South Carolina vs #8 Clemson
After winning one of the biggest upsets of the year so far, South Carolina goes on the road to play the number eight seed, Clemson Tigers. South Carolina, who came into this game at 7-4, tried to prove that the game against Tennessee was not a fluke. The Gamecocks now face a very tough team all around in Clemson who came into the game at 10-1.
The game started out as everyone expected to be played out, Rattler threw a pick-six, and then after a punt back to Clemson, they went on to score a touchdown. All of sudden it was 14-0 Clemson and everyone was thinking this was going to be a blowout. Spencer Rattler and South Carolina quickly looked by that after a punt from Clemson. Rattler drove down the field and threw a four-yard touchdown to Antwane Wells Jr to make the score 14-7. After another punt from Clemson, the Gamecocks were starting to get momentum until the next play. On the first play of their new possession Rattler was sacked for a safety making it 16-7. On the punt back to Clemson though, they fumbled the ball and South Carolina took advantage of that. The Gamecocks scored a touchdown from the fumble but the Tigers then quickly answered to make the game 23-14 at halftime.
After a three and out from Clemson, South Carolina scored a touchdown on four plays to make the score 23-21 from the legs of Jaheim Bell four yards out. Later on, in the third quarter Clemson’s run game had them down the field to score an 11-yard touchdown from Will Shipley but Rattler answered right away on a 72-yard passing touchdown to Antwane Wells Jr. After a punt from Clemson, the Gamecocks once again drove down the field but this time settled for a field goal to go up one, 31-30. It was up to DJ Uiagalelei to get the win for Clemson and he did the opposite for them. He fell under pressure when it meant the most and threw an interception. After a stop by the Tiger defense, Uiagalelei once again could not get any points and they had to punt the ball back to South Carolina. As usual, Clemson made another huge stop and forced another punt but this time though it wasn’t on Uiagalelei. Antonio Williams received the punt and while running it back he fumbled with the Gamecocks recovering the football and that was essentially the game. The Gamecocks pulled off another thriller of an upset winning 31-30 on the road at Clemson shutting down their dreams of the playoffs.
Another great game from Spencer Rattler throwing for 360 yards and two touchdowns but he did have two interceptions. Rattler did though ignite the spark the team needed and led them to another huge victory. For their receivers, talk about Antwane Wells Jr having another fantastic game hauling in nine catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Wells also had a 72-yard touchdown during the game. On the other hand, talk about a terrible game when Clemson needed their QB to step up. Uiagalelei threw for only 99 yards and one touchdown with an interception. He also had only eight completions on 29 attempts. The Gamecocks’ air defense was all over Uiagalelei all game long. For the rushing game though, Will Shipley had another unreal game rushing for 132 yards and a touchdown on only 15 carries.
South Carolina now moves on with an 8-4 record after two insane upsets. They are now ranked as the 19th team in the nation and wait on a very good bowl matchup. For Clemson, they are now ranked as the number nine team in the nation moving down one spot at a 10-2 record. They now play in the ACC championship against number 23 UNC this Saturday.
#9 Oregon vs #21 Oregon State
The battle of Oregon came with huge Pac-12 championship implications this past weekend. Number nine Oregon came into this game with a 9-2 record needing a win to be put in the Pac-12 championship game. Oregon State came into the game 8-3 as the 21st team in the nation trying to ruin their in-state rival’s chances of the championship game.
Oregon State received the ball first at home and scored a field goal right away to start the game. After the field goal, Bo Nix completed a 44-yard touchdown to Chase Cota for the score but the Beavers answered right away to grab the lead right back at 10-7. After some punts, multiple turnovers on downs, and an interception from Oregon State, Oregon finally stopped the messy offenses. Bo Nix drove down the field on 13 plays and threw another touchdown to Chase Cota to make the score 14-10 at halftime, Ducks up.
After another interception from Ben Gulbranson, Oregon took advantage and cashed in on a two-yard rushing touchdown from the legs of Jordan James. After a punt, Oregon ran it in for another touchdown but this time it was from Noah Whittington to make it 28-10 Oregon lead. Another turnover that went back to the Ducks, they made a field goal to go up 21 points late in the third quarter. The Beavers needed to score fast and that is what they did scoring a rushing touchdown from Deshaun Fenwick. After another field from Oregon, Oregon State cashed in another rushing touchdown this time from Isaiah Newell 15 yards out to make it a 10-point game. Oregon needed a slow drive to kill the clock but they fumbled the ball right away. Once again, the Beavers scored another rushing touchdown this time from their quarterback, Ben Gulbranson, and all of a sudden it was a three-point game. With the Ducks having the ball they were forced with a tough decision at their own 29 on fourth and one. They went for it and Nix didn’t get the first down, which ultimately was a terrible call to go for it. Oregon State was set up for greatness now and they did just that with Newell running it in for a touchdown to put the Beavers up, 38-34. Nix had a bunch of time to score with eight minutes but he didn’t get that job done. Oregon reached the Beavers five-yard line and was shut down on all of their attempts to get in the endzone resulting in a turnover on downs. Oregon State then ran the ball out and completed this crazy comeback to win 38-34.
Bo Nix had another phenomenal game throwing for 327 yards and two touchdowns. Nix was great all game but he could not get more than three points in the fourth quarter which resulted in them losing the game. Chase Cota had a stellar game catching 9 balls for 136 yards and a touchdown. Oregon’s defense also forced three turnovers but just couldn’t get the job done when it mattered most. Ben Gulbranson had a very bad and bizarre game throwing for only 60 yards with two interceptions. He did though rush for two very important touchdowns. Oregon State overall rushed for 268 yards and five touchdowns which essentially won them the game.
Oregon is now 9-3 and moved down to the 16th-ranked team in the nation. They are not in the Pac-12 championship because of the loss and now await a bowl game matchup. Oregon State on the other hand won on an insane comeback shattering Oregon’s hopes of so much. They are now number 15 in the country and have a 9-3 record. The Beavers also wait for a bowl matchup soon.
#3 Michigan vs #2 Ohio State
Two words. The Game. One of, if not the biggest rivalry and game in college football had so many implications on the line for both teams. The Big 10 championship, playoff chances, and much more. Michigan came into this game at 11-0 being the third-ranked team. Ohio State came in also at 11-0 but was the second-ranked team in the nation.
The Buckeyes started quickly with a touchdown to get the crowd going early up 7-0. Michigan then led themselves down the field with a field goal but State quickly responded with their own as well. Skipping into the second quarter, J.J. McCarthy threw a 69-yard touchdown to Cornelius Johnson to tie the game up at 10. Ohio State then responded with a field goal but once again McCarthy threw another touchdown to Johnson, this time for 75 yards. Heisman candidate, C.J. Stroud, drove down the field quickly and threw a 42-yard touchdown to Marvin Harrison Jr. After punts from both sides, at the end of the half Ohio State led 20-17.
Starting in the second half, McCarthy once again threw another touchdown for 45 yards to Colston Loveland to go back up, 24-20. After some punts, McCarthy this time used his legs to get into the endzone to go up 31-20 with all the momentum at the shoe. After a 57-yard missed field goal from Michigan, Ohio State grabbed some hope back and scored their own field goal from Noah Ruggles. The Buckeyes were down eight with around seven minutes left in the game and they needed some stops. Michigan had other plans in their mind and on the first play of the drive Donovan Edwards ran for a 75-yard touchdown to put the Wolverines up 15. State needed points quickly and Stroud had a very unfortunate pick in the RedZone to close the hopes of a comeback. Once again, Donovan Edwards broke free this time for an 85-yard touchdown to put a dagger in Ohio State fans’ hearts to win the game on the road 45-23 to keep their undefeated season alive.
J.J. McCarthy had an outstanding game for his first time playing in this kind of game and environment. He threw for 263 yards with three touchdowns and had a big rushing touchdown. Donovan Edwards, the backup to star Blake Corum, had himself a game. He rushed for 216 yards on 22 carries for two touchdowns. Cornelius Johnson also had a fantastic game catching four balls for 160 yards and two touchdowns. The defense played outstanding as well only allowing 23 points to one of the best offenses in the nation. C.J. Stroud had another great game until the fourth quarter. He threw for 349 yards and two touchdowns but had two interceptions, both in the fourth quarter. The third-string back for the Buckeyes, Chip Trayanum, rushed for 83 yards on 14 carries having himself a good game. Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr combined for 16 catches for 245 yards and two touchdowns both having excellent games.
Michigan is now ranked as the second team in the nation at 12-0. They now play in the Big10 championship against Purdue, which Michigan should win for the second straight year. For Ohio State, they moved down to the fifth-ranked team having an 11-1 record. They cannot play in the Big10 championship now and their playoff hopes are in jeopardy. They need either a USC or TCU loss this week to have a chance of making the playoffs. If not, it will be the second straight year they miss out on the playoffs because of losses to Michigan.
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