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Summary
- Oregon defeats Ohio State with strong offensive performance.
- Penn State wins dramatically against USC thanks to Tyler Warren.
- Texas dominates Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry.
- Alabama narrowly wins against South Carolina despite weaknesses.
In our brand new College Football Weekly review, we take a look at the most important learnings from the current encounters.
This past weekend in college football offered a wealth of exciting encounters, surprising results and remarkable performances. From Oregon’s offensive fireworks display against Ohio State to Alabama’s dramatic win against South Carolina, fans were treated to some quality football. Let’s take a closer look at the most important developments and their significance for the rest of the season.
Oregon’s offense exposes Ohio State’s defense.
The Ohio State Buckeyes’ previously dominant defense, which allowed an average of just 6.7 points per game, was thoroughly tested by the Oregon Ducks. In an impressive offensive spectacle, Oregon managed to score 32 points and gain almost 500 yards of space.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel showed himself to be equal to the importance of the game and delivered an outstanding performance with 341 passing yards, two touchdown passes as well as 32 rushing yards and another touchdown. This victory was of immense importance to coach Dan Lanning’s program after recent losses to Washington and Georgia.
Ryan Day’s struggles against top teams continue.
Despite a strong performance in a difficult away environment, the Ohio State Buckeyes suffered another loss to a ranked team. Coach Ryan Day’s record against top-five teams falls to 1-7, although he is 0-5 against Oregon and Michigan since 2021.
Although the performance at Autzen Stadium was certainly respectable, weaknesses again emerged in crucial moments. The previously dominant defense couldn’t stop the Ducks and allowed season highs of 496 yards and 32 points.
Penn State’s solution to big plays.
Penn State appears to have finally found a big-play solution under James Franklin: tight end Tyler Warren. Against USC, Warren was the absolute match winner with 17 catches for 244 yards, setting the FBS record for tight ends.
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After a slow start and a 20-6 halftime deficit, Penn State turned the game around in the second half and secured an important win in overtime. This success keeps the Nittany Lions’ playoff hopes alive.
Texas dominates in the Red River Rivalry.
The Texas Longhorns underlined their national title aspirations with an impressive 34-3 win over Oklahoma. After a weak first quarter, Steve Sarkisian’s team turned up the heat and dominated the game in every aspect.
This win gives Texas a lot of confidence for the upcoming big game against Georgia, which is considered one of the most anticipated matchups of the year.
Alabama’s dramatic win over South Carolina.
The Alabama Crimson Tide under their new coach Kalen DeBoer are regularly delivering pure drama this season. Against South Carolina it looked like the first loss in two consecutive games since 2007 for a long time before Alabama took the game could still decide for themselves.
Despite the win, Alabama continues to have weaknesses in pass defense and offensive play that urgently need to be addressed in the coming weeks.
LSU’s Nussmeier shines in overtime.
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier led LSU to an overtime win against Ole Miss with an impressive performance. He kept the Tigers’ SEC title aspirations alive with 337 passing yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning 25-yard pass in overtime.
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Iowa’s offense surprises positively.
The Iowa Hawkeyes’ often criticized offense showed its best side and scored 40 points against Washington – the highest number of points in a conference game since October 2021. With a comparatively easy remaining program, the Hawkeyes could still have a say in the Big League title race despite two defeats this season Ten have a say.
Army and Navy on the road to success.
Both Army and Navy are undefeated so far this season. Army is particularly impressive with an explosive offense that has already exceeded the 35-point mark five times. The possibility of the two service academies meeting in the AAC title game, a week before their annual rivalry duel, is electrifying fans.
These developments promise an exciting second half of the college football season, with many unanswered questions in the playoff race and the prospect of further surprising twists and turns.
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