Another weekend of college football is in the books, so let’s go through who was great on the gridiron with my Week Twelve Heroes:
Melvin Gordon: The record-setting Wisconsin running back is the hero of all heroes this week. We’ve seen him do some amazing things on the field this season, but he saved his best for what was a crucial Big Ten contest against Nebraska, and basically put the Badgers on his shoulders to carry – or, is that run? – them to the victory.
In a performance that had people’s jaws dropping right across the country, and had the Nebraska defense at sixes and sevens every time he touched the football, Gordon broke an NCAA single-game rushing record, notching 408 yards and four touchdowns.
If those numbers aren’t impressive enough, consider that Gordon’s history-making yardage haul came on a mere 25 attempts, for an impressive average of 16.3 yards per carry. The Badgers were down 10-0 early, and Gordon brought them roaring back. Incredible effort.
Nelson Agholor: The USC wide receiver had a night out on Thursday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, hauling in 16 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns as USC beat Cal 38-30. UCLA defenders might want to dial down on Agholor next week. He’s been dynamite offensively and on special teams this year.
Arkansas: Despite coming heartbreakingly close on a number of recent occasions, it’s been a long time since the Razorbacks last won an SEC contest – seventeen tortuous games, in fact, and fourteen of those under current head coach Brett Bielema – but everything came together for the Hogs on Saturday night as they blanked an uninspired Louisiana State team 17-0. This was also the first time Arkansas’s defense has pitched a shutout since September 2006.
Texas: Bowl eligible after a torrid start to the season. The Longhorns, who’ve shown signs of steady improvement under first-year head coach Charlie Strong, beat Oklahoma State 28-7 in Stillwater. QB Tyrone Swoopes continues to improve, and the Texas defense was superb, holding OSU to zero third down conversions until their sole touchdown drive, early in the fourth.
When the Longhorns lost to Kansas State on October 25, their third straight loss, they were 3-5, the natives, used to football excellence, were getting restless, and there was a general season that the trajectory of the season could’ve gone either way. To their credit, they’ve ticked upward, and will get to a post-season Bowl this year. Considering the way things started, it’s no small achievement.
Northwestern: By any reckoning, this has been a disappointing season for Pat Fitzgerald’s Wildcats, but they’ll take great delight in doing what they did today, beating Notre Dame in South Bend after trailing the Fighting Irish 40-29 with 11:00 to play in the fourth quarter.
At that point, it looked like Fitzgerald’s men would not be able to recreate the memorable 1995 victory for the Northwestern over the Irish in 1995, the last time the Wildcats journeyed tp Notre Dame Stadium.
Then, a shocking comeback: a Trevor Siemian touchdown, a two-point conversion, and, a 45-yard game-tying field goal for Jack Mitchell that came as a result of a calamitous fumble from Notre Dame RB Cam McDaniel, and the game went to overtime. Cue Mitchell, who knocked a ball through from 41 yards out for a memorable 43-40 Wildcat win that, arguably, was more surprising than the famously lauded 1995 victory. This USC fan enjoyed every second.
Leon Allen: Here's a guy who probably figured he would be the best performing back on Saturday, only to see Melvin Gordon pop loose. Still, the Western Kentucky star had a banner day, rushing for 345 yards and two touchdowns as WKU beat Army 52-24. Still, a very impressive effort.
Georgia’s Running Game: Overshadowed by an injury to star RB Todd Gurley in his first game back after an NCAA suspension, the Bulldogs ran over, through and around Auburn in their 34-7 victory over the listing Tigers. Gurley had a season-high 29 carries for 138 yards and one touchdown, and the back end of the 1-2 ground game punch, Nick Chubb, added 144 yards and two scores. Georgia fans will be hoping – or is that praying? – that Gurley’s injury isn’t serious.
J.T. Barrett: He was the unknown backup quarterback thrust into the starting position when Braxton Miller went down with a pre-season injury, and now the Ohio State signal caller is in the records books, erasing Miller’s name. Up north in wintry Minnesota, he ran for three touchdowns and a school-record 189 yards, amongst which was his 38th touchdown of the season, now two better than the benchmark Miller set last year. Miller’s place as the incumbent starter when healthy is looking less and less secure by the moment. OSU won 34-21, despite three turnovers and snow.
Boise State: Like last week, it wasn’t pretty, but it was a win. The Broncos 38-29 win came following a three-touchdown fourth quarter that brought them back from a 20-point deficit on the blue turf in Boise, and it was thanks to RB Jay Ajayi. The star back had 134 yards on 31 carries and three touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter to put the Broncos ahead for good. Quietly, the Broncos are 8-2 with losses to only Air Force and Ole Miss, and maybe the best team in the Mountain West Conference.
Keenan Reynolds: The Navy quarterback accounted for seven touchdowns – one passing and six rushing – as the Midshipmen ripped Georgia Southern 52-19. He had 277 rushing and 77 passing yards. No other Navy player had more than 37 yards. Total domination.
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