Let's get right into it.
Game of the Week: (17) Texas Tech 56 - (23) TCU 53 (3 OT)
I really need to become a better Red Raider fan if I'm going to be stuck in Lubbock for the next year and a half, because, at least for this year, this team is exciting and it finally has a defense to rely on if needed (OK, not this week, but you saw how they handled West Virginia).
Seth Doege threw for seven touchdowns (that's 13 in two weeks for him), and Texas Tech continued to impress in taking out a second ranked team on the season. Doege was able to throw his winning touchdown pass in the third overtime after working some magic in the second overtime where he lined up at receiver and didn't touch the ball until its third exchange in the backfield before throwing a touchdown pass to Jakeem Grant.
And believe or not, the Red Raiders will play for a lead in the Big 12 conference this upcoming Saturday when they take on Kansas State in Manhattan because....
Surprise Of The Week: (4) Kansas State 55 - (13) West Virginia 14
I'm not surprised that Kansas State won this game but I'm completely surprised at the #BEATEMDOWN that the Wildcats provided on Saturday night. Collin Klein threw for three touchdowns and ran for another four and left Mountaineer quarterback Geno Smith in the dust in the Heisman race. Smith struggled again when taking on a decent defense, throwing for only 143 yards while getting picked off twice. Kansas State is now ranked #3 in the BCS and somehow West Virginia continues to be ranked even though they've given up 23,234,235 points in the past two weeks without scoring any.
Hooray Of The Week: Duke 33 - North Carolina 30
Duke is eligible for the postseason and it's in something other than basketball. The Blue Devils defeated the rival Tar Heels on Saturday to become bowl-eligible for the first time since 1994. They are in first place in the Coastal Division and coach David Cutcliffe is up for National Coach of the Year honors with how he has turned around the perennial cellar-dweller. Go Blue Devils!
Related: The mothership provides the excitement in GIF form.
(1) Alabama 44 - Tennessee 13
I never write anything more about Alabama because they always just go out and dump-truck on a team like they're supposed to. Is it possible to be really, really good but still somewhat under the radar?
(2) Florida 44 - (7) South Carolina 11
A week after losing a heartbreaker to LSU in Death Valley, South Carolina didn't bother showing up in The Swamp. The game didn't feature a whole lot of offense (South Carolina actually outgained Florida 191-183), but Jeff Driskel threw four touchdown passes on nine completions and Florida continued to cruise through the SEC.
(5) Notre Dame 17 - BYU 14
It was a defensive struggle like many predicted, but Notre Dame held on for a 17-14 victory in South Bend. Tommy Rees got the start this week as opposed to coming in as the closer, but the result remained the same. The Irish will be in this week's premier college football matchup as they travel to Norman to take on the eighth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners.
(6) LSU 24 - (18) Texas A&M 19
The Aggies took an early 12-0 lead, but in typical Aggie style, they squandered it and LSU won another tough game against a ranked opponent after dropping their decision to Florida two weeks ago. Johnny Manziel had a few of his Johnny Football moments, but was held mainly in check, only rushing for 27 yards and being intercepted three times.
Toledo 29 - (21) Cincinnati 23
Toledo took out one of the remaining Big East undefeateds in a matchup of Ohio teams that have ruled college football this season. Between the Bobcats, Rockets, Bearcats, Buckeyes and Kent State Golden Flashes, there are only 3 losses in the state of Ohio in Division 1 football this year. Amazing and saddening.
Best of the Rest:
(8) Oregon State 21 - Utah 7
(11) Georgia 29 - Kentucky 24
(14) Florida State 33 - Miami 20
(15) Rutgers 35 - Temple 10
(16) Louisville 27 - South Florida 25
(19) Clemson 38 - Virginia Tech 17
(20) Stanford 21 - Cal 3
(25) Texas 56 - Baylor 50
SMU 72 - Houston 42 (SMU had FOUR pick-sixes)
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