College football Week 3 highlights

It’s a product of faculty football’s uniquely significant common season that, as every Saturday’s slate attracts to a detailed, we assume we have discovered one thing important. Through two weeks, we had discovered that Oregon was overrated, that Notre Dame was toast, that LSU was no higher below Brian Kelly than it was below Ed Orgeron, that Texas A&M could not rating sufficient to win a giant sport.

But to paraphrase the nice Scottish thinker Sir Roddy Piper, simply while you assume you’ve got all of the solutions, school football modifications the questions.

And so it was in Week 3 that Bo Nix emerged from the abyss — for the 106th time in his profession — to ship an emphatic Ducks win over BYU. After Oregon was demolished by Georgia in Week 1, the Ducks felt like an afterthought, however Saturday’s win was a pointy shift in perspective. Welcome to the Bo Nix Experience, Ducks followers. So few Auburn followers lived to inform of it.

And so it was that LSU scored 21 factors within the fourth quarter to knock off one of many SEC’s presumed energy gamers in Mississippi State. Jayden Daniels threw for 210 yards, ran for 93 extra and accounted for 2 touchdowns. Oh, positive, it would be much less nerve-racking if he might play effectively previous to the fourth quarter in some unspecified time in the future this season, however LSU followers will take what they’ll get.

And so it was that Notre Dame’s offense flickered to life within the waning moments of Saturday’s win over Cal, then managed to fend off a ridiculous Hail Mary strive — and no, not essentially the most ridiculous Hail Mary of the day — to earn win No. 1 for Marcus Freeman. It’s nonetheless most likely greatest to not dig too deep into this one. A win is a win.

And so it was that Texas A&M rebounded from final week’s depressing loss to Appalachian State by wanting practically as inept on offense, but nonetheless managing a crucial win over No. 13 Miami. Jimbo Fisher switched QBs and Max Johnson did simply sufficient to earn the win. It was ugly, however not practically as ugly as final week, and given the Aggies have been down 4 DBs by halftime, it was a defensive effort worthy of celebration.

Up and down the schedule, Saturday supplied its share of shaken expectations.

We assumed USC was the Pac-12’s greatest hope for a playoff group, however Washington delivered a formidable 39-28 win over Michigan State, with Michael Penix Jr. tossing 4 touchdowns within the effort.

We assumed Anthony Richardson’s shaky Week 2 was a results of a stout Kentucky protection, and Florida’s rising star would shine as soon as extra in opposition to woeful USF. Instead, Richardson threw for simply 112 yards and tossed two picks because the Gators narrowly held on, escaping with a 31-28 win solely after USF missed a 49-yard field-goal strive.

We assumed Texas may wrestle with out Quinn Ewers, however that was dumb, as a result of the Longhorns nonetheless have Bijan Robinson, and he’s a nasty, unhealthy man.

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Bijan Robinson scores 41-yard dashing TD

We assumed Iowa forgot the place the tip zone was situated, however the Hawkeyes really scored two touchdowns in only one quarter. (Then the sport obtained delayed, and nobody ought to have to attend round to see extra Iowa.)

We assumed the sturdy begin for the basketball faculties could not final, however Kansas, Syracuse and Duke are all 3-0.

Pitt, right down to its third-string QB, would wrestle on the street in opposition to a group it misplaced to final yr? Nope.

A QB debate may stifle Ole Miss’ offense? Nope.

Penn State could be rattled by a visit into SEC nation? Ha. Not even shut.

And, in fact, there stays the very actual risk that no matter classes we’d take from Week 3 will show fleeting, too. We so desperately wish to consider every week is a important course, however we have hardly completed the amuse-bouche. (Note: That’s what we assume Stetson Bennett IV calls an appetizer.) That’s the great thing about the school football season. Every sport issues, however nothing is ever sure.

Well, besides Georgia. Don’t doubt Georgia.

Georgia seems to be higher than ever

A yr in the past, the world was a really totally different place. A highschool group named Bishop Sycamore was the discuss of the nation. Now, it is a school group referred to as Nebraska making questionable monetary selections off the sector and looking out embarrassing on it.

A yr in the past, school football followers couldn’t escape an Applebee’s industrial. This yr, it is Nick Saban chasing a goat.

A yr in the past, Georgia was 3-0, having completely dominated its early schedule, however there was one large purple flag, one clear Achilles’ heel for an in any other case terrific football group. His title was Stetson Bennett IV.

What a distinction a yr makes.

Bennett wrapped his day early Saturday, main the Bulldogs to a 48-7 thrashing of South Carolina. In the sport, Bennett accomplished 16 of 23 passes for 284 yards and two TDs, then added one other 36 yards on three rushes, one going for a landing.

How good was Bennett on Saturday? He did all this whereas, in response to the ESPN broadcast, he was sick and throwing up on the sidelines through the sport.

The play earlier than Bennett vomited featured one of the vital spectacular grabs a decent finish has ever made.

After he vomited, Bennett was 6-of-10 for 159 yards with a passing and dashing rating.

The man is a legend.

A yr in the past, Bennett was conserving the QB1 chair heat for JT Daniels. Now, he is finishing 74% of his passes and averaging 11 yards each time he throws the ball.

In a sport by which no Georgia participant ran for greater than 36 yards (that was Bennett, by the best way), the Bulldogs nonetheless cruised to a straightforward street victory in opposition to an SEC East foe. It’s mind-boggling simply how good this group has seemed.

Like final yr, Georgia opened in opposition to a ranked foe. But this time, slightly than a slender 10-3 win over Clemson behind a stagnant offense, the Bulldogs dominated Oregon 49-3.

Like final yr, Georgia moved to 3-0 with a straightforward win over the Gamecocks, however this time round, it wasn’t a take a look at run for Bennett helming the offense however slightly the newest instance that he is simply constructed totally different.

A yr in the past, Georgia outscored its first three opponents by a rating of 106-23.

One nationwide title and a busload of NFL draft picks later, the Dawgs are 3-0 once more by a mixed rating of 130-10.

No, this isn’t the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs. This group is perhaps even higher as a result of this is not 2021’s Stetson Bennett. The man spent final season doing what nobody believed potential, then celebrated with a championship and an look on “Good Morning America.”

This yr? As unattainable as it would sound, he may find yourself doing much more.

Hogs escape catastrophe

Bobby Petrino’s return to Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Saturday started like a pleasure trip, however went off the street late, and in the end left his Missouri State group red-faced, falling 38-27 to the No. 10 Razorbacks.

Missouri State jumped out to a 17-0 lead within the second quarter, and was nonetheless up 10 after batting a 31-yard subject aim early within the fourth. That’s when Arkansas hit the throttle.

KJ Jefferson threw a 73-yard TD go earlier than Bryce Stephens returned a Missouri State punt 82 yards for a TD, a three-minute unfold that worn out the Bears shot at an upset. Petrino’s group could not put the brakes on the Razorbacks’ offense, with the entire affair coming to an finish with one final Arkansas TD on a one-yard Jefferson run.

Arkansas is now 3-0 for a second season in a row and has crucial SEC West video games in opposition to Texas A&M and Alabama upcoming. Petrino, in the meantime, will doubtless be employed again at Louisville by 2025.

The Fun Belt rides once more

Oh, you thought Week 2 was drama-filled within the Sun Belt? Appalachian State was simply getting warmed up.

One week after the Sun Belt pulled off three surprising upsets, the convention delivered one other trio of video games that culminated with last-second drama.

Old Dominion practically pulled off its second shocker of the season in opposition to Virginia, scoring late to take a lead over the Cavaliers. But a frenetic drive down the sector put UVA in vary for a chip-shot subject aim and a last-second win.

Out West, South Alabama got here oh-so-close to taking down undefeated UCLA. The Jaguars tried a pretend subject aim from the UCLA 22 with 2:52 remaining, and it went horribly. Tanner McGee was tackled for an 11-yard loss, the Bruins obtained the ball again, drove 61 yards on 10 performs and delivered a game-winning subject aim as time expired.

The Sun Belt has 4 wins over Power 5 groups this season, nevertheless it additionally now has three losses on the ultimate play of the sport.

And talking of ultimate performs, App State delivered one for the ages, as Chase Brice’s Hail Mary heave got here up wanting the tip zone, was deflected and caught by receiver Christian Horn on the 8, who then took a looping path towards the sideline and sprinted into the tip zone for a surprising 32-28 win.

APP STATE WON ON A HAIL MARY ON THE FINAL PLAY‼️ pic.twitter.com/yDlzYYtU19

— ESPN (@espn) September 17, 2022

A fast flashback to the previous three weeks for the Mountaineers:

Week 1: App State scores 40 factors within the fourth quarter in opposition to North Carolina, together with two touchdowns within the closing 31 seconds, however was upended by two failed 2-point tries.

Week 2: App State goes on the street to Texas A&M and pulls off the huge upset of the sixth-ranked Aggies, the most important win for this system since its famed victory over Michigan in 2007.

Week 3: A walk-off Hail Mary in a win over Troy on a day ESPN’s College GameDay got here to campus.

That the mayor of Boone hasn’t introduced some kind of “Purge” scenario by which every part is authorized for twenty-four hours most likely does not matter a lot. The social gathering on the mountain may final till subsequent week’s kickoff in opposition to James Madison.

It’s getting ugly at Auburn

Across the state of Alabama, Auburn boosters are sitting in smoke-filled rooms, maniacally patting their checkbooks and cackling like Bond villains.

It’s buyout season once more on The Plains.

It should’ve been irritating final week for all these Auburn cash males to witness Nebraska make an costly teaching change and assume, “Why not us?”

Undoubtedly, there was a powder keg of nervous anticipation Saturday, as Penn State — the primary Big Ten customer to Jordan-Hare Stadium — ran the ball to the tune of 245 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 41-12 win, with the information that spending a bunch of cash on one other failed teaching rent was now inside arm’s attain. Boosters have been doubtless reaching for his or her wallets sooner than Nick Singleton runs the 40.

There was, to make certain, a short second of horror when Robby Ashford entered the sport and created a spark for the Tigers. Could Bryan Harsin, amid a blowout loss, have discovered a savior? No. The Auburn offense rapidly regressed to its elementary mediocrity, and once more, order was restored and boosters breathed a sigh of reduction.

After practically nixing Harsin final winter, then forcing out the athletics director who employed him final month, the query at all times felt extra about when a change was coming than if it could occur. And at Auburn, there’s nothing the Tigers do higher than letting a head coach twist within the wind.

How lengthy will Harsin twist? Auburn has gained simply two of its previous eight video games, has scored 24 factors or much less in six of them. After a house sport in opposition to Missouri in Week 4, the remaining schedule consists of video games in opposition to 5 ranked groups. Bowl eligibility could possibly be robust, and that is an awfully low bar for a fan base that, by its very nature, should examine itself to Alabama.

That’s unhealthy news for Harsin, in fact. But not that unhealthy. That $18 million buyout is cathartic for everybody.

Sooners make a press release

The change at Nebraska was instantaneous. Scott Frost is gone, and all of a sudden the Huskers aren’t shedding shut video games anymore.

Instead, Nebraska obtained blown out by former Big 12 rival Oklahoma 49-14.

OK, so the issues in Lincoln did not finish with a training change. Instead, Saturday supplied emphatic proof that Oklahoma’s fortunes have not shifted with a training change both.

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Dillon Gabriel takes off on a 61-yard run for Oklahoma to tie the sport in opposition to Nebraska.

In its first sport in opposition to a Power 5 foe with Brent Venables on the helm, Oklahoma seemed an terrible lot just like the Sooners we have come to anticipate. The offense was potent, with Dillon Gabriel throwing for 2 touchdowns and operating for one more. The protection dominated. After Nebraska scored on its opening drive, the Huskers did not sniff the tip zone once more till the sport was effectively out of hand. As with Venables’ greatest Clemson groups, the Oklahoma defensive entrance dominated the road of scrimmage, tormenting Casey Thompson to the tune of 4 sacks.

For the Sooners, it was a press release that Lincoln Riley’s departure will not maintain this group from being within the playoff hunt.

For the Huskers, it was an ideal alternative to interview Urban Meyer for the open head-coaching job. After all, Nebraska has numerous wide-open areas for a person to show his picture frames.

Heisman Five

Technically, Appalachian State’s Chase Brice does not make our prime 5, but when there was some award for essentially the most magical participant in school football this yr, it would be him. As for the Heisman, this week’s leaderboard consists of 4 different QBs.

1. Alabama QB Bryce Young

Young accounted for 4 TDs in Alabama’s 63-7 win over Louisiana-Monroe, however he additionally threw two picks for simply the second time in his profession. Nick Saban most likely made him stroll dwelling.

2. Georgia QB Stetson Bennett

Bennett had three touchdowns in a 48-7 win. He additionally ate a 96-ounce sirloin at halftime, sketched out a tough plan to handle inflation on his wristband throughout one third-quarter huddle, and after the sport, he brokered a fragile peace between Chris Pine and Harry Styles. The man is a legend.

3. Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud

Stroud had as many touchdowns (5) on Saturday as he had incompletions. He threw for 367 yards, averaged practically 14 yards per throw and noticed three totally different Buckeyes receivers prime 100 yards.

4. USC QB Caleb Williams

Williams as soon as once more seemed dominant. USC’s offense stored buzzing alongside in a 45-17 win over Fresno State, with Williams accounting for 4 TDs within the course of. None of that is shocking, so let’s use this area to notice that the man Williams changed at Oklahoma final yr, Spencer Rattler, struggled mightily as South Carolina fell to Georgia on Saturday and now has two landing passes and 5 picks this season. Hard to consider this time final yr Rattler appeared like an clearly higher possibility than Williams.

5. Minnesota RB Mohamed Ibrahim

The Golden Gophers are 3-0 with one of many highest scoring offenses within the nation, and Ibrahim is a large motive why. Against Colorado on Saturday, Ibrahim married the ball 23 instances for 202 yards and three touchdowns. It was his third profession 200-yard sport and his twelfth straight with 100 on the bottom. The really wild factor about that streak is, it dates all the best way again to the 2019 season. Ibrahim went for 140 in Minnesota’s bowl sport in opposition to Auburn Tigers that season, then hit the century mark in all seven of Minnesota’s video games within the COVID-shortened 2020 marketing campaign. He ran for 163 within the opener for 2021, however obtained harm and missed the remainder of the season. He returned for 2022 and has gone over 100 in every of Minnesota’s first three of this yr. It’s the longest streak by an FBS again since Texas’ D’Onta Foreman had 13 straight in 2015.

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Touchdown! Mohamed Ibrahim scores vs. Colorado

Under-the-radar play of the day

It’s ironic that Liberty raised eyebrows this week when gamers referred to the Wake Forest offense as “cute,” nevertheless it seems, it was the Demon Deacons’ protection that obtained a little bit too cute and practically value them the sport.

Here’s a lesson for all of the defensive backs on the market: Bat down the ball.

Oh, we all know, the interceptions look cool on the stat sheet. But what will not look cool? Watching this play in movie examine on Monday.

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Liberty scores to get inside one level, however Wake Forest’s protection holds sturdy to disclaim the Flames the 2-point conversion.

Wake Forest managed to flee 37-36 after Liberty tried a 2-point conversion for the win and got here up brief.

Under-the-radar sport of the day

Every week in the past, Marshall pulled a stunner by beating Notre Dame.

Every week in the past, Bowling Green was dealt a heartbreaker, shedding to Eastern Kentucky in seven overtimes.

So, what occurred when the 2 confronted off on Saturday? It’s school football, so in fact the Falcons rebounded and pulled off an upset of their very own.

Bowling Green took a 28-21 lead early within the fourth quarter, solely to see Marshall cost again and tie it, sending the sport to yet one more time beyond regulation for the Falcons. This time Bowling Green persevered, countering Marshall’s subject aim with a 2-yard Matt McDonald TD go for the win.

That most likely serves as the tip of Marshall’s temporary hope for a New Year’s Six berth, however hey, you’ll be able to’t play Notre Dame each week.

Quote of the day

Colorado fell to 0-3 with a blowout loss to Minnesota on Saturday. All three losses have come by 25 factors or extra. After the sport, head coach Karl Dorrell summed issues up succinctly.

Colorado head coach Karl Dorrell just about summed up the primary 3 video games with this quote: “I feel good about our attitude about playing the game. We’re just not very good at really playing it effectively and proficiently.” #cubuffs

— Brian Howell (@BrianHowell33) September 18, 2022

In different phrases, the Buffaloes like football, they only aren’t good at enjoying it.

We can empathize. That’s how we ended up writing about football.

Around the horn for the FCS

Week 3 once more had its share of FBS-FCS mismatches, however that did not imply the video games got here with none curiosity.

The good: Southern Illinois’ protection pressured 4 turnovers because the Salukis scored the upset over Northwestern 31-24 on Saturday. Reminder: Northwestern beat Nebraska however is no longer even near being one of the best group within the state of Illinois.

The unhealthy: Virginia Tech cruised to a 27-7 win over Wofford, however that wasn’t all unhealthy for the Terriers. Nathan Walker’s 3-yard TD run with 9:34 to play marked the primary factors of the yr for 0-3 Wofford. That’s progress!

The ugly: Kent State earned its first win of the season, thumping Long Island University 63-10. LIU cashes its share of FBS checks, however what it has performed with that cash is anybody’s guess. In addition to Saturday’s defeat, the Sharks (we seemed that up) misplaced 37-0 to Toledo in Week 1, 42-7 to Miami (Ohio)and 66-0 to West Virginia final yr, and opened the 2021 season with a 48-10 loss to a Florida International group that did not win once more that season.

So, for those who’re conserving rating at dwelling, that is 5 video games vs. FBS foes previously 13 months that resulted in an 0-5 document by a mixed rating of 256-20. Long Island University is to varsity football groups as Long Island iced teas are to drinks — it is comprised of a haphazard assortment of components and leads to a seemingly countless collection of unhealthy selections.

The most school football factor to occur Saturday

There’s an extended and colourful historical past of mascot shaming amongst rivals in school football, however this week, Virginia took issues too far.

On Wednesday, Hudson — the yellow lab pet and Old Dominion’s unofficial mascot — introduced by way of his Twitter account that he’d been denied field access for Saturday’s street sport in Charlottesville.

Virginia claimed that Hudson was technically a service canine and never a mascot, and subsequently he would not be allowed on the sector. Given that Virginia’s offense, which scored simply three factors in a loss to Illinois final week, was allowed on the sector for the sport, the bar for entry could not have been that top.

Not surprisingly, furor erupted on social media. After all, Hudson is a pet who wears rec specs and crocs. Who does not need a pet sporting crocs on the sideline for a sport? That’s Showbiz 101.

Thankfully, the issue was rectified when Virginia’s personal service canine, Champ, obtained concerned. (It’s a comparatively little recognized truth, however upon his dying, Thomas Jefferson bequeathed management over all college selections to a line of yellow labs. History is wild.)

Hey @HudsonODU, I talked to my folks and requested if we might have a play date Saturday. They mentioned sure! And guess what? They mentioned we might meet up on the sector on the @UVAFootball–@ODUFootball sport! You in?@servicedogsva | @MuttswaMission

— Champ UVA (@UvaChamp) September 16, 2022

With that temporary little bit of drama resolved, there have been however two lingering questions.

The first, would the pups really meet? The reply, in fact, was sure. But this was nonetheless a giant sport for each groups, so Champ and Hudson have been all enterprise. No fraternizing with the enemy.

.@UvaChamp ?@HudsonODU

The pregame assembly we’ve all been ready for. pic.twitter.com/ydRF8mb2om

— Preston Willett (@PrestonWillett) September 17, 2022

The second, would Hudson’s presence rally Old Dominion to its second win of the season over an in-state, Power 5 opponent?

For a short second, it seemed prefer it may. ODU scored with 1:01 to play to take a 14-13 lead. But that is when the Monarchs — uh — stepped in it.

Brennan Armstrong hit Lavel Davis Jr. for 30 yards, then ran for one more 13. A go interference name set UVA up on the Old Dominion 5, and Brendan Farrell, who’d missed a 36-yard kick one drive earlier, delivered because the clock expired, giving Virginia a 16-14 win.

Now, if Champ can begin lining up within the slot for Virginia, the Hoos may actually be on to one thing.

Big bets and unhealthy beats

If you had the below within the Purdue-Syracuse sport, you have been feeling fairly good on the half. The whole closed at 59.5. The sport went to the break with Purdue nursing a 9-3 lead.

Even after the third quarter, the scoring was nonetheless in brief provide. But within the fourth, that is when issues obtained bizarre.

Purdue scored with 11:25 to play to take a 15-10 lead. Then Syracuse scored. Then Purdue threw a pick-six. Then the Boilermakers accomplished a 55-yard landing throw and located the tip zone once more on their subsequent drive, taking a 29-25 lead with simply 51 seconds to play.

Still, the below would cowl if Purdue might maintain Syracuse out of the tip zone.

Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Two penalties after Purdue’s landing gave Syracuse wonderful subject place for its closing drive, and Garrett Shrader linked with Oronde Gadsden II for a 25-yard TD with 7 seconds to go.

Final rating: Orange 32, Purdue 29. The over hit after 42 factors have been scored within the closing quarter.

Oh, and for those who additionally had Purdue plus-1.5 — good luck recovering from this one.

Michigan hasn’t precisely challenged itself with its nonconference schedule to start out the season. In Week 1, the Wolverines have been 31-point favorites in opposition to Colorado State. In Week 2, Michigan was a 52-point favourite in opposition to Hawaii. And on Saturday, UConn arrived on the Big House as a 47.5-point underdog.

According to ESPN, Michigan is the primary group for the reason that FBS/FCS cut up in 1978 to be favored by at the least 45 factors in consecutive video games and the primary group to be favored by at the least 31 in its first three video games of the yr since 2001 Florida.

And even with the hefty unfold, Michigan nonetheless had no bother overlaying Saturday. Behind 5 touchdowns from Blake Corum, the Wolverines topped UConn 59-0.

It’s simply three weeks into the season, and each Kansas and Vanderbilt have already hit the over for his or her preseason win whole at Caesars Sportsbook. The Jayhawks toppled Houston 48-30 to maneuver to 3-0. Kansas hasn’t gained greater than three video games in any season since 2009, and it might get to 4 subsequent week in a showdown in opposition to one other shocking 3-0 group — Duke.

Meanwhile, Vandy went on the street and knocked off Northern Illinois to get its third win of the season 38-28.

The preseason win whole at Caesars for each groups was 2.5.