Texas Tech at Utah
Utah didn’t score any points in the first quarter, both teams only managed a field goal in the second, and neither team scored in the third. But this was no borefest by any stretch and you might say that your best offense in this game was a great defense. For three quarters these two defenses were not only stellar but caused turnover-after-turnover, six in all—four fumbles and two interceptions and thirteen punts that kept you on the edge of your seat. But early in the fourth quarter Utah’s exhausted defense—who just couldn’t hold on any longer waiting for their offense to catch up and pass Texas Tech on the scoreboard—collapsed, and what was just a 13-10 deficit at the time erupted with back-to-back-to-back TD’s by the Red Raiders and a hard-fought 34-10 loss at home for the Utes and their sold-out Rice-Eccles Stadium crowd. Against a Texas Tech offense that refused to use a “silent count,” the loudest crowd in the Big-12 contributed to the Red Raider’s 14 penalties for 122 yards with seven of those being for false starts. But in the end, the team and the crowd were silenced.
I think I heard one commentator say that this game was between, “blue collar and big dollar,” referencing the difference in money spent between the two programs in acquiring players through the transfer portal. The college football staff of Sam Khal Jr., Antonio Morales and Manny Navarro reported it this way for The Athletic; “In college football, much like the NFL, the highest-paid players are typically the quarterbacks. But Saturday’s “Big Noon Kickoff” showdown between Big 12 contenders Texas Tech and Utah bucks that trend because of what the Red Raiders have invested at another premium position: the defensive line. Texas Tech paid a pretty penny — more than $5 million combined — to acquire its defensive line transfers, which will be tasked with corralling Utah quarterback Devon Dampier, one of the season’s top transfer success stories. As part of Texas Tech’s ‘open checkbook’ offseason, in which the Red Raiders spent more than $12 million on 21 transfers as part of a roughly $25 million roster budget, many of the portal dollars were spent on the guys who get after opposing quarterbacks.”
Regarding Utah’s Junior QB Devon Dampier, it was a tough day. In the three previous games Dampier was completing 75% of his passes while averaging over 200 yards, 2+ TD’s, and no interceptions. Against the Red Raiders he completed 25-of-38 for 162 yards, no TD’s, and 2 interceptions. After averaging 290 yards and over 3 rushing TD’s per game, the Utah ground game was held to 101 yards and a sole TD early in the 4th Qtr that got them to within three points and what the Utah fans in Rice-Eccles were sure was the turning point in what would be a signature win for a resurgent team after last year’s rare failure. But it wasn’t to be. Instead, the Red Raider defense would hold the Utes to a three-and-out on their next possession and an interception on the one after that while the Texas Tech offense would score three TD’s in a little over six minutes—each one a dagger in the heart of Rice-Eccles crowd.
For the Red Raiders, their starting QB Behren Morton didn’t fair any better than Dampier against the Utah defense. He completed 12-of-19 for 142 yards, no TD’s, and was picked off twice as well. Unfortunately he was also injured and had to leave the game early in the third quarter in place of Freshman backup QB Will Hammond. It actually turned out to be more unfortunate for the Utes and just fine for Texas Tech as Hammond took the rest of the third quarter to warm up before leading the team to four consecutive scores—a field goal and back-to-back-to-back TD’s—in the 4th Qtr to completely blow the game open. Hammond ended up completing over 80% of his passes for 169 yards, 2 TD’s and no interceptions while also rushing 8 times for 61 of the team’s 173 yard total. On the ground Sophomore RB Cameron Dickey led the way with 13 caries for 67 yards and both Red Raider rushing TD’s. After watching Texas Tech’s defense I think they have to be the favorite going forward to take the Big-12. But don’t count Utah out as they’ll take their frustration on the road to West Virginia this coming Saturday.
Arizona State at Baylor
This one was close from the get-go and all game long. Arizona State scored first on a 31 yard field goal by Senior Place Kicker Jesus Gomez after Baylor fumbled just three plays into their first possession. But the Bears would tie it up at 3-3 on a Connor Hawkins 53 yard field goal of their own at the end of a 51 yard 11 play drive. The second quarter was very much like the first. No fumble by the Bears but they did have to turn it over after failing on a 4th down conversion attempt with just 2 yards to go from the ASU 17 yard line. Thirteen plays and 83 yards later the Sun Devils would score first in the 2nd Qtr—this time on a 1 yard TD run by their Sophomore QB Sam Leavitt to go up 10-3. But Baylor, aided by two pass interference penalties on Arizona State, would come right back on their very next possession to tie it up at 10-10 on an 8 yard TD pass by Senior QB Sawyer Robinson to Senior WR Kole Wilson. With both teams punting on their next possessions the score would stay tied up at the break.
After punting on their first possession of the 3rd Qtr Arizona State would draw first blood after a Baylor fumble on another Jesus Gomez field goal—this one from 21 yards out to go up 13-10. And then again—this time after intercepting Baylor at the end of the quarter which led to a 33 yard field goal putting the Sun Devils up 16-10 to start the 4th. But the Bears came right back to take the lead at the end of a 10 play 75 yard drive and TD pass from Senior QB Sawyer Robinson to TE Michael Trigg to make it 17-16. 84 yards and 7 plays later Arizona State would be back on top with a 19 yard TD pass from Sam Leavitt to Jordyn Tyson, making it 24-17 after a successful two-point conversion. But after all the miscues in quarters one through three there would be a score every possession in the fourth, so Baylor marched 64 yards right back down the field in 8 plays to tie it up at 24 a piece on another TD pass from Robinson to Michael Trigg 33 with under two minutes left to play. But that was plenty of time, aided by a 15 yard personal foul penalty, for Arizona State to make it down the field and have Jesus Gomez kick his fourth field goal of the day—this one from 43 yards out with time expiring—to win the game 27-24.
Wyoming at Colorado
Starting the season with a record of 1-2, Wyoming was just what Colorado needed to right the ship. After a first quarter in which neither side could muster any meaningful offense the Buffaloes went on a scoring tear with back-to-back-to-back TD’s—including two TD passes of 29 and 68 yards from Senior QB Kaiden Salter to Junior WR Omarion Miller and Senior WR Sincere Brown—while holding the Cowboys to a field goal to go into the locker room at the half ahead 21-3.
Getting the ball first after the break, Colorado would add to that lead to go up 28-3 on another Kaiden Salter TD pass—this one for 47 yards to Sophomore WR Joseph Williams. The Cowboys would finally join the scoring party on their next possession—a quick 4 play 75 yard drive and 41 yard TD pass from Sophomore QB Kaden Anderson to Junior WR Eric Richardson making it 28-10. After holding the Buffaloes to a three-and-out on their next possession the Cowboys would close the gap a little further on a 38 yard field goal by their Sophomore Place Kicker Erik Sandvik to make it 28-13. Colorado would fumble and turn the ball back over on the fifth play of their next drive at the Wyoming 45 yard line and would miss a field goal on their possession after that. But in between would add two points to the scoreboard after sacking Kaden Anderson in the end zone to go up 30-13. Thirteen plays and 80 yards later the Cowboy would be back in the end zone on another TD pass from Anderson, this one to Chris Dunn Jr. to make it just a two possession gap at 30-20. But the Buffaloes weren’t about to give this game away and came right back down the field in a little under three minutes and put up seven more points on a 35 yard Kaiden Salter TD run with under two minutes remaining giving us the final score of 37-20.
For the Buffaloes, Senior QB Kaidon Salter connected on 18-of-28 for 304 yards, 3 TD’s, and no interceptions while also the team’s leading rusher with 86 yards and a TD on 11 attempts—a 7.8 yards-per-carry average. On the ground, in total the team rushed 31 times for 193 yards and 2 TD’s, the one by Salter and another by Senior RB Simeon Price. For the Cowboys, Sophomore QB Kaden Anderson was 11-of-25 for 2 TD’s—1 each to Sophomore WR Chris Durr Jr. and the other to Junior Eric Richardson—without a pick. On the ground, Wyoming Freshman RB Samuel Harris led the way with 126 of the team’s 165 rushing yards on 41 carries without ever making it into the end zone. Colorado led in first downs; converted 50% of their third down attempts compared with 38% for the Cowboys; led in total yards of offense, 497-to-347; as well as in yards-per-pass and yards-per-rush. Coach Prime and his Buffaloes have three consecutive tough games starting at home this coming Saturday against No. 25 BYU and then on the road at No. 24 Texas Christian before coming back home to face No. 14 Iowa State. After that it will be an unranked but very dangerous Utah on the road. It’s a make or break section of the schedule for the Buffaloes.