Are you recovered? I’m not sure I am or ever will be from Rivalry Weekend. It started out with the Egg Bowl and only got crazier from there. This season has had some fun days, but this was the first really bonkers weekend. From the Deep South to Hawai’i and even south of the border, it was a feast for college football fans everywhere.
A Winter Wonderland
No. 19 Kansas State hosted Iowa State in a snowy Farmageddon. Iowa State won 42-35 despite only running 32 plays (not including two kneel downs and one run play to end the first half), losing the time of possession battle 42:12 to 17:48 and being outgained in the first down department 32 to 10. How?
Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the Cyclones had Abu Sama III:
Sama finished with 276 yards and these three scores on only 16 carries. Meanwhile, teammate Jaylin Noel had catch-and-run scores of 79 and 82 yards, finishing with 160 receiving yards. That’s right, his only other reception was for a loss of a yard. Absolutely wild.
Kentucky Pounces on Louisville
No. 10 Louisville hosted Kentucky while looking to end a losing streak in the Governor’s Cup rivalry. This game wasn’t just for bragging rights; it was also huge for the Cardinals’ slim but very real College Football Playoff hopes. Instead, the streak stretched to five straight, and those hopes were dashed as the Wildcats won 38-31. Star running back Ray Davis scored three total touchdowns, including the go-ahead 37-yard dash to take the lead with just over a minute to play.
The Wildcats capitalized on back-to-back second half Cardinals fumbles, turning them into 10 points. However, an interception right after a Louisville turnover on downs led to a tying Cardinals touchdown before Davis took the lead for good.
What Jeff Brohm has done in his first season with the program he played for is nothing short of outstanding. However, close wins over programs like Indiana, Virginia and Miami (FL) left a feeling of vincibility. Kentucky was finally the second team (Pittsburgh being the first) to knock Louisville off its lofty platform. Next season’s schedule will include more difficult teams such as Clemson and SMU, while Notre Dame will be a road contest. It will be interesting to see how year two will be with heightened expectations and a more difficult schedule.
As for Kentucky, the drama didn’t end after the game. It was reported by many in the evening after the game that head coach Mark Stoops was leaving to take the Texas A&M gig. Then reports refuting those original reports arose, then finally Stoops issued an official statement: he wasn’t going anywhere. Texas A&M has since hired Duke head coach (and former Aggies defensive coordinator) Mike Elko.
Stoops has one of the best jobs in the nation (in 2021 he signed an extension through 2028 that adds on an extra year for seven-win seasons and two extra years for 10-win seasons. He then signed another contract extension through 2031 last year). While the football team holds plenty of support, Kentucky is a basketball powerhouse. So long as the Wildcats don’t collapse on the field, Stoops will have the job. But if any of the first reports were true, Stoops seems willing to go to a place where the ceiling is higher. Only time will tell.
Jalen Milroe Dooms Then Saves Alabama
No. 8 Alabama looked finished as the clock ticked down in the Iron Bowl. After Jalen Milroe had run across the line of scrimmage only to throw it (a penalty), Alabama was 31 yards away from the end zone. Jordan-Hare was electric and the Tigers just had to get a simple stop up 24-20. The Crimson Tide went to the well and called its last gasp play call:
Gravedigger.
Alabama appeared to tack on a pick six as time expired to make the final score 33-24, but after review it was ruled the defender had stepped out. It kept the final score 27-24, which will make it look cooler for future generations.
As for the present, Alabama is very much alive in the playoff race. Milroe has really found a groove ever since the Crimson Tide’s only loss early in the season to Texas. And for Milroe, he might have given himself a trip to New York.
Hugh Freeze found himself on the losing end of a miraculous play. He was the coach of Ole Miss when Arkansas pulled off its incredible “fourth-and-25” play. This night, it was bad coaching that led to Auburn’s demise:
The play that led to Alabama’s final drive was an Auburn turnover on a muffed punt with the backup punt returner in. When asked, Freeze originally thought the starter had been in before being told it was the back. Freeze stated he did not know that and did not know why that was the case. It was just another blunder in a long line of errors Freeze has committed on and off the field.
Madness in Mexico
The LIGA Mayor ONEFA in Mexico played its first national championship in 1978. On Friday, one of the most thrilling endings occurred in the history of the college league. It was a rematch of last year’s title as Borregos Monterrey and Tigres UANL faced off (Borregos Monterrey won 32-30).
It was a back-and-forth affair, but in the final moments, Fernando Sarabia stood tall and delivered:
Things got a little nervy as Tigres UANL returned the kickoff to the Monterrey 40-yard line, but the kicker was able to angle the returner out. The game came down to a Hail Mary:
Entering the Egg Bowl in Style
Unfortunately, Mississippi State lost to Ole Miss 17-7.
Shoutouts
Shoutout to Tulane, which beat UTSA 29-16 to reach the AAC title game for the second straight year. Shoutout to Michigan, which beat Ohio State 30-24 and almost certainly seals the Wolverines’ third straight playoff berth. Shoutout to LSU’s Jayden Daniels, who might have put himself into the lead for the Heisman (235 rushing yards, four touchdowns, 120 rushing yards). Shoutout to all the teams who made their conference championship games. Shoutout to all the double-digit win teams:
Shoutout to the FCS Playoffs, which started last weekend with a bang. Shoutout to UConn, which beat UMass 31-18. Shoutout to all the bowl-eligible teams, including James Madison and Jacksonville State (!) and 5-7 Minnesota. Shoutout to Hawai’i, which pulled off a crazy ending.
About the author
I’m a Washington Huskies fan who is still amazed but not surprised that we didn’t have more success under Chris Petersen (I blame Jake Browning). Sports are my life. I know nothing else. I graduated from Bethany Lutheran College with a degree in Communication. I’ve been a part of a newspaper since 8th grade, including my college’s official newspaper where I was co-copy editor.
