Inside the Boxscores is a weekly feature by Matt Fargo that has been widely recognized as the best roundup in college football. Take an in-depth look at each game and extract the most relevant information that will help you in future handicap games. College football is full of wacky plays, misleading scores, and unexpected endings. Fargo takes you inside the action.
(5) WEST VIRGINIA 45 Maryland 24
West Virginia scored touchdowns on its first four possessions to take a 28-0 lead and never look back. The Mountaineers’ offense was able to enter the end zone only one more time, as their other touchdown came on a kickoff return. West Virginia had 340 rushing yards on 43 carries (7.9 ypc), but only trailed Maryland by just 50 total yards. The Terrapins lost the turnover battle 5-1.
TOLEDO 37 Kansas 31
Toledo clinched the victory thanks to two turnovers by the Jayhawks in overtime. Kansas outscored the Rockets 391-237, but committed five total turnovers with all three in regulation leading to Toledo touchdowns, including an 84-yard interception return for a score. The Jayhawks’ defense was excellent, as Toledo had 12 drives of 15 yards or less while forcing punts on all of those possessions.
(1) OHIO STATE 37 Cincinnati 7
Ohio St. outscored the Bearcats 444-212 and scored the last 34 points of the game after trailing late in the first quarter. Cincinnati was credited with -4 rushing yards on 22 carries (-0.2 ypc) though they lost 59 yards on eight sacks. After driving 80 yards for their lone touchdown, the Bearcats didn’t have another 38-yard drive the rest of the game.
Michigan State 38 PITTSBURGH 23
Pittsburgh jumped out to a 10-0 lead, but the Spartans scored their next 38 points to pull away. Michigan St. had 533 yards of offense while the defense held the Panthers to 111 yards after Pittsburgh scored drives before giving up two late junk touchdowns. The Spartans rushed for 335 yards on 48 carries (7.0 ypc) while holding Pittsburgh to 70 rushing yards.
(23) BOSTON UNIVERSITY 30 BYU 23
Boston College won its second straight double-overtime game thanks to an interception on the Cougars’ second overtime possession. Both teams had a chance in the first overtime session, but both missed field goals. BYU outscored the Eagles 547-471 and won the battle for time of possession, but committed 10 penalties that killed some units. Boston College missed two extra points.
(14) VIRGINIA TECH 36 Duke 0
The Hokies outscored Duke 418-139 as the offense crossed midfield on every possession. The Blue Devils did not cross midfield until late in the fourth quarter, as they were forced to punt on their first eight possessions. Duke controlled the game clock for eight more minutes despite running five fewer plays. The Hokies defense had eight sacks and forced Duke to go 0-2 inside the red zone.
Wake Forest 24 CONNECTICUT 13
Connecticut outscored the Deacons 324-209 but the Huskies had three turnovers in Wake Forest territory. The Deacons returned an interception for a touchdown and also forced a fumble at the 28-yard line. The Huskies missed a 28-yard field goal and also fumbled on chances at their own 6-yard line leading to Wake Forest’s final touchdown run. Connecticut ran 25 more plays, but went 2-4 inside the red zone.
Syracuse 31 ILLINOIS 21
Syracuse was able to score touchdowns twice on fumbles, once on offense and once on defense, which was the ultimate difference. The Illini outscored Syracuse 398-369 but 179 of those yards came on their last two touchdowns with the game already decided. Illinois did themselves a disservice by committing 12 penalties for 106 yards and entering the red zone just once.
(16) IOWA 27 State of Iowa 17
Iowa fell behind 14-3, but the defense picked things up by allowing the Cyclones just 130 total yards in the second half. Iowa St. crossed midfield just once in the second half and turning the ball over on downs at their own 48-yard line late in the fourth quarter set up a field goal that put the game out. Both teams were perfect inside the red zone and went 6-13 on third-down conversions.
Arkansas 21 VANDERBILT 19
Vanderbilt scored the potential game-tying touchdown early in the fourth quarter, but the two-point conversion pass attempt was intercepted. The Commodores had two more chances, but on their final drive they missed a 48-yard field goal with less than a minute to play. All three touchdowns for both teams were at least 67 yards each. Vanderbilt rushed for 240 yards on 37 carries (6.5 ypc).
STATE OF KANSAS 23 Marshall 7
Kansas St. outscored the Herd 355-142 and limited Marshall to just eight first downs with two of those coming via penalties. Marshall’s lone touchdown was on a blocked punt return that tied the game at seven, but the offense has generated nine yards or fewer on six of its last seven drives. The Wildcats finished 8-15 on third-down conversions, but were hurt by 14 penalties for 116 yards.
(10) GEORGIA 34 UAB 0
Georgia amassed just 271 total yards, but scored a touchdown on a blocked punt return and took advantage of a Blazers fumble to set up their final touchdown. UAB was unable to move the ball closer to the Bulldogs 36-yard line, as he was forced to punt on his first six possessions. The Blazers finished with just 163 total yards, including 68 rushing yards on 37 carries (1.8 ypc).
PURDUE 38 State of the ball 28
Purdue outscored the Cardinals 533-352, including 416 passing yards. The score should have been much worse, but the Boilermakers committed two turnovers inside the red zone, while Ball St. scored two late touchdowns as the game was already out of reach. The Cardinals scored 14 points on turnovers limited to just 61 rushing yards on 29 carries (2.1 ypc).
MICH CENTRAL 24 Akron 21
The Chippewas were outscored 436-291, but Akron was hit with three interceptions, two of which occurred inside the Central Michigan 18-yard line. The third was returned by the Chippewas for a 100-yard touchdown run. Early mistakes turned into a 21-0 deficit, and the Zips were unable to recover. Akron finished with a horrendous 3-7 run inside the red zone, including missing a field goal and converting it into chances at the one-yard line.
GEORGIA TECHNOLOGY 35 Troy 20
Georgia Tech outscored the Trojans 500-283 but the game was still in doubt going into the fourth quarter. With the score tied at 14 apiece, the Yellow Jackets scored three straight touchdowns, two of which were set up by interceptions. Georgia Tech finished with 320 rushing yards on 41 carries (7.8 ypc) as the defense limited Troy to seven drives of three plays or fewer.
MINNESOTA 62 Temple 0
This game was over before it started as the Gophers scored four touchdowns in the first quarter and then drove the rest of the way. Despite the 62 points, Minnesota generated just 448 yards of offense, but their first two scores were sparked by turnovers from Temple. The Owls crossed midfield just once and that resulted in a missed 36-yard field goal. Temple finished with just 157 total yards and seven first downs.
NORTHWEST 14 Eastern Michigan 6
The Wildcats offense struggled for the second week in a row as they only had 266 total yards, but it was the defense that came out strong. Northwestern held the Eagles to 134 total yards, including just 47 passing yards. Eastern Michigan only had five first downs, but was in position to possibly tie the game, but was intercepted at the Wildcats 32-yard line. The Eagles’ longest drive was 19 yards.
Kent State 16 MIAMI-OHIO 14
Kent St. outscored the RedHawks 386-297 and jumped out to a 16-0 lead before stopping a Miami rally. The RedHawks scored their first touchdown on an interception and then went 80 yards for the game’s potential tie, but missed the two-point conversion. The Golden Flashes were just 3-5 inside the red zone when a missed field goal and fumble at the Miami 8-yard line took away two scoring opportunities.
South Florida 24 UCF 17
Central Florida tied the game at 17 apiece midway through the fourth quarter on a blocked punt return, but the Bulls drove 90 yards for the game-winning score. The Golden Knights then got to the South Florida 15-yard line, but fumbled on downs in the final seconds. The Bulls finished with 333 passing yards on 10.4 yards per attempt, but rushed for just 2.6 ypc.
(18) OREGON 34 (15) Oklahoma 33
In the most controversial game of the weekend, the Ducks rallied from a 13-point deficit to pull off the improbable win. After pulling within six points with 1:12 remaining, Oregon recovered the lateral shot, which shouldn’t have counted, and then scored the game-winner two plays later. A long kickoff return put Oklahoma in position to win, but their field goal was blocked. Oregon outscored the Sooners 501-381.
(3) CAÑO 7 (6) LSU 3
LSU outscored the Tigers 311-182 and crossed midfield seven times but managed just one field goal. The Tigers had their best drive of the day in the final minute of the game, but a completion to the Auburn 4-yard line was as far as they could go as time expired. LSU rushed for just 42 yards on 23 carries (1.8 ypc) while Auburn managed just 72 yards on 38 carries (1.9 ypc).
(12) LOUISVILLE 31 (17) Miami-Florida 7
Miami scored on their first possession goal and then Louisville ran the last 31 points to pull out the blowout victory. The Cardinals outscored Miami by just 47 total yards, but the Hurricanes missed two early field goals and also fumbled at the Louisville 8-yard line on their second possession. Miami crossed midfield just once in the second half, while the Cardinals were in Hurricanes territory on every second half possession.
Western Michigan 17 VIRGINIA 10
Virginia actually outscored the Broncos 258-179, but two Cavaliers interceptions led to West Michigan touchdowns, including one that was returned 34 yards for a score. Virginia moved into Broncos territory just once in the second half and that drive was halted on a missed field goal. The Cavaliers turned the ball over on downs near midfield on their final drive. The Broncos had just 40 passing yards and nine first downs.
Boise State 17 WYOMING 10
Wyoming outscored the Broncos 251-246 but the difference ended up being a Boise St. interception that was returned 61 yards for a touchdown. After falling behind 17-3, Wyoming scored a touchdown and then was driving late in the game before an interception ended the drive. Boise St. has gained just 96 total yards on its last seven possessions and finished just 2-for-12 on third-down conversions.
WISCONSIN 14 San Diego Street 0
Wisconsin held the Aztecs to just 115 total yards and seven first downs as the defense shone. The Badgers didn’t score late until the third quarter and blew several chances on goal. Wisconsin turned the ball over three times, once at the 6-yard line, fumbled at the San Diego St. 21-yard line, and also missed a field goal. They ended the game at the Aztecs’ 14-yard line, thus ending 1-4 inside the red zone.