NCAA Football News and Notes: Power 5 Recaps

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Every week NGSC Sports will take a look at the best football games in NCAA Power 5 play. We will give you the highs and lows and keep you informed on the impact of the games.

#24 Tennessee vs #17 Pittsburgh

One of the best football games of the week was between the two ranked teams that came to Pittsburgh. Coming into the game, Pitt was 3-0 against Tennessee with their last win against them in 2021 in an exciting 41-34 game. Both teams are coming off wins starting the year off strong coming into week 2.

Pitt took an early lead of 17-7 in the second quarter when tight end, Gavin Bartholomew, made an unbelievable hurdle to score the touchdown. After that touchdown though, Tennessee answered right away and never gave up the lead again. During Pitt’s final play of the first half, Quarterback, Kedon Slovis, was sacked by Tyler Baron and he fumbled the ball to Tennessee. Slovis was hurt during that play and did not return to action leaving senior Nick Patti in for the rest of the football game. At the end of the first half, Tennessee led 24-17 having all the momentum going into the locker room with kicker Chase McGrath making a halftime-expiring kick.

In the third quarter, Pitt’s kicker, Ben Sauls, missed two field goals that would have brought Pitt within one point. The fourth quarter led to Pitt making a field goal that made it a four-point game but Tennessee answered quickly with their own field goal the possession after. On the next drive for Pitt, they went three and out but Tennessee’s punt returner, Trevon Flowers, fumbled the football and gave it right back to Pitt. Pitt, in no rush, scored a touchdown on fourth down from an amazing catch by Jared Wayne to tie the game that eventually sent it to OT. Tennessee got the ball first and wasted no time scoring in two plays to go up 34-27 putting all the pressure on senior backup quarterback Nick Patti. Pitt got it down to the Tennessee 8-yard line on third and goal but was sacked for 12 yards by Trevon Flowers. Pitt did not convert the 4th and 20, losing the football game 34-27.

Tennessee had no problem passing the football with Hendon Hooker throwing for 325 yards and two touchdowns. The leader of the receiving group was Cedric Tillman who had nine receptions for 162 yards and a touchdown. Tennessee’s pass defense also did a good job against both of Pitt’s quarterbacks allowing them to complete 23 out of 44 attempts for 274 yards total and an interception. The defense also contributed to getting four sacks and a fumble recovery. The only concern they had was their rush defense letting Israel Abanikanda run for 154 yards and a touchdown with his longest run being 76 yards.

Pitt may have pulled this game out if Slovis did not get hurt. He threw for 195 yards and a touchdown in one half, but that is a big what-if scenario for the team that will drop in the rankings and wonders how long Slovis will be out.

#20 Kentucky vs #12 Florida

This football game was loaded with first-round talent at quarterback from both sides of the ball. Will Levis and Anthony Richardson are considered top talent quarterbacks in this deep QB draft coming up in 2023. This past weekend they faced off against each other with both QBs struggling. One of them struggled a lot more than the other.

Both teams came into the game 1-0 with Florida having an upset against the Utah Utes that were ranked 7th in the country at the time. Anthony Richardson balled out that game and they were hoping he would do the same against Kentucky’s hard-fought defense that has them ranked 20th in the country.

Going into the game, both teams struggled badly in the first quarter combining for four punts but Florida did take an early lead on a 39-yard field goal from the leg of Adam Mihalek. Will Levis and Kentucky finally started to get going in the second quarter. Levis found Dane Key for a 55-yard touchdown to take their first lead making it a 7-3 game. Florida answered quickly with a 50-yard field goal from Mihalek. On the next drive from Kentucky, Levis threw an interception to Gervon Dexter Sr. that led to a Florida touchdown on the following drive. Trevor Etienne went in for the score making it a 12-7 game but Florida went for two and got it making it a 7-point game. Levis and Kentucky needed to answer before the half to get some momentum but they went three and out. On the punt, the snap went over the punter’s head and Florida got a safety out of it making it a 16-7 game. Although Florida was riding high, they got the ball after the safety and Richardson threw a pick and all went downhill for Florida after that drive. Levis ran it in for the score making it a 16-13 game with Kentucky not converting on the two-point conversion.

Progressing through the third quarter, Richardson was getting worse and so was Florida. Kentucky tied the game making it 16 a piece. The next drive for Florida was not pretty for Richardson who threw a 65-yard pick-six to Keidron Smith of Kentucky. After that play, Richardson and Florida were stunned by what was happening in Gainesville after a near-perfect win last week against the 7th-ranked Utes. After the pick-six from Kentucky’s defense, Florida punted the ball and had a turnover on downs two times. Kentucky gave them a chance after they missed a field goal from 38 yards but Richardson was no help after a turnover on downs on just four plays. Florida did not have a single point in the second half and their last points were on the safety that came in the second quarter when they led 16-7.

Both quarterbacks struggled but Richardson was not himself against the stingy Kentucky defense. Richardson threw the football 35 times but only had 14 completions with no touchdowns and two interceptions along the way. Florida had a good running game getting 136 yards from four players, but that is it. Their defense kept them in the game when they could, but there is only so much they can do especially against Levis. Levis threw for 202 yards but only had 24 attempts which he completed 13 times. He threw for only one touchdown but had an interception. Kentucky’s run game wasn’t the best either rushing for 70 yards total. On the bright side though, Kavosiey Smoke rushed for 80 yards. Kentucky’s defense won them the game and kept Richardson in check all game not letting up. Seeing what Richardson did against Utah and how much he regressed against Kentucky shows how far Kentucky has come and their defense will be tough as nails to play against all season.

#1 Alabama vs Texas

The best football game of the week came in Austin, Texas where number 1 Alabama was on upset alert against Texas. It is the 5-star recruit getting the start for Texas, Quin Ewers, in the biggest game of his young career coming against the potential number one overall pick and reigning Heisman winner, Bryce Young of Alabama.

Both of these teams came into the game 1-0 dominating their weak competition in Week 1. Coming into the game, Texas led the head-to-head games 7-1-1 all time. The Quin Ewers era is here for Texas and they are hoping for a quarterback to lead them to the promised land for the first time since Vince Young did it in 2005.

Bama got the ball first and went up 3-0 with kicker Will Reichard kicking a 52-yard field goal to take the lead. Texas received the ball next and Ewers was ready for the Bama defense bringing them into the red zone but ended up not converting a touchdown but tied the game up at 3-3. On the next play, Alabama and Bryce Young took the lead right back right. Jase McClellan ran for an 81-yard touchdown and everyone thought here comes Alabama. Ewers and Robinson had different plans on their mind leading Texas to a touchdown from Bijan Robinson running it in for the score. Although Texas tied the game up, Ewers was hit late on a play landing on his non-throwing shoulder causing him to leave the game and he ended up not coming back. Texas would give the ball to sophomore Hudson Card hoping he could lead them to one of the biggest upsets in college football. After Ewers got hurt, both teams had a combined five punts leading Texas to have the ball in the final two minutes of the half. Hudson Card and Bijan Robinson led Texas to the Alabama two-yard line but kicker Bert Auburn missed an easy 20-yard chip shot to take the lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, both offenses were stagnant with only Texas hitting a field goal and leading 13-10 going into the fourth quarter with the ball. Texas kicked another field goal that had them leading number one Alabama 16-10 in the fourth quarter putting all the pressure on Bryce Young. Young responded to the pressure on the next drive throwing a touchdown to Jahmyr Gibbs for the score. Alabama now led by one point, 17-16, with 8:29 to play. A couple of drives later, Card led Texas into field goal range but it was a far kick for Bert Auburn. Under all the pressure in the world with 1:29 remaining, Auburn made the 49-yard kick to go up 19-17. All Texas needed was one stop and they would pull off a ridiculous win and their playoff hopes would be alive and well. Unfortunately for Texas, they were going against Bryce Young who led Alabama down the field quickly for Reichard to kick an easy 33-yard field goal for the win.

BYoung was not at the top of his game against Texas but still pulled out a great win. He threw for 213 yards on 27 completions with one touchdown. Jase McClellan had a great game rushing the ball six times for 97 yards including that long 81-yard touchdown. Jahmyr Gibbs also had a good game hauling in nine receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. The Bama defense played extremely well against the run letting one of the best backs in the league, Bijan Robinson, run for only 57 yards with a touchdown. Texas did have a good air game with Card throwing for 158 yards and Ewers having 134 yards on 23 of 34 throws total. Xavier Worthy and Bijan Robinson were great in the receiving game with Worthy getting 97 yards and Robinson having 73.

If Ewers did not get hurt, it would have been a whole different game. Ewers could have led Texas to the win with how well Texas’ defense played or could have totally collapsed and let Alabama never look back. So credit to Hudson Card for playing extremely well coming into the game against the number one ranked team in the country and giving them the lead with around a minute left in the game. Unfortunately, Alabama took this one from Texas in an upsetting loss in Austin.