, Arkansas ended a 20-sport SEC shedding drag dating wait on to October 2017, and now it appears to be like take care of the Razorbacks will seemingly be the fifth-totally group in that convention.
Et tu, Rutgers?
The Scarlet Knights entered the Mountainous Ten’s opening weekend with a 21-sport convention shedding drag dating wait on to November 2017, however they went on the road to East Lansing and snapped that skid with a 38-27 victory over Michigan Scream.
At some level of that shedding drag, Rutgers totally averaged 7.8 parts per sport. It became shutout 5 cases. All 9 losses final season have been by no lower than a 27-level margin.
But, the Scarlet Knights got here out and marched lawful down the topic on a 75-yard touchdown pressure to originate the 2020 season.
And then, the loyal chronicle of this sport began: Michigan Scream turnovers.
The Spartans fumbled the ball away on their first offensive snap. Three plays after getting the ball wait on, they did it again. The 2nd one became a strip-sack which gave Rutgers the ball on the MSU 1, which resulted in a 14-0 lead moments later.
On their third possession, Michigan Scream grew to develop to be it over on downs—which technically doesn’t depend as a turnover, despite the incontrovertible truth that “flip” and “over” are truly in the outline of what took space. MSU’s fifth possession resulted in an interception and the sixth on a fumble.
The Spartans offense would add three extra official turnovers and one extra turnover on downs in the 2nd half of. That is a entire of seven turnovers; 9 while you happen to capture to have to depend the failed fourth-down makes an are attempting.
Aside from the hole possession, Rutgers did not have a single pressure of 55 or extra yards. But it didn’t must with all these short-topic opportunities.
In its first six seasons after joining the Mountainous Ten, Rutgers never had a a success story in convention play. At 1-0, that is no longer the case.
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Alabama WR Jaylen DartRogelio V. Solis/Related Press
Whether or no longer you root for Alabama or loathe the Crimson Tide with every fiber of your being, there’s now not any denying that Jaylen Dart became one in all essentially the most fascinating talents in the nation.
Amongst avid gamers who entered Week 8 averaging no lower than 4 receptions per sport, Dart’s price of 22.3 yards per raise ranked totally in the nation. No longer totally became he averaging 140 receiving yards per sport, however he also had no lower than 120 in every of Alabama’s first four contests—including the 90-yard bomb that if truth be told broke Georgia in final week’s “Game of the 365 days.”
On the hole kickoff in opposition to Tennessee, despite the incontrovertible truth that, Dart suffered a broken ankle and will reportedly slump over the rest of the 2020 season.
That. Sucks.
Or no longer it is most definitely going to be a Tua Tagovailoa produce of region whereby the damage does nothing to dissuade the NFL from making him a high first-round draft salvage subsequent spring, on the replacement hand it be a disgrace shall we no longer accumulate to see him anymore.
Dart entered the week with the fourth-totally odds of a success the Heisman, per Motion Community, and by a long way the utterly odds among non-quarterbacks.
Even without the superstar wide receiver, Alabama’s offense became no worse for build on in a blowout get over the Volunteers. Mac Jones continued his odd routine of throwing darts all the design in which by technique of the topic for nearly 400 yards. Sophomore Slade Bolden—who made two receptions final season and nil in Alabama’s first four video games this year—capitalized on the “subsequent man up” region with six receptions for 94 yards.
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Phillip BrooksCharlie Riedel/Related Press
Heading into Saturday, Texas Scream became main the nation in cumulative punt-return yards with 158 of them—spread across six video games. The Bobcats have been the utterly group with extra than one returns of 40 or extra yards. In your total season, there had totally been 10 such returns.
Heck, for your total 2019 season, Alabama (5) became the utterly group with better than two returns of 40 or extra yards.
Where am I going with this, you shall be questioning?
Kansas Scream’s Phillip Brooks single-handedly had four punt returns of no lower than 40 yards in his group’s 55-14 victory over Kansas—a 55-yarder for a touchdown in the predominant quarter, a 40-yard return early in the 2nd quarter, a 52-yard touchdown lawful sooner than halftime and a 42-yard return early in the fourth quarter.
Of the bunch, the utterly became the actual person that ended the predominant half of. Kansas Scream known as a timeout with four seconds closing to pressure Kansas to punt it, and the lunge paid off.
Add it all up, and that is the reason 189 punt-return yards—better than KSU had all of final season (163).
Aside from Oklahoma’s Ryan Broyles racking up 209 yards in opposition to Oklahoma Scream in 2009, that is mainly the most punt-return yards in a single sport in opposition to an FBS opponent since 2003.
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Penn Scream TE Pat FreiermuthDarron Cummings/Related Press
The first 57 minutes between Penn Scream and Indiana have been fairly fascinating.
The final three (plus additional time) have been total chaos.
Penn Scream scored on its opening pressure sooner than increasing a case of turnover-itis. One interception feature the Hoosiers up for a short topic goal; one other build Indiana on the PSU 4 for a easy touchdown. And after that fetch gave Indiana a 17-7 lead, the Nittany Lions build together a long, 12-play pressure supreme to fumble the ball away again.
In the waste, despite the incontrovertible truth that, Penn Scream’s expertise income paid dividends. Sean Clifford ended the third quarter with a ambitious 35-yard drag for a touchdown. And then slack in the fourth quarter, Clifford unleashed a howitzer and connected with Jahan Dotson for a 60-yard, slump-ahead touchdown.
At that level, despite the incontrovertible truth that the fetch became totally 21-20, it felt take care of Penn Scream had the sport effectively in hand. When Shaka Toney followed swimsuit with two sacks of Michael Penix Jr. in the job of forcing a turnover on downs, the sport became effectively over.
As another of running out the clock on a victory, despite the incontrovertible truth that, Devyn Ford straight ran in a touchdown from 14 yards out and gave Indiana a prayer of coming wait on—despite the incontrovertible truth that the Hoosiers barely had 100 yards of total offense with 100 seconds closing in the sport.
Out of completely nowhere, the Hoosiers marched 75 yards down the topic for a touchdown and a two-level conversion to tie the sport at 28-28.
Penn Scream aloof had a piece little bit of time left to envision out to get in regulation and bought some attend from a preposterously dreadful resolution by Indiana’s kicker to squib kick the kickoff no longer even across the 50. But Jordan Colossal’s 57-yard topic-goal strive got here up perchance two toes short and the sport went to additional time.
The Nittany Lions scored first to salvage a 35-28 lead, followed by Indiana making it 35-34 on a glorious Whop Philyor touchdown reception on third-and-goal from the 9.
Rather then prolonging the sport, Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen determined to address out exactly what we at all times want the underdog to address out in these eventualities however very infrequently ever does: He went for 2. Penix scrambled to his left and at full extension barely bought the ball across the aircraft sooner than it touched out of bounds. The replay review in level of truth can have long gone both potential, however they went with the name on the topic for what resulted in an enormous upset.
At some level of the broadcast on FS1, it became over and over well-liked that Indiana had misplaced 42 consecutive video games in opposition to AP Top 10 opponents, with its final victory coming in opposition to No. 9 Ohio Scream in 1987. So worthy for that 33-year drag.
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Appalachian Scream QB Zac ThomasEmilee Chinn/Related Press
The Thursday evening showdown between Appalachian Scream and Arkansas Scream became supposed to be a high-scoring affair. App Scream has an elegant speeding assault, whereas Arkansas Scream passes about besides any group in the nation and doesn’t play a lick of protection.
As another, it became App Scream’s quarterback main the scoring and Arkansas Scream’s passing sport that became shut down.
Mountaineers QB Zac Thomas had supreme two passing touchdowns in his first three video games mixed, however he went off for four passing touchdowns and a speeding fetch in the 45-17 victory. Relationship wait on to final November, it became the third time in his final 9 video games that Thomas had exactly 5 total touchdowns with four of them coming by technique of the air.
(The App Scream depart sport became aloof fairly potent. Thomas finished off most of the scoring drives with a slump, however the Mountaineers rushed for no lower than 300 yards for the third time this season.)
The loyal shock, despite the incontrovertible truth that, became how effectively the secondary stifled Arkansas Scream’s two-QB machine.
To be sure, it be no longer the correct play by the protection that became a shock. The Mountaineers had totally allowed one passing touchdown of their first three video games, and that got here with three minutes closing in a 52-21 victory over Campbell. They entered the week with what became statistically one in all the utterly secondaries in the nation.
Rather, the shock is that someone became ready to bottle up this in general potent aerial assault.
In every of their old four video games, the Pink Wolves had no lower than 330 yards and three touchdowns by scheme of the slump. Closing Thursday, they torched Georgia Scream for 551 passing yards and eight touchdowns. But after wait on-to-wait on video games whereby each Layne Hatcher and Logan Bonner had no lower than three passing scores, neither one became ready to search out the tip zone in opposition to the Mountaineers.
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Auburn WR Seth WilliamsButch Dill/Related Press
In our Week 8 expert predictions, I chose Ole Dart away out vs. Auburn as essentially the most animated sport between unranked groups, in share because: “The rest of the early-afternoon slate is prone to be riddled with blowouts, which would produce this sport even extra fascinating by comparability.”
Suffice it to claim, it be no longer all that shocking that Ole Dart away out vs. Auburn became the utterly early sport with any final-minute drama in any appreciate. But whereas that wasn’t a shocking pattern, it became a disappointing one.
No. 1 Clemson, No. 5 Ohio Scream, No. 14 North Carolina and No. 20 Kansas Scream every won at dwelling by a margin of no lower than 26 parts. There became about a 15-minute window in the third quarter when Syracuse threatened to produce issues mighty spellbinding in opposition to Clemson, however the Tigers responded with three touchdowns in under six minutes of sport time.
No. 25 Coastal Carolina also won its dwelling sport (vs. Georgia Southern) by double digits. They have been all twisted up at 14-14 for the predominant 21 minutes of the 2nd half of sooner than the Chanticleers scored two touchdowns in fleet succession to total that one in a saunter.
Temple at Memphis also had some center-of-the-fourth-quarter intrigue, however the Tigers took a 41-29 lead with a piece over two minutes closing and won by that closing margin.
Eleven of the 12 early sport have been won by double digits and did not have a single lead trade in the closing 22 minutes. Even the terminate sport ended with a whimper when Ole Dart away out quarterback Matt Corral ran previous the road of scrimmage sooner than throwing searching the tip zone on a final-2nd strive to tie the sport.
As a minimum that one had some relaxing wait on-and-forth trot up until that level, despite the incontrovertible truth that, culminating in a worthy 42-yard touchdown reception by Auburn’s Seth Williams with 1: 11 closing on the clock.
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Notre Dame QB Ian Book (12) and RB C’Bo Flemister (20)Keith Srakocic/Related Press
I believed No. 3 Notre Dame at Pittsburgh had “Upset Particular” written all the design in which by technique of it.
I became very, very gross.
Pitt’s speeding protection has been sensational, maintaining its first six opponents to 1.9 yards per raise, 61.5 yards per sport and two total touchdowns. And Notre Dame’s passing sport became perchance the finest pink flag among all groups with College Football Playoff aspirations with supreme three passing touchdowns by technique of four video games.
That Panthers depart protection held up fairly effectively. Notre Dame ran 50 cases for 115 yards. Handiest a form of 50 speeding makes an are attempting went for better than 10 yards. The Preventing Irish did have a pair of speeding touchdowns, however they each got here from two yards out.
On the other hand, Ian Book threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns, and the Notre Dame protection totally shut down all the pieces the Kenny Pickett-less Pitt offense tried to address out in a 45-3 blowout.
One among Book’s touchdowns became a piece controversial. On third-and-14 early in the 2nd quarter, he connected with Ben Skowronek on a deep ball down the sideline for a 73-yard fetch. Skowronek pushed off to sort some separation, on the replacement hand it went uncalled.
The sport became fundamentally over from there. Pitt did not have one other offensive possession of 30 or extra yards because it became compelled to rely on a backup quarterback in opposition to a rock-exact protection. The Panthers managed supreme 162 yards of total offense in a sport that became never terminate.
Notre Dame will face Georgia Tech subsequent Saturday sooner than the big Week 10 showdown with Clemson.
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Virginia Tech QB Hendon HookerGerry Broome/Related Press
Virginia Tech entered this week as one in all essentially the most potent offenses in the nation. The Hokies had scored no lower than 38 parts in every of their four video games. They have been averaging 312.0 speeding yards per contest.
But in a 23-16 loss to Wake Wooded topic, that offensive prowess without be aware vanished after they bought terminate to the pink zone.
They did fetch a touchdown from 39 yards out, however here is what took space on drives that made it within the Wake Wooded topic 38:
- Missed 42-yard topic goal
- Profitable 28-yard topic goal after failing to flip 1st-and-goal from the WF 4 into a touchdown
- Interception on a slump compelled into the tip zone from the WF 15 with 10 seconds closing in the predominant half of
- Interception on a predominant-down slump from the WF 37
- Profitable 31-yard topic goal
- Missed 51-yard topic goal
- Profitable 54-yard topic goal
That is a entire of 9 parts out of seven possessions in topic-goal vary. And that is the reason no longer correct.
Or no longer it is in particular no longer correct because Wake Wooded topic’s protection is in particular no longer correct. The Demon Deacons had allowed a median of 35.0 parts and 481.3 total yards in three video games in opposition to ACC opponents.
The Hokies did address 28 first downs and 433 total yards, however some lot of correct it did them on the scoreboard.
They on the 2nd are 3-2 and sure to fall out of the AP Top 25 (they have been No. 19), and despite the incontrovertible truth that they have been to upset Clemson on Dec. 5, they’ve nearly no hope of reaching the ACC Championship Game now.
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Malik WillisJames Kenney/Related Press
Malik Willis spent two years at Auburn because the backup to Jarrett Stidham, after which he entered the switch portal when it grew to develop to be apparent that both Bo Nix or Joey Gatewood will seemingly be the starter in 2019.
“I never certainly bought a likelihood to throw the ball at Auburn, and that is the reason no longer a knock on Coach [Gus] Malzahn or Auburn. They have been nice,” Willis stated in July 2019, per ESPN’s Chris Low. “I supreme never bought a likelihood in video games to repeat that I’ll throw it. It became all in educate, and I see forward to showing what I will carry out in Coach Freeze’s offense.”
He’s completely getting that likelihood now with undefeated Liberty.
In Saturday’s 56-35 get over Southern Dart away out, Willis done 24 of 31 passes for 345 yards and six touchdowns, atmosphere career highs in each yards and touchdowns. He also rushed 12 cases for 97 yards and a seventh fetch.
The most up-to-date participant to have not any lower than 300 passing yards, 75 speeding yards and seven touchdowns in a single sport became D’Eriq King with Houston in October 2018. Despite their reputations as dual-threat field-fetch stuffers, no longer even Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray or Jalen Hurts ever had a sport fairly take care of what Willis supreme did.
Liberty is now 6-0 and has won every of its final four video games by no lower than three scores. The Flames would possibly have Week 9 off in scheme of a predominant take a look at at Virginia Tech on Nov. 7. That Hokies protection is nothing particular, despite the incontrovertible truth that, so Liberty supreme would possibly pull off a stunner if Willis can raise about a of this momentum into that sport.
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Wisconsin QB Graham MertzMorry Slice/Related Press
In 2019, Jack Coan had the utterly season by a Wisconsin quarterback since Russell Wilson’s 365 days as a graduate switch in 2011.
Granted, the sequence of Joel Stave, Bart Houston, Alex Hornibrook and Tanner McEvoy didn’t exactly feature the bar high. But Coan done nearly 70 percent of his passes, accounted for 22 touchdowns and did not have a single sport with extra than one interceptions. Spectacular stuff for a man whose predominant job became at hand the ball to Jonathan Taylor, and it became correct enough that he became anticipated to remain the starter this season.
On the other hand, he had foot surgical treatment following a non-contact damage in early October and is out indefinitely, which supposed redshirt freshman Graham Mertz bought the originate Friday evening in opposition to Illinois.
Given how effectively he performed, it be laborious to place confidence in someone else taking a meaningful snap for the Badgers in the subsequent few years.
Mertz done every of his first 17 slump makes an are attempting sooner than Garrett Groshek dropped a slump on third-and-19 midway by technique of the third quarter. It became his totally slump over of the evening, finishing 20-of-21 for 248 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 45-7 victory over Illinois.
The Illini protection became lacking, to claim the least. On three of the 5 touchdowns, there wasn’t a defender within 5 yards of the receiver. As we now have learned from staring at Trevor Lawrence in opposition to ACC defenses over the previous couple of years, despite the incontrovertible truth that, it be masses that you simply are going to be ready to enjoy of for a quarterback to see nice whereas a protection appears to be like dreadful. And no matter the protection, Mertz threw some lovely balls in opposition to Illinois.
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Oklahoma Scream QB Spencer SandersBrody Schmidt/Related Press
As has been belabored over and over over the previous couple of weeks, the Mountainous 12’s dreams of striking a bunch in the College Football Playoff extra or less boil down to “Oklahoma Scream or Bust.”
Most definitely if Kansas Scream wins out, it will per chance produce in the Top Four and accumulate a shot at a national championship. On the other hand, opening the season with a home loss to Arkansas Scream build the Wildcats in fairly the early hole. So, yeah, Oklahoma Scream or Bust.
With a 24-21 get over Iowa Scream this week, despite the incontrovertible truth that, that scenario lives to eye one other day.
Spencer Sanders became wait on at quarterback for the predominant time since mid-September, and he became, understandably, a piece rusty. He threw a pair of interceptions, every of which resulted in a Cyclones touchdown lower than 5 plays later. But he also had better than 300 mixed passing and speeding yards and two touchdowns to attend steadiness the ledger.
On one key pressure in the 2nd quarter, Sanders ran for a predominant down on third and 5, threw for a predominant down on third and 10 and scrambled for 13 yards on third and 14, resulting in a worthy extra manageable fourth-down strive. One play after Chuba Hubbard successfully converted that 4th and 1, the superstar running wait on ran in a touchdown from 32 yards out.
Shane Illingworth became OK in Sanders’ stead for about a weeks, however there’s now not any potential the Cowboys fetch on that pressure without Sanders’ play-making skill.
Up subsequent for Oklahoma Scream is a home sport in opposition to Texas, followed by road video games in opposition to Kansas Scream and Oklahoma. The 4-0 originate has been impressive, however attending to 7-0 will seemingly be a certainly huge mission. The protection would possibly be up to the job, despite the incontrovertible truth that. The Cowboys are totally allowing 12.0 parts per sport, which is better than enough for this superstar-studded offense.
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Minnesota QB Tanner MorganBruce Kluckhohn/Related Press
Minnesota would possibly no longer have asked for a critically greater originate than it bought in the season opener in opposition to Michigan. No longer totally did the Golden Gophers pressure the Wolverines to punt on 4th and 30 on the predominant pressure of the sport, however they blocked the punt to straight originate in the pink zone and scored a touchdown two plays later.
It became all downhill from there.
Michigan RB Zach Charbonnet ran 70 yards for a touchdown on the next snap, followed by Minnesota going three-and-out and no longer even punting the ball into Michigan territory.
After getting a stop and making essentially the most of a overlooked 38-yard topic goal, Tanner Morgan bought leveled on the predominant play of the next “pressure,” fumbling the ball to Donovan Jeter for one other Wolverines touchdown.
Then, after a lengthy pressure for a topic goal, Minnesota’s particular groups allowed a long kickoff return to construct Michigan within the 10 for one other fleet touchdown.
It became supreme extra of the similar all evening long in Michigan’s 49-24 observation get on the road.
Aside from that preliminary blocked punt, the Wolverines didn’t even strive one other one. They both scored a touchdown (six) or overlooked a topic goal (three) on every of their subsequent 9 possessions.
Defense became a gigantic search recordsdata from price for Minnesota coming into the season. Or no longer it is an even better one now. The Golden Gophers misplaced seven starters from final year, and that resulted in a pretty pitiful performance in opposition to a Michigan group breaking in a original starting quarterback and a bunch of recent receivers.
For what it be price, Joe Milton seemed correct at QB for the Wolverines. He did not have to address worthy power—both in the produce of slump saunter or severe junctures in the sport—however he’s going to be the acknowledge for what now appears to be like to be the close challenger to Ohio Scream in the Mountainous Ten.