Miami is back, and the 'Canes did it in the most appropriate fashion -- "Wide Right III." Matt Munyon's game-tying 49-yard field goal sailed ... well, you know where, and No. 7 Miami ended No. 1 Florida State's 17-game win streak 27-24 at the Orange Bowl.
But the 'Canes upset was hardly the most surprising result on a wild first Saturday in October. In the most anticipated matchup of their rivalry in over 15 years, No. 10 Oklahoma embarrassed No. 11 Texas 63-14 in Dallas.
Elsewhere, Purdue upended No. 6 Michigan on a last-second field goal by previously beleaguered Travis Dorsch; No. 5 Clemson survived a scare from N.C. State; Arizona handed No. 18 USC its second-straight upset loss; and No. 21 Georgia ended a 12-year drought against SEC foe Tennessee.
| Week 7 Recaps |
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| (7) Miami 27, (1) Florida State 24 |
| Matchup |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
40: Rushing yards for FSU's Travis Minor, who had to leave most of the work to Chris Weinke.
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| Player of the Game |
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Ken Dorsey, QB, Miami. He backed up his pregame talk with a stellar day, completing 27 of 42 passes for 328 yards and the game-winning TD. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
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Weinke's health wasn't an issue, nor was Dorsey's inexperience. Miami simply made the plays when it needed to, then got a little help from the Orange Bowl gods as Matt Munyon's tying field goal try as time expired went wide right -- as if it would go in any other direction in this series. Dorsey was poised throughout the game, and a Miami rushing attack led by James Jackson did its job in eating up the clock, despite three lost fumbles. Weinke was brilliant at times, finishing with 496 yards passing, but he couldn't get FSU on the board in the first half, and that deficit gave the 'Canes the confidence they needed.
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| (2) Nebraska 49, Iowa State 27 |
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Game Recap
Game Summary |
5: Second-half touchdowns for the Cornhuskers. |
| Player of the Game |
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Eric Crouch, QB, Nebraska. Mr. Consistency ran for 138 yards and a TD, and threw for 164 yards. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
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Iowa State was as good as advertised, leading 14-13 at halftime. But the Cyclones also got a firsthand lesson in how Nebraska does its damage in the second half, as the Huskers hammered away at the Cyclone defense, which finally caved in. Iowa State's Sage Rosenfels threw for 346 yards to keep his team in the game as the Nebraska 'D' had another shaky outing, but the Cyclones just couldn't keep the Cornhuskers contained.
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| (3) Virginia Tech 35, Temple 13 |
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Game Recap
Game Summary |
6: Sacks for the Virginia Tech defense, to go with three interceptions.
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| Player of the Game |
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Lee Suggs, RB, Virginia Tech. The kid had only 17 carries for 56 yards, and his pair of red-zone TD runs in the first half were important for the Hokies. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
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The Hokies got a bit of revenge from that ugly loss to the Owls a couple of years ago in Blacksburg, and it was about as easy as it looked. Temple is much-improved, but the Owls still have no answer for Michael Vick and Suggs. In the meantime, the Hokies defense came through with some big plays to help keep Temple off the field. It wasn't a spectacular performance for the Hokies, but they certainly did enough to get away with the comfortable victory.
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| (4) Kansas State 52, Kansas 13 |
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Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
9: Sacks by K-State's defense.
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| Player of the Game |
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Jonathan Beasley, QB, Kansas State The efficiency continued for Beasley, who completed 12 of 18 passes for 236 yards. Oh, and he rushed for 4 TDs. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
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What did you expect? This ain't basketball. Beasley did his usual number, passing to move the ball, then calling his own number in the red zone for short touchdown runs. K-State spread it out on the ground, with six players gaining more than 20 yards. The Jayhawks never had a chance against the Wildcats, who will finally be tested next week when they host red-hot Oklahoma.
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| (5) Clemson 34, N.C. State 27 |
| Matchup |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
32: Career rushing TDs for Clemson's Travis Zachery, tying the school record.
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| Player of the Game |
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Woodrow Dantzler, QB, Clemson. He turned it over three times, but the positives outweighed the negatives for Clemson's star. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
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This one certainly lived up to its quarterback-duel billing. Dantzler rushed for 103 yards and two TDs, then passed for 220 yards and another score. N.C. State freshman Philip Rivers passed for 370 yards and 3 TDs, but didn't have enough to bring his team back in the fourth quarter -- which he has already done three times this season. Clemson definitely needed this test, and the Tigers were sloppy at times, but this should serve them well as the season rolls on.
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| Purdue 32, (6) Michigan 31 |
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Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
960: Yards of total offense between the two teams.
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| Player of the Game |
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Drew Brees, QB, Purdue. The Boilers needed their star, and he came through with a 32 of 44 passing effort, with 286 yards and 2 TDs. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
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Brees broke the school record for career passing yardage and the Big Ten mark for touchdown passes, but his most important accomplishment was finally beating a big-name team. Purdue's QB got his long-awaited signature win, leading the Boilermakers back from the dead in a gutty performance. Michigan's defense is officially having difficulty; the Wolverines let Brees walk right through them throughout the second half. Drew Henson was as good as advertised for Michigan, but he couldn't play defense.
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| (8) Ohio State 23, (24) Wisconsin 7 |
| Matchup |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
14: Tackles for a loss by Ohio State, including eight sacks.
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| Player of the Game |
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Derek Combs, RB, Ohio State. Carried 11 times for 122 yards and two TDs, including an 80-yarder after losing his shoe. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
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Maybe the Badgers were better off shuffling suspensions. This was supposed to be the game for Wisconsin to get back on track at home, but the Badgers couldn't do much of anything on offense. Michael Bennett, who led the nation in rushing entering the game, managed only 106 yards -- about half his average, and Brooks Bollinger didn't help much. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes should earn a little more respect after winning this one decisively on the road.
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| (10) Oklahoma 63, (11) Texas 14 |
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Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
18: Rushing yards for Texas.
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| Player of the Game |
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Quentin Griffin, RB, Oklahoma. Six rushing TDs should be enough for player of the game honors, huh? |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
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Wow. Not many people expected the Red River Shootout to come out like this. The Sooners have taken some flack for their K-State replica schedule this year, but this one certainly proved that they can put up crazy numbers on legitimate foes, too. The scariest thing was, it wasn't all Josh Heupel for the Sooners. Griffin's work was mostly in short yardage, but Oklahoma did as it pleased against the Texas defense. On the otherside, the Longhorns' two-headed QB was useless on either side. Major Applewhite didn't live up to his big-game rep, and Chris Simms was ineffective. Think Oklahoma got K-State's attention.
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| (12) Florida 41, LSU 9 |
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Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
65: Passing yards for LSU's Rohan Davey, quite a dropoff from last week's stellar outing against Tennessee.
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| Player of the Game |
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Rex Grossman, QB, Florida. With the quarterback job all to himself, the sophomore hit on 18 of 28 passes for 276 yards and 3 TD passes to Jabar Gaffney.
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| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
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The Gators didn't look much like themselves -- playing only one quarterback during the important part of the game, getting a great outing from their defense. Oh, and pounding an SEC opponent. Just like old times in The Swamp. Florida managed to make LSU look like the Tiger team that lost to UAB, rather than the one that beat the Vols last week, with a nice team defensive effort. Better yet, the Gators got Grossman some consistent work, and had a nice game out of the backfield by Robert Gillespie (120 yards) to ease some concerns that had cropped up in recent weeks.
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| (12) Washington 33, Oregon State 30 |
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Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
13: Consecutive wins over Oregon State by Washington.
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| Player of the Game |
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Marques Tuiasosopo, QB, Washington. Huskies' versatile leader completed 20-of-32 passes for 223 yards and added 10 carries for 40 yards on the ground.
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| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
| The upset-minded Beavers started well, getting two long touchdown runs in the first quarter to jump out to a 14-7 lead after the first quarter. The Huskies stormed back with a 13-point second quarter to take a 20-14 lead into the half. But Washington ran through OSU's fourth-ranked rushing defense for 281 yards with Alexis carrying 12 times for 107 yards and Paul Arnold rushing 16 times for 102 yards.
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| (14) TCU 41, Hawaii 21 |
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Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
10: Consecutive wins for the Horned Frogs, their longest streak since 1937-38. |
| Player of the Game |
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LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU. Padded his stats with 294 yards and four TDs -- most of it in the first half. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
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There wasn't much mystery about what the Horned Frogs would try to do to the Warriors, and they followed through. This was Tomlinson's show, a chance to run up some numbers against a suddenly pitiful Hawaii team, which looks as if it misses the rainbows in those black (for mourning?) uniforms. LT rumbled for 196 yards and 3 TDs on 30 carries in the first half alone, and TCU toyed with Hawaii the rest of the way.
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| (20) Mississippi State 17, (15) Auburn 10 |
| Matchup |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
18: Net rushing yards for Auburn.
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| Player of the Game |
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Dicenzo Miller, RB, Mississippi State. Did his part with another 100-yard game, this time rushing for 136.
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| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
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So much for Rudi-ball. The Tigers' first significant test of the year also proved to be a rude awakening for Rudi Johnson, who finished with only 26 yards after breaking 100 in the Tigers' first five games. Without being able to to turn to Johnson, Auburn QB Ben Leard couldn't get himself settled, and the vaunted Bulldog defense took over. Auburn didn't score until the fourth quarter, and by that time the game was under control.
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| (17) Southern Miss 41, South Florida 7 |
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Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
1-13: Third-down conversions for South Florida.
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| Player of the Game |
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Jeff Kelly, QB, Southern Miss. Threw two TD passes and ran for three more scores in nice all-around effort.
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| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
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The only blemish for Southern Miss in this one was the backup defense allowing a late TD to the Bulls, halting the Golden Eagles' streak of quarters without giving up a touchdown at 16. But that was no big deal. Kelly took matters into his own hands as the Eagles played without injured tailback Derrick Nix by accounting for five touchdowns. Other than that, the defense did its job, allowing the Division I-AA Bulls next to nothing offensively.
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| Arizona 31, (18) USC 15 |
| Matchup |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
4: Turnovers for USC quarterback Carson Palmer, who was picked off three times and lost a fumble.
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| Player of the Game |
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Ortege Jenkins, QB, Arizona. The versatile veteran came through with a big game, running for two TDs and passing for another.
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| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
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Forget about handicapping the Pac-10. The Trojans looked pitiful in losing their second straight game, this time at home. Palmer gave the ball away at every turn, and Arizona kept taking advantage of it. Jenkins, who hasn't had a very strong senior year, came through with a 75-yard TD pass that helped spark his team to a 21-0 lead. From there, Arizona tightened up a bit on defense and earned its first big win of the season.
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| (19) Georgia 21, (21) Tennessee 10 |
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Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
1:13: Time remaining in the game when Georgia fans inexplicably rushed the field and attempted to tear down the goal posts.
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| Player of the Game |
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Musa Smith, RB, Georgia. Freshman breaks out in big game, rushing for 47 yards and a TD in the second half to go with 36-yard kick return. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
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The Bulldogs last defeated Tennessee in 1988, Vince Dooley's final season as head coach. Georgia finally got over the hump after nine straight losses largely due to the play of its defense, which harassed A.J. Suggs and Casey Clausen, while keeping Travis Henry in check at the same time. Quincy Carter hardly played up to his abilities, and Georgia made plenty of mistakes, but Georgia had enough to halt its longest losing streak against any opponent.
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| (22) Northwestern 52, Indiana 33 |
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Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
42: Years since Northwestern last topped the 50-point barrier.
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| Player of the Game |
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Damien Anderson, RB, Northwestern. Went for 292 yards and four TDs, his second straight game over 200. |
| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
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The Wildcat juggernaut rolls on. Anderson was simply unstoppable against the Hoosiers, who in typical Northwestern opponent fashion didn't have time to figure out what hit them before falling into a big hole. Northwestern also did well to slow down Indiana's offense, which entered the game averaging 39 points. Antwaan Randle El was his usual shifty self, but he couldn't match the Wildcats touchdown-for-touchdown, and it seems that's what you've got to do to beat the Wildcats this year.
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| (25) Notre Dame 20, Stanford 14 |
| Matchup |
Key Stat |
Game Recap
Game Summary |
5: Consecutive games the home team has won in this series.
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| Player of the Game |
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Matt LoVecchio, QB, Notre Dame. Freshman led the team in rushing, and threw a pair of first-half TD passes.
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| CNNSI.com's Analysis |
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Behind its third starting quarterback of the year, Notre Dame had just enough to hold off one of the most unpredictable teams in the country. LoVecchio didn't light it up through the air, but he kept the team under control and directed the offense efficiently. The Irish didn't get much from Julius Jones in terms of yardage, but his second-half TD sealed an important victory. Kudos to Notre Dame's defense for shutting down the Cardinal in the first half, thus giving LoVecchio time to get settled.
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