This weekend was possibly the best yet for college football fans: Five teams in the top 25 were upset, while other top teams barely squeaked by in order to keep their dreams of a bowl game alive.
BIG GAME BREAKDOWN:<$> The biggest shocker of the weekend occurred when the unranked North Carolina Tarheels<$> stunned the undefeated and third-ranked Miami Hurricanes<$>, by a count of 31-28. With a record of just 3-4 coming into the game, no one thought that the Tarheels would have a shot against the third best team in the country.
With the scoring going back and forth throughout the game, UNC pulled ahead 28-21, with less than 11 minutes remaining. Many didn't think that Miami would be able to respond, but with 2:25 left the Hurricanes' Devin Hester, the one who has been known for pulling the 'Canes back into games throughout the season, ran for an 11-yard touchdown.
It looked as though the game would go to overtime. But UNC pulled off a great two minute drill, driving 65 yards on nine plays and setting up field goal kicker Connor Barth with a perfect opportunity to win it. Barth set up for a 42-yard field goal, kicked, and, as time expired, UNC began the celebration.
A main factor in UNC's success was the fact that its offense was running on all cylinders. The Tarheels balanced both its air and land attacks, amassing 266 passing yards and 279 rushing yards for a total of 545 yards, a solid 130 better than the Hurricanes.
The key difference in the contest, though, was the running game. UNC tailback Chad Scott tooled on the Miami D, putting up 175 rushing yards on 25 carries, to go with his two touchdowns. Miami on the other hand, only had 77 yards on the ground, with no single rusher gaining more than 30. With this devastating loss, Miami is most likely out of the hunt for the BCS title game, and drops to number ten in the rankings.
Elsewhere, the second-ranked Oklahoma Sooners <$>were helped by an Oklahoma State<$> field goal miss as time expired, holding on by a count of 38-35. No. 5 Florida State<$> succumbed to unranked opponent Maryland<$>, 20-17, suffering its second loss of the season. The No. 11 Michigan Wolverines<$> overcame a 17 point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Michigan State<$> in three overtimes, 45-37.
With only a few games remaining in the season, the top five teams in the standings are now USC<$>, Oklahoma, Auburn<$>, Wisconsin<$>, and Georgia<$>. The remaining undefeated squads in the top 25 are No. 8 Utah<$> and No. 15 Boise State<$>.
FLORIDA FLUKE:<$> Considered by most experts to be among the elite football programs in the country, Miami, Florida<$>, and Florida State did something almost unheard of on Saturday: They all lost on the same day. In addition to Miami's loss to UNC, Florida fell to Georgia and Florida State was knocked off by Maryland. The last time all three teams lost on the same day? Oct. 14, 1978.
PLATINUM PLAYAS OF THE WEEK:<$> The offensive platinum ball goes to Michigan freshman quarterback Chad Henne. Henne completed 24 of 35 passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns, three of which were thrown to his favorite target, Braylon Edwards. Henne and the Wolverines came back and defeated in-state rival Michigan State in three overtimes.
Instead of a defensive platinum ball this week, I'm going to give it to the ballsiest call of the week. With his Baylor<$> team down 34-33 in overtime against the number 17 Texas A&M Aggies<$>, coach Guy Morriss did something almost no coach would do: He decided to go for the do-or-die two-point conversion. And do he did. Baylor converted the two points and upset the Aggies, 35-34.
"I had a gut feeling that it was the right thing to do at that point to drive the nail in the coffin," Morriss said. "We wanted to teach our kids how to drop the hammer on someone."<$>
@jump:see CFBALL, page ??
