Coming into the weekend, there was all the makings of major upheaval. Only one game had two ranked opponents competing but there was not much in the form of walkover matchups to be found. It was a formula for some upsets to take place, but it is doubtful many anticipated this many underdogs rising up and taking down the big dogs in the process.
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By the end of Saturday, five of the top 11 schools came out as losers in a head-shaking weekend. Fans rushing the field became a regular sight. This has created severe turmoil ahead of this year’s introduction of the new playoff format, making for some developing intrigue:
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ESPN’s “Game Day” was staged in Berkeley for the first time and the crowds crashed the gates on campus eight hours before sunrise.
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A month ago Boise State’s ridiculous running back Austin Jeanty was a +4,000 longshot for the Heisman Trophy. He has since moved into being the betting favorite. Why? On his first touch Saturday he ripped off a 63-yard TD run on the way to gaining 187 yards.
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While getting drubbed by Ohio State the Iowa Hawkeyes managed one touchdown. It was their first offensive score against a ranked opponent in two years.
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The Michigan Wolverines QBs threw for under 135 yards for the fourth consecutive game.
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As a sign of how poorly the North Carolina season has been, the Tarheels had a 19-play, 89-yard drive that ended with a dropped pass on fourth down and zero points.
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Temple was about to win with three seconds from the one-yard line but managed to fumble on the designed shove play and U Conn took that 99 yards for the score.
Vanderbilt 40 – Alabama 35
In the most earth-shaking result in a tectonic day, the #1-ranked Crimson Tide fell to the unranked Commodores. Favored by more than three touchdowns, Alabama never led as the home team consistently found big plays and was greedy with the ball, with a better than 42-minute time of possession. Vanderbilt had never won against a top-5 ranked team, breaking a 0-60 all-time record. They opened with a 13-0 lead which itself was significant; it was the same point total Vandy managed to earn in all of its games against Alabama during the Nick Saban era.
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Miami 39 – Cal 38
#8 Miami narrowly managed to avoid being added to the upset pyre in its ACC Pacific Coast game. The Hurricanes secondary was torched in the first half, giving up no fewer than four plays of over 50 yards, trailing by 25 points in the third quarter. Then Cam Ward settled his troops and went to work, putting up another blistering game of 437 yards and two touchdowns. On the final drive with under two minutes, he hit star receiver Xavier Restrepo for a 77-yard strike to get into scoring position before a 5-yard tying throw with 26 seconds remaining.
Texas A&M 41 – Missouri 10
In the lone battle of ranked teams, the #25 Aggies outclassed their top-10 opponent. After struggling to win a week earlier over Vanderbilt, the Tigers went into College Station and were not a factor. The Aggies switched back to Conner Weigman behind center and he was sharp, while backed by a flush running game. Le’Veon Moss went for 138 yards and three touchdowns as A&M outgained Missouri 236 yards to 68.
Arkansas 19 – Tennessee 14
After opening the season with a blistering offense, Tennessee has cooled in recent weeks, and managing just two scores on the road proved their demise. Razorback QB Taylen Green outclassed touted Volunteer leader Nico Iamaleava in passing but left the game with an injury while trailing by a point. The Hogs used running back by committee and delivered the two needed touchdowns, one by backup QB. Tennessee had Dylan Sampson running for 138 yards and two strikes, but they had little else going for them. It became the first time two top-5-ranked SEC teams lost to unranked opponents.
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Washington 27 – Michigan 17
After a listless start by quarterback Alex Orji for #10 Michigan, he was switched out for Jack Tuttle who recharged the team and gave them a lead in the third quarter. Then the wheels came off. Led by Will Rodgers throwing for 271 yards and two touchdowns, it was Tuttle suffering a fumble and an interception in the 4th that Washington converted into 10 points.
Minnesota 24 – USC 17
After giving Michigan a scare last week, the Gophers showed they are a legitimate threat. Miller Moss had a tough day for the Trojans, with only 200 yards in the air and a pair of costly interceptions. Minnesota leaned on running back Darius Taylor who gained 144 yards, and QB Max Brosmer ran for three scores, the biggest being a 4th-and-goal surge from the 1-yard line with less than a minute remaining.
SMU 34 – Louisville 27
The Mustangs are demanding to be noticed this first year in the ACC, and in this road game they never trailed, making for another piece of evidence. Kevin Jennings delivered 281 yards passing and added 113 yards rushing, including a 59-yard score. With the game tied, he led a lat 11-play 89-yard drive for the winning touchdown.
Here are the newest rankings in the AP poll.
1. Texas
2. Ohio State
3. Oregon
4. Penn State
5. Georgia
6. Miami
7. Alabama
8. Tennessee
9. Ole Miss
10. Clemson
11. (Tie) Iowa State / Notre Dame
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13. LSU
14. BYU
15. Texas A&M
16. Utah
17. Boise State
18. Kansas State
19. Utah
20. Oklahoma
21. Missouri
22. Pittsburgh
23. Illinois
24. Michigan
25. SMU