(Nebraska mention)
theathletic.com
The 19 Most Interesting Stats from a Wild Week 4 of Upsets and Notable Streaks
by Chris Vannini, The Athletic
1. Six ranked teams lost on Saturday, giving us 25 such losses through four weeks, the most in the AP Poll era (since 1936) per ESPN.
Those six losses this week were by #7 Texas A&M, #9 Clemson, #14 Iowa State, #18 Wisconsin, #21 North Carolina and #25 Kansas State.
2. Alabama has won 100 consecutive games against unranked teams, the longest streak ever, and hasn't trailed in its past 53 quarters of play, the longest streak in the FBS since 1950.
The latest victim was Southern Miss by a score of 63-14. The 100 consecutive wins are easily the longest in the history of the poll era (73, Florida, 1990-2000) and are more than the next three active streaks combined. Alabama's last such loss was to Louisiana-Monroe in 2007. Jameson Williams became the first player in Alabama history with two kick return touchdowns in one game. He also had an 81-yard touchdown catch in the win over the Eagles.
3. North Carolina State ended Clemson's 36-game winning streak against unranked teams and scored the first offensive touchdowns against the Tigers this season.
Entering the day, Clemson had scored just two touchdowns against FBS opponents but had not allowed one in any game, either. The Wolfpack beat the Tigers 27-21 in double overtime, scoring four offensive touchdowns. NC State missed all three of its field goal attempts.
Clemson had been ranked in the top 10 of the AP Poll for 97 consecutive weeks, tying Alabama's current streak for the second-longest ever, but the Tigers' streak will end. Its 106-week streak of being ranked in the Top 25 may also be in jeopardy. The Tigers were 32-0 in the regular season with Trevor Lawrence and are now 2-2 since he left.
4. Notre Dame became the first team since at least 2000 to win by at least 28 points with fewer than 10 rushing yards.
The Irish beat Wisconsin 41-13 with just three rushing yards on 32 carries (including six sacks). The Badgers outgained Notre Dame 110-60 in total yards in the fourth quarter yet got outscored 31-3 in the quarter. It was Notre Dame's largest margin of victory ever against a ranked Big Ten team.
5. Bowling Green ended a 10-game losing streak to FBS opponents while ending Minnesota's national-best 21-game nonconference winning streak.
The Falcons won 14-10, its first time holding a power conference team to 10 or fewer points since they beat Missouri in 1995. The Falcons were 30.5 point underdogs in the contest. Minnesota is now 0-17 under P.J. Fleck when trailing at halftime.
6. Vanderbilt nearly allowed more points against Georgia than the Commodores had total yards.
The Commodores lost 62-0 and had just 77 total yards. The Bulldogs scored touchdowns on their first five possessions and led 35-0 in the first quarter. The final score was their second-largest victory in an SEC game. Vanderbilt completed five of 18 passes for 24 yards with two interceptions, and it allowed eight touchdowns while recording just four first downs.
7. UTSA running back Sincere McCormick's 42 carries were the most by a player since 2017.
McCormick ran 42 times for 184 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-28 win at Memphis. Entering Saturday, the most carries by a player in the FBS this season was 34. The last player with at least 42 carries was Air Force quarterback Isaiah Sanders, who had 44 rushes against Utah State in 2017. The last running back with at least 42 carries was Texas' D'Onta Foreman against Kansas in 2016.
8. SMU ran for 350 yards against TCU, the second-most ever allowed by the Horned Frogs under Gary Patterson as head coach.
In a 42-34 win, SMU's Ulysses Bentley IV had 153 yards (7.7 yards per carry) and a touchdown, Tre Siggers had 110 yards (6.1 per carry) and Tyler Lavine had 52 yards (6.5 per carry), while quarterback Tanner Mordecai averaged 9.3 yards per run. Only Oklahoma's 366 yards in 2019 were more against a TCU team under Patterson.
9. Michigan State forced overtime against Nebraska without picking up a single first down in the second half.
The Spartans led the Huskers 13-10 at halftime, but Nebraska racked up 227 yards in the second half and took a 20-13 lead. MSU's offense totaled just 14 yards in the second half, but a punt return touchdown with 3:47 to play tied the game. In overtime, the Spartans intercepted a pass and nearly returned it for a game-winning score. The MSU offense finally picked up a first down and kicked the game-winning field goal. Scott Frost is now 5-15 in one-possession games at Nebraska.
10. Oklahoma's 16-13 win against West Virginia featured its fewest points in any game since 2014.
That was a Russell Athletic Bowl loss to Clemson. Saturday was Oklahoma's fewest points in a win since 2013, also against West Virginia. The Sooners rushed for just 2.0 yards per carry with the longest run going nine yards.
11. Utah fumbled seven times against Washington State.
The Utes lost three of them but won 24-13, as Wazzu threw three interceptions. One of those INTs was returned for a touchdown, extending Utah's 18-season streak with a pick six dating back to 2004, the longest in the nation.
12. Tulsa had three one-play touchdown drives against Arkansas State.
Those plays went 88, 34 and 75 yards in a 41-34 win. Arkansas State has allowed nine touchdown drives of one or two plays this season, including six one-play drives.
13. Oklahoma State's defense has held four consecutive opponents to 20 points or fewer to start the year.
The Cowboys beat Kansas State 31-20 on Saturday, allowing one offensive touchdown. The Wildcats were held to 2-for-12 on third downs and minus-6 yards in the fourth quarter. (Tulsa had a pick six in OSU's 28-23 win earlier this year.)
14. Georgia Tech had two sacks through three games, then had eight sacks against North Carolina.
The Yellow Jackets beat the Tar Heels 45-22 and have played well since a season-opening overtime loss to Northern Illinois.
15. Oregon State won a road game at USC for the first time since 1960.
The Beavers had lost 24 games in a row in the Coliseum before Saturday's 45-27 win. It was their most points scored in any game against the Trojans, and they rushed for 322 yards, the most allowed by USC against an unranked team since 2014 at Boston College.
16. Wake Forest is 4-0 with its most points through four games in school history.
The Deacons have won 42-10 against Old Dominion, 41-16 against Norfolk State, 35-14 against Florida State and now 37-17 against Virginia, for a total of 155 points.
17. Boise State's defense has 12 takeaways through four games after recording three takeaways in seven games a year ago.
The Broncos forced three more in a 27-3 win at Utah State. The Aggies had 317 yards in the first half buy zero points, due to two interceptions, two missed field goals and a failed fourth down conversion. Utah State finished with 443 yards and three points, just the second time since at least 2000 that a team had 440 yards of offense and three or fewer points.
18. Miami (OH) has lost 31 consecutive nonconference games against FBS teams.
The latest was a 23-10 loss to Army, and the last such win came against Army in 2011. The RedHawks are 34-41 in MAC play in that span, including 24-11 since 2016. They just haven't broken through in nonconference games.
19. Presbyterian scored 152 points in its first two games and has allowed 135 in its past two.
Your weekly Blue Hose and Kevin Kelley update: Presbyterian led Dayton 21-0 late in the first quarter but lost 63-43. Per the box score, the Blue Hose punted one time: quarterback Ben Hefley out of the end zone on third-and-21. It went nowhere and resulted in a safety, one of two Dayton safeties. Hefley was sacked seven times for the second week in a row, and the Blue Hose had three turnovers.
Presbyterian converted two of eight fourth-down attempts, recovered two of eight onside kicks and converted two of three two-point conversion attempts.
College football stats: The 19 most interesting numbers from a wild Week 4 of upsets and notable streaks
Bowling Green and NC State upsets, Alabama's unranked winning streak and many more numbers to know from the week in college football.
theathletic.com
The 19 Most Interesting Stats from a Wild Week 4 of Upsets and Notable Streaks
by Chris Vannini, The Athletic
1. Six ranked teams lost on Saturday, giving us 25 such losses through four weeks, the most in the AP Poll era (since 1936) per ESPN.
Those six losses this week were by #7 Texas A&M, #9 Clemson, #14 Iowa State, #18 Wisconsin, #21 North Carolina and #25 Kansas State.
2. Alabama has won 100 consecutive games against unranked teams, the longest streak ever, and hasn't trailed in its past 53 quarters of play, the longest streak in the FBS since 1950.
The latest victim was Southern Miss by a score of 63-14. The 100 consecutive wins are easily the longest in the history of the poll era (73, Florida, 1990-2000) and are more than the next three active streaks combined. Alabama's last such loss was to Louisiana-Monroe in 2007. Jameson Williams became the first player in Alabama history with two kick return touchdowns in one game. He also had an 81-yard touchdown catch in the win over the Eagles.
3. North Carolina State ended Clemson's 36-game winning streak against unranked teams and scored the first offensive touchdowns against the Tigers this season.
Entering the day, Clemson had scored just two touchdowns against FBS opponents but had not allowed one in any game, either. The Wolfpack beat the Tigers 27-21 in double overtime, scoring four offensive touchdowns. NC State missed all three of its field goal attempts.
Clemson had been ranked in the top 10 of the AP Poll for 97 consecutive weeks, tying Alabama's current streak for the second-longest ever, but the Tigers' streak will end. Its 106-week streak of being ranked in the Top 25 may also be in jeopardy. The Tigers were 32-0 in the regular season with Trevor Lawrence and are now 2-2 since he left.
4. Notre Dame became the first team since at least 2000 to win by at least 28 points with fewer than 10 rushing yards.
The Irish beat Wisconsin 41-13 with just three rushing yards on 32 carries (including six sacks). The Badgers outgained Notre Dame 110-60 in total yards in the fourth quarter yet got outscored 31-3 in the quarter. It was Notre Dame's largest margin of victory ever against a ranked Big Ten team.
5. Bowling Green ended a 10-game losing streak to FBS opponents while ending Minnesota's national-best 21-game nonconference winning streak.
The Falcons won 14-10, its first time holding a power conference team to 10 or fewer points since they beat Missouri in 1995. The Falcons were 30.5 point underdogs in the contest. Minnesota is now 0-17 under P.J. Fleck when trailing at halftime.
6. Vanderbilt nearly allowed more points against Georgia than the Commodores had total yards.
The Commodores lost 62-0 and had just 77 total yards. The Bulldogs scored touchdowns on their first five possessions and led 35-0 in the first quarter. The final score was their second-largest victory in an SEC game. Vanderbilt completed five of 18 passes for 24 yards with two interceptions, and it allowed eight touchdowns while recording just four first downs.
7. UTSA running back Sincere McCormick's 42 carries were the most by a player since 2017.
McCormick ran 42 times for 184 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-28 win at Memphis. Entering Saturday, the most carries by a player in the FBS this season was 34. The last player with at least 42 carries was Air Force quarterback Isaiah Sanders, who had 44 rushes against Utah State in 2017. The last running back with at least 42 carries was Texas' D'Onta Foreman against Kansas in 2016.
8. SMU ran for 350 yards against TCU, the second-most ever allowed by the Horned Frogs under Gary Patterson as head coach.
In a 42-34 win, SMU's Ulysses Bentley IV had 153 yards (7.7 yards per carry) and a touchdown, Tre Siggers had 110 yards (6.1 per carry) and Tyler Lavine had 52 yards (6.5 per carry), while quarterback Tanner Mordecai averaged 9.3 yards per run. Only Oklahoma's 366 yards in 2019 were more against a TCU team under Patterson.
9. Michigan State forced overtime against Nebraska without picking up a single first down in the second half.
The Spartans led the Huskers 13-10 at halftime, but Nebraska racked up 227 yards in the second half and took a 20-13 lead. MSU's offense totaled just 14 yards in the second half, but a punt return touchdown with 3:47 to play tied the game. In overtime, the Spartans intercepted a pass and nearly returned it for a game-winning score. The MSU offense finally picked up a first down and kicked the game-winning field goal. Scott Frost is now 5-15 in one-possession games at Nebraska.
10. Oklahoma's 16-13 win against West Virginia featured its fewest points in any game since 2014.
That was a Russell Athletic Bowl loss to Clemson. Saturday was Oklahoma's fewest points in a win since 2013, also against West Virginia. The Sooners rushed for just 2.0 yards per carry with the longest run going nine yards.
11. Utah fumbled seven times against Washington State.
The Utes lost three of them but won 24-13, as Wazzu threw three interceptions. One of those INTs was returned for a touchdown, extending Utah's 18-season streak with a pick six dating back to 2004, the longest in the nation.
12. Tulsa had three one-play touchdown drives against Arkansas State.
Those plays went 88, 34 and 75 yards in a 41-34 win. Arkansas State has allowed nine touchdown drives of one or two plays this season, including six one-play drives.
13. Oklahoma State's defense has held four consecutive opponents to 20 points or fewer to start the year.
The Cowboys beat Kansas State 31-20 on Saturday, allowing one offensive touchdown. The Wildcats were held to 2-for-12 on third downs and minus-6 yards in the fourth quarter. (Tulsa had a pick six in OSU's 28-23 win earlier this year.)
14. Georgia Tech had two sacks through three games, then had eight sacks against North Carolina.
The Yellow Jackets beat the Tar Heels 45-22 and have played well since a season-opening overtime loss to Northern Illinois.
15. Oregon State won a road game at USC for the first time since 1960.
The Beavers had lost 24 games in a row in the Coliseum before Saturday's 45-27 win. It was their most points scored in any game against the Trojans, and they rushed for 322 yards, the most allowed by USC against an unranked team since 2014 at Boston College.
16. Wake Forest is 4-0 with its most points through four games in school history.
The Deacons have won 42-10 against Old Dominion, 41-16 against Norfolk State, 35-14 against Florida State and now 37-17 against Virginia, for a total of 155 points.
17. Boise State's defense has 12 takeaways through four games after recording three takeaways in seven games a year ago.
The Broncos forced three more in a 27-3 win at Utah State. The Aggies had 317 yards in the first half buy zero points, due to two interceptions, two missed field goals and a failed fourth down conversion. Utah State finished with 443 yards and three points, just the second time since at least 2000 that a team had 440 yards of offense and three or fewer points.
18. Miami (OH) has lost 31 consecutive nonconference games against FBS teams.
The latest was a 23-10 loss to Army, and the last such win came against Army in 2011. The RedHawks are 34-41 in MAC play in that span, including 24-11 since 2016. They just haven't broken through in nonconference games.
19. Presbyterian scored 152 points in its first two games and has allowed 135 in its past two.
Your weekly Blue Hose and Kevin Kelley update: Presbyterian led Dayton 21-0 late in the first quarter but lost 63-43. Per the box score, the Blue Hose punted one time: quarterback Ben Hefley out of the end zone on third-and-21. It went nowhere and resulted in a safety, one of two Dayton safeties. Hefley was sacked seven times for the second week in a row, and the Blue Hose had three turnovers.
Presbyterian converted two of eight fourth-down attempts, recovered two of eight onside kicks and converted two of three two-point conversion attempts.
