College Football Scores 2016: Top 25 Teams' Week 7 Results, Key Stats and Stars
The Clemson Tigers (7-0) have not played their best football through the first part of the season, but they still came into Saturday's home game against North Carolina State (4-2) as the third-ranked team in the nation and with high hopes of competing in the College Football Playoff at the season's conclusion.
The Tigers still hold onto those hopes, but they needed a big dose of luck to survive the Wolfpack. Clemson picked up a 24-17 overtime win, with quarterback Deshaun Watson connecting with Artavis Scott on the go-ahead touchdown and Marcus Edmond cementing it with an interception in the end zone on the ensuing possession.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
| Clemson (3) | 24-17 (OT) | North Carolina State | Clemson: 10-of-17 on third-down attempts. |
| Oklahoma (19) | 38-17 | Kansas State | Oklahoma: 372-225 edge in passing yards. |
| West Virginia (20) | 48-17 | Texas Tech | West Virginia: 332 rushing yards and 318 passing yards. |
| Alabama (1) | 49-10 | Tennessee (9) | Alabama: 594-163 edge in total yards. |
| Western Michigan (24) | 41-0 | Akron | Western Michigan: RB Jarvion Franklin had 33 carries for 281 yards and one TD. |
| Baylor (11) | 49-7 | Kansas | Baylor: 246-83 edge in rushing yards. |
| Florida (18) | 40-14 | Missouri | Florida: 523-363 edge in total yards. |
| Florida State (14) | 17-6 | Wake Forest | Florida State: WR Travis Rudolph had 13 receptions for 238 yards. |
| Nebraska (10) | 27-22 | Indiana | Nebraska: Held Hoosiers to 88 rushing yards. |
| Syracuse | 31-17 | Virginia Tech (17) | Syracuse: QB Eric Dungey had 311 passing yards and 106 rushing yards. |
| North Carolina | 20-13 | Miami, Fla. (16) | North Carolina: WR Bug Howard had 10 receptions for 156 yards. |
| Utah (21) | 19-14 | Oregon State | Utah: RB Joe Williams had 34 carries for 179 yards and one TD. |
However, the game never would have gone to the extra session if North Carolina State kicker Kyle Bambard had connected on a 33-yard field-goal attempt as time expired. Bambard's attempt was wide right, and Tigers fans celebrated wildly.
Clemson was decisive on its possession in overtime and was able to score quickly. The North Carolina State possession ended when Edmond reached high over his head to pick off Ryan Finley's pass.
While the Tigers have the win and are still in a position to make a run at the national championship, they have turned the ball over nine times in their last two home games. That's a recipe for future disaster.
Head coach Dabo Swinney knows his team has to improve in that area. "Lord have mercy, we've got to learn how to hold onto the football," Swinney said after the game, per Sports Illustrated.
Stars of the Week
WR Mike Williams, Clemson
Williams is a great talent who has a chance to become a star at the next level. He showed off his talent in Clemson's narrow win over North Carolina State.
Williams caught 12 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown. While he did fumble once, he showed he was able to get open whenever Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson needed him to make a play.
Williams has the size at 6'3" and 225 pounds to dominate against average-sized cornerbacks. Once he gets a couple of receptions under his belt, he seems to have the killer instinct to catch even more passes and overwhelm opponents.
QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Sooners (4-2) may have gotten off to a slow start this season, but they are starting to heat up in October.
Mayfield is the trigger to the Oklahoma offense. He was on top of his game in the Sooners' 38-17 victory over Kansas State (3-3).
Mayfield completed 25 of 31 passes for 346 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Three of his scoring passes went to superstar wideout Dede Westbrook, who is a regular on this page. The last of those touchdowns was a spectacular 88-yard catch in the fourth quarter.
QB Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina
The North Carolina Tar Heels (5-2) had a difficult assignment in going on the road to face a resurgent Miami Hurricanes (5-2) team that was ranked 16th in the nation.
If the Tar Heels were going to bounce back from an ugly 34-3 home loss to Virginia Tech, they needed Trubisky to have a powerful game and control the Miami defense.
That's just what happened, as Trubisky completed 33 of 46 passes for 299 yards with two touchdowns. In addition to his sharp passing, he carried the ball 13 times for 47 yards.
Not only did Trubisky have a strong statistical game, but he also helped his team pick up an important 20-13 road win over a solid team.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
