1 – SMU QB Tanner Mordecai (vs. Houston)
In case you missed it, SMU and Houston combined for 140 points on Saturday in one of the highest scoring shootouts of all time. The Mustangs came out on top 77-63 in large part to Mordecai’s performance that featured 9 touchdown passes and another on the ground while not turning the ball over once. By games end, he totaled 433 total yards and gave the Mustangs a win that should help move them into Bowl season at 5-4 and a lowly South Florida squad on the schedule next week.
2 – Kansas RB Devin Neal (vs. Oklahoma State)
Back-to-back weeks the Cowboys have been on the bad end of a Five star performance. This week, its Jayhawks running back Devin Neal, who was carving up the Oklahoma State defense all afternoon. Neal only managed 1 touchdown, but racked up 334 total yards (224 rushing, 110 receiving) in a 37-16 Kansas victory that will send the Jayhawks into bowl season. The local product from Lawrence has been stellar in Lance Leipold’s offense this year, and will be a feature player moving forward as a sophomore.
Kansas gets a matchup with Texas Tech next week before big matchups with Texas and Kansas State to end the season.
3 – BYU WR Puka Nacua (vs. Boise State)
It took a little while for the offenses to break out between the Cougars and Broncos, but eventually they did, and it helped propel BYU to a much needed win after a four game losing streak. Nacau caught 14 passes for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the game winner from Jaren Hall with under 2 minutes left in the game. Since Nacua returned from injury four games ago, Nacua has caught 36 passes for 491 yards and 5 touchdowns as the premier target for his star quarterback Hall.
BYU will rap the season with Utah Tech and Stanford, a likely 7-5 record for a team that had 10 win aspirations in the preseason.
4 – Georgia Defense (vs. Tennessee)
The marquee matchup of the weekend was no.1 Tennessee on the road to face no.3 Georgia, a high powered offense squaring off with the best defense in the country. The Bulldogs defense proved to be the better unit, as they held the Volunteers to just 13 points (and to be fair, it was just 6 before a garbage time touchdown by the Vols).
Hendon Hooker was held to just 195 yards passing and was sacked 6 times as Georgia sent pressure constantly to get Josh Heupels offense off balance. The Volunteer running game was held to just 2.2 yards per carry, as well.
In their Saturday performance between the hedges, Georgia proved they are the clear number one team in the country. The Bulldogs travel to Mississippi State next week for another SEC matchup.
5 – Notre Dame Defense (vs. Clemson)
Notre Dame stomped out the Clemson Tigers on Saturday, likely ending their playoff run after being placed 4th in the bracket in this past weeks initial rankings. Its been a long first season for Marcus Freeman, but he got his first major win and it came exactly as you’d expect. Notre Dame held Clemson scoreless until the fourth quarter, allowing just 191 yards and 4.9 yards per attempt while also limiting Will Shipley to just 63 on the ground.
Corner Benjamin Morrison picked off D.J. Uiagalelei and returned it 96 yards for a touchdown and added another interception off the backup Cade Klubnik, his only pass attempt of the game. This was the exact game Freeman and his team needed to put together as they continue to build back to a playoff contender in future seasons.
The Irish take on Navy for the annual rivalry next Saturday afternoon.
