USC, Oregon and Saturday's College Football Wrap-Up

Some teams needed very little luck in defeating their smaller-town opponents this week of college football. No. 2 Alabama rolled all over FAU, Clemson hung 73 points, Mississippi pummeled Vandy, and No. 18 Wisconsin didn't give Western Illinois anything to cheer for. For the most part, the teams we expected to win big.... well, won big.

Other teams didn't make it so easy on themselves. No. 19 Nebraska was saved by a last minute 58 yard touchdown run by Ameer Abdullah to seal the deal against underdog McNeese State. Meanwhile, No. 20 Kansas State overcame a 2^nd quarter run by Iowa State to win 32-28.

And then there were the most interesting matchups of the week, highlighted by No. 14 USC @ No. 13 Stanford and No. 7 Michigan State @ No. 3 Oregon.

In the first matchup, the game was marked by an exchange of 4^th down stops, strong defense, and by all means, the type of blood feud contest that fans of both schools expect on a yearly basis. With the score tied at 10 all late in the fourth, Heidari hit a 53 yard crunch-time field goal for the Trojans to put his team up by 3. A few minutes later, it proved to be the game winner, and the USC rushing attack was enough to overcome the Cardinals' passing game. J. R. Tavai sealed the deal with a strip-sack of Kevin Hogan.\

Marcus Mariota started the evening game off with leading his team on three first-half scoring drives, torching the Spartan defense with the air attack. A 70-yard touchdown pass to Devon Allen became one of a few big offensive highlights.

The score didn't favor Oregon so heavily for long, as following three more scoring drives by Michigan State, halftime saw the Spartans hold title to the leading passer, rusher, and receiver in Cook, Langford, and Lippett, respectively.
The Spartans lost their steam in the second half though, as momentum switched to the Ducks in what would ultimately be a 46-27 final score, Oregon.