No. 21 USC at No. 23 Illinois
In Week-4 Illinois went into their game against No. 19 Indian ranked No. 9 and got embarrassed and blown-out on the road 63-10. They came back home determined to get back on track against USC and as it turned out they’d get some help along the way. The Trojans would get the ball first but would fumble the ball back to the Fighting Illini 10 plays into their drive which they would turn into a TD five minutes later to go up 7-0. USC would tie it up on their next possession, a 9 play 75 yard drive and 1 yard TD run by Junior RB Waymond Jordan. Illinois would take the lead back at the beginning of the 2nd Qtr on a 3 yard TD pass from Senior WR Hank Beatty to Senior QB Luke Altmyer at the end of an 8 play 75 yard drive to go up 14-7. The Trojans next possession was an absolute back breaker as a 75 yard TD pass from Junior QB Jayden Maiava to Junior WR Makai Lemon would be called back due to an ineligible player downfield. Illinois would fumble on their next possession leading to a USC field goal. But instead of being up 17-14 had that TD not been called back they still trailed 14-10 at the end of the half.
Illinois would open up the 2nd half with a field goal to make it 17-10. Five plays later Washington’s Maiava would throw his first interception of the year but the Trojans would hold the Fighting Illini to a three-and-out to get the ball right back. However, the Illinois defense would match USC’s with a three-and-out and then just two plays later would find themselves in the end zone on a 64 yard TD pass from Altmyer to Junior RB Kaden Feagin to make it 24-10. The Trojans would close once again to within one possession on a 12 play 82 yard drive including a 2 yard run into the end zone by Junior RB Waymond Jordan to trail 24-17 at the end of three. But it only took a little over two minutes for the Fighting Illini and their QB Luke Altmyer to find their way back into the end zone on a 25 yard TD pass to Junior WR Justin Bowick to expand that lead by seven 31-17. And then what seemed like it would never happen in this game happened. Aided by an Illinois fumble in between the Trojans would score on back-to-back TD’s—both on TD passes from Maiava to Makai Lemon—plus a successful 2-point conversion to finally take the lead in this game for the very first time, 32-31, with less than two minutes left to play. But the time left, aided by a USC pass interference penalty, would be enough to get Illinois down the field just outside the USC red zone and have their Junior Place Kicker David Olano kick a 41 yard field goal to win the game 34-32 with time expiring.
For the Trojans, Junior QB Jayden Maiava was 30-of-43 for 364 yards, 2 TD’s—both to Junior WR Makai Lemon—and 1 interception. Junior RB Waymond Jordan led the way on the ground rushing 20 times for 94 of the team’s 126 yard total as well as both TD’s. For Illinois, Senior QB Luke Altmyer was 20-of-26 for 328 yards, 2 TD’s, and no interceptions while also rushing 5 times for 28 yards and another score. Collectively the team rushed 35 times for 171 yards. USC led in first downs, 29-25; trailed by just 12 in total yards of offense, 490-502; converted their 3rd downs 57% of the time and their five 4th down attempts 80% of the time; five minutes more time-of-possession and 8 penalties for 69 yards. The Trojans will head back home and have two weeks to prepare to host No. 19 Michigan at the Coliseum on Saturday, October 11th.
No. 1 Ohio State at Washington
It wasn’t as big a crowd as the one that attended the game in Happy Valley but the 72,485 fans that came to see Washington host No. 1 Ohio State was the largest crowd in Husky Stadium since a 2010 game against Nebraska. With more than 100 boats sail-gaiting in adjacent Lake Washington and local hero and baseball MVP candidate Cal Raleigh there to kick off the game pronouncing Husky Stadium as “the greatest setting in all of college football” the stage was set for what the Dawg Pack in the student section and the local fans fantasized would be a national upset. But missing two starters on the offensive line and losing a third during the game combined with a suffocating Ohio State defense in the red zone would combine to make it a disappointing but understandable loss against the number one team in the country. Washington has a ways to go and I expect we’ll be able to recruit what we need to be even better next year. That said, I thought our Sophomore QB, Demond Williams Jr. did a pretty good job considering the number of folks missing that are normally there to protect him and create running room for our Senior RB Jonah Coleman who struggled but still rushed for 70 yards on 13 carries—a 5.4 yard per attempt average.
Neither team did anything the first quarter as both defenses were pretty dug in. But Washington worked their way down deep into the Ohio State red zone to start the 2nd Qtr but could not punch it in—a scenario that would repeat—and had to settle for a Grady Gross 28 yard field goal to go up 3-0. Ohio State finally got on the board at the end of their last possession of the first half, a 10 play 73 yard drive and 18 yard TD pass from Sophomore QB Julian Sayin to Sophomore WR Jeremiah Smith to make is a 7-3 ball game at the break.
The 3rd Qtr would amount to the same, only in reverse. On their first possession of the period Ohio State would take it downfield and score on a 1 yard TD run by their Senior RB CJ Donaldson to go up 14-3. The drive contained the most controversial call of the game. The Buckeyes were behind the eight ball a bit and sitting 2nd and 20 at the Washington 33 yard line when 6’ 4” 280lb Senior DL Ta’Ita’I was called for roughing the passer—a penalty that the announcers and the play call expert said was clearly incorrect. But it was called nevertheless and instead of sitting third and long at the 33, Ohio State found themselves 1st and 10 at the Husky 18 yard line. Three plays later Donaldson would be in the end zone. Eight plays later Washington would find itself in the same position they were in during the 2nd Qtr—deep in the Ohio State red zone and unable to punch it in—settling once again for another Grady Gross 28 yard field goal to make it 14-6, still only a one possession game going into the 4th Qtr.
However, the Buckeyes would add three more points on the board to start the 4th Qtr at the end of an 11 play, 59 yard drive and 34 yard field goal by their Senior Place Kicker Jayden Fielding to make it a two possession difference at 17-6. There was under ten minutes left to play when Washington’s next possession got stalled at mid-field and they went for it sitting 4th and 2 at the OSU 47 yard line. But instead of making it like they had on their previous 4th down attempt, their Sophomore QB Devon Williams was sacked for the sixth time. Working with a short field, Ohio State would find themselves back in the end zone just eight plays later on a TD pass from Sophomore QB Julian Sayin to Senior RB CJ Donaldson to go up 24-6. With less than five minutes to play that turned out to be the final score.
For the Huskies, Demond Williams Jr., in spite of those six sacks, still connected on 80% of his passing attempts for 173 yards without an interception but also without ever finding the end zone. With Williams under constant pressure he also lost 28 yards while being sacked or when he held onto the ball, unable to find an open receiver, and becoming one of their nine tackles for loss. As a result, collectively the team rushed 30 times for just 61 total yards—also without ever hitting pay dirt. Ohio State’s Sophomore QB Julian Sayin hit near 80% of his throws as well with a lot better result for 208 yards, 2 TD’s and no interceptions. On the ground they rushed 34 times for 148 yards and the one TD by Donaldson. Ohio State had really solid stats in comparison—led in first downs, 23-15; total yards of offense, 357-234; gained an average of 4.4 yards per rush compared to just 2; and were really effective on 3rd and 4th down at 60% and 50% respectively compared to 10% and 33% for the Huskies. Washington will have to just forget this one and move on as they hit the road to take on an undefeated Maryland this coming Saturday. The Buckeyes head home to host Minnesota who lost to Cal in Week-3.
No. 6 Oregon at No. 3 Penn State
Happy Valley is a region in Pennsylvania that contains the borough of State College—home to Penn State University—and five townships. The entire population of the State College borough amounts to around 42,000 people. The university itself maintains a fairly steady enrollment of around 40,000 students. That said, officials announced during the second half that 111,015 were inside Beaver Stadium to witness the Penn State White Out game against Oregon. You can do the math—basically everybody and then some were witness to this game. Hopefully you all got to see at least the start of this one and the amazing atmosphere that is a “White Out” game on the campus of Penn State—an event that is considered by many to be the most incredible spectacle in all of college sports. That said, I wouldn’t want to be UCLA this coming Saturday as Penn State travels to the Rose Bowl to take on the Bruins after this crushing double overtime 30-24 loss to Oregon at home.
In a contest that was a rematch of last year’s Big Ten Conference Championship the results were the same and Oregon still hasn’t lost a game in the regular season since joining the Big Ten. This was a match that featured suffocating defenses on both sides of the ball for long periods. Going into the half Penn State had run for less than 20 yards on the ground and sitting on their own 49 yard line with less than two minutes to play in the 2nd Qtr the Oregon pass defense and secondary held the prolific Penn State Senior QB Drew Allar to four consecutive incompletions. It was equally as stark on the other side with Oregon not even getting a chance to score until after the Nittany Lions took a 3-0 lead on a 49 yard field goal by their Sophomore Place Kicker Ryan Barker on their first possession of the 2nd Qtr but then missed their own 47 yard attempt less than four minutes later. After holding Penn State to a three-and-out on their next possession they would finally at least tie the game up at three a piece on a 42 yard Atticus Sappington field goal. The half would end the way the half started with a possession each without any change to the scoreboard.
The third quarter would start and finish the same way for Penn State, a punt after a six play 30 yard drive and then a three-and-out on either side of an Oregon 10 play 80 yard drive and 8 yard TD pass to Freshman RB Dierre Hill Jr. from Sophomore QB Dante Moore to go up 10-3 at the end of three. After that all hell broke loose and while just 13 points were scored the first three quarters of this game, 41 points were scored afterwards. Even though Oregon would open the 4th Qtr with an 8 yard TD run by their Freshman RB Jordon Davison at the end of a 10 play 75 yard drive to go up 17-3, the Nittany Lions would score on back-to-back TD’s pass from Drew Allar to Senior WR Devonte Ross to tie the score while holding the Ducks scoreless on their next possession to send the game into overtime.
Penn State would score first in overtime on a 4 yard TD run by Senior RB Kaytron Allen to make it 24-17 but the Ducks would follow suit on a Dante Moore TD pass to Sophomore TE Jamari Johnson. Oregon led off the second overtime with another TD pass from Moore, this one for 25 yards to Senior WR Gary Bryant Jr but would fail on their 2-point conversion attempt—now up 30-24. But in what must have felt like a nightmare revisited for Drew Allar, Oregon’s Junior Defensive Back Dillon Thieneman intercepted Allar on the first play of their possession to end the game. Penn State’s season last year ended after an Allar interception against Notre Dame in the CFP semi-final and then there was another interception in the Big Ten championship game loss against the same Oregon Ducks. Yeah, it’s probably feeling like a big monkey on his back at this point but I can’t help remembering that Oregon beat Ohio State early last season and then also lost to them in the CFP semi-final. So, there’s a lot of football left to play.
Penn State finally got that running game going late in this one and collectively rushed for 139 yards on 35 attempts with Senior RB Katron Allen picking up their sole TD on the ground. Senior QB Drew Allar threw for 14-of-25 for 137 yards, 2 TD’s—both to Senior WR Devote Ross—and 1 interception while also rushing 9 times for 42 more yards. For Oregon, Sophomore QB Dante Moore connected on over 70+% of his passing attempts multiple times to seven different receivers for 248 yards, 3 TD’s—one each to a WR, RB and TE—and no interceptions while also rushing 10 times for 35 more yards. On the ground the Ducks collectively rushed 39 times for 176 yards with Freshman RB Dierre Hill Jr. picking up almost half of those and Freshman RB Jordan Davison the only TD.
Oregon led the way in first downs, 20-15; total yards of offense, 424-276; had the ball for seven more minutes and committed no turnovers. Penn State was slightly better at converting their third downs and were a perfect 3-for-3 on their 4th down attempts compared to 70% for the Ducks. Oregon recorded 2 sacks to none for Penn State and 5 tackles for loss to just 1 for the Nittany Lions. Oregon will get the week off before hosting Indiana in a game that will break the current tie at the top of the Big Ten Conference standings.
UCLA at Northwestern
UCLA was within three points late, but couldn’t pull out a win for their new interim head coach Tim Skipper after the firing of DeShaun Foster, losing 17-14 at Northwestern. According to Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Ben Bolch; “The Bruins are officially on 0-12 watch after completing what was supposed to be the soft part of their schedule.” It’s hard not to agree with him as they are hosting No. 3 Penn State this coming Saturday and have No. 11 Indiana and No. 1 Ohio State on the road and then meet USC in the Coliseum to end the season with Michigan State, Maryland, Nebraska, and Washington in between. Besides the slow start, Bolch has determined they have: “an offense that can’t run the ball or consistently sustain drives and a defense that can’t stop the run or prevent big plays.”
You know, coaching matters and there are so many examples. Defensive Coordinator D’Anton Lynn made a huge difference in the short time he was at UCLA. Lots of folks were disappointed in Chip Kelly but I thought he did a great job. His Blur Offense at Oregon was way ahead of its time and UCLA finished the 2022 season 4th most in total offense nationally under Kelly. By his third full year at Westwood Chip’s Bruins were 8-4, upset No. 16 LSU, lost to No. 10 Oregon by just three points, and destroyed USC 62-33. I bet the Chip Kelly detractors wouldn’t mind having those days back about now. Look at all the success Chris Peterson had at Boise State where he finished ranked in the Top-10 nationally six years and Top-20 eight years with his predominantly three star recruits against the premiere college programs with predominantly four and five star players. Jonathan Smith took a 1-11 program at Oregon State and by his full third year they were 10-3 and ranked 14th nationally. Not sure where I’m going with this other than it’s possible to compete and have a very successful college football program with the right coaching staff. Just this past week an unranked Virginia from the ACC knocked off No. 8 Florida State and an unranked Arizona State defeated No. 24 TCU.
In this one UCLA was down two TD’s and a field goal before they were able to get any points on the board—a 28 yard field goal by their Junior Place Kicker Mateen Bhaghani late in the 2nd Qtr to go in at the half down 17-3. They would hold the Wildcats scoreless after the break but couldn’t connect on more than a field goal in the 3rd Qtr to still be down 17-6 after three. Northwestern would miss on their field goal attempt to start the 4th Qtr with the Bruins tightening the score to 17-14 on a 29 yard TD pass from Sophomore QB Nico Iamaleava to Sophomore WR Kwazi Gilmer. But after forcing the Wildcats to punt on their next possession UCLA and Northwestern would both be held to three-and-outs leaving the ball in the hands of the Bruins with less than two minutes to play. But a 4 yard run, a recovered fumble, an incomplete pass, a sack, and a UCLA penalty still left them 3rd and 22 at their own 21 yard line where an 11 yard pass completion would end it.
For UCLA, Sophomore QB Nico Iamaleava connected on 19-of-27 for 180 yards, 1 TD to Sophomore WR Kwazi Gilmer, and no interceptions while also leading the Bruins in their running game with 65 yards on 14 attempts. Collectively on the ground UCLA picked up 131 yards on 29 rushing attempts for a 4.5 yards per carry average. For Northwestern, their Senior QB Preston Stone was 12-of-18 for 115 yards, 1 TD, and no interceptions. Sophomore RB Caleb Komolafe spear headed their ground game rushing 27 times for 119 of the team’s 199 total yards and only TD. UCLA heads back home to host the Nittany Lions this coming Saturday which is going to be a lot more painful than this one.