Inside the Boxscores is a weekly feature by Matt Fargo that has been widely recognized as the best roundup in college football. Take an in-depth look at each game and extract the most relevant information that will help you in future handicap games. College football is full of wacky plays, misleading scores, and unexpected endings. Fargo takes you inside the action.
(9) STATE OF FLORIDA 24 Troy 17
The Seminoles’ offense once again struggled, generating just 381 total yards, but it was the running game that was sorely disappointing. Florida St. rushed for just 45 yards on 28 carries (1.6 ypc). Troy actually led this game with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter before the Seminoles tied the game and then took the lead following an interception. The Trojans rushed for just 24 yards on 14 carries (1.7 ypc).
MARYLAND 24 Middle Tennessee 10
Middle Tennessee outscored the Terrapins 321-274 but the Blue Raiders couldn’t execute when needed. They committed three turnovers and also turned the ball over twice. Maryland also had its share of errors, including two missed field goals. Middle Tennessee dominated possession time, but the Terrapins dominated field position as their average start was at their own 42-yard line.
SAN JOSE ST 35 Stanford 34
San Jose St. overcame a 20-point deficit by scoring the last 21 points to clinch the improbable win. After scoring the go-ahead touchdown midway through the third quarter, the Spartans defense went big with two turnovers and two forced punts. All three of Stanford’s turnovers occurred in Spartans territory and all came in the second half. San Jose St. rushed for 342 yards on 49 carries (7.0 ypc).
Indiana 24 STATE BALL 23
Ball St. blew a 16-point halftime lead as the offense shut down completely after the break. The Cardinals had just 110 yards of offense in the second half and a missed field goal proved to be the difference. Indiana scored touchdowns on its first two drives of the second half, and then hit the game-winning field goal early in the fourth quarter. The Hoosiers held Ball St. to 41 rushing yards on 22 carries (1.9 ypc).
(6) LSU 45 Arizona 3
LSU dominated early on, outscoring the Wildcats 461-152, while Arizona didn’t get on the board until their final drive of the game. The Tigers drove into Arizona territory on 10 of their 11 drives and the scoring could have been worse as LSU committed three turnovers in three straight drives. The Wildcats crossed midfield just once in the first half and finished with just 38 total yards.
ARKANSAS 20 Utah State 0
Arkansas had 457 yards of offense, including 279 rushing yards on 38 carries (7.3 ypc). The Razorbacks had two drives totaling 159 yards on which no points were scored due to a fumble and a missed field goal. Utah St. punted on their first 10 possessions of the game and ended up turning the ball over on attempts at the Arkansas 7-yard line on their final drive. The Aggies’ average starting field position was their own 18-yard line.
(21) CALIFORNIA 42 Minnesota 17
Minnesota drove 71 yards on their first possession to take an early lead, but then California took over. The Golden Bears outscored the Gophers 522-281 the rest of the way with the only other touchdown allowed coming on a kickoff return. After that, California opened the tying game by outscoring Minnesota 28-3. California dominated time of possession and went 10-15 on third- and fourth-down conversions.
HOUSTON 45 Tulane 7
Houston outscored Tulane 621-224 and dominated the running game gaining 244 yards on 35 carries (7.0 ypc) while holding the Green Wave to 55 yards on 23 carries (2.4 ypc). The Cougars turned the ball over twice inside Tulane territory while also turning the ball over twice. Green Wave managed to gain just 84 total yards on their last nine possessions.
IOWA STATE 16 UNLV 10
The Cyclones outscored UNLV 340-292 but the Rebels missed chances for victory. UNLV missed a 23-yard field goal late in the third quarter and then had a chance to win the game by putting together a 69-yard drive in 16 plays, but fell short as time expired. A completion was ruled out of the end zone on the last play of the game. The Rebels finished with just 74 rushing yards on 31 carries (2.4 ypc).
KANSAS 21 UL-Monroe 19
The Warhawks outscored Kansas 466-377 and a missed 2-point conversion was the ultimate difference. After La-Monroe got within two points late in the fourth quarter, the Jayhawks were able to time out and not return the ball. Kansas held the Warhawks to 51 yards on 23 carries (2.2 ypc) but allowed 377 passing yards. All three of Kansas’ touchdown drives were 80 yards.
NORTH TEXAS 24 EMS 6
North Texas only outscored SMU by 43 yards when Mean Green started the scoring by blocking a punt for a touchdown. The Mustangs were able to put in some decent drives, but entered the red zone only once. North Texas used ball control to keep the ball away from SMU as they won the TOP battle by over 17 minutes. A Mustang fumble late in the fourth quarter set up the final game-ending North Texas touchdown run.
(13) TENNESSEE 31 Air Force 30
Air Force was about to give the upset, but the failed conversion of two points cost him the victory. The Falcons were down by two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter, but they went 78 yards to pull within seven and then got the onside kick back. It only took another minute for them to add up the final score. Air Force finished with 281 rushing yards on 51 carries (5.5 ypc) while Tennessee only had 79 yards on 32 carries (2.5 ypc).
TEXAS A&M 51 UL Lafayette 7
The Aggies outscored La-Lafayette 496-171 while holding a 26-10 first down lead. Texas A&M was inside the Cajuns’ red zone on their first nine possessions and scored eight times, the lone exception being a missed 32-yard field goal. La-Lafayette crossed midfield just twice and finished with just 17 passing yards on 2-12 passing. The Aggies went 10-15 on third and fourth down conversions.
WEST MICH 31 Toledo 10
Toledo actually outscored the Broncos 306-261, but the Rockets were hit with four turnovers that led to 14 points. One of those touchdowns for Western Michigan was a 92-yard interception return that turned a potential three-point lead by Toledo into an 11-point deficit. The Rockets have had three turnovers in their last four series. The Broncos held Toledo to 88 rushing yards on 32 carries (2.8 ypc).
UAB 17 East Carolina 12
The Pirates nearly won this game, but a fumble at the Blazers’ 5-yard line with 1:12 remaining cost them the win. East Carolina outscored UAB 376-323 but that fumble along with an interception in Blazers territory and two short field goals made the difference. 10 of UAB’s points came on turnovers, but the Blazers also shot themselves in the foot on two fumbles inside the East Carolina 7-yard line.
SOUTH FLORIDA 21 Florida International 20
Florida International kept this close with defense and special teams, as he scored touchdowns on a punt return and an interception return. The Golden Panthers held a 13-point lead, but the Bulls scored the last two touchdowns with the last one being facilitated by a fumble recovery. Florida International recovered the ball but was unable to move. A missed extra point on the Golden Panthers’ first score was the difference.
State of Oklahoma 35 STATE OF ARKANSAS 7
Oklahoma St. limited the Indians to just 188 total yards and kept their offense out of the end zone. Arkansas St.’s only score came on a 51-yard interception return for the first score of the game. After going scoreless in the first quarter, the Cowboys scored touchdowns on their next four possessions to end the game. Arkansas St. had just 78 passing yards on passes 7-19.
KANSAS STATE 45 Florida Atlantic 0
Kansas St. only had 346 yards of offense, but opened the game returning the kickoff for a touchdown. Three of the Wildcats’ six scoring drives were 27 yards or less, while 17 of their points came from missed fourth-down conversions by the Owls. Florida Atlantic finished with just 200 total yards, including 59 rushing yards on 42 carries (1.4 ypc). The Owls won the TOP battle by 11 minutes but also committed 12 penalties.
(10) Georgia 18 SOUTH CAROLINA 0
The Bulldogs outscored South Carolina 387-255 and held the Gamecocks to just 35 rushing yards on 22 carries (1.6 ypc). South Carolina had plenty of chances, but fumbled three times in the second half, including one at the Georgia one-yard line. The Gamecocks also turned the ball over on opportunities at the Bulldogs’ 2-yard line in the fourth quarter. Both teams were 4-11 on third-down conversions.
New Mexico 34 NEW MEXICO ST 28
New Mexico St. outscored the Lobos 532-426 but the Aggies committed five turnovers, four of which occurred in New Mexico territory. 20 of Lobos’ 34 points were turnovers and while the Aggies were in New Mexico territory on nine possessions, they left with just four scores. New Mexico St. passed for 472 yards, but was held to just 60 rushing yards on 30 carries (2.0 ypc).
(1) State of Ohio 24 (8) TEXAS 7
Ohio St. outscored the Longhorns by just 22 total yards, but turnovers made the difference. A 14-point swing went the way of the Buckeyes as they recovered a fumble at the 2-yard line and then drove 50 yards for a touchdown. Texas also threw an interception deep in their own territory that set up a field goal. Texas had 211 total yards on the first half goal just 115 yards after the break.
(24) Texas Tech 38 TEXAS-EL PASO 35
The offenses dominated the game as UTEP gained 495 yards while the Red Raiders put up 479 yards. Texas Tech missed two field goals in the fourth quarter, and the Miners capitalized on the second with a game-tying touchdown run with 1:04 remaining. Following an overtime interception, the Red Raiders kicked a 49-yard field goal for the win. The teams combined for 751 passing yards.
(22) STATE OF ARIZONA 52 Nevada 21
Arizona St. outscored the Wolf Pack 486-306 and the defense forced four turnovers, three of which occurred in Nevada territory. Five of the Sun Devils’ touchdown drives covered at least 73 yards. After the Wolf Pack tied the game in the second quarter by returning an interception for a touchdown, Arizona St. scored 24 straight points in the quarter to pull away. Nevada finished just 2-4 inside the red zone.
(18) Oregon 31 FRESNO STATE 24
Oregon jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs battled back to tie the game on two different occasions before the Ducks scored the game-winning touchdown with 4:55 remaining on a fake field goal. Fresno St. dominated the time of possession thanks to 206 rushing yards on 41 carries (5.0 ypc). The Ducks blocked a field goal, but rallied, then scored a touchdown to take a 24-17 lead.
UCLA 26 Rice 16
UCLA outscored the Owls 401-184 and held Rice to just 53 rushing yards on 31 carries (1.7 ypc). The score could have been much worse, but the Bruins were forced to kick four field goals and also committed four turnovers. UCLA wasn’t forced to punt until their final possession, as they racked up 26 first downs and won the TOP battle by 10 minutes. The Owls went 2-13 on third-down conversions.