It’s time for this week’s installment of Head of the Class – where we never apologize for a win, but we don’t give you credit for a loss (Sorry, Vanderbilt).
First up on my list this week …. Well, maybe I should sing it to you:
“Hail! To the victors valiant,
Hail! You sent SC cryin,’
Hail! Hail! To Michigan
Send the Trojans back out west.”
That’s right, Michigan nearly blew a 14-point lead, but came back with an 89-yard drive in the final minutes to beat USC 27-24 at the Big House. Kelal Mullings was the star, going for 159 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns. A 54-yard scamper in the first quarter, and the game-winning score on fourth down with about 30 seconds to play which was the dagger. Michigan also got a huge interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter to extend the lead at the time, before USC fought back. It was a great back-and-forth college football game.
What was most impressive is that Michigan could not pass the ball at all throughout this game. Alex Orji finished with 32 yards passing for the game. However, they got a clutch ten-yard completion to extend the drive, and then a 63-yard run by Mullings to get into scoring position. Now, I don’t think this type of offensive “balance” is sustainable for the Wolverines (they had nearly 300 yards rushing!), but if it shuts up the SC fans for the week, then I’m all for it. Great job, Michigan!
Michigan hosts Minnesota next week, while USC hosts Wisconsin in its inaugural Big Ten home game.
Strange things happen after dark in college football, and my second nod goes to the BYU Cougars. They made a statement in their first Big 12 game with a 38-9 romp over 13th-ranked Kansas State. It could be that this Wildcats team wasn’t that good to begin with, but BYU ran them right out of LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday night. Led by quarterback Jake Retzlaff who threw two touchdowns and an efficient 149 yards, the Cougars light shined all night on all sides of the ball. They had a defensive score in the second quarter, and a highlight-reel punt return in the third quarter by Parker Kingston. It was straight domination by BYU, and the Big 12 better be paying attention to Provo.
Next week, Kansas State hosts Oklahoma State in a battle of ranked Big 12 teams, while BYU goes to Baylor.
Finally, let’s go to Rocky Top. I know, I picked Oklahoma to cover the spread in this game, and I was dead wrong. Tennessee’s defense turned the “SOONERS” into “SNERS” – they took away the O! The Volunteers won 25-15, but the game never felt in doubt after halftime. That Vols defense forced three key turnovers, held Oklahoma to 36 yards on the ground, and 222 yards total offense (most of that in the fourth quarter when the Sooners were throwing on every down). The way that the defense locked Oklahoma down, especially linebacker Keenan Pili and defensive lineman Joshua Josephs … and we haven’t even talked about Nico Iamaleava. We knew that Oklahoma’s defense was the best that Tennessee had faced all year, and they did not disappoint, forcing the Tennessee offense into two fumbles, and holding them to their lowest point total so far this season. However, it’s hard for defenses to win football games when they are on the field most of the game, and Tennessee held the ball for nearly 36 minutes during the game.
I’m not ready to put Iamaleava into the Heisman conversation just yet, but if there are more performances like this, then we will not have a choice!
Tennessee has a bye this week before going to Arkansas; Oklahoma travels to Auburn this Saturday.
Honorable Mentions this week:
James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III accounted for 487 yards of total offense and SEVEN touchdowns as they blew out North Carolina 70-50 in Chapel Hill this weekend. He threw for 388 yards and ran for 99 more. The Dukes scored 53 on North Carolina in the first half!! James Madison is a good football team, but I’m not sure the Sun Belt (or the Fun Belt) Conference will land a team in the playoffs. Still, a great game for Barnett and a statement win for JMU.
SMU rolled up 66 points on TCU in a 24-point victory in Dallas. The Mustang defense had two touchdowns, and special teams added a punt return for a touchdown. Brashard Smith ran for 127 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns to lead the offense. SMU has always been a fun offense to watch, but in this game, the defense came through as well. Way to go, Mustangs!
