Shake Up at the Top

Upsets are one of the best things about college football. Saturday, there were plenty of them, with Florida State, LSU and Georgia losing.

Florida State’s defense faltered in the fourth quarter, allowing 14 points en route to a 17-16 upset loss to North Carolina State. It was all Seminoles in the first half, scoring 16 points to lead 16-0 at halftime.

The tide turned in the second half, when North Carolina State scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to make the score 16-10 Florida State. North Carolina State quarterback Mike Glennon threw a touchdown with 16 seconds left to put the Wolfpack up 17-16 for good — a touchdown that shook up the ACC title race and national title race.

The Florida Gators won a defensive battle over LSU, 14-6 at The Swamp in Gainesville. The Florida defense held LSU to its lowest point total of the season, holding LSU to 6 points and shutting them out in the second half.

Florida running back Mike Gillislee was the star of the game, rushing for 146 yards on 34 carries and scoring two touchdowns. The Gators move to 5-0 on the season and 4-0 in the SEC.

The Georgia Bulldogs showed little “bite” in a 35-7 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks. Georgia fell behind early, trailing 21-0 after the first quarter. South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw was 6 for 10 in passing attempts and threw for 162 yards and two touchdowns. South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore had 24 carries for 109 yards and added a touchdown.

Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray had an off night, going 11 for 31 in passing attempts and throwing for 109 yards and zero touchdowns and one interception.

Showdown at the Shoe

The Ohio State Buckeyes welcomed the Nebraska Cornhuskers for their first visit to Columbus since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten. Unfortunately for the Cornhuskers, the Buckeyes weren’t gracious hosts.

In front of the largest crowd in Ohio Stadium history, 106,102, Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller and running back Carlos Hyde “carved up” the Nebraska defense en route to a 63-38 victory.

Braxton Miller was 7 for 14 in passing attempts, throwing for 127 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 186 yards and one touchdown.

Carlos Hyde had 28 carries for 140 yards and four touchdowns. Four turnovers proved to be costly for Nebraska, three of which were interceptions thrown by Taylor Martinez. Martinez was 15 for 25 in passing attempts, throwing for 214 yards and one touchdown.

The Nebraska offense took a hit, when running back Rex Burkhead injured his left knee in the third quarter and did not return. Ohio State moves to 6-0 on the season and 2-0 in the Big Ten, while Nebraska falls to 4-2 on the season and 1-1 in the Big Ten.

Ohio State is tied atop the Big Ten Leaders division standings with Penn State. Both Ohio State and Penn State are not eligible to play in the Big Ten Championship game or a bowl game this season.

Air Raid in Austin

The West Virginia Mountaineers won their first Big 12 road game over Texas in true Mountaineer fashion. West Virginia topped Texas, 48-45 in a shootout that saw both teams gain 864 yards of total offense.

West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith was 25 for 35 in passing attempts, and threw for 268 yards and four touchdowns, making his touchdown total on the season 24, and he still has not thrown an interception.

West Virginia running back Andrew Buie had 31 carries and ran for 207 yards and two touchdowns. Texas quarterback David Ash was 22 for 29 in passing attempts and threw for 269 yards and one touchdown.

Texas running back Joe Bergeron paced the Longhorn offense with 17 carries for 45 yards and four touchdowns. The Mountaineers win was assured when they recovered an onside kick with 14 seconds left. West Virginia moves to 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in the Big 12, while Texas falls to 4-1 on the season and 1-1 in the Big 12.

Contact Chris Ginley at [email protected].