Hard to believe we’re at Championship Week already. In just a few hours, we’ll know who the Playoff teams are. Here’s how things shook out yesterday:
Bedlam: #9 Oklahoma vs. #10 Oklahoma State
Oklahoma won, but leading receiver Dede Westbrook left the game and went into concussion protocol. Fortunately for the Sooners, he could very well return in time for a bowl game. Running back Samaje Perine was shaken up a couple of times as well, but judging by his 239 yards, it was nothing serious. There was a scary injury on defense as well, with cornerback Jordan Parker hitting his head hard on the ground making a tackle; I didn’t catch an update on him but I would assume he’s also in concussion protocol.
Oklahoma State‘s offense performed more than adequately in this game, but when your defense allows 629 yards of offense, you aren’t going to win very often. Losing a fumble and missing a short field goal won’t help your cause. What did help the Cowboys was Barry Sanders, Jr. returning four kicks and averaging 34.5 yards per return.
SEC: #1 Alabama vs. #15 Florida
This game started off close (and weird) but eventually became the blowout I think we all expected. Florida, surprisingly, scored first. Alabama followed up by intercepting Gator QB Austin Appleby and getting a 40-yard return, but having to settle for a field goal. On Florida’s next possession, they picked off Appleby again, this time returning it for a touchdown. Alabama led 10-7 without having gotten a first down in the game. Still in the first quarter, the Tide blocked a Gator punt and returned it for a touchdown; Florida then blocked the extra point attempt and returned that for two points. After one quarter, Alabama had -7 total yards and led 16-9.
As far as the passing game, Florida actually had more yards through the air and more passing touchdowns (two, to Alabama’s one). However, Appleby also threw three interceptions, and the Gators couldn’t stop Alabama’s run game. More importantly, they couldn’t get a run game of their own going, finishing with exactly zero rushing yards. Final score: Alabama 54, Florida 16.
Big Ten: #6 Wisconsin vs. #7 Penn State
If you had told me yesterday that Wisconsin would get out to a 28-7 lead, hold Saquon Barkley to 83 rushing yards, and lose the game, I would have been very skeptical. Early on, Penn State did not look especially good. The low point was when a snap went sailing over quarterback Trace McSorley‘s head and the Badgers recovered it and returned it for a touchdown. Whatever the coaches said at halftime, though, worked. The Nittany Lions scored on the first play of the second half and never looked back.
I watched Penn State get their doors blown off by Michigan and need overtime against Minnesota in weeks four and five, and this is not the same team. Not even close.
ACC: #3 Clemson vs. #23 Virginia Tech
I missed a lot of this game switching back and forth between it and the Big Ten, but what I came away with is that the Hokies are better than I realized. I don’t think I saw more than bits and pieces of their games this year, and I was expecting this to be much more lopsided, based on what I’ve seen of Clemson. Tigers’ quarterback Deshaun Watson had a good game, aside from one interception, but I wouldn’t say he went out and won himself the Heisman. I’ll be interested to see if he gets invited to New York for the ceremony.
Best of the Rest
-I missed the game, but congratulations to Temple on their first league title.
-Two big losses for Navy as quarterback Will Worth and slotback Toneo Gulley suffered what appear to be season-ending injuries against Temple, with the Army game next week.
-Watching Louisiana Tech and Western Kentucky made me realize that their defenses would be a perfect fit in the Big 12. Final score: 58-44 in favor of the WKU Hilltoppers.
-Congratulations to Western Michigan on their undefeated season and, presumably, a Cotton Bowl berth.
-I realize I skipped the Pac-12 game entirely. My hockey team had an 8:45 game on Friday night, at a rink an hour and a half away. The timing was perfect for me to miss exactly the entire Washington–Colorado game. I’d be remiss not to point out, though, that Colorado is a perfect example of what can happen when you stick with a coach long enough. Mike MacIntyre was 10-27 heading into this season, and more than a few schools would have fired him at that point. The Buffaloes won 10 games this season.
It’s been a great season everybody. Stay tuned for our upcoming Playoff and bowl coverage on LWOS!
