| Week 4 Recaps |
| |
| (2) Florida State 63, North Carolina 14 |
| Recap |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary
|
88: Years since an opponent scored more points against the Tar Heels. |
| Player of the Game |
|
Chris Weinke, QB, Florida State. A hard day at
the office: four touchdown passes before sitting out the fourth
quarter. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
| The Seminoles raced to a 36-7 lead in the second quarter and coasted from there. Travis Minor finally had a big day, rushing for 112 yards on 16 carries, and Marvin Minnis caught five balls for 132. The only suspense for FSU continues to be the kicking game, where Bobby Bowden tried three different players at the position. Chance Gwaltney missed two extra-point attempts. |
|
| |
| (14) UCLA 23, (3) Michigan 20 |
| Recap |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary
|
8 of 28: Passing line for Michigan redshirt freshman QB John Navarre. |
| Player of the Game |
|
Freddie Mitchell, WR, UCLA. Burned Michigan
defense for 137 yards on 10 catches. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
|
Michigan will be lamenting for some time the one that got away. Navarre was brought down to earth, but it almost didn't matter, as the Wolverines dominated the ground game. Anthony Thomas gained 177 yards on 23 carries to DeShaun Foster's 84, and Michigan led 20-10 late in the third quarter. But two missed field goals by Hayden Epstein in the fourth quarter allowed QB Ryan McCann to bring the Bruins
back, and a late interception by Navarre with Michigan driving was the
nail in the coffin.
|
| |
| (4) Wisconsin 28, Cincinnati 25 (OT) |
| Recap |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary
|
2 of 15: Cincinnati's third-down conversion rate. |
| Player of the Game |
|
Mike Echols, CB, Wisconsin. Made several big
plays, including a pass breakup in the end zone in overtime. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
|
It was deja vu for the Badgers, who lost 17-12 to the Bearcats a year earlier. This one would have been even more shocking, coming at home with Wisconsin ranked fourth. With RB Michael Bennett (291 yards last week) sitting out a one-game suspension, Brooks Bollinger was exploited for what he really is -- an average quarterback, albeit an undefeated one. Cincinnati QB Deontey Kenner picked apart the Badgers' depleted secondary, including on the drive that set up the last-second game-tying field goal, but made some questionable decisions in overtime.
|
| |
| Stanford 27, (5) Texas 24 |
| Recap |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary
|
7: Consecutive losses by Stanford to Top 10 teams before Saturday night. |
| Player of the Game |
|
DeRonnie Pitts, WR, Stanford. Did his best Ortege Jenkins impersonation on the game-winning touchdown, tumbling into the end zone after catching a short pass from backup quarterback Chris Lewis . |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
| Last year's 52-point win probably seems like years ago now for the Longhorns. Redshirt freshman Lewis filled in for the Cardinal after starter Randy Fasani was knocked out with a left knee injury in the first half. Lewis -- who had attempted only three career passes prior to Saturday night -- completed only 12-of-33 passes, but he threw for three touchdowns and no interceptions. Stanford's defense was the biggest difference from the 1999 debacle and Saturday's win. Texas gained 558 yards last year, but was held to 343 on Saturday night. The win was Stanford's first over a Top 10 team since 1993, when the Bill Walsh -coached Cardinal upset Colorado in Palo Alto.
|
| |
| (6) Florida 27, (11) Tennessee 23 |
| Recap |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary
|
202-40: Tennessee's advantage in rushing yards, the first time in 10 years the leader in this category lost. |
| Player of the Game |
|
Jabar Gaffney, WR, Florida. Two big catches on
game-winning drive, a 33-yarder and the TD for 3 yards. For the game, had
six catches for a game-high 91 yards. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
| Tennessee did everything possible to win the game -- except get in the end zone. The Vols settled for five Alex Walls field goals. Travis Henry ran for 174 yards and QB A.J. Suggs was a modest 17 of 29 in his first start. But his one interception was returned for a touchdown. Florida QB Jesse Palmer was mostly as bad as Steve Spurrier feared, completing only 20 of 43
throws, but he had enough big plays to get Florida down the field. And his
first and only touchdown throw was the game-winner with 14 seconds left.
|
| |
| (7) Kansas State 76, Ball State 0 |
| Matchup |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary
|
11: Touchdowns by Kansas State, setting a school record. |
| Player of the Game |
|
Quincy Morgan, WR, Kansas State. Five catches --
three for touchdowns -- and 143 yards.
|
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
|
What's there to analyze? The Wildcats set a school record with their point total in the latest non-conference joke for Bill Snyder. Ball State has lost 20 straight games, and never had a chance in this one, which was 34-0 with three minutes left in the first quarter. Don't you worry, K-State fans -- it's a big matchup with North Texas next week!
|
| |
| (8) Virginia Tech 49, Rutgers 0 |
| Recap |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary
|
5 of 21: Rutgers third-down
conversions. |
| Player of the Game |
|
Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech. Big day on the
ground, including somersaulting a defender for a touchdown. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
| Who has the best running game in the country? Nebraska? Michigan? It could be argued, Virginia Tech. Not only is Vick a danger to take off on any play, but Lee Suggs has emerged as a scary tailback. The sophomore exploded for four touchdowns against Rutgers. And Rutgers QB Mike McMahon, owner of 10 TD passes the first two weeks, was properly humbled (three INTs) by the Hokies' defense.
|
|
| |
| (9) Washington 17, Colorado 14 |
| Recap |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary
|
181: Yards lost, on 21 penalties, by the two
notoriously undisciplined teams. |
| Player of the Game |
|
Jerramy Stevens, TE, Washington.
Tuiasosopo's
favorite target grabbed seven balls for 102 yards. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
|
Who woulda thunk, a defensive struggle? Colorado rushing for only 69 yards, 111 less than it came in averaging, and Washington QB Marques Tuiasosopo, although clutch on two fourth-quarter scoring drives, accounted for only 243 all-purpose yards. For the third straight week, the Buffs were in it right until the end, when a fumble finished their final chance.
|
| |
| (21) Notre Dame
23, (13) Purdue 21 |
| Recap |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
12: Consecutive Purdue losses at Notre Dame
Stadium. |
| Player of the Game |
|
Nick Setta, K, Notre Dame. The guy Bob Davie had no faith in last week notches three
field goals, including the game-winner. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
|
A monumental win for the Irish, who most presumed dead after losing QB Arnaz Battle and DE Grant Irons. Substitute QB Gary Godsey avoided mistakes and led the last-minute drive to set up the winning field goal. He had lots of help. A blocked punt set up ND's first, short touchdown run. It was followed by a 60-yard interception return by Shane Walton. RB Julius Jones busted several big plays. And outside of a long drive that put Purdue up 21-20 with 3:39 left, the Irish contained Drew Brees (221 yards).
|
| |
| (25) Southern Miss 21, (15) Alabama 0 |
| Matchup |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary
|
4: Turnovers for Alabama, doing most of the work for the Southern Miss offense.
|
| Player of the Game |
|
Jeff Kelly, QB, Southern Miss. Forget Alabama's
meek QB rotation, Kelly was the steady one on this evening. His numbers
(13-23, 158 yards) weren't great, but he was a leader.
|
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
|
Finally, Southern Miss gets that huge win on the road. The Golden Eagles have come so close, so many times lately -- not the least of which was earlier this year at Tennessee. Make no mistake, Alabama's offense was horrific in this one, but give some credit to the Southern Miss 'D', which is known as one of the nation's best. Doesn't seem like so long ago that Alabama was the SEC's standard-bearer, does it? Next thing you know, Mike DuBose is going to have job security issues once again.
|
| |
| (16) Clemson 55, Wake Forest 7
|
| Recap |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary
|
148: Clemson's combined points, through three games. |
| Player of the Game |
|
Woodrow Dantzler, QB, Clemson. Quarterback ran 15
times for 166 yards and two touchdowns. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
| Another day, another blowout win for Clemson, another embarrassing loss for 0-3 Wake Forest. This one was especially costly for the Deacons, who lost QB C.J. Leak for an extended time with a dislocated
knee. Dantzler was magnificent for the Tigers, spinning and sliding his
way to a 54-yard run to set up one score and dashing 39 yards for another.
|
|
| |
| (17) Ohio State 27, Miami (Ohio) 16 |
| Recap |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
13: Consecutive quarters Miami had scored in before being shut out in the first period on Saturday. |
| Player of the Game |
|
Jonathan Wells, RB, Ohio State. Ran for 113
yards, but more importantly, cashed in on two touchdowns.
|
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
|
Eerily reminiscent of Ohio State's non-conference games a year ago, when it hardly looked dominant. Miami QB Mike Bath was able to spread the Buckeyes' defense early, completing touchdown passes of 26 and 23 yards while rushing for 105 in the game, but he also threw a costly interception while driving, down 20-16, plus two other picks. Ohio State's ground game saved the day, with Wells' 16 attempts and Derek Combs' 142 yards on 21 carries.
|
| |
| (19) Illinois 17, California 15 |
| Recap |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
7 of 24: Completion rate of Illinois' quarterbacks. |
| Player of the Game |
|
Fred Wakefield, DE, Illinois. Batted down Cal's
2-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game at 17. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
|
Normally remarkable Illinois QB Kurt Kittner completed only four of 16 passes before leaving the game in the third quarter with a leg injury. The Illini offense continued to struggle under the direction of Dustin Ward, relying mostly on the ground game. Cal QB Kyle Boller managed a late rally from 17-9 down but couldn't convert the two-point conversion.
|
| |
| (20) TCU 41, Northwestern 14 |
| Recap |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary
|
109: Combined yardage of two LaDainian Tomlinson touchdowns called back by penalty. ...
|
| Player of the Game |
|
Tomlinson, RB, TCU. ... And yet he finished with
243 yards and two TDs on 39 carries. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
|
A couple of Northwestern defenders insinuated in the Chicago papers last week that Tomlinson would not put up such big numbers if he played in the Big Ten. Whoops. In a rare Heisman showcase opportunity, Tomlinson shredded the Wildcats' defense thanks to the Frogs' perfectly executed option attack. QB Casey Printers is the glue that makes it work. And with the exception of a couple big plays, Northwestern's new spread offense was essentially stuffed by TCU.
|
| |
| (22) Michigan State 13, Missouri 10 |
| Matchup |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary
|
1-24: Missouri's record against ranked opponents under Larry Smith.
|
| Player of the Game |
|
T.J. Duckett, RB, Michigan State. Ran for 131
yards and the lone touchdown, but the key play was his third down run late
in the game. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
| Considering how brutal last week's 62-9 loss at Clemson was, it was a testament to the Tigers that they played as well as they did in this one. Missouri took the lead and kept the clamps on Duckett throughout the first half, but he simply wore them down later in the game. The Spartans don't always look like a Top 25 team, but this was freshman Jeff Smoker's first career start. The offensive machinery didn't exactly move smoothly for the Spartans, but they got it done on the road.
|
|
| |
| (24) Auburn 34, LSU 17 |
| Matchup |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary
|
1-for-9: Passing stats in the fourth quarter for LSU's Josh Booty. |
| Player of the Game |
|
Tim Carter, WR, Auburn. The sophomore's 100-yard
kickoff return in the third quarter changed the complexion of the
game. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
|
The Auburn Tigers may be for real. They were far from perfect, especially after a sub-par first half by Ben Leard, but Rudi Johnson makes up for a lot of deficiencies. The bruiser became the first Auburn back to rush for 100 yards in three straight games since Stephen Davis in '94. Booty kept his team close, most notably with his gorgeous 45-yard TD pass to Josh Reed in the third, but Carter's return of the ensuing kickoff killed all of LSU's momentum. The last touchdown, by Johnson with three seconds left, was a nice bit of sportsmanship on Auburn's part.
|
