Last week I predicted an important and big week of college football. Little did I realize that it would turn into the week that it was.
Some of the best college football games were played out Saturday, giving fans a day that will be etched in their memories for some time to come. There were last-second thrillers and coaching errors that led to momentum swings that turned around entire games. Most of it came from kickers and punters, often an afterthought in the game of football.
Starting at noon, Michigan State and Ohio State seemed like it was going to be a blowout in the favor of the Spartans. All of a sudden Michigan State, with less than 10 seconds left in the first half, decided to hurry its kicking team onto the field to try for a field goal.
The problem was that it was third down and the Spartans simply could have spiked the ball and made it fourth down and stopped the clock. Instead, they rushed on to the field with only 10 players and left the left side open for Nate Salley to come in and block the field goal attempt.
Ashton Youboty ran the ball back for a touchdown for a 17-14 Spartan lead at the half, in what could have been a 20-7 lead and stuck a dagger in the heart of the Buckeyes.
John L. Smith was clearly not happy at halftime and rightfully so. And Ohio State ultimately won, 35-24.
Someone messed up -- big time.
Also a noon game, Minnesota and Wisconsin featured a kicking blunder that was costly to the Golden Gophers.
Minnesota punter Justin Kucek only had to cleanly catch and punt the ball away from his own 5-yard line. Instead, he mishandled the snap and still tried to punt the ball. By the time he drew his leg back, Wisconsin had gotten into the backfield. The Badgers blocked the punt and recovered it in the end zone, leading to a 38-34 Wisconsin victory.
Kucek could have kicked the ball out of the end zone for a safety, still preserving a Minnesota lead. Or fallen on the ball and hoped the Gophers defense stopped Wisconsin like they had most of the game.
Alabama kept its perfect season alive against Mississippi with a last second field goal for a 13-10 win.
Penn State and Michigan came down to one final second. Michigan pulled out the win on a Chad Henne pass. And the downfall for the Lions was letting Steve Breaston return a kickoff after taking a 25-21 lead with 53 seconds to go.
USC's Matt Leinart made the best fumble of his career. He was diving for the end zone to beat the Fighting Irish with almost no time on the clock. Leinart was clearly stopped short, but the ball popped out of his arms and traveled out of bounds.
Thus the clock was stopped, giving Leinart another chance to score, which he took full advantage of. The Irish have no luck at Notre Dame Stadium, and the Trojans have three more games before they are tested again.
Can anyone take them down?
New BCS
The new look BCS poll made its debut this past Monday. No surprises that USC and Texas were No. 1 and 2 respectively. But what is surprising is how low the computer "experts" rated some of the teams. Miami, ninth in the BCS, is averaged at No. 13 by the computers and they are No. 6 in the USA Today poll. Also with the way USC has been playing, don't be shocked if Texas passes them at some point during the season.
Game of the Week
No. 2 Texas vs. No. 10 Texas Tech.
This one will be interesting. The Red Raiders are nearly on top of every offensive statistical category in the nation. Both are in the top five in average points scored in a game. Tech quarterback Cody Hodges passed for 643 yards last week against Kansas State.
That will be the key for the Longhorns. If they can shut down the passing game they will easily win the game. Red Raiders running back Taurean Henderson hasn't carried the ball more than 15 times in any game this season.
Texas 35, Texas Tech 21.
