College Football 2015: Week 9 Heroes

Another big weekend of college football is in the books, with plenty of sensational team and individual performances – including an ACC ending we won’t soon forget. Here’s the pick of that litter: 

Miami-FL

If you’ve seen a better and more dramatic lateral-filled ending to a college football game, let me know what it was. The Hurricanes’ last-gasp touchdown was nothing short of a miracle, one that will rival Flutie’s Hail Mary and Cal’s The Play (which, incidentally, had two less laterals than this one did) in the annals of heart-stopping college football endings.

The desperate lateral-fest looked doomed to failure early on, but the Hurricanes somehow flipped the football around enough to finally open a lane.

Of course, there was a review, adding to the drama, but the play was eventually ruled as being legal. From the worst loss in Miami program history last Saturday to almost certainly the most extraordinary win in program history a week later. It just goes to show that seven days is a long time in college football.

DeShone Kizer

The Notre Dame quarterback accounted for 442 total yards (and three touchdowns) as the Irish barely survived a plucky Temple, 24-20.

Trevone Boykin

The Texas Christian Horned Frogs are 8-0 following a Thursday night victory over West Virginia and their star quarterback Boykin, a serious Heisman Trophy candidate, is a big part of why. He had a day – or a night, if you will – out against the Mountaineers, throwing for 388 yards and three touchdowns, and carrying eleven times for 84 yards and one more score. That means Boykin accounted for 472 of TCU’s 616 total yards, in a 40-10 win.

Gunner Kiel

The Cincinnati quarterback was a perfect 15-15 for 319 yards and five touchdowns as the Bearcats dispatched a reeling Central Florida squad 52-7. It doesn’t get more perfect than that.

Utah State

The Aggies of the Mountain West extended their home win streak to a – lucky? – thirteen with a 58-27 win over Wyoming on Friday night. The victory was largely thanks to Devante Mays, who ran for a career-high 176 yards and two touchdowns.

Adoree’ Jackson

The do-everything corner/receiver for USC had his first interception return for a touchdown, intercepting Jared Goff for 46 yards and returning it to the house. The Trojans eked out a 27-21 win in Berkeley.

Houston

The Cougars remain undefeated after a comprehensive 34-0 victory over Vanderbilt to remain undefeated. The Cougars forced four turnovers, including a 55-yard interception return in the third quarter.

Memphis

Another undefeated team, the Tigers survive one more week, after a 41-13 victory over Tulane. QB Paxton Lynch threw for 343 yards and a score in the win.

Purdue

The Boilermakers relied on their passing attack – QB David Blough threw for 274 yards and four scores – and a strong defensive game – cornerback Anthony Brown intercepted three passes – in a 55-45 win over Nebraska.

Brett Rypien

The Boise State freshman quarterback surpassed a school record set by the great Kellen Moore – and not many people can lay claim to besting one of the greatest ever to set foot on the blue turf – with the most passing yards by a freshman in a single game (Rypien recorded 496) as the Broncos rolled over UNLV 55-27.  And Rypien also caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Thomas Sperbeck as the Broncos executed yet another awesome trick play.

Keenan Reynolds

The Navy quarterback scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to tie the NCAA record for career rushing touchdowns during a 29-17 win over South Florida. He rushed for 117 yards on a day when the Midshipmen had three rushers pass the century mark.

Corey Clement

It was a welcome return from injury for the Wisconsin back, who reeled off 115 yards and three scores as the Badgers beat Rutgers 48-10.

Darian Thompson

The senior safety for Boise State became the outright leader for interceptions in Mountain West history with nineteen.

Kyler Murray

The true freshman quarterback for Texas A&M ran for 156 yards and passed for 223 in a 35-28 Aggie win against South Carolina. It was one heck of a debut.

Boise State

The Broncos appear here not so much for their 55-27 victory over UNLV, but for their awesome orange-and-black Halloween-themed helmets.

Vernon Adams Jr.

The Oregon quarterback transferred from FCS Eastern Washington and was criticised in some circles for the move. He’s been injured at Oregon and inconsistent at times, but we saw him make some highlight reel plays late on Thursday night to lead the Ducks to a massive 3OT conference win. His stat line wasn't that impressive – 23-40 for 315 yards and four touchdowns – but the amount he did with his legs scrambling to keep plays alive doesn’t show up on any stats sheets, but, ultimately, it kept Oregon in a game where they were outgained by more than 200 yards. They should never have been in the hunt for a win in Tempe, but they were, and they won – thanks to Adams.

Iowa

A 31-15 victory over Maryland at home in Iowa City extends the Hawkeyes record to a spotless 7-0. It wasn't a pretty game, but the Hawkeyes – whose defense forced four Maryland turnovers – will take wins any way they can get them at the moment.

Ole Miss

The Rebels needed a win on the road at Auburn to keep their SEC West hopes alive, and they got exactly that, thanks to QB Chad Kelly and WR Laquon Treadwell. The two combined on a 21-yard fourth quarter touchdown that proved the difference in a pretty good football game. The Rebels won 27-19 and, importantly, still control their own destiny in the SEC West.

Arizona State

The Pat Tillman memorial uniforms the Sun Devils wore against Oregon on Thursday night were sensational, with ‘Tillman’ on the name plate of every jersey. The more we celebrate Tillman and his sacrifice – if you don’t know the story, here it is in a nutshell: he abandoned a lucrative NFL contract to join the US military after 9/11 and was tragically killed by friendly fire – the better, for it was a unique and special one. The only shame was that they couldn’t win the game.

North Carolina

The Tar Heels knocked off Pitt in Pittsburgh on Thursday night, and, in the process, extended their winning streak to seven games, losing only on opening night to in-state rivals South Carolina. It’s the Tar Heels’ best start since 1997 when Mack Brown was in charge in Chapel Hill. In other words, a long time ago! The turnaround is particularly impressive with UNC coming off a disappointing 6-7 season a year ago.