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School soccer Week 9 recap: 4 groups taking part in like nationwide champs

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College football Week 9 recap: 4 teams playing like national champs

  • Invoice ConnellyOct 26, 2025, 06:25 PM ET

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      Invoice Connelly is a author for ESPN. He covers faculty soccer, soccer and tennis. He has been at ESPN since 2019.

Virtually each soccer coach within the recognized universe professes a want for good steadiness, the need to have the ability to run and cross in equal proportion and with equal high quality.

Week 9 of the school soccer season created steadiness of a special type: It gave us a very attention-grabbing mixture of pretty, shut video games and large assertion performances. (It additionally gave us just a few doubtlessly season-altering quarterback accidents, however I suppose that comes with the territory.)

The SEC alone gave us 4 one-score finishes, 5 fourth-quarter comebacks and a Hail Mary accomplished at in regards to the 1-inch line. It additionally gave us Texas A&M’s resounding second-half surge in opposition to LSU that each erased the aura of Tiger Stadium at evening and put LSU’s Brian Kelly on the most popular of scorching seats.

The Massive Ten gave us tense, down-to-the-wire affairs with Rutgers-Purdue and Nebraska-Northwestern and blowouts with Indiana over UCLA and Iowa over Minnesota. The ACC gave us a pair of extra time thrillers, a last-second area aim stunner and two top-10 groups profitable by a mixed 60. The Group of 5 gave us a playoff plot twist (Memphis 34, USF 31), 4 extra time epics and a 600-yard passing recreation, and a 37-0 run from North Texas. The smaller-school ranks gave us a (practically) walk-off pick-six, an awesome Anchor-Bone Traditional and an FCS No. 1-versus-No. 2 recreation determined by 31 factors and 344 yards.

I discussed in final week’s preview that Week 9 tends to declutter issues for us, shutting down some upstart tales and laying out some fairly clear stakes as we head into November. Quite a lot of upstart tales proceed, however even in a sea of parity discuss and shut video games, one factor Week 9 did do is make clear which groups are taking part in essentially the most like nationwide champs in the intervening time. Let’s begin there.

The 4 groups taking part in like potential nationwide champions

Even after 9 weeks, the polls can typically be deceptive. At this level in 2022, 8-0 Tennessee was No. 1 within the nation, and 8-0 Clemson was No. 4; the Volunteers and Tigers went a mixed 6-5 the remainder of the best way. Hell, at this level in 2021, Michigan State was 8-0 and No. 3 — the Spartans are 20-28 since. November often brings us loads of sudden twists, however I can say that, not like Tennessee, Clemson or Michigan State, the highest 4 groups within the present AP ballot — Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M and Alabama — are those trying most like nationwide title groups in the intervening time.

Indiana Hoosiers

Per week in the past on this house, I wrote that I used to be fairly certain Ohio State was “comfortably the most effective workforce within the nation in the intervening time.” I definitely do not assume any much less of the Buckeyes after their Week 9 bye, however Saturday made me rethink the premise a bit. In spite of everything, solely twice has a workforce crushed a convention opponent by 50-plus factors this season, and it was Indiana each instances.

The highest of my SP+ rankings are usually reserved for groups that repeatedly present boundless upside. Over the previous 20 seasons, the one applications to complete No. 1 in SP+ are Alabama (10 instances), Ohio State (3 times), Georgia (twice), Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan and Texas. Blue bloods, all. However following IU’s 56-6 humiliation of UCLA, the Hoosiers jumped Ohio State into the highest spot. Till in any other case famous, the middle of the school soccer universe is Bloomington, Indiana.

I doubt UCLA would disagree. The Bruins got here to Bloomington having gained three video games in a row with a disruptive protection and an improved run recreation. They created just one sort out for loss in opposition to the Hoosiers, and it got here when IU was already up 42-3. (It additionally did not cease the Hoosiers from making it 49-3 two performs later.) UCLA working backs, in the meantime, averaged simply 3.3 yards per carry, and quarterback Nico Iamaleava took three sacks and threw two picks. Indiana quarterback (and Heisman betting favourite) Fernando Mendoza accomplished solely 15 passes for 168 yards, and it did not matter within the slightest.

The 2024 Hoosiers had been, per SP+, the second-best workforce within the historical past of this system. This workforce is kind of a bit higher than that one. I can not wait to see how this story unfolds within the coming weeks (and months).

Remaining regular-season schedule: at Maryland (SP+ projection: IU by 16.1), at Penn State (IU by 8.5), Wisconsin (IU by 34.8), at Purdue (IU by 28.1).

Ohio State Buckeyes

We’re simply ready on the massive performs. Ohio State presently ranks ninth nationally in factors scored per drive and first in offensive success charge; the protection ranks first in factors allowed per drive and has pressured extra turnovers (9) than it has given up positive aspects of 25-plus yards (six). The Buckeyes given up solely 4.0 yards per dropback (first) and have given up touchdowns on solely two of 12 opponent purple zone journeys (16.7%, additionally first).

Due to Texas’ usually mediocre exhibiting in 2025, the Buckeyes’ season-opening win over the Longhorns does not carry as a lot weight as anticipated, however they performed two different SP+ top-30 opponents on the highway (Washington and Illinois) and beat them by a mixed 58-22.

They’ve achieved that whereas barely even attempting to get aggressive on offense. Julian Sayin’s 80% completion charge leads the nation (nobody else is even above 75%), however regardless of having two otherworldly deep threats in Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, the Buckeyes’ common cross is simply 7.6 yards downfield (a hundred and fifth), and solely 12.9% of completions have gained 20-plus yards (109th). It feels as if they don’t seem to be even exhibiting us half the playbook, and so they’ve reached November having barely damaged a sweat. Indiana reveals us it is top-of-the-line groups within the nation each week; Ohio State simply drops us reminders of what it should most likely do when the video games actually matter.

Remaining regular-season schedule: Penn State (SP+ projection: OSU by 13.2), at Purdue (OSU by 27.7), UCLA (OSU by 32.9), Rutgers (OSU by 27.7), at Michigan (OSU by 8.5).

Texas A&M Aggies

In Friday’s preview, I wrote, “If the Aggies overcome this workforce and this setting, they’re legit SEC, and doubtlessly nationwide title, contenders.” I do not learn about you, however I feel happening a 35-0 run over about 24 minutes within the second half and turning a nip-and-tuck recreation right into a 24-point laugher counts as “overcoming” LSU and Tiger Stadium.

In what was each a referendum on Texas A&M’s title chops and Brian Kelly’s standing as LSU’s head coach, A&M suffered a few early turnovers and wobbled within the second quarter, falling behind 18-14 at halftime. However for the second straight season Mike Elko’s Aggies made an instance out of LSU and Kelly, Elko’s former Notre Dame boss. Final season, they went on a 31-6 second-half run in a 38-23 win that served as a press release of what A&M is perhaps able to underneath Elko. The run additionally solidified quarterback Marcel Reed’s place within the beginning lineup (unique 2024 starter Conner Weigman transferred to Houston, the place he has helped to steer the Cougars to a 7-1 begin).

This 12 months’s second-half surge was an much more resounding assertion. Aggies defenders sacked poor Garrett Nussmeier 5 instances (three after halftime), then sacked backup Michael Van Buren Jr. twice in six cross makes an attempt. Reed was slightly too aggressive at instances however wanted solely 12 completions to achieve 202 passing yards — 4 receivers had not less than one 20-yard catch — whereas speeding 13 instances for 108 yards. Mario Craver and KC Concepcion are quick and terrifying in house (Concepcion’s punt return rating hastened LSU’s second-half collapse), and even backups akin to redshirt freshman Ashton Bethel-Roman are able to absolute nonsense like this:

For those who’re nonetheless sluggish to undertake the Aggies as potential title contenders, you might definitely level to their inconsistency. The protection has given up greater than 40 factors twice and virtually bought them into bother at Arkansas every week in the past, and the offense misfired in a near-loss to Auburn. You could possibly additionally merely observe that after final 12 months’s “assertion win” in opposition to LSU, A&M misplaced 4 of its subsequent 5 video games. Proving your self in a giant recreation solely provides you greater video games down the road, and we do not know the way the Aggies will deal with that. They do, in any case, nonetheless must play at Missouri and Texas. However as soon as you have dealt with Tiger Stadium at evening the best way A&M did Saturday, I provide you with all the good thing about the doubt.

Remaining regular-season schedule: at Missouri (SP+ projection: A&M by 0.8), South Carolina (A&M by 18.2), Samford (A&M by 69.6), at Texas (A&M by 0.7).

Alabama Crimson Tide

The 2023 Washington vibes proceed. After profitable 4 straight video games in opposition to ranked opponents — together with three that had the ball with an opportunity to take the lead within the fourth quarter (and two that, per SP+, generated the sport’s superior stats), Bama seemingly bought a break in opposition to a 3-4 South Carolina workforce. However even with an unimaginable — and extremely fortunate — first-half pick-six, the Tide discovered themselves trailing 22-14 in Columbia with lower than three minutes left. Then they magicked their method proper out of a jam. Ty Simpson discovered Germie Bernard for a landing and Josh Cuevas for a 2-point conversion, then Deontae Lawson ripped the ball out of Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers’ arms two performs later, and Tim Keenan III recovered it. Bernard raced down the sideline for a landing with 34 seconds left, and that was that. Disaster averted.

Barely beating a two-touchdown underdog is a bizarre method of getting onto a “taking part in like a nationwide champion” listing, however I am struggling to keep away from emotions of inevitability right here, each due to what number of instances in a row the Crimson Tide have made the precise performs they wanted to make within the fourth quarter and since Kalen DeBoer’s Washington Huskies principally did the very same factor two years in the past on the best way to the nationwide title recreation. They gained eight one-score video games throughout a 14-game profitable streak, getting simply the fitting mixture of quarterback play, turnovers and particular groups contributions to outlive and advance. It is laborious to maintain that from 12 months to 12 months, however we have seen groups experience runs like this to rings all through faculty soccer historical past.

Granted, DeBoer’s Huskies misplaced in 2023’s title recreation, however they misplaced to a Michigan workforce that ranked 12 spots greater than them on 247 Sports activities’ Expertise Composite. The one workforce that ranks greater than Alabama on this 12 months’s Expertise Composite is Georgia, a workforce the Tide have already crushed. This workforce is aware of the way to see video games out and will not face many matchup disadvantages in any hypothetical CFP matchup. That is a reasonably scary mixture, is not it?

Remaining regular-season schedule: LSU (SP+ projection: Bama by 9.0), Oklahoma (Bama by 2.0), Jap Illinois (Bama by 58.1), at Auburn (Bama by 5.6).

The most well liked groups within the nation (in addition to the contenders)

Kansas State Wildcats

On Saturday, Kansas State reminded us that groups aren’t the identical entity all season and that Lou Holtz’s outdated “You coach a special workforce each week” adage ceaselessly rings true. After a brutally disappointing 2-4 begin, with the defeats by solely 13 mixed factors, the Wildcats performed effectively in a win over TCU, then overachieved in opposition to SP+ by 30 factors in a 42-17 demolition of Kansas. The Wildcats have not misplaced to the Jayhawks since 2008, and extra importantly, they’re again to .500. At 3-2 in convention play, they’re technically not out of the Massive 12 title race simply but (although their odds clearly aren’t nice).

Taking a look at two components — latest wins and up to date overachievement in opposition to projections — Kansas State is among the hotter, extra fast-rising groups within the nation. Listed below are just a few different groups whose latest enchancment may critically have an effect on how the remainder of the season performs out (or not less than redefine how their followers look again on 2025).

San Diego State Aztecs

I warned you in regards to the Aztecs in Friday’s preview, however I nonetheless did not anticipate them to cruise to such a straightforward 23-0 win at Fresno State on Saturday. They’ve gained their final three video games by a mixed 112-34, and per SP+ they’re projected favorites in each remaining recreation, together with a Week 12 go to from Boise State. If the contenders within the American Convention all bloody one another up, and SDSU finally ends up a 12-1 Mountain West champion, the Aztecs may find yourself with a playoff case.

Washington State Cougars

In Weeks 3 and 4, Wazzu misplaced to North Texas and Washington by a mixed 118-34. The protection was a catastrophe, and the offense wasn’t progressing. However since then, the Cougars have crushed two Group of 5 opponents (Colorado State and Toledo) by a mixed 48-10 and misplaced to 2 7-1 power-conference opponents, on the highway, by solely 5 mixed factors. They really got here nearer to beating Ole Miss than Oklahoma did. The offense is coming alongside, and the protection is dynamite. They need to end not less than 7-5.

Kennesaw State Owls

Kennesaw State face-planted in its FBS debut season in 2024, famously upsetting Liberty however in any other case going 1-10 and firing Brian Bohannon, the one coach in program historical past. I beloved their substitute rent — Jerry Mack did glorious issues at NC Central just a few years in the past — however I did not anticipate massive issues so rapidly from him right here. Whoops. The Owls practically beat Wake Forest to start out the season, and since a blowout loss to Indiana they’ve gained 5 straight, together with the previous two by a mixed 80-33. They’re proper in the midst of the Convention USA race.

Pittsburgh Panthers

Normally, when a workforce decides to push a real freshman quarterback into the beginning lineup, it is an announcement that they are punting on the season. However Pitt has been reborn since handing the reins to Mason Heintschel. Heintschel has thrown for not less than 321 yards in three of 4 begins, the Panthers have scored not less than 30 factors in all 4, and so they’ve jumped from a disappointing 2-2 to a massively intriguing 6-2. The house stretch is fairly brutal — after this coming week’s journey to Stanford, they end with Notre Dame, at Georgia Tech and Miami. However with this degree of play, they’re going to both power their method into the ACC title dialog or doubtlessly take down an ACC favourite late within the season.

Iowa Hawkeyes

After turning into the one workforce to lose to Indiana by one rating, Iowa loved one hell of an October, outlasting interim-coached Penn State and walloping rivals Wisconsin and Minnesota by a mixed 78-3. They head into November ranked seventeenth in SP+, and Kinnick Stadium will likely be an absolute cauldron when Oregon visits Nov. 8.

Utah Utes

43-0! The Utes led Colorado 43-0 at halftime Saturday evening! And it may have been even worse. Complete first-half yardage: Utah 398, Colorado minus-18. The Buffaloes had been fortunate Kyle Whittingham determined to take it straightforward within the second half and settled for a 53-7 win.

North Dakota State Bison

We have now to speak about what NDSU is doing to the remainder of FCS this season. The Bison had been projected first in SP+, however they’ve nonetheless managed to overachieve in opposition to projections by a median of 8.6 factors. They usually principally pulled a Utah in opposition to their largest rival Saturday evening, beating South Dakota State by a beneficiant 38-7 rating. SDSU needed to begin its backup quarterback, however he wasn’t going to do something to cease NDSU from gaining 354 yards within the first half.

NDSU is now not less than 10 factors forward of each different workforce in FCS, per SP+. There are a bunch of pleasant upstart tales in FCS this season – latest Division II convert (and Military beater) Tarleton State is second in SP+, whereas Harvard is third, Tennessee Tech is fourth and Lehigh is tenth – however it should take a mammoth upset to forestall the playoff from being yet one more lengthy Bison coronation.

Others: Notre Dame, Marshall, Hawai’i, Southern Miss, Central Michigan, Cincinnati.

This week in SP+

The SP+ rankings have been up to date for the week. Let’s check out the groups that noticed the most important change of their general scores. (Notice: We’re taking a look at scores, not rankings.)

Transferring up

Listed below are the ten groups that noticed their scores rise essentially the most this week:

Kennesaw State: up 3.7 adjusted factors per recreation (rating rose from ninety fifth to 82nd)

Wyoming: up 2.9 factors (from 99th to 92nd)

Washington State: up 2.9 factors (from 84th to 72nd)

Utah: up 2.8 factors (from 14th to seventh)

Kansas State: up 2.8 factors (from 53rd to thirty sixth)

Central Michigan: up 2.7 factors (from 114th to 103rd)

San Diego State: up 2.6 factors (from 59th to forty sixth)

Indiana: up 2.5 factors (from third to first)

Northern Illinois: up 2.4 factors (from 127th to 123rd)

Iowa: up 2.3 factors (from twenty second to seventeenth)

We coated most of those groups above.

Transferring down

Listed below are the ten groups whose scores fell essentially the most:

Toledo: down 4.5 factors (from 54th to sixty fourth)

Minnesota: down 4.0 factors (from forty ninth to 58th)

Colorado: down 3.5 factors (from 63rd to 68th)

Kansas: down 3.4 factors (from forty first to 53rd)

LSU: down 3.3 factors (from nineteenth to twenty sixth)

Stanford: down 3.0 factors (from a hundred and first to a hundred and tenth)

Kentucky: down 3.0 factors (from sixtieth to 66th)

UCLA: down 2.9 factors (from 68th to 78th)

Fresno State: down 2.7 factors (from eightieth to 93rd)

UConn: down 2.5 factors (from 56th to 59th)

Minnesota has utterly confounded SP+ this season. The Gophers have overachieved in opposition to SP+ projections by not less than 18 factors twice (together with a Week 8 thumping of Nebraska) and have underachieved by not less than 16 factors 3 times. That, after all, consists of Week 9’s rivalry recreation no-show in opposition to Iowa. The Gophers have both risen or fallen by not less than 9 spots within the rankings six instances in eight video games. They’re fairly the shifting goal, and that is not a praise.

Who gained the Heisman this week?

I’m once more awarding the Heisman each single week of the season and doling out weekly factors, F1-style (on this case, 10 factors for first place, 9 for second and so forth). How will this Heisman race play out, and the way completely different will the consequence be from the precise Heisman voting?

Right here is that this week’s Heisman prime 10:

1. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss (24-for-44 passing for 315 yards and a landing, plus 58 non-sack speeding yards in opposition to Oklahoma).

2. Haynes King, Georgia Tech (25-for-31 passing for 304 yards and three touchdowns, plus 96 non-sack speeding yards and a couple of TDs in opposition to Syracuse).

3. Drew Mestemaker, North Texas (37-for-49 passing for 608 yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT, plus 18 non-sack speeding yards in opposition to Charlotte).

4. Isaac Brown, Louisville (14 carries for 205 yards and a landing in opposition to Boston School).

5. Bear Bachmeier, BYU (22-for-35 passing for 307 yards and a couple of touchdowns, plus 60 non-sack speeding yards and a TD in opposition to Iowa State).

6. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech (10 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 pressured fumble and a 69-yard fumble return TD in opposition to Oklahoma State).

7. Joey Aguilar, Tennessee (20-for-26 passing for 396 yards and three touchdowns in opposition to Kentucky).

8. Anthony Hill Jr., Texas (10 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 1 pressured fumble and 4 QB hurries in opposition to Mississippi State).

9. Demond Williams Jr., Washington (26-for-33 passing for 280 yards and 4 touchdowns, plus 66 non-sack speeding yards in opposition to Illinois).

10. KJ Duff, Rutgers (6 catches for 241 yards and a landing in opposition to Purdue).

Welcome again, Trinidad Chambliss! Per week after a late-game collapse at Georgia knocked Chambliss and Ole Miss from the ranks of the unbeaten, the Rebels needed to face a good higher protection (Oklahoma) in an much more hostile setting. Trailing into the fourth quarter, Chambliss led a 75-yard landing drive and a clock-eating area aim drive to seal a 34-26 win. The Sooners had been giving up a paltry 213 yards per recreation this season; the Rebels gained 431.

Haynes King, in the meantime, generated much more yards than Chambliss — albeit in opposition to a far weaker opponent — and holy moly Drew Mestemaker. Charlotte’s protection is terrible, however no different workforce has gained 750 complete yards on the 49ers this season.

Honorable point out:

• KC Concepcion, Texas A&M (three catches for 45 yards and a landing, plus a 79-yard punt return TD in opposition to LSU).

• Justice Haynes, Michigan (26 carries for 152 yards and a couple of touchdowns, plus 19 receiving yards in opposition to Michigan State).

• Mason Heintschel, Pitt (28-for-48 passing for 423 yards and three touchdowns in opposition to NC State).

• Quinton Jackson, Rice (21 carries for 168 yards and three touchdowns, plus 80 receiving yards and a TD in opposition to UConn).

• Javen Nicholas, Charlotte (7 catches for 187 yards and a couple of touchdowns, plus 20 receiving yards in opposition to North Texas).

• Eddie Partitions III, Houston (5 tackles, 3 sacks, a cross breakup and a rush in opposition to Arizona State).

• Terry Webb, SMU (8 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, a pressured fumble, a cross breakup and a rush in opposition to Wake Forest).

• Conner Weigman, Houston (17-for-22 passing for 201 yards and a landing, plus 119 non-sack speeding yards and a couple of TDs in opposition to Arizona State).

Via 9 weeks, listed here are your factors leaders:

1. Ty Simpson, Alabama (29 factors)
2. Taylen Inexperienced, Arkansas (27)
3. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss (25)
4. Demond Williams Jr., Washington (21)
5T. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (19)
5T. Gunner Stockton, Georgia (19)
7T. Luke Altmyer, Illinois (16)
7T. Julian Sayin, Ohio State (16)
9. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (14)
10. Jayden Maiava, USC (12)

I am not going to lie: This stays a very unusual Heisman race. At this level final season, the highest two gamers in our factors race had 41 (Ashton Jeanty) and 40 factors (Cam Ward), respectively. Travis Hunter, priming for a surge, was at 26. This season nobody has topped 30, and the second-highest level complete has gone to Inexperienced, the quarterback of a 2-6 workforce. The betting favourite, Mendoza, threw for all of 168 yards Saturday however remained the betting favourite as a result of No. 2 choose (and factors chief) Simpson practically misplaced to South Carolina. I nonetheless assume we will see a surge — in each efficiency and sentiment — from somebody, however damned if I do know who. My finest guess at this level: Julian Sayin. We’ll see.

My 20 favourite video games of the weekend

1. No. 10 Vanderbilt 17, No. 15 Missouri 10. Mizzou blew an opportunity to grab this recreation with a pair of third-quarter purple zone failures — or, if you happen to desire, Vandy’s protection seized the initiative with a pair of nice defensive stands — and quarterback Beau Pribula dislocated his ankle within the course of. However freshman Matt Zollers led the Tigers to 1 tying rating within the fourth quarter and got here inside centimeters of a second.

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1:36

Missouri’s Hail Mary no good as Vanderbilt hangs on

Freshman quarterback Matt Zollers throws a Hail Mary to Kevin Coleman Jr. however the completion comes up wanting the aim line.

2. Wake Forest 13, SMU 12. Wake Forest: your “attempt, attempt once more” workforce of the week. The Demon Deacons misplaced two fumbles contained in the SMU 10 within the fourth quarter, however Kamrean Johnson made an unreal, 25-yard catch from backup quarterback Deshawn Purdie with 4 seconds left, and Connor Calvert’s 50-yard game-winner traveled about 50.1 yards.

3. FCS: Georgetown 31, Bucknell 24. Three weeks in the past, Georgetown made this listing with a profitable Hail Mary. The Hoyas are again with one thing virtually as dramatic: a walk-off (virtually) pick-six. Having overcome a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit, Bucknell was driving for a possible profitable area aim try within the closing seconds, however Naiteitei Mose stepped in entrance of a Christopher Dietrich cross and rumbled 65 yards for the win.

4. Memphis 34, No. 18 USF 31. USF simply could not fairly knock out Memphis. The Bulls led by 14 heading into the fourth quarter, however three length-of-the-field drives and 17 factors gave the Tigers the lead, and after an iffy snap, Nico Gramatica’s 52-yard area aim try on the buzzer sailed broad.

5. No. 4 Alabama 29, South Carolina 22. It is undoubtedly extra enjoyable when the underdog will get the turnover breaks, however that is not the best way both Alabama’s or South Carolina’s story is taking part in out in 2025.

6. Rutgers 27, Purdue 24. You get bonus factors on this listing if you lose a recreation in a method I’ve by no means seen. I would say “catching your personal cross off of a deflection, then shedding a fumble to arrange the profitable area aim” is value fairly just a few factors.

7. Virginia Tech 42, Cal 34 (2OT). There’s one thing so heartening about seeing a fan base rally round a workforce in a misplaced season. At 2-5, Virginia Tech did not have a ton to play for Friday evening in opposition to Cal, and the Hokies seemed like a 2-5 workforce in shedding a late lead. However from “Enter Sandman” by means of the second OT, the Lane Stadium crowd remained engaged, and Takye Heath’s 7-yard landing catch and an extra time cease gave the Hokies the win.

8. Division III: St. Olaf 44, St. Scholastica 41. This one was just like Georgetown-Bucknell in that one workforce was driving for a late win after which immediately misplaced. St. Scholastica took a 38-24 lead late within the third quarter in Northfield, Minnesota, however St. Olaf tied it at 41-41 on a Rob Htoo landing within the fourth. CSS launched into an almost seven-minute drive to take the lead, however Will Harris recovered a fumbled handoff, and Ethan Hess knocked in a 29-yard area aim on the buzzer to offer the Oles (sure, Oles) a shock win.

9. No. 16 Virginia 17, North Carolina 16 (OT). A scoreless, four-turnover second half gave this one fairly a sloppy vibe, however Virginia once more made the performs when it counted. After failing to attain a landing over the ultimate 36 minutes of regulation, each groups scored fairly simply in extra time, however Gio Lopez’s 2-point cross to Benjamin Corridor got here up simply quick after an excellent sort out from Ja’son Prevard.

10. No. 22 Texas 45, Mississippi State 38 (OT). I suppose it is smart that Mississippi State did not know the way to shut out a win. The Bulldogs have been fairly aggressive this season, however they nonetheless got here into this one having misplaced 15 straight convention video games, and after Davon Sales space’s 62-yard landing put the Bulldogs up 38-21 early within the fourth quarter, the MSU offense proceeded to lose six yards over its closing 17 snaps. Texas scored twice, then tied the rating on a 79-yard punt return Ryan Niblett, the scariest return man within the nation who has made pivotal fourth-quarter returns in three straight video games.

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0:43

Ryan Niblett takes 79-yard punt return to the home

Ryan Niblett scores on a 79-yard punt return late within the 4th quarter to tie issues up for Texas vs. Mississippi State.

In extra time, Arch Manning left the sport due to an obvious concussion, however backup Matthew Caldwell pulled a Main Applewhite, throwing an exquisite 10-yard landing to Emmett Mosley V. MSU’s hopeless offense moved straight backward, giving the Longhorns a second straight extra time highway win over a winless-in-the-league opponent.

11. FCS: NC A&T 28, Campbell 24. We’ll save an honorary place on this week’s Heisman listing for North Carolina A&T’s Elijah Kennedy, who tied the rating on a 96-yard punt return with 6:12 left after which, after Campbell took the lead on a area aim, returned the following kickoff 85 yards for the win. He out-Niblett’d Niblett.

12. Kent State 24, Bowling Inexperienced 21. Kent State entered this season having gained solely one in all its earlier 24 video games. The Golden Flashes are actually 3-5 after turning round a 21-3 deficit with three touchdowns — together with a trick-play cross from receiver Da’Realyst Clark to Wayne Harris — and two late stops.

13. No. 8 Ole Miss 34, No. 13 Oklahoma 26. Ole Miss threatened to run away with this one, easing out to a 22-10 halftime lead. A 16-3 run gave the Sooners the benefit heading into the fourth quarter, however the Rebels made all of the late performs they did not make in opposition to Georgia, scoring twice, making three stops and leaving Norman with a playoff bid trying possible.

14. FCS: Charleston Southern 17, Jap Illinois 16. With six minutes left, this was something however a “favourite video games” contender. EIU led 16-3, however CSU scored, pressured a three-and-out and took the lead on a brief Hakeem Watters landing. EIU rapidly drove the size of the sector to save lots of itself, however David Portu blocked what would have been a profitable 35-yard area aim try.

15. Temple 38, Tulsa 37 (OT). Temple is one win away from bowl eligibility, however it took extra time to get the job achieved in Tulsa. After 4 second-half lead modifications, Tulsa’s Dominic Richardson scored to ship the sport to extra time, the place, like North Carolina, the house underdog scored second, went for 2 and failed.

16. Nebraska 28, Northwestern 21. Nebraska had it, misplaced it, then took it away another time. Northwestern’s Caleb Komolafe scored twice to show a 21-6 deficit right into a 21-21 tie, however Nebraska drove 60 yards in 6:27, made it 28-21 with Emmett Johnson’s 4-yard landing and compelled a turnover on downs at their 35 with a minute left. A enjoyable, intense recreation in a forever-intense setting.

17. Division III: DePauw 35, Denison 28. DePauw’s protection misplaced the sport, then gained it. Down 28-0 late within the first half, Denison roared again and tied the rating on a 99-yard Tyler Inexperienced-to-Grayson Kerscher landing cross with 7:02 left. DePauw recovered and took the lead again with a 5:34 drive and a 1-yard Caden Whitehead rating, however Inexperienced accomplished 4 passes to maneuver Denison again contained in the Tigers’ 25. However Joey Fico broke up a cross ultimately zone, and DePauw survived.

18. Rice 37, UConn 34 (2OT). Like Minnesota, UConn has been all around the map, overachieving massively in opposition to projections twice and underachieving 3 times. Following a win at Boston School, the Huskies visited Rice, jumped out to a fast lead, then fell sufferer to 2 lengthy Quinton Jackson touchdowns in regulation, then two extra Jackson scores in OT.

19. NAIA: School of Idaho 7, Jap Oregon 0. Once more, you get bonus factors for profitable a recreation in a method I have not seen. In a recreation that featured 12 punts, three missed area aim makes an attempt, three turnovers, three turnovers on downs and fewer than 400 mixed yards, Jap Oregon used an interception to arrange a possible profitable area aim with 1:10 left. However School of Idaho’s Dee’Shon Swaffo blocked the 49-yard try, then took it 60 yards for the sport’s solely factors.

20. Division II: No. 1 Ferris State 38, No. 18 Grand Valley State 31. The Anchor-Bone Traditional, the most important helmet recreation in Division II, lived as much as its billing. GVSU outgained the defending nationwide champs (462-433) however could not fairly overcome Taariik Brett, who ran for 2 touchdowns and caught two landing passes from Wyatt Bower (aka the brand new Trinidad Chambliss). GVSU overcame an early 14-0 deficit to tie the rating at 21-21, however Brett and Bower each scored to construct the lead once more. The Bulldogs lastly put the sport away with an onside kick restoration with 1:35 remaining.

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