Former Foes Week 8

UCF (4-2)

Beat Tulane (2-5), 20-13

When you have 8 penalties and double your opponent's turnovers (4 to 2), you usually lose; not so for UCF, as they leaned on a strong defensive effort and overcame some sloppy play on offense to slip by Tulane. Knights QB Justin Holman was intercepted twice, causing coach George O'Leary to yank him in the second quarter.  Holman returned to start the 3rd quarter and tossed a 45-yard touchdown pass to put UCF up 20-6, and that was all the defense needed.  Neither offenses were anything to write home about as the two teams combined for 6 turnovers and 17 penalties.

Up Next: Temple (4-2)

Akron (4-3)

Lost to Ohio (4-4), 20-23

Akron had the ball with time running out and the game tied at 20--then Akron's Andrew Pratt fumbled the ball at the Zip's 42, and Ohio kicker Josiah Yazdani tapped in the game winning 22-yard field goal with just under 2 minutes to play. Akron had one last chance but quarterback Tommy Woodson's pass was intercepted at the 30-yard line and the game was over.  This was a wild one, with the lead changing  6 times and the teams combining for 5 turnovers.

Woodson did finish the day having completed 23 of his 45 passes for 268 yards and 2 touchdowns, but he also threw 2 picks. Zip receiver Zach D'Orazio had a good day, catching 9 passes for 117 yards with a score.

Up Next: Ball State (2-5)

BTPR (5-2)

Lost to #13 Ohio State (5-1) 17-56

Hey Penn State fans, you looking forward to that big Ohio State night game Saturday?  I know I am most certainly not, because it is going to be a blood bath.  OSU just completed a four-game streak of scoring 50 or more points, which was the 1st time something like that occurred in their 125-years of competition.   It must be getting close to Halloween, because that's scary as Hell.

Buckeye QB J.T. Barrett came out of the gate fast, completing the first 9 of his passes as Ohio State jumped out to a 14-0 1st quarter lead.  Rutgers scored to close the gap to 7, but OSU scored 6 unanswered touchdowns to blow the game open.  Barrett finished the game completing 19 of his 31 passes for 261 yards with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions.  Oh, and by the way--he was also the team's leading rusher, carrying the ball 7 times for 107 yards and 2 more scores.  OSU racked up 585 yards of total offense and forced 3 Rutgers' turnovers.  It's not going to be pretty.

Up Next: Nebraska (6-1)

Massachusetts(2-6)

Beat E Michigan (2-5), 36-14

Hey, don't look now, but UMass is on a 2-game win streak!

Running back Shadrach Abrokwah had 4 touchdowns and 135 yards on 24 carries to lead the Minutemen.  UMass scored the game's final 16 points to blow open a 6 point contest in the 2nd quarter.  Eastern Michigan was outgained 562 to 280 as QB Blake Frohnapfel completed 28 of 51 passes for 337 yards. 193 of those went to WR Tajae Sharpe, who hauled in 13 Frohnapfel passes.  UMass did give up 3 turnovers be were able to overcome the mistakes.

Up Next: Toledo (4-3)

Northwestern (3-4)

Lost to #19 Nebraska (6-1), 17-38

Welcome back 2014 Northwestern, we've missed you.  After 3 straight improbable wins, Northwestern has crashed back to earth, losing two straight to Minnesota and Nebraska.  This game started out close and NU even held the lead at halftime,17-14.  But Nebraska woke up in the second half, scoring 24 unanswered points and holding the Wildcats scoreless to run away with it.

Ameer Abdullah rushed 23 times for 146 yards and 4 touchdowns.  QB Tommy Armstrong Jr. threw for 221 yards and rushed for 55.  Nebraska outgained Northwestern 471 to 290 and held the Wildcats to just 117 yards on the ground.

Up Next: Bye