UCLA, Cal and USC had big wins while formerly ranked teams Oregon and Arizona State were each routed at home.
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Game: USC 42, Arizona State 14.
Devontae Booker also turned in a solid effort, rushing for 98 yards, catching a pass for 23 yards, and throwing a backbreaking TD pass on a perfectly-executed trick play in the third quarter that put Utah up 41-13, ending any hopes of an Oregon comeback.
The loss most likely will knock Oregon out of the College Football Playoff race, giving the Ute’s their first win at Autzen Stadium since 1994, improving to 2-3 all-time verse ranked Oregon teams with the victory. Oregon’s opponents are averaging 40.8 points through the first four games, and the Ducks have allowed 301.5 passing yards per game.
“It felt incredible”, Wilson said, referring to the win and not the shoulder.
Oh, nothing much, just the most points Oregon has ever let up in Autzen.
However, of all the positive numbers that Utah’s defense posted during this game, here’s the one that stands out: the Utes held Oregon to 400 yards of offense – its lowest output since 2013.
Utah, too, got some takeaways, with Dominique Hatfield coming down with an interception in the end zone as Oregon was about to score.
The Ducks laid an egg on Saturday, already racking up their second loss of the season after falling to Michigan State earlier this year.
Utah’s defense was simply stifling, holding Oregon scoreless for more than half of the game.
It was all about preparation and Coach Kyle Whittingham said it best. “We’ve got some things we’ve got to clean up and get ready for Cal”. – Utah LB Gionni Paul, after the stunning 62-20 win at Oregon. But following last year’s run to the title game, they lost their top two cornerbacks (Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and Troy Hill), dynamic free safety Erick Dargan, and maybe their best playmaker in outside linebacker Tony Washington.
“We made a lot of poor decisions”, Lockie said. Oregon hasn’t lost this badly since a 54-0 loss at home to Washington in 1977. You don’t want to see the twisted heap of metal that’s left, but at the same time, it’s ineluctable. Two plays later, Royce Freeman took a screen pass 12 yards for the first touchdown of the game.
Adams completed just 2 of 7 passes for 26 yards before coach Mark Helfrich pulled him Saturday.
But tasked with accounting for a glitchy defense, the Ducks aren’t making enough big plays, particularly through the air. Though UCLA is ranked the highest of the Pac-12 schools at No. 9, the steady stream of injuries that has hit the team has to make you wonder about whether the Bruins can stay there as the season moves on. On more than just a few occasions, more than a small handful of Ducks were required to bring a Utah ball-carrier down-at one point requiring eight defenders.
But that was it. LSU’s 34-24 victory over Syracuse will be the only appearance by an SEC team outside of the conference’s footprint in 2015. If they don’t, then it becomes tougher as they must rely on help for others. “He is one of the hardest workers on our team and I really appreciate that”, Liufau said.
This isn’t your one-year older self’s Colorado team: The Buffaloes blanked Nicholls State’s offense in a 48-0 victory. “All week we knew that we could beat them” WR Kenneth Scott said in the Deseret News.
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Next week Texas Tech gets No. 5 Baylor at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Mississippi State joined the rankings at No. 21. Michigan State led Central Michigan just 17-10 at the start of the fourth quarter. “Finally after the 2004 season I said we’re going to that”.
