Actual College Football!!

For those of you getting sick to death of realignment updates, take heart. Here's a post on ACTUAL college football for September 10th!

Later Games:

In one of the most phenomenal finishes you'll ever see, Michigan upends Notre Dame on a 18-yard Denard Robinson pass with 2 seconds left to propel the Big Blue to an absolutely stunning 35-31 win. Robinson's heroics capped an 80-yard touchdown drive in 28 seconds, taking possession at their own 20 after Notre Dame scored what appeared to be the game-winning touchdown themselves with 30 seconds to play.


This is one of the truly classic wins in CFB history.








South Carolina 45, Georgia 42: The seat couldn't get any hotter for Georgia coach Mark Richt, who just led the Bulldogs to their first 0-2 start in 15 years. Georgia came *that* close to rallying from a 10-point deficit and getting a final chance to close the gap late, only to miss an onside kick and allow South Carolina to pick up a game-sealing first down and run out the clock. Four Aaron Murray touchdown passes could not overcome turnovers and 68-yard run off a fake punt for the Gamecocks. This may be the beginning of the end for Richt.

Texas 17, BYU 16: With Garrett Gilbert looking lost an inept, throwing two early first-half interceptions, UT found itself in a 13-0 hole. Enter the tandem of David Ash and Chase McCoy, who sparked the Horn offense to life and two second-half touchdowns that staved off BYU's upset bid. The Cougars drove the ball deep into 'Horn territory twice in the first half, but settled for field goals both times; clock mismanagement just before halftime cost BYU at least a chance at another long-range FG. The decisive factor: No serious interior run game from BYU, and second-half defensive adjustments shut down the Cougar passing game. Most important takeaway: Gilbert's likely seen his last duty as Texas' starter.

USC 17, Utah 14: This game had the wildest ending you've probably never seen. Down only 3 with but seconds to play, Utah drove the ball to the USC 49. On 4th and 10, Utah completes a pass to the USC 38 for an apparent first down, only to have the officials mark the ball a full yard short of the receiver's forward progress. Measurement for first down comes up short, ball goes to USC - until a replay review puts the ball at the 39 (still short), and gives Utah a first down. Following a pass interference penalty, Utah tries a 41-yard field goal with 11 seconds left, only to have the ball blocked and returned by USC for a touchdown to give the ridiculously deceptive final score. USC escaped this one with its lives.


More updates later...



Arizona State 37, Missouri 30 - OT: Mizzou QB James Franklin's two-touchdown, 319-yard aerial performance against the Sun Devils fell short in overtime against Arizona State, as ASU upended the Tigers just as lightning approached Sun Devil Stadium. For ASU, it was the biggest win at home in years, against a ranked opponent from a name conference. For Mizzou, one can't help but wonder why coach Gary Pinkel purposely opted to call two straight timeouts just as his Tigers were lining up to kick a likely game-winning field goal - one that was finally missed (badly) left to force the OT. Gary, why ice your own kicker? Isn't that the other team's job?

Iowa State 37, Iowa 30 - 3OT: Paul Rhoads is quietly becoming a giant killer in college football. In his first three years, he's upended Nebraska, Texas, and now Iowa. Not bad on your coaching resume. The Clones simply refused to cave to conventional wisdom and razzled, dazzled, and threw their way to a thrilling three-overtime win against the Hawks. Where it seemed Iowa was content to muscle its way down the field, a late shift to a pass-oriented philosophy put the Hawks behind the eightball and the Cy-Hawk trophy into the hands of the folks in Ames.

Ohio State 27, Toledo 22: That Ohio State won isn't surprising. That Toledo had the ball with a chance to win with under 2 minutes on the clock most certainly is - which is almost as surprising as the fact that Toledo outgained the Bucks on offense - and all this coming in front a Buckeye home crowd at the 'Shoe. Methinks more games like this are ahead for the Bucks until their eligibility issue(s?) are sorted out, and the accountants run through all the receipts (sarcasm). Next up for tOSU: Miami. How poetic is that? Maybe we should call it the Ineligibowl. :)

Auburn 41, Miss 34: Gene Chizik must be getting his tacos and ridiculous luck from the same vendor as Les Miles. The Tigers pulled off yet another hold-your-breath finish, but this time courtesy of the defense, as Miss QB Chris Relf was stung at the Auburn goal line as time ran out to preserve the Tigers' second consecutive breathless victory.

More comments as they come...