Two big prime-time games completely failed to live up to the hype. What about the rest of the slate? Here’s how week eight in college football went down:<\/p>\n
Texas is one of the most hot-and-cold teams we’ve seen in a long time. Against Maryland in Week One<\/a>, the offense was clicking on all cylinders while the defense allowed 51 points. Against both USC and Oklahoma, they kept the score much closer than expected. Still, Oklahoma State’s top-ranked offense should have given the Longhorns fits. On their third possession, the Cowboys went 96 yards for a touchdown. It would be their only one of the day. Texas got to Mason Rudolph<\/a><\/strong> regularly, and while he threw for 282 yards, none of his passes went for scores. The Cowboys were held with a 100-yard receiver as well. Discipline was a big part of Oklahoma State’s success; the team took their first penalty late in the fourth quarter, with just two in the entire game.<\/p>\n As for the OSU defense, they did a better job stopping the run than did the Longhorns. Texas ran for just 42 yards. Horns quarterback Sam Ehlinger<\/a><\/strong> threw for 241 yards and one INT, and 12 different players caught at least one pass from him. The OSU defense also won the game, as Ramon Richards<\/a><\/strong> picked off Ehlinger in overtime.<\/p>\n One player that stood out in this game was Texas linebacker Malik Jefferson<\/a><\/strong>. He was everywhere on defense. Jefferson had 14 total tackles- a season high for him- and has had at least six in every game this season.<\/p>\n This has been a season to forget for the Seminoles, and yesterday’s game didn’t help matters. Florida State was just outside the red zone, with 2:33 left to play in a tie game, when quarterback James Blackman<\/a><\/strong> fumbled. Louisville recovered and marched down the field to kick a field goal with five seconds left.<\/p>\n These things happen – especially when you have a true freshman quarterbacking your team. This season may have to be chalked up to a learning experience for the ‘Noles, who will need to win four of their last five just to get bowl-eligible. (This is where the hurricane-related cancellation of the Louisiana-Monroe game really hurts). Their last five opponents are Boston College on the road, Syracuse, at Clemson, home against Delaware State, and at Florida.<\/p>\n There must be some big sighs of relief this morning in Norman. K-State led 21-10 at the half, and it took a long Rodney Anderson<\/a><\/strong> touchdown with seven ticks on the clock to seal the deal for the Sooners.<\/p>\n Oklahoma has had to deal with quite a few blown leads this season, not that it’s hurt them in the long run. It looks like doing things the other way around works out ok too.<\/p>\n No Leonard Fournette<\/a><\/strong>, no problem for the Tigers. Derrius Guice<\/a><\/strong> rushed for 276 yards, averaging over ten yards per carry, and a touchdown. Danny Etling<\/a><\/strong> completed nine of 13 pass attempts for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Yes, you read that right- two hundred yards and two touchdowns on just nine completed passes. Put another way, the Ole Miss defense could use some work.<\/p>\n This was one of the most impressive jobs of tearing a ball away from someone seen on the field, and it was a quarterback doing it to a defensive end. On third-and-ten, Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey<\/a><\/strong> had his pass batted down and intercepted by Miami DE Demetrius Jackson<\/a><\/strong>. Dungey ripped it out of his arms and ended up at the bottom of a pile holding on to it. Syracuse ball, first down.<\/p>\nLouisville 31, Florida State 28<\/h2>\n
Oklahoma 42, Kansas State 35<\/h2>\n
LSU 40, Ole Miss 24<\/h2>\n
Miami 27, Syracuse 19<\/h2>\n