College football Week 12 highlights - top plays, games, takeaways

David Hale, ESPN Employees AuthorNov 17, 2024, 01:49 AM ET

CloseCollege soccer reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012.Graduate of the College of Delaware.

Georgia entered Week 12 in an uncommon place. Coming off an emphatic loss to Ole Miss, the Bulldogs had been scuffling, in search of solutions, and if the season had ended on Tuesday with the Faculty Soccer Playoff committee’s most up-to-date rankings, they’d have been on the surface trying in.

We had develop into accustomed to Georgia’s dominance in any respect turns. The shut video games had been extra a product of boredom than any precise defect, and the losses, uncommon as they had been, had been supplied as little greater than tribute to Nick Saban, the person who had despatched Kirby Good to steer Georgia to the promised land.

However in 2024, even amid the wins, issues have simply felt … off.

There was the acquainted parade of gamers touchdown in authorized scorching water away from the sector. There was the rising frustration with offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. There’s the gut-wrenching losses to bitter rivals that appear destined to doom the Bulldogs to second-class standing. If this had been professional wrestling, the primary notes of “Jesus, Take the Wheel” would start taking part in and Mark Richt would emerge from the tunnel, revealing he had been in cost all alongside.

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On Saturday, nevertheless, we acquired our reminder that this is not the Georgia of previous, even when it isn’t fairly the Georgia of 2021 and 2022 both. In a sport that felt nearly algorithmically engineered to show the Dawgs had addressed every of their most blatant faults, Carson Beck and crew devoured Tennessee 31-17 and reasserted dominion over faculty soccer — if not formally within the standings, then definitely within the hearts and minds of each crew that may have the misfortune of drawing the Dawgs within the playoff.

Beck, who had thrown 12 interceptions in his previous six video games, was practically flawless Saturday. He threw for 346 yards and totaled three touchdowns, however extra importantly, he regarded supremely assured with every fastball he delivered downfield.

The offensive line, which handed out social gathering favors to Ole Miss move rushers en path to he backfield final week, held its personal in opposition to one of the ferocious defensive fronts within the nation. Beck wasn’t sacked, and Tennessee managed simply two tackles for loss within the sport.

The bottom sport, scrambling for solutions and with out injured starter Trevor Etienne, turned to Nate Frazier and, in so many essential moments, Beck to supply the spark. They delivered a pair of dashing touchdowns as proof of life for a backfield that had so usually regarded dormant.

So it’s, too, that Georgia has life within the crowded SEC.

Definitely SEC followers are too modest to say it, however the reality its, the league is fairly good this 12 months. We entered Week 12 with a logjam of groups with a loss or two or three, however a résumé warranting actual playoff consideration. The depth of expertise threatened to overwhelm the convention, nevertheless, with the committee inserting 4 Huge Ten groups within the high 5 and leaving Saban to lament to Pat McAfee that the committee cannot “simply take a look at the report,” echoing Greg Sankey’s long-held perception that wins are an overrated metric in comparison with issues comparable to income, attendance or prevalence of cowbells.

However Saturday proved to be one thing of a palette cleanser for the SEC — just like the white bread that comes with Dreamland ribs. Whereas a handful of groups took a psychological well being day — Alabama, Auburn, Texas A&M and Kentucky all performed lower-tier competitors and received by a mixed 154 factors — the remainder of the slate helped make clear one thing akin to a pecking order.

In Gainesville, the Billy Napier redemption tour continued, with DJ Lagway and Elijhah Badger main the Florida cost on a 27-16 win over LSU. After the sport, Napier celebrated the Gators’ fifth win of the season by calling human sources at Zaxby’s and letting them know he will not have the ability to begin on Dec. 1 as beforehand promised, now needing only a win over both Ole Miss or (extra doubtless) Florida State to safe a bowl.

LSU, in the meantime, is successfully cooked within the chase for the playoff after the loss, and it is attainable Brian Kelly’s anger administration lessons are not lined by his insurance coverage.

After the sport, Kelly lambasted the crew asking of his gamers, “Do you need to struggle or not?” It was not instantly clear if he meant in LSU’s remaining video games or within the parking zone out again as quickly as his press convention was over. Both means, issues are bleak in Baton Rouge. It is unhappy to see a state of affairs the place everybody felt like faaaamily devolve into one thing utterly inauthentic.

If LSU is tumbling within the SEC standings, nevertheless, Saturday was South Carolina’s time to shine in opposition to Missouri.

LaNorris Sellers threw for 353 yards and 5 touchdowns and continued to deal with move rushers like softballs bouncing off a fungo.

Spotlight: South Carolina wins fourth-quarter thriller behind Sellers’ heroics

No. 23 Missouri comes roaring again within the ultimate body solely to be stomped out by LaNorris Sellers because the No. 21 Gamecocks escape with a 34-30 victory.

What began as a defensive tussle ended with 4 touchdowns — two by every offense — within the sport’s ultimate 9:12. The Gamecocks took a 27-22 lead with 5:04 to play on Sellers’ fourth TD move of the sport, solely to see Brady Prepare dinner and Luther Burden III hook up on a beautiful 37-yard bomb to regain the lead with simply over a minute to go.

However South Carolina had a solution, marching 70 yards on six performs in simply 47 seconds, culminating with a 15-yard landing run by Raheim “Rocket” Sanders to safe the win. That Shane Beamer did not have fun by head-butting a participant nonetheless carrying his helmet actually exhibits how far he has come as a coach this season.

So here is the place issues stand amid the rubble of one other Saturday within the SEC: Texas and Texas A&M are atop the standings at 5-1, however they’re going to play one another in Week 14. Georgia, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Alabama all have two losses, however every have secured a win versus not less than one of many different tied groups, leaving their destiny to the SEC’s arcane tie-breaker insurance policies which contain opponent data, scoring differentials and a pie-eating contest between Lane Kiffin and Josh Heupel. And, in fact, there’s nonetheless South Carolina, looming on the fringes of the playoff debate at 7-3.

The case for the SEC’s supremacy is obvious. With seven groups taking part in such high-level soccer, all losses include an asterisk and all wins really feel epic. In that case, Georgia’s two losses and infrequently confounding struggles will pale compared to the immense expertise on the roster, and this win over Tennessee will probably be Exhibit A for why the highway to the nationwide championship nonetheless runs by way of Athens.

However the path towards the SEC’s demise can also be clear: Both the committee fails to reward depth or, extra doubtless, in a match of rage, Kelly makes use of a flamethrower he purchased on the darkish internet to burn your entire convention to the bottom.

Geese D performs large

The Faculty Soccer Playoff committee goes to should take a tough take a look at Wisconsin this week. With a three-point loss to No. 1 Oregon, the Badgers now have a top-five résumé.

Extra importantly, the committee will not have to pick a brand new No. 1, as Oregon’s protection got here up large in a grueling 16-13 win.

Dillon Gabriel completed with 218 passing yards and an interception, simply the second time in 60 profession begins that he threw a decide with out additionally throwing a landing. As an alternative, the Geese relied on tailback Jordan James to steer a second-half comeback after falling behind 13-6. James completed with 25 carries for 121 yards and a game-tying TD with 13:14 to go within the fourth quarter.

It was Matayo Uiagalelei who sealed the win, nevertheless. Wisconsin acquired the ball at its personal 17 with 1:26 to play, however Jamaree Caldwell tipped a Braedyn Locke move, and Uiagalelei caught the carom for the game-sealing INT. (Be aware to Florida State followers: It’s attainable for the phrases “Uiagalelei” and “interception” to look in a sentence not involving a brutal loss.)

The win retains Oregon undefeated and headed towards a Huge Ten title sport berth, but it surely’s not with out some pink flags. Wisconsin held the Geese to simply 354 whole yards — per week after Oregon mustered simply 363 in opposition to Maryland. That is the primary time Oregon has had back-to-back video games with fewer than 400 yards of offense since 2020.

Then again, profitable video games whereas accumulating a frustratingly restricted variety of yards and counting on an influence run sport and a stout protection suggests Oregon has acclimated properly into the Huge Ten’s lifestyle.

Hunter states Heisman case

Colorado continues to be coming, in response to Deion Sanders, however in response to the Huge 12 standings, the Buffaloes are already there.

Coach Prime lamented a less-than-exceptional efficiency by his Buffs in a 49-24 win over Utah, and but there’s little aside from platitudes within the aftermath. Colorado is tied for No. 1 within the Huge 12, and if it wins out in opposition to Kansas and Oklahoma State, a date within the convention title sport is assured.

Shedeur Sanders struggled early in opposition to the Utes’ protection, however he in the end completed with 340 yards passing and three touchdowns in Colorado’s standard demoralizing vogue.

I swear each Colorado offensive play is Shedeur scrambling 40 yards within the backfield till the move rushers collapse in exhaustion, heaves 60 yards downfield, watches as DB journeys over personal shoe laces.

— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) November 16, 2024

In the meantime, after a season-ending harm to Brandon Rose, Utah turned to Isaac Wilson, who is definitely simply an AI-generated illustration of what a Utah QB is perhaps after feeding Rose, Nate Johnson, Bryson Barnes, Charlie Brewer and Jake Bentley into the algorithm. The vital takeaway right here, nevertheless, is he isn’t Cam Rising, so in fact, Utah struggled. Wilson misplaced a fumble and threw three interceptions within the sport, together with one to Travis Hunter, who struck a Heisman pose afterward.

Travis Hunter stakes Heisman declare after nice performs on either side of ball

Colorado’s Travis Hunter makes a pleasant interception off a deflection within the first quarter, adopted by an unimaginable first-down catch within the second quarter vs. Utah.

Hunter caught 5 passes for 55 yards, and after Coach Prime checked the rule e-book and realized his crew was additionally allowed to run the ball, Hunter acquired a carry that additionally went for a 5-yard landing. On the draw back, Hunter did enable his first TD of the season in protection, a 40-yard dart to Dorian Singer within the third quarter.

With the win, Colorado strikes to 8-2 — simply the second eight-win season for this system prior to now 20 years, making it doubtless different groups will try to repeat Sanders’ program-building blueprint of bringing in a complete bunch of transfers, not less than certainly one of whom is one of the best participant within the nation.

BYU falls, Solar Devils rise

BYU’s good season got here to an finish with a deal with on the 6-yard line on fourth down in opposition to Kansas, and because of Utah AD Mark Harlan, nobody at Huge 12 headquarters buzzed all the way down to the officers to have them throw a random flag for extreme taking part in of “Carry On My Wayward Son.”

Kansas walked off with a 17-13 win after recovering a muffed punt deep in BYU territory that the Jayhawks was the game-winning landing. BYU nonetheless had an opportunity to win, driving into the pink zone however developing empty on 4 tries contained in the Kansas 15.

Devin Neal turned the primary participant in Kansas historical past with 4,000 profession dashing yards, racking up 52 yards and two TDs within the win Saturday.

In the meantime, Arizona State stays alive to be the Huge 12’s Cinderella crew, stunning Kansas State 24-14 behind a three-touchdown efficiency from QB Sam Leavitt.

Solar Devils’ head coach Kenny Dillingham’s repute as a QB whisperer goes robust with Leavitt. After Dillingham helped form Jordan Travis and resurrect Bo Nix, Leavitt has blossomed after transferring from Michigan State and has Arizona State driving excessive at 7-2.

The Solar Devils tackle BYU subsequent week, with the winner gaining the within observe on a visit to the Huge 12 title sport. BYU would clinch with a win and a loss by both Colorado or Iowa State, who toppled Cincinnati 34-17 behind a pair of Rocco Becht touchdowns.

The Cyclones (5-2) stay alive, too, together with Colorado (6-1) because the Huge 12 works to undertake a full ACC coastal method to this season.

Klubnik delivers late win

Pitt hosted Clemson on Saturday in a sport that figured to settle any debate over who was the third-best crew within the ACC, which is like RC Cola and Shasta getting right into a slap struggle over cola rankings.

The outcomes usually regarded like two groups who did not precisely warrant their area on the playoff periphery, too.

Clemson had third-and-21Pitt penalty, offsidesPitt penalty, offsidesPitt penalty, offsidesClemson throws incomplete on third-and-6.Good defensive design from the Panthers.

— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) November 16, 2024

Certainly, Pitt adopted up that defensive collection with one of the mind-numbing offensive stretches attainable. The officers missed a transparent false begin on second-and-goal, however Pitt was stuffed. Pitt referred to as a timeout to keep away from a delay of sport, then was flagged for an unlawful formation, then was flagged for a delay of sport, then topped the entire thing off with a penalty for a false begin earlier than in the end kicking a subject purpose.

May these 4 factors Pitt left on the sector have helped?

The Panthers truly erased a 17-7 deficit within the fourth quarter to take a 20-17 lead, however on a second-and-3, Clemson QB Cade Klubnik took a QB sneak up the center and scrambled just about untouched for 50 yards and a rating. Pitt’s last-gasp drive stalled on the Tigers’ 26, and Clemson held on for a 24-20 win that was marked by abysmal O-line play, missed alternatives and a few astonishingly questionable officiating.

Afterward, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi summed up the sport by using all seven of George Carlin’s phrases you possibly can’t say on TV and in addition making up a number of new ones.

USC finds a spark

After climbing to No. 11 within the AP ballot in September, USC entered Week 12 losers of 5 of its previous seven, with all 5 losses coming by a landing or much less.

After opening the season 5-1, Nebraska entered Week 12 losers of three straight, two by a landing or much less.

USC made a QB change, giving UNLV switch Jayden Maiava the beginning. Nebraska made a change at offensive playcaller, with Dana Holgorsen rising from his basement to see daylight for the primary time in 11 months and recoiling in horror.

Each groups had been in determined straits, and so they met on the Coliseum on Saturday to chase one thing approaching credibility like two pigeons preventing for half a discarded baloney sandwich.

The sport did not disappoint.

USC led 14-7, Nebraska charged again to take a 17-14 lead, USC scored to leap forward by some extent, then discovered the tip zone once more on a 2-yard Maiava TD run with 2:45 to play.

The sport was in Holgorsen’s palms from there.

After being fired regardless of what he had referred to as “an inconceivable buyout” at Houston final 12 months, Holgorsen had largely disappeared from the general public eye, focusing as a substitute on the finer issues in life. However Saturday was just like the montage scene in any ’80s film the place the down-and-out character resolves to get his life collectively, showers, shaves and places on a brand new swimsuit, rising like a conquering hero. Solely Holgorsen did not bathe or shave and should have been carrying a Nebraska hoodie that Mike Riley left in a desk drawer 10 years in the past after splilling some spaghetti on it.

Dana Holgorsen fascinated about the harm Marcus Satterfield did on Fake Patrick Mahomes. #GBR pic.twitter.com/t819JpeyrU

— Trent McGee (@stmcgee) November 16, 2024

However there was nonetheless just a little Holgo magic left, and Dylan Raiola and the Huskers marched to the USC 14 with 5 seconds to play and an opportunity to tie the sport.

However we all know how this story ends. It all the time ends this fashion for the Huskers.

USC prevailed 28-20. Nebraska has now misplaced 38 one-possession video games because the begin of the 2017 season — 10 greater than another Energy 4 faculty. After attending to win No. 5 in every of the previous two seasons, it has subsequently misplaced a mixed eight straight, seven of them by one-possession.

Dante’s ninth circle of hell is known as “treachery.” Then there are like 14 extra he did not write about, certainly one of which entails being actually into downloading bootleg Nickelback reside exhibits, and then you definately lastly attain one thing approaching the place Nebraska followers are at proper now.

Leonard, Irish roll

In 2014, Notre Dame and the ACC entered right into a scheduling settlement during which the Irish promised 5 matchups per 12 months in opposition to the convention in alternate for a house for his or her non-football packages. Since then, Notre Dame has successfully been Biff from “Again to the Future” to the ACC’s McFly household. They roll into the home unannounced, raid the fridge and eat Wake Forest’s leftover rooster after which take Georgia Tech’s automotive with out asking.

And so it was that the Irish throttled Virginia 35-14 on Saturday behind Riley Leonard’s three landing throws. Jeremiyah Love ran for 137 and the protection picked off Anthony Colandrea thrice. Notre Dame finishes 5-0 in opposition to the ACC, the sixth time in 11 years the Irish have gone undefeated in opposition to the convention within the common season. General, Notre Dame is 50-9 within the common season in opposition to the ACC since 2014, together with a 9-0 report as a full member in 2020, and someplace Jack Swarbrick is inviting his buddies to crash at John Swofford’s seaside home for your entire summer season once more.

The rigging was set, the masts had been raised, ye previous Navy set sail for a win. However earlier than it had reached shore, the Inexperienced Wave climbed all aboard, and plundered its gold and its gin.

Yo ho, yo ho, to the league championship sport they go.

If Tulane ain’t one of the best on all seven seas, definitely it is tops on not less than 5. And earlier than it was accomplished, it had received 35 to none, maintaining their playoff hopes nonetheless alive.

Yo ho, yo ho, to the league championship sport they go.

He threw for 2 scores and ran for yet one more, Darian Mensah did all the pieces proper. The corners and move blockers, put Navy in Davy Jones locker, now the Wave flip consideration to the Military Black Knights.

Yo ho, yo ho, to the league championship sport they go.

The steely males of honest Tulane, a proper tremendous crew be they. They struggle and so they tussle, they’re all brawn and muscle, and so they’ll earn their means again to the SEC in the future.

Yo ho, yo ho, to the league championship sport they go.

Lobos rally for win

A month into the season, Bronco Mendenhall’s New Mexico crew was 0-4 and appeared destined for a misplaced season amid a large rebuild that included turning over greater than half the scholarship roster this previous offseason.

After Week 12, the Lobos are 5-6, and simply secured their first win over a ranked foe in 21 years, toppling No. 18 Washington State 38-35.

New Mexico’s Devon Dampier and Wazzu’s John Mateer placed on an absolute clinic at QB all through the sport.

Mateer accounted for 443 yards and 5 touchdowns, together with a 37-yard bullet to Kyle Williams that gave Washington State a four-point lead with 3:12 to play. Dampier answered with 366 yards and three touchdowns of his personal, together with a 1-yard scamper with 21 seconds to play that secured the largest win for New Mexico since toppling a ranked Utah crew in 2003.

New Mexico now wants solely a Week 14 win over Hawai’i to safe bowl eligibility.

Mateer, in the meantime, will stay faculty soccer’s most attention-grabbing man. This was his fourth sport with 4 passing TDs and one dashing rating of the season — probably the most by any QB since 2018, all whereas additionally doing battle with the Joker to maintain the residents of Gotham secure.

Week 12 vibe shifts

Every week, the Prime 25 endures main shake-ups that rework the school soccer panorama. However there are extra delicate adjustments each Saturday, too, and we seize these right here.

Trending down: Midday kickoffs

Ohio State followers are annoyed with so many midday kickoffs this 12 months, noting that solely farmers and nerds get up earlier than 11 a.m. Because it turned out Saturday, it was Northwestern who was nonetheless asleep at kickoff.

some powerful moments for Northwestern 😬 pic.twitter.com/zARRjzD3B7

— FOX Faculty Soccer (@CFBONFOX) November 16, 2024

Northwestern in some way held the ball for 32 minutes however managed simply 251 yards, spending most of its time on offense figuring out the main points of this 12 months’s crew Secret Santa program. Fortunately, the sport was performed at Wrigley Area, and the Cubs’ bullpen coughed up 31 factors within the center quarters, with Carnell Tate starring. He hauled in 4 catches for 52 yards and two touchdowns.

Northwestern is the sixth opponent this season Ohio State has held to single digits. Solely Oregon has topped 20 in opposition to the Buckeyes.

Trending up: Slim Texas wins

Quinn Ewers tossed two landing passes — together with a 1-yarder with 9:05 to play that successfully sealed a 20-10 win over Arkansas — however he averaged simply 5.5 yards per move, and the Horns had simply 315 yards of whole offense, their second-lowest manufacturing in a sport, trailing solely the loss to Georgia.

Texas has now performed three bowl-eligible groups this season, and the outcomes have been fairly meh. The Horns had been stampeded by Georgia, escaped Vanderbilt by 3 and now struggled offensively in opposition to Arkansas in a 10-point win.

The reply right here is obvious: extra Arch Manning. Play him at receiver. Have him present pre-drive inspiration by reenacting well-known motivational scenes from motion pictures comparable to “Braveheart” or “Weekend at Bernie’s,” have him problem Bevo to a foot race at halftime. No matter it takes to get extra Arch on the sector, Texas must make it occur.

Trending up: ACC irony

SMU held off Boston Faculty 38-28 to maneuver to 6-0 in ACC play, all however assuring the Mustangs of a visit to the ACC championship sport of their first season within the league. Kevin Jennings threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns, and Brashard Smith ran for 120 yards and a rating.

It is value noting as SMU strikes towards a convention title sport look, that the one cause it is within the ACC is as a result of NC State modified its vote to approve growth final 12 months. NC State, in its 72nd season within the ACC, has by no means performed within the ACC championship sport, although it has heard it isn’t that nice anyway. Plus, it had plans, like catching up on the brand new season of “Solely Murders within the Constructing.” And possibly a Dwelling Depot journey. And it is simply good to have a staycation after a busy soccer season. Actually, don’t be concerned about NC State. It is doing simply tremendous, and it undoubtedly did not simply DoorDash six pints of Jeni’s ice cream.

Trending up: The odor on the Brown residence

Fran Brown on his postgame ritual following a loss:

-He would not shower- “I do not deserve cleaning soap – winners get washed.”

-Watches tape starting that night time

-“My spouse, I am unable to sleep within the mattress if we lose, as a result of I am not going to get within the bathe for that day. I am simply mad.” pic.twitter.com/yL3lbxWo5X

— Ashley Wenskoski (@AshleyWenskTV) November 11, 2024

LeQuint Allen ran for 109 yards and two touchdowns, Kyle McCord threw for 323 yards and a rating, and each will probably be getting a pleasant present basket from Fran Brown’s spouse this week after they lifted Syracuse to a 33-25 win over Cal.

“Get pleasure from your bathe, alright, child?” – Treavor Scales

“I am about to get washed. WINNERS GET WASHED!” – Fran Brown https://t.co/vnQ7dICHhN pic.twitter.com/JxyeZHvd7H

— Terrible Saying (@awfulannouncing) November 16, 2024

Brown will presumably wait to bathe till the crew returns to Syracuse, so everybody on the aircraft can nonetheless benefit from the odor of victory.

On the flip facet, Cal misplaced its fifth one-possession sport of the season — one that will’ve had the Bears bowl eligible — and Cal coach Justin Wilcox determined he is boycotting chopping his toe nails, he’ll be blasting Smash Mouth’s “I am a Believer” cowl on repeat at apply and he will not be throwing away that previous tuna sandwich that has been within the workplace fridge till the Bears get win No. 6. Actually, he had forgotten in regards to the sandwich weeks in the past, so this was actually only a handy excuse.

Trending down: Sizzling seats

Florida already introduced Billy Napier could be again subsequent 12 months, and after Saturday’s 49-35 win over West Virginia, Baylor determined Dave Aranda will even be again for 2024.

If Sam Pittman survives at Arkansas, too, it will be a outstanding flip for coaches who entered the season on the most popular of seats, and can enable boosters to make use of all that cash sometimes reserved for buyouts on one thing extra helpful, comparable to constructing a water slide on the moon.

Aranda now has Baylor set for a bowl sport, too, after profitable 4 straight. Baylor’s offense, particularly, has been a revelation, topping 38 in every of the previous 4.

In the meantime at Auburn, boosters have scheduled a gathering at their secret hideout behind the Jimmy John’s, and are simply going kind in Bobby Petrino’s cell quantity however will not press ship till not less than halftime of the Iron Bowl.

Trending up: Huge man TDs

Southern demolished Arkansas-Pine Bluff 31-9 on Saturday, and senior defensive deal with Willie Miles delivered a play for the ages within the course of.

Miles, who in response to Southern’s media information checks in at 5-foot-9 and a gentlemanly 350 kilos, picked up a unfastened ball after a DJ Stevenson fumble, and set his sights on the tip zone. A Golden Lions lineman appeared to have him corralled on the 5, however Miles had ice water in his veins. He pulled unfastened from the deal with try, spun, gathered his stability, and sprinted for the tip zone — working by way of the again and round to the sideline the place his teammate correctly opted in opposition to lifting him into the air “Soiled Dancing” model.

The Rumblin’, Bumblin’, and Stumblin’ from Willie Miles.

Pure artwork. @WAFB @GeauxJags #Southern https://t.co/N4BBqnFlFx pic.twitter.com/5v9ReVZbc2

— Kevin Batiste (@KBatisteJr) November 17, 2024

This was a becoming spotlight in what was Miles’ ultimate residence sport at Southern.

Trending up: Air mail

On the Utah Excessive College state championships Saturday, a struggle for the soccer occurred after a soccer was dropped from a helicopter hovering over the sector.

That is for actual, guys. The Utah Excessive College Soccer State Championship video games for decrease classifications right now had a chopper fly in and drop the sport ball as a substitute of a coin toss. One participant from every crew preventing for possession.#UTPreps @KSLSports @UHSAAinfo pic.twitter.com/tobccmy5kR

— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_TV) November 17, 2024

Although in the long term it didn’t truly change the coin toss, it ought to be applied as such instantly in any respect ranges of soccer. Nonetheless, some colleges might not have easy accessibility to a helicopter, so we’d additionally settle for wrestling a bear for possession of the soccer, a wing-eating contest, a breakdancing competitors, a collection of “Yo Mama” jokes or, if completely crucial and just for Ivy League video games, a race to see which crew can clear up the equation from “Good Will Searching” first.

Trending up: Elegant coaches

Every week in the past, Kennesaw State fired its solely coach in program historical past, Brian Bohannon. First, the varsity stated he resigned. He denied it, and the varsity relented.

If he is offended at his former employer although, he is certain not taking it out on his gamers.

Kennesaw State fired Brian Bohannon this week.

He nonetheless got here to the sport to assist his gamers.

👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/VEbrpdkVvG

— HALL of GOATS (@GOATS_hall) November 17, 2024

Kennesaw State performed certainly one of its higher video games in Bohannon’s absence on the sideline, falling to Sam Houston 23-17 in additional time. However what’ll be remembered by most Owls followers is their former coach making a cultured gesture within the aftermath of a brutal week. Both that or his shifting van has been caught in visitors on I-75 since Monday.

Heisman 5

It is actually a three-man race for the Heisman now, until you need to rely offensive Travis Hunter and defensive Travis Hunter as separate gamers, during which case he’ll want to purchase one other swimsuit for the ceremony.

1. Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter

Hunter Week 12 landing rely: 1 scored, 1 allowed.

He ought to be ashamed of himself, giving up a landing like that. It is the kind of efficiency that will get certainly one of Deion Sanders’ youngsters docked three spots on his baby rating record.

2. Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty

Ashton Jeanty seals Boise State’s win with third TD of the night time

Ashton Jeanty is the primary participant to report 26 dashing touchdowns in his first 10 video games of a season since Ricky Williams in 1998.

Boise State fell behind San José State 14-0 earlier than anyone remembered to wake Jeanty up and inform him to go smash issues. He completed the Broncos’ 42-21 win with 32 carries for 159 yards and three touchdowns, placing Jeanty now simply 107 dashing yards shy of two,000 on the season. Jeanty has additionally eclipsed 30 carries in 5 straight video games, simply the third participant of the playoff period to take action.

3. Miami QB Cam Ward

The Hurricanes had been off Saturday, giving Ward extra time to stew over the loss to Georgia Tech. He has referred to as Brent Key’s home 23 occasions already this week to ask if his fridge is working.

4. Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel

Any probability of Gabriel making an actual run on the Heisman in all probability evaporated Saturday in Madison, as he didn’t throw a landing move and the Geese’ offense struggled. Solely a house sport in opposition to Washington and the Huge Ten title sport stay earlier than voting commences. The excellent news is, after 23 seasons of faculty soccer, Gabriel will nonetheless be a favourite to take residence a lifetime achievement award.

5. Penn State TE Tyler Warren

In Saturday’s 49-10 win over Purdue, Warren had eight catches for 127 yards and a landing and three carries for 63 yards and a rating. All season, he has been Penn State’s do-it-all man, as long as “all” would not additionally embody beating Ohio State. He is the primary Huge Ten non-QB to account for not less than 10 touchdowns in a season — not less than one every passing, dashing and receiving — since 2017, when one other Nittany Lion, Saquon Barkley, did it.

Underneath-the-radar play of the week

Liberty’s kicker was fairly, fairly … fairly good in additional time of Saturday’s 35-34 win over UMass.

Usually, UMass is a simple win, however this one appeared destined to go down like a dry scone. UMass jumped out to a 20-7 halftime lead, with nearly all of Liberty’s offense coming from pity factors. Shedding to UMass, in fact, is among the most humiliating issues a person can expertise together with making an attempt on pants.

However the Flames pulled the previous chat-and-cut within the second half, tying the sport at 28 with 3:49 to play and forcing additional time. UMass scored first in OT, however kicker Jacob Lurie, who we assume would not respect wooden, missed his PAT attempt. Liberty then matched the landing and despatched Colin Karhu in to win the sport with the additional level — and to stare down the legend, Larry David.

Liberty hits profitable further level regardless of Larry David scoreboard distraction

Quinton Cooley rushes in for a 5-yard Liberty landing and hit the profitable further level regardless of a Larry David distraction on the videoboard.

From there, the scoreboard flickered to the precise ultimate rating — 35-34 Liberty — which feels offensive. They may’ve not less than lied to UMass. A lie is a gesture, it is a courtesy, it is just a little respect. This was very disrespectful.

Underneath-the-radar sport of the week

Louisville technically joined the ACC in 2014, but it surely wasn’t till Saturday that the Cardinals really hit the kind of all-time low distress the ACC foists upon all who method it.

Louisville, which figured to win simply because it has many Cardinals, whereas Stanford is only one Cardinal, cruised early and led by two touchdowns within the fourth quarter. However Stanford scored on a 25-yard landing move with 45 seconds left to tie the sport at 35, pressured a Louisville turnover on downs after the Playing cards ran seven performs in simply 35 seconds and Stanford acquired the ball again with 10 seconds to play at its personal 45. That ought to’ve meant additional time, however Louisville dedicated an unsportsmanlike penalty, organising Stanford for a 57-yard subject purpose attempt. Quincy Riley then was flagged for being offsides, shaving one other 5 yards off the kick, and Emmet Kenney delivered from 52 yards out for the win.

Emmet Kenney’s 52-yard FG offers Stanford the upset over Louisville

Emmet Kenney’s kick is true as his 52-yard subject purpose seals an upset victory for Stanford over Louisville.

With one minute to play within the sport, ESPN gave Louisville a 90% win likelihood. With 15 seconds left it was nonetheless a coin flip. And with no time left on the clock, it was a full-on #goacc for the ages.

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