College Football Top 25 Review

SI Staff | Oct 20, 2012

College Football Top 25 Review /

College Football Top 25 Review

Another game, another easy victory for the No. 1 Crimson Tide. Alabama pummeled Missouri behind its punishing stable of running backs. Eddie Lacy (pictured) carried 18 times for 180 yards and three touchdowns, and T.J. Yeldon carried 18 times for 145 yards and two scores. Through six games, 'Bama has now outscored its competition 243-45.

LSU has extended its home winning streak to 22 consecutive games. The Tigers trailed South Carolina 14-0 after the third quarter, but they rallied behind a breakout performance from freshman running back Jeremy Hill (pictured). Hill rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns, and the LSU defense intercepted Gamecocks quarterback Connor Shaw twice. Ace Sanders, Marcus Lattimore and Bruce Ellington all scored for South Carolina in defeat.

It wasn't particularly pretty, but Florida gutted out a win at Vanderbilt to remain unbeaten in Week 7. Quarterback Jeff Driskel (pictured) recorded 13-, 37- and 70-yard touchdown runs, and senior back Mike Gillislee tacked on another 17 carries for 67 yards. The Gators have now racked up a combined 693 rushing yards over their last three games.

West Virginia's BCS title hopes are dashed. Its Big 12 title hopes and Geno Smith's Heisman hopes might be as well. After surviving Texas last week, the Mountaineers went on the road to Lubbock and fell apart, failing to generate any consistent offense and proving incapable of stopping Eric Stephens Jr. (pictured) and the Red Raiders on defense.

Kansas State's BCS hopes are intact after surviving an upset scare at Iowa State. Collin Klein (pictured) had another huge day, rushing for 105 yards and three touchdowns and passing for 187 more yards. The K-State defense did its part as well, forcing Iowa State to go four-and-out on two potentially game-winning drives in the closing minutes.

The Irish's dreams of an undefeated season are still alive. Despite trailing Stanford late in the fourth quarter, Notre Dame rallied for a dramatic overtime victory. Tommy Rees completed 4-of-4 passes for 43 yards and a touchdown after taking over for an injured Everett Golson, and Tyler Eifert and TJ Jones both notched receiving scores on the day. But the real story was the Irish defense. The Manti Te'o-led unit gave up just 272 total yards and stuffed Stanford at the goal line (pictured) to clinch the win. It hasn't allowed an offensive touchdown in 16 consecutive quarters.

The Hoosiers scored two touchdowns in the final two minutes, but Ohio State held on to improve to 7-0. Braxton Miller was typically brilliant -- passing for 211 yards, rushing for 149 yards and amassing three total touchdowns -- and Carlos Hyde added another 156 yards and a score on the ground. Corey Brown (pictured) and Devin Smith combined for three more touchdowns in the win.

Playing without injured quarterback Sean Mannion didn't hurt Oregon State, after all. Replacement Cody Vaz stepped in to complete 20-of-32 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns, and running back Storm Woods (pictured) rushed for 57 yards and a score as the Beavers pulled away from BYU to improve to 5-0. Oregon State's defense also did its part. The Beavers picked off Cougars quarterback Riley Nelson three times, including Jordan Poyer's 47-yard pick-six that sealed the win in the fourth quarter.

While the passing attack gets the majority of the attention at USC, the Trojans' running game did most of the damage in Saturday's win over Washington. Silas Redd (pictured) carried 26 times for 153 yards and a touchdown, and Curtis McNeal added another 11 carries for 58 yards. Matt Barkley, for his part, connected on 10-of-20 attempts for 168 yards and a score.

One week after suffering a stunning upset loss at NC State, the Seminoles responded in resounding fashion against Boston College. EJ Manuel threw for 424 yards and four scores, and Florida State's receiving targets went off: James Wilder Jr., Kenny Shaw and Kelvin Benjamin (pictured) all made touchdown catches in the game. The 'Noles outgained the Eagles 649 yards to 225.

The Red River Rivalry was anything but Saturday, as Oklahoma easily emerged victorious in a one-sided affair. Texas' once-vaunted defense couldn't stop Oklahoma backup quarterback Blake Bell, who rushed for four touchdowns. Oklahoma's defense, meanwhile, suffocated Texas quarterback David Ash (pictured) who fumbled once and threw two interceptions.

Louisville continued its best start since 2006, beating Pitt to improve to 6-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big East. Senorise Perry (pictured) rushed for 101 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, while Teddy Bridgewater passed for 304 yards and one score.

Tyler Russell threw for 291 yards and two touchdowns, LaDarius Perkins added 101 rushing yards and a touchdown for Mississippi State, (6-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) which continues its best start since 1999. The Bulldogs led 27-14 at halftime, but the Volunteers rallied to cut the margin to 34-31 by midway through the fourth quarter. Russell sealed the win with a 9-yard pass to Malcolm Johnson with nine seconds remaining. The junior quarterback completed 23 of 37 passes and set career highs in completions, attempts and passing yards.

Rutgers kept pace with fellow Big East unbeaten Louisville, fending off Syracuse to improve to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play. Brandon Coleman (pictured) caught six balls for 105 yards, while Khaseem Greene forced three fumbles and intercepted a pass.

Quarterback Munchie Legaux delivered another quality performance, and Cincinnati brushed off FCS Fordham to run its record to 5-0. Legaux completed 15-of-24 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns, and wideout Travis Kelce made three catches for 101 yards and a score. Junior defensive back Deven Drane (pictured) started the scoring by returning a fumble 76 yards to the end zone in the first quarter.

Johnny Manziel (center) accounted for 575 yards and six touchdowns, including two to fend off a late rally as the Aggies held on to hand the Bulldogs their first loss. Texas A&M (5-1) won its fifth straight game and improved to 11-0 all-time against Louisiana Tech in a game that was originally supposed to be played on Aug. 30, but was postponed because of Hurricane Isaac. Louisiana Tech trailed by 27 points early before mounting a furious second half rally attempt capped by a 13-yard touchdown reception by Ray Holley to cut the lead to two points with 38 seconds left. But Colby Cameron's throw fell incomplete and the Aggies had the win.

Boise State led this game 20-3 until a late Fresno State score in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. Joe Southwick (pictured) had a mediocre day, completing 11-of-21 passes for 114 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but the Broncos held the Bulldogs to 58 net rushing yards.

Michigan's offense put on a show, as Denard Robinson (pictured) passed for 159 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 128 yards and two additional scores against Illinois. But the Big Blue defense was the real star, holding the Illini to seven first downs and 133 net yards.

Published Oct 20, 2012

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