College Football Scores 2014: Week 7 Results and Top Stars for Top 25 Teams
The Top-25 rankings didn't look quite as ridiculous during college football Saturday in Week 7 than they did in the previous week, with the vast majority of the numbered programs putting in solid performances and coming away with the all-important W.
Still, there were some notable results on the day.
No. 3 Mississippi State defeated No. 2 Auburn 38-23 behind excellent play from quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Josh Robinson. The Bulldogs are perhaps worthy of a top-overall ranking after Florida State put in a merely solid performance against Syracuse.
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No. 12 Oregon are back on track in the Pac-12 after defeating No. 18 UCLA by a score of 42-30 in a game that wasn't nearly as close as the final score implies.
No. 5 Baylor shocked everyone with a stunning fourth-quarter comeback victory to defeat No. 9 TCU. According to ESPN Stats & Info, the Bears had a 1.9 percent chance at one point in the final quarter:
No. 22 Georgia Tech looks set to for a quick exit from the Top 25 after losing to unranked Duke, while No. 13 Georgia manhandled No. 23 Missouri despite missing all-world running back and Heisman Trophy candidate Todd Gurley.
Here is a look at the results from the Top 25 teams in play on Saturday, followed by some of the top performers.
| No. 1 Florida State | 38-20 | Syracuse |
| No. 3 Mississippi State | 38-23 | No. 2 Auburn |
| No. 5 Baylor | 61-58 | No. 9 TCU |
| No. 6 Notre Dame | 50-43 | UNC |
| No. 7 Alabama | 14-13 | Arkansas |
| No. 8 Michigan State | 45-31 | Purdue |
| No. 11 Oklahoma | 31-26 | Texas |
| No. 12 Oregon | 42-30 | No. 18 UCLA |
| No. 13 Georgia | 34-0 | No. 23 Missouri |
| No. 16 Oklahoma State | 27-20 | Kansas |
| No. 19 East Carolina | 28-17 | South Florida |
| Duke | 31-25 | No. 22 Georgia Tech |
| No. 25 Stanford | 34-17* | Washington State |
Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor: 28-of-55, 510 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT
Bryce Petty carried his team to a stunning, come-from-behind victory over the TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday and vaulted himself back into the Heisman Trophy conversation. Hopefully the next time he puts up numbers close to 500 yards and six touchdowns, the Bears win by more than three points.
Petty was quick to discuss his team's play with ESPN Central Texas Radio's Craig Smoak after the game:
It wasn't a perfect performance from the Baylor star. He threw a costly interception that turned into a pick-six for TCU early in the fourth quarter. The error made the score 58-37 in favor of the Horned Frogs, and the Bears' postseason hopes looked to be in serious jeopardy.
Petty shook off his previous mistakes and got to work, tossing two touchdowns and leading his squad to 24 unanswered points and a miraculous victory. Petty was indeed erratic throughout the game, completing just over half of his passes, but six touchdowns and a famous win will ensure his name is on the tip of many college football fans' tongues on Monday morning when they assess the weekend that was.
Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State: 30-of-36, 317 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Jameis Winston does what he wants out on the gridiron. Syracuse had no answer for the Heisman-winning quarterback. He calmly and coolly carved up the Orange secondary. SportsCenter provided a look at Winston and his stat line from the afternoon:
Just when it looks like Winston isn't capable of putting up similar performances to his 2013 campaign, he comes out with a 300-yard performance and makes it look decidedly simple. ESPN Stats & Info pointed out that the Seminoles are still undefeated when Winston lines up under center:
Florida State didn't blow Syracuse out of the water, and they have yet to notch a signature win in the 2014 season, but with the rest of the college football elite falling off around them, it appears they will make good on their inside track at reaching the College Football Playoff.
Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State: 18-of-34, 246 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; 21 carries, 121 yards, 2 Rush TD
Dak Prescott didn't have the best day throwing the football, but he did plenty of damage on the ground and out-dueled Auburn's Nick Marshall on the way to another historic statement win for the Bulldogs.
ESPN Stats & Info pointed out he did his best work throwing the ball on third down, when his team needed his big arm the most:
In a testament to the young man's focus and commitment, he was quick to point out that he didn't play his best against the Tigers.
"It really doesn't mean much," Prescott said, per Patrick McGee of SunHerald.com. "I didn't play a great game at all. People can talk and say I played a great game, but to me it's one of my worst this season. It really doesn't mean much. I want to continue to make this team better and keep winning."
Yes, he's had better games in 2014, but there might not be a better win up to this point. Auburn was last season's miracle team in the SEC. Now, it's the Bulldogs' chance to make a surprise run at a national title.
Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon: 18 carries, 121 yards, 2 TD; Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA: 21 carries, 187 yards
Marcus Mariota had a fine game under center for the Ducks, but there needs to be some recognition for running backs in Week 7, and Royce Freeman put on a show against UCLA on Saturday. Freeman toted the pigskin 18 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns. He sliced and diced his way through the Bruins defense with relative ease on his way to becoming Oregon's first 100-yard rusher of the season.
The freshman from Imperial, California—probably in Oregon to escape the hot weather—could become a vital part of the Ducks' attack in the coming weeks, provided the offensive line holds up.
UCLA's Paul Perkins also turned in a fine performance in a losing effort, racking up over 200 all-purpose yards and serving as a constant offensive threat when there was little consistency to be found from the Bruins offense on the day. Defenses have had a tough time stopping him this season despite the fact that a porous offensive line has limited the impact of quarterback Brett Hundley.
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