I guess they really do save the best for last. It's been days since Saturday's games took place yet my mind is just now stopping the replays from showing in my head, the goosebumps have faded away, and I can finally get back to my normal self again. It was one of the best days of college football action we had the privilege to witness in quite some time. Some of the most anticipated games lived up to the hype with back-and-forth shootouts with finishes that saved the biggest bang for the end. It was the games that took place Saturday that has turned me into the type of person I am today: a sports junkie. Giving me my fix of fourth-quarter drama that had me jumping up and down in my seat like a five year old on Christmas. But, you didn't have to be a sports nut like me to enjoy Michigan versus Ohio State or Alabama versus Auburn. In fact it was quite the contrary. At the local pub I was watching these games, every man, woman, and child were on the edge of their seat giving their full undivided attention to one of the many televisions located near them. As the clock hit zeros, their wasn't a single person who didn't exert some sort of verbal and physical emotion. A room filled with the full spectrum of life, from grandmas to toddlers, all with three and a half hours of built up emotion and anticipation, collectively in awe at what had just took place in just one play. As I sat their and tried my best to soak up all the elements that surrounded me, I couldn't help but realize: this isn't just a game, this is life.
Iowa 38 - Nebraska 17
After winning just four games all of last year the Hawkeyes go on the road and beat Nebraska to give them a total of eight wins for the season. Nothing fancy for Iowa as they won this game the same way they win all their games. A solid rushing attack and smart quarterback play balanced with stingy defense. That stingy defense created three turnovers against the Cornhuskers and turned them into 14 points. Iowa started inside Nebraska's 50-yard line in seven of their 15 possessions. Running back Mark Weisman ran the ball 24 times for 72 yards and two touchdowns leaving quarterback Jake Ruddock with the simple task of playing game manager as he threw for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
It was a sour ending to the Cornhuskers final game, hoping for a win in front of their home crowd. Ameer Abdulah was held to just 85 yards on the ground making that the first time in nine games he didn't eclipse 100 yards rushing. The waiting game now begins for head coach Bo Pelini who is sitting on a hot seat when it comes to retaining his current position. Although his record at Nebraska is 57-24, he has taken a lot of heat recently, specifically for his losses against Minnesota and UCLA, and underachieving in general.
Purdue 36 - Indiana 56
The Hoosiers took back the "Old Oaken Bucket" with a win over the Boilmakers Saturday helping them finish the season with a 5-7 record. They did so while breaking school records of most points scored in a season (463), total touchdowns (62), and touchdown passes (36). Quarterback Tre Roberson led the way with six touchdowns thrown, three of which were to Shane Wynn. Hoosiers went from a 14-0 lead to a 35-9 lead at half time as Purdue never had a chance. A typical blowout loss in a horrible season for first year head coach Darrell Hazel who went 1-11. Their lone bright spot Saturday was quarterback Danny Etling. The freshman had a stat line of 485-4-0. That 485 yards thrown with four touchdowns and zero interceptions. Giving Purdue a glimmer of hope for the future.
Minnesota 3 - Michigan State 14
Undefeated. Perfect. Flawless. That's the Spartans theme against Big Ten opponents this year as they went 8-0 in their conference for the first time ever in school history. A smooth 14-3 victory over the Gophers gave them even more momentum going into next weeks Big Ten title game with the power house Ohio State, as they have their sights setting on getting to the Rose Bowl. Another outstanding effort from the nation's best defense who forced three turnovers and did not allow Minnesota to get into the end zone. The fifth time in their last six games Michigan State didn't allow a touchdown.
Running back Jeremy Langford was the workhorse rushing 21 times for 144 yards and a touchdown. Although they end their season with two straight losses failing to score a touchdown in both game, the Gophers have a lot to hang their hat finishing 8-4 on the year. The biggest thing they will address in the off season is the health and future of their coach Jerry Kill who continues to battle with health problems. We wish him the best in his road to recovery.
Penn State 31 - Wisconsin 24
An immense amount of pressure was put on Christian Hackenberg coming into 2013. The true freshman was the number one rated quarterback coming out of high school and was plugged into the starting position in a Big Ten conference full of defensive players that were ready to turn his boy hood dreams into nightmares. Instead it was Hackenberg who dished out the night terrors to cornerbacks and safetys around the nation as he finished his first year at Penn State with 2,955 yards 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, truly living up to his pre season hype. Wisconsin was last up on his list to christen with his arm as he spoiled the Badgers season with a flawless performance. Hackenberg threw for 339 yards four touchdowns and zero interceptions as he led the Nittnay Lions to an overachieving 7-5 record.
Wisconsin quarterback Joel Stave was the on the wrong side of his fortune as he threw an uncharacteristic three interceptions including one on his final drive, as the Badgers hoped to tie the game up. Sitting on the cusp of a large BCS bid the Badgers can now kiss those dreams good bye as they drop to 9-3 on the year. 24 point favorites going into the game as they couldn't have picked a worse time to fall flat on their faces in front of their home crowd. Penn State on the other hand made a huge statement to the conference finishing their season with a win on the road against one of the best teams in the conference. Besides Hackenberg, they also had other freshman step up and play big roles in the victory, giving them loads of confidence and momentum for their future.
Ohio State 42 - Michigan 41
I'm not quite sure the young generation (like myself) really understood and appreciated the best rivalry in college football in Ohio State versus Michigan. However, after Saturday we all have a better understanding of why the match up no matter the record of the two teams, no matter the situation, time , or place is always a four-quarter "ESPN Classic". Coming into the game it was the story of two tales as the Buckeyes could not be any hotter winning a nations best 24 games in a row, while the Wolverines had lost three of their last four largely in part of their quarterback player had been colder than the weather the game was to be played in. Even Las Vegas assumed a healthy victory by red and white making them a 16.5 point favorite. Throw all of that out your window. Over a hundred-thousand filled the Big House with a sea of blue and yellow and got to witness one of the best games of the two teams hundred year old history.
Again, with the momentum between the two teams so lopsided, many thought this one would be a blow out. But after Michigan went shot for shot with the Buckeyes and had the game tied up at 14 a piece after the first quarter you could tell not only did the fans believe this one would come down to the wire, but so did Ohio State. It wouldn't be a rivalry without a couple fights though right? The shoot out quickly turned into a slugfest as there was plenty of swings and punches thrown through out the game, ending in two Ohio State and one Michigan player being ejected. Each team took another blow at one another and walked into half time with a score of 21-21.
Heart rate steadily increasing, palms sweaty, anxiety rising. You could just sense the consumption of blood pressure pills and inhalers would be needed as this game continued to go on.
The second half started with Carlos Hyde continuing to grind away at Michigan's front seven. Hyde had 27 carries for 226 yards and a touchdown. The Buckeyes scored two unanswered touchdowns and shifted the momentum as they went into the fourth quarter 35-21. The Wolverines didn't bat an eye. Devin Gardner threw two consecutive touchdown passes early in the fourth quarter to tie the game back up at 35s with just five minutes left. Gardner couldn't have picked a better game to get back on track as he seemed to be back in his early season form throwing for 451 yards four touchdowns and zero interceptions. His counter part Braxton Miller did his damage with his arm and his legs running for 153 yards and three touchdowns and throwing for 133 yards and two more scores. Miller drove his team down the field in a hurry and had Hyde cap off the drive with a one yard plunge to give them a 42-35 edge.
Just two minutes later the Wolverines found themselves at the Buckeyes two yard line as Gardner lofted a touchdown pass to Devin Funchess. With thirty seconds left on the clock, Michigan head coach Brady Hoke passed up on an opportunity to send the game into overtime and instead kept his red hot offense out on the field to go for the win. A gutsy move, but when your nearly 17 point underdogs and have an opportunity to not only snap your biggest rivals 25 game win streak but also destroy their hopes and dreams of a National Title by moving the ball a measly three yards for a two-point conversion, I say go for it.
Gardner put his man in motion stacking three receivers to the right, hiked the ball, took a two step drop back, and forced a pass into double coverage as Ohio State intercepted the ball and won the game. A wise decision to go for it as their probability of converting the play versus holding the Buckeyes in overtime, however, the play call was a bit odd. With a mobile quarterback like Gardner I would have expected a play to get him rolling out of the pocket allowing him to make a play with his feet. Obviously easy for me to sit in my chair, sip my coffee, and say that now.
The best rivalry in college football did it again. Giving us four quarters of dramatic magic that is surely to stay with us as sports fans for some time. Ohio State continues their path to the BCS championship game as they rose to the two seed following an Alabama upset later that night. As of now they would play Florida State for all the marbles but must get threw a Michigan State team that is playing some of the best football in the country. So before we count our chickens before they hatch let's sit back and enjoy what will be another four quarter classic between those two next Saturday for the Big Ten title.