College football delivered a mostly quiet day Saturday.
It was Sunday that brought the mayhem — real early Sunday, when Utah survived a scare from Arizona, 40-39, in the desert in a game that kicked off at 10:30 p.m. ET Saturday.
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The Utes remained undefeated — only one of two in the country (UCLA) — after doing just enough in the final quarter Saturday in Tucson, keeping them in the top spot in our Top 10.
But let’s get back to that ho-hum Saturday. Sure, Maryland upset Wisconsin (is Luke Fickell’s job back in jeopardy?); Dabo Swinney lost at home to previously 2-7 Georgia Tech; and Wake Forest — Wake! — throttled SMU in a victory that pushed them up in our Top 10. But otherwise, there was a lot of the expected that materialized a day after the unexpected — a four-hour ground stoppage across the country.
Perhaps it would have been better for USC to stay home in LA. Indiana likely popped the Trojans’ playoff bubble. Also in the Big Ten, Oregon rolled Michigan in what’s shaping up to be a season of horribles for the Wolverines and Iowa continued to keep alive its playoff hopes (you never know!).
In the SEC, Georgia reigns supreme, Kentucky’s magical season took another blow from Florida, and Tennessee (Texas A&M), Alabama (Vanderbilt) and Texas (LSU) survived ugly road games to stay in position for the postseason. In the ACC, Wake and Miami seem headed toward the championship game in Charlotte.
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Meanwhile, in the Group of Six playoff chase, Boise State outlasted Oregon State in a 46-41 duel in Idaho, and UNLV upset New Mexico and coach Jason Eck. The Broncos are in the G6 playoff driver’s seat.
Let’s get to the Top 10!
1. Utah Utes
This week: beat Arizona 40-39
Next week: at TCU
The Utes needed some late-game heroics on offense and defense to survive in a tight one in the desert. QB Devon Dampier ran for more than 80 yards and threw for more than 200 yards and Daniel Bray had the game of his life — eclipsing nearly 200 yards rushing. Utah and coach Morgan Scalley didn’t arrive in Tucson until around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday after the flight ground stoppage on Friday forced cancellations. It mattered not on this night.
Utah quarterback Devon Dampier runs for a touchdown during the first half of a win over Arizona. (Christopher Hook/Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
2. Georgia Bulldogs
This week: beat Missouri 48-21
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Next week: at South Carolina
The Bulldogs seem awfully angry since their stunning home loss to Auburn on Oct. 17. Kirby Smart’s team outscored its next three opponents 117-36, including a whopping 48-21 win over Missouri on Saturday. QG Gunner Stockton threw for 252 yards and the Bulldogs had two rushers eclipse 65 yards in the win. The defense stymied a Missouri offense that converted 18 percent of its third downs.
3. UCLA Bruins
This week: beat Illinois 22-14
Next week: at Michigan
Nursing a tight lead in a Friday night game, the Bruins managed to stop Illinois, driving for the tying score, twice: one on downs and the other on an interception that they turned into a field goal. Ty Dieffenbach rebounded from an in-game shoulder injury to throw for two touchdowns and Wayne Knight ran for a tough 56 yards. WR Aidan Mizell had a second straight 150-plus receiving day, too.
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4. Indiana Hoosiers
This week: beat USC 27-13
Next week: at Washington
Backup QB Grant Wilson, a seventh-year senior, threw for more than 300 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Hoosiers over the Trojans. While Wilson is one of the best stories going in college football, IU’s defense was the real hero on Saturday. They came up clutch with an interception and fumble recovery in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
This week: beat Boston College 41-7
Next week: vs. SMU
Any let down from the Irish’s emotional victory a week ago against Miami was quickly dismissed. The Irish led 31-0 at halftime in an all-around complete whipping of the Eagles. Notre Dame RBs Jonaz Walton and Nolan James Jr. combined for more than 210 yards and two scores. If the Irish are going to win playoff games, they’ll need that rushing attack to stay nasty.
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6. Miami Hurricanes
This week: beat Duke 36-25
Next week: vs. Virginia Tech
The Hurricanes erupted in the second half to turn a three-point lead at the break into a romping victory with its two high-profile Duke transfers leading the way in beating their former team. Former Blue Devils players Cooper Barkate and Darian Mensah connected eight times for 134 yards. Mensah carved through his ex-teammates completing 30 of 41 attempts as Miami rebounded from the loss at Notre Dame in impressive fashion.
7. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
This week: beat SMU 49-7
Next week: at Georgia Tech
Not paying attention to the Demon Deacons? Better start. Jake Dickert, surely to be a hot name in the coaching cycles (his new contract isn’t gonna stop the offers), has Wake Forest roaring. They were up 42-0 at one point and completely suffocated the Mustangs to the tune of 275 total yards. Wake QB Gio Lopez ran for 34 yards and two TDs, threw for another and wasn’t even needed much in the second half.
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8. Alabama Crimson Tide
This week: beat Vanderbilt 21-6
Next week: vs. Chattanooga
It was far from pretty, but the Crimson Tide defense led the way in this one, smothering the Commodores to the tune of 12 rushing yards and a 13% clip in third-down attempts. Despite its two losses, Alabama has put itself in position for a top four seed in the 12-team playoff and a first-round bye. With the kind of defense displayed on Saturday in Nashville and shifty QB Keelon Russell, perhaps Bama can make some noise in the postseason.
9. Texas Longhorns
This week: beat LSU 22-21
Next week: vs. Arkansas
Arch Manning threw three interceptions. But he also tossed the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds of his first ever college game in his home state. The win keeps the Longhorns’ playoff hopes alive. Thank the Texas defense, which picked off Sam Leavitt three times and held LSU coach Lane Kiffin’s offense to three three-and-outs in four fourth-quarter drives.
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10. Iowa Hawkeyes
This week: beat Purdue 28-7
Next week: at Illinois
Iowa’s path to the playoffs seems very much clear: beat Illinois and Nebraska to end the season and you’re in (probably). The Hawkeyes have recovered from the losses to Minnesota and Ohio State by outscoring their last three opponents 82-17. They’ve got something cooking with QB Hank Brown, who scored a touchdown through the air and on the ground and had just nine incompletions against the Boilermakers.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
