Week six saw standouts, breakouts, and a few upsets. Here are my winners and losers.
Winners:
- Texas A&M Aggies: Quarterback Trevor Knight threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 110 yards and three touchdowns including the go-ahead as the Aggies held off the Tennessee Volunteers 45-38 in a double overtime thriller. With the Aggies 6-0, those looking for head coach Kevin Sumlin’s job are suddenly quiet now.
- Virginia Tech Hokies: Played in a soggy Chapel Hill thanks to Hurricane Matthew, quarterback Jerod Evans threw for two touchdowns. He also rushed for a touchdown. The defense had two interceptions as the Hokies dominated the North Carolina Tar Heels 34-3. Whatever first-year head coach Justin Fuente is selling, the Hokies are buying in.
- Florida State Seminoles: The Noles overcame a 13-3 halftime deficit, as quarterback Deondre Francois threw for two touchdowns. Running back Dalvin Cook rushed for 150 yards. Defensive end DeMarcus Walker’s blocked PAT helped the Noles edged in-state rival Miami Hurricanes 20-19. It’s their seventh straight win against the Canes.
- Washington Huskies: There was no letdown for the Huskies as Jake Browning threw for 304 yards and six touchdowns. He also ran for two touchdowns. Running back Myles Gaskin rushed for 197 yards and a touchdown as the Huskies pummeled the Oregon Ducks 70-21. The win snapped a 12-game losing streak against Oregon. Time to start taking Washington seriously and perhaps put Browning in the Heisman race.
- USC Trojans: Quarterback Sam Darnold threw for 358 yards and three touchdowns as the Trojans defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 21-17.
- Arizona State kicker Zane Gonzalez: He made three field goals that helped set a new NCAA record for most field goals, now 89, as the Sun Devils defeated the UCLA Bruins 23-20.
Losers:
- Tennessee Volunteers: The Vols nearly pulled off another comeback but couldn’t overcome losing more defensive guys to injuries and seven turnovers including five fumbles in their loss to Texas A&M.
- Houston Cougars: The Cougars’ top-ranked defense couldn’t slow down Navy’s offense as they were upset by the Midshipmen 46-40. For Navy, it’s their first win over a top-ten team since 1984. As for Houston, this loss has derailed their playoff hopes. They may still have a chance, but now they need help just to win their division in the American Athletic Conference.
- North Carolina Tar Heels: Whether it was playing on a rainy, soggy field due to Hurricane Matthew or Virginia Tech’s defense, the Tar Heels were held to just 131 total yards in their loss to the Hokies.
- Arkansas Razorbacks: Despite having the edge in time of possession, turnovers and the fact that the defense couldn’t slow Alabama’s offense for the most part doomed the Hogs in their loss to the Crimson Tide 49-30.
- Stanford Cardinal: Drops, turnovers, quarterback Ryan Burns being sacked three times, defense giving up too many big plays and running back Christian McCaffery being held to just 85 total yards derailed the Cardinal as they were beaten by the Washington State Cougars 42-16. What’s going on in Palo Alto?
- Texas Longhorns: Once again, the Longhorns’ defense was the deterent as they gave up 672 total yards in their loss to the Oklahoma Sooners 46-40 in their annual Red River Rivalry matchup. Head coach Charlie Strong’s seat is getting hot, again.
Storylines Going Into Week Seven:
Couple of great match-ups in the Big 12 as Oklahoma hosts Kansas State and West Virginia goes to Texas Tech
North Carolina and Miami meet in the ACC as they both will try to bounce back from disappointing losses.
In the Big Ten, Nebraska goes on the road and face a scrappy Indiana. Wisconsin fresh off the bye will try to upset Ohio State in Madison.
In the SEC, Tennessee hosts Alabama. Ole Miss visits Arkansas.
In the Pac 12, Arizona State travels to Colorado.
Two struggling teams face-off as Stanford battles Notre Dame.