San Diego, CA – The Aztecs of San Diego State drop the Fresno St Bulldogs 33-18 to allow coach last game a victory. Head Coach Brady Hoke left the field for the last time with the sweet taste of victory on in his mouth.
“It was really fun to watch our team play. It is great to have the oil can back.” said Hoke, “I’m very excited about that and how we played together.”
San Diego quarterback Jalen Mayden darted down the field for 70 yards through Fresno St to secure the win with the go-ahead touchdown.
Photo by Rashad Griffin / fi360 News
Mayden made his presence felt in the air throwing for 189 yards with a touchdown on 17-26 attempts. On the ground that long run was one of his 14 carries for 96 yards. Being dual threat Fresno need to account for him every snap not knowing how they would be attacked.
Now Fresno did have Malik Sherrod shine by racking up 138 yards on the ground with two touchdowns on 15 carries. He also caught 5 passes out of the backfield for additional 44 yards.
Photo by Rashad Griffin / fi360 News
The Fresno passing game was spread out with quarterback Mikey Keene hitting 9 different receivers for 190 yards and a costly interception.
Back in mid-October Fresno St was already bowl eligible so they will have another game to get a win.
Both these programs are moving in the right direction in the Mountain West.
“You always want to win. We go out every game and try to win,” said Hoke, “It’s great to win. We don’t like losing.”
Photo by Rashad Griffin / fi360 News
That forced turnover was fitting for coach Hoke who career was built on tough defenses. Hoke spent 16 years as a collegiate coach.
The Aztecs will start a nationwide search for the next coach to lead this great program into the future.
Salt Lake City, UT – Utah continued their winning streak against Colorado in their rivalry series, marking their seventh consecutive victory. Ryan Staub, in his first career start for Colorado, threw for 195 yards and a touchdown, connecting with Travis Hunter for 107 yards and another touchdown on eight receptions.
Despite Colorado’s efforts, they managed 262 yards against Utah’s defense. Utah favored a ground-based strategy in the first half, with Bottari attempting only three passes before halftime, all completed. Their rush-heavy approach amassed 135 yards by halftime, opting for conservative play-calling that proved effective.
Photo by Jason Strother / fi360 News
The opening drive saw Utah dominating with eight consecutive rushing plays, capped off by Bottari’s 2-yard keeper, propelling them to a 7-0 lead. A pivotal moment came when Connor O’Toole sacked Staub, causing a fumble that Van Fillinger recovered, setting up Utah’s scoring drive.
Colorado found a breakthrough with a trick play in the second quarter, as Jimmy Horn, Jr. connected with Dylan Edwards for a 30-yard score, narrowing Utah’s lead to 10-7. However, Colorado couldn’t bridge the gap further after halftime.
Photo by Jason Strother / fi360 News
Bottari’s 16-yard pass to Luca Caldarella on 4th down set the stage for his second touchdown run in the third quarter, a 1-yard keeper. Becker’s 31-yard field goal extended Utah’s lead to 23-10 early in the fourth quarter. Despite Colorado’s efforts with Hunter’s 18-yard catch, Utah managed to run the clock down in the final 7:25, denying the Buffaloes a chance to level the score.
Staub acknowledged, “We scored and left enough time, but they executed that last drive really well,” reflecting on Utah’s ability to control the ball in the game’s closing moments.
Photo by Jason Strother / fi360 News
In a game where Utah maintained their dominance over Colorado. Next up is bowl game for the Utes as they watch the PAC-12 Championships from the outside. The Buffs will start looking at the next class in the Transfer Porter that opens Dec 4th.
Indiana Hoosiers vs Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on November 25, 2023. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
West Lafayette, Indiana- In a display of true grit and resilience, Purdue’s quarterback Hudson Card emerged as the driving force behind Purdue’s impressive fourth-quarter surge.
In the culmination of a season-long journey, with the coveted Old Oaken Bucket hanging in the balance, Card showcased unwavering toughness. Battling through rib soreness that persisted throughout the game, he demonstrated a commitment to leaving it all on the field. Matching his career-high with three touchdown passes, Card delivered the decisive blow with a 10-yard touchdown run, propelling Purdue to a hard-fought 35-31 victory over Indiana.
This not only secured the Old Oaken Bucket but also underscored the indomitable spirit of a quarterback who played through pain for the pride of his team.
Indiana Hoosiers vs Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on November 25, 2023. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
Head coach Ryan Walters described Card’s injury as “painful,” acknowledging the quarterback’s determination to compete at the highest level.
Throughout the week, the coaching staff monitored Card’s condition closely, but it was Card himself who affirmed his readiness with a resolute declaration to his coach, saying, “Coach, I’m playing.” The execution of this plan proved pivotal, culminating in a triumphant end to the season for Purdue and a memorable chapter in the storied rivalry against Indiana.
Halftime adjustments and the art of motivation took center stage in this classic rivalry, where special teams emerged as a decisive factor in setting the tone for both teams.
The opening kickoff of the second half showcased the explosiveness of Purdue’s RB/KR Dylan Downing, who electrified the Boiler Maker fans with a 49-yard return. While a touchdown would have been the perfect outcome, the drive concluded with a field goal.
Drew Biber with a touchdown catch going into the half during Indiana Hoosiers vs Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on November 25, 2023. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
In a swift response, Indiana University seized the momentum with a remarkable 100-yard kickoff return by Jaylin Lucas, injecting new energy into the Hoosiers’ effort to break their two-game losing streak against Purdue. The IU offense, under the leadership of freshman Brendan, orchestrated a touchdown drive, complementing the impactful return play.
As the third quarter unfolded, IU managed to outscore Purdue 14-6, securing a 28-18 lead heading into the final quarter of what promises to be a fiercely contested and pivotal matchup in the historic rivalry.
Purdue’s resilience and determination to maintain their streak manifested strongly as the fourth quarter commenced. Sparked by big plays from Mockobee and Card, the Boilermakers orchestrated a compelling sequence culminating in a pivotal 38-yard touchdown. This scoring drive trimmed Indiana University’s lead to a mere 3 points, with the scoreboard reading 25-28 in favor of IU.
The intensity of the rivalry game was palpable, evident in each team’s relentless pursuit of victory and the desire to etch their respective school’s name on the Old Oaken Bucket. As the clock ticked down, the game hung in the balance, promising a thrilling conclusion to this fiercely contested clash between Purdue and Indiana.
Indiana Hoosiers vs Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on November 25, 2023. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
As the dust settles on the Old Oaken Bucket clash, both Indiana and Purdue find themselves at crossroads, each with distinct reflections and aspirations.
The Indiana University administration faces crucial decisions regarding their coaching staff, weighing the impact on the community against the need for improvements. With the first year under his belt, Coach Ryan Walters gains valuable insights into what to expect and areas to enhance for the upcoming 2024 season.
As the current season concludes without bowl game appearances for either team, both Indiana and Purdue set their sights on a different narrative in 2024.
While Purdue’s opener remains undisclosed, Indiana has a clear date with Florida International on August 31st, 2024, marking the starting point for their journey to reshape their football fortunes in the upcoming season.
EUGENE, OR – The No. 6 ranked Oregon Ducks secured a chance to play for the Pac-12 Championship Friday after they defeated in-state rival and No. 16 ranked Oregon State 31-7.
Oregon controlled the game for all four quarters, rebounding from last year’s heartbreaking loss against Oregon State where they let the Beavers mount a fourth quarter comeback in Corvallis.
The Ducks ran the ball on 10 of 15 plays during their first possession, converted a 4th down attempt, and managed to eat up 8:41 of clock before Bo Nix connected with Bucky Irving on a 14-yard touchdown pass for the first score of the night.
Photo by Megan Connelly / fi360 News
Defensively, the Ducks wasted no time setting the tone for the game either, forcing a turnover on downs that set the Ducks up with good field position, allowing Bo Nix to move the ball down field and run for a 16-yard touchdown that extended their lead to 14.
Momentum started to shift late in the second quarter after the Ducks missed a 34-yard field goal from Camden Lewis, and Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei responded with a 15-play scoring drive of 80 yards. Uiagalelei found Silas Bolden for a 9-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 14-7 with only 54 seconds left in the half.
Photo by Megan Connelly / fi360 News
With Oregon State set to receive the ball at the start of the second half, Bo Nix and the Ducks offense worked quickly, and Nix eventually found a wide-open Troy Franklin for a 40-yard touchdown. Franklin would finish the night with 9 receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown. The Ducks quick touchdown brought the score to 21-7 at halftime, deflating the Beavers hopes of making the contest competitive.
In more ways than one, it was the end of an era for the Ducks Friday. Heisman favorite quarterback Bo Nix played his last game at Autzen Stadium, and the in-state rivalry between Oregon and Oregon State that in 1894, is not currently scheduled moving forward.
Nix posted another stellar game to his resume in his last home game, completing 33/40 for 367 yards, 2 passing touchdowns and 1 rushing touchdown. Nix reflected on his last game at Autzen Stadium saying “[It was] surreal. That place has been really good to me, it’s been really good to my family… I’ll forever hold a special place in my heart for it”.
Photo by Megan Connelly / fi360 News
In a rematch against the Washington Huskies, the Oregon Ducks will get a chance to right their only loss on the year next week in Las Vegas as they play for the final Pac-12 Championship and a chance to play in the 2023 College Football Playoff. The Ducks look like a different team from what they were the first time they played Washington, and after the game head coach Dan Lanning stated “I’ve said it since the beginning of the season that we want to be playing our best football at the end of the season, and we are right now. We’ve got a really good team”.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Cowboys Chauncey Golston (99) and DeMarcus Lawernce (90) watch on as Micah Parsons (11) celebrates after a second quarter sack of Matthew Stafford (not shown) from Dallas' 43-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams at AT&T Stadium on October 29, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jeff Dahlia)
DALLAS, TX– Happy Gobble Day everyone, the Dallas Cowboys continued feasting on inferior competition, demolishing their historic rival the Washington Commanders 45-10 on Thursday, November 23 from AT&T Stadium.
Thanksgiving and football go hand in hand. Earlier in the day, the Detroit Lions were upset by the Green Bay Packers 29-22. In the night cap, the San Francisco 49ers knocked off the Seattle Seahawks 31-13.
The Dallas Cowboys never had to worry about a shocking loss, it was, “Americas Team” from the kickoff.
Cowboys Quarterback Dak Prescott threw four more touchdown passes and completed passes to 10 different players. The defense forced three fourth-down stops in the second half. Brandon Aubrey made his 22nd straight field goal try of the season.
Prescott has emerged as a candidate for NFL MVP.
Natinal Treasure Dolly Parton gave a dazzling halftime performance. Typically, icons of her stature dont perform on Thanksgiving. Yet, there she was in a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders outfit. Singing classics such as “Jolene.”
She also sang “9 to 5” and did a rendition of Queen’s “We Are the Champions,” a possible tribute to the Texas Rangers, who won the World Series in November. it was an incredible performance and a joy to see the crowds reaction.
To cap it off, DaRon Bland set an NFL record with his fifth pick-six of the season and second in five days, returning a Sam Howell pass 63 yards.
Its apparent the Dallas Cowboys are good: but how good? The wins against teams below .500 are excpected. However, the Boys were blown out by the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium, and a gut wrenching loss to the Eagles.
Are the Dallas Cowboys a legitamate Super Bowl contender? We are about to find out.
This is where the fun begins, In their next five games they play the Seattle Seahawks, Eagles, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions.
It was a wonderful Thanksgiving for Dallas Cowboys fans everywhere. The Salvation Army buckets were filled with Turkey legs and great holiday cheer.
INGLEWOOD, CA – Trailing 16-7 in the 4th quarter to division foe the Seattle Seahawks, the Los Angeles Rams and Quarterback Matthew Stafford engineered a thrilling 17-16 victory at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19. Lucas Havrisik made a 22-yard field goal 1:31 to play, and Jason Myers missed a 55-yard attempt for the Seahawks with 3 seconds left in Los Angeles’ crucial one point victory over Seattle on Sunday.
Matthew ‘Stupendous’ Stafford left the field hunched in pain after a disastrous flea-flicker ended with Stafford taking a massive hit to the chest while throwing an interception with his Los Angeles Rams already trailing by nine points in the fourth quarter. Rather than exiting the field and either heading to the locker room-or the hospital- this warrior comes out on the next possession and leads the Rams to victory.
Matthew Stafford about to throw. (Photo by Jevone Moore)
Stafford passed for 190 yards in his return from a one-game injury absence and led two late scoring drives by the Rams (4-6), who snapped their three-game losing streak with their second win over the Seahawks (6-4) this season. Stafford was outstanding on the Rams’ final two drives after responding with determination to the crushing hit by Mario Edwards Jr.
Had the Rams fallen to (3-7), the season would have effectively been over, now the Rams still have a glimmer of hope of reaching the NFL playoffs as a Wild Card.
“I don’t know if I need to take that level of a shot every week to get going,” said a grinning Stafford, who played with a brace on his sprained thumb.
“I know that late in the game, fourth quarter, we’re within a score, I want the ball,” he added. “It just so happened that I had my chest run through the drive before. I don’t know if that’s the thing that gets me going, but sometimes it’s late in the game, you could be playing as poor a game as you want to play, (but) you play one great quarter, you’ve got a chance to win that thing.”
(Photo by Jevone Moore)
Unfortunately, Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp didn’t return after injuring his right ankle in the second quarter. McVay had no postgame update on his Super Bowl MVP.
Seattle appeared to be cruising toward its fourth victory in five games until Smith, who passed for 233 yards, was sidelined by a hit late in the third quarter from Aaron Donald, whose left arm made hard contact with Smith’s throwing arm.
Stafford looked sharp on a series of impressive late throws, none better than a picturesque 32-yard fling to rookie Puka Nacua.
“I thought (Stafford’s) toughness was on display,” coach Sean McVay said. “Maybe we should punch him in the gut right before the games, huh?”
On Sunday, November 26 the Rams will face Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.
Tempe, AZ – Oregon comes down to the desert and smothers the Arizona St with a 49-13. Quarterback Bo Nix shinned bright with 6 touchdowns.
Nix had his way against the Sun Devils defense carving them up for 404 yards on 24-29 attempts. Five different receivers caught touchdowns this game. Troy Franklin (11) led the Ducks with eight catches, two touchdowns for 128 yards.
Oregon vs Arizona St (Photo by Troy Flowers)
“He’s incredible,” Oregon quarterback Bo Nix said of Franklin. “His approach to the game — he’s just so hard to guard and he moves around all game. He’s inside and outside. His routes are really good. He’s so smart and he just makes plays. He’s consistent. He’s just always there. He’s always there when you need him.”
The most impressive state is all this happened in the first half of play with score being 42-0 at the half. Arizona still came out fighting in the second half at least putting 13 points on the board with a 4th quarter touchdown on 15 yards run by Melquan Stovall (7).
Oregon vs Arizona St (Photo by Troy Flowers)
Sun Devils signal caller Trenton Bourguet (16) through for 142 yards passing with no touchdowns. Running Back Cameron Skattebo (4) only had eight carries for 49 yards and threw 2/6 pass for 45 yards and an interception.
“You are what you do consistently,” said Oregon coach Dan Lanning, “We take care of the ball we are a pretty dangerous team.”
Oregon vs Arizona St (Photo by Troy Flowers)
They just didn’t have an answer for the speed and barrage of offensive power that was unleashed.
Now the Ducks will get ready for the “Civil War” Friday night with the Oregon State back at Autzen Stadium 5:30pm.
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans during a college football game between the UCLA Bruins against the USC Trojans on November 11, 2023, at United Airlines Field at The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 News)
Los Angeles, CA – UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers threw three touchdown passes and running back TJ Harden rushed for a career-high 142 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-20 win over crosstown rival USC on Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
“Today was one of the better days of my life,” Garbers said. “I’ve had some dreams like this as a little kid. Great to see, great to get the win and great to get home.”
UCLA Bruins quarterback Ethan Garbers (4) looks to throw the ball.(Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 News)
Caleb Williams passed for 384 yards and one touchdown. Brenden Rice finished with eight receptions for a season-high 147 yards and a touchdown. USC finished the season 7-5 and lost five of six.
“Very, very disappointing, no other way to put it,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said. “I told the guys in the locker room. I’ve clearly not done a good enough job here in the second half of the season getting this team ready to go.”
USC turned the ball over on downs on its first possession after not converted a fourth-and-one. On the ensuing drive, UCLA drove down the field and scored on a 1-yard run from TJ Harden to take an early 7-0 lead.
USC Trojans wide receiver Brenden Rice (2) catches the ball for a gain. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 News)
UCLA stripped Zachariah Branch and recovered the fumble. The Bruin’s capitalized on the turnover with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Garbers to tight end Hudson Habermehl and UCLA took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
The Trojans opened the second quarter with a 74-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Brenden Rice. USC cut the Bruins lead 14-7.
USC got a field goal from Denis Lynch and trailed 14-10 heading into into halftime. USC had 270 yards of total yards in the first half but only gained one yard on the ground.
USC Trojans wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane (89) catches the ball for a gain and gets tackled by UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Carl Jones Jr. (4).(Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 News)
On the opening drive of the third quarter, UCLA took a 21-10 lead after Garbers hit Harden for a 7-yard touchdown. USC was looking to get the running game going but MarShawn Lloyd fumbled on the ensuing drive and UCLA’s Alex Johnson scored on the scoop and score yo give the Bruins a 28-10 lead.
UCLA added to their lead with a Habermehl 15-yard touchdown reception. Habermehl’s second touchdown of the game gave UCLA a 38-14 lead with 9:06 left in the fourth quarter. USC added a touchdown from Austin Jones in the fourth quarter.
USC will await its fate and see which bowl game they will play in. UCLA will host California on Saturday, Nov. 25 at the Rose Bowl.
Los Angeles, CA – Coming into Tuesday night’s game, the USC Trojans (2-1) played up to their No. 16 rank in the country. Wins over Kansas State and Cal State Bakersfield, the Trojans rightfully earned their rank.
It all came crashing down after the UC Irvine Anteaters (2-1) stormed into the Galen Center and defeated the Trojans, 70-60.
It was a rough night for the USC offense as the Trojans shot 28.8% from the field and an abysmal 19% from three.
Photo by Jevone Moore / fi360 News
USC head coach Andy Enfield was blunt about his team’s performance .
“You can’t shoot 28 percent from the field and expect to beat a good team,” he said.
Trojans freshman star Isaiah Collier had a team high of 23 points but paired it with seven turnovers, the most in his young career so far. Collier took full responsibility for his play and attributed his rough night to “freshman mistakes”.
Photo by Jevone Moore / fi360 News
“It’s about knowing when to make the plays and I take the blame for that,” he said firmly.
Justin Hohn lit up the scorebook for UCI as he finished with a career high and a game high in points with 25. Bent Leuchten was the only other Anteater to finish in double-digits as he had 19.
USC was missing two important players as Boogie Ellis was out with a right ankle sprain and Kobe Johnson was out with left knee soreness. Enfield said postgame that both players are day-to-day.
Photo by Jevone Moore / fi360 News
DJ Rodman and Oziyah Sellers both struggled to find their shots. The two Trojan starters combined for four points and shot 1-19 from the field.
Despite coming into the game as a big underdog, the Anteaters’ experience got the best of a short-handed USC team. This is the second consecutive year, where UCI has upset a Pac 12 team in the non-conference portion of their schedule. Last year, they went on the road to upset then No. 21 Oregon.
For the Trojans, they have a handful of days to get healthy as Ivy League foe Brown comes into the Galen on Sunday Nov. 19.
EUGENE, OR – Two of college football’s most exciting quarterbacks met under the lights Saturday night, where Oregon’s Heisman hopeful Bo Nix defeated reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams 36-27.
Following a terrible defensive performance from USC that largely contributed to the firing of their defensive coordinator, Alex Grinch, expectations for Oregon’s run game were extremely high headed into Saturday’s matchup. Last week, the Trojans allowed 316 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground to Washington but only allowed 140 yards and 1 touchdown to Oregon.
Photo by Megan Connelly / fi360 News
Instead, it was Bo Nix who delivered what head coach Dan Lanning referred to as a “Heisman-worthy performance”, completing 23/31 for 412 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Ducks attacked USC’s vulnerable secondary immediately, where Nix connected with Tez Johnson for a 77-yard touchdown on their first possession and Troy Franklin for an 84-yard touchdown on their second.
Oregon’s defense was phenomenal, holding a Williams-led offense that averaged 40.7 points a game to only 27. The Ducks were consistently able to apply pressure on Williams, sacking him a total of three times and forcing a pivotal fumble late in the third quarter that was recovered by Evan Williams. The Ducks looked to be on the verge of another blowout victory as the fumble recovery set up a 19-yard rushing touchdown from Bucky Irving on the first play of the fourth quarter, extending their lead to 22 at a score of 36-14.
Photo by Megan Connelly / fi360 News
However, Irving’s touchdown would be Oregon’s last score of the game, and Williams found a way to keep the Trojans alive as he miraculously avoided pressure and extended plays with his legs. USC scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, but ultimately ran out of time before they could officially mount a comeback. Williams finished the night 19/34 for 291 yards and 2 total touchdowns.
“Our defense played really well… I felt like we put the defense in a bad spot at the end… In the fourth quarter, you look up and it’s 11 minutes left, and we didn’t do a whole lot” Nix stated after the game. Nix and the Ducks will certainly leave Saturday happy with a win against a dangerous USC team but will need to finish games and clean up penalties if they hope to reach the College Football Playoff this season.
Photo by Megan Connelly / fi360 News
Oregon will head to the desert next weekend to face the Arizona State Sun Devils (3-7).
