Category: College Football

Nov 25, 2022; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback Ben Finley (10) passes the ball as North Carolina Tar Heels defensive lineman Kaimon Rucker (25) defends in the fourth quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Top 25 football roundup: NC State nips No. 17 UNC in 2 OTs

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Christopher Dunn kicked two field goals in overtime Friday and North Carolina State came out with a 30-27 double-overtime victory over No. 17 North Carolina on Friday in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The game ended when the Tar Heels’ Noah Burnette missed 35-yard field-goal attempt wide left to end the second overtime.

North Carolina (9-3, 6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) — which still advances to the league’s championship game — forced overtime as time expired in regulation when Drake Maye found Antoine Green with a 4-yard touchdown pass and Burnette converted the extra-point kick. The Tar Heels gained their first lead of the game on Burnette’s 26-yard field goal in the first overtime.

Dunn then extended the game with a 32-yarder of his own. In the second OT, Dunn was true with his third field goal of the game (he missed on in the third quarter), and Burnette missed his second in four attempts on the day. The Wolfpack (8-4, 4-4) snapped a two-game skid and won an ACC road game for the first time this year.

No. 16 Florida State 45, Florida 38

Trey Benson rushed for the tiebreaking touchdown — his third of the night — with 4:06 remaining to lead the Seminoles past the Gators in Tallahassee, Fla.

The win completed a turnaround by Florida State (9-3) from its 5-7 mark last season, and it was the highest-scoring game in series history. Florida (6-6) scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to tie the game before Benson’s winning TD.

Benson carried 20 times for 111 yards, while Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis rushed 15 times for 83 yards and two touchdowns while throwing for 270 yards and a score. Ricky Pearsall caught five passes for a career-high 148 yards and two scores for the Gators.

No. 18 UCLA 35, Cal 28

Dorian Thompson-Robinson accounted for three touchdowns and Zach Charbonnet rushed for 119 yards and the game-winning score to lead the Bruins over the Golden Bears in Berkeley, Calif.

Charbonnet carried the ball 24 times as UCLA (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12) rushed for 352 yards. T.J. Harden rushed for 89 yards and Thompson-Robinson, who threw for 189 yards and a score on 21-of-30 passing, added 88 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.

Cal quarterback Jack Plummer threw for 294 yards and four touchdowns on 24-for-34 passing. Plummer also became the sixth quarterback for the Golden Bears (4-8, 2-7) to surpass the 3,000 yards passing in a season.

No. 19 Tulane 27, No. 24 Cincinnati 24

Tyjae Spears rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns and the Green Wave defeated the host Bearcats to win the American Athletic Conference regular-season title.

Spears had his sixth consecutive 100-yard rushing game and eclipsed 1,000 yards for the season as the Green Wave (10-2, 7-1 AAC) earned the host spot in the conference championship game on Dec. 3. Michael Pratt added a 30-yard touchdown pass to Duece Watts that provided the winning points with 5:10 left.

Evan Prater made his first start at quarterback for Cincinnati (9-3, 6-2) in place of injured Ben Bryant. Prater completed 10 of 26 for 102 yards and an interception as the two-time defending conference champion Bearcats saw their 32-game home winning streak end.

No. 23 Texas 38, Baylor 27

Bijan Robinson ran for 179 yards and two touchdowns as the Longhorns stayed in the hunt for a spot in the Big 12 Championship game with a come-from-behind win over the Bears in Austin, Texas.

Texas (8-4, 6-3 Big 12) will play in the league championship game against TCU if Kansas beats Kansas State on Saturday night. Texas’ eight regular-season wins are its most since 2018, when it beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to finish 10-4.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers finished 12 of 16 for 194 yards, with seven of those passes caught by Xavier Worthy for 62 yards. Blake Shapen led the Bears (6-6, 4-5 Big 12) with 179 yards passing and two TDs. Baylor finished the regular season with three straight losses.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2022; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Trey Benson (3) runs for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Florida Gators at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

No. 16 Florida State outlasts Florida 45-38

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Florida State running back Trey Benson rushed for the tiebreaking touchdown — his third of the night — with 4:06 remaining to lead the No. 16 Seminoles to a 45-38 win over the visiting Florida Gators on Friday night in Tallahassee, Fla.

Tied at 38 after Florida rebounded with two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the Seminoles — a 9 1/2-point favorite — needed Benson’s 17-yard ramble after they rallied three times from single-score deficits.

Florida State blitzed Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson on a fourth-and-12 at the Seminoles’ 26-yard line and forced an incompletion for the final turnover on downs to seal the victory.

The win completed a turnaround by Florida State (9-3) from its five wins last season, and it was the highest-scoring game in series history.

Benson carried 20 times for 111 yards, while quarterback Jordan Travis rushed 15 times for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Travis, a junior, went 13-for-30 for 270 yards with a score as the Seminoles broke a three-game losing streak against the Gators.

Richardson was 9-for-27 for 198 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Ricky Pearsall caught five passes for a career-high 148 yards and two scores. Jonathan Odom caught a touchdown pass, and Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne (129 yards rushing) scored on the ground.

After a turnover on downs, the Seminoles took advantage when Benson raced nine yards for a 7-0 lead. But on the next scrimmage play, Richardson found Pearsall on a 52-yard heave.

Richardson then threw a 12-yard score to Odom on a play-action bootleg for the visitors’ first lead at 4:06. As the wild opening quarter neared its end, Travis tallied on a 29-yard run to knot the game again.

Following Pearsall’s second long scoring reception — from 43 yards — Travis evened it at 21-all with a 1-yard keeper at 5:44. But Florida had enough time for a 41-yard field goal by Adam Mihalek for a 24-21 halftime lead.

The two teams combined for 580 yards of total offense and 25 first downs in the first half.

After missing a field goal 37 yards in the second quarter, Florida State’s Ryan Fitzgerald nailed one from 46 yards in the third. Benson put his squad up for the first time since the game’s first score on a 1-yard run with 4:21 left. Travis hit Kentron Poitier for 6 yards for a 38-24 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Johnson and Etienne rushed for touchdowns to tie it at 38.

–Field Level Media

November 25, 2022; Berkeley, California, USA; UCLA Bruins wide receiver Jake Bobo (9) scores a touchdown against California Golden Bears safety Craig Woodson (2) during the first quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Dorian Thompson-Robinson, No. 18 UCLA finally finish off Cal

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Dorian Thompson-Robinson accounted for three touchdowns and Zach Charbonnet rushed for 119 yards and the game-winning score to lead UCLA to a 35-28 victory over host California on Friday afternoon in Berkeley, Calif.

Charbonnet carried the ball 24 times as UCLA rushed for 352 yards. T.J. Harden rushed for 89 yards and Thompson-Robinson, who threw for 189 yards and a score on 21-of-30 passing, added 88 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.

The Bruins (9-3 overall, 6-3 Pac-12) clinched the win with less than two minutes remaining when Laiatu Latu recovered his second fumble of the game after the ball was punched out of Cal running back Jaydn Ott’s hands.

Cal quarterback Jack Plummer threw for 294 yards and four touchdowns on 24-for-34 passing. Plummer also became the sixth quarterback for Cal to surpass the 3,000 yards passing in a season.

Less than four minutes after Cal (4-8, 2-7) took a 28-27 lead, Charbonnet scored a 5-yard touchdown run and Thompson-Robinson converted a two-point pass play to Jake Bobo as UCLA went 73 yards on 10 plays to take the lead.

The teams traded touchdowns in the first quarter, with UCLA striking first on a 5-yard toss from Thompson-Robinson to Bobo. Plummer capped an 80-yard drive with a 46-yard bomb to J. Michael Sturdivant to tie the score.

Nicholas Barr-Mira punched in a 23-yard field goal for a 10-7 UCLA lead in the second quarter.

Cal seemed to grab the momentum before halftime with a pair of Plummer touchdown passes to Jeremiah Hunter — from 38 and 22 yards out — as the Bears went up 21-10 with 58 seconds remaining.

But Thompson-Robinson led the Bruins on an impressive 75-yard drive on five plays in 40 seconds, rushing 19 yards for the score to make it a 21-17 game at the half.

Thompson-Robinson then helped the Bruins regain the lead at 24-21 with a 14-yard keeper midway through the third quarter.

Latu recovered a fumble after Jack Landherr IV popped the ball out of punt returner Hunter’s hands late in the third quarter in what was Cal’s only other turnover.

The Bruins had to settle for a field goal and a 27-21 lead.

On Cal’s next possession, Hunter gained 49 yards on a reception, setting up an 8-yard screen pass to Ott as Cal temporarily regained a one-point lead.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2022; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Antoine Green (3) attempts to catch the ball as North Carolina State Wolfpack cornerback Aydan White (3) defends in the first quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

NC State upends No. 17 North Carolina in 2 OT

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Christopher Dunn kicked two field goals in overtime Friday and North Carolina State came out with a 30-27 victory when North Carolina’s Noah Burnette’s 35-yard attempt was wide left to end the second overtime in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Host North Carolina — which still advances to the ACC Championship Game — forced overtime as time expired in regulation when Drake Maye found Antoine Green with a 4-yard touchdown pass and Burnette converted the extra-point kick.

A snap before the tying play, Maye scrambled and threw 4 yards to tight end John Copenhaver on third down, but video review overturned the call of touchdown and 2 seconds were put back on the clock.

The Tar Heels gained their first lead of the game on Burnette’s 26-yard field goal in the first overtime. Dunn then extended the game with a 32-yarder of his own. In the second OT, Dunn was true with his third field goal of the game (he missed on in the third quarter), and Burnette missed his second in four attempts on the day.

The Wolfpack (8-4, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) snapped a two-game skid and won an ACC road game for the first time this year. The Tar Heels (9-3, 6-2) have lost two straight but meet Clemson next week in the ACC Championship Game.

NC State quarterback Ben Finley finished 27-for-40 for 271 yards with two touchdowns — including a 26-yard scoring pass to Devin Carter with 3:54 to play that gave the Wolfpack a 24-17 lead. Finley, the younger brother of former Wolfpack quarterback Ryan Finley, became NC State’s fourth starting quarterback across the last seven games.

Maye, who became North Carolina’s single-season record-holder for passing yards with more than 3,750 yards, was 29-for-49 for 233 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

It was Tanner Ingle’s interception of Maye’s tipped that gave the Wolfpack possession at the North Carolina 29 with 4:46 to play leading to NC State’s go-ahead score.

Still, Maye drove the Tar Heels 75 yards in 15 plays to tie the score as the clock expired, setting up the overtime field-goal drama.

NC State had its way for much of the game after starting Jack Chambers scored from 2 yards out just 1:40 into the game.

North Carolina got on the board on Burnette’s 37-yard field goal later in the opening quarter.

Finley connected with diving freshman receiver Terrell Timmons for a 28-yard touchdown play to complete a 55-yard drive. It was the first touchdown in Timmons’ career and gave NC State a 14-3 lead.

North Carolina, which punted four times in the first 20 minutes, put together a touchdown drive by moving 59 yards on eight plays. Elijah Green ran 8 yards for the touchdown.

NC State had a chance to pad a 14-10 lead before a Chambers’ fumble at the North Carolina 16 with 2:10 left in the half thwarted that opportunity. But after a North Carolina punt, the Wolfpack made good use of 38 seconds and scored for a 17-10 edge on Dunn’s 29-yard field goal on the last play of the half.

Dunn became the ACC’s all-time scoring leader in the first half.

North Carolina was without injured starting cornerback Tony Grimes and then lost starting safety Cam’Ron Kelly to a second-quarter injury.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2022; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Casey Thompson throws a pass against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Casey Thompson, Nebraska defeat Iowa to damage Hawkeyes’ title chances

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Casey Thompson completed three touchdown passes and Trey Palmer had nine catches for 165 yards as Nebraska held off Iowa 24-17 Saturday at Iowa City, Iowa.

Iowa backup quarterback Alex Padilla tried to rally the Hawkeyes back from a 24-0 deficit in the second half after Spencer Petras suffered an arm injury before halftime.

In Iowa’s second-to-last possession, Padilla completed a 15-yard pass to Luke Lachey for a first down to the Iowa 33, but he threw four consecutive incompletions thereafter for a turnover on downs with 2:06 left.

After Iowa forced Nebraska to punt with 1:05 remaining, Padilla was intercepted by Chris Kolarevic on a fourth-and-8 play at Iowa’s 22.

Padilla was 16 of 33 for 141 yards with a touchdown and interception.

Thompson passed for 278 yards while completing 20 of 30 passes for Nebraska, which snapped a seven-game losing streak against Iowa.

The Hawkeyes (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten) were in position to win the Big Ten West Division with a victory after putting together a four-game winning streak entering the game.

They can still win the division if Purdue loses at Indiana and Illinois loses at Northwestern on Saturday.

Nebraska (4-8, 3-6) took control at the start not having to punt through its first four possessions.

A missed field goal by Timmy Bleekrode of 32 yards in Nebraska’s first drive was followed by an 87-yard touchdown pass from Thompson to Palmer to put the Cornhuskers ahead 7-0 with 8:45 left in the first quarter.

Bleekrode converted on a 21-yard field goal and Thompson connected on an 18-yard touchdown to Palmer in the next two possessions.

The Cornhuskers increased the lead to 24-0 with 12:15 left in the third quarter on Thompson’s 14-yard pass to Marcus Washington.

Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson then capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a 44-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 24-7. Johnson had 109 yards on 16 rushes.

Nebraska’s offense was forced to punt on its next two possessions.

Iowa scored on 14-yard touchdown pass from Padilla to Lachey with 6:49 remaining to cut the lead to 24-14.

A fumble by Nebraska’s Rahmir Johnson was then recovered by Iowa’s Logan Klemp at the Nebraska 27.

Drew Stevens made a 45-yard field goal with 5:41 left to cut the lead to 24-17.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2022; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook (12) drops to throw against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Missouri beats rival Arkansas to gain bowl eligibility

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Brady Cook passed for 242 yards and a touchdown and ran for 138 yards and a score as Missouri defeated Arkansas 29-27 Friday in Columbia, Mo.

Dominic Lovett caught six passes for 130 yards for the Tigers (6-6, 3-5 Southeastern Conference), who won the Battle Line Rivalry trophy and gained bowl eligibility.

KJ Jefferson completed 20 of 27 passes for 205 yards two touchdowns and ran for another for the Razorbacks (6-6, 3-5).

Missouri outgained Arkansas 468 to 318, earned seven sacks and forced two turnovers.

The Tigers struck first with a 40-yard field goal by Harrison Mevis 5:26 into the game. Cook’s 27-yard run sparked the 46-yard scoring drive.

The Razorbacks responded with a 75-yard touchdown drive to move ahead 7-3. Jefferson completed a 37-yard pass to Matt Landers to get Arkansas rolling and he capped the series with 3-yard TD run.

The Tigers countered with their own 75-yard march to take a 10-7 lead. The key play was Cook’s 27-yard pass to Lovett and the finish came on Cody Schrader’s 3-yard touchdown run.

Cook’s 55-yard pass to Lovett set up the quarterback’s 9-yard touchdown run as Missouri expanded its lead to 17-7 to open the second quarter.

Arkansas cut its deficit to 17-14 with Jefferson’s 27-yard TD pass to Landers.

Mevis hit a 27-yard field goal to push the Missouri lead to 20-14 with 5:26 left in the first half.

But the Razorbacks countered with another 75-yard touchdown drive to take a 21-10 lead. This time, Jefferson hit Raheim Sanders with an 8-yard touchdown pass.

Missouri scored on its first second-half possession on Cook’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Luther Burden III. The Tigers settled for a 26-21 lead when their 2-point conversion attempt failed.

Mevis made it 29-21 with a 29-yard field goal. Cam Little’s 46-yard field goal for Arkansas cut the lead to 29-24, then his 20-yard field goal cut it to 29-27 with 12:40 left to play.

The Tigers’ defense held firm from there, forcing two three-and-outs and a fumble on the Razorbacks’ last-ditch final play.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2022; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats running back Michael Wiley (6) runs for a touchdown against diving Arizona State Sun Devils linebacker Merlin Robertson (8) in the first half of the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona holds on to beat ASU for first time in 6 years

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Michael Wiley ran for 214 yards and three touchdowns, and Isaiah Taylor intercepted a pass with 1:16 to go as host Arizona ended a five-game losing streak to rival Arizona State with a 38-35 victory Friday in Tucson, Ariz.

The Wildcats (5-7, 3-6 Pac-12) had a chance to put the game away late but failed to convert fourth-and-1 at the ASU 27, giving the ball back to the Sun Devils with 1:33 to go and no timeouts left. ASU drove to its 43 before Jacob Manu hit Trenton Bourguet as he threw, and Taylor picked off the floating pass at midfield.

It was Manu’s second big defensive play late in the game. Arizona was protecting the 38-35 lead when Arizona State (3-9, 2-7) was facing third-and-6 at the Arizona 20. Manu blitzed off the edge and knocked the ball loose from Bourguet and the Wildcats recovered with 3:17 remaining.

Wiley, a junior, scored on runs of 51 and 72 yards while setting a career high in rushing yards on just 12 carries. He also caught three passes for 51 yards as Arizona took possession of the Territorial Cup for the first time since 2016.

Bourguet, a junior from Tucson who walked on at ASU in 2019, was mostly brilliant against his hometown school, completing 37 of 49 passes for 376 yards and three touchdowns. But two interceptions and the lost fumble were costly.

ASU interim coach Shaun Aguano finished with a 2-7 record.

ASU led 14-10 at halftime but the Wildcats were up 31-28 after a wild, back-and-forth third quarter in which the teams combined for 429 total yards and five touchdowns.

The Sun Devils forced Arizona into a three-and-out to begin the fourth quarter and forged ahead 35-31 when Bourguet connected with Jalin Conyers for a 4-yard score with 11:04 to go. The Wildcats answered with a 6-yard touchdown run from DJ Williams for a 38-35 advantage, the sixth lead change of the game.

–Field Level Media

Oct 9, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Nebraska expected to name Matt Rhule next head coach

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Nebraska and former Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule are ironing out a deal that will make him the Cornhuskers’ next coach, ESPN reported Friday.

Rhule, who previously coached at Temple and Baylor, was fired in October by the Panthers after a 1-4 start. He had an 11-27 record in two-plus seasons with the team.

In an interview with NFL Network earlier on Tuesday, he said he wanted to coach again.

“It didn’t end the way I wanted it to. But I’m proud I never lost the locker room,” Rhule said. “I’m proud those guys fought and stood up for me til the very end. I hope I get another chance to coach. I’d do some things better football-wise.”

Rhule, 47, was 47-43 in the college ranks with Temple (2013-16) and Baylor (2017-19). At the latter, he was credited with turning around a program that had been decimated by scandal under former coach Art Briles.

In Rhule’s final season there, the Bears were 11-3 and played in the Sugar Bowl.

Nebraska is in another once-proud program in desperate need of a turnaround after firing coach Scott Frost as the Huskers started the season at 1-2. Nebraska has won five national championships but none since 1997, when Frost was the quarterback.

Frost was 16-31 in four-plus seasons.

The Cornhuskers haven’t won a bowl game since 2015 and last won 10 games in 2012. They were 3-8 (2-6 Big Ten) entering Friday’s season finale against Iowa.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Tulane Green Wave running back Tyjae Spears (22) runs for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the first half at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

No. 19 Tulane tops No. 24 Cincinnati to reach AAC title game

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Tyjae Spears rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns and No. 19 Tulane defeated host and No. 24 Cincinnati 27-24 to win the American Athletic Conference regular-season title Friday afternoon.

Spears had his sixth consecutive 100-yard rushing game and eclipsed 1,000 yards for the season as the Green Wave (10-2, 7-1) earned the host spot in the AAC championship game Dec. 3.

Michael Pratt added a 30-yard touchdown pass to Duece Watts that provided the winning points with 5:10 left.

Evan Prater made his first start at quarterback for Cincinnati (9-3, 6-2) in place of injured Ben Bryant. Prater completed 10 of 26 for 102 yards and an interception as the two-time defending conference champion Bearcats saw their 32-game home winning streak end.

Tulane notched the first turnover of the game in the third quarter when Dorian Williams snared a tipped pass from Prater at the Cincinnati 40.

The Green Wave converted a fourth and 3 from the 6 when the Bearcats were called for pass interference. On the next play Spears ran 2 yards for a touchdown and a 20-10 lead.

On the ensuing possession Cincinnati converted a fourth and 1 on its way to Ryan Montgomery’s 8-yard touchdown run that trimmed the lead to 20-17 at the end of the third.

The Bearcats converted two fourth downs on its way to Montgomery’s 15-yard touchdown run that briefly gave them their first lead at 24-20 with 6:27 left.

The Green Wave needed just three plays to set up Pratt’s game-winner to Watts.

Valentino Ambrosio kicked a 34-yard field goal for a 3-0 Tulane lead that held up through the end of the first quarter.

On the first play of the second quarter, Ryan Coe kicked a 28-yard field goal that tied the score.

Spears ran 11 yards for the game’s first touchdown, giving the Green Wave a 10-3 lead.

On the ensuing possession, the Bearcats’ Charles McClelland ran 35 yards for a tying touchdown.

Ambrosio kicked a career-long 47-yard field goal with 16 seconds left to give Tulane a 13-10 halftime lead.

–Field Level Media