Week 14 of the college football season kicked off Friday with a series of contested rivalry matchups that had pivotal College Football Playoff implications.
Among the day’s results included No. 4 Georgia handing on to beat a firece in-state rival, No. 2 Indiana dominating its way to clinching an undefeated season and No. 16 Texas shocking No. 3 Texas A&M at home.
Here are the top plays from Friday’s action!
No. 2 Indiana 56, Purdue 3
The Hoosiers kicked this one off in impressive fashion with an interception on Purdue QB Ryan Browne’s second pass of the game. But QB Fernando Mendoza and the Hoosiers were unable to capitalize on the turnover.
Indiana put the game’s first points on the board after putting together a 5-play, 40-yard drive capped by a 1-yard plunge from running back Kaelon Black.
Indiana is starting to take firm control of this one. Mendoza rushed in a 7-yard TD after punting following Black’s score. Then, the lead back spun his way to his second TD on a 16-yard run on the following drive.
Indiana’s ground game wasn’t done rolling after Black’s TD as RB Roman Hemby scorched Purdue for an 82-yard score to put Indiana up 28-3. The Hoosiers continued to pile it on in the second half, outscoring the Boilermakers, 28-0, to secure the win and stay undefeated (12-0).
No. 16 Texas 27, No. 3 Texas A&M 17
The teams exchanged a pair of field goals after a scoreless first quarter. But it didn’t take long for the Aggies to break the tie as wide receiver KC Concepcion turned a jet sweep into an 8-yard touchdown just before halftime.
Arch Manning has given his Longhorns the lead midway through the third quarter after finding WR Ryan Wingo for a beautiful 29-yard touchdown pass. Could we officially be on upset watch in Austin?
To answer the last question, yes, Texas A&M is firmly on upset watch as the fourth quarter gets underway. The Aggies now trail by 10 points after Longhorns tight end Nick Townsend, surprisingly, turned in a 2-yard rushing TD for his first rushing score of the season.
The Aggies are doing their best to stave off a big upset, with RB EJ Smith capping a 6-play, 59-yard drive with a 13-yard TD run to pull Texas A&M within three points. However, Texas would go back up by 10 points after Manning rose to the occasion on the ensuing drive, bursting for a 35-yard TD run to give his team a big boost of momentum.
An untimely mistake by Aggies QB Marcel Reed could prove costly. Reed threw an interception under pressure with Texas A&M in striking distance for a touchdown. The Aggies are running out of time, but the defense came up with a needed stop. Unfortunately for the Aggies, Reed tossed another INT to start the next drive, spelling the end of this contest. Brutal.
The loss knocks Texas A&M out of the SEC Championship Game, with Georgia now locked into one of the spots.
No. 25 Arizona 23, No. 20 Arizona State 7
Arizona State thwarted a prime Arizona scoring opportunity after forcing a fumble on a run play by RB Quincy Craig. The Sun Devils weren’t able to capitalize, but the early turnover could be a sign of things to come in this one.
The Sun Devils are in the lead after RB Jeff Sims turned in a 27-yard touchdown run. Offense has been hard to come by in this one, but ASU will look to build on its early edge as this one continues.
Arizona’s defense turned in a stout performance, forcing five turnovers (3 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries) in a game the Wildcats were down at halftime, 7-3. The strong showing contributed to the Wildcats’ second-half surge that saw them outscore the Sun Devils, 20-0.
No. 4 Georgia 16, No. 23 Georgia Tech 9
Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch increased the lead on a crucial second-quarter series for the Bulldogs, turning in a 7-yard touchdown reception to give them a 10-3 lead.
It’s been a tough, defensive battle between the in-state rivals. A pair of field goals gave Georgia room to breathe but Georgia Tech made it a one-score game after adding two more field goals in the second half.
With UGA up by a touchdown, this contest came down to the last play. Yellow Jackets QB Haynes King hoisted a Hail Mary, but the attempt was batted down in the endzone to secure a needed Bulldogs victory.
No. 7 Ole Miss 38, Mississippi State 19
Lane Kiffin Line
After the win, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin said that he hasn’t made up his mind on whether he’s staying with the Rebels or leaving to become the next head coach at LSU. As part of a postgame interview, Kiffin says he has “a lot of praying to do.”
4TH QUARTER
Big Play After Big Play
Mississippi State got a touchdown following Ole Miss reaching the end zone for a fourth time, but two plays later, QB Trinidad Chambliss hit WR Deuce Alexander for an 88-yard touchdown. The Rebels led 38-19 with 9: 50 remaining in the game, which would be the final score.
They Connect Again
Mississippi State and Ole Miss traded field goals to open the second half, but then the Rebels took a 31-13 lead when QB Trinidad Chambliss and WR De’Zhaun Stribling connected for a 23-yard touchdown with 13: 46 remaining in the fourth quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
Ole Miss Gets a Score Before the Half
Mississippi State pulled to within four points on a field goal with 1: 45 remaining in the first half, but nine plays later, Ole Miss WR De’Zhaun Stribling reeled in a spectacular, 10-yard touchdown reception, giving the Rebels a 21-10 lead at halftime.
Anger Expressed
Both teams were involved in an extensive fight that stopped play for multiple minutes in the second quarter.
1ST QUARTER
Rebels Rolling
Mississippi State responded to Ole Miss with a 10-play, 97-yard touchdown drive, but the Rebels went right back to work, executing an eight-play drive that ended with Chambliss throwing a dime to WR Harrison Wallace for a 24-yard touchdown. Ole Miss led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.
That Didn’t Take Long!
It only took five plays for the Rebels to make their presence known, as RB Kewan Lacy ran around the Bulldogs’ defense for a 31-yard rushing score on the opening possession of the game.
No. 13 Utah 31, Kansas 21
4TH QUARTER
Devastating!
Kansas had the ball at the Utah 5-yard line before disaster struck for the Jayhawks. Faced with a third down, QB Jalon Daniels was intercepted by cornerback Elijah Davis, who ran the pick back 97 yards for a Utah touchdown. The Utes led 24-14 with 7: 52 remaining in the game. The two teams traded touchdowns later in the quarter, and the Utes won, 31-21.
We Got a Good One!
Utah turned the ball over on downs to open the second half, which Kansas followed with an eight-play touchdown drive that was capped off by a 1-yard scoring rush from Daniels. The Jayhawks led 14-10 at the end of the third quarter.
Then, Kansas had a chance to stretch its lead before Daniels was intercepted in the end zone by Utah safety Jackson Bennee. And five plays later, QB Devon Dampier and WR Larry Simmons hooked up for a 28-yard touchdown, giving the Utes a 17-14 lead with 12: 26 remaining in the fourth quarter.
2ND QUARTER
Utes Answer
Six plays after Kansas got on the board, Dampier stepped up and hit WR JJ Buchanan, who thundered downfield for a 58-yard touchdown. The Utes led 10-7 at halftime.
2ND QUARTER
Jayhawks Reach End Zone First
Kansas turned the ball over on its first drive and missed a field goal on its second one, but its third drive ended with a 7-yard rushing touchdown by RB Daniel Hishaw Jr., giving the Jayhawks a 7-3 lead with 12: 03 remaining in the second quarter.
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