College Football Recap: Spurrier Triumphs, Zook? Not So Much.
By Ty Duffy
South Carolina is now the Beast of the SEC East. They can avenge their loss to Auburn in the title game.
Taught Them How to Bucky: 598 yards and a cloud of dust. Wisconsin crushed Indiana 83-20, overrunning the Hoosiers like they were the Huns at the Battle of Chalons. The Badgers scored the most points for a Big Ten team since 1950, and the 63-point margin was three times their second-largest against FBS teams this season. Imagine if John Clay had played. Unfortunately, the rout was not enough to impress the voters. If only they had done it against a WAC opponent…
Overshadowed: The Cougars have been improving. They finally can display a scalp. Washington State beat Oregon State 31-14, snapping a 16-game Pac 10 losing streak. It’s their first FBS win since Sept. 2009 and their first win outside the state of Washington since Oct. 2006. It’s an awesome story. Alas, interminable BCS debates will reduce its importance to its effect on Oregon State’s value for strength of schedule.
Sweet Victory: This is the worst senior class in Notre Dame’s history, but at least they went out with a win. The Irish destroyed Utah 28-3, their first Senior Day win since 2007. They did what they have not done well in years: executing a simple game-plan, playing sound defense and not making mistakes. For football reasons, the Brian Kelly rumblings may have been premature. Though, flush with confidence, he could try to throw it 50 times and blow it against Army.
Patriot Games: Speaking of Army, they are bowl eligible for the first time since 1996 after beating Kent State 45-28. Together with Navy (7-3) and Air Force (7-4), it’s the first time the three service academies have finished the regular season at .500 or better since 1963.
False Dawn: Yeah, the quarterback triumvirate thing might not be the answer. Florida’s offense amassed seven points, 226 total yards and just one sustained drive against an average South Carolina defense. Their unit ranks 84th in total yardage, after being in the Top 20 every Tebow year. The performance is inexcusable for the talent at the team’s disposal. The only thing more embarrassing for Florida than Steve Addazio’s offense? Organized Quidditch.
Impending Doom: Illinois allowed Ron Zook to come back after his 21-39 record in five seasons, provided he cleaned house on both sides of the ball. He did, but the results are remaining the same. The Illini blew a 10-point fourth quarter lead to Minnesota at home, a team that fired its coach and have so given up on this season they entered the game without a backup offensive lineman. With away games remaining against Northwestern and Fresno State. There’s a strong possibility they won’t make a bowl game.
[Photo via LastAngryFan]