Indiana has steamrolled by means of its season, and Saturday was the primary time all season it is trailed within the fourth quarter. As a substitute of wilting when dealing with adversity, the Hoosiers proved they’ve playmakers who can face up to these pressurized environments.
Loser: Georgia Bulldogs first quarters
No. 5 Georgia (8-1, 6-1 in SEC) simply defeated Mississippi State (5-5, 1-5 in SEC), 41-21, however all shouldn’t be properly in Athens. For the sixth time in seven convention video games, the Bulldogs have been outscored within the first quarter, falling right into a 7-3 deficit on Saturday. Total, they’ve now been outscored 59-34 within the first quarter-hour of convention video games. As a lot as Georgia deserves credit score for its resiliency, the sluggish begins are a troubling sample. The Bulldogs have performed three quarters of their regular-season schedule and nonetheless have not performed an entire recreation.
Winner: Texas A&M Aggies
A yr in the past, No. 3 Texas A&M (9-0, 6-0 in SEC) adopted a win over LSU with three consecutive SEC losses, sinking its playoff hopes. Not this yr.
In a important highway check at No. 22 Missouri (6-3, 2-3 in SEC), the Aggies have been unbothered, simply leaving Columbia with a 38-17 win. Texas A&M ends its SEC schedule towards South Carolina and No. 11 Texas (7-2, 4-1 in SEC), groups that contributed to the Aggies’ November 2024 demise. However after cruising by means of Missouri, Texas A&M would not seem more likely to repeat its previous errors.
Loser: Predicting the ACC
It is no use making an attempt to determine the ACC. The convention was swept further into chaos as high contenders No. 14 Virginia (8-2, 5-1 in ACC) and No. 15 Louisville (7-2, 4-2 in ACC) dropped shut residence video games. The Cavaliers misplaced to Wake Forest (6-3, 3-3 in ACC), 16-9, whereas the Cardinals fell sufferer to Cal (6-4, 3-3 in ACC) and sensational freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, 29-26 in extra time.
With solely three weeks left within the common season, 4 groups are tied atop the ACC with a 5-1 convention report, whereas Duke is correct behind at 4-1. It is anybody’s guess who will make the ACC title recreation, besides ours. As a result of we’re accomplished predicting what’s going to occur subsequent.
Winner: Texas Tech Purple Raiders
No. 8 Texas Tech (9-1, 6-1 in Huge 12) received its top-10 Huge 12 showdown with No. 7 BYU (8-1, 5-1 in Huge 12), 29-7. The 22-point margin of victory was its lowest in a win, highlighting simply how dominant the Purple Raiders have been in what’s turning into one of many biggest seasons in program historical past. Texas Tech has its most wins since 2009, and with two extra, it’ll match this system report, set 3 times beforehand (1953, 1973, 2008). As spectacular because the Purple Raiders have been, they’ve additionally improved their possibilities of receiving a CFP at-large bid if their solely remaining loss is within the Huge 12 title recreation.
Loser: Washington Huskies’ Huge Ten initiation
Maybe the one factor tougher than holding an opponent to 48 passing yards is dropping when holding an opponent to 48 passing yards, however that is precisely what No. 23 Washington (6-3, 3-3 in Huge Ten) did in its 13-10 defeat at Wisconsin (3-6, 1-5 in Huge Ten), which misplaced beginning quarterback Danny O’Neil to a leg damage within the first quarter.
The Badgers completed 6-of-18 passing and have been led by freshman punter Sean West, who was 1-of-1 for twenty-four yards. Freshman quarterback Carter Smith was 3-of-12 for eight yards, whereas senior Hunter Smith completed 2-of-3 for 16 yards. Regardless of setting offense again a century, Wisconsin nonetheless managed to win its first convention recreation since Oct. 19, 2024 whereas giving Washington a crash course in Huge Ten soccer.
Winner: Oregon Geese’ Huge Ten initiation
Like Washington, whereas No. 9 Oregon (8-1, 5-1 in Huge Ten) joined the Huge Ten final season, it formally turned a member on Saturday. The Geese have been thrown right into a basic Huge Ten battle in its highway journey to No. 20 Iowa (6-3, 4-2 in Huge Ten), however moderately than be part of the Huskies, they eked out an unsightly 18-16 win.
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore completed 13-of-21 for 112 yards and an interception however made an ideal throw on the successful drive to get the crew in field-goal vary.
