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While you were sleeping …
No. 7 Oregon needed a walk-off field goal to beat Boise State — and Heisman-contending RB Ashton Jeanty — 37-34.
But that was far from the most dramatic finish we saw on Saturday …
Saturday StunnerHello, Huskies!
Week 2 brought us perhaps the biggest upset we will see this season. My home state Northern Illinois Huskies simply outmatched No. 5 Notre Dame in South Bend in a 16-14 win.
To put this upset in perspective, let’s introduce you to the NIU Huskies:
NIU QB Ethan Hampton was the nation’s No. 1,703 prospect in the Class of 2021. He’s from Elburn, Ill., a town about 30 minutes away from the NIU campus.
They have five wins over ranked teams since 2000 (this was the first one since a 32-27 upset of No. 24 Toledo in 2015).
Thomas Hammock returned to his alma mater in 2019 as coach. After going 0-6 in the COVID-altered 2020 season, Hammock led NIU to a MAC championship in 2021 and its first bowl victory in 12 years in 2023. His emotional postgame interview yesterday had everyone in their feels.
The Fighting Irish trailed 13-7 at halftime. QB Riley Leonard threw two interceptions, including this brutal one in the fourth quarter that led to the Huskies’ game-winning drive.
But a huge storyline of the game came from this controversial call when Northern Illinois was called short on a third-and-2 (it looked like a clear first down to everyone) and forced the Huskies to take the 35-yard field goal (which kicker Kanon Woodill hit).
In three seasons, Marcus Freeman has lost to Northern Illinois, Marshall and a 3-9 Stanford team at home. Is it an overreaction to say he’s on the hot seat? Here’s what our Notre Dame writer, Pete Sampson, told me:
“It’s an overreaction to say Marcus Freeman is on the hot seat today, but it’s not alarmist to wonder out loud where this is all heading. Notre Dame was a CFP-or-bust program this season. Now it probably needs to win out to make it. Next season the Irish may be rebuilding after the defensive roster turns over. Freeman’s inability to win the games he should win — now losing three times at home as at least a 16.5-point favorite — threatens to undermine his entire tenure. This season needed to be one where Freeman stopped being seen as a ‘first-time head coach’ at Notre Dame. Instead, it’s been a harsh reminder of that fact.”
Pete wrote more about Notre Dame’s status here. As for Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff hopes? The Irish don’t have a conference title to win. They are relying on an at-large bid. And their resume just took a major hit.
But Notre Dame wasn’t the only team tested yesterday …
Close CallsRanked teams on upset watch
My YouTube TV multiview showed three ranked teams on upset watch at the same time yesterday. The lesson: Don’t let a good Week 1 make you too comfortable.
Arkansas took No. 16 Oklahoma State to double-overtime before the Cowboys prevailed 39-31. It was a weird game with missed field goals, turnovers, a muffed punt and unsportsmanlike conduct for QB Alan Bowman’s finger guns. Weirdest of all? The Razorbacks outgained Oklahoma State 648-385 … and still lost.
No. 17 Kansas State topped Tulane 34-27 despite trailing early in the fourth quarter. A controversial offensive pass interference flag negated the Green Wave’s game-tying TD with less than one minute to play and eventually led to a game-ending interception by Kansas State. Tulane coach Jon Sumrall didn’t seem happy: “I didn’t get very many good explanations in the second half from the officiating,” Sumrall said, per the Kansas City Star. “It left a lot to be desired. That’s probably about all I can say. It was a Big 12 crew, in case you were wondering.”
No. 8 Penn State escaped against Bowling Green, 34-27. The Nittany Lions defense — which looked like one of the best in the country last week — surrendered more first-half points (24) than it gave up during any regular-season game a year ago. It made the right halftime adjustments to pull out a win, but questions surfaced about how trustworthy these Nittany Lions will be in big moments.
A late-game safety snapped a second-half scoring drought for No. 15 Oklahoma and helped the Sooners hold off Houston 16-12.
🚨 FIELD STORM ALERT IN CHAMPAIGN, ILL. The Fighting Illini upset No. 19 Kansas 23-17 to start 2-0 for the first time under Bret Bielema (I couldn’t believe it either). Jayhawks QB Jalon Daniels threw three INTs. The state of Illinois went 5-0 in Division I games on Saturday. (It’s a good thing Western Illinois’ 77-3 beatdown by Indiana was on Friday.)
Texas’ StatementMichigan’s flaws on full display
No. 3 Texas didn’t fall victim to the Week 2 blues, easily beating No. 10 Michigan 31-12 in Ann Arbor. Quinn Ewers proved he’s the best QB in the nation, according to our Chris Vannini. His stat line: 24-of-26 passing for 246 yards and three TDs. I haven’t stopped thinking about this particular throw.
Meanwhile, the Wolverines were handed a rude awakening of what lies ahead. Few expected Michigan to match last year’s championship, but the flaws look deeper than roster turnover. Most notably, Michigan has a major problem at QB, and that’s to no fault of starter Davis Warren. The former walk-on is doing all he can, but as Wolverines writer Austin Meek put it, “a few years of recruiting misfires and a lack of quarterback help from the transfer portal have put the Wolverines in a bind.”
Quick Snaps
Utah QB Cam Rising injured his right throwing hand in the No. 11 Utes’ 23-12 win against Baylor. Coach Kyle Whittingham said he didn’t think the injury was serious.
No. 21 Iowa delivered a masterclass on how to blow a football game, The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman wrote after the Hawkeyes surrendered a 20-19 loss to rival Iowa State.
No. 25 Clemson responded from its lackluster Week 1 to beat App State 66-20. Where are the Tigers in the postseason conversation? Justin Williams shares five things we learned about the CFP race from Week 2.
What was supposed to be a battle of the quarterbacks turned into a D-line domination by No. 14 Tennessee in its 51-10 rout of No. 24 NC State.
Nebraska got what it needed in a decisive 28-10 win against Colorado. Are the Buffs too broken for Deion Sanders to fix?
In Auburn’s 21-14 loss to Cal, Hugh Freeze once again proved to be a hard coach to trust.
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(Top photo: USA Today)
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Publish date : 2024-09-08 02:00:00
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