Around the NCAA: Week 7
Report by Matt Schmidlin | October 11, 2021
Top Storylines
Not in the Cards -- Despite playing against a Louisville squad that was fielding their backup QB, Clemson nearly suffered a scare as the Cardinals forced them into overtime. However, the Tigers were able to prevail, 37-34, in double OT thanks to an Anthony Riggs touchdown scamper.
Fly Like an Eagle -- One of the early surprises of the 2021 season has been the play of Boston College, and the Eagles escaped against a struggling Virginia team with a fourth quarter field goal that pushed the unbeaten Eagles to a 26-24 win and a 5-0 start.
Huskies Make a Statement -- Washington QB Casey Pearson had his best game as a Husky and put all QB controversy to bed, as the senior threw for 390 yards and 3 totals TDs in a 48-12 rout of the Cardinal in Seattle.
Finally Michigan Men Shining -- Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is a former Wolverine star QB who hasn't had one in his tenure as head coach. He's certainly found one in Steve Tate, and the Wolverines have rolled to a 5-0 start because of it. Tate threw for 483 yards and 7 scores in a dominating 56-37 win over Maryland to thrust his name firmly in the Heisman conversation.
Crisis Averted in Oxford -- #1 Ole Miss found themselves on the brink of disaster, taken to double overtime against a winless Auburn squad. However, the Rebels found that winning gear yet again, capping off a dramatic 55-52 victory that saw them tie the contest to force overtime with a scoring run as just 2 seconds remained on the game clock in regulation.
Williams Doing Wonders for Georgia -- In maybe the craziest story of the weekend, Georgia turned to a junior tight end to lead them at QB as they knocked off Mizzou, 45-24. With both starter Karter Ford and backup Mark Busch injured, Keith Williams, who hasn't played QB since high school, took the helm for the Bulldogs and put up 327 totals yards of offense and 4 TDs in victory. What to hear something ever wilder? The opposing quarterback that the Dawgs beat: former Georgia QB and grad transfer Jack Nicholson.
Week Eight -- Marquee Matchups
#6 Pitt (5-1) @ #8 Virginia Tech (5-0) --
College Gameday Game of the Week
#13 UCLA (4-2) @ #20 Oregon State (4-1)
#12 Cincinnati (4-0) @ Navy (3-1)
Arkansas (5-2) @ #14 Alabama (4-2)
#24 Iowa State (5-0) @ #3 Houston (5-0)
#15 Stanford (5-1) @ #22 Notre Dame (4-2)