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UCF (5-3)
Lost to UConn (2-6), 37-29
Damnit UCF, you had a 5 game win streak an you lose to 1-win UConn?!?! Ugggghhhh.
This game was back and fourth all the way; UConn scored 3 unanswered touchdowns in the 3rd and early 4th to turn a 21-17 deficit into a 37-21 lead, thanks in part to 4 interceptions by Knights QB Justin Holman. Everything started out peachy for UCF as UConn went 3 and out on their first 5 drives and were outgained 113 yards to 19, but the Huskies made a switch that changed the game. Deshon Foxx, who normally plays wide receiver, came in and ran the UConn option package and sparked the offense. Foxx ran for 102 yards including a 68 yard touchdown on his first drive to tie the game at 7. The UCF defense was a bit of a letdown, giving up 327 yards and 37 points to a team that had failed to score more than 21 all year.
Knights running back William Stanback rushed for 141 yards 2 touchdowns and averaged 5 yards a carry. Holman did throw for 284 yards and 2 touchdowns but the 4 picks are unforgivable.
Up Next: Tulsa (1-7)
Akron (4-4)
Bye
Up Next: Bowling Green (5-3)
BTPR (5-4)
Lost to Wisconsin (6-2), 37-0
Rutgers has had a string of three straight blow-out losses to Ohio State, Nebraska and now Wisconsin. This loss might be the most humiliating, as they were shut out for the first time in 147 games (since 2002 for the math deficient). Wisconsin held Rutgers to 139 yards of total offense and did what a Badger team does: grind a team to mush on the ground. Running backs Melvin Gordon and Corey Clement combined for 259 yards and 4 touchdowns. Rutgers had 8 first downs and the closest they came to scoring was on their final drive, which ended on the Wisconsin 26. Total domination.
Up Next: Bye
Massachusetts (2-7)
Bye.
Up Next: Ball State (3-5)
Northwestern (3-5)
Lost to Iowa (6-2), 48-7
Speaking of running games, it appears Iowa has found one! Akrum Wadley became the first Iowa running back to eclipse the 100-yard mark in 11 games. He (106) and and Mark Weisman (94) combined for 200 yards and 4 touchdowns as Iowa amassed 483 yards, with an almost-even 262 through the air and 221 on the ground. Northwestern's Trevor Siemian was anemic, throwing for only 68 yards as the Wildcats only managed 180 total yards. Iowa put this game to bed early scoring 24 points before the end of the 1st quarter. The lone bright spot for Northwestern was running back Justin Jackson who rushed for 96 yards and NU's only touchdown.
Up Next: Michigan (4-5)
Michigan (4-5)
Beat Indiana (3-5), 34-10
Brady Hoke's paper thin post season hopes are still on life support after a 24-point win over Indiana. Wolverine QB Devin Gardner played like his old self completing 22 passes for 220 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 pick. Running back Drake Johnson rushed for 122 yards and added 2 touchdowns of his own to outpace the struggling Hoosiers. Indiana has some serious quarterback issues as freshman Zander Diamont managed only 24 yards on 5 of 8 passing. Hoosier running back Tevin Coleman did manage 108 yards but it wasn't nearly enough as Michigan jumped out to a 17-0 Halftime lead.
Up Next: Northwestern (3-5)
#16 Ohio State (7-1)
Beat Illinois (4-5), 55-14
Ohio State wasn't looking ahead to the looming battle with Michigan State as they came out, handled business, and thrashed Illinois 55-14. Those 14 points are misleading; they came late in the game after OSU had a 48-point lead and a lot of subs in. Buckeye QB J.T. Barrett was efficient if not overly impressive throwing for 167 yards and two first half touchdowns. OSU gained 545 total yards, but that was mostly spread out through the team as no one player had any stats to write home about.