(#1)
Tennessee (2-3) – 14 vs. #12 LSU (5-0) – 16
Vs. 
How it all went down…Offensive struggling teams, Tennessee and LSU, battled it out until the final seconds and then some. LSU, down 14-10, would be awarded one final play on the Tennessee one yard line as time expired. The Vol’s were penalized for too many men on the field, with 13 players on the final defensive play. LSU running back Steven Ridley would take the short toss from the one into the endzone for the final score and LSU win.
The fat lady started singing when…Ridley bulled his way into the endzone with zeros remaining. Seconds after Tennessee had thought they had the win, LSU fans were left cheering rather than pouting.
Where do we go from here coach...? For Tennessee, it’s learning how to count. Having 12 players in on a play can be excusable at time with substitutions, but 13 are a bit much. Head Coach Derrick Dooley can put on his big boy pants and admit the coaches and players messed up substituting, rather than blaming the refs for not giving them enough time to substitute. It appeared you had plenty of time to send out even more players than you were allowed. For LSU, it’s surviving yet another week thanks to defense. With that offense, your time is coming, though. And kudos to head coach Les Miles for chasing down Dooley, trying to shake his hand following the game. At least you were the bigger man.
It’s a numbers game… 4 – The LSU offense committed four turnovers while Tennessee committed zero. Somehow, LSU walked away with the win, though.
Player of the game…Steven Ridley, LSU, RB – 22 rush, 123 yds, 1 TD
(#2)
Washington (2-2) – 32 vs. #18 USC (4-1) – 31
Vs.
How it all went down… A meeting between past USC assistant coaches, Washington got the better of the Trojans for the second straight season. With just over two minutes left, after a missed field goal by USC kicker Joe Houston, the Huskies would get one last shot at a win. Washington kicker Erik Folk wouldn’t disappoint.
The fat lady started singing when… With three seconds remaining, Folk connected on a 32 yard field goal to give the Huskies the 32-21 win.
Where do we go from here coach..? For USC, there’s not a lot that went wrong in the game from their standpoint. The Trojans ran the ball effectively and committed few mistakes. The only thing that needs to be corrected is the defense. And that may need to wait a year, because right now, they just don’t have the personnel. For Washington, it’s possibly getting back on their feet in the PAC-10. The Huskies face two straight beatable PAC-10 opponents in Arizona State and Oregon State at home. A 4-2 record may be plausible before a trip to Arizona.
It’s a numbers game….. 1,020 – Not a lot of defense was expected in the game from either side but a total of 1,020 yards is a bit extreme from any standpoint. The Huskies brought in 536 yards and the Trojans 484.
Player of the game…Jake Locker (above), Washington, QB – 24-40 passing, 310 yds, 1 TD – 12 rush, 110 yds
Photo Credit: Stephen Dunn, Getty Images
(#3)
Minnesota (1-4) – 28 vs. Northwestern (5-0) – 29
Vs. 
How it all went down… Minnesota playing a close game? Imagine that. Yet again, the Golden Gophers came out on the losing end of a close matchup, this time to Northwestern. The Wildcats, down 26-28 in the fourth, put together a nine play drive that ended with kicker Stefan Demos connecting on a 27 yard field goal for the 29-28 lead. The Gophers would have time to drive, but would come up short. Losing their fourth consecutive game.
The fat lady started singing when…Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber’s pass was intercepted by Northwestern’s Ben Johnson with less than 20 seconds remaining.
Where do we go from here coach...? For Minnesota, it’s learning how to finish games. The Gophers won’t win many, if any games down the Big Ten stretch playing like they have. For Northwestern, it’s a passing grade to their adversity. The Wildcats are quietly 5-0 and may be on their way to 6-0 with struggling Purdue next week.
It’s a numbers game…78 – Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa was responsible for all but 78 of the Wildcats 486 yards.
Player of the game….Dan Persa, Northwestern, QB – 23-30 passing, 309 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT – 18 rush, 99 yds
(#4)
Texas A&M (3-1) – 35 vs. Oklahoma State (4-0) – 38
Vs. 
How it all went down… Both teams were looking for an undefeated 4-0 start and trip to the AP poll. I knew there was going to be a lot of offensive yards and points put up, what I didn’t know is that the winning team would walk away with considerably less yards. The Cowboys won the game much in part to their defense forcing the Aggies into five turnovers, including four interceptions by Texas A&M quarterback Jarrod Johnson, including one that set up the game winning drive for the Cowboys.
The fat lady started singing when…Cowboys kicker Don Bailey connected on a 40 yard field goal with the game tied at 35 all. Zeros read on the clock following the kick.
Where do we go from here coach..? For A&M, it’s limiting the mistakes made by Johnson. One of the most talented and physically gifted quarterbacks in the country, Johnson has to make better decisions with the ball if A&M wants to do anything in the Big 12 this season. For Oklahoma State, it’s finding a defense to match its offense. Although they may force turnover, they also give up big plays. The Aggies have now given up at least 28 points in three straight games. With Louisiana Lafayette next, it’s time to end that streak and gain some confidence.
It’s a numbers game… 17:02 – The Cowboys held the ball for nearly 20 minutes less than A&M. It may have been one reason why the defense looked a little worn.
Player of the game…Justin Blackmon, OK State, WR – 10 rec. 127 yds, 1 TD
(#5)
#19 Michigan (5-0) – 42 vs. Indiana (3-1) –35
Vs. 
How it all went down…If only Denard Robinson could play a little defense for the Wolverines. Then this might be the complete team. The Wolverines put on another offensive clinic against Indiana, but sourly, the defense gave up yet another impressive offensive display. Robinson nearly placed another 500 total yards on an opponent, finishing with 494 total yards. He became the first player in FBS history with two games of 200 yards passing and 200 yards rushing. Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell refused to quit for the Hoosiers, doing his part in keeping Indiana in the game throughout.
The fat lady started singing when… Robinson ran in the game’s final score from four yards out with only seconds remaining, giving Michigan the 42-35 win.
Where do we go from here coach...? For Michigan, maybe it’s giving up on that defense. The Wolverines had multiple true freshmen playing Saturday due to injuries and less than satisfying play from upperclassmen. The only question is: when does Robinson run out of juice to bring in over 400 yards of offense a game? For Indiana, it’s a step in the right direction. If they would have beat Michigan, it would have been for the first time since 1987. A 3-1 start in Bloomington still looks nice. Chappell will get to test his arm against the Buckeyes next week.
It’s a numbers game… 20 – The Wolverines brought in 20 less first downs than the Hoosiers. But it’s hard to pile up first downs when Robinson is racking up 70 yard runs.
Player of the game…Denard Robinson, Michigan QB – 10-16 passing, 277 yds, 3 TD – 19 rush, 217 yds, 2 TD
(#6)
Georgia (1-4) – 27 vs. Colorado (3-1) – 29
Vs. 
How it all went down… If Georgia fans were upset with Head Coach Mark Richt before the Colorado game, they may be a little beyond Mel Gibson angry now. The Bulldogs had a chance to end it late with a field goal down 27-29 at the Colorado 30. The plan was to run the clock down low enough for the chance at a last minute game winning kick. But with the dominating play of wideout A.J. Green all day and what would come next on first and 10 on the 27 yard line, one would wonder if that was the best decision.
The fat lady started singing when… Georgia running back Caleb King fumbled the ball with two minutes remaining. The fumbled was forced by Buff’s linebacker B.J. Beatty and recovered by linebacker Jon Major. Colorado could run out the clock from there.
Where do we go from here coach..? For Georgia, it’s time to panic. The Bulldogs have lost four in a row and face the extremely upset Tennessee Vol’s next week. The pieces seem to be in place for Richt to win games and the return of Green will surly help, players just need to execute better. For Colorado, it’s a 3-1 start that not a lot of people expected. Nor an offensive, or defensive, identity has been established yet but the Buff’s continue to win. It might not be so easy against Missouri next week.
It’s a numbers game…159 – In his first game back from a four game suspension, Georgia wideout A.J. Green amounted for 159 total yards. He had 119 receiving and two score to go with a 40 yard run.
Player of the game…Rodney Stewart, Colorado, RB – 19 rush, 149 yds, 1 TD – 3 rec. 31yds
(#7)
#21 Texas (3-2) – 20 vs. #8 Oklahoma (5-0) – 28
Vs. 
How it all went down…The question heading into the Red River Rivalry was whether or not Texas had enough offense to match Oklahoma. Texas’s next game question will be, do they have enough offense to outmatch the Nebraska defense. Since when did offensive production start to hold back the Longhorns? A 21-7 halftime lead was placed on Texas by Oklahoma and it was clear early Oklahoma was the better overall team. The Longhorns made things interesting in the fourth on a Cody Johnson touchdown run to make it 28-17, but Oklahoma would hold out from there, even after Texas forced a punt by the Sooners with under a minute left.
The fat lady started singing when…Texas punt returner Aaron Williams fumbled the return with less than a minute to go with the Sooners recovering. With the game 28-20, the Longhorns would have had a chance to tie it.
Where do we go from here coach...? For Texas, it’s time to be worried. Following a bye week, the Longhorns travel to Nebraska. The Longhorns are in trouble of losing their third straight game. If offensive and defensive struggles don’t get fixed, they could lose more. For Oklahoma, it’s another safe seat in the Top 10. How many close games can the Sooners put together this season before they get tired of the late scramble dance? Oklahoma gets a week off before a crop dusting tour of the Big 12 North.
It’s a numbers game… 162 – The Longhorns jumped out of the AP poll following the loss to the Sooners for the first time in 162 consecutive weeks. Looks like it time to start a new streak.
Player of the game…Demarco Murray, Oklahoma, RB – 25 rush, 115 yds, 2 TD – 4 rec. 31 yds
(#8)
#11 Wisconsin (4-1) – 24 vs. #24 Michigan State (5-0) –34
Vs.
How it all went down… With so many talented running backs and two run stifling defenses, one should have expected that one of the two quarterbacks would be the difference in this one. With heavy hearts thinking of Head Coach Mark Dantonio, the Spartans continue their path of unsuspecting destruction through their first five games. The three running backs of 
MSU – Baker (right), Bell and Caper – proved more productive than the two headed attack of the Badgers – Clay and White – in managing the game. When the Spartans needed to control the clock and the ball, they were able to do so.
The fat lady started singing when…Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins found wideout B.J. Cunningham on fourth and goal from the one. It gave the Spartans a 34-24 lead and capped a 15 play drive that lasted more than eight minutes in the fourth.
Where do we go from here coach...? For Wisconsin, it’s not downing on this one too long. The battle of the Big Ten is far from over right now. A loss to a practical clone like Michigan State doesn’t mean the end of everything; it just sets up an even bigger battle between them and Ohio State Oct. 16. For Michigan State, it’s a 5-0 start for a team that has been under achieving for years now. No better stage could be set for the Spartans than next week’s matchup against the undefeated Wolverines. We’ve seen the Spartans win at home. Now can they win on the road, in the Big House nonetheless?
It’s a numbers game… 2 – The Spartans converted on two huge fourth down attempts. One led to a score a few plays later in the second quarter and the other gave the Spartans a 10 point lead late in the fourth.
Player of the game…Kirk Cousins, Michigan State, QB – 20-29 passing, 269 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT
Photo Credit: Paul L. Neby II, The Grand Rapids Press
(#9)
#9 Stanford (4-1) – 31 vs. #4 Oregon (5-0) – 52
Vs.
How it all went down…As potent an offense as Oregon has this season, it’s apparent that the game is never out of reach for the Ducks. Things looked gloomier than a glass of Mexican tap water early for Oregon. In the second quarter, however, things got interesting. A once 21-3 lead by Stanford in the first would be switched to a 31-24 halftime lead for the Cardinal. The Ducks would bring an enforcing defense out at halftime, forcing the Cardinal into multiple mistakes in the second half. The lead was taken by Oregon in the third on quarterback Darron Thomas’s six yard run, making it a 38-31 game. They wouldn’t look back from there.
The fat lady started singing when… On the first play of the fourth quarter Thomas found wideout D.J. Davis for a 25 yard throw and catch score. It gave the Ducks a 45-31 lead and enough momentum to walk away with the game, even with a full quarter of play to go.
Where do we go from here coach...? For Stanford, it’s keeping their heads in the game. Oregon was a tough opponent and keeping the game close early was enough to show how far this Stanford team has come under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. They can prove themselves against USC again next week. For Oregon, don’t change a thing. The offense gets better as the game moved on. As does a defense that leads the nation in forcing turnovers. They look like a team that may go unscratched through the PAC-10.
It’s a numbers game…7.6 – The Ducks brought in a total of 388 yards rushing and tallied a 7.6 average between rushers LaMichael James, Thomas and Kenjon Barner.
Player of the game…LaMichael James, Oregon, RB – 31 rush, 257 yds, 3 TD
(#10)
#16 Miami (FL) (3-1) – 30 vs. Clemson (2-2) – 21
Vs.
How it all went down…Although the teams sit in separate divisions of the ACC, both Miami and Clemson had a chance to make a statement ACC win in their first game of conference play. The Hurricanes in the end, walked away with the win. Miami quarterback Jacory Harris threw for four touchdowns in the first half while the Hurricanes defense forced the Tigers into six total turnovers. The Tigers had a chance to cut the ‘Canes lead late in the game, with Miami now struggling offensively, but once again would be upended by the Miami D.
The fat lady started singing when… With Clemson facing a fourth and one on the Miami 20 in the fourth quarter Tigers Head Coach Dabo Sweeny elected to gamble going for it on fourth down. Running back Andre Ellington would be stopped short, cut down by Miami defensive back Brandon Harris.
Where do we go from here coach...? For Miami, it’s finding a way to limit the offensive mistakes by Jacory Harris and the wideouts. Interceptions, and wrong rout running and drops by the wideouts have plagued the Hurricanes this season. Luckily, the Hurricanes defense remains one of the nation’s best – ranking No. 2 in sacks a game and No. 1 in tackles for a loss. For Clemson, it’s finding out what’s bothering Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker. Parker is playing a little banged up but it appears to be more. Could it be the baseball contract hanging over his head? Clemson needs solid quarterback play if they want to win their respective ACC division.
It’s a numbers game…16 – Clemson has now lost to the No. 16 ranked Auburn Tigers and No. 16 ranked Miami Hurricanes. They won’t be facing another ranked team for a while now, though.
Player of the game… Leonard Hankerson, Miami, WR – 7 rec. 147 yds, 3 TD
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