Real Kato Blog: College Football Recap: Week 12

Michigan and N.C. State both win over ranked opponents; there are other stunning upsets all across the country.

Michigan 45, Nebraska 17. Well. I thought Michigan would play well, but not that well. To be sure, Michigan was helped by some Nebraska blunders, but this was easily Michigan's most complete game and dominant performance in years. Remember when I was all full of ennui and thought Michigan would be going to the Meineke Car Care bowl? Well, now, if Michigan beats OSU this Saturday, the Wolverines are being discussed as a legitimate BCS bowl participant. Quite an amazing turn of events.

I have absolutely no complaints about this week's performance. The offense went primarily with the zone-read running game, to great success; the defense was smothering and shut down everything Nebraska tried to do.

Grades: Offense A, Defense A. Brilliant.

N.C. State 37, Clemson 13. Um, what? How does a team that lost to BC turn around and beat the #7 team in the country? Well, Clemson hurt themselves with turnovers and poor special teams play, much as N.C. State did last week. Sometimes I guess that's all it takes. There were two big plays in the second quarter: a fumble by Clemson on its own 18 yard line, and a punt return by N.C. State to the Clemson 11. With two short-field drives, State scored back-to-back touchdowns and jumped out to a 24-3 lead. After that it was just a matter of coasting to the win. Now State can become bowl eligible with a win over Maryland next week. We'll see if State can put together another good game like this one.

Other Notable Games

Geez, where to start? Four top ten teams went down this week: #2 Oklahoma State lost a stunner to unranked Iowa State on Friday, 37-31. #5 Oklahoma lost to #22 Baylor 45-38. #4 Oregon lost to postseason-ineligible USC 38-35. So take all that with the Clemson loss and now you've got LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas sitting atop the standings. An all-SEC title game is looking increasingly likely, unless LSU somehow loses to Georgia in the SEC championship. (And even then, they might sneak in at #2.)

#8 Virginia Tech beat UNC 24-21. They'll play Virginia for the ACC Coastal title; with a win there and in the ACC title game, they might find a way into the BCS title game.

#9 Stanford came from behind to beat Cal 31-28. They're still clinging to title hopes as well. Their season finale next week is against Notre Dame; that should be an entertaining game.

#11 Houston remains undefeated; they beat SMU 37-7. Houston is getting some hype because of their 11-0 record, but they've played a whole bunch of nobodies in the Conference USA.

#23 Texas is still rebuilding, I guess; they lost to #13 Kansas State 17-13 to drop to 6-4.

#14 Georgia clinched the SEC East, beating Kentucky 19-10.

#17 Wisconsin had to rally to beat Illinois 28-17. With #21 Penn State beating Ohio State 20-14, the game next week between the Badgers and Lions will be the semifinal for the Big Ten championship. Illinois and Ron Zook: womp womp, you're 6-5 after a 6-0 start. Ohio State: womp womp, you're also 6-5.

#24 Notre Dame struggled to get by Boston College 16-14. I somehow keep thinking Notre Dame is a good team but then they come out with oddly flat performances like this.

Virginia beat #25 Florida State 14-13 in a crazy game; at the end, Florida State challenged its own completion because it would have run out the clock if they'd made it. The pass was ruled incomplete but Florida State missed the game-winning field goal. Virginia has a chance to cap a remarkable turnaround season if they can beat VT this weekend.

Last note: Rich Rodriguez has been announced as the next head coach at Arizona. Best of luck to you, Rich Rod.

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