Week 16

Hey All,

Welcome to the why do they even play the conference championship games edition of Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard.  We still miss you, Alan Malamud.

Summaries 

Pac 12 Championship Game : Oregon 31- USC 24: Los Angeles, CA-The Trojans had lived on the edge all year. coming back to defeat lesser teams in the final minute or two of games.  The Trojans dug another hole in this one, falling behind 14-0 early thanks to two interceptions thrown by QB Kedon Slovis. This time though, there would be no comeback magic against an inferior foe. USC squandered many comeback opportunities which included forced turnovers and a beautiful onside kick.  USC's Air Raid offense was once again proven to be anything but what it is; a one dimensional offense that is easily game planned for by their opponents.  The Trojan defense did its' best to contain the Ducks. The Trojans held the Quacks to just 243 yards, but the Trojans offensive struggles negated this good effort. For the victorious Ducks, QB Tyler Shough completed eight of 15 passes for 91 yards, two TDs and an interception.  For the Trojans, Slovis completed 28 of 52 passes for 320 yards, two TDs and three interceptions. 

Telling Stat: No help from the coaches;  USC's OL struggled with Oregon's edge rushers all night long. However, knowing this, USC HC Clay Helton and OC Graham Harrell never adjusted the offense to help the beleaguered OL and that spelled doom for the Trojans.

Utah 45- Washington State 28: Salt Lake City, UT- With 1:21 left in the second quarter everything had gone Wazzu's way.  The Cougars held a 21 point lead.  the Cougars achieved a 28-7 lead on the back of three Utah turnovers and the arm and legs of QB Jayden de Laura.  de Laura threw for two TDs and ran for another while RB Max Borghi scored Wazzu's other TD. The Cougars wouldn't sniff the end zone again. The game turned when Utah QB Jake Bentley was benched for Drew Lisk.  Lisk had spent his whole college career on the bench at Utah. He finally got a chance to play and he ran with it. Lisk would only complete 15 of 26 passes for 152 yards, but he steadied the off-kilter Utes offense and allowed them to make a comeback. RB Ty Jordan was the chief benefactor of Lisk's calm.  He torched the Wazzu defense for three second half TD runs of 5, 33, and 13 yards. Thrown in nine yard a TD run from WR Bryan Thompson and 44-yard FG from PK Jason Redding and the Utes held a 38-28 lead with 2:37 to play. Utah's defense then made the comeback complete when CB Clark Phillips III picked off de Laura and took  it back 36 yards for the game-clinching score. Jordan led all rushers with 154 yards on 22 carries and three TDs. WR Receiver Britain Covey led all receivers with 134 yards on six catches to also aid Utah's cause. For the hapless Cougars, de Laura completed 17 of 28 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown. 

Telling Stat: Second half shutdown;  The Utah defense rendered the Wazzu offense in the second half. They held Wazzu to just 108 yards and forced four turnovers. 74 of the 108 yards allowed came on Wazzu;s final drive went the game had already been decided. 

Stanford 48- UCLA 47 2OT: Pasadena. CA- This game was drama in three acts.  The first act was  entitled: A Familiar Scene.  For 11 of the last 12 years Stanford had beaten UCLA with a steady diet of rushing yards and timely passes to large TEs from a gifted QB.  The first half of the game followed this script as the Cardinal built up a 20-3 lead.  Three short TD runs. two by RB Austin Jones, were the end result of what has become classic Stanford football.  All seemed lost for Chip's charges as UCLA was down big and would be without QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson who was injured in the second quarter.  Then came the surprise second act entitled: A Backup's Uprising.  UCLA started the second half with a definitely different attitude and rallied around their backup QB Chase Griffin. Over the next 24+ minutes of game time, the bRuins blitzed the Cardinal with a 31-0 run. Griffin led the bRuins on TD drives of 67, 60, and 84 yards.  Griffin threw for two of those TDs. UCLA also got a 31-yard FG from PK Nicholas Barra-Mia to take a 27-20 lead.  The bRuins then seemed put the game away at the 5:39 mark in the fourth quarter.  CB Jay Shaw picked off SU QB Davis Mills and retuned it 39-yards for a touchdown.  It was UCLA's third interception of the half and resulted in a 34-20 lead for the sons of Westwood.  Then came the third act entitled: Redemption in Cardinal. Stanford then got off the deck and fought to force overtime with two TDs down the stretch. Mills hit his huge TE Simi Fehoko for both scores. The final TD tied the game with :18 left.  After A UCLA kneel down, the game went to overtime.  After trading scores, a second overtime loomed.  Once again Mills found Fehoko for a TD to take a 48-41 lead.  Then Griffin found WR Kyle Phillips in the end zone form 21 yards out for what should have been the score to send the game to a third overtime.  Ahhh, but no, that wouldn't happen.  UCLA HC Chip Kelly decided to end the game one way or another and went for two. The two-point conversion failed and Stanford escaped with a win. It would be the last game of the year for both UCLA and Stanford and the last game to be played at the Rose Bowl until next September. Mills finished the game with 428 yards through the air and three TDs while Griffin completed only nine of 11 passes, but four of those went for TDs.  RB Britain Brown was an absolute stud for UCLA, rushing for 219 yards on 29 carries.  

Telling Stat: A Fehoko finish; Stanford scored four TDs in their last four possessions and Simi Fehoko caught three of those scores. Eight of his sixteen catches in the game came on those final four drives. 

Arizona State 46- Oregon State 33: Corvalis, OR- It was a miserable night in Corvalis.  Pouring rain and chilling temperatures were the setting for the last Pac 12 regular season game of the year. However, the conditions really didn't slow down the two offenses.  There was plenty of sloppy play, but yards were gained in bunches as the teams combined for almost 1,100 yards of total offense.  OSU would have the edge in yards but ASU made the plays to win the game.  ASU did most of their damage behind their three headed rushing monster that consisted of QB Jayden Daniels and RBs Rachaad White and Deamonte Trayanum. The trio combined for 31 carries for 298 yards and five TDs.  The Beavers tried to answer with their offensive combo of QB Chance Nolan and RB Jermar Jefferson, but whenever the Beavers fought to get back into game, their defense would fail and ASU would take advantage of it to keep the lead.  OSU brought almost everything they had off the bench in this one, but it wasn't enough to overcome ASU's talent edge.  

Telling Stat: Second is prime for ASU; The Sun Devils dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Beavers 19-8 to take a lead in this game that they would never give up. 

Observations

...A question for the Playoff Committee; Why were the conference championship games even played if you had already decided on who the four playoff teams were gonna be to begin with?

...A military SNAFU;  how bad is it that 9-2 Army had to fight to get a bowl bid while 2-8 South Carolina was handed one for being bad in the SEC?  

...No Irish;  Notre Dame doesn't belong in the playoff and it's pretty clear. Their big regular season win was over a Clemson Tiger squad without nine starters.  Funny, when they were all back for the rematch, it wasn't even close.  

...It's a Spartan world;  The best team in California is San Jose State.  It was fun to see a well coached bunch of Spartans knock off Boise State to go 7-0 and claim the Mountain West title.  Oh, and expect their HC, Bret Brennan to be the next HC at Arizona.

...No shame; The SEC has no problem sending teams with two and three wins to bowl games. I think some sense of pride would keep those teams from accepting the bids. 

...G5 need not apply: It’s easy to see that no Group of Five team will ever get a chance at the playoff. To hear Playoff Committee Chairman Gary Barta spew inane drivel to defend the committee’s decisions was an insult to our collective intelligence. 

...Lumps of Clay; Looks like after another disappointing season, USC fans will be stuck with another year of Clay Helton on the sidelines.  

...Requiem for a test; imagine how Stanford might have been undefeated had QB Davis Mills not gotten sidelined by a false positive COVID test. Hmmmmmmm

...A dubious Irish double; Notre Dame became the first team to ever lose a conference championship game and make the playoff. Oh and HC Brian Kelly was named ACC Coach of the Year because of it.

...Sudden silence in Lincoln; 3-5 Nebraska has declined any bowl game this year. Funny, weren’t you the team who threw the big hissy fit to play this year?  SMH

...Crumbling Stone;  The CFP said their semifinal and final game dates were set in stone and wouldn’t be changed for anyone this year. Oh wait, TheeeOSU needs time to get a few players back, so now the dates are flexible. Must be nice to be a Buckeye and have your conference and the playoff change rules just for you.  Hell, if it was a Pac 12 school that needed time they would just make the team forfeit. Sigh. 

...Over hill, over dale; Army defeated both Navy and Air Force at home to claim the Commander-In-Chief’s trophy. To the Cadets, those might be the two biggest victories at West Point since the American Revolution. 

...The thorn in the Roses;  For the first time since 1915 there will be no Rose Bowl. The semifinal game that was supposed to be there was moved to Dallas.  That means for the first time since 1985 I will not either be in attendance of or working the Rose Bowl game. That’s 36 games folks. I’ve been lucky enough to see some of the best to ever play the game from one of the best seats in the house. So if I look a little lost come January 1, you will know why. 

No Roses, a bad USC and the Elimination of the West in College Football

That's a big title for a big subject that This reporter can't begin to get to the bottom of, but the writing is on the wall for the west.  Without a dominant USC, heck even a relevant USC, the west is being eliminated from the college football landscape by ESPN, the Playoff Committee and the ACC, Big Ten, Big XII,  and the SEC.  The massive COVID spike gave great cover for those in charge of the playoff to take the Rose Bowl out of the picture.  Just wait until the idea to make Dallas a permanent semifinal site instead of the Rose Bowl to start getting air play.  It will happen.  Also, the decline of USC has made this possible. Without USC as the western power that strikes fear in the hearts of the east, it all becomes that much easier. No Pac 12 team has USC's historic significance. Oregon will never have USC's pull despite all of Uncle Phil's money. So, with USC down and almost out and the Rose Bowl eliminated, it becomes very easy for the powers mentioned above to keep and entrench the playoff as an southeastern invitational event.

Pac 12 Overreactions 

• Wazzu will go 3-9 next year.
• ASU is just happy to have left Corvallis.
• USC dreams of relevancy.
• Stanford will now be known as the Nomads.
• Colorado will beat Texas in the Alamo Bowl.
• Oregon State needs new uniforms.
• UCLA will win more than four games next year.
• Utah is a QB away from a great 2021.
• Arizona’s prefect for HC is Brett Brennan.
• Cal just hopes to have spring practice at home.
• Oregon is in good place in a bad conference.
• Washington wishes they were Oregon.

Department

Low Score Game of the Week:  West Point, NY- The Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy is safely in the hands of Army after a come from behind, 10-7 win over Air Force.  The Cadets found themselves down, 7-3  with 8:24 to play. Then, Army did what Army does, they went on a march. The cadets traveled 80 yards in 16 plays for the game-winning score. FB Jakobi Buchanan powered his way into paydirt from the one on 4th and Goal. On, brave old Army team indeed.

This Week’s Three Notes About Nothing...

It’s funny how little plastic ninjas have become a new Christmas tradition in my house.

The onion rings from Happy Diner are pretty good.

Have to give the package delivery folks credit this year. With all the stuff I’ve ordered this year, it’s all come on time and in great shape.

Until next year, I’d like the give thanks to all who read this blog and contribute to it from every facet of my life. This blog has taught me that while we are not seeing each other in person, we are connected in spirit. So now, I’d like to wish each of you a happy holiday season. Soon enough, the dog days of summer 2021 will roll around and it will be tine to take a another ride in the OL’ coaching carousel. 

-The Commissioner

Week 15

 Hey All,

Welcome to the heading to conference championships week edition of Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. WE still miss you, Jim Murray.

Summaries 

USC 43- UCLA 38: Pasadena, CA- It was a barnburner at the Rose Bowl. QB Kedon Slovis' eight-yard TD fade to WR Amon-Ra St. Brown capped off another crazy comeback for the Trojans and ripped the hearts out of bRuins fans everywhere.  However, it sure didn't start out that way. The Trojans sleepwalked their way through the first 30+ minutes.  The offense had no rhythm and the defense looked like it hadn't tackled in weeks. That led to UCLA building up a 28-10 lead with 12:28 left in the third quarter. When UCLA RB Britain Brown went untouched thought SC defense, it looked like a big beatdown was coming for the Men of Troy. However, as they have all season the Trojans got off the deck and rallied to save their season. The Trojans answered that bRuin score with a 38-yard TD pass form Slovis to WR Tyler Vaughns. Then, SC turned a brain cramp by UCLA punter Luke Akers into a three-yard TD pass from Slovis to St. Brown to cut their deficit to just 28-23.  UCLA would then extend their lead back out to 35-23 when QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson connected with TE Greg Dulcich in the seam of the zone and he took it 69 yards to the house.  SC kept fighting on with a 10-yard TD run, yes run, by RB Vavae Malepeai and another Slovis TD pass to take the lead. This pass was to Drake London to give SC a 36-35 lead after a failed two-point conversion. Robinson then led UCLA on a great drive down the field as time wound down for a go ahead FG by PK Nicholas Barr-Mira to take the lead at 38-36. The Trojans were left with just :52 seconds and a single timeout to work with.  Well, fortunately for the Trojans they had Gary Bryant, Jr. back to return the ensuing kickoff.  UCLA didn't squib kick the ball nor put it deep enough to ensure a touchback and Bryant had his chance. With a key block form SC RB Markese Stepp, Bryant glided through the bRuins for 56 yards.  That set up SC at UCLA 44-yard line.  Next came a beautiful 38-yard pass from Slovis to Vaughns to set up SC with a 1st and goal at the UCLA eight-yard line. Next came the game-winner to St. Brown which was an audible called by Slovis.   The Trojans the held off UCLA's last chance hail mary to ensure that the Victory Bell would reside at Heritage Hall for another year. Slovis had another big game with 344 yards through the air and five TDs. USC also had a 100-yard rusher with Malepeai gaining 110 yards on 19 carries and a TD.  For UCLA, Thompson-Robinson had another big game against USC, completing 30 of 36 passes for 364 yards and four TDs. He also ran for 50 yards. His favorite passing target was Dulcich who hauled in eight passes for 167 yards and a touchdown.

Telling Stat: 43-38 is all that matters; USC was outplayed by UCLA in just a out about every facet of this game but the scoreboard. 

Utah 38- Colorado 21: Boulder, CO- It was 24 degrees and snowing when the this one kicked off at 10 AM Boulder time. The Buffaloes were the media darlings of the week out west.  Their cause of possibly being undefeated and not getting a shot at the Pac 12 title was told everywhere from Tucson to Pullman.  However, for this cause to take hold, they had to stay undefeated. They didn't.  It was game of boxing styles.  Colorado went for haymakers and flash knockdowns while Utah Worked the body, counterpunched and played strong defense. Tied 7-7 with 1:30 in the second quarter, PR Brenden Rice, (Yes, he's Jerry's kid), took a punt and easily raced down the field for an 81-yard touchdown to hand the Buffs a 14-7 lead. Utah managed to force a late CU fumble and then turned that into a 42-yard field goal by PK Jadon Redding to cut CU's lead to 14-10 at the half.  CU caught lightning in a bottle again to start the second half. On the first play form scrimmage, QB Sam Noyer hit Rice on a bubble screen and he again left the Utah defense stuck in the snow behind him to extend the Buffs lead to 21-10.  Colorado would never see the end zone again.  Utah answered that score with RB Ty Jordan running it in form 18 yards out and then their defense took over. The Utes defense picked off a pass, forced two punts and then held for downs on CU's final four drives to give their offense the chance for the upset.  The Utah offense took that chance and ran with it. A 20-yard TD catch by WR Britain Covey and 66-yard TD run by Jordan were wrapped around two more FGs by Redidng to put the game away for the kids form Salt Lake City.  As Utah pulled away from the Buffaloes, it was so quiet in Folsom Field you could hear a division title drop. Jordan led all rushers with 147 yards on 17 carries and two TDs.  For CU, Noyer threw for 258 yards, two TDs and an interception. 

Telling Stat: They didn't, then they couldn't; Colorado ignored using talented freshman RB Jarek Broussard early on. They stuck with a passing game that didn't do much for them in the snow.  Then by the time they needed to rely on their running game, they couldn't.  Utah had the lead and Broussard was all but eliminated from the gameplan. He quietly gained 80 yards on 14 carries in defeat. 

Stanford 27- Oregon State 24: Corvalis, OR- The nomadic Cardinal handed HC David Shaw his11th straight win over the Beavers.  With nothing to worry about except football, SU QB Davis Mills had his best game of the year.  He completed 21 of 29 passes for 292 yards and TD while also finding the end zone twice on pair of short TD jaunts. More importantly, Mills played a turnover free game.  RB Austin Jones had a fine game too rushing for 122 yards on 22 carries. Oregon State played well with QB Chance Nolan throwing for  221 yards and three TDs.  OSU RB Jermar Jefferson returned from injury this week, but the was held to just 80 yards on 18 carries.  This game was tied at 24-24 with 7:18 to play. Mills then led Stanford to a go ahead field goal. The Cardinal's 10 play, 62-yard march was capped off by a 39-yard FG from PK Jet Toner.  OSU's last chance to try to send the game to overtime died when Nolan fumbled at the Cardinal 35-yard line with :55 left.  

Telling Stat: Corvalis over Eugene;  Stanford PK Jet Toner helped erase his abysmal 0-4 performance at Oregon earlier in the season by making both his field goal attempts and his only PAT in Corvalis to sink the Beavers. 

Arizona State 70- Arizona 7: Tucson, AZ-  Things started off bad, quickly got worse and then moved from way past worse to pathetic for the woeful Wildcats.  ASU KR D.J. Taylor recieived the opening kickoff and took it back a full 100 yards for the game's opening score.  UofA would never get this close to the Sun Devils again. ASU ended the first quarter up 21-0 when they added rushing scores of four and 20 yards from RB DeaMont Trayanum and QB Jayden Daniels.   UofA gave up three mores scores before notching their lone TD of the game on 20-yard run by RB Michael Wiley.  The Wildcats limped into the half, down 42-7. The third quarter saw ASU go for the full humiliation of their rival with three more TDs in the third quarter and one in the fourth.  By the time the Sun Devils hit 70 everyone had earned their letter, including RB Jackson He who crossed the double stripe with 7:02 left to become what is believed to be the first Chinese born player to ever score a TD in an FBS game.  In the rout, Daniels completed nine of 11 passes for 203 yards and two TDs to go with one on the ground.  Fellow Sun Devil,  RB Rachaad White led all rushers with 133 yards on 10 carries and three TDs.  HIs longest one was a 93-yard sprint six. 

Telling Stat: Seven the hard way. Arizona fumbled three times, threw two interceptions and turned the ball over on downs twice in the first half.  Five of those failures were turned into touchdowns by Arizona State which turned this rivalry into a rout. 

Observations

...So long Sumlin;  After having their losing streak extended to 12 games after being utterly embarrassed by rival ASU last Friday,  Arizona HC Kevin Sumlin was fired.  In his three years in Tucson, the Wildcats posted a meager 9-20 record and lost all three rivalry games to Arizona State. 

...Fun Fact; Northwestern will be appearing in their second Big Ten title game. Michigan has never been.  

...Memo to Colorado;  If you want to whine about how you're getting shafted by the Pac 12, you have to at least win the game that would have kept your complaints somewhat valid. 

...Hiring done right; The ACC's top choice to become the league's new commissioner is Northwestern AD Jim Phillips. He's been the AD in Evanston for the last 13 years.  If only the Pac 12 would have hired an experienced guy for their commissioner slot way back when.  The league would not have been stuck with Tennis Larry. Sigh. 

...Longhorn howls;  Oh you could hear the cries of pain form Austin when it was announced that HC Tom Herman will be back for another year at Texas. Heck, last week the Longhorn faithful had convinced themselves that Herman was getting fired and that Urban Meyer would be their new HC.  

...An almost miracle;  Western Michigan's last second bid to beat a Ball State team that thought the game was over didn't work out, but it is sure fun to watch.  It wasn't over

...Gloomy Gus;  Auburn has parted ways with HC Gus Malzahn. His Auburn squads complied a 68-34 record and a national title game appearance in 2013, his first season on the plains. I hear there's an opening at Springdale High or maybe his Alma Mater, Henderson State. 

...Hurricanes grounded..to death; North Carolina ran over the Miami defense in a 62-26 butt-kicking.  I mean ran over.  The Tar Heels piled up 778 yards of offense.  554 of those came on the ground. Yes, UNC piled up 554 rushing yards. The big thing is 544 of those yards came from two RBs. Michael Carter rushed for 308 yards on 24 carries and two TDs while his backfield mate Javonte Williams rushed for 236 yards on 23 carries and three TDs.   UNC averaged 10 yards per carry. Wow. 

...Bow(l)ing out;  Several schools including Stanford, LSU and Pitt have ended their season rather than accept bowl bids. Some schools are just done with all the testing, postponements, cancellations. I don't blame them a bit. 

...New Commodore on deck; Notre Dame DC Clark Lea is now the new HC at Vanderbilt. Lea is a Vanderbilt grad who jumped at the chance to lead his alma mater.  So now we have the answer to the question as to who in their right mind would want the Vandy job?

...LS Shoe for the win;  Ok, have to say it was fun watching Florida get upset by LSU. Mainly because their HC Dan Mullen is a tool of the highest order. However, it was far more entertaining to see how Florida DB Marco Wilson will be forever known for throwing the shoe heard 'round the college football world. Sole of a Gator  

...No longer feeling the Love;  Champaign and mediocre football proved not to be a good pairing for Illini HC Lovie Smith.  Smith was fired Sunday after five years on the job. The Illini were a disappointing 17-39 during his tenure with the Sons of Chief Illiwinek.  His league record was just 10-33 with four of the wins coming against fellow Big Ten doormat Rutgers. 

...Bowl game reminder;  With the NCAA removing all bowl eligibility restrictions, you will see some teams with long records playing in bowls this year. 

...39 years;  According to the 10 minutes or so of research from this intrepid reporter, the now-canceled  Oregon-Colorado game at the Coliseum would have the first FBS game at the Coliseum to not feature USC as one of the two participants since November 14, 1981 when UCLA defeated ASU, 34-24. 1981 was UCLA's last year as a tenant in the Coliseum. 

...Another year; Face it folks, USC will be stuck with HC Clay Helton for another year.  SC's shaky 5-0 record, the pandemic and Helton's exorbitantly high buyout guarantees he'll be back in 2021.  Helton always gets defended by the SC admin by saying he's man of great character.  Great, but you notice none of them say anything about him being a great coach? Sigh. 

...2021 and hold the Roses?; The Rose Bowl is serving as one of the semi-final sites for the College Football Playoff or is it? No fans are being allowed at the game this year and that is not to the liking of several of the teams expected to make it to the playoff.  Quite an argument and backlash has occurred over this to the point that the idea moving the semi-final from Pasadena to Jerryworld in Dallas is gaining steam. If that happens, then the game will just been known as the semi-final as the city of Pasadena retains the name Rose Bowl. Second, and worst,  the folks at the Rose Bowl have said that if the game is moved, there will be no game played in Pasadena on 1-1-2021. Hmmmm.

...Speaking of doormats;  Nebraska lost again last weekend.  The Huskers were shucked by Minnesota, 24-17.  I guess that big hissy fit the folks in Lincoln threw about wanting to play this year was really worth it. Because I know when my team goes 2-5, I'm just thrilled to have watched them play.  SMH.

...Not surprised;  Less than twelve hours after the Pac 12 announced their week seven football matchups that feature seeded parings of North and South opponents, Arizona and Cal was canceled due to COVID rendering both team well short of enough players to play. That leaves me with one question? Is Arizona's Paul Rhoads still the Wildcats interim HC? There's no reason for him to be one now. 

...A football constant; In this year of 2020, there are few things that have remained steady in our world.  However we can all look to one unwavering one; Kansas stinks.  The Jayhawks are 0-8 and their supreme suckitude is a constant we can all count on in this crazy world. 

One last meme for Florida...

Pac 12 Overreactions

• USC is the shakiest 5-0 team ever to take the field. 
• Arizona is just glad the year is over.
• Utah is very happy to win a road game in the snow.
• Washington won't play a road game this year.
• Oregon State is still pondering Pac 12 ball spotting procedures. 
• Cal hopes to just have spring practice.
• UCLA still can't believe they lost. 
• Stanford is just is happy to be home. 
• ASU keeps thinking about that onside kick. 
• Wazzu wants you to know they are still in the league.
• Colorado is suddenly silent.
• Oregon's second chance lottery ticket came through.

Unnecessary Uniform of the Week

This week's winner is BYU. There's no real reason for the The Cougars to ever wear a black uniform. It just doesn't fit who they are. It looks as ridiculous as when Stanford wears them. SMH.

  

Departments

Low Score Game of the Week: West Point, NY- How could any other game but Army-Navy game make it into this week's column?  It was the first time the two academies have met at West Point since 1943.  It also became Army's first ever win over the Midshipmen at West Point.  The game was a great anachronism of purely ground and pound offenses and tough defenses played in a damp fog for the entree 60 minutes.  The Black Knights of the Hudson took a 3-0 lead into the half thanks to a 37-yard field goal by PK Quinn Maretzki. The key exchange mount of the game that swung it towards Army's fair was the teams fumbled on back-to-back drives.  Army's fumble wasn't recovered as Navy players tried to scoop and score worth it only to see it fall harmlessly out of bounds.  On the next possession, Navy fumbled and Army fell on it right away.  It then took Army five plays to travel 13 yards for the game's only TD. QB Tyhier Tyler knifed in from four-yards out.  Three drives later, Army really put a strangle hold on the game when WR Mark Walker was tackled for a safety by DB Daryan McDonald.  A 40-yard FG by Maretzki would finish off the scoring.  It was Army's first shutout of Navy in 51 years.   

Blowout of the Week:  See Arizona State v. Arizona above.

Razorback Report: Fayetteville, AR- The Hogs were beat by Alabama 52-3 in game that wasn't as close as it looked. 

This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...

.Just about all my gifts are wrapped already this year.

Leftover steak and eggs is a rocking breakfast.

The Mandalorian is one of the coolest shows ever. 

Until next week folks, remember that their are only so many times you can make a last-second comeback.

-The Commissioner 

Week 14

 Hey All,

Welcome to December!  Here's another edition of the the column that makes Tuesdays feel like game days, Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Joe Jares.

Summaries

USC 38 - Washington State 13:  Los Angeles, CA- The Trojans came out fast and strong.. for a quarter or so.  They built up a big lead on the Cougars with hard hitting defense that forced two early turnovers.  USC's offense took advantage of the short fields provided by the defense and engineered two other lighting quick drives that resulted in four, count 'em four TD passes from QB Kedon Slovis to WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. The four TDs are the most scored in a quarter by one player in Trojan history. The Trojans notched another score through the air when Slovis found Tyler Vaughns from 35 yards out to make the score 35-0 SC with 7:11 left in the second quarter. Then the game degenerated into about 38 minutes of garbage time. USC couldn’t really run up a huge number on the hapless Cougars. In fact, USC couldn’t run period. It took until the last play of the game until the Trojans amassed a whopping five total yards rushing.  Most of the second half resembled a Pop Warner scrimmage with both teams emptying their benches. USC played everyone including the walk-ons, while WSU used the their whole traveling party including two different backup QBs on their final drive. Thanks to their opportunistic defense, the Trojans traveled short distances for most of their scores and amassed only 287 total yards. Slovis threw for 282 of those yards, while St. Brown totaled just 65 yards on his seven receptions and those four touchdowns. For the overwhelmed  Cougars, QB Jayden de Laura completed 18 of 29 passes for 134 yards and two interceptions.

Telling Stat: They killed their own clock; Down 38-6 with 12:15 left to play, Wazzu’s backups went on a 16-play, 93 yard drive against USC’s backups that ended in a TD, but ran 10::38 off the clock. It was a weird game folks. 

California 21- Oregon 17: Berkeley, CA- The fans of the Golden Bears perched high up on Tightwad Hill were treated to a much happier ending than last week when Cal dropped a heartbreaker to Stanford. This time it was Ducks turn to cry in Strawberry Canyon. Cal trailed 17-14 at the half. UO's 17 points came by a 21-yard FG by Henry Katleman, a 39-yard scoring strike form QB Tyler Shough to WR Johnny Johnson III and 1-yard TD jaunt by RB Cyrus Habibi-Liko.  Cal's 14 points came on pair of 1-yard TD dives from QB Chase Garbers and RB Bradrick Shaw. The second half was a defensive struggle with the Golden Bears keeping the Webfoots off the scoreboard to match 0 on the back of their shiny chrome helmets. Cal took the lead for good with 5:14 left in the third quarter when Garbers connected with WR Niko Remigio for a 28-yard touchdown.  Cal's defense forced two Quack fumbles and held for downs once down the stretch to secure the hard fought win.  Garbers led the Cal offense, completing 20 of 32 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown.  Shough was the big gun for the Ducks, completing 14 of 26 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown.

Telling Stat: Second half shutdown; Cal bent, but didn't break v. the Ducks and pitched a second half shutout through sheer toughness.  They only gave up 118 yards in the second half and forced four punts, two fumbles and held for downs once to get a big win.

Colorado 24- Arizona 13: Tucson, AZ- The Wildcats played host to the undefeated Buffaloes. For about the first 20 or so minutes of play, Arizona looked like it may just get a win. Reality then came down like a hammer on the Wildcats in the form of CU RB Jarek Broussard.  The Wildcats built up a 13-0 lead through then first quarter and change via a 26-yard TD rumble by RB Gray Brightwell and two FGs by PK Lucas Havrisik that covered 38 and 42 yards.  Colorado then established their rushing attack with authority when Broussard ripped off a 75-yard run from his own five-yard line to setup the Buffs with a first down at the UofA 20-yard line.  Three more runs later, RB Ashaad Clayton hit paydirt form a yard out to cut UofA'a lead to 13-7. Broussard broke off a 59-yard run on CU's next possession which set up Clayton for a four-yard score and a 14-13 lead at the half.  CU QB Sam Noyer then went on a 54-yard run of his own as part of an eight play, 80 yard drive that put his squad up 21-13.  Arizona had their chances to regain the lead and had  an 84-yard drive end in an interception at the Colorado one-yard line and an 88-yard drive end when QB Will Plummer's fourth down pass fell incomplete in the Buffaloes end zone. CU put the game away when they got another huge run from Broussard.  This time he raced 72 yards from his own 20 to the UofA eight-yard line. PK Evan Price hit a 19-yard field goal four plays later to put the game out of reach. Broussard had just an incredible day for the Buffs, toting the rock 25 times for 301 yards.  For the winless Wildcats RBs Michael Wiley and Gary Brightwell combined for 29 carries, 239 yards and a TD.  

Telling Stat: A Buffalo stampede in big chunks. Colorado ran over, around and through the Wildcats for 407 yards on 46 carries. they also ripped off single runs of 59, 75, 72, 54 yards on the hapless Arizona defense. 

Stanford 31- Washington 26: Seattle, WA- The Cardinal were turned into nomads when strict COVID quarantine orders left them with leaving Palo Alto for the rest of the season as their only viable option to keep playing games.  Their home game with the Huskies got turned into a road game. That gave the Washington a fourth straight home game and all the advantages that come with that.  Heck, Stanford even had to have their Friday walk-through practice in a public park. So naturally the Cardinal beat the Huskies. After all it is 2020. The Cardinal also did it what has become typical Stanford style over the last decade or so. They ran the ball well and used their huge WRs and TEs to lead from start to finish.  A pair of short TDs scampers by RB Austin Jones after long drives gave Stanford a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.  A TD run of three yards by RB Nathaniel Peat and a 42-yard FG by PK Jet Toner in the second quarter gave Stanford a 24-3 half-time lead.  The Huskies were down 21-0 to Utah last week and rallied to win. This week, UW mounted another comeback, but it would fall short. UW did close the gap to 31-26 with 7:54 left, but would never touch the ball again. Stanford pushed the Huskies around while traveling 79-yards to run out the clock.  SU QB Davis Mills completed 20 of 30 passes for 252 yards and a TD, while Jones tallied 138 yards on 31 carries and two TDs in the upset win. For the Huskies, QB Dylan Morris threw for 254 yards and RB Sean McGrew ran for two TDs. 

Telling Stat: An old school finish; Faced with a tired defense with a lot of time left to kill, the Stanford offense ran the ball on 12 of 14 plays in a drive that covered 79 yards to run the final 7:47 left off the clock and walk out Husky Stadium with big win. 

UCLA 25- Arizona State 18: Tempe. AZ-  The game time temperature of 55 degrees was the third coldest at kickoff in Sun Devil Stadium history. The Sun Devils themselves came out equally cold and were shutout for most of the first half by the bRuins.  ASU hadn't played since their opener weeks ago and it looked like it. UCLA took advantage of the SunDevils rust and built up a 17-0 lead. bRuin QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson returned to the lineup after a couple of weeks of COVID quarantine and threw a TD pass to WR Delon Hunt and ran for an 11-yard touchdown.  PK Nicholas Barr-Mira's 44-yard field goal accounted for UCLA's other three points in the first half.  ASU managed to drive the ball to UCLA 31-yard line just before the half and PK Jack Luckhurst knocked it through the uprights from 49-yard out to cut into bRuins lead going into the intermission. The second half saw ASU flip the script on UCLA.  ASU shut down UCLA's offense for most of the second half, but major mistakes in all facets of the game gave UCLA the chance it needed to win the game. ASU did manage to take an 18-17 lead with 4:26 left to play, but the Sun Devils also turned the ball over twice, (once at the UCLA one-yard line), missed a field goal but had two other TDs called back on penalties. Thompson-Robinson turned in his best drive of the night when his squad needed it most. He led the bRuins on a 75-yard drive that was capped off by rather odd TD run by RB Demetric Felton. With a first and goal UCLA was trying to run the clock down in order to set up a chip shot field goal attempt.  ASU HC Herm Edwards decided that letting UCLA score a TD would give his team a better chance to comeback than to try and block a field goal.  The ASU defense put up token resistance while Felton tried to stop short of the goal line. ASU's defense basically escorted him into the end zone.  Robinson then found WR Chase Cota for the two-point conversion to extend the lead to seven points.  The Sun Devils last chance drive died at their own 49-yard line and UCLA had the win.  Robinson finished the game with 192 yards passing with a TD to go with 49 yards rushing and a TD in the win.  In the tough loss, QB Jayden Daniels threw for 225 yards and a TD in the air to go with one he got on the ground.

Telling Stat: Four major miscues=L;  Two turnovers deep in UCLA territory and two TDs called back by penalties sunk the Sun Devils in this game. 

 Utah 30- Oregon State 24: Salt Lake City, UT- The Beavers arrived at Rice-Eccles Stadium minus their starting QB Tristan Gebbia and top RB.  Gebbia was out due to the leg injury he should have never suffered last week v. Oregon. Jefferson was part of a group of players that were held out for COVID reasons.  The Utes took advantage of their absence to build up a 30-10 lead with 14:37 left in the final quarter. Then, while Utah began to feel good about themselves, OSU made a comeback. The Beavers put together TD drives of 65 and 61 yards against that had been a pretty stingy Utah defense.  OSU QB Chance Nolan, the one-play hero of last week's upset of Oregon, tried to pull off another shocker.  The kid came close, but the last two times his squad had the ball they were stopped on downs in Utah territory.  Nolan finished the game completing 20 of 38 aerials for 202 yards, a TD and an interception. QB Jake Bentley threw for 127 yards and a TD, while RB Ty Jordan ran for a 167 yards on 27 carries and a TD for the victorious Utes. 

Telling Stat: Two out, too bad for Beavers;  Missing QB Tristan Gebbia and RB Jermar Jefferson from their lineup was the deciding factor int this game. 

Observations

...Big Ten scramble mode- GO!; The Michigan-Ohio State game has been cancelled due COVID concerns with the Wolverines. That leaves TheeeOSU ineligible for the league title game because they haven't played enough conference games. I'm sure the Big Ten is about to come up with a rule change right now. 

...They gone; Cincinnati would like to see its’ warmest regards to BYU for taking themselves out of the New Year’s Six picture. 

...Fox hosed;  The Michigan-Ohio State game was Fox's Big Noon showcase game this week.  Ouch. 

...Not qualified;  No wonder the officiating in the Pac 12 is poor.  The league's own supervisor of officiating isn't qualified for the job.  Never worked a Power 5 game

...The got ‘em in; For the first time in this abbreviated season, the Pac 12 actually got all six scheduled games played this past weekend. 

...explOsion; With all his tirades this year on the LSU sideline Coach O looks to have lost it. 

...Longhorn down; RIP to former Texas HC Fred Akers who had the temerity to succeed legend Darrell Royal in Austin.

...5 pick Rice;  Congrats to Rice who shutout previously undefeated Marshall 20-0.  The Rice defense piked off five passes in the win.

...Good move, Gameday; Pretty stoked to see College Gameday headed to West Point this week for the Army-Navy game. Remember, football is the easiest thing the Cadets and Midshipmen do all week. 

...What happens in Antigua, gets shown on Bravo; UNLV QB Max Gilliam has apologized for eating sushi off a nude model while appearing on the reality TV show Below Decks. SMH Viva Antigua

...Not giving it up; Get this straight folks, no Pac 12 North team is going to give up a spot in the Pac 12 title game if USC and Colorado both end up undefeated after this Saturday.  

...Slouching towards Tucson; Keep an eye on the Arizona- Arizona State game this week. It may the last time you see HC Kevin Sumlin coach the Wildcats. 

...Memo to the eastern writers; If Colorado RB Jarek Broussard doesn't get a spot on the freshman All-America team, you're just a bunch of idiots.

...No Lane Train;  Sorry to see the Ole Miss-Texas A&M game was cancelled this week.

...Just a rumor; There is no truth to the rumor that LSU's defensive backs will be known as Roasted, Toasted, Basted, and Burnt for the rest of the season.

...Memo to Washington HC Jimmy Lake;  The game actually starts on the opening kickoff. 

....So relieved; It’s great to know the TheeeOSU HC Ryan Day will be back to work this week. He was sure missed in the Buckeyes 52-12 thumping of Michigan State.

...Those incredible shrinking bowls; With the cancellation sow the Las Vegas and LA Bowls, the Pac 12 is down to four bowl tie-ins. They are a New Year's Six game, Alamo Bowl, Independence Bowl and the Armed Forces Bowl. Sigh. 

 Pac 12 Overreactions

• USC can't run the ball well enough to win the weak Pac 12.
• Colorado will surprise someone in a bowl game.
• Oregon keeps wondering when Phil Knight will want his money back.
• Wazzu fans all of sudden miss having Mike Leach around.
• ASU is the almost team of the Pac 12. They almost win games. 
• Washington will finally play a road game.
• UCLA needs a giant jar of Stickum.
• Stanford seems to be digging life on the road.
• Utah is just happy to finally get a win.
• Arizona just might win the Territorial Cup.
• Cal loves the taste of Duck.
• Oregon State is three bad spots away from a winning season. 

Not So Ugly Uniform of the Week

This all-gray ensemble for Arizona isn't bad.  However, why wear this at home?  Its a pretty cool road gray uniform. 

Departments 

Low Score Game of the Week: Madison, WI- In this madness that is 2020, Wisconsin finds themselves as the only FBS team to be in this department twice in one season.  The Badgers are the losing team again too. This time in a 14-6 loss to Indiana.  The Hoosiers were without their starting QB who is out for the season and still managed to outscore the hapless Badgers.  Indiana was outgained by over 100 yards, but forced a pair of TDs and allowed only a pair of short field goals on Wisconsin's two trips into the red zone. 

Razorback Report: Columbia, MO- The Hogs came up just a little short in a game that featured 171 offensive plays, 1,119 yards of total offense and 71 first downs.  The 50-48 loss was heartbreaking indeed. Up next form the Hogs is a date with Alabama. 

This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...

Lionel trains at Christmas time are still cool.

A good pastrami sandwich can make your whole day.

I'm sick of Santa Ana winds.

Until next time, remember that you have to run the ball well to win championships.

-The Commissioner

Week 13

 Hey All,

It's time for the Thanksgiving weekend wrap-up edition of Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Mel Durslag.

Summaries

Colorado 20- San Diego State 10: Boulder, CO- On Thanksgiving night, Colorado's game at USC was canceled due to positive tests and subsequent contact tracing that left the Trojans without an offensive line.  That in turn left Colorado to find a backup opponent. San Diego State was happy to come to Boulder for a game.   The teams didn't have much time to prepare for each other.  Neither offense really shined in this game, but the Colorado defense was able to almost completely shutdown the Aztec offense. That led to Colorado being able to find enough yards and points to grind out a victory to stay undefeated in this abbreviated season.  The Buffs took an early 7-0 lead when they traveled 83 yards in 11 plays for a TD on their first possession of the game. QB Sam Noyer crossed the double stripe from a yard out for the score. Partway through the second period Noyer connected with WR Jaylon Jackson from three yards out to give CU a 14-0 lead.  Noyer then kept SDSU in the game two drives later when his errant aerial was intercepted by CB Darren Hall who took it back 57-yards for what would be SDSU's only touchdown. Then, with :04 left in the second quarter Aztec PK Matt Araiza made good from 48 yards away to cut CU's lead to 14-10 at the half.  The second half proved to be little more than a glorified scrimmage with Colorado PK Evan Price making good on kicks of 36 and 42 yards, while Araiza had a 50-yard FG attempt blocked and missed a 44-yarder late in the final period.

Telling Stat: There's No O in Aztecs; SDSU could not find a way to beat the Colorado defense. The Buffaloes held the Aztecs to 155 total yards, just 4 for 17 on third down conversions and didn't allow an offensive touchdown. 

Oregon State 41- Oregon 38: Corvalis OR- The Ducks had been anointed by the media as the only hope for the Pac12 to reach the College Football Playoff promptly went out and failed to live up to that hype in the fog and rain of Corvalis. For the first three quarters this game it looked like the Ducks had this one in hand, having done just enough to keep the Beavers at bay.  The Beavers had a puncher's chance, but seemed to be getting outboxed by the Webfoots.  Then in the fourth quarter, the Beavers punches started landing with power and the Ducks were stunned. 2:37 into the fourth quarter the Beavers finished a long TD drive, picked off UO QB Tyler Shough and turned that pickoff into another touchdown to take a 34-31 lead on a two-yard blast by RB Jermar Jefferson. The suddenly trialing Ducks put together an answering drive that was capped off with 1-yard TD run by RB Cyrus Habibi-Liko to retake the lead at 38-34. UO then breathed a sigh of relief when their defense held for downs on OSU's next drive with 2:18 to play.  However, the Quacks could only gain two yards and run just 23 seconds off the clock on their next possession.  That left the Beavers with a chance at their own 47-yard line with 1:55 left to play.  OSU QB Tristan Gebbia competed fovea passes to set up his squad with a first and goal at the Ducks six-yard line. Here is where things got a bit crazy.  After a gain of four by Jefferson set up a second down at the two-yard line, Gebbia looked to have scored on a QB sneak.  However, the Pac 12 refs who haven't given the a good spot to the Beavers all year, placed the ball just outside the end zone.  Gebbia's next sneak attempt was marked short as well with a huge offside not called by the refs. On that attemp Gebbia pulled his hamstring. He was out of the game. That left the the Orange and Black with a fourth and goal a the UO 6-inch line and true Frosh backup QB Chance Nolan under center. No problem. Nolan took the fourth down snap and snuck into paydirt behind a big push form his offensive line and he became a Beaver hero for all-time in the process.  The OSU defense forced a fumble on UO's last gasp drive to secure the huge rivalry upset win. For the victorious Beavers, Jefferson had another huge game, rushing for 226 yards on 29 carries and two TDs.  For the losers with ugly uniforms from Eugene, QB Tyler Shough passed for 285 yards, a pair of TDs and two interceptions. 

Telling Stat: Running Beavers;  For the second straight week the Oregon defense could not stop the run and this week it got them beat.  OSU racked up 269 yards on 44 carries for a nifty 6.1 yard per carry in their upset win. 

Washington 24- Utah 21: Seattle, WA- The Utes were embarrassed by USC last week. The Utes promised to come out and avenge that loss on the Huskies. A team they traveled to play after both UW's game with Wazzu and their own game at ASU was canceled due to COVID problems for both the Cougars and Sun Devils. The Utes held to their promise for the first 30 minutes of play. Utah blocked, tackled and did everything else well en route to building up a 21-0 halftime lead over the Huskies. Then the second half started and the teams revered roles.  The Dawgs went right down the field to start the half with a TD drive that covered 72 yards in six plays and was capped off with a two-year TD romp by RB Kamari Pleasant.  The Husky defense picked off Utah QB Jake Bentley on the ensuing series and the offense turned that into a field goal to cut Utah's lead to 21-10  midway through the third period. Then right before the quarter ended, the UW defense held Utah for downs at their 41. Three plays later, TE Cade Otton snagged a 21-yard TD pass from QB Dylan Morris to cut the Utah lead to 21-17. The fourth quarter began with Utah showing some signs of life with their offense. The kids from Salt Lake had a first down at the Husky 12-yard line with 14:12 to play.  RB Ty Jordan was nailed for a two-yard loss and fumbled.  The Huskies recovered the fumble.  Utah would never get that close to scoring again. After a defensive scramble for the next few drives, the Huskies found themselves starting a march at their own 12-yard line. The Huskies moved the ball 88 yards in 12 plays with Morris once again finding Otton in the end zone for the go ahead score.  The Dawgs completed sealed the comeback victory when they picked off Bentley at their own 30-yard line with :07 left. It was the Huskies first comeback win of 21 or more points since they climbed out of a 21-point hole to beat Cal, 28-27 in 1988. Morris threw for 272 yards, a pair of TDs and three interceptions to lead the UW offense, while Bentley threw for 144 yards, a TD and two picks in the tough loss for the Utes.

Telling Stat: -1 =L; Utah lost the turnover battle and the game.  Nobody lives off turnovers like Utah. They are -4 this year and 0-2 because of it. 

Stanford 24- California 23- Berkeley, CA- Could the Golden Bears keep Stanford winless on the season? Could the Golden Bears keep The Axe for a second straight year? Could the Golden Bears make a lousy extra point?  The answer to all three of these questions is no and that's why The Axe resides once again in Palo Alto.  It sure was a wild ending to the game as Cal trailed 24-17 with 3:30 left to play with a first and ten at their own 10-yard line after a great Stanford punt.  Cal then covered the 90 yards to paydirt mostly on the ground with 65 of the yards coming from their rushing attack and a couple of good scrambles by QB Chase Garbers.  The what-should-have-been-tying score came when RB Christopher Brown, Jr. battled his way into the Cardinal end zone from three yards out. Then with :58 seconds left and overtime looming, PK Dario Longhetto's PAT was blocked by DE Thomas Booker who caved in the Cal line to get to the kick. You could hear the howls of pain from the only fans in attendance, the Cal supporters way up on Tightwad Hill.  After recovering the now necessary onside kick, Stanford ran out the clock and ran away with the Axe for the 10th time in the last 11 years. For the Cardinal, QB Davis Mills competed 24 of 32 passes for 205 yards and a TD while RB Austin Jones chipped in with 85 yards on 21 carries and two TDs.  In the losing effort, Garbers completed 19 of 29 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns while RB Damien Moore led all rushers with 121 yards on 10 carries.  

Telling Stat: Not the Big Four they wanted;  California had two kicks blocked and two turnovers that were the difference in this game. 

UCLA 27- Arizona 10: Pasadena, CA- Things started off bad and didn't really get much better in yet another Wildcats loss to the bRuins at the Rose Bowl. After the opening kickoff went for a touchback, UofA QB Grant Gunnell completed a pass to RB Gary Brightwell for two yards. That would be the extent of Gunnell's time on the field. He hurt his shoulder on that play and didn't return. In his place, came Will Plummer, a freshman who had never played a down of college football. The bRuins then forced a punt and handed the Wildcats a golden opportunity when they went for and failed on fourth and one from their own 25-yard line. Four plays later, UofA RB Michael Wiley darted into the end zone from three yards out to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead.  UofA would never seriously threaten to to get into the end zone the rest of the game.  UCLA also was using their backup QB, but Chase Griffin had almost knocked off the Ducks the week before and he could run and throw.  UCLA leaned heavily on their rushing attack and built up a 20-7 lead at the half behind two FGs from PK Nicholas Barr-Mira, a 16-yard TD reception by RB Brittiain Brown and a one-yard TD run for RB Demetric Felton.  The game degenerated into a sloppy affair in the second half with the bRuins seemingly content to just run the clock on offense and let their defense pin down the anemic Wildcats.  Felton had himself a great game. He lugged the leather 32 times for 206 yards and a TD.  However, Felton's last rush of the night was costly. With a little over a minute to play, Felton pulled up lame with what looked like a right hamstring pull. As for the still winless Wildcats, Plummer completed 17 of 35 passes for 151 yard and two interceptions in the loss. 

Telling Stat; Second Half stranglehold;  The UCLA defense allowed a field goal, forced two punts, picked off two passes and held for downs once in the second half to keep Arizona winless on the year. 

Observations 

...Delusional out west;  Did anyone really think the Pac 12 had a shot at the College Football Playoff with only seven games being played at most by the league champ?  So please don't cry over the vastly overrated Ducks and the Clay Helton Trojans. There was no way the media was ever gonna give the Pac 12 champ anything but a token New Year's Six Bowl slot. 

...Aggies for Irish;  Texas A&M fans have to be huge Notre Dame fans right now.  They need ND to win out and crush Clemson in the ACC title game to have a chance at making the CFP. 

...We feel you Nick;  Bama HC Nick Saban was sidelined for the Iron Bowl rivalry game between his Crimson Tide and Auburn due to contracting COVID.  He said he yelled at the TV screen a few times while Steve Sarkisian led the Crimson Tide in his place.  All of us Trojan fans feel you bro, we all yelled at the screen a lot when Sark was the HC at SC. 

...Get back and this way;  Ever notice how the guy that's the Get-Back Coach who you see always telling players to get back form the sideline is also the guy that always points the which way his team needs to run after they get a turnover?  Hmmmmm

...It wasn't flagged; I know the penalty distance would have been about two inches, but how the heck do you miss this encroachment with contact? SMH Pac 12 refs. Even Glasses Ref would have called this.

...A fine line between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning; Vanderbilt HC Derek Mason just found that out the hard way.  He helped make history by tabbing Sarah Fuller as the team's PK when the Commodores specialists all became unavailable due to COVID issues last Saturday. (Which you all know by now made her the first woman to suit up and play for a Power 5 team.) Then Mason became history on Sunday morning when hew was fired by the Vandy braintrust.  Mason's Vandy squads were a paltry 27-55 under his leadership. This year's squad was 0-8 when he got canned.

...They can play;  UCLA's running game is strong and they are a QB who doesn't hand the ball out like appetizers at a tailgate away from making a serious run in the Pac 12. 

...An Awful six pack;  UTEP's game at Southern Miss has been canceled this week leaving the Miners with a sixth straight game cancellation due to COVID issues with them or their opponents. 

...Its' a Cyclone world;  Iowa State's win at Texas has all but assured the Cyclones a spot in the Big XII title game where they could win their first league crown since 1921. Wow.

...Northwest bubble;  With Santa Clara County tightening their COVID measures to the point where contact sports cannot be played, Stanford has decided to take their act on the road.  The Cardinal will travel to Seattle today to prepare for their game at Washington, then travel to Coravalis to practice and play at Oregon State.  The Beavers gain a home game as this one was originally scheduled to be played in Palo Alto. 

...Just say N-O;  Northwestern and Oregon fell from the ranks of the unbeatens in opposite ways. Northwestern couldn't come back form an early hole, while the Ducks came from ahead to lose. 

...Orange embarrassment;  Syracuse QB Rex Culpepper lost track of the downs after being sacked on Syarcuse's final drive.  He spiked then ball to kill the clock on fourth down. SMH Fourth Down Fail

...A good leg gone;  After losing his job to Frosh phenom Parker Lewis, USC PK Chase McGrath has entered the transfer portal. 

...3-0 never felt so good; If you're a Colorado fan, 2020 has become a pretty good year.  Seriously, your year started with HC Mel Tucker promising he was in for the long haul in Boulder to only drop your team like a hot rock and leave you saddled with retread Karl Dorrell.  All Dorrell has done is start out 3-0 with a team that couldn't even practice together until October. 

...This just in;  Michigan stinks.  Yeah. its old news, but the Wolverines are just playing out the string waiting for Jim Harbaugh to take his Khakis somewhere else.  

...Waiting for 2021;  As Captain of Tough Turkeys, I have to say I am disappointed that my squad did not get to square off against the Cranberry Crushers this year.  That means by the time next year rolls around, my squad will be on a there-year winless streak. 

A Mess in the Midwest: The Big Ten in a COVID hole

Minnesota canceled their game with Northwestern this week after reporting 47, yes 47 positive COVID tests among the team and staff.  That cancellation has handed the Big Ten West title to Northwestern. Even if the Wildcats lose their rivalry game to Illinois on 12/12, their 5-2 record would get them in over a possible 6-2 Iowa squad because the Wildcats beat Iowa earlier in the year.

Ohio Sate is the Big Ten's big hope for the College Football Playoff, but all it will take is another cancellation on their schedule to make them ineligible to play for the conference crown under the rules adopted  by the league for this season. The Buckeyes haven't had a full practice since last week and their game at Michigan State is in jeopardy.  Also, if they actually get the game with the Spartans in, their final opponent, arch-rival Michigan shutdown their facilities on Monday in response to to "presumptive positive tests."  So, if the Buckeyes can't play for their own league title, would the CFP Selection Committee choose the Buckeyes for the playoff? Hmmmmmm

Pac 12 Overreactions

• Arizona State may not play another game this season.
• Washington may play a road game this year.
• Oregon State will finish 3-3.
• USC will only play four games.
• Arizona will go 0-5.
• Cal won't miss another PAT this season.
• Oregon will be called for offsides eventually.
• Utah's lack of a real QB will cost them two more games.
• Wazzu just wants folks to know they are still in the league.
• UCLA's rushing attack alone will win them one more game.
• Stanford may move to Reno.
• Colorado is just happy to be 3-0.

Ugly Uniform of the Week

This week's winners are Indiana, Oregon and Oregon State.  The Hoosiers share a piece of this week's award for wearing that dreaded camo uniform v. Maryland, while Oregon and Oregon State win for wearing a set of TV screen-breaking uniforms that were dulled by fog most of the game. 

Departments

Low Score Game of the Week: Annapolis, MD- Memphis got a 26-yard field goal from PK Riley Patterson with 10:53 left to play in the final period to lift the Tigers to a 10-7 win over Navy at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The teams traded first quarter scores with the Midshipmen striking first on a 22-yard run by FB Nathan Smith,  That's right, it was a TD run from that rarely seen position known as a Fullback. Memphis' lone TD came on a 14-yard TD toss from QB Brady White to WR Calvin Austin III.  The key to victory for Memphis was stopping Navy on third down where they held the Midshipmen to just 2-of-13 on third down conversions. 

Blowout Game of the Week: Orange City, IA- This week's game comes from the Great Plains Athletic Conference where the Red Raiders of Northwestern (IA) whipped the Jamestown Jimmies, 49-0. QB Tyson Kooima's four TD passes staked the Red Raiders to a 28-0 with 9:25 left in the third period. A blocked punt on Jamestown's ensuing possession put the Red Raiders up 35-0.  Two short TD runs later and Northwestern had the easy win in hand. Kooima completed 16 of 21 passes for 285 yards and those four TDs, while Northwestern defense held Jamestown to 105 total yards and just eight first downs. 

Razorback Report: With COVID rendering everything up in the air, the Razorbacks are scheduled to play Missouri on 12/5. 

This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...

The leftovers meal a day or two after Thanksgiving is alway the best meal of the year. 

Got the new boxcars I ordered for my Lionel Christmas setup.  Yes, I am a nerd.

I still look forward to reading the Sunday comics each week in my local newspaper. 

Until next time folks, enjoy the games we've got for as long as we got 'em.

-The Commissioner

Week 12

 Hey All,

It's time again for the column that you love to read that isn't behind a paywall, Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard.  We still miss you, Bud Furillo.

Summaries

USC 33- Utah 17: Salt Lake City, UT- The Trojans were facing their third straight team that hadn't played a game yet when they took on the Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium.  Utah's lack of a deep threat on offense helped the Trojans defense concentrate on shutting down the Utes rushing attack. USC held Utah to just 111 yards rushing, but the Utes held USC to just 93 yards on the ground. So, it came down to who had the best passing attack to decide the game. That the Trojans had, even with QB Kedon Slovis still looking off all game which only fueled the rumors that he is injured in some way but still playing. Slovis completed 24 of 35 aerials for 264 yards and a pair of TDs.  The Trojans forced four Utah turnovers and shut them out in the second half.  Ute QB Jake Bentley  completed 16 of 28 passes for 171 yards, A TD and two huge interceptions in the losing effort. 

Telling Stat: A leg up in Salt Lake; USC Freshman PK Parker Lewis had an outstanding game in the cold Utah night.  He was perfect on all his kicks including a 47-yarder to ice the game with 1:03 to play. That last kick would have been good from 57 yards as it was still rising as it passed over the crossbar.  

Oregon State 31- California 27: Corvalis, OR- This game featured two squads looking for their first win to make a needed step forward with their respective programs. The teams traded punches from the opening kickoff with he Beavers having just a little bit more in the tank than the Golden Bears.  OSU found the end zone on the first play form scrimmage when RB Jermar Jefferson ran through a hole in the Cal defense the size of Strawberry Canyon and sprinted 75-yards for a touchdown. OSU would tally another score and take a 14-7 lead at the end of the first period. The second stanza belonged to Cal.  A 21-yard TD toss from QB Chase Garbers to WR Kekoa Crawford and a pair of FGs from PK Dario Longhetto put the Berkley Boys up 20-17 at the intermission. The third quarter saw both defenses assert themselves with the only score being a 35-yard FG by OSU PK Everett Hayes. The fourth quarter saw the teams trade TDs with Cal holding a 27-24 lead with 5:26 to play. That's when the Beavers special teams made the play of the game when they blocked Cal's punt to set up the offense with a first and ten at the Golden Bears 14-yard line. two plays later Jefferson knifed into the end zone form seven yards out and OSU led, 31-27.  Cal then mounted one last drive to try and win the game.  They drove the ball from their own 21 to the OSU 10-yard line only to have Garbers' 1st and Goal pass tipped high into the air and intercepted by OSU. The Beavers then ran out the clock and picked up their first win of the year. Big stat games for both teams here with Jefferson carrying the ball 18 times for 196 yards and two TDs. As for the now 0-2 Bears, Garbers compete 28 of 42 passes for 315 yards and three TDs.

Telling Stat: Red Zone picks for the win; Cal statistically won this game, but Oregon State picked off two Cal passes inside their own 10-yard line to hold on for the win. 

Washington 44- Arizona 27: Seattle, WA- The Huskies used a 17-point first quarter en route to a 24-0 half-time lead over the Wildcats.  They then extended that lead to 37-0 through three quarters. The Dawgs then held a 44-6 lead with 11:34 left play before taking the rest of the game off while Arizona put up a lot of garbage time yards and points in game that truly was nowhere near as close as the final score indicates. The UW Offense routinely drove for long scores in the game while the Husky defense kept he Wildcats bottled up for the first three plus quarters.  In fact, UofA had been held to 46 total yards until :58 were left in the third quarter. The Husky offense buried the Wildcats with a balanced attack that threw for 239 yards and rushed for 233.  QB Dylan Morris completed 15 of 25 passes for 230 yards and two TDs while backfield mate RB Richard Newton led all rushers with 81 yards on eight carries and a pair of TDs of his own. TE Cade Otton (Brad's nephew) was the game's top receiver with seven catches for 100 yards and a score.  As for the Wildcats, QB Grant Gunnell threw for 259 yards and three scores long after the game was firmly in the W column for the Dawgs.

Telling Stat;  Positive Negatives; The Washington defense held three Arizona drives for negative yards while also forcing a fumble, a turnover on downs and five punts which allowed the Huskies offense build up a 44-6 lead early in the fourth quarter. 

Oregon State 38- UCLA 35: Eugene, OR- The bRuins  came prepared for a duck hunt.  Even with their starting QB out due to COVID tracing, the offense still clicked with backup Chase Griffin at the controls. However, the turnover bug and one real bad play call kept the bRuins form leaving Eugene with a huge upset in HC Chip Kelly's return to the land of Phil Knight.  UCLA turned the ball over twice in the first quarter and that staked the Ducks to a quick 14-0 lead. UCLA fought the Quacks tough the rest of the half.  UCLA led 21-17 thanks to a one-yard run by RB Demetric Felton, a fumble return for a TD by DB Qwuantrezz Knight and a 32-yard TD reception by TE Greg Dulcich.  Then, with :06 left in the half the bRuins eschewed the idea of falling on the ball and taking a lead into the break.  They threw one last pass and it was picked off by UO's Jordan Happle who took the rock back 58-yards for a TD.  The Bruins would never hold the lead again.  It was a back and forth affair in the second half, but UO maintained their lead with strong scoring drives and key defensive stops. The Ducks were finally able to claim the victory when Griffin's fourth down pass with :19 left fell harmlessly to the Autzen Stadium turf. For the Ducks, QB Tyler Shough completed 19 of 34 tosses for 334 yards and there TDs.  For the hard luck bRuins, Griffin threw for 195 yards and a TD while Felton tore up the Ducks defense for 167 yards on 34 carries with two TDs.

Telling Stat:  -3=L; Once again turnovers killed the UCLA.  No other stat matters in this game.

Observations

...CBS even said no; How unattractive of a matchup did the Missouri-South Carolina game have to be in order for CBS to choose to televise San Diego State at Nevada instead?  Yes, CBS did originally have Ole Miss at Texas A&M lined up for that the slot, but when the game got cancelled, the execs at the Columbia Broadcasting System looked at Mizzou and SoCar and said, "Yeah, we'll pass."  Hmmmmmmm

...A tool, and bragging rights;  This Friday after Thanksgiving features two Pac 12 rivalry games. Stanford travels to Cal to try and win the Axe back while Oregon and Oregon State will face-off in another edition of The Civil War. 

...Cowboys blues;  Yeah, they are singing the blues in Stillwater after Okie State was crushed by OU... again. I say again, because it is just par for the course in this series.  I call this matchup a series instead of a rivalry because Oklahoma owns a 89-18-7 series edge.  

...Ducking with Dabo; After FSU called off their game with Clemson due to a Clemson player testing positive for COVID who made the trip and had practiced with the team all week, Tigers HC Dabo Swinney accused FSU of ducking out of the game.  FSU HC Mike Norvell denied the accusation in what has become a war of words between the two coaches. Swinney comes off looking like a bigger tool than we already thought he was. Duck Duck Tiger

...We miss 'em too; UCLA HC Chip Kelly remarked on how weird it was to be at Autzen Stadium and not see Puddles, the Duck mascot.  A lot of us Pac 12 fans are missing our mascots too.  SC games just ain't the same without Traveller. 

...Defense there's a defense;  Pretty cool to see Northwestern winning with defense in this era of overblown offenses. 

...Hit by a Cyclone;  This intrepid reporter would love to see Iowa State work over Texas this week in the same say way they blew K-State off the field last Saturday. 

...Third and Perfection; Last Tuesday, Kent State ran up 750 yards in a 69-35 rout of Akron. What's more impressive is that the Golden Flashes went a perfect 11 for 11 on third down conversions.  That makes the Golden Flashes the only FBS team in the last 25 years to be perfect on third downs.

...Somewhere Ara Parseghian is smiling; Northwestern's upset win over Wisconsin marked the Wildcats first double digit win over a Top Ten team since 1959 when Parseghian's Wildcats blasted #2 Oklahoma, 45-13 to open the season.

...Pac 12 After Dark done; With the curfew restrictions in California, universities are not going to seek a special waiver for late kickoffs. That means for the most part that those dreaded 7:30 and later Pac 12 kickoff are mostly out for the rest of the season. 

...A sad cancellation; This year's Thanksgiving battle between the Tough Turkeys and the Cranberry Crushers has been cancelled due to COVID social distancing concerns.  

...3 OT;  Don't know what's worse, is it the fact that Rutgers blew a lead to Michigan and lost in triple OT or the fact that Michigan had to go to triple OT to beat the State College of New Jersey?

...A stolen trophy;  Here's a good story of how The Axe was stolen in the Stanford -Cal rivalry 60 years ago. The Axe is Missing!

...This just in;  Penn State still stinks.  The Nittany Lions are generationally bad at 0-5 for the first time in program history.  What's really staggering is PSU's lack of team speed.  Their games always look like someone put the video feed on Slo-Mo. 

...Another only in 2020 moment; In the third quarter of USC's win over Utah, all of ESPN's camera feeds went out.  That caused quite a stir because the announcers for the game were calling the game from their respective homes. That meant that nobody was able to describe the action.  That sent many of us scrambling for our radios to listen to the game until the camera feeds returned.  Part of me wanted to flip on the radio and hear Tom Kelly's voice calling the acton for the Trojans. 

...Fun Fact; Arizona HC Kevin Sumlin's Wildcats are a dismal, 2-10 in road games since he took over the program in 2018. 

...Be careful what you wish for;  The folks at Nebraska whined, cajoled, protested and otherwise threw a hissy fit to play football this year.  Well, they got to play. The Huskers are 1-3 and are a late defensive stop against Penn State from being the true laughing stock of the Big Ten. Maybe their zeal was a little shortsighted or as this lovely meme says about their desire to play...

Pac 12 Overreactions 

• Colorado loves having an extra week to get ready for USC.
• Oregon got exposed last week.
• USC still has no O-line.
• Stanford will go 2-3.
• Washington will beat Oregon.
• Arizona State just hopes to play again this season.
• UCLA will have a letdown this week.
• Arizona will go 0-6.
• Oregon State will go 3-3
• Wazzu might play this week.
• Cal will beat Stanford.
• Utah may go 0-4. 

The BYU-Washington Conundrum

BYU is 9-0 with a couple of weeks off coming up and declared that they would like to take on a Pac 12 team to fill one of the holes in their schedule. The Cougars want a Pac 12 scalp to pad their resume in hopes of landing a New Year's Six game.  Washington stepped up and said bring it on because the Huskies Apple Cup game with Wazzu has already been cancelled this week.  The Pac 12 and the Huskies though are waiting to see if Utah at ASU gets cancelled.  If that happens then the league will most likely set up the Huskies to play the Utes.  Learning of this, BYU has thrown a little temper tantrum demanding that Washington sign a contract and commit to a game with them right now. This looks like a bunch of bluster coming from BYU, but it seems to be a bit more than that.  BYU thinks that their 9-0 record gives them the power to dictate terms to the Pac 12. Sorry Cougars, while you may be having your best season since 1984, the Pac 12 doesn't care.  Your wannabe power play reeks of desperation; the desperation of knowing that even if you go undefeated, you're still very insecure about your chances of making a New Year's Six bowl. 

Update: SDSU has jumped in and said they will travel to Seattle to take on the Huskies. This is not a surprise, have you ever a bunch of Aztec students pass up a good boat party?  

Ugly Uniform of the Week

This week's honor goes to the Los Angeles Rams.  Their all bone colored ensemble just looks like dingy tighty-whities before you toss them to go get real underwear.  Also, the Rams pretentious names for team colors are awful .  Forever the LA Rams wore Royal Blue, Athletic Gold and White.  Now they wear  Royal, Sol, and Bone. Facepalm.

Heck, I'd take these old Billy Wade era Ram uniforms over their new ones anytime.

Departments 

Low Score Game of the Week: Evanston, IL- In the lowest scoring game in college football last week, the Northwestern Wildcats shutdown the Wisconsin Badgers 17-7, to go 5-0 and claim the inside track to the Big Ten West title and a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Wildcats did it with defense. They took the vaunted Badgers rushing attack and held it to 136 yards. Meanwhile, NU's pass defense picked off Wisconsin QB Greg Mertz three times and sacked him three times as well. For the Wildcats offense QB Peyton Ramsey complete 23 of 44 passes for 203 yards and two TDs.  PK Charlie Kuhbander put the game out of reach for NU when he tacked on a 32-yard field goal with 11:35 to play. 

Blowout Game of the Week: Sioux City, IA- Well folks, the Defenders from Dordt University grace this section once again. This time they walloped the Briar Cliff Chargers, 64-0.  Then Defenders racked up 711 yards of offense in this laugher. 437 of their 711 yards came on the ground with RB Jake Carroll amassing 170 yards on just nine carries with two TDs. QB Noah Clayburg thew for 199 yards an three TDs to lead the Defenders aerial attack. 

Razorback Report: Fayetteville, AR- The Hogs came into their game with LSU down to just a handful of defensive linemen thanks to COVID and put up a valiant effort in a 27-24 loss to the Bayou Bengals. Despite the defense being worn down and just unable to get off the field, the Razorbacks still held a 24-20 lead deep into the fourth quarter.  The dead-tired Hogs defense just could not keep LSU out of the end zone on their final drive and suffered a tough loss.  

This Week's One Note About Thanksgiving...

This will be a strange one, with gatherings small and many loved ones scattered about the land. However, we must thankful we still have them around, even if at a distance.  Many families have empty spots at their tables that will never be filled again. Stay safe folks, and hopefully we see a better Thanksgiving next year.

Until next time folks, remember that just you still have to be able to run the ball when it counts to win games.

-The Commissioner 

Week 11

Hey All,

It's time once again for the column that makes you wish it was Saturday, Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Jim Murray. 

Summaries

USC 34- Arizona 30: Tucson, AZ.- For the second straight week the Trojans pulled a game out in the final minute for another win that felt like a loss in the Clay Helton era. The Helton era at SC has been defined by underachieving teams that lack discipline and toughness.  Those qualities were on full display v. the Wildcats.  The Trojans OL had trouble keeping what was a three-man and sometimes four man rush from forcing QB Kedon Slovis to scramble to find room to throw the ball.  They also had a trouble opening up holes in the run game, (especially in short yardage), against an Arizona squad that was picked to finish dead last in the Pac 12 South.  The defense was no better either, letting UofA QB Graham Gunnell have the time to complete 24 of 36 passes for 286 yards and three TDs.  Still, after a late Wildcat TD to take the lead at 30-27, the Trojans found a way to comeback.  The Trojans got the ball back with 1:35 left on the clock. They then drove 75 yards in 1:10 and then scored the game-wining TD when RB Vavae Malepeai sliced into the end zone from eight yards out.  Slovis finished the game with 325 yards and a TD while RBs Malepeai, Markese Stepp and Stephen Carr combined for 170 yards rushing and three TDs.  

Telling Stat: When they needed it; QB Kedon Slovis completed all five passes he attempted for 67 of the 75 yards the Trojans gained on the game-winning drive. 

Washington 27- Oregon State 21: Seattle, WA-  This game started out like it would be a shootout with the Huskies holding a 24-21 half-time edge despite very iffy play in their kicking game due to some airmailed deep snaps. Both teams decide they were gonna run the ball in the steady Seattle rain and they did it.  The Dawgs crossed the double stripe three times on the ground with a 21-yard and 15-yard TD runs by RB's Sean McGrew and Kamari Pleasant and a 2-yard TD dive by QB Dylan Morris.  OSU's Three first half TDs came via a blocked punt, and a pair of short TD runs by RBs BJ Baylor and Jermar Jefferson.  Then, the second half started and the teams battled to a stalemate.  The defenses adjusted and yards became hard  to come by.  Oregon State's best chance to win the game was to be taken away by a pair of bad spots by the refs in the start of the fourth quarter.  On two straight plunges into the line on third and fourth and short from the UW 5-yard line, Jefferson appeared to make the first down only to have the ball spotted significantly short of where he gained. We all know that spotting the football is an inexact science.  However, the fact that the Pac 12 had to issue a statement defending the bad spots speaks volumes.  Out Damn Bad Spots! The Beavers would never get that close to scoring again.  The teams traded possessions the rest of the game. UW was handed another gift by the Pac 12 refs when they were awarded a very iffy targeting call on the Beavers deep in OSU territory.  The first and goal the Huskies picked allowed them run another 1:30 or so off the clock. That left OSU with very little time and no timeouts to try and mount one final drive.  For the victorious Huskies, McGrew and Pleasant led a rushing attack that racked up 267 yards on the Beavers and three TDs.  As for OSU, Jefferson had himself a good game, carrying the ball 23 times for 133 yards and a touchdown. 

Telling Stat: Refs 3-0= 0-2;  The Pac 12 officials three suspect calls seemed to tip the game to the Huskies in this tight contest which leaves the Beavers at 0-2.

Colorado 35- Stanford 32: Palo Alto, CA- Cardinal QB Davis Mills returned to the field following his false positive COVID test the held him out of SU's opening loss at Oregon.  Mills looked very rusty in the first half. Couple that with Stanford's inability to run the ball and that led to Colorado holding a 28-9 lead with 8:55 left in the third quarter. Oh, and Colorado QB Sam Noyer having a great game for the Buffs had a little to do with that too.  Noyer made all the key plays to lead the Buffs attack.  He only completed 15 of 24 passes on the day for 255 yards, but he hit all the passes he needed in order to frustrate the Cardinal defense. CU frosh sensation RB Jarek Broussard had a great game too.  He didn't find the end zone, but he toted the rock 27 times for 121 yards which is 51 more yards than Stanford ran for as a team. Stanford had to air the ball out after falling behind 19 points and they did it well. Mills threw for one TD and ran for another  while RB Austin Jones chipped in with a two-yard TD run of his own to cut CU's lead to 35-32 with 2:34 to play.  However, SU's last chance to win fell by the wayside when Colorado burned all but the last 10 seconds off the clock on their ensuing possession.  After his slow start Mills ended up completing 35 of 56 passes for 327 yards and a TD through the air and one on the ground. 

Telling Stat: No legs= L; Stanford can't run the ball anymore. They amassed just 70 yards on 21 carries v. Colorado. In two games this year, they've amassed just 267 rushing yards and have been out rushed by their opponents in both games. 

Oregon 43- Washington State 29: Pullman, WA- HC Nick Rolovich's Cougars came out and dominated most of the first half against the Ducks.  The Cougs built up a 16-7 lead over the Quacks with a quick-hitting passing attack.  However, with just :24 left in the first half, the Ducks climbed back into the game.  A 39-yard kickoff return, a 57-yard pass form QB Tyler Shough and 3-yard TD run by RB C.J. Verdell cut the Cougars lead to 19-14 at the half.  Oregon's defense asserted itself in the second half because they remembered that they are Oregon and that Wazzu is well, Wazzu.  The Ducks racked up four more TDs in the second half to run away from the Cougars, 43-29. Shough had a great game for the Webfoots, completing 21 of 30 passes for 312 yard and four touchdowns.  He also ran for 81 yards on nine carries.  Verdell paced all rushers with 118 yards on 18 carries and a score. Freshman QB Jayden de Laura completed 25 of 39 passes for 321 yard and two TDs in the loss for the Cougs.

Telling Stat: The defense came through;  After allowing several long drives in the first half, the Oregon defense allowed only two long drives, forced two punts and held for downs once to allow their offense there time to take control fo the game.

UCLA 34- California 10: Pasadena, CA- The Golden Bears and the bRuins got together for a Sunday meeting after scrambling to find a game after their scheduled games v. ASU and Utah were canceled due to COVID. The game for UCLA  started in the same nightmare fashion that their opener at Colorado did last week.  Cal blocked a bRuins punt and turned that into a 3-0 lead.  UCLA QB Dorian Thompson Robinson then was intercepted on the next UCLA possession and bRuins fans could be heard screaming at their TVs, "Not again!"  However, the UCLA defense forced a Cal punt. After that, it became clear who was the team that had played in the same offense for several years and who was the team that was running a new offense that was installed mostly by Zoom meetings and individual workouts.  Thompson-Robinson simply could not be stopped by the Cal defense.  He ran for one TD, then threw for three others in a first half that saw Thompson-Robinson expose every weakness in the Cal defense.  The bRuins took a 27-10 lead into the intermission.  The second half bogged down as the Golden Bears managed to slow down the bRuins offensive attack, but it didn't do much good as their offense couldn't muster a single score.  UCLA put the exclamation point on their victory when RB Brittain Brown scampered 31 yards through the worn down Cal defense for a final touchdown. Thompson-Robinson completed 14 of 26 passes for 196 yards and three TDs while rushing for 71 yards on 12 carries and another score in the victory.  RB Demetric Felton cracked the century mark for UCLA carrying the ball 25 times for 107 yards.  As for the Golden Bears, QB Chase Garbers produced his team's only real measurable offense by throwing for 122 yard and rushing for six yards and a TD.

Telling Stat: One and done;  Take away Cal's lone TD drive of in the first quarter and UCLA held the Golden Bears to just 13 yards on 20 plays for the rest of the half which gave their offense the opportunity to take control of the game. 

Observations

...Two gone; South Carolina parted ways with HC Will Muschamp on Sunday.  That makes him the second FBS coach to get the ax this season. The first was last week when Utah State parted ways with Gary Andersen.

...De facto Semi Finals;  The Big XII sees Kansas State travel to Iowa State and Oklahoma State travel to Oklahoma this week. The winners of these games would have the inside track to the Big XII Championship game. 

...Recap-less; ESPNs layoff of hundreds of employees can be seen in a lots of little ways.  For instance, along with the box score and other statistical data on every FBS game there used to be an accompanying story on each game.  Not anymore and that's a bad thing. 

...Fun Fact; Michigan's 28-0 halftime deficit to Wisconsin was the largest halftime deficit a Wolverine team faced at home since Michigan Stadium opened way back in 1927.

...Do you know the way to 4-0?; San Jose State is 4-0 and tied with Nevada atop the Mountain West Conference standings.

...Ugly stories in the Bayou; Reports are circling around that LSU ignored multiple sexual complaints against football players. Here's ESPN's story...  No place for this

...2 tarmacs to 1;  After Ole Miss beat South Carolina, 59-42 last Saturday, Gamecocks HC Will Muschamp was fired.  That gives Lane Kiffin an edge in coaching firings after a game.  Lane was famously tarmac'd after SC was embarrassed by ASU in 2013, but Kiffin's 2011 SC squad had already gotten UCLA HC Rick Neuheisal fired after a 50-0 beatdown of the bRuins. 

...No buzz; Funny how with Oklahoma and Texas just about out of the race for the Big XII title, the league hasn't generated any playoff buzz at all lately. Hmmmmmmmmm.

...Delay of Playoff; With the SEC now suffering a rash of postponements and cancellations due to COIVD, look for the College Football Playoff to be moved back.  If it was any other league than the SEC, the CFP wouldn't care. 

...It's gets cold in Iowa; While his Hawkeyes were on their way to a 35-7 win at Minnesota and retaining  possession for the sixth straight year of the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy, Hawkeyes HC Kirk Ferentz called all three of his timeouts in response to Gopher HC PJ Fleck calling a timeout with :19 left.  When questioned why he did that postgame, Ferentz threw some shade at Fleck, "Figured we'd take Floyd with us and leave the timeouts here." 

...D-III finale;  With not many lower division game being played at all this year, the battle for the Secretaries Cup marked the last D-III game to played this season. The Merchant Marine Academy downed the Coast Guard Academy, 24-14 to retain possession of the cup.   

...It's good to be a roommate; UCLA TE Greg Dulcich's roommate is QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson. He already has seven catches for 206 yards and TD in two games.

...Scary trivia;  The plane crash that killed 75 members of the Marshall football team and staff happened 50 years ago this week. The plane involved in the crash was also scheduled that day to make a charter run to fly the Mississippi State football team home from a game at LSU. 

...Crappy Valley;  Penn State is 0-4 after losing to lowly Nebraska. If the Fightin' Nittanys are gonna get a win this year, any one of their final four opponents could supply it.  Iowa may be playing well the last two weeks, but Michigan, Rutgers and Michigan State provide ample opportunities for a win. 

...The man knows his priorities;  5-0 Coastal Carolina HC Jamey Chadwell was contacted about the South Carolina job opening up on Sunday by a local reporter.  His response was priceless. "Right now my wife's van has a brake light out. I'm focused on trying to fix it without getting her upset. I've got bigger issues to worry about. :)"

...A Top Ten Tilt; With a boost in the latest poll, #9 Indiana will face off at #3 Ohio State this Saturday.  A win by the Hoosiers would give them a real shot at their first outright Big Ten title since 1945.

...Memo to USC OC Graham Harrell;  Please quit calling the exact same running play on every third down or fourth down and short.  Everyone knows it is coming. It gets stuffed every time.  It's slow developing, unimaginative and embarrassing to watch. 

...Pain for a parent;  Indiana HC Tom Allen watched his son, Thomas get carted off the field after a season ending injury v. Michigan State.  Sigh.  A hug from Dad

...This just in; USC's offensive line stinks; 

...When the one win guys don't want you back, it's bad;  While reading the Michigan message boards over the weekend it's clear that even the fans of the 1-3 Wolverines don't want former OL Coach Tim Drevno back.  Drevno is currently USC's OL coach. Sigh. 

...Intellectual without the brutality;  Stanford has lost their identity.  They can't run the ball anymore. Seeing that they threw the ball 56 times last Saturday is bad sign for The Farm.

Pac 12 Overreactions 

• Stanford will go 2-4.
• UCLA can beat USC this year.
• Colorado can win the Pac 12 South.
• Wazzu will be this year's almost team.
• Oregon will win the Pac 12 and won't get a sniff of the playoff. 
• Washington will go 3-3.
• Utah might play a game this season.
• USC's OL will get Kedon Slovis hurt.
• Cal won't play a home game the year.
• ASU won't play a game for the rest of the month.
• Oregon State will get all the bad calls this year. 
• Arizona now thinks they are better than really are. 

Ugly Uniform of the Week 

This week's winner is Boise State.  Their blue field is bad enough, but this all-orange uniform is pretty ugly. 

Departments 

Low Score Game of the Week: Madison, SD- Valley City State University QB Jalen Pfeifer threw an eight-yard TD pass in the first quarter and a seven-yard TD pass in the second quarter to give the Vikings a 14-0 lead over the Dakota State Trojans.  The Vikings defense would make those scores hold up for a 14-6 victory. This North Star Athletic Conference game was a defensive struggle with the teams combining for just 18 first downs and 369 total yards. In fact, the Vikings came within one play of a shutout as the Trojans scored on the final play of the game.  No PAT was attempted as both teams decided to forgo the try for point.  That may have had to do with the fact it was 35 degrees, snowing and windy at the time.

Blowout Game of the Week:  Hastings, NE-  Arguably the most notable alum of Hastings University is former Nebraska HC legend Tom Osborne.  Osborne is not proud of his alma after after they were trounced, 65-0 by Dordt University.  The Dordt Defenders did very well defending their end zone v. the Broncos.  They allowed just eight eight first downs and 199 total yards on the afternoon. Meanwhile the Dordt offense found the end zone nine times with QB Noah Clayberg throwing for two TDs and rushing for a third.  Dordt rushed for 420 yards as team and 14 different players handled the ball for the Defenders  in this laugher.

Razorback Report: The week didn't start out well for Arkansas as their HC Sam Pittman was announced to  have tested positive for COVID and it got worse when he Hogs took the field at Florida.  The Gators passed and ran all over Arkansas in a 63-35 Gators rout.  Up next for the Razorbacks is a home game with suddenly beatable LSU.

This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...

 Of course after the beautiful fall weather last week, the Santa Ana Winds returned this week.

Pandemic hobby; I've gotten into tracking my packages that come through FedEx to see what route the drivers have taken across the country.  

You just can't beat homemade biscuits and gravy. 

Until next time folks, remember that if you can't run the ball in short yardage, you really can't win a title.

-The Commissioner