NCAA Football News and Notes

This weekend was full of upsets and heartbreak in the NCAA football realm. Ohio State fell at home to the Oregon Ducks, Texas fell on the road to Arkansas, and Florida State lost on the final play to Jacksonville State.

Oregon at Ohio State

The FOX game of the week did not disappoint, in a thriller between the Buckeyes and the Ducks. A matchup that showcased tons of offense came down to a defensive play at the end when C.J. Stroud’s pass was intercepted by Verone McKinley III. In a game where Stroud completed 35 of 54 passes for 484 yards and three touchdowns, it still was not enough to get the win for Ohio State.

The Buckeyes had 612 yards of total offense, 32 first downs and controlled the time of possession with 30 minutes and 14 seconds. All of these numbers beat the Ducks, but in the end, Oregon gets the most important stat, the win.

Texas at Arkansas

A game that was considered by many to be an upset, came through with Arkansas handling Texas by 19 points. The Razorbacks led all night behind a great performance by the offense. Quarterback, KJ Jefferson, completed 14 of 19 passes for 138 yards. 471 of total offensive yards by the Razorbacks was too much for the Longhorn defense to handle.

The Texas offense was nonexistent for most of the night. After being shut out in the first half, the Longhorns scored once in the third quarter and twice in the fourth quarter. Hudson Card completed 8 of 15 passes for 61 yards. Casey Thompson replaced Card and completed 5 of 8 passes for 57 yards.

Arkansas is a good football team but nowhere near the top talent level in the SEC of Alabama and Georgia. For Texas, they are expected to be a top team in the Big 12 and compete against Oklahoma for the conference championship. While this is only one game, if this is anything to come, the Longhorns will have their hands full when they join the SEC.

Jacksonville State at Florida State

As if icing your own kicker the week before was not brutal enough, this week, the Seminoles lost on a last-second prayer by Jacksonville State. With six seconds left, on their own 41-yard line, the Gamecocks threw up a prayer and connected. Damond Philyaw-Johnson caught the pass and broke two tackles on his way to the endzone, giving the Seminoles another heartbreaking loss.

Florida State opened up as 26.5 point favorites. While they were not going to cover, they were seconds away from escaping a close call. None of that came to be as the struggles continue for the Seminoles. Head coach Mike Norvell called the loss ‘totally unacceptable.

The road does not get any easier for Florida State, as they travel to Wake Forest who is 2-0 on the season.

Nebraska at Oklahoma, 12 p.m. ET

Old rivalries will be renewed this week as Nebraska travels to take on third-ranked Oklahoma. The Sooners open up as 22 point favorites. Nebraska sits at 2-1 on the season after losing Week 0 to Illinois. With wins against Fordham and Buffalo, the Huskers face their toughest opponent of the year.

The two teams have met a total of 86 times, Oklahoma leading the series 45-38-3. The last time the teams met was in the 2010 Big 12 Championship game; Oklahoma won 23-20.

Since Nebraska left the Big 12, the two teams have not played. The Nebraska program has gone downhill since as well.

Oklahoma has been donned the nickname, ‘Quarterback U,’ with Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Jalen Hurts all coming to the NFL from Oklahoma. This year, Spencer Rattler is looking to take Oklahoma back to the College Football Playoff (CFP). Oklahoma missed the CFP last year but played in the Cotton Bowl Classic, beating Florida 55-20.

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