College Football Recap - Fargo's Week 3 Review

West Virginia scored touchdowns on its first four possessions to take a 28-0 lead and never looked back. The Mountaineers offense was able to get into the endzone only one other time as their other touchdown came on a kickoff return. West Virginia racked up 340 yards rushing on 43 carries (7.9 ypc) but only outgained Maryland by only 50 total yards. The Terrapins lost the turnover battle 5-1.

TOLEDO 37 Kansas 31

Toledo pulled off the win thanks to two turnovers by the Jayhawks in overtime. Kansas outgained the Rockets 391-237 but it committed five turnovers overall with the three in regulation all leading to Toledo touchdowns including an 84-yard interception return for a score. The Jayhawks defense was superb as Toledo had 12 drives of 15 yards or less while forcing punts in all of those possessions.

(1) OHIO STATE 37 Cincinnati 7

Ohio St. outgained the Bearcats 444-212 and scored the final 34 points of the game after trailing at the end of the first quarter. Cincinnati was credited with -4 yards rushing on 22 carries (-0.2 ypc) although 59 yards were lost on eight sacks. After driving 80 yards for their lone touchdown, the Bearcats did not have another drive longer than 38 yards the rest of the game.

Michigan State 38 PITTSBURGH 23

Pittsburgh jumped out to a 10-0 lead but the Spartans scored the next 38 points to pull away. Michigan St. tallied 533 yards of offense while the defense held the Panthers to 111 yards after the Pittsburgh scoring drives before allowing two garbage touchdowns late. The Spartans rushed for 335 yards on 48 carries (7.0 ypc) while holding Pittsburgh to 70 yards rushing.

(23) BOSTON COLLEGE 30 B-Y-U 23

Boston College won its second straight double overtime game thanks to an interception on the Cougars second overtime possession. Both teams had a chance in the first overtime session but both missed field goals. BYU outgained the Eagles 547-471 and won the time of possession battle but it committed 10 penalties which killed a few drives. Boston College missed two extra points.

(14) VIRGINIA TECH 36 Duke 0

The Hokies outgained Duke 418-139 as the offense crossed midfield on every possession. The Blue Devils did not cross midfield until late in the fourth quarter as they were forced to punt on their first eight possessions. Duke did control the game clock for eight more minutes despite running five less plays. The Hokies defense had eight sacks while forcing Duke to go 0-2 inside the redzone.

Wake Forest 24 CONNECTICUT 13

Connecticut outgained the Deacons 324-209 but the Huskies had three turnovers in Wake Forest territory. The Deacons returned an interception for a touchdown and also forced a fumble at the 28-yard line. The Huskies missed a 28-yard field goal and also turned the ball over on downs at their own 6-yard line that led to Wake Forest's last touchdown. Connecticut ran 25 more plays but went 2-4 inside the redzone.

Syracuse 31 ILLINOIS 21

Syracuse was able to score touchdowns twice on fumbles, one on offense and one on defense which was the ultimate difference. The Illini outgained Syracuse 398-369 but 179 of those yards came on their last two touchdowns when the game was already decided. Illinois didn't do itself any favors by committing 12 penalties for 106 yards and got into the redzone only once.

(16) IOWA 27 Iowa State 17

Iowa fell behind 14-3 but the defense picked things up by allowing the Cyclones just 130 total yards in the second half. Iowa St. crossed midfield only once in the second half and turning the ball over on downs at its own 48-yard line late in the fourth quarter set up a field goal that put the game away. Both teams were perfect inside the redzone and both finished 6-13 on third down conversions.

Arkansas 21 VANDERBILT 19

Vanderbilt scored the possible game tying touchdown early in the fourth quarter but the two-point conversion pass attempt was intercepted. The Commodores got two more chances but on their final drive, they missed a 48-yard field goal with less than a minute left. All three touchdowns by both teams were at least 67 yards each. Vanderbilt rushed for 240 yards on 37 carries (6.5 ypc).

KANSAS STATE 23 Marshall 7

Kansas St. outgained the Herd 355-142 and held Marshall to just eight first downs and two of those came by way of penalty. Marshall's only touchdown was on a blocked punt return which tied the game at seven but the offense generated nine yards or less in six of its final seven drives. The Wildcats finished 8-15 on third down conversions but they were hurt by 14 penalties for 116 yards.

(10) GEORGIA 34 U-A-B 0

Georgia mustered only 271 total yards but scored a touchdown on a blocked punt return and took advantage of a Blazers fumble to set up its final touchdown. UAB could not move the ball closer than the Bulldogs 36-yard line as it was forced to punt on its first six possessions. The Blazers finished with just 163 total yards including 68 yards rushing on 37 carries (1.8 ypc).

PURDUE 38 Ball State 28

Purdue outgained the Cardinals 533-352 including 416 yards through the air. The score should have been a lot worse but the Boilermakers committed two turnovers inside the redzone while Ball St. scored two late touchdowns when the game was already out of reach. The Cardinals scored 14 points off turnovers was limited to just 61 yards rushing on 29 carries (2.1 ypc).

CENTRAL MICH 24 Akron 21

The Chippewas were outgained 436-291 but Akron was hurt by three interceptions, two of which occurred inside the Central Michigan 18-yard line. The third was returned by the Chippewas for a 100-yard touchdown. The early mistakes turned into a 21-0 deficit and the Zips couldn't recover. Akron finished a horrendous 3-7 inside the redzone, including missing a field goal and turning it over on downs at the one-yard line.

GEORGIA TECH 35 Troy 20

Georgia Tech outgained the Trojans 500-283 but the game was still in question in the fourth quarter. With the score tied at 14 apiece, the Yellow Jackets scored three straight touchdowns, two of which were set up by interceptions. Georgia Tech finished with 320 yards rushing on 41 carries (7.8 ypc) while the defense held Troy to seven drives of three plays or fewer.

MINNESOTA 62 Temple 0

?This game was over before it started as the Gophers scored four first quarter touchdowns and then cruised the rest of the way. Despite the 62 points, Minnesota generated only 448 yards of offense but its first two scores were set up by Temple turnovers. The Owls crossed midfield only once and that resulted in a missed 36-yard field goal. Temple finished with only 157 total yards and seven first downs.

NORTHWESTERN 14 Eastern Michigan 6

?The Wildcats offense struggled for a second straight week as they had just 266 total yards but it was the defense that came up strong. Northwestern held the Eagles to 134 total yards including a mere 47 yards through the air. Eastern Michigan had only five first downs yet it was in position to possibly tie the game but it was intercepted at the Wildcats 32-yard line. The Eagles longest drive was 19 yards.

Kent State 16 MIAMI-OHIO 14

Kent St. outgained the RedHawks 386-297 and jumped out to a 16-0 lead before holding off a Miami rally. The RedHawks scored their first touchdown off an interception and then drove 80 yards for the possible game tying score but missed the two-point conversion. The Golden Flashes were just 3-5 inside the redzone as a missed field goal and a fumble at the Miami eight-yard line took away two scoring chances.

South Florida 24 U-C-F 17

Central Florida tied the game at 17 apiece midway through the fourth quarter on a blocked punt return but the Bulls then drove 90 yards for the game winning score. The Golden Knights then made it down to the South Florida 15-yard line but turned the ball over on downs in the final seconds. The Bulls finished with 333 yards passing on 10.4 yards per attempt but rushed for just 2.6 ypc.

(18) OREGON 34 (15) Oklahoma 33

In the most controversial game of the weekend, the Ducks rallied from a 13-point deficit to pull off the improbable win. After pulling to within six points with 1:12 remaining, Oregon recovered the onside kick, which should not have counted and then scored the game winner two plays later. A long kickoff return put Oklahoma in position to win but its field goal was blocked. Oregon outgained the Sooners 501-381.

(3) AUBURN 7 (6) L-S-U 3

?LSU outgained the Tigers 311-182 and crossed midfield seven times but managed only one field goal. The Tigers had their best drive of the day in the final minute of the game but a completion down to the Auburn four-yard line was as far as it could get as time expired. LSU rushed only for 42 yards on 23 carries (1.8 ypc) while Auburn managed just 72 yards on 38 carries (1.9 ypc).

(12) LOUISVILLE 31 (17) Miami-Florida 7

Miami scored on its opening possession but then Louisville ran off the final 31 points to pull out the blowout win. The Cardinals outgained Miami by only 47 total yards but the Hurricanes missed two early field goals and also fumbled at the Louisville eight-yard line on its second possession. Miami crossed midfield only once in the second half while the Cardinals were in Hurricanes territory on every second half possession.

Western Michigan 17 VIRGINIA 10

?Virginia actually outgained the Broncos 258-179 but two Cavaliers interceptions led to Western Michigan touchdowns including one that was returned 34-yards for a score. Virginia moved into Broncos territory only once in the second half and that drive was halted on a missed field goal. The Cavaliers turned the ball over on downs close to midfield in their final drive. The Broncos had just 40 yards passing and nine first downs.

Boise State 17 WYOMING 10

Wyoming outgained the Broncos 251-246 but the difference ended up being a Boise St. interception that was returned 61 yards for a touchdown. After falling behind 17-3, Wyoming scored a touchdown and then was driving late in the game before an interception ended the drive. Boise St. gained only 96 total yards in its final seven possessions and finished just 2-12 on third down conversions.

WISCONSIN 14 San Diego St 0

Wisconsin held the Aztecs to just 115 total yards and seven first downs as the defense shined. The Badgers didn't score late until the third quarter and missed several scoring opportunities. Wisconsin turned the ball over on downs three times, once at the six-yard line, fumbled at the San Diego St. 21-yard line and also missed a field goal. They ended the game at the Aztecs 14-yard line thus finishing 1-4 inside the redzone.