Winners and Losers from Week 3 of College Football
Even on a Saturday when we didn't see it coming, college football again reminded us how it never fails to be weird, unpredictable and wonderful as four ranked teams went down.
In the afternoon, East Carolina upset suddenly cinderella Virginia Tech, Bobby Petrino found out the ACC won't be a cake walk and the Head Ball Coach somehow put another one over on college football's early season darling Dawgs.
In prime time, USC's defense lost its teeth in Chestnut Hill and Rick Neuheisel's son led UCLA over Texas after the Bruins' Heisman trophy candidate Brett Hundley went down early.
Needless to say there was a ton of drama.
So let's get the conversation going. Which teams, players, coaches and/or moments were the best from Week 3? Which ones struggled?
Winner: Cincinnati Quarterback Gunner Kiel
1 of 15
It certainly looked like Cincinnati quarterback Gunner Kiel had enough "chest" to throw for six touchdown passes in the Bearcats' first game (!) of the 2014 season, a 58-34 win over Toledo. That number tied with former Bearcats quarterback Tony Pike for most in a single game in Cincinnati history.
Kiel's performance—25-of-37 for 418 yards—was as good a debut for a college quarterback this season as any, save for Kenny Hill's opener against South Carolina.
"He exceeded my expectations," coach Tommy Tuberville said via ESPN.com. "I didn't think he'd play that well."
It's been a long and interesting journey for Kiel. He originally verbally committed to Indiana...before flipping his commitment to LSU...before flipping his commitment again to Notre Dame...before transferring to Cincinnati.
It was good to see Kiel finally out on the field, showing that he could still live up to his 5-star status coming out of high school.
Loser: Close, but No Cigar
2 of 15
Poor UMass. Poor Georgia Southern. Football is a cruel, cruel sport. And while everyone likes a good underdog victory, neither the Minutemen nor the Eagles were able to come away with one.
UMass jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and exchanged scores with Vanderbilt, but eventually gave up 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. With just seconds remaining, UMass kicker Blake Lucas missed a 22-yard field goal that would have tied the game at 34.
(He did get a hug, however. Just not from the guy he was looking for.)
Georgia Southern, meanwhile, rallied from a 25-point deficit to take a 38-35 lead on Georgia Tech. But a 13-yard touchdown pass by the Yellow Jackets with 23 seconds left caused the heartbreak. Tech won 42-38.
If you're a fan of the Yellow Jackets or Commodores—especially the Commodores—you have to be happy just to get a win. Conversely, there has to be nothing but heartbreak in the opposing locker room. All that work and preparation, catching an opponent off guard, just to come up short at the end.
Loser: ACC Upsets
3 of 15
Even though Virginia Tech was coming off an impressive win over Ohio State on the road, the Hokies very much should have been on upset alert with East Carolina coming to town.
That alert proved to be accurate.
The Pirates got off to a fast 21-0 start but needed a touchdown sneak by quarterback Shane Carden with 16 seconds left to beat the Hokies 28-21. Either way, head coach Ruffin McNeill will take the win. For Virginia Tech, the momentum gained from the win against the Buckeyes was quickly squandered.
Additionally, Louisville couldn't overcome four turnovers in a 23-21 loss to Virginia. Head coach Bobby Petrino will undoubtedly have success with the Cardinals, but ball security has been an issue early in the season.
At the same time, we should admit that Virginia has something good going, despite the fact that the Cavaliers have been miserable under head coach Mike London. Specifically, Virginia's defense has played up to snuff. Saturday's win showed that perhaps the narrow Week 1 loss to UCLA wasn't some fluke.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Winner: West Virginia, the Best and Worst Team at the Same Time
4 of 15
Let's acknowledge, just for a minute, that West Virginia was historically awful on special teams in a 40-37 win over Maryland. Dana Holgorsen's team just as easily could have lost to the Terrapins because of it. Maybe it should have.
The Mountaineers blocked one punt for a safety but had a field goal blocked, a muffed punt return and allowed Maryland to return a punt for a touchdown. Also, this happened. And then un-happened.
So, naturally, Mountaineers kicker Josh Lambert hit a game-winning 47-yard field goal as time expired because irony has no prejudice. When asked after the game if he spoke to Lambert before the game-winning kick, Holgorsen replied, "I haven't talked to Josh Lambert since he got on campus." (H/t Allan Taylor, West Virginia Metro News.)
That's not even including the turnovers and missed opportunities in the red zone.
But two players deserves kudos: Mountaineers wide receiver Kevin White and quarterback Clint Trickett. White, the team's best deep threat, caught 13 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown. The senior has had at least 100 yards receiving in every game this year.
WVU quarterback Clint Trickett also had 511 yards passing and looks like a completely new quarterback now that:
- His throwing shoulder is healthy.
- He's had a year in Holgorsen's system.
West Virginia could be really good, or really awful. Sometimes it alternates by the play. But say this: The 'Eers are interesting.
Loser: The Big Ten (Again)
5 of 15
Look, sweeping conference narratives are overrated. That said, it's impossible to ignore how bad many Big Ten teams have performed in nonconference games over the past week. Saturday wasn't much better, if at all.
Illinois and Minnesota got housed by Washington and TCU, respectively. Indiana fell to a good Bowling Green team, but losing to MAC opponents is never a great look. Maryland lost a heartbreaker to West Virginia even though the Mountaineers played sloppy special teams. Iowa lost on a last-second field goal to Iowa State.
At least through the early games, Ohio State shutting out Kent State 66-0 was the league's best win. With Purdue's loss to Notre Dame, the Big Ten is 1-10 against so-called Power Five teams this season, according to ESPN.com's Brian Bennett.
Every game comes down to matchups and which teams have the advantage over the other. For instance, Michigan State held its own with Oregon in Week 2 through three quarters and actually ran more plays than the Ducks. The notion that the Spartans were worn out by Oregon's pace just doesn't add up.
Still, the knock on the Big Ten, fair or not, isn't going to go away until it wins some marquee nonconference games. It's unfortunate, because Michigan State, for example, may still be a playoff-contending team.
Winner: Washington Linebacker Shaq Thompson
6 of 15
Defensive players rarely get the attention they deserve, but Washington linebacker Shaq Thompson certainly had an afternoon to remember.
In a 44-19 win over Illinois, Thompson returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown and a fumble recovery 52 yards for a score—before the first half ended. In fact, Thompson had as many points (12) as Illinois did at the start of the third quarter. As Tom Fornelli of CBSSports.com tweeted, at one point, Thompson even had more total yards.
Illinois clearly has a long way to go, but Saturday was all effort from Thompson, who is one of the best defenders in the Pac-12. Heading into Week 3, Thompson was second on the team with 19 tackles.
Loser: Texas Tech's Rushing Defense
7 of 15
Heading into Saturday's game against Arkansas, Texas Tech's defense ranked No. 87 in the country in yards per rush (4.24). The Razorbacks, meanwhile, led the country with nearly 10 yards per rush.
The results of the collision were understandably disastrous and violent.
In a 49-28 rout, Arkansas rushed 68 times for 438 yards—an average of 6.4 yards per carry. Alex Collins ran for roughly half of those yards, and Jonathan Williams recorded four touchdowns on the ground. Hogs quarterback Brandon Allen attempted only 12 passes, and there's good reason to believe he didn't even need to attempt that many.
Tech's coaching staff tried to bolster the defensive front with some junior college transfers, but obviously problems still exist. While the Big 12 narrative includes references to quarterbacks and wide-open offenses, the fact is there are plenty of teams that can run the ball well.
And if Texas Tech can't stop the run, it'll continue to be in trouble all year. Not to mention the Red Raiders aren't playing smart. As Aaron Dickens of Red Raider Sports tweeted, Saturday was the 11th straight game in which Texas Tech lost the turnover battle.
Getting to a bowl game with that combination is going to be tough.
Winner: South Carolina
8 of 15
That’s why you play the game.
Georgia was understandably the favorite, albeit a slight favorite, heading into Saturday’s game based off how the Bulldogs played in Week 1 against Clemson. Had South Carolina lost to Georgia, it would have started the season 1-2 with both losses coming in SEC play.
That would’ve meant a steeper hill to climb to get back into the SEC East divisional race. Instead, the Gamecocks came away with a 38-35 win and a half-game lead over Georgia—and the tiebreaker should it need it.
"All you hear all week was how great they are and you kind of get tired of it," quarterback Dylan Thompson said (via Josh Kendall of The State).
There’s a lot of season left to be played, but South Carolina showed it wasn’t dead in the water and is capable of rebounding when things don’t start off the way they were projected to. Keep in mind South Carolina began the season ranked in the Top 10 in the Associated Press poll.
If nothing else, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has Georgia’s number, winning four out of the last five meetings against the Bulldogs.
Loser: Georgia
9 of 15
On paper, Georgia had an advantage over South Carolina. The Gamecocks were one of the worst defensive teams in the country, giving up five yards per carry and allowing opponents like Texas A&M and East Carolina to throw the ball all over the field.
And, in fact, Georgia ran the ball well for 217 yards on Saturday. Star running back Todd Gurley had 131 yards with a score and reversed field on one of the sweetest third-down runs of the season. But it wasn’t enough in a loss to the Gamecocks.
The Bulldogs weren’t able to stop South Carolina’s offense. There was no real push up front, no help in run defense and busted coverages in pass defense. Every time Georgia looked like it had an answer, South Carolina came right back with its own response. Twice in the second half, a Georgia touchdown was immediately followed by a South Carolina touchdown.
And, when the Bulldogs needed a stop more than ever, South Carolina was able to get one inch (or did it?) to ice the game.
It was a bad showing. Simple as that.
Winner: Alabama Quarterback Blake Sims
10 of 15
Yes, it was only against Southern Miss, but Alabama quarterback Blake Sims had yet another solid showing for the third straight weekend.
In a 52-12 rout, Sims was an efficient 12-of-17 for 168 yards and two scores. He added another 46 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
That's an important word for Sims: efficient. It's what he's been every single week, for the most part, and it's why he's taken a majority of the first-team snaps. As D.C. Reeves of TideSports.com tweets, Sims has been comparable to former Tide quarterback AJ McCarron through his first three games.
With an SEC game against Florida coming up next week, it wouldn't be surprising for Sims to be named the full-time starter by head coach Nick Saban.
Florida State transfer Jake Coker has been generally regarded as the superior talent in terms of physical attributes, but Sims makes the offense go and adds an extra dimension with his running ability. That's winning out right now.
Winner: UCLA Quarterback Jerry Neuheisel
11 of 15
The backup quarterback can be the most popular player on the team among the fanbase. Chances are, that’s not the case with UCLA and starter Brett Hundley. But with Hundley out with an elbow injury, backup Jerry Neuheisel was called upon to lead the Bruins.
And did he ever lead them.
The son of former UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel threw for 178 yards and a pair of scores in a gutty 20-17 win over Texas. Needing a touchdown, Neuheisel hit receiver Jordan Payton for a 33-yard score on a beautiful pump fake with three minutes left in the game.
Then, UCLA’s defense did the rest.
With the clock hitting zero, Bruins head coach Jim Mora led the team in lifting Neuheisel up on its shoulders. It was a great scene and a great moment for the backup quarterback. And, from afar, his dad was watching.
The extent of Hundley's injury, believed to be his elbow, remains to be seen. However, UCLA should feel pretty good about having Neuheisel behind center for as long as Hundley is out.
Loser: Texas
12 of 15
On the flip side, Texas very easily could have beat UCLA on Saturday. In fact, the Longhorns held a 17-13 lead on the Bruins with just five minutes left. With Brett Hundley out with an injury, this was as good a game as any for Texas to get a win.
Sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes led the Longhorns on a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive that was efficient yet showed a sense of urgency. On UCLA's next possession, the Longhorns recovered a fumble and things were swinging Texas' way.
Then it all fell apart, as ESPN.com's Max Olson tweeted.
Texas went three-and-out, unable to capitalize on the turnover. What's more is that Texas barely took time off the clock. A William Russ punt was returned 45 yards and the Bruins began their drive in Texas territory. One play later, Jerry Neuheisel hit Jordan Payton for the go-ahead touchdown.
It's been a tough start for Texas, which is 1-2 under first-year coach Charlie Strong. This program still has to dig deep to find ways to win with new offensive linemen and quarterback. It's something this team hasn't done well over the past few years. The 80-yard touchdown drive was an encouraging sign, but the Longhorns have to finish better.
Until they do, it's going to be a long season with the potential for more heartbreak.
Winner: Oklahoma Linebacker Eric Striker
13 of 15
Oklahoma did, in fact, handle Tennessee with relative ease, 34-10. Sooners quarterback Trevor Knight was a solid 20-of-33 for 308 yards and a score. It was Knight's second-career 300-yard game, and his first since the Sugar Bowl.
But the real story was how easily and often Oklahoma was able to get into Tennessee's backfield. One of the biggest mismatches was the Sooners' front seven vs. the Vols' offensive line. Perhaps no other player was more active than OU linebacker Eric Striker.
In all, Striker had six tackles, two of which went for a loss, and three quarterback hurries. But it felt like Striker was in the backfield every play getting pressure on Tennessee quarterback Justin Worley.
"He's like a Tasmanian devil out there running all over the place," said head coach Bob Stoops after the game. "He's so disruptive."
B/R's Matt Miller has Striker as a second-round selection in the 2015 NFL draft. At 6'0" and about 220 pounds, he's not a prototypical linebacker in terms of size, but he has incredible pass rushing and blitzing skills. Oklahoma has some disruptive players on its defense, and Striker is one of the best.
Loser: USC
14 of 15
"Never" is a dirty word this early in the season, but USC's playoff hopes took a major blow on Saturday in a 37-31 upset loss to Boston College.
The Trojans had just cracked the Top 10 in both the Associated Press and USA Today coaches polls following a 13-10 win over Stanford, but they were unable to stop Eagles quarterback Tyler Murphy, who accounted for 191 yards rushing.
Sixty-six of those yards came on what would ultimately be the knockout touchdown run with 3:30 remaining.
The Trojans, meanwhile had just 20 rushing yards on 29 attempts.
Blame the long travel, blame poor discipline on defense, blame what you will—USC just wasn't sharp.
This may turn out to be a game USC would win nine times out of 10, but all the same, head coach Steve Sarkisian can't let things spiral out of control. USC has a tough three-game stretch with Oregon State, Arizona State and Arizona coming up.
The loss doesn't affect the Trojans' Pac-12 hopes, but this is a tough loss to swallow.
Winner: Florida Wide Receiver Demarcus Robinson
15 of 15
Well, it wasn't pretty for Florida. Then again, few things have been over the past year for Florida.
All the same, the Gators got a tough 36-30 triple-overtime win over Kentucky. The seat on which head coach Will Muschamp sits remains warm-ish, but things could have been disastrous with a loss.
Anything but disastrous was Florida wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, who hauled in 15 catches for 216 yards and a pair of scores. One of those scores was a crucial touchdown in the first overtime.
To put those numbers into context, no other receiver caught more than two passes. He was basically a one-man show.
Florida desperately needed the wide receiver group to step up in a big way this season. That goal is still a work in progress, but Robinson has been doing his part with 21 catches for 339 yards through two games. Again, to put that in context, Florida's leading receiver last year was Solomon Patton, who had 44 grabs for 556 yards.
The wide receiver group will have more opportunities to get better, but Robinson is the early leader on the outside.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
