TWIF Notes 11/25/19
Welcome back!
What an exciting weekend of college football- close games, big upsets, and blowouts (of course). There were expected outcomes, and there were some surprises.
Here is how the games turned out, and some thoughts on each (or at least most).
Teams who won against FCS competition, exactly as expected:
Alabama over Western Carolina 66-3
Auburn over Samford 52-0
North Carolina over Mercer 56-3
Vanderbilt over East Tennessee State 38-0
Kentucky over UT Martin 50-7
Mississippi State over Abilene Christian 45-7
Auburn over Samford 52-0
North Carolina over Mercer 56-3
Vanderbilt over East Tennessee State 38-0
Kentucky over UT Martin 50-7
Mississippi State over Abilene Christian 45-7
FBS vs FBS games
On Tuesday, Eastern Michigan destroyed Northern Illinois 45-17 to reach bowl eligibility for the 2nd consecutive year. The Eagles, 6-5/3-4, close the season on Friday against Kent State. The Huskies fell to 4-7/3-4, and will miss a bowl for the 1st time since 2017.
Ohio blew out Bowling Green 66-24, and the Bobcats, at 5-6/4-3, need a win @Akron on Tuesday to make it to a bowl for the 5th straight year (though they were eligible in 2014, but weren't chosen. The Falcons are 3-8/2-5, but a win @Buffalo on Friday would give them 1 more win than they had in 2018, and the most conference wins since 2015.
On Wednesday, Miami, Oh eased out a win over Akron 20-17, keeping the Zips the lone winless team in all of FBS. The Redhawks have clinched the East, and will be playing to achieve their 1st MAC title since 2010.
Buffalo routed Toledo 49-30. The Bulls are 6-5/4-3 while Toledo, expected to be the class of the MAC West, fell to 6-5/3-4.
On Thursday, Georgia Tech upset NC State 28-26 to give the Yellow Jackets their 3rd win of the season and their 2nd conference win. The Wolfpack have lost 5 straight games, and will not go bowling for the 1st time since 2013.
On Friday, Wyoming edged Colorado State 17-7 to end a modest 2-game losing streak. The Cowboys stand at 7-4/4-3 and the Rams are 4-7/3-4, and will not make a bowl for the 2nd straight year.
On Saturday, Ohio State outlasted Penn State to win 28-17. The Buckeyes shot out to a 21-0 lead, then allowed the Nittany Lions to close within 21-17, then put it away. OSU, 11-0/8-0, has clinched the Big Ten East and will play the winner of the Wisconsin-Minnesota game. PSU is 9-2/6-2.
Minnesota routed Northwestern 38-22. The Golden Gophers are 10-1/7-1, and will play Wisconsin for the Big Ten West crown. The Wildcats have had a miserable season, at 2-9/0-7, and could finish without a conference win for the 1st time since 1998 (Gary Barnett's last year).
Iowa won a tough, hard fought game over Illinois 19-10. The Hawkeyes secured 3rd place in the division at 8-3/5-3. The Illini are 6-5/4-4, and could finish with their 1st winning Big Ten record since 2007 (under Ron Zook- their last Rose Bowl year). They play Northwestern at home, and though the stakes aren't big nationally, they are definitely big for these 2 teams.
Oklahoma State eked by West Virginia 20-13, ensuring that the Mountaineers will not go bowling at 4-7/2-6. The Cowboys, 8-3/5-3, could lock up a special season and 3rd place in the Big 12 by upsetting Oklahoma on Saturday.
BYU crushed UMass 56-24, and the Minutemen have allowed the most points (and most ppg) of any team in FBS history, topping UConn's dreadful mark from last year. The 7-4 Cougars have won 5 straight, and finish their season @SDSU on Saturday. UMass ends its season at 1-11, winning 3 fewer games than last year, a terrible start to the Walt Bell regime.
UCF had another close game, surviving 34-31 over Tulane. This was the 4th game the Knights have played that has been decided by 3 points or less- they are 2-2 in those games- and UCF is now 8-3/5-2, and will finish in 2nd in the AAC East. The Green Wave are 6-5/3-4 and will finish 4th in the 7-team AAC West.
Kent State moved to 5-6/4-3 with a 41-38 victory over Ball State. The Golden Flashes kept their bowl hopes alive while simultaneously ruining the hopes of the Cardinals, 4-7/3-4.
East Carolina beat UConn in a what was basically a meaningless game 31-24. The Pirates are 4-7/1-6 and the Huskies are 2-8/0-7.
Virginia demolished Liberty 55-27. The Cavaliers, 8-3/5-2, can clinch the ACC Coastal with a win over Va Tech on Friday. The Flames, even though they are 6-5, need a win over NMSU to secure a bowl slot, as they have 2 victories over FCS teams.
Iowa State held off Kansas 41-31. The Cyclones can finish no worse than 4th place in the Big 12 if they beat Kansas St this weekend. They are 7-4/5-3. The Jayhawk, 3-8/1-7, need a win over Baylor to finish better than last year, both overall and in the Big 12. Regardless, they have clinched last place in the conference.
Michigan State destroyed Rutgers 27-0 to move to 5-6/3-5. The Spartans will reach a bowl if they can beat Maryland this week. The Scarlet Knights are 2-9/0-8, and unless they beat Penn St Saturday, will finish winless in the Big Ten for the 2nd consecutive year.
Georgia State beat South Alabama 28-15. The Panthers, 7-4/4-3, need one more win to achieve their best season ever, and their 3rd winning record in the SBC in the last 5 years. They play their rival, Georgia Southern, this weekend in Statesboro. The Jaguars, 1-10/0-7, need to beat Arkansas St to avoid their 1st winless conference record.
Air Force crushed New Mexico 44-22. The Falcons, 9-2/6-1, have clinched 2nd place in the MWC Mountain division. The Lobos, 2-9/0-7, will have a new coach next year.
Notre Dame pummeled Boston College to the tune of 40-7. The Fighting Irish are 9-2 and finish the regular season @Stanford. the Eagles are 5-6/3-4, and need a win @Pitt to secure a bowl berth.
Appalachian State locked up the SBC East title with a 35-13 win over Texas State. The Mountaineers are 10-1/6-1, and will face Louisiana in the SBCCG. The Bobcats fell to 3-8/2-5.
Arkansas State squeezed by Georgia Southern 38-33. The Red Wolves are now 7-4/5-2 and will finish 2nd in the SBC West. The Eagles are 6-5/4-3, and their game against Ga St will decide 2nd place in the SBC East.
Georgia eked by Texas A&M, winning 19-13. The Bulldogs are 10-1/7-1 and still in the playoff conversation. The Aggies are 7-4/4-3, but every loss is to a ranked team, but they have no wins over a team with a winning record. It's hard to really gauge how good (or bad) this team really is.
Baylor clinched a spot in the Big 12 CG with a 24-10 victory over Texas. The Bears are 10-1/7-1 and will face Oklahoma again in 2 weeks. The Longhorns are 6-5/4-4, and need to beat Texas Tech to finish with a winning conference record, and perhaps a tie for 3rd place.
Michigan dominated Indiana 39-14. The Wolverines, 9-2/6-2, host Ohio St on Saturday, while the Hoosiers, who dropped to 7-4/4-4, travel to Purdue.
Navy took over 2nd place in the AAC West with a 35-28 win over SMU. The Midshipmen, 8-2/6-1, can win the division if it wins @Houston and Memphis loses to Cincy. The Mustangs fall to 9-2/5-2, and could finish in a tie for 1st if they beat Tulane and Memphis and Navy both lose, but in that scenario, Memphis will win the division due to its having beat each of the others.
Virginia Tech shut out Pittsburgh 28-0. The Hokies, at 8-3/5-2, have won 3 straight and 6 of 7 to set up a winner-takes-all game @UVA on Friday. The Panthers drop to 7-4/4-3, and have now lost 2 of their last 4.
USC routed UCLA 52-35 to keep the Pac 12 South hopes alive. At 8-4/7-2, the Trojans have completed their season, but can win the South if Utah loses to Colorado on Saturday. The Bruins are 4-7/4-4, and will not go bowling for the 2nd straight year, but they have won 1 more game than all of last year, and can make it 2 if they can beat Cal this weekend.
Charlotte surprised Marshall 24-13 to knock the Thundering Herd out of 1st place in the CUSA East division. Marshall, 7-4/5-2, needs a win over FIU and an FAU loss to Southern Miss to finish 1st. The 49ers, 6-5/4-3, achieved bowl eligibility for the 1st time, and are on a 4-game winning streak.
UAB moved into a tie for 1st place in the CUSA West with a 20-14 win over La Tech. The Blazers have won 2 straight and are now 8-3/5-2. The Bulldogs are 8-3/5-2 also, and there's a strong possibility these 2 teams will finish in a 3-way tie for 1st with Southern Miss, if they all win their game this weekend, but USM has the toughest task, putting UAB in the driver's seat.
Rice won its 2nd straight game, 20-14, over North Texas. The Owls broke a 9-game losing streak last week, and could make it 3 in a row when they play @UTEP. The Mean Green drops to 4-7/3-4, and could actually finish behind the Owls in the division. They were 9-4 last year.
WKU routed Southern Miss 28-10, dropping the Golden Eagles to 7-4/5-2 and a 3-way tie for 1st in the CUSA West. The Hilltoppers, 7-4/5-2, could finish in a tie for 1st in the East, but would lose all tiebreakers.
Nebraska crushed Maryland 54-7. the Cornhuskers moved closer to bowl eligibility, at 5-6/3-5, but need a win over Iowa on Friday. The Terrapins have lost 6 straight, and stand at 3-8/1-7.
Wisconsin demolished Purdue 45-24, and now faces Minnesota in Minneapolis for the Big Ten West title- winner-take-all. At 9-2/6-2, the Badgers would match Minny's record with a win. The Boilermakers will not be going to a bowl, as they are 4-7/3-5.
Memphis crushed USF 49-10. The Tigers, 10-1/6-1, will win the AAC West with a win over Cincy or a Navy loss to Houston. The Bulls, 4-7/3-4, will look to win their rivalry game over UCF.
New Mexico State earned its 2nd victory of the year, and 1st over an FBS opponent, with a 44-35 victory over UTEP. The Aggies are 2-9 and close the season on the road @Liberty. The Miners are 1-9/0-7, and finish the season at home against Rice. They still have not beaten an FBS foe this year.
California beat Stanford in The Big Game 24-20. The Golden Bears are 6-5/3-5, and will finish no worse than a tie for 3rd if they can beat UCLA. The Cardinal is 4-7/3-6, and closes out the regular season hosting Notre Dame.
Louisville cruised past Syracuse 56-34, and the Cardinals are 7-4/5-3, reversing last year's 2-10 debacle. The Orange are 4-7/1-6, a precipitous drop from 2018's 10-3/6-2.
Although UNLV defeated San Jose State 38-35, HC Tony Sanchez will not be returning for a 6th season. The Rebels are 3-8/1-6 and need a victory over rival Nevada to match last year's record. The Spartans fell to 4-7/1-6, and will finish in the MWC West basement unless it defeats Fresno St.
Middle Tennessee routed ODU 38-17. The Blue Raiders, 4-7/3-4, and the Monarchs, 1-10/0-7, will be spending the holidays at home.
ULM outlasted Coastal Carolina 45-42 to keep their bowl hopes alive. The Warhawks are 5-6/4-3 while the Chanticleers fall to 4-7/1-6.
Louisiana demolished Troy 53-3 to clinch the SBC West and subsequently hurt Troy's chances at a bowl bid. The Ragin' Cajuns are 9-2/6-1 and the Trojans are 5-6/3-4, and they close against App St.
FAU won a closer than expected game over UTSA by the score of 40-26. The Owls are 1 win away from clinching the CUSA East at 8-3/6-1, but if they stumble against Sothern Miss, they open the door for Marshall. The Roadrunners are 4-7/3-4.
LSU destroyed Arkansas 56-20 to clinch the SEC West. The Tigers, 11-0/7-0, finish the season against TAMU. The Bayou Bengals have won 12 straight games, their last lost the 7 OT thriller to Texas A&M that led to the OT rules changes. The Razorbacks are 2-9/0-7, and may finish winless in their conference for the 1st time since 2013 (Bret Bielema's 1st year), and only the 2nd time since 1942.
Cincinnati survived against Temple, but only barely, 15-13. The Bearcats, 10-1/7-0, have clinched the AAC East. The Owls dropped to 7-4/4-3, and will finish in 3rd place in the East.
Kansas State eked out a win over Texas Tech. The Wildcats are 7-4/4-4 in HC Chris Klieman's 1st year, a nice turnaround from 5-7 las year. The Red Raiders are 4-7/2-6, and need a win @Texas to match last year's 5-7 in this, HC Matt Wells' 1st year in Lubbock.
In perhaps the biggest shocker of the day, FIU defeated Miami, Fl 30-24, but they led 23-3 at one point. The Panthers improved their record to 6-5/3-4, and HC Butch Davis earned a victory against the team that fired him after the 200 season, when they finished 11-1. The Hurricanes are now 6-5/4-3, and have surprising wins (UVA, @Pitt, @FSU, Louisville) and confounding losses (@UNC, VT, GT, FIU).
Arizona State ruined Oregon's quest for a playoff berth by beating them 31-28. The Ducks fall to 9-2/7-1, but have still won the Pac 12 North. The Sun Devils, 6-5/3-5, snapped a 4-game losing streak.
Houston went on the road and defeated Tulsa 24-14. The Cougars are 4-7/2-5 and the Golden Hurricane is 3-8/1-6.
Tennessee won it's 4th straight game, beating Missouri 24-20. The Volunteers are 6-5/4-3, and have clinched 3rd place in the SEC East. The Tigers dropped to 5-6/2-5, and their bowl hopes are still up in the air, as they continue waiting on their appeal to be ruled on. However, if they lose to Arkansas in Little Rock this weekend, it will be a moot point.
Wake Forest continued its strong season, defeating Duke 39-27. the Demon Deacons are 8-3/4-3, and a win @Syracuse will give them a winning record in the ACC for the 1st time since 2011. the Blue Devils fell to 4-7/2-5, and a season that started with such promise has deteriorated with a 5-game losing streak.
Oklahoma jumped out to a big lead over TCU, then hung on for the 28-24 win. With this win, the Sooners clinched a berth in the Big 12 CG, and will face Baylor again in 2 weeks, but first they have to get by Okla St. The Horned Frogs fall to 5-6/3-5, and need a win over WVU to secure a bowl bid.
Washington State had a frantic comeback to edge Oregon State 54-53 in yet another wild Pac 12 after dark game. The Cougars earned bowl eligibility with the win, and stand at 6-5/3-5 heading into the Apple Cup. The Beavers fell to 5-6/4-4, and need a win @Oregon to reach a bowl.
Utah pummeled Arizona 35-7, and the Utes, 10-1/7-1, can clinch the Pac 12 South with a win against Colorado. However, if they lose, USC will win the division. The Wildcats are 4-7/2-6 and have lost 6 straight.
Colorado surprised Washington, winning 20-14. The Buffaloes are 5-6/3-5, and can get a bowl bid if they upset Utah in Salt Lake City. The Huskies are a disappointing 6-5/3-5, and now must beat rival Wash St to keep the season from being a complete disaster.
Boise State clinched the MWC Mountain division with its 56-21 victory over Utah State. The Broncos are 10-1/7-0, and will face Hawai'i in the CG in 2 weeks. The Aggies dropped to 6-5/5-2.
Nevada defeated Fresno State 35-28 to move to 7-4/4-3, and a win against UNLV and their lame-duck coach will give them at least 8 wins for the 2nd straight season, and a 4-game winning streak. The Bulldogs have been a huge disappointment, falling from 12-2/7-1 a year ago to 4-7/2-5 this year.
Hawai'i survived San Diego State 14-11 to clinch the MWC West division. The Rainbow Warriors, 8-4/5-3 are vying for their 1st conference championship since winning the WAC in 2010. The Aztecs are 8-3/5-3. Both schools play a non-conference foe this week.
Ohio blew out Bowling Green 66-24, and the Bobcats, at 5-6/4-3, need a win @Akron on Tuesday to make it to a bowl for the 5th straight year (though they were eligible in 2014, but weren't chosen. The Falcons are 3-8/2-5, but a win @Buffalo on Friday would give them 1 more win than they had in 2018, and the most conference wins since 2015.
On Wednesday, Miami, Oh eased out a win over Akron 20-17, keeping the Zips the lone winless team in all of FBS. The Redhawks have clinched the East, and will be playing to achieve their 1st MAC title since 2010.
Buffalo routed Toledo 49-30. The Bulls are 6-5/4-3 while Toledo, expected to be the class of the MAC West, fell to 6-5/3-4.
On Thursday, Georgia Tech upset NC State 28-26 to give the Yellow Jackets their 3rd win of the season and their 2nd conference win. The Wolfpack have lost 5 straight games, and will not go bowling for the 1st time since 2013.
On Friday, Wyoming edged Colorado State 17-7 to end a modest 2-game losing streak. The Cowboys stand at 7-4/4-3 and the Rams are 4-7/3-4, and will not make a bowl for the 2nd straight year.
On Saturday, Ohio State outlasted Penn State to win 28-17. The Buckeyes shot out to a 21-0 lead, then allowed the Nittany Lions to close within 21-17, then put it away. OSU, 11-0/8-0, has clinched the Big Ten East and will play the winner of the Wisconsin-Minnesota game. PSU is 9-2/6-2.
Minnesota routed Northwestern 38-22. The Golden Gophers are 10-1/7-1, and will play Wisconsin for the Big Ten West crown. The Wildcats have had a miserable season, at 2-9/0-7, and could finish without a conference win for the 1st time since 1998 (Gary Barnett's last year).
Iowa won a tough, hard fought game over Illinois 19-10. The Hawkeyes secured 3rd place in the division at 8-3/5-3. The Illini are 6-5/4-4, and could finish with their 1st winning Big Ten record since 2007 (under Ron Zook- their last Rose Bowl year). They play Northwestern at home, and though the stakes aren't big nationally, they are definitely big for these 2 teams.
Oklahoma State eked by West Virginia 20-13, ensuring that the Mountaineers will not go bowling at 4-7/2-6. The Cowboys, 8-3/5-3, could lock up a special season and 3rd place in the Big 12 by upsetting Oklahoma on Saturday.
BYU crushed UMass 56-24, and the Minutemen have allowed the most points (and most ppg) of any team in FBS history, topping UConn's dreadful mark from last year. The 7-4 Cougars have won 5 straight, and finish their season @SDSU on Saturday. UMass ends its season at 1-11, winning 3 fewer games than last year, a terrible start to the Walt Bell regime.
UCF had another close game, surviving 34-31 over Tulane. This was the 4th game the Knights have played that has been decided by 3 points or less- they are 2-2 in those games- and UCF is now 8-3/5-2, and will finish in 2nd in the AAC East. The Green Wave are 6-5/3-4 and will finish 4th in the 7-team AAC West.
Kent State moved to 5-6/4-3 with a 41-38 victory over Ball State. The Golden Flashes kept their bowl hopes alive while simultaneously ruining the hopes of the Cardinals, 4-7/3-4.
East Carolina beat UConn in a what was basically a meaningless game 31-24. The Pirates are 4-7/1-6 and the Huskies are 2-8/0-7.
Virginia demolished Liberty 55-27. The Cavaliers, 8-3/5-2, can clinch the ACC Coastal with a win over Va Tech on Friday. The Flames, even though they are 6-5, need a win over NMSU to secure a bowl slot, as they have 2 victories over FCS teams.
Iowa State held off Kansas 41-31. The Cyclones can finish no worse than 4th place in the Big 12 if they beat Kansas St this weekend. They are 7-4/5-3. The Jayhawk, 3-8/1-7, need a win over Baylor to finish better than last year, both overall and in the Big 12. Regardless, they have clinched last place in the conference.
Michigan State destroyed Rutgers 27-0 to move to 5-6/3-5. The Spartans will reach a bowl if they can beat Maryland this week. The Scarlet Knights are 2-9/0-8, and unless they beat Penn St Saturday, will finish winless in the Big Ten for the 2nd consecutive year.
Georgia State beat South Alabama 28-15. The Panthers, 7-4/4-3, need one more win to achieve their best season ever, and their 3rd winning record in the SBC in the last 5 years. They play their rival, Georgia Southern, this weekend in Statesboro. The Jaguars, 1-10/0-7, need to beat Arkansas St to avoid their 1st winless conference record.
Air Force crushed New Mexico 44-22. The Falcons, 9-2/6-1, have clinched 2nd place in the MWC Mountain division. The Lobos, 2-9/0-7, will have a new coach next year.
Notre Dame pummeled Boston College to the tune of 40-7. The Fighting Irish are 9-2 and finish the regular season @Stanford. the Eagles are 5-6/3-4, and need a win @Pitt to secure a bowl berth.
Appalachian State locked up the SBC East title with a 35-13 win over Texas State. The Mountaineers are 10-1/6-1, and will face Louisiana in the SBCCG. The Bobcats fell to 3-8/2-5.
Arkansas State squeezed by Georgia Southern 38-33. The Red Wolves are now 7-4/5-2 and will finish 2nd in the SBC West. The Eagles are 6-5/4-3, and their game against Ga St will decide 2nd place in the SBC East.
Georgia eked by Texas A&M, winning 19-13. The Bulldogs are 10-1/7-1 and still in the playoff conversation. The Aggies are 7-4/4-3, but every loss is to a ranked team, but they have no wins over a team with a winning record. It's hard to really gauge how good (or bad) this team really is.
Baylor clinched a spot in the Big 12 CG with a 24-10 victory over Texas. The Bears are 10-1/7-1 and will face Oklahoma again in 2 weeks. The Longhorns are 6-5/4-4, and need to beat Texas Tech to finish with a winning conference record, and perhaps a tie for 3rd place.
Michigan dominated Indiana 39-14. The Wolverines, 9-2/6-2, host Ohio St on Saturday, while the Hoosiers, who dropped to 7-4/4-4, travel to Purdue.
Navy took over 2nd place in the AAC West with a 35-28 win over SMU. The Midshipmen, 8-2/6-1, can win the division if it wins @Houston and Memphis loses to Cincy. The Mustangs fall to 9-2/5-2, and could finish in a tie for 1st if they beat Tulane and Memphis and Navy both lose, but in that scenario, Memphis will win the division due to its having beat each of the others.
Virginia Tech shut out Pittsburgh 28-0. The Hokies, at 8-3/5-2, have won 3 straight and 6 of 7 to set up a winner-takes-all game @UVA on Friday. The Panthers drop to 7-4/4-3, and have now lost 2 of their last 4.
USC routed UCLA 52-35 to keep the Pac 12 South hopes alive. At 8-4/7-2, the Trojans have completed their season, but can win the South if Utah loses to Colorado on Saturday. The Bruins are 4-7/4-4, and will not go bowling for the 2nd straight year, but they have won 1 more game than all of last year, and can make it 2 if they can beat Cal this weekend.
Charlotte surprised Marshall 24-13 to knock the Thundering Herd out of 1st place in the CUSA East division. Marshall, 7-4/5-2, needs a win over FIU and an FAU loss to Southern Miss to finish 1st. The 49ers, 6-5/4-3, achieved bowl eligibility for the 1st time, and are on a 4-game winning streak.
UAB moved into a tie for 1st place in the CUSA West with a 20-14 win over La Tech. The Blazers have won 2 straight and are now 8-3/5-2. The Bulldogs are 8-3/5-2 also, and there's a strong possibility these 2 teams will finish in a 3-way tie for 1st with Southern Miss, if they all win their game this weekend, but USM has the toughest task, putting UAB in the driver's seat.
Rice won its 2nd straight game, 20-14, over North Texas. The Owls broke a 9-game losing streak last week, and could make it 3 in a row when they play @UTEP. The Mean Green drops to 4-7/3-4, and could actually finish behind the Owls in the division. They were 9-4 last year.
WKU routed Southern Miss 28-10, dropping the Golden Eagles to 7-4/5-2 and a 3-way tie for 1st in the CUSA West. The Hilltoppers, 7-4/5-2, could finish in a tie for 1st in the East, but would lose all tiebreakers.
Nebraska crushed Maryland 54-7. the Cornhuskers moved closer to bowl eligibility, at 5-6/3-5, but need a win over Iowa on Friday. The Terrapins have lost 6 straight, and stand at 3-8/1-7.
Wisconsin demolished Purdue 45-24, and now faces Minnesota in Minneapolis for the Big Ten West title- winner-take-all. At 9-2/6-2, the Badgers would match Minny's record with a win. The Boilermakers will not be going to a bowl, as they are 4-7/3-5.
Memphis crushed USF 49-10. The Tigers, 10-1/6-1, will win the AAC West with a win over Cincy or a Navy loss to Houston. The Bulls, 4-7/3-4, will look to win their rivalry game over UCF.
New Mexico State earned its 2nd victory of the year, and 1st over an FBS opponent, with a 44-35 victory over UTEP. The Aggies are 2-9 and close the season on the road @Liberty. The Miners are 1-9/0-7, and finish the season at home against Rice. They still have not beaten an FBS foe this year.
California beat Stanford in The Big Game 24-20. The Golden Bears are 6-5/3-5, and will finish no worse than a tie for 3rd if they can beat UCLA. The Cardinal is 4-7/3-6, and closes out the regular season hosting Notre Dame.
Louisville cruised past Syracuse 56-34, and the Cardinals are 7-4/5-3, reversing last year's 2-10 debacle. The Orange are 4-7/1-6, a precipitous drop from 2018's 10-3/6-2.
Although UNLV defeated San Jose State 38-35, HC Tony Sanchez will not be returning for a 6th season. The Rebels are 3-8/1-6 and need a victory over rival Nevada to match last year's record. The Spartans fell to 4-7/1-6, and will finish in the MWC West basement unless it defeats Fresno St.
Middle Tennessee routed ODU 38-17. The Blue Raiders, 4-7/3-4, and the Monarchs, 1-10/0-7, will be spending the holidays at home.
ULM outlasted Coastal Carolina 45-42 to keep their bowl hopes alive. The Warhawks are 5-6/4-3 while the Chanticleers fall to 4-7/1-6.
Louisiana demolished Troy 53-3 to clinch the SBC West and subsequently hurt Troy's chances at a bowl bid. The Ragin' Cajuns are 9-2/6-1 and the Trojans are 5-6/3-4, and they close against App St.
FAU won a closer than expected game over UTSA by the score of 40-26. The Owls are 1 win away from clinching the CUSA East at 8-3/6-1, but if they stumble against Sothern Miss, they open the door for Marshall. The Roadrunners are 4-7/3-4.
LSU destroyed Arkansas 56-20 to clinch the SEC West. The Tigers, 11-0/7-0, finish the season against TAMU. The Bayou Bengals have won 12 straight games, their last lost the 7 OT thriller to Texas A&M that led to the OT rules changes. The Razorbacks are 2-9/0-7, and may finish winless in their conference for the 1st time since 2013 (Bret Bielema's 1st year), and only the 2nd time since 1942.
Cincinnati survived against Temple, but only barely, 15-13. The Bearcats, 10-1/7-0, have clinched the AAC East. The Owls dropped to 7-4/4-3, and will finish in 3rd place in the East.
Kansas State eked out a win over Texas Tech. The Wildcats are 7-4/4-4 in HC Chris Klieman's 1st year, a nice turnaround from 5-7 las year. The Red Raiders are 4-7/2-6, and need a win @Texas to match last year's 5-7 in this, HC Matt Wells' 1st year in Lubbock.
In perhaps the biggest shocker of the day, FIU defeated Miami, Fl 30-24, but they led 23-3 at one point. The Panthers improved their record to 6-5/3-4, and HC Butch Davis earned a victory against the team that fired him after the 200 season, when they finished 11-1. The Hurricanes are now 6-5/4-3, and have surprising wins (UVA, @Pitt, @FSU, Louisville) and confounding losses (@UNC, VT, GT, FIU).
Arizona State ruined Oregon's quest for a playoff berth by beating them 31-28. The Ducks fall to 9-2/7-1, but have still won the Pac 12 North. The Sun Devils, 6-5/3-5, snapped a 4-game losing streak.
Houston went on the road and defeated Tulsa 24-14. The Cougars are 4-7/2-5 and the Golden Hurricane is 3-8/1-6.
Tennessee won it's 4th straight game, beating Missouri 24-20. The Volunteers are 6-5/4-3, and have clinched 3rd place in the SEC East. The Tigers dropped to 5-6/2-5, and their bowl hopes are still up in the air, as they continue waiting on their appeal to be ruled on. However, if they lose to Arkansas in Little Rock this weekend, it will be a moot point.
Wake Forest continued its strong season, defeating Duke 39-27. the Demon Deacons are 8-3/4-3, and a win @Syracuse will give them a winning record in the ACC for the 1st time since 2011. the Blue Devils fell to 4-7/2-5, and a season that started with such promise has deteriorated with a 5-game losing streak.
Oklahoma jumped out to a big lead over TCU, then hung on for the 28-24 win. With this win, the Sooners clinched a berth in the Big 12 CG, and will face Baylor again in 2 weeks, but first they have to get by Okla St. The Horned Frogs fall to 5-6/3-5, and need a win over WVU to secure a bowl bid.
Washington State had a frantic comeback to edge Oregon State 54-53 in yet another wild Pac 12 after dark game. The Cougars earned bowl eligibility with the win, and stand at 6-5/3-5 heading into the Apple Cup. The Beavers fell to 5-6/4-4, and need a win @Oregon to reach a bowl.
Utah pummeled Arizona 35-7, and the Utes, 10-1/7-1, can clinch the Pac 12 South with a win against Colorado. However, if they lose, USC will win the division. The Wildcats are 4-7/2-6 and have lost 6 straight.
Colorado surprised Washington, winning 20-14. The Buffaloes are 5-6/3-5, and can get a bowl bid if they upset Utah in Salt Lake City. The Huskies are a disappointing 6-5/3-5, and now must beat rival Wash St to keep the season from being a complete disaster.
Boise State clinched the MWC Mountain division with its 56-21 victory over Utah State. The Broncos are 10-1/7-0, and will face Hawai'i in the CG in 2 weeks. The Aggies dropped to 6-5/5-2.
Nevada defeated Fresno State 35-28 to move to 7-4/4-3, and a win against UNLV and their lame-duck coach will give them at least 8 wins for the 2nd straight season, and a 4-game winning streak. The Bulldogs have been a huge disappointment, falling from 12-2/7-1 a year ago to 4-7/2-5 this year.
Hawai'i survived San Diego State 14-11 to clinch the MWC West division. The Rainbow Warriors, 8-4/5-3 are vying for their 1st conference championship since winning the WAC in 2010. The Aztecs are 8-3/5-3. Both schools play a non-conference foe this week.
My Odds and Ends on Wednesday will have an update on all bowl eligible teams, who has been eliminated, and what each team has to do to make it to a bowl. It will also cover all the conference/division races with accompanying scenarios.
That's it for now! I hope you are enjoying reading my recaps as much as I enjoy writing them. As I've said before, all the research is my own, though I might repeat something I have heard during a game or read in an article. Come back tomorrow for my Power Rankings, Wednesday for my Odds and Ends, and Thursday for Paul's Picks. Oh, and don't forget to follow me on Twitter: @pbanderson.
Until next time, may you and your loved ones be blessed!
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