This Week in College Football - 10-17-15
By: Larry Causion Jr. CausionCreations.com
Posted: Sunday, October 18, 2015
Credit: Associated Press
Posted: Sunday, October 18, 2015
Credit: Associated Press
What a day it was in college football yesterday. There were upsets, there were surprisingly close match ups and their were some teams that just looked dominant. Lets take a look at some of the key match ups.
Michigan fumbles lead away on final play against Michigan St
A matchup with seventh-ranked Michigan State was going to be the final validation -- proof that the Michigan Wolverines really were back among the conference's elite. And with 10 seconds remaining, all 12th-ranked Michigan needed to do was punt the ball and watch the seconds tick away.
That final play will go down in Michigan Stadium history. With 10 seconds left Saturday and the Spartans rushing almost every player, Michigan punter Blake O'Neill mishandled a snap near his own 40. The loose ball ended up in the hands of Michigan State's Jalen Watts-Jackson, who took off toward the end zone and eventually fell over the goal line amid a mob of players to give the Spartans a 27-23 win -- one of the most unforgettable victories by a visiting team at the Big House.
The Wolverines (5-2, 2-1 Big Ten) lost for the seventh time in the last eight meetings with their in-state rivals, and they never trailed in this one until Watts-Jackson's 38-yard return on the final play. Michigan had stopped the Spartans (7-0, 3-0) on fourth down near midfield with 1:47 remaining, and since Michigan State had only one timeout left, the Wolverines were able to run the clock all the way down before trying to punt on fourth-and-2.
That final play will go down in Michigan Stadium history. With 10 seconds left Saturday and the Spartans rushing almost every player, Michigan punter Blake O'Neill mishandled a snap near his own 40. The loose ball ended up in the hands of Michigan State's Jalen Watts-Jackson, who took off toward the end zone and eventually fell over the goal line amid a mob of players to give the Spartans a 27-23 win -- one of the most unforgettable victories by a visiting team at the Big House.
The Wolverines (5-2, 2-1 Big Ten) lost for the seventh time in the last eight meetings with their in-state rivals, and they never trailed in this one until Watts-Jackson's 38-yard return on the final play. Michigan had stopped the Spartans (7-0, 3-0) on fourth down near midfield with 1:47 remaining, and since Michigan State had only one timeout left, the Wolverines were able to run the clock all the way down before trying to punt on fourth-and-2.
Morgan loses to Hampton on Homecoming
Long touchdowns by Rashawn Proctor and Darius Banks staked Hampton to an early lead on its way to a 20-10 defeat of Morgan State on Saturday.
Proctor scored on an 80-yard pass play and Banks added an 83-yard fumble return as Hampton (4-3, 3-3 Mid-East Athletic) handed Morgan State (3-3, 3-1) its first conference loss.
The Pirates posted a 17-3 lead at halftime as Adam Brown kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired. Brown also scored the final points on a 31-yard kick late in the fourth quarter.
Andrew King scored Morgan State's lone TD on a 66-yard punt return late in the third quarter.
The Bears fumbled five times with Hampton recovering three.
Proctor finished with 87 yards on three catches for Hampton.
With Morgan State and Bethune-Cookman both losing, North Carolina A&T is the lone unbeaten team in MEAC.
Proctor scored on an 80-yard pass play and Banks added an 83-yard fumble return as Hampton (4-3, 3-3 Mid-East Athletic) handed Morgan State (3-3, 3-1) its first conference loss.
The Pirates posted a 17-3 lead at halftime as Adam Brown kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired. Brown also scored the final points on a 31-yard kick late in the fourth quarter.
Andrew King scored Morgan State's lone TD on a 66-yard punt return late in the third quarter.
The Bears fumbled five times with Hampton recovering three.
Proctor finished with 87 yards on three catches for Hampton.
With Morgan State and Bethune-Cookman both losing, North Carolina A&T is the lone unbeaten team in MEAC.
No. 13 Ole Miss collapses in 37-24 loss to Memphis
Memphis stunned No. 13 Ole Miss 37-24 on Saturday, scoring 31 unanswered points against an overmatched Rebels defense. Paxton Lynch threw for 384 yards and three touchdowns as the Tigers' offense sliced through the Ole Miss secondary with ease.
Ole Miss (5-2) has lost two of its last three games. Memphis (6-0) has won 13 straight games dating back to last season, which is the third longest streak in the nation. It was the first win for the Tigers over a ranked opponent since 1996.
Ole Miss (5-2) has lost two of its last three games. Memphis (6-0) has won 13 straight games dating back to last season, which is the third longest streak in the nation. It was the first win for the Tigers over a ranked opponent since 1996.
No. 8 Florida come up short vs. No. 6 LSU, 35-28
After No. 8 Florida (6-1, 4-1 SEC) rallied from a 28-14 halftime deficit to tie, LSU kicker Trent Domingue scored a touchdown on a fake field goal with 10:40 left, and the sixth-ranked Tigers (6-0, 4-0) held on to win 35-28 on Saturday night.
No. 14 Notre Dame pulls off comeback to defeat USC 41-31
The No. 14 Fighting Irish rallied for 17 points in the fourth quarter after blowing a two-touchdown lead, and took the lead on Corey Robinson's diving catch with 9:06 left in a 41-31 victory Saturday night.
Notre Dame showed the mental toughness against Southern California it was sorely lacking in an embarrassing 35-point loss last season. Southern California played for the first time since firing coach Steve Sarkisian on Monday. USC coaches are now 0-7 in their first games against Notre Dame in South Bend with Clay Helton, who took over for Sarkisian, becoming the second straight interim coach to fall. Two years ago it was Ed Orgeron following the firing of Lane Kiffin. The Trojans have had four different coaches against the Irish the past four seasons.
Notre Dame showed the mental toughness against Southern California it was sorely lacking in an embarrassing 35-point loss last season. Southern California played for the first time since firing coach Steve Sarkisian on Monday. USC coaches are now 0-7 in their first games against Notre Dame in South Bend with Clay Helton, who took over for Sarkisian, becoming the second straight interim coach to fall. Two years ago it was Ed Orgeron following the firing of Lane Kiffin. The Trojans have had four different coaches against the Irish the past four seasons.