Championship Weekend is here once again, and despite the absence of the Pac-12 and Big Ten Championship games (both are FOX broadcasts, and MIA here in Australia, like so many FOX games all year) there's a good spread of the other championship contests this week: MAC, C-USA, ACC and the de-facto Big East title game between Rutgers and Louisville on Friday morning.
The really big get for ESPN is the SEC Championship on Sunday morning. The winner goes to the BCS National Championship Game in Miami in early January to face the #1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The loser...well, it isn't the Sugar Bowl, which clearly upsets Nick Saban. To add to the excitement in a game where it's tough to predict a winner, ESPN's College GameDay will be on-site at the Georgia Dome. ABC's top team of Brent, Herbie and Heather Cox are in Charlotte for the ACC Championship Game between the overrated Florida State and the unranked 6-6 (5-3 ACC) Georgia Tech team.
Also, BCS Countdown and the Bowl Selection Show on Monday!
All times AEDT
Friday 30 November
Hyundai Thursday Night Kick-off (11.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Louisville vs. Rutgers (11.30am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Saturday 1 December
MAC Championship: No. 21 Northern Illinois vs. No. 17 Kent State (11.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Sunday 2 December
College GameDay - Atlanta, Georgia (2.00am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
No. 11 Oklahoma vs. Texas Christian (4.00am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
C-USA Championship: Central Florida vs. Tulsa (4.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
SEC Championship: No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 3 Georgia (8.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
ACC Championship: No. 13 Florida State vs. Georgia Tech (12.00pm; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
No. 18 Texas vs. No. 6 Kansas State (12.00pm; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
College Football Final (6.00pm; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Monday 3 December
BCS Countdown (1.00pm; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Bowl Selection Special (1.30pm; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Sunday, November 25, 2012
NCAA College Football 2012: Week Thirteen Review
Rivalry Weekend/Showdown Saturday is routinely the best weekend of the year, and it was no different in 2012.
Ohio State vs. Michigan
The 2012 edition of The Game, a 21-26 Ohio State Buckeyes win, wasn't the most memorable that's ever been played - not as exciting as last year's shootout in Ann Arbor, and nowhere near as thrilling as the 2006 edition in Columbus - but it will be remembered thanks to Ohio State's 26-21 victory over their arch rival, and the conclusion of a 12-0 season that, because of NCAA sanctions that came as a result of the infractions that forced the school to fire long-time head coach Jim Tressel before the 2011 season, will go no further. The Buckeyes, who could have self-imposed a one year Bowl ban during last year's mediocre season, didn't, thinking that the NCAA would be lenient. They weren't, imposing the one-year ban themselves, so this 12-0 season is all for naught.
Still, for the 100,000+ in Ohio Stadium, it didn't seem to matter all that much. As if often said, the head coaches on either side are judged - by the fans and by the media - on what they do in this game. Bowl ban spoiling an undefeated season aside, Urban Meyer's debut season as head coach of OSU will be determined a success, for he presided over a win against 'that team from up north.'
The ball went back and forth in the first half, with Michigan's senior QB Denard Robinson taking snaps from the shotgun - he didn't attempt to throw the ball - and getting the football from the running back spot, and, at times, cutting the Buckeye defense to shreds. Yet, once the second half began, the Wolverines offense went missing. They didn't score in the final two quarters, instead turning the football over when they weren't giving it up on fourth down thanks to some questionable play calls.
Credit to the Buckeyes defense. Half-time adjustments really stopped the Wolverines effectiveness. Even Robinson, gulity of a fumble in the second half - as was stand-in QB Devin Gardner - looked a shadow of his first half self when the game resumed. Even without star DE John Simon, the Buckeyes D looked as good as they had all season, taking over the game when it counted. Particularly in short yardage situations, the team in silver helmets looked nearly unstoppable. Into that storm, the Michigan offense stuttered and, ultimately, failed. Penalties and turnovers doomed them. So did plays where Robinson stood on the sideline when he should perhaps have figured in Michigan's offense. They barely crossed the fifty yard line in the second half.
Ohio State vs. Michigan
The 2012 edition of The Game, a 21-26 Ohio State Buckeyes win, wasn't the most memorable that's ever been played - not as exciting as last year's shootout in Ann Arbor, and nowhere near as thrilling as the 2006 edition in Columbus - but it will be remembered thanks to Ohio State's 26-21 victory over their arch rival, and the conclusion of a 12-0 season that, because of NCAA sanctions that came as a result of the infractions that forced the school to fire long-time head coach Jim Tressel before the 2011 season, will go no further. The Buckeyes, who could have self-imposed a one year Bowl ban during last year's mediocre season, didn't, thinking that the NCAA would be lenient. They weren't, imposing the one-year ban themselves, so this 12-0 season is all for naught.
Still, for the 100,000+ in Ohio Stadium, it didn't seem to matter all that much. As if often said, the head coaches on either side are judged - by the fans and by the media - on what they do in this game. Bowl ban spoiling an undefeated season aside, Urban Meyer's debut season as head coach of OSU will be determined a success, for he presided over a win against 'that team from up north.'
The ball went back and forth in the first half, with Michigan's senior QB Denard Robinson taking snaps from the shotgun - he didn't attempt to throw the ball - and getting the football from the running back spot, and, at times, cutting the Buckeye defense to shreds. Yet, once the second half began, the Wolverines offense went missing. They didn't score in the final two quarters, instead turning the football over when they weren't giving it up on fourth down thanks to some questionable play calls.
Credit to the Buckeyes defense. Half-time adjustments really stopped the Wolverines effectiveness. Even Robinson, gulity of a fumble in the second half - as was stand-in QB Devin Gardner - looked a shadow of his first half self when the game resumed. Even without star DE John Simon, the Buckeyes D looked as good as they had all season, taking over the game when it counted. Particularly in short yardage situations, the team in silver helmets looked nearly unstoppable. Into that storm, the Michigan offense stuttered and, ultimately, failed. Penalties and turnovers doomed them. So did plays where Robinson stood on the sideline when he should perhaps have figured in Michigan's offense. They barely crossed the fifty yard line in the second half.
Offensively, QB Braxton Miller, unsteady and ineffective last week vs. Wisconsin, looked solid, passng his total yardage from last week before the first quarter of this game was done. His consistency is still an issue - one that Urban Meyer admits - and next season, as junior, there will be pressure on him to play well every week, especially with the bowl ban lifted.
In 2013, Ohio State figure to be Big Ten contenders. I mean, Meyer crafted an undefeated season with players who, as a unit, went 6-7 last year. Imagine what he can do with his own recruiting class and a maturing Miller? In 2012, the Buckeyes faithful will settle for OSU-Michigan bragging rights for three hundred and sixty-five days.
USC vs. Notre Dame
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are headed to the BCS National Championship Game in Miami after a 22-13 victory over arch rivals USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The team that everyone thought had been left behind by modern day college football - it's been an awfully long time since Lou Holtz in 1988 - is right back in the midst of it, thanks to head coach Brian Kelly. Once more, it was third year's a charm for Kelly. At Central Michigan and Cincinnati, his previous two coaching stops, it took him three years to right a listing program. And it's happened again in South Bend, with spectacular results.
Tonight's win, gritty and tough and not all that pretty - like all the Notre Dame wins this season, really - was made possible by a goal-line stand that Irish fans will be talking about for ages. After a long reception by USC WR Marqise Lee and two PI flags in a row, the Irish defense stood tall, stoning USC running backs three times running, then breaking up a pass attempt to a freshman fullback on the critical fourth down. From there, it was game over, and the Irish could begin to look ahead to Miami - and to, likely, a date with the champion of the SEC to play for all the marbles.
Yet Notre Dame's defensive stand should perhaps, at least partly, be attributed to USC head coach Lane Kiffin. Anyone who has seen even just a handful of Irish highlights in 2012 knows one thing: that defensive front is strong, undoubtedly one of the strongest in the country. It's like a brick wall. And Kiffin, for reasons known only to himself, ran straight at it three times, once as a quarterback sneak, and once, on third down, for negative yards.
What occurred on the Irish goal line was confounding, frustrating and almost unbelievable. Certainly, those calls defied belief. USC had a chance to score quickly, and have the best part of four minutes to get one more defensive stop - really, the USC defense had been pretty good for most of the night - and give their ball to the offense, with a chance to drive down the field for the game-winning score and break Irish hearts. It didn't happen. Time and time outs were wasted, and Notre Dame's strong defensive line took care of the rest.
For first-time starter freshman QB Max Wittek, in for injured QB Matt Barkley, it was an uneven debut. The kid was put in a tough position, as Mitch Mustain was two years ago, but showed enough to suggest that he'll be a reliable signal-caller for USC over the next few seasons. But tonight, he was outplayed by Irish QB Everett Golson and RB Theo Riddick, and the incredible rise of Notre Dame, unranked in the pre-season, to within sixty minutes of college football immortality continues.
As USC ponder changes to their coaching staff for 2013 and what went wrong in 2012, Notre Dame prepare for a tilt with either Alabama or Georgia. It will be very interesting to see how the Irish, who have played a rather soft schedule compared - lots of Big Ten games in a year where the Big Ten has been weak had the unbeaten Irish well behind fellow unbeatens Kansas State and Oregon and Alabama for most of the season before those teams all lost - will go against a battle-hardened SEC team. You get the feeling that the fearsome Irish defense will be okay, but what will the offense do in the face of such a quick, well-drilled defense like, say, Alabama's. We'll find out January 7, 2013.
Quick Screens
The new Texas Thanksgiving rivalry gave us a glimpse of the TCU defense that we've come to know and last during the Gary Patterson era. The Horned Frogs had their first signature Big XII win at Austin against No. 16 Texas, thanks largely to their defense, which harassed Longhorns QB David Ash - and then his replacement, Case McCoy - all night long. They forced Ash into three turnovers, a number of bad decisions and at least a dozen bad throws, many of which deserved to be intercepted. Texas got their ineffective offense going late in the fourth, but the a late McCoy interception ensured, and the Horned Frogs held on for a big win that eliminates the Longhorns from contention to feature in a BCS bowl in January. Four Texas turnovers were the difference in an otherwise tight game.
My Heisman frontrunner, Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel, had another spectacular game in the final SEC game of the Aggies' debut season in that conference. The final result was a 59-29 victory over Missouri in College Station. Manziel threw for 372 yards and 2 TDs and added 67 yards and 2 TDs on the ground in the game between the two SEC debutantes. Missouri's defensive ineptness might have just handed the Heisman to Johnny Football.
In record-setting QB Landry Jones' final game as a Sooner, Bedlam became all about the ground game, which Oklahoma rode to a memorable51-48 OT victory against fierce rivals Oklahoma State in Norman. The Sooners, who fell behind early and then fought back thanks to Jones' arm, then got a short-yardage, last-second game-tying TD from Blake Bell - AKA The Belldozer - and then a rumbling jaunt from RB Brennan Clay in OT after Oklahoma State could manage only a field goal with their possession. Much maligned and often criticised, Jones leaves Norman with a swag of records and a win against their in-state rivals.
In Tuscaloosa Saturday afternoon, Alabama did what everyone expected they would do, pummeling the hapless Auburn Tigers to the tune of 49-0. Revenge for the last Iron Bowl game in Tuscaloosa, where Cam Newton did work. The embarrassing defeat will surely - SURELY - bring about the end of the Gene Chizik era. Consider this, Chizik and the Tigers won the National Championship with Cam Newton running the show in January of 2011, just a handful of weeks after the amazing second-half comeback vs. Alabama. Newton left after the BCS title game. The Tigers endured a sub-par season last year. This year, it was just plain horrible, with zero SEC wins to speak of. Two years after holding the crystal football aloft, Chizik is gone. And there may be some NCAA sanctions looming as a result of the Yahoo! Sports investigation that surfaced earlier this week. Not a good week for the Tigers.
Major win for Washington State, getting their rival Washington 31-28 in OT to claim the Apple Cup. It was a dramatic end for the Cougars, scoring 21 unanswered points - 18 in the fourth quarter and 3 in OT - in a game that Steve Sarkisian's Huskies could well have one, were it not for some bad and ill-timed errors. Big win, for WSU's Mike Leach, whose team hasn't had quite the season people envisaged. At least it ended on a good note.
After being 5-0 then 5-5, the West Virginia Mountaineers are bowl-eligible, and sitting at 6-5 after beating Iowa State 31-24 on Friday. Even with the win, snapping a truly horrendous losing streak, the WVU defense gave up 396 yards to a team that hasn't exactly been rolling up huge numbers. An Iowa State fumble into the end zone that was recovered by the Mountaineers sealed the game, and a much-needed win for Dana Holgerson's squad.
Nebraska will represent the Big Ten's Legends Division after a tough 13-7 victory against Iowa in Iowa City. The Huskers star RB Rex Burkhead returned to the line-up after five weeks out with a knee injury, and scored the go-ahead touchdown from 3 yards out in the third quarter. Next week, Big Red heads to Indianapolis to play Wisconsin for the Big Ten Championship and a place in the Rose Bowl Game on New Year's Day.
A last second field goal for Virginia Tech saw them beat rivals Virginia and barely - BARELY - squeak into Bowl season. If there's been a bigger disappointment in 2012 than Frank Beamer's perennial ACC contending Hokies, I don't know who it is. Some of their losses have been absolutely horrendous. There may be some pressure on Beamer as winter becomes spring.
Congratulations to Wisconsin RB Montee Ball, whose 17-yard run to the right side of the Badger formation in the first quarter against Penn State - a game the Nittany Lions ended up winning narrowly in OT - was his 79th career score, which is the all-time NCAA record.
My Heisman frontrunner, Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel, had another spectacular game in the final SEC game of the Aggies' debut season in that conference. The final result was a 59-29 victory over Missouri in College Station. Manziel threw for 372 yards and 2 TDs and added 67 yards and 2 TDs on the ground in the game between the two SEC debutantes. Missouri's defensive ineptness might have just handed the Heisman to Johnny Football.
In record-setting QB Landry Jones' final game as a Sooner, Bedlam became all about the ground game, which Oklahoma rode to a memorable51-48 OT victory against fierce rivals Oklahoma State in Norman. The Sooners, who fell behind early and then fought back thanks to Jones' arm, then got a short-yardage, last-second game-tying TD from Blake Bell - AKA The Belldozer - and then a rumbling jaunt from RB Brennan Clay in OT after Oklahoma State could manage only a field goal with their possession. Much maligned and often criticised, Jones leaves Norman with a swag of records and a win against their in-state rivals.
In Tuscaloosa Saturday afternoon, Alabama did what everyone expected they would do, pummeling the hapless Auburn Tigers to the tune of 49-0. Revenge for the last Iron Bowl game in Tuscaloosa, where Cam Newton did work. The embarrassing defeat will surely - SURELY - bring about the end of the Gene Chizik era. Consider this, Chizik and the Tigers won the National Championship with Cam Newton running the show in January of 2011, just a handful of weeks after the amazing second-half comeback vs. Alabama. Newton left after the BCS title game. The Tigers endured a sub-par season last year. This year, it was just plain horrible, with zero SEC wins to speak of. Two years after holding the crystal football aloft, Chizik is gone. And there may be some NCAA sanctions looming as a result of the Yahoo! Sports investigation that surfaced earlier this week. Not a good week for the Tigers.
Major win for Washington State, getting their rival Washington 31-28 in OT to claim the Apple Cup. It was a dramatic end for the Cougars, scoring 21 unanswered points - 18 in the fourth quarter and 3 in OT - in a game that Steve Sarkisian's Huskies could well have one, were it not for some bad and ill-timed errors. Big win, for WSU's Mike Leach, whose team hasn't had quite the season people envisaged. At least it ended on a good note.
After being 5-0 then 5-5, the West Virginia Mountaineers are bowl-eligible, and sitting at 6-5 after beating Iowa State 31-24 on Friday. Even with the win, snapping a truly horrendous losing streak, the WVU defense gave up 396 yards to a team that hasn't exactly been rolling up huge numbers. An Iowa State fumble into the end zone that was recovered by the Mountaineers sealed the game, and a much-needed win for Dana Holgerson's squad.
Nebraska will represent the Big Ten's Legends Division after a tough 13-7 victory against Iowa in Iowa City. The Huskers star RB Rex Burkhead returned to the line-up after five weeks out with a knee injury, and scored the go-ahead touchdown from 3 yards out in the third quarter. Next week, Big Red heads to Indianapolis to play Wisconsin for the Big Ten Championship and a place in the Rose Bowl Game on New Year's Day.
A last second field goal for Virginia Tech saw them beat rivals Virginia and barely - BARELY - squeak into Bowl season. If there's been a bigger disappointment in 2012 than Frank Beamer's perennial ACC contending Hokies, I don't know who it is. Some of their losses have been absolutely horrendous. There may be some pressure on Beamer as winter becomes spring.
Congratulations to Wisconsin RB Montee Ball, whose 17-yard run to the right side of the Badger formation in the first quarter against Penn State - a game the Nittany Lions ended up winning narrowly in OT - was his 79th career score, which is the all-time NCAA record.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
NCAA College Football 2012: Week Thirteen Australian TV Guide
Thanksgiving Weekend rolls around again - and that means extra servings of college football practically all day on Saturday.
It's Rivalry Week - perhaps the best weekend of the season! How does Florida vs FSU, Clemson vs. South Carolina, Michigan vs. Ohio State and USC vs. Notre Dame? Pretty damn good! All of it on ESPN and ESPN2 in Australia! What a weekend it promises to be! If that's not enough, it's the last weekend of the regular season for most conferences, with the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12 Championship Games to come next week. So teams are fighting for their lives, and you can almost feel some more BCS drama.
College GameDay is in Los Angeles at the Memorial Coliseum for the No. 1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish - ugh, I hate typing that - against the Matt Barkley-less USC Trojans, and that's where Brent, Kirk and Heather Cox are, too. Even though the Irish are at No. 1, try and enjoy the double-shot of football, everyone!
All times AEDT
Friday 23 November
Texas Christian vs. No. 16 Texas (11.30am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
Saturday 24 November
Syracuse vs. Temple (3.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 14 Nebraska vs. Iowa (4.00am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
West Virginia vs. Iowa State (7.30am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
South Florida vs. Cincinnati (11.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Arizona State vs. No. 24 Arizona (2.00pm; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Sunday 25 November
College GameDay - Los Angeles (2.00am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
No. 19 Michigan vs.Ohio State (4.00am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
Georgia Tech vs. No. 3 Georgia (4.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 4 Florida vs. No. 10 Florida State (7.30am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
No. 21 Oklahoma State vs. No. 13 Oklahoma (7.30am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 12 South Carolina vs. No. 11 Clemson (11.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 1 Notre Dame vs. USC (12.00pm; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
It's Rivalry Week - perhaps the best weekend of the season! How does Florida vs FSU, Clemson vs. South Carolina, Michigan vs. Ohio State and USC vs. Notre Dame? Pretty damn good! All of it on ESPN and ESPN2 in Australia! What a weekend it promises to be! If that's not enough, it's the last weekend of the regular season for most conferences, with the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12 Championship Games to come next week. So teams are fighting for their lives, and you can almost feel some more BCS drama.
College GameDay is in Los Angeles at the Memorial Coliseum for the No. 1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish - ugh, I hate typing that - against the Matt Barkley-less USC Trojans, and that's where Brent, Kirk and Heather Cox are, too. Even though the Irish are at No. 1, try and enjoy the double-shot of football, everyone!
All times AEDT
Friday 23 November
Texas Christian vs. No. 16 Texas (11.30am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
Saturday 24 November
Syracuse vs. Temple (3.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 14 Nebraska vs. Iowa (4.00am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
West Virginia vs. Iowa State (7.30am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
South Florida vs. Cincinnati (11.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Arizona State vs. No. 24 Arizona (2.00pm; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Sunday 25 November
College GameDay - Los Angeles (2.00am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
No. 19 Michigan vs.Ohio State (4.00am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
Georgia Tech vs. No. 3 Georgia (4.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 4 Florida vs. No. 10 Florida State (7.30am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
No. 21 Oklahoma State vs. No. 13 Oklahoma (7.30am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 12 South Carolina vs. No. 11 Clemson (11.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 1 Notre Dame vs. USC (12.00pm; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
Sunday, November 18, 2012
NCAA College Football 2012: Week Twelve Review
WOW! Well, folks, that was Shakeup Saturday! Courtesy of surprising (AKA shocking!) losses by No. 1 Kansas State and No. 2 Oregon, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, sensationally, are the lone unbeaten team - no one's counting ineligible Ohio State - should be No. 1 in the BCS rankings tomorrow, and now have the inside track to reach the BCS National Championship Game. Yet, Kansas State had that last week, and then Oregon had it momentarily tonight after K-State lost. All the ducks needed was an OT win vs. Stanford...but look what happened to them tonight...
Oregon vs. Stanford
In scenes eerily similar to a year ago, Oregon lost in sensational circumstances and, in the process, seemingly dropped out of the chance to play in the BCS National Championship Game.
Unlike last year, it wasn't the high-flying USC offense led by Barkley, Lee and Woods. This was a plucky, disciplined Stanford team who held the ultra-potent Oregon offense to just fourteen points. The Cardinal, thought to be Pac-12 no-hopers following the graduation of their superstar quarterback Andrew Luck, survived three turnovers and rode their fair slice of good luck all the way home, enabling another BCS shake-up on Jordan Williamson's 37-yard field goal in overtime. He'd missed a 43-yard attempt in the first quarter. That doesn't matter anymore, not now that Stanford are 17-14 victors.
Like the Ducks were stunned last year by USC by way of a missed field goal that would have taken the game to overtime, Oregon went one step further this year, but their kicker Alejandro Maldonado missed a forty-one yard attempt. Two years running for the kicker. Surely, he'll be haunted by these two games for as long as he lives.
Just like that, the 13-game - lucky thirteen? - win streak for Oregon is over, and the looks of utter shock and grief in the stands at Autzen Stadium told the story. Perhaps there had never been a better chance for the Ducks to win a National Championship, with those good SEC defenses out of the way, and Notre Dame not expected to figure in proceedings. It's all over now. Kenjon Barner was held to 66 yards (he averages 136) and the star running back, touted as a Heisman candidate, had good company. The ground game for Oregon collectively was quiet, notching only 98 yards (they average 325).
Down 14-7, Stanford came back, converting on a fourth-and-one at the
Oregon 12, made that, and then freshman QB Kevin Hogan - 211 yards
through the air, and 30 on the ground - and the tossed the all-important
game-tying score at the death, a 10-yard shot to Zach Ertz with 1:35 in
regulation. Yet it was not that simple. Ertz fought for control as he
fell to the artificial Autzen Stadium turf. The play, ruled incomplete on
the field, was reviewed and changed: Touchdown, Stanford. Cue a week
or two of debate on this one. I thought that the right call was made,
but there's two sides to every story.
If both Stanford and Oregon win in their final games next weekend - Oregon against Oregon State and Stanford against the resurgent UCLA - both teams will finish with one conference loss. That means Stanford, holder of the head-to-head decision, will go on to the Pac-12 championship for a chance to
play in the Rose Bowl. They need to beat UCLA twice in a row to be in Pasadena on New Year's Day.
You just can't make this drama up...
Baylor vs. Kansas State
For the first time since 2007 when LSU lost to Arkansas in triple OT and Missouri lost a week later to Oklahoma, the No. 1-ranked team in the BCS standings has fallen in consecutive weeks. And what a fall for Bill Snyder's Kansas State Wildcats, soundly beaten 52-24 by an unlikely Baylor Bears team. For K-State, the way seemed wide open, even easy, for a National Championship appearance. Beat Baylor and beat Texas Tech - two teams with zero defense, or so it seemed - and without a Big XII championship game these days, they would be there. Probably against Oregon or Notre Dame.
Not anymore. Further proof that nothing in this sport is easy. From somewhere, Baylor found defense and Art Briles' squad put the cleaners through a Wildcat team that didn't look like themselves. For starters, they gave up a whopping fifty two points, having not given up basically half that many all season. The defense that was such a cornerstone of this team crumbled. Aside from 52 points on the big board, the sturdy, even vaunted Wildcat defense let Baylor run up 580 yards and go 9-14 on third down. Granted, they were missing some good players, but lapses in judgement and dumb penalties that we haven't seen all year can't be easily explained away. Perhaps it was the pressure heaped on this team from within and without. Whatever the reason, Kansas State's quest for perfection and for the crystal football imploded in Waco, Texas, tonight. Baylor, like Texas A&M last week, became Giant Killers.
Baylor QB Nick Florence was wonderful: 20-32 for 240 yards and 2 TDs (with 2 INTs), driving the Bears offense so remarkably well against a defense that's been able to lock down on other powerful attacks - look at how they handled West Virginia and Oklahoma. Florence was ably supported by RB Lache Seastrunk who had 183 yards (9.6 yards per carry) and when he ripped off an 80-yard TD run, the game was as good as over. With that score, Baylor became the first team with a losing record to beat a No. 1-ranked team. Amazing!
How about that Baylor defense? Much maligned all year, giving up yards in great chunks and today they came up big, holding a potent K-State squad to 24 points and 362 yards. They also forced three turnovers. For the first time that I can remember, even last year during RGIII's run, the Baylor D backed up their potent offense. Of all the teams to have that happen against, Kansas State? It makes no sense. But...that's the great thing about college football. You just can't take anything for granted.
As big of an upset as Texas A&M getting Alabama or even Stanford getting Oregon tonight, this is the biggest of the season - and the biggest in some time. A team with a losing record, with no defense really worth mentioning, pulled it all together on primetime TV and threw even more chaos into the BCS mix. I guarantee you, Alabama, Georgia and Notre Dame loved every second of this.
For Art Briles, here is another signature win. He can point out to all the naysayers that this one happened without Robert Griffin III.
USC vs. UCLA
Maybe, just maybe, the football monopoly in Los Angeles is over. At least for the next three hundred and sixty five days, the Bruins of UCLA rather than the Trojans of USC can exercise bragging rights, for they are the victors in the annual Battle of Los Angeles, and a season that started out so full of hope and promise for the Men of Troy has come crashing down around them and, particularly, around their now-embattled head coach, Lane Kiffin. For USC fans - I am unashamedly one - this is a tough day. Not just because we lost to our cross-town rivals, but because any last semblance of hope of a Rose Bowl appearance on New Year's Day 2013 was well and truly extinguished.
While UCLA, with their 38-28 win, have secured their second-straight appearance in the second ever Pac-12 Championship Game, the Trojans will be left to return to the post-season in a lower-tier bowl, a giant fall from grace for a team ranked No. 1 in the preseason, and favoured by many to make the BCS National Championship Game. Now, the most likely Pac-12 team to play for the crystal football - and for undisuputed college football supremacy - will be Oregon.
Simply put, today the Trojans were not good enough. They started slowly, and looked unenthused about playing football - how you can be unenthused in the single biggest game of the season is beyond me, but I digress - allowing the Bruins to race to a 24-0 lead that was fuelled, mostly, by turnovers and horrible defense. The Trojans just didn't look motivated and the Bruins, likely remembering their 50-0 drubbing at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum last year, jumped all over them. The freshman QB Brett Hundley showed more of the poise that's helped UCLA open their season 8-2. As USC was renergised by Pete Carroll, UCLA has been energised by first-year head coach Jim Mora. Stand by for more washed-out NFL coaches turning up if the records of Carroll and then Mora are any indication.
At times, USC played some of the worst defense I've seen: disinterested and bored. The Monte Kiffin era has not been good for Southern California, and you get the sense that if Lane Kiffin isn't relieved of his duties at the end of this season, then his father might be. What worked well for the defensive guru in the NFL just hasn't translated to the college game, and USC has suffered. A friend at the game today texted me saying, "If USC had LSU's defense, they would be unstoppable." That's true. It would be scary-good thing - scary for opposing teams, good for USC supporters.
Yet the defense isn't soley to blame. There will be questions asked of the younger Kiffin, too. Lane's play-calling at various critical junctures of the game was...well, interesting to say the least. And the performance by Matt Barkley will be looked at harshly, too. His two turnovers gave UCLA a short field and allowed them to post critical points. In the end, the team with the better all-around performance won the game. Congratulations to UCLA. After last year's beat-down, this was an astute bounce-back effort by them. They deserved the win where USC did not. Simple as that -- unfortunately.
Michigan vs. Iowa
This Saturday's Ohio State - or, Ohio, if you're Brady Hoke - vs. Michigan game just got a whole lot more interesting. The Wolverines are coming off their best offensive performance of the season, with their 42-17 win over Iowa at the Big House, and although Denard Robinson returned to rush for 98 yards, it was some of the interesting formations that Brady Hoke put on the field, lining up Robinson at running back behind QB Devin Gardner, who looked impressive in his third consecutive start, toying with the defense at times.
It's true that Robinson, still troubled by a nerve injury sustained in the Nebraska game, didn't throw the football, but Ohio State's defensive coaching staff will have something new to game plan for in the coming week. There's a possibility now that Robinson, with another week to recover, will be in a position to make throws from the quarterback position, and that is a very dangerous, very interesting combination with Gardner. Although, you get the feeling that Robinson doing more than running the quarterback design run, or making a late pitch or one of those pretty cool triple reverse plays might not be on the horizon - maybe in time for a bowl game, who knows? - as ESPN's broadcast noted that Robinson carried the ball with the opposite hand to usual today. That's a sure sign that the elbow still isn't quite right.
Yet, it hasn't stunted Michigan offensively much at all. Not with fill-in Gardner playing lights-out over the last two weeks. It could have been absolute disaster for the Wolverines when Michigan went down, but the QB-turned-WR-turned-QB has been great. Especially today, when his strong arm and, particularly, his escapability were on prime display as the Wolverines scored touchdowns on their opening six possessions and Gardner had a hand in all of them - running for three and throwing for three. He became the first Michigan quarterback to account for six TDs in a game since
1983, when Steve Smith three and three in a game
at Minnesota.
The only blight on a positive Senior Day for a Michigan class - and, particularly it's defensive players - that had taken knock after knock under Rich Rodriguez, only to know redemption and victory under Brady Hoke, was the loss of RB Fitzgerald Toussaint. The starting tailback was tackled by two Hawkeyes and had his leg snapped between ankle and knee, and he was on the way to hospital for surgery before the first quarter ended. Hopefully this isn't the end for the talented running back, who has one season left of eligibility.
Quick Screens
Klein: no. Te'o: no. Barner: no. I have a feeling that Johnny Football himself, Texas A&M's electrifying freshman QB Johnny Manziel might be sitting pretty at the head of the Heisman Trophy race.
Late word from Southern California. QB Matt Barkley, who left the game late after taking a sack, appeared at the post-game press conference with his right shoulder hidden. Citing the team's non-disclosure of injuries, the senior signal caller didn't say much. One thing's for sure, without Barkley under centre, USC has no hope of beating Notre Dame next week. Boy, can the Trojans make a mess of their - other - arch rival's National Championship hopes with a win at the Coliseum next Saturday night!
Ohio State survived Wisconsin, winning 21-14 in OT to set up a mouth-watering showdown with Michigan next Saturday. It;s a pity that the school didn't voluntarily place a bowl ban on itself last season when the team was in limbo. Had they done that, they'd be right in the middle of the National Championship hunt. As it is, they're mostly forgotten nationally. And Michigan can wreck it all for them next week.
Boise State found some offense, scoring 35 points in a ruthless first half to oust the hapless Colorado State Rams 42-14 in Boise, posting 502 total yards of offense in the process. This still doesn't quite have the same feel as those great BSU teams led by Kellen Moore and that great defense, but they appear to be getting there.
Close but no cigar for West Virginia, whose losing streak continues. It's at 5 now, and the Mountaineers still aren't Bowl eligible after being 5-0. It's quite an unbelievable fall for Dana Holgerson's team, and it's basically all on what has to be one of the worst defenses in the country. Oklahoma QB Landry Jones threw for 554 yards and 6 TDs, including the game-winner to Kenny Stills with 0:24 to play for a 50-49 win. I wonder if Holgerson's in any trouble in Morgantown?
Thursday, November 15, 2012
NCAA College Football 2012: Week Twelve Australian TV Guide
Well, the season is three months old and pretty much everyone's picks for the BCS National Championship Game - USC and Alabama - are on the outside looking in. Some interesting games this weekend, with College GameDay back on campus in Eugene, Oregon for the Ducks vs. Stanford rivalry. That's where Brent, Herbie and Heather Cox are, too. Sadly, no broadcast of USC vs. UCLA - that's a FOX game in America. #BeatTheBruins All in all, a pretty good slate of games for the week before the usual Thanksgiving onslaught!
All times AEDT
Friday 16 November
North Carolina vs. Virginia (11.30am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Saturday 17 November
Hawaii vs. Air Force (1.30pm; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Sunday 18 November
College GameDay (2.00am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
Iowa vs. No. 21 Michigan (4.00am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
Northwestern vs. Michigan State (4.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin (7.30am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
North Carolina State vs. No. 11 Clemson (7.30am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 13 Stanford vs. No. 2 Oregon (12.00pm; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
No. 1 Kansas State vs. Baylor (12.00pm; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
All times AEDT
Friday 16 November
North Carolina vs. Virginia (11.30am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Saturday 17 November
Hawaii vs. Air Force (1.30pm; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Sunday 18 November
College GameDay (2.00am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
Iowa vs. No. 21 Michigan (4.00am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
Northwestern vs. Michigan State (4.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin (7.30am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
North Carolina State vs. No. 11 Clemson (7.30am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 13 Stanford vs. No. 2 Oregon (12.00pm; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
No. 1 Kansas State vs. Baylor (12.00pm; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Sunday, November 11, 2012
NCAA College Football 2012: Week Eleven Review
Well, we got some BCS drama today, didn't we?
Texas A&M vs. Alabama
Goodbye, Alabama. Hello, BCS chaos. The title race is wide open, ladies and gentlemen, and it's all thanks to the team from College Station, the guys wearing white and maroon uniforms, the guys most college football experts and fans gave little to no chance of getting even close to No. 1 Alabama at home. A week after the Tide escaped in Baton Rouge vs. LSU, most figured that they'd use the Aggies as a way to show the nation that they were still the very best, the Gold Standard of college football.
Someone didn't tell that to Texas A&M's freshman QB Johnny Manziel. And to think we thought we'd seen the best of the kid they call Johnny Football last week, that weaving, mesmerising run into the end zone vs. Mississippi State, and on other highlight reel plays earlier in the season. Well, not quite. Johnny Football, as spectacular as he's been all year, put on quite a show against arguably the nation's best defense - or, certainly, one in a nominal top three - in Tuscaloosa, which is a ridiculously difficult place for road teams. And this kid is just a freshman and freshmen, numerous freshmen, have failed epically in front of the Tide fans.
Johnny Football wasn't one of them. He wasn't overawed by the 100,000 screaming fans in the stadium, fans who wanted to see him crunched into the ground. If you were watching him play today for the first time, you wouldn't have ever believed that he was in his first year playing college football. He was that poised and that polished, leading the Aggie offense, which stuttered and faltered in it's last big test (vs. LSU), for a 29-24 win, moving the football up and down the field against a Crimson Tide defense that, pundits often say, could match wits with some NFL offenses. Not on this day.
Not after Johnny Football did his work. And what work: 24-31 for 253 yards and 2 TDs through the air and another 92 yards on 18 carries on the ground. The memories of a sub-par performance against LSU were long gone, blown away like Alabama's defense seemed to be routinely blown away by Manziel's incredible play. If this performance wasn't enough to vault Manziel up into equal Heisman Trophy favoritism with Kansas State's Collin Klein, the voters are crazy. And, Manziel is only a freshman. There's more to come from this kid.
The Alabama defense that had looked a little uncertain at times against LSU seven days ago suddenly cracked completely against A&M, losing plenty - if not all - of it's near-mythical luster, and I'm sure I'm not alone in being incredibly surprised that it happened against an A&M team that had struggled offensively against LSU and Florida. Although, so many thought that Manziel would explode on a national stage sooner rather than later. He picked a good moment, didn't he? The Legend of Johnny Football continues to grow. No moment seems too big for him. Kirby Smart, the Alabama defensive coordinator, will probably see Manziel in his sleep for weeks. That's just the way Manziel dominated today.
Let's say something about the Texas A&M defense, a unit who had been the butt of so many jokes and so much ridicule this year and last as they gave up points like crazy late in games, erasing giant A&M leads. It was partly defensive lapses after half time that cost ex-head coach Mike Sherman his job, and this year likely cost the Aggies' new head man, Kevin Sumlin, some of his sanity.
Today, there was none of that. Even as the Tide came late, seemingly surging for the win, the Aggies stood tall. They knew exactly how to beat Alabama, and how exactly to force QB AJ McCarron, a late-game hero last week, into interceptions. McCarron threw two of them, one when 'Bama needed seven, thus ending the game. Right when it seemed that Alabama were back and might repeat their late-game miracle from LSU a week ago, the Aggies defense stood tall, and won the game then and there. The old saying 'Cometh the hour, cometh the man' has rarely rung more true. This was the moment for the Aggies defense to put so many horrible meltdowns behind them.
And now, the debate can begin: who will be No. 1 in the new BCS standings tomorrow night and, perhaps more interestingly, can Alabama - provided they win the SEC - get into the National Championship Game as a one-loss team instead of an undefeated Oregon/Kansas State/Notre Dame?
Thanks to Texas A&M, this season's just gotten real interesting!
Louisville vs. Syracuse
Lost in the blaze of media coverage following Alabama's loss was another BCS shaping loss: that of ninth-ranked Louisville, who were, in as unlikely a situation as Texas A&M beating 'Bama, put to the sword by QB Ryan Nassib and the middling Syracuse Orange to the tune of 45-26 and so the Big East championship is once again wide-open. Nassib was 15-23 for 246 yards and 3 TDs inside the Carrier Dome, in his final home game of a solid career. The performance saw Nassib pass the celebrated Donovan McNabb and into second place on the Orange's passing yards list behind Marvin Graves.
Mistake-free football and a furious 21-point second quarter won the game for Syracuse, who put up more points against the Cardinals than any other team had so far this season. It was just about over at half-time, with the Orange racing to a 31-13 lead. Nassib was supported ably by RB Jerome Smith, who ran for 144 yards and 1 TD.
For Louisville, who slip behind the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (who beat Army 28-7 today) in the Big East race, QB Teddy Bridgewater's 422-yard passing day wasn't enough. Louisville just couldn't move the football on the ground, accounting for a measly 50 yards on 17 total carries. The other difference was two Louisville turnovers - one was a Bridgewater INT - to zero by a disciplined Orange outfit, who've been there or thereabouts in a few games this season, without coming away with the win. All in all, a good home farewell for the Orange in season 2012
Quick Screens
After bleeding yards and scores the last two weeks, USC's defense clamped down and despite five turnovers by the offense - including 3 Matt Barkley INTs - the Trojans scored a much-needed 38-17 win vs. Arizona State. USC head to the Rose Bowl next week to face UCLA for a chance to play in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
Five losses in a row, and the season for West Virginia is slipping away to the point where the Mountaineers aren't even bowl eligible yet, just over a month removed from being the toast of the college football world. Once more, the WVU defense showed it would have trouble stopping a peewee football team, giving up a whopping 55 points in a 55-34 loss to Oklahoma State in Stillwater. Head coach Dana Holgerson really needs to make changes on his defensive coaching staff. They've been downright embarrassing this year.
After a week of will-he-won't-he, Kansas State's QB Collin Klein did play, and the Wildcats handily took care of TCU, 23-0 - but the game was well and truly over before the Horned Frogs got on the scoreboard for the first time, in the fourth quarter.. It was a pretty similar game to so many that K-State have played this year - no mistakes on either side of the football, some big plays from Klein and the offense, lock-down defense - and the best story in all of college football continues. With Alabama losing, it's looking pretty good for the Wildcats to finish Sunday night at No. 2 in the BCS behind only Oregon.
No Denard Robinson, no worries for Michigan. With the nerve injury in Robinson's throwing arm still a problem, Devin Gardner had control of the Wolverine offense and led them to a 38-31 OT victory against a plucky Northwestern team searching for two consecutive Big House wins against Michigan. The win leaves the Wolverines at least theoretically still in the hunt to win the Legends Division and go to the Big Ten Championship Game.
Speaking of...Wisconsin are going to the Big Ten Championship Game, punching their ticket to represent the Leaders Division with a 62-14 rout of Indiana in Bloomington. Badgers RB Montee Ball was the star of the show, running for 198 yards and 3 TDs on 27 carries.
If Gene Chizik is still on the sidelines next year, in an Auburn shirt, I'll be very surprised, and not alone in feeling that way, either. Two years removed from winning a National Championship with Cam Newton, the hot seat for Chizik is getting hotter with every loss. That glorious day must seem like such a long time ago for the embattled coach. Tonight, Georgia's Aaron Murray led a rout for No. 5 Georgia, embarrassing the Tigers at home, 38-0. Auburn had no answers.
Texas A&M vs. Alabama
Goodbye, Alabama. Hello, BCS chaos. The title race is wide open, ladies and gentlemen, and it's all thanks to the team from College Station, the guys wearing white and maroon uniforms, the guys most college football experts and fans gave little to no chance of getting even close to No. 1 Alabama at home. A week after the Tide escaped in Baton Rouge vs. LSU, most figured that they'd use the Aggies as a way to show the nation that they were still the very best, the Gold Standard of college football.
Someone didn't tell that to Texas A&M's freshman QB Johnny Manziel. And to think we thought we'd seen the best of the kid they call Johnny Football last week, that weaving, mesmerising run into the end zone vs. Mississippi State, and on other highlight reel plays earlier in the season. Well, not quite. Johnny Football, as spectacular as he's been all year, put on quite a show against arguably the nation's best defense - or, certainly, one in a nominal top three - in Tuscaloosa, which is a ridiculously difficult place for road teams. And this kid is just a freshman and freshmen, numerous freshmen, have failed epically in front of the Tide fans.
Johnny Football wasn't one of them. He wasn't overawed by the 100,000 screaming fans in the stadium, fans who wanted to see him crunched into the ground. If you were watching him play today for the first time, you wouldn't have ever believed that he was in his first year playing college football. He was that poised and that polished, leading the Aggie offense, which stuttered and faltered in it's last big test (vs. LSU), for a 29-24 win, moving the football up and down the field against a Crimson Tide defense that, pundits often say, could match wits with some NFL offenses. Not on this day.
Not after Johnny Football did his work. And what work: 24-31 for 253 yards and 2 TDs through the air and another 92 yards on 18 carries on the ground. The memories of a sub-par performance against LSU were long gone, blown away like Alabama's defense seemed to be routinely blown away by Manziel's incredible play. If this performance wasn't enough to vault Manziel up into equal Heisman Trophy favoritism with Kansas State's Collin Klein, the voters are crazy. And, Manziel is only a freshman. There's more to come from this kid.
The Alabama defense that had looked a little uncertain at times against LSU seven days ago suddenly cracked completely against A&M, losing plenty - if not all - of it's near-mythical luster, and I'm sure I'm not alone in being incredibly surprised that it happened against an A&M team that had struggled offensively against LSU and Florida. Although, so many thought that Manziel would explode on a national stage sooner rather than later. He picked a good moment, didn't he? The Legend of Johnny Football continues to grow. No moment seems too big for him. Kirby Smart, the Alabama defensive coordinator, will probably see Manziel in his sleep for weeks. That's just the way Manziel dominated today.
Let's say something about the Texas A&M defense, a unit who had been the butt of so many jokes and so much ridicule this year and last as they gave up points like crazy late in games, erasing giant A&M leads. It was partly defensive lapses after half time that cost ex-head coach Mike Sherman his job, and this year likely cost the Aggies' new head man, Kevin Sumlin, some of his sanity.
Today, there was none of that. Even as the Tide came late, seemingly surging for the win, the Aggies stood tall. They knew exactly how to beat Alabama, and how exactly to force QB AJ McCarron, a late-game hero last week, into interceptions. McCarron threw two of them, one when 'Bama needed seven, thus ending the game. Right when it seemed that Alabama were back and might repeat their late-game miracle from LSU a week ago, the Aggies defense stood tall, and won the game then and there. The old saying 'Cometh the hour, cometh the man' has rarely rung more true. This was the moment for the Aggies defense to put so many horrible meltdowns behind them.
And now, the debate can begin: who will be No. 1 in the new BCS standings tomorrow night and, perhaps more interestingly, can Alabama - provided they win the SEC - get into the National Championship Game as a one-loss team instead of an undefeated Oregon/Kansas State/Notre Dame?
Thanks to Texas A&M, this season's just gotten real interesting!
Louisville vs. Syracuse
Lost in the blaze of media coverage following Alabama's loss was another BCS shaping loss: that of ninth-ranked Louisville, who were, in as unlikely a situation as Texas A&M beating 'Bama, put to the sword by QB Ryan Nassib and the middling Syracuse Orange to the tune of 45-26 and so the Big East championship is once again wide-open. Nassib was 15-23 for 246 yards and 3 TDs inside the Carrier Dome, in his final home game of a solid career. The performance saw Nassib pass the celebrated Donovan McNabb and into second place on the Orange's passing yards list behind Marvin Graves.
Mistake-free football and a furious 21-point second quarter won the game for Syracuse, who put up more points against the Cardinals than any other team had so far this season. It was just about over at half-time, with the Orange racing to a 31-13 lead. Nassib was supported ably by RB Jerome Smith, who ran for 144 yards and 1 TD.
For Louisville, who slip behind the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (who beat Army 28-7 today) in the Big East race, QB Teddy Bridgewater's 422-yard passing day wasn't enough. Louisville just couldn't move the football on the ground, accounting for a measly 50 yards on 17 total carries. The other difference was two Louisville turnovers - one was a Bridgewater INT - to zero by a disciplined Orange outfit, who've been there or thereabouts in a few games this season, without coming away with the win. All in all, a good home farewell for the Orange in season 2012
Quick Screens
After bleeding yards and scores the last two weeks, USC's defense clamped down and despite five turnovers by the offense - including 3 Matt Barkley INTs - the Trojans scored a much-needed 38-17 win vs. Arizona State. USC head to the Rose Bowl next week to face UCLA for a chance to play in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
Five losses in a row, and the season for West Virginia is slipping away to the point where the Mountaineers aren't even bowl eligible yet, just over a month removed from being the toast of the college football world. Once more, the WVU defense showed it would have trouble stopping a peewee football team, giving up a whopping 55 points in a 55-34 loss to Oklahoma State in Stillwater. Head coach Dana Holgerson really needs to make changes on his defensive coaching staff. They've been downright embarrassing this year.
After a week of will-he-won't-he, Kansas State's QB Collin Klein did play, and the Wildcats handily took care of TCU, 23-0 - but the game was well and truly over before the Horned Frogs got on the scoreboard for the first time, in the fourth quarter.. It was a pretty similar game to so many that K-State have played this year - no mistakes on either side of the football, some big plays from Klein and the offense, lock-down defense - and the best story in all of college football continues. With Alabama losing, it's looking pretty good for the Wildcats to finish Sunday night at No. 2 in the BCS behind only Oregon.
No Denard Robinson, no worries for Michigan. With the nerve injury in Robinson's throwing arm still a problem, Devin Gardner had control of the Wolverine offense and led them to a 38-31 OT victory against a plucky Northwestern team searching for two consecutive Big House wins against Michigan. The win leaves the Wolverines at least theoretically still in the hunt to win the Legends Division and go to the Big Ten Championship Game.
Speaking of...Wisconsin are going to the Big Ten Championship Game, punching their ticket to represent the Leaders Division with a 62-14 rout of Indiana in Bloomington. Badgers RB Montee Ball was the star of the show, running for 198 yards and 3 TDs on 27 carries.
If Gene Chizik is still on the sidelines next year, in an Auburn shirt, I'll be very surprised, and not alone in feeling that way, either. Two years removed from winning a National Championship with Cam Newton, the hot seat for Chizik is getting hotter with every loss. That glorious day must seem like such a long time ago for the embattled coach. Tonight, Georgia's Aaron Murray led a rout for No. 5 Georgia, embarrassing the Tigers at home, 38-0. Auburn had no answers.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
NCAA College Football 2012: Week Eleven Australian TV Guide
Before we get into Week Eleven's times, a word on last week. I heard/read a lot of complaints that two big games - USC vs. Oregon & Alabama vs. LSU - were not shown by ESPN in Australia, and I think we should clear up all misconceptions now. It's important to note the reasons why, and, contrary to what seems like popular belief, it's not because ESPN is trying to short-change or stiff college football fans. Instead, it's because the USC vs. Oregon game was a FOX property in America and, similarly, LSU vs. Alabama, like all the big SEC contests, was carried by CBS.
ESPN here in Australia can only show games broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or ABC in America. Unless, of course, there are ultra-special circumstances, like last year's No. 1 vs. No 2 LSU vs. Alabama clash. Instead of being upset with ESPN Australia, perhaps we should be asking why FOX Sports cannot broadcast the FOX games on one of it's three channels (four, if you count FOX Sports News) or why One-HD suddenly stopped broadcasting SEC football.
Anyway, with that cleared up, we look ahead to Week Eleven. College GameDay comes live from USS San Diego as part of Veterans Day (Remembrance Day here) celebrations and there are only games on ESPN2 until Midday on Sunday. The ABC prime-time game is fairly week, Notre Dame vs. Boston College. Of course, the Irish are playing great football and rating the house down, hence why the A-Team of Brent, Herbie and Heather Cox will be there.
All times AEDT
Friday 9 November
College Football Live (11.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 10 Florida State vs. Virginia Tech (11.30am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Saturday 10 November
College Football Live (11.30am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Pittsburgh vs. Connecticut (12.00pm; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Sunday 11 November - Remembrance Day
College GameDay - USS San Diego (1.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 24 Northwestern vs. Michigan (4.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
West Virginia vs. Oklahoma State (7.30am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 21 Mississippi State vs. No. 7 LSU (11.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 4 Notre Dame vs. Boston College (12.00pm; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
No. 3 Oregon vs. California (2.30pm; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
ESPN here in Australia can only show games broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or ABC in America. Unless, of course, there are ultra-special circumstances, like last year's No. 1 vs. No 2 LSU vs. Alabama clash. Instead of being upset with ESPN Australia, perhaps we should be asking why FOX Sports cannot broadcast the FOX games on one of it's three channels (four, if you count FOX Sports News) or why One-HD suddenly stopped broadcasting SEC football.
Anyway, with that cleared up, we look ahead to Week Eleven. College GameDay comes live from USS San Diego as part of Veterans Day (Remembrance Day here) celebrations and there are only games on ESPN2 until Midday on Sunday. The ABC prime-time game is fairly week, Notre Dame vs. Boston College. Of course, the Irish are playing great football and rating the house down, hence why the A-Team of Brent, Herbie and Heather Cox will be there.
All times AEDT
Friday 9 November
College Football Live (11.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 10 Florida State vs. Virginia Tech (11.30am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Saturday 10 November
College Football Live (11.30am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Pittsburgh vs. Connecticut (12.00pm; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Sunday 11 November - Remembrance Day
College GameDay - USS San Diego (1.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 24 Northwestern vs. Michigan (4.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
West Virginia vs. Oklahoma State (7.30am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 21 Mississippi State vs. No. 7 LSU (11.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 4 Notre Dame vs. Boston College (12.00pm; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
No. 3 Oregon vs. California (2.30pm; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Monday, November 5, 2012
New York Giants vs. Pittsburgh
A distinct lack of offensive output has finally doomed the Giants. They should've probably lost last week based on how bad the offense was for a large portion of that contest. Even in the fourth quarter, the usual Eli Manning magic wasn't there. To be honest, I think his performances over the last few weeks have been overshadowed by last-minute heroics. Not this week, though. Eli was 10-24 for 125 yards, 0 TDs and 1 INT. That's 41.7% - and a QB Rating of 41.1 - and that just isn't good enough in the National Football League.
Rather than Manning leading the offense back in the fourth, it was the Giants defense on whom the Pittsburgh comeback was manufactured. Thankfully, Dallas and Washington lost and Philadelphia might lose tomorrow, too, so the status quo remains in the NFC East. All of that said, there were chances for the Giants today -- chances that weren't taken.
At Cincinnati next week, and a chance to right the ship.
Rather than Manning leading the offense back in the fourth, it was the Giants defense on whom the Pittsburgh comeback was manufactured. Thankfully, Dallas and Washington lost and Philadelphia might lose tomorrow, too, so the status quo remains in the NFC East. All of that said, there were chances for the Giants today -- chances that weren't taken.
At Cincinnati next week, and a chance to right the ship.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
NCAA College Football 2012: Week Ten Review
Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State
What to say about freshman phenom QB Johnny Manziel that hasn't already been said? The Aggies signal-caller put on another show today, winning 38-13, thus handing the Bulldogs their second straight loss - they were soundly beaten by Alabama last week - and now A&M coach Kevin Sumlin has ten wins from ten starts on the road, dating back to his days as head coach at Houston. The Aggies are 5-0 away from College Station this year.
It was 31-0 at the half, and the score might've been bigger if the Aggies had a field goal kicker who could convert. Nonetheless, it was Manziel magic that had the MSU defense looking absolutely dead on their feet, particularly late in the quarter when the Aggies went down the field at will. If it wasn't Manziel running the football, it was him connecting on big passes. The way he wheels and rolls and scrambles is nothing short of incredible. It's like watching a guy playing football in the backyard, or else something out of a video game.
Manziel ended the game with 125 yards rushing and 2 TDs on 20 carries, and went 30-36 for 311 yards. His 37-yard touchdown run - more of a scramble after he didn't see any receivers open - almost defied belief. The sheer number of defenders he made miss has got to warm the hearts of Aggies fans and worry the living daylights out of defensive coordinators.
The difference between the Manziel we're seeing now, nine or so games into his college career, is his more advanced ability to read the play as it unfolds and to read the defense. Where there were ill-advised throws that led to turnovers - and, more crucially, to points for the other team - now the freshman quarterback seems content to throw the ball into the ground or toss it into the grandstands. It's the sign of a maturing quarterback. I can't wait to see this guy as a junior or senior. He'll have Sumlin's offense down like Houston's record-setting quarterback Case Keenum did. And we all know how that worked - NCAA records fell like tenpins at a bowling alley. Except that Manziel has leg speed that Keenum didn't. It's a scary thought. Big test next week for Texas A&M:
For Mississippi State, the 7-0 record with which Dan Mullen's men started the season has lost some luster and their chances of competing for the SEC West crown appear to have fallen apart. It was the second bad loss in a row, and they didn't compete in this game until it was far too late.
Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh
Well, the Irish got out of jail big-time in South Bend. The 3OT 29-26 win should have never eventuated. From the highly - highly - questionable pass interference penalty against Pitt late in the fourth on a Notre Dame fourth down attempt to a bad snap resulting in a bad kick resulting in a missed field goal for the Panthers in the 2nd overtime frame (this after a bad fumble by Notre Dame right on the Pitt doorstep) and some questionable play-calling when Pitt had the lead, there were many things that went against Pitt and they will certainly rue missed opportunities. Missed opportunities cost them a famous win, and saved the Irish from being dumped out of the BCS race.
As they say in the classics, it's better to be lucky than good. They survive once more, a crazy game that had a little of everything, but the reality of the situation is this: the No. 3 team in America barely beat - and had to rely on a series of mind-boggling events - a lowly Big East team with a 4-4 record coming in. QB Everett Golson still doesn't look polished. The INT he threw in the fourth quarter was a major error of judgement, and that vaunted Irish defense, known for being very stingy, gave up more points in this game than they have in any other game this season. They also let Pitt RB Ray Graham pound them for 174 yards and a score on 24 carries.
Watching the game, and seeing how Notre Dame performed for a large portion of the contest, it will absolutely baffle and confound me if the Irish retain their No. 3 ranking when the new BCS standings are released tomorrow. The win not withstanding, a team that is the third best in the country should never have been given such a fright by a 4-4 Big East team who've had some bad losses this season. Take the Irish team on show today and ask yourself this: could they match it with Alabama, Oregon, Kansas State or even LSU in a BCS game? No. Not based on the body of work presented today.
USC vs. Oregon
Just a wild game all around. Points and yards a-plenty, and Oregon prevail 62-51. In the process, they put more points on USC than anyone else has in the storied history of Trojan footall. That isn't good for Southern California from a records standpoint, but that was the nature of the game tonight. The margin was a lot closer than most pundits expected, too.
Southern California showed, by scoring more than half a century's worth of points, that Oregon's defense has a long way to go before it can be called anything close to elite. I wouldn't even call them "great" after tonight. More like mediocre, and that's not me talking as a bitter USC fan. It's me stating the obvious after watching the game and keeping track of the stats. I mean, they gave up a whopping 620 yards. I can't imagine that Chip Kelly and the rest of the Oregon coaching staff will be happy about that.
If a couple of bad throws by Matt Barkley and a late-first-half fumble by Marqise Lee didn't happen, it's possibly a different game. As far as defense for USC goes, it's fair to say, and was obvious throughout, that the lack of depth caused by scholarship restrictions, the lasting legacy of the well-documented NCAA violations, hurt the Trojans late in the game. They looked out on their feet against the fast tempo that Oregon runs.
Oregon are a very good football team - I don't argue about that. And they were deserved winners tonight. RB Kenyon Barner just ripped Monte Kiffin's defense for 324 rush yards - an Oregon record - and 5 TDs. QB Marcus Mariota had 4 TDs through the air. And Oregon had more defensive stops - such as they were on this night - and those few stops ended up being the difference in a game with more than one thousand total yards (!!!) of offense.
What occurs against a really good, fully-loaded defense like, say, Alabama's? I think all college football fans would love to find out. Could the Ducks offense operate under the suffocating Tide defense? Based on what we saw tonight, Alabama and LSU and possibly Kansas State could score on the Ducks defense and their own defense might get a few more stops, thus forcing Oregon to rely more on their D.
LSU vs. Alabama
Goodness me, that was a game where the No. 1 team in the country got incredibly lucky. I guess that's the theme at the moment, with Notre Dame escaping and even Oregon giving up truckloads of yards and still getting the win. AJ McCarron might've dipped his hat into the Heisman Trophy race with a game-clinching TD drive following a missed LSU field goal late in a gripping contest in Baton Rouge.
It was that crucial miss by K Drew Alleman (on a kick that would have almost certainly iced the game for LSU) that handed Alabama back the football, and gave them the necessary time in which to work a miracle. The drive, easily McCarron's best work on a mostly ineffective night, ended with a swing pass that T.J. Yeldon caught and carried for 28 yards,all the way to the end zone, quieting the raucous - they were downright insane for most of the night - Death Valley crowd. What had been so glorious was suddenly so devastating.
The incredible fourth quarter comeback seemed unlikely because LSU had all the momentum going their way. There was a time when the Tigers' offense really stunk, a time when QB Zach Mettenberger was being criticized by every man and his dog, but he looked really good, particularly late in the game. LSU were lights out on third down in the second half, and there was a time where I didn't think Alabama could win. But AJ McCarron and T.J. Yeldon had other ideas and it took just one drive where it all clicked
Statistically, this was a game LSU should've won. Perhaps it was a game they even deserved to win. Certainly, they dominated the second half, coming back to lead after trailing 14-3 at half time, a massive deficit against a defense as good as Alabama's. They out-gained Alabama 435-331 and forced the Tide into two turnovers. They had more first downs - 23 to 19 - ran more plays - 85 to 52 - and were light years better on third down.
There were some strange calls. LSU's fake punt on fourth and ten chief amongst them. Not entirely sure what Les Miles was going for there. I mean, I know he wanted to try and shift momentum, but that sort of thing backfires more often than not. Generally, you don't pull those moves on the Crimson Tide defense. I'm sort of impressed that Miles actually gambled on that one. Until you consider the lunacy. Fourth and one or two, yeah. Fourth and ten? I wouldn't have tried. They'll pick that one apart in Baton Rouge for a week or two, as they will the somewhat relaxed coverage by LSU's defenders on the final, game-winning Alabama drive.
So Alabama's win erases the questions about who - Oregon or Kansas State. because Notre Dame probably knocked themselves out of contention after a squeak-home victory against a lowly opponent - would have supplanted the Tide as No. 1 team in the country. It also shows that Alabama, while deservedly atop the BCS standings, isn't quite as bulletproof as everyone seems to think.
Quick Screens
No Denard Robinson, no worries for Michigan. Quarterback turned wide receiver Devin Gardner turned back into a signal-caller, leading the Wolverines to a 35-13 rout vs. Minnesota, retaining the Little Brown Jug. Gardner threw for two scores and ran for a third, after Robinson, bothered by nerve damage in his right elbow, was a game-time "out". Michigan had gone the previous two games without scoring a touchdown.
In Manhattan, Kansas, the Kansas State Wildcats did enough to outlast Oklahoma State, taking advantage of a 24-point second quarter to grind out a 44-30 win, in which they were marginally out-gained 507-481. It was less about QB Collin Klein, who accounted for just one TD in this game and left with an undisclosed injury in the third quarter, and more about the K-State defense, who forced 5 turnovers (one a Pick-6) and a timely special teams score, to keep the Wildcats right in the hunt for the BCS National Championship game. It's K-State's first win against Oklahoma State since 2006.
Nebraska had to rely on some last-minute - last ten seconds, actually - magic from Taylor Martinez to escape East Lansing with a victory against Michigan State. With 0:06 on the clock, the man known as T-Magic found Jamal Turner for a 5-yard TD score and Nebraska rallied from being down 24-14 at the start of the fourth quarter for a 28-24 win, despite three turnovers on the day.
The fall of the West Virginia Mountaineers continues with another loss. This time, it was at the hands of Texas Christian, with the Horned Frogs notching a 39-38 2OT win thanks to a successful two-point conversion. TCU were down ten points in the second half and are now bowl eligible at 6-3. The Mountaineers drop to 5-3, the three losses come in consecutive games. It's WVU's fist 3-game losing streak since 2004.
What to say about freshman phenom QB Johnny Manziel that hasn't already been said? The Aggies signal-caller put on another show today, winning 38-13, thus handing the Bulldogs their second straight loss - they were soundly beaten by Alabama last week - and now A&M coach Kevin Sumlin has ten wins from ten starts on the road, dating back to his days as head coach at Houston. The Aggies are 5-0 away from College Station this year.
It was 31-0 at the half, and the score might've been bigger if the Aggies had a field goal kicker who could convert. Nonetheless, it was Manziel magic that had the MSU defense looking absolutely dead on their feet, particularly late in the quarter when the Aggies went down the field at will. If it wasn't Manziel running the football, it was him connecting on big passes. The way he wheels and rolls and scrambles is nothing short of incredible. It's like watching a guy playing football in the backyard, or else something out of a video game.
Manziel ended the game with 125 yards rushing and 2 TDs on 20 carries, and went 30-36 for 311 yards. His 37-yard touchdown run - more of a scramble after he didn't see any receivers open - almost defied belief. The sheer number of defenders he made miss has got to warm the hearts of Aggies fans and worry the living daylights out of defensive coordinators.
The difference between the Manziel we're seeing now, nine or so games into his college career, is his more advanced ability to read the play as it unfolds and to read the defense. Where there were ill-advised throws that led to turnovers - and, more crucially, to points for the other team - now the freshman quarterback seems content to throw the ball into the ground or toss it into the grandstands. It's the sign of a maturing quarterback. I can't wait to see this guy as a junior or senior. He'll have Sumlin's offense down like Houston's record-setting quarterback Case Keenum did. And we all know how that worked - NCAA records fell like tenpins at a bowling alley. Except that Manziel has leg speed that Keenum didn't. It's a scary thought. Big test next week for Texas A&M:
For Mississippi State, the 7-0 record with which Dan Mullen's men started the season has lost some luster and their chances of competing for the SEC West crown appear to have fallen apart. It was the second bad loss in a row, and they didn't compete in this game until it was far too late.
Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh
Well, the Irish got out of jail big-time in South Bend. The 3OT 29-26 win should have never eventuated. From the highly - highly - questionable pass interference penalty against Pitt late in the fourth on a Notre Dame fourth down attempt to a bad snap resulting in a bad kick resulting in a missed field goal for the Panthers in the 2nd overtime frame (this after a bad fumble by Notre Dame right on the Pitt doorstep) and some questionable play-calling when Pitt had the lead, there were many things that went against Pitt and they will certainly rue missed opportunities. Missed opportunities cost them a famous win, and saved the Irish from being dumped out of the BCS race.
As they say in the classics, it's better to be lucky than good. They survive once more, a crazy game that had a little of everything, but the reality of the situation is this: the No. 3 team in America barely beat - and had to rely on a series of mind-boggling events - a lowly Big East team with a 4-4 record coming in. QB Everett Golson still doesn't look polished. The INT he threw in the fourth quarter was a major error of judgement, and that vaunted Irish defense, known for being very stingy, gave up more points in this game than they have in any other game this season. They also let Pitt RB Ray Graham pound them for 174 yards and a score on 24 carries.
Watching the game, and seeing how Notre Dame performed for a large portion of the contest, it will absolutely baffle and confound me if the Irish retain their No. 3 ranking when the new BCS standings are released tomorrow. The win not withstanding, a team that is the third best in the country should never have been given such a fright by a 4-4 Big East team who've had some bad losses this season. Take the Irish team on show today and ask yourself this: could they match it with Alabama, Oregon, Kansas State or even LSU in a BCS game? No. Not based on the body of work presented today.
USC vs. Oregon
Just a wild game all around. Points and yards a-plenty, and Oregon prevail 62-51. In the process, they put more points on USC than anyone else has in the storied history of Trojan footall. That isn't good for Southern California from a records standpoint, but that was the nature of the game tonight. The margin was a lot closer than most pundits expected, too.
Southern California showed, by scoring more than half a century's worth of points, that Oregon's defense has a long way to go before it can be called anything close to elite. I wouldn't even call them "great" after tonight. More like mediocre, and that's not me talking as a bitter USC fan. It's me stating the obvious after watching the game and keeping track of the stats. I mean, they gave up a whopping 620 yards. I can't imagine that Chip Kelly and the rest of the Oregon coaching staff will be happy about that.
If a couple of bad throws by Matt Barkley and a late-first-half fumble by Marqise Lee didn't happen, it's possibly a different game. As far as defense for USC goes, it's fair to say, and was obvious throughout, that the lack of depth caused by scholarship restrictions, the lasting legacy of the well-documented NCAA violations, hurt the Trojans late in the game. They looked out on their feet against the fast tempo that Oregon runs.
Oregon are a very good football team - I don't argue about that. And they were deserved winners tonight. RB Kenyon Barner just ripped Monte Kiffin's defense for 324 rush yards - an Oregon record - and 5 TDs. QB Marcus Mariota had 4 TDs through the air. And Oregon had more defensive stops - such as they were on this night - and those few stops ended up being the difference in a game with more than one thousand total yards (!!!) of offense.
What occurs against a really good, fully-loaded defense like, say, Alabama's? I think all college football fans would love to find out. Could the Ducks offense operate under the suffocating Tide defense? Based on what we saw tonight, Alabama and LSU and possibly Kansas State could score on the Ducks defense and their own defense might get a few more stops, thus forcing Oregon to rely more on their D.
LSU vs. Alabama
Goodness me, that was a game where the No. 1 team in the country got incredibly lucky. I guess that's the theme at the moment, with Notre Dame escaping and even Oregon giving up truckloads of yards and still getting the win. AJ McCarron might've dipped his hat into the Heisman Trophy race with a game-clinching TD drive following a missed LSU field goal late in a gripping contest in Baton Rouge.
It was that crucial miss by K Drew Alleman (on a kick that would have almost certainly iced the game for LSU) that handed Alabama back the football, and gave them the necessary time in which to work a miracle. The drive, easily McCarron's best work on a mostly ineffective night, ended with a swing pass that T.J. Yeldon caught and carried for 28 yards,all the way to the end zone, quieting the raucous - they were downright insane for most of the night - Death Valley crowd. What had been so glorious was suddenly so devastating.
The incredible fourth quarter comeback seemed unlikely because LSU had all the momentum going their way. There was a time when the Tigers' offense really stunk, a time when QB Zach Mettenberger was being criticized by every man and his dog, but he looked really good, particularly late in the game. LSU were lights out on third down in the second half, and there was a time where I didn't think Alabama could win. But AJ McCarron and T.J. Yeldon had other ideas and it took just one drive where it all clicked
Statistically, this was a game LSU should've won. Perhaps it was a game they even deserved to win. Certainly, they dominated the second half, coming back to lead after trailing 14-3 at half time, a massive deficit against a defense as good as Alabama's. They out-gained Alabama 435-331 and forced the Tide into two turnovers. They had more first downs - 23 to 19 - ran more plays - 85 to 52 - and were light years better on third down.
There were some strange calls. LSU's fake punt on fourth and ten chief amongst them. Not entirely sure what Les Miles was going for there. I mean, I know he wanted to try and shift momentum, but that sort of thing backfires more often than not. Generally, you don't pull those moves on the Crimson Tide defense. I'm sort of impressed that Miles actually gambled on that one. Until you consider the lunacy. Fourth and one or two, yeah. Fourth and ten? I wouldn't have tried. They'll pick that one apart in Baton Rouge for a week or two, as they will the somewhat relaxed coverage by LSU's defenders on the final, game-winning Alabama drive.
So Alabama's win erases the questions about who - Oregon or Kansas State. because Notre Dame probably knocked themselves out of contention after a squeak-home victory against a lowly opponent - would have supplanted the Tide as No. 1 team in the country. It also shows that Alabama, while deservedly atop the BCS standings, isn't quite as bulletproof as everyone seems to think.
Quick Screens
No Denard Robinson, no worries for Michigan. Quarterback turned wide receiver Devin Gardner turned back into a signal-caller, leading the Wolverines to a 35-13 rout vs. Minnesota, retaining the Little Brown Jug. Gardner threw for two scores and ran for a third, after Robinson, bothered by nerve damage in his right elbow, was a game-time "out". Michigan had gone the previous two games without scoring a touchdown.
In Manhattan, Kansas, the Kansas State Wildcats did enough to outlast Oklahoma State, taking advantage of a 24-point second quarter to grind out a 44-30 win, in which they were marginally out-gained 507-481. It was less about QB Collin Klein, who accounted for just one TD in this game and left with an undisclosed injury in the third quarter, and more about the K-State defense, who forced 5 turnovers (one a Pick-6) and a timely special teams score, to keep the Wildcats right in the hunt for the BCS National Championship game. It's K-State's first win against Oklahoma State since 2006.
Nebraska had to rely on some last-minute - last ten seconds, actually - magic from Taylor Martinez to escape East Lansing with a victory against Michigan State. With 0:06 on the clock, the man known as T-Magic found Jamal Turner for a 5-yard TD score and Nebraska rallied from being down 24-14 at the start of the fourth quarter for a 28-24 win, despite three turnovers on the day.
The fall of the West Virginia Mountaineers continues with another loss. This time, it was at the hands of Texas Christian, with the Horned Frogs notching a 39-38 2OT win thanks to a successful two-point conversion. TCU were down ten points in the second half and are now bowl eligible at 6-3. The Mountaineers drop to 5-3, the three losses come in consecutive games. It's WVU's fist 3-game losing streak since 2004.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
NCAA College Football 2012: Week Ten Australian TV Guide
Some changes ahead for Week Ten: College GameDay is all on the one channel, ESPN2 from Midnight, and due to coverage of the Breeder's Cup through most of Sunday there aren't games running concurrently at 6.30am and 11.00am on ESPN & ESPN2. The main games are on ESPN2 at those times, and ESPN, following Breeders Cup coverage, airs the Arizona State vs. Oregon State game from 1.30pm. GameDay is in Baton Rouge, LA for LSU vs. Alabama (not on the ESPN network, but on CBS in America in prime-time). No USC vs. Oregon, a FOX game in America, either.
All times AEDT
Friday November 2
College Football Live - Hyundai Thursday Night Kick-off (10.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Virginia Tech vs. Miami-FL (10.30am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Saturday November 3
Washington vs. California (12.00pm; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Sunday November 4
College Game Day (12.01am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 16 Texas A&M vs. No. 15 Mississippi State (3.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 7 Florida vs. Missouri (3.30am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
No. 23 Texas vs. No. 18 Texas Tech (6.30am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 24 Oklahoma State vs. No. 2 Kansas State (11.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
College Football Scoreboard (1.00pm; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
Arizona State vs. No. 11 Oregon State (1.30pm; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
All times AEDT
Friday November 2
College Football Live - Hyundai Thursday Night Kick-off (10.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Virginia Tech vs. Miami-FL (10.30am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Saturday November 3
Washington vs. California (12.00pm; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
Sunday November 4
College Game Day (12.01am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 16 Texas A&M vs. No. 15 Mississippi State (3.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 7 Florida vs. Missouri (3.30am; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
No. 23 Texas vs. No. 18 Texas Tech (6.30am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
No. 24 Oklahoma State vs. No. 2 Kansas State (11.00am; ESPN2/ESPN2-HD)
College Football Scoreboard (1.00pm; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
Arizona State vs. No. 11 Oregon State (1.30pm; ESPN/ESPN-HD)
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