Former Foes Week 12

UCF (6-3)

Beat Tulsa (2-6), 31-7

UCF moved into a three-way tie for first place in their conference with a demanding 31-7 victory over Tulsa.  The Knights jumped out to a 17-0 lead before Tulsa got on the board and lead 17-7 at halftime.  In the second half, UCF's defense put on the clamps and the offense scored two more touchdowns to complete a comfortable win.

Knights QB Justin Holman threw for 291 yards and 3 touchdowns, a career-high, with no interceptions.  WR Josh Reese was Homan's favorite target, catching 4 balls for 104 yards and 1 touchdown.  UCF compiled 506 yards of total offense, while holding Tulsa to only 201.

Up Next: SMU (0-9)

Akron (4-6)

Lost to Buffalo (4-6), 55-24

Buffalo jumped out to a 21-7 lead, and Akron was never able to get within double digits again.  The Bulls rushed for a season high 310 yards; Anthone Taylor lead the way with 178 and a touchdown. Fellow running back Jordan Johnson also eclipsed the 100-yard mark (104) and pitched in a touchdown. QB Joe Licata didn't throw much (193 yards) but he made the most of it tossing 4 touchdowns as Buffalo gained 536 total yards. Akron will have a chance to rebound tonight against one of PSU's other Former Foes in UMass.

Up Next: UMass (3-7) tonight

BTPR (6-4)

Beat Indiana (3-7), 45-23

What started out as a back and forth game with 3 lead changes in the first half turned into a rout quickly in the second half.  After an Indiana field goal to start the second, Rutgers scored 3 straight touchdowns to take a 31-16 lead.  Rutgers would go on to score 2 more touchdowns in the 4th to put the game away.

Gary Champagne-super Nova completed 16 of his 27 passes for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Indiana actually outgained Rutgers 473-429 (DEFENSE!) but their 3 turnovers and a botched fake punt made the difference.  Lost in all the noise was the magnificent game of Indiana running back Tevin Coleman who rushed 32 times for 307 yards and a touchdown.

Up Next: #12 Michigan State (8-2)

Massachusetts (3-7)

Beat Ball State (3-7), 24-10

You want Xbox numbers, I'll give them to you. Blake Frohnapfel threw for 424 yards... and those aren't the crazy numbers. UMass wide receiver Tajae Sharpe caught 13 balls for 239 yards, an 18.4 yards per catch average but didn't score 1 touchdown. UMass got 3 touchdowns--all on the ground.

UMass scored the game's first TD and never fell behind for the rest of the game.  Ball State did pull within 7 in the fourth quarter, but the Minutemen got a pick that set up an Elgin Long 7 yard touchdown run that sealed the game.

Up Next: Akron (4-6)

Northwestern (4-6)

Beat #13 Notre Dame (7-3), 43-40 OT

Wildcats kicker Jack Mitchell had a career-long kick of 29 yards coming into the game against (former) top-ten Notre Dame.  Mitchell proceeded to hit 4, including the tying 45-yarder with 19 seconds to go to send the game into overtime.  There he hit a 41-yarder, and Notre Dame missed their attempt and the upset was over.  It wasn't easy, though; Notre Dame scored to take a 40-29 lead with 10:34 to play and blocked Mitchell's field goal attempt on NU's next drive.  But Northwestern stuck with it, scored a touchdown with 4:10 left and drove far enough to set up Mitchell's heroics.

Northwestern, who had -9 yards rushing last week against Michigan, easily picked through the Irish defense, gaining 263 yards on the ground and 547 yards total.  Notre Dame has now given up 30 or more points in the last 5 games. NU QB Trevor Siemian was an efficient 30 of 48 passing with 284 yards 1 touchdown and 2 ints. Running back Justin Jackson lead the Wildcats with 23 carries for 149 yards and 1 touchdown.  Northwestern's slim postseason hopes rest on a hapless Purdue team before finishing off the year at home against the Fighting Beckmans.

Up Next: Purdue (3-7)

Michigan (5-5)

Bye.

Up Next: Maryland (6-4)

#8 Ohio State (9-1)

Beat #25 Minnesota (7-3), 31-24

J.T. Barrett gained more yards (200 passing, 189 rushing)  than Minnesota gained in total offense (303). The game was a game of offensive waves: OSU scored the first 2 touchdowns, and Minnesota answered to tie.  Ohio State scored 3 more times (1 FG, 2 TDs) before Minnesota finished the scoring with a late touchdown and field goal.  But Barrett was too much for Minnesota to handle, as he accounted for 4 touchdowns and overcame 3 Ohio State turnovers.

Minnesota had their chances in the second half but costly mistakes made the difference.  Kicker Ryan Santoso missed a game tying 52 yard field goal, and a Gophers' blown coverage assignment turned into a Buckeye 30-yard touchdown catch.  There was also an illegal formation penalty that negated a 1st down which forced an interception on 3rd and 6.  Minnesota may have broken into the rankings last week but they have some work to do to catch up to Ohio State.

Up Next: Indiana (3-7)

Maryland (6-4)

Lost to Michigan State (8-2), 37-15

Michigan State's defense reappeared after taking a week off against the Buckeyes.  Sparty had 3 interceptions, allowed only 6 yards rushing, and sacked Maryland quarterback C.J. Brown 3 times.  Maryland scored midway through the 2nd to close the gap to 2 (9-7), but Michigan State scored 3 unanswered touchdowns to put the game away.

The offensive star of the game was Sparty running back Jeremy Langford, who rushed 25 times for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns. Connor Cook did enough (240 yards, 0 TDs, 0 picks) to not lose the game, but it was Michigan State's defense that did the lion's share.

Up Next: Michigan (5-5)

Indiana (3-7)

Lost to Rutgers (6-4) 45-23

Up Next: #8 Ohio State (9-1)