It's Tuesday and that means another edition of Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Tom Kelly.
Summaries
UCLA 38- USC 20: One team in this game had heart, drive, and a good gameplan. The other team was USC. Despite an early pick six, the Trojans really weren't in the game from that point on. With a poor defensive scheme that left their safeties in bad positions, USC gave up 326 passing yards to UCLA QB Brett Hundley. Hundley also ran for a score too. The USC defense was stuffed all night by the bRuin defense. USC QB Cody Kessler was sacked six times and RB Buck Allen was held to just 60 yards on the evening although he did score a late TD. Allen was outdone on the field by his counterpart UCLA's Paul Perkins. Perkins racked up 93 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Telling Stat: No O at USC; the Trojans only managed to gain 276 yards in the game with 93 of those coming after UCLA had built up a 38-14 lead.
Stanford 38- California 17: Both teams came into this game at 5-5. Stanford's 5-5 was disappointment filled, while Cal's 5-5 was a big step up from the previous few seasons. Cal had the momentum and they were at home. So naturally, Stanford whipped 'em. Stanford's Remound Wright was the Cardinal's battering ram as his steady 92 yards rushing and four TDs did in the Golden Bears. The Bears didn't help the situation much as their offense kept turning the ball over. The Golden Bear QB Tandem of Jared Goff and Luke Rubenzer combined to complete 21 of 40 passes for 182 yards, a TD and four big interceptions. For the Cardinal, QB Kevin Hogan turned in a steady effort completing 15 of 20 passes for 214 yards.
Telling Stat: 5+16= a big loss in The Big Game; five turnovers and 12 penalties in a otherwise statistically even game spelled doom for the Golden Bears.
Arizona State 52- Washington State 31: The Sun Devils hangover from their upset at the hands of Oregon State last week lasted exactly 38:36. For it was at the 6:24 mark of the third quarter that ASU RB D.J. Foster scored on a one-yard run to lift the Sun Devils to a 28-24 lead over WSU. ASU would go on to out score the Cougs 31-7 in the second half to claim the harder-than-it-looked blowout victory. Foster would lead all backs with 96 yards rushing on 15 carries and three TDs, while backfield partner QB Taylor Kelly threw for 232 yards and four TDs. As for the Cougars, Wazzu freshman QB Luke Falk completed 45 of 74 passes for 601 yards, three TDs and four interceptions.
Telling Stat: Short fields; WSU set up ASU for this second half blowout with turnovers deep in their own territory. ASU's four fourth quarter scoring drives only went 40, 18, 38, and 30 yards.
Arizona 42- Utah 10: Despite losing QB Anu Solomon midway through the game, the Wildcats still managed to scalp the Utes in Salt Lake City. RB Nick Wilson carried the load offensively for the Wildcats with 218 yards rushing on 20 carries and three TDs. The Wildcat defense also had a big day forcing four Utah turnovers and returning two of them for scores. This game was still in doubt as the Wildcats held a 21-10 lead going into the last period. However, the UofA defense put the clamps on Utah to ensure the win. For the Utes, QB Travis Wilson completed 16 of 29 143 yards and a TD to go with two interceptions.
Telling Stat: Shutting the door; The Arizona defense forced two turnovers, two punts and had the clock run out on Utah's five fourth quarter possessions to seal the win.
Oregon 44- Colorado 10: The Ducks came out and broke a good sweat in a beatdown of the Buffaloes. Like many other teams, the boys form Boulder had no clue as how to stop Duck QB Marcus Mariota. He completed 24 of 32 passes for 323 yards and three TDs while rushing for 73 yards on eight carries and another TD. Oh, and Duck RB Royce Freeman lugged the leather 17 times for 105 yards and two TDs also. The hapless CU offense was led by QB Jordan Gehrke who completed a 9 of 18 passes for a whopping 64 yards.
Telling Stat: There was some D in the O; The Oregon Defense held Colorado to an average drive length of 4 plays for 3.5 yards.
Washington 37- Oregon State 17: The Beavers couldn't build off their upset of ASU last week falling to the Dawgs in Seattle. UW QB Cyler Miles set the tone for the Dawgs when he started the scoring with a 54-yard TD pass to WR Jayden Mickens early in the opening quarter. After extending their lead to 14-0 on a 68 yard TD run by RB Dwayne Washington, UW relied on the foot of PK Cameron Van Winkle. After his third field goal Washington led 23-7 midway thought he third quarter. The Beavers did make the game close when QB Sean Mannion hit WR Jordan Villamin with an 11-yard TD pass at the end of the third quarter. They then failed on the two-point conversion and Washington closed out the game with a 36-yard TD run by Jayden Mickens and a 68-yard TD reception by TE Darrell Daniels. Cyler Miles finished the day for 253 yards and two TDs . Sean Mannion finished the day for the Beavers with 314 yards passing and two TDs.
Telling Stat: They made them one dimensional; Washington held Oregon State to 47 yards rushing which allowed their defense to just sit back and defend the pass.
Louisville 31- Notre Dame 28: ND did not bounce back from their loss to Northwestern. They rallied back from a 14-0 first quarter deficit to be in position to send this game to overtime, down by three with :51 left. However PK Kyle Brindza missed from 32 yards out and Louisville walked out of South Bend with a win. Cardinal QB Reggie Bonnafon completed only 8 of 21 passes for 180 yards, but did throw for a TD. His RB, Brandon Radcliff toted the rock 17 times for 136 yards and a TD. For the Irish, QB Everett Golson threw for 236 yards and two TDs in the loss.
Telling Stat; When they needed it; Louisville's defense stuffed a running play for one yard, registered a sack and forced an incompletion when Notre Dame looked as if they were going to pull this game out.
Observations
...His reign was a short one; Melvin Gordon's reign as the NCAA FBS single-game rushing record holder lasted just seven days until it was broken over the past weekend by Oklahoma freshman RB Samaje Perine. The previous record holder, LaDanian Tomlinson held the record for 16 years.
...Worst commissioner ever; The Pac 12's Larry Scott is a total idiot. Larry's biggest accomplishment is bringing in Colorado and Utah to the league, which really isn't an accomplishment at all. He has many failures, but the biggest one is what a joke the Pac 12 network is. Not only is it not on DirecTv after two years of talks, it doesn't even broadcast in hi-def. Go back to the WTA Larry!
...Welcome back to the party; Does anybody realize that Arkansas is bowl eligible?
...Not a word; I don't hear a lot of Domers whining about that offensive pass interference call at Florida State much anymore.
...Enough; The scheduling of FCS schools by FBS schools has to stop. It's just a waste of a game.
...A bit overlooked; Oregon State WR Jordan Villamin is really good player that doesn't get enough publicity.
...Trophies and bragging rights; Here's to the Territorial Cup, the Shillelagh, the Apple Cup, the Land Grant Trophy, Paul Bunyan's Axe, the Old Oaken Bucket, the Fremont Cannon and all those other trophies that help make the last game of the college football regular season special.
...A 1200 number; This week's USC-Notre Dame game will be game #1200 in Trojan history. Glad to see it is against the Fighting Irish.
...Bowen for the Birds; Look for Clint Bowen to have the interim tag removed from his name as the HC of Kansas. He's done as well as can be expected in this situation. Bowen also has all the background to be KU's version of OSU's Mike Reilly. He grew up in Lawrence, played for Lawrence High school and was a DB at KU. The guy is one of the few with the background and passion to lead the Jayhawks.
...40 years; It was that long ago as the sun had set in Los Angeles that these words were uttered by the legendary Tom Kelly, "Would you believe that the score here at the Coliseum is USC 55- Notre Dame 24?"
...Worst officials ever...again; The Pac 12 replay crew working the Cal-Stanford game overturned three consecutive plays in which Cal scored a touchdown. The league admitted they were right on the first call, but blew the other two. The Bears settled for a field goal instead of the TD which they had already scored at least twice. SMH.
...North Carolina TAGheels; After spray painting their Victory Bell Carolina Blue after beating Duke, the Tarheel players just kept spray painting all over the visitor's locker room at Duke's Wallace Wade Stadium. UNC is paying for all the damages. Maybe the players on the Tarheels that take those classes that don't exist could help with the clean up.
...A big sigh of relief for the the folks on Expo and Fig; UCLA QB Brett Hundley has indicated that he's not returning next year for the bRuins.
...Wazzu Wondering; With new freshman QB Luke Falk coming in and immediately lighting up the stat sheet after Connor Halliday went down due to injury, are the QBs at Wazzu that good or is the system they play in the reason why they are so good? Hmmmmm.
...There is no truth to the rumor; It is just a rumor that ESPN College Gameday will be renamed SEC Gameday, move to the SEC network and only attend SEC games.
Going Bowling
The picture as to how many teams will be available for the 76 bowl slots this season came into much clearer focus over the weekend. Here's the break down of the 73 teams that are currently bowl eligible by conference...
ACC: 9
Big XII: 6
Big Ten: 9
Pac 12: 8
SEC: 11
FBS Independents: 2
American: 5
C-USA: 6
MAC: 5
Mountain West: 6
Sun Belt: 6
That leaves 3 slots left over. There are currently 18 teams on the bubble. So, there will be a few teams left home this season despite having the requisite six wins.
Ugly Uniform of the Week: Western Kentucky wins for this ensemble with way to much going on in the design. Sad thing it isn't even a bad Nike or UA design. this one belongs to Russell Athletic.
Departments
Low Score Game of the Week: In the first FBS game to into OT scoreless since 2005, Wake Forest knocked off Virginia Tech, 6-3 in 2 OT. Wake PK Mike Weaver went from goat to hero in this game. He missed three field goals in regulation, then made field goals of 49 and 38 yards in OT to win the game for the Deamon Deacons. There were 18 punts in this contest filled with little offense.
Blowout of the Week: Thibodaux, LA- The Nicholls State Colonels went down the field and drew first blood with a 40-yard field goal by PK Francisco Condado to take a 3-0 lead over the SE Louisiana Lions. Then the Colonels proceeded to give up the next 62 points. Lions QB Jordan Barnett threw for 193 yards and a pair of scores in a little over one half's worth of work. As a team, the Lions ran 633 yards in their come-from-behind blowout.
Razorback Report: The Razorbacks built on their shutout of LSU by turning in another dominant preformance, blanking the Ole Miss Rebels, 30-0. The Hog defense forced six turnovers including a 100 yard interception return for a TD by CB Rohan Gaines. As for the Arkansas offense, RB Alex Collins ran for 79 yards on 23 carries and a TD. Up next for Arkansas is a trip Missouri to take on the Tigers.
Horned Frog Headlines: The Frogs were off last weekend and will travel to Austin to take on the Texas Longhorns on Thanksgiving.
Tulane Times: The Green Wave went to East Carolina and were worked over by the Pirates, 34-6. Tulane QB Tanner Lee Threw for 301 yards and an interception while ECU QB Threw for 358 yards and a TD. Carden also ran for a score. Up next for Tulane is a road trip to take on the Temple Owls.
C.W. Post Press: Ettrick, VA- Going into halftime, the Pioneers held a 17-14 lead over the Virginia State Trojans. Would Post pull off the road upset and advance to the second round of the Division II Playoffs? No, VSU shutout Post the second half 14-0 to claim a 28-17 win. The Trojans got a pair of 1-yard TD runs by RB Kavon Bellamy who ran the ball 29 times for 145 yards to go with those two TDs. In his final game as a Pioneer, QB Steve Laurino completed 29 of 58 passes for 260 yards and a TD.
This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...
I like an electric train running around the Christmas Tree.
My wedding was four months ago today. Seems like it was yesterday.
I've bought two, three-liter wine bottles this week.
Until next week folks remember that rivalry games make seasons.
-The Commissioner
