Fargo looks past the top line scores and goes deep into the box scores to get a better picture of what really happened for all of the FBS games the past weekend.
ULM 28, Arkansas State 16
Arkansas St. opened the game by intercepting a pass three plays in and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown then added on a field goal for a 10-0 lead after the first quarter. After the pick and five straight punts, UL Monroe finally got the offense going with a pair of touchdowns and never gave up the lead. The Red Wolves could only get two more field goals as the offense missed a field goal and turned it over three times. The Warhawks won the yardage 384-297 on 16 fewer plays.
Texas A&M 16, Auburn 10
Texas A&M outgained the Tigers 414-177 and 6.0 to 3.1 yppl but the Aggies offense stalled numerous times and were forced to five field goal attempts, missing two of those while also throwing a redzone interception. Additionally, Texas A&M was 3-14 on third down so it relied on the defense which came up huge. Auburn was held to 52 yards rushing on 24 carries (2.2 ypc) which limited the Tigers to only nine first downs, partially due to them going 0-15 on third and fourth down.
Toledo 45, Akron 3
Toledo returned the opening kickoff 52 yards down to the Akron 28-yard line and scored on its first play from scrimmage and the rout was on. The Rockets added a touchdown on their next possession and eventually took a 35-3 lead into halftime and eventually called off the dogs. Toledo outgained the Zips 545-145 and 8.9 to 2.4 yppl while making 28 first downs and allowing only 11. Akron went 2-15 on third down, crossed midfield only three times while punting nine times.
Navy 21, Rice 13
Navy took its opening possession 75 yards on 14 plays, forced a three and out and went 80 yards in three plays to take an early 14-0 lead. Rice had five first half possessions while running only 22 plays and gaining just 52 yards, forcing to punt four times and failing on fourth down. The Midshipmen outgained Rice 455-234 and 7.5 to 3.9 yppl with one downfall being 10 penalties for 85 yards. The Owls were just 4-15 on third down but 4-5 on fourth down aiding in scoring on their last three drives.
Utah 48, West Virginia 14
The Utah offense was very efficient as it crossed midfield on all nine of its possessions, scoring on eight of those with a second quarter interception being the lone blemish. The Utes defense was just as good as they held the Mountaineers scoreless in the first half, allowing 105 yards. Overall, Utah outgained West Virginia 532-346 but did run 16 more plays and allowed 261 yards rushing on 48 carries (5.4 ypc) so that was not ideal but did allow only four fourth down conversions.
California 28, Boston College 24
Boston College took the opening kickoff 84 yards on 12 plays for a touchdown and then picked off a California pass two plays later and scored another touchdown two plays after that. The Golden Bears fought back to eventually take a 21-17 lead and then went 88 yards for a 28-24 lead with 1:30 left. The Eagles were driving for the winning touchdown but threw an interception at the California goal line. Boston College won the yardage by three yards but 6.5 to 5.2 yppl as it ran 13 fewer plays.
UConn 20, Buffalo 17
After a scoreless first quarter Connecticut and Buffalo traded second quarter touchdowns with the Huskies regaining a seven-point lead that they would not give up until the Bulls scored the tying touchdown with 59 seconds remaining. The Huskies went 49 yards in 10 plays and kicked the game winning 44-yard field goal. Offense was not on display with Buffalo outgaining the Huskies 329-320 and the game featured 13 punts with the teams going a combined 9-28 on third down.
Baylor 45, Oklahoma State 27
The Bears never trailed but it was just a one possession game at the end of the third quarter before Baylor added a field goal and then went 89 yards in 10 plays for the final margin. The Cowboys were able to move the ball pretty consistently with 448 yards yet struggled in the second half but the defense was the real issue as they allowed 612 yards on 8.3 yppl including 393 yards through the air on 11.2 yards per attempt. The teams committed a combined 16 penalties for 160 yards.
Ole Miss 24, LSU 19
LSU forced two three and outs to open the game and following the second one, the Tigers went 67 yards to take a 7-0 lead and then the offense shut down. The Rebels made it 7-3 following an 18-play, 83-yard drive then the defense forced four punts and picked off a pass in the next five LSU possessions while the offense closed the first half with a pair of touchdowns and did not trail again. Mississippi outgained the Tigers 480-254 but ran 28 more plays and committed 14 penalties.
Ohio State 24, Washington 6
Washington struck first at the start of the second quarter with a field goal and got another three points late in the third quarter to make it a one possession game at 14-6 but the Buckeyes put up 10 points in two consecutive fourth quarter possessions. The Buckeyes outgained Washington 357-234 and 5.8 to 4.4 yppl and of those 234 yards, 134 came on the two field drives so the Huskies were shut down most of the day. Washington was just 2-14 on third and fourth down.
Indiana 20, Iowa 15
Indiana took a 7-0 lead as it intercepted an Iowa pass two plays into the game and scored two plays after from 24 yards out. The Hawkeyes rebounded with a field goal and a touchdown before the Hoosiers tied the game at 10-10 right before halftime. The teams traded fourth quarter field goals before Indiana scored on a 49-yard touchdown pass with 1:28 remaining. The Hoosiers outgained Iowa 337-284 and 5.4 to 4.1 yppl with the teams combining for only 2.8 ypc on the ground.
San Diego State 6, NIU 3
Each team went 63 yards on their opening possession and kicked field goals to make it 3-3 and then the offenses forgot how to perform. It was a game of punts and turnovers from there on out until the final possession of the game with the Aztecs kicking the game winning 23-yard field goal as time expired. Northern Illinois did not make it past the San Diego St. 44-yard line after the initial field goal and was held to 169 yards. The Aztecs had 266 yards, 134 on their first three possessions.
Northwestern 17, UCLA 14
Northwestern jumped out to a 17-0 lead and had to hold on with the offense being able to do nothing. UCLA rallied to make it a three-point game with 6:19 remaining then went three and out and was unable to move the ball after getting it back once again with 1:29 left from its own 20-yard line. The Wildcats had three punts and a missed field goal in the second half while outgaining the Bruins by only three yards overall and getting outgained 5.5 to 5.2 yppl but had just two penalties.
New Mexico 38, New Mexico State 20
New Mexico St. did not trail for the entire first half and took a 17-7 lead after returning a fumble 42 yards for a touchdown before the Lobos took over by going on a 31-3 run to close the game. The New Mexico offense was inconsistent early as in its first eight possessions, it had two touchdowns and a field goal but three 3 and outs, a fumble and a failed fourth down attempt before scoring on three straight possessions after that. The Lobos outgained the Aggies 476-304 and 6.9 to 4.5 yppl.
Hawaii 44, Air Force 35
Hawaii opened the game going 75 yards, Air Force responded by going 74 yards and the Warriors again went 75 yards to take a 14-7 lead and then stopped the Falcons on fourth down at the seven-yard line and never lost the lead. It was a 24-14 lead after three quarters until a 41-point fourth quarter where Air Force did make it a one possession game twice. Hawaii had the ball for 15 more minutes which led to a 78-47 edge in plays and a 535-494 edge in yards but was outgained 10.5 to 6.9 yppl.
Tulane 31, Tulsa 14
Tulane started the scoring with an opening drive touchdown and the teams traded touchdowns late into the second quarter before the Green Wave tacked on a field goal before halftime. Tulane put the game away with a third quarter touchdown as the defense clamped down in the second half, forcing five punts, picking off a pass and stopping Tulsa on fourth down. Tulane outgained the Golden Hurricane 437-337 and 5.8 to 4.6 yppl but was hurt by committing 12 penalties for 104 yards.
Tennessee 41, Mississippi State 34
This was a back and forth game throughout with Mississippi St. taking a 34-27 lead before Tennessee went 75 yards on 13 plays in 6:04 to tie the game with under two minutes remaining. The Bulldogs then went three and out while the Volunteers could not get past midfield and scored first in overtime before stopping Mississippi St. at the four-yard line. Tennessee won the yards 466-378 while running 14 fewer plays and it outgained the Bulldogs 6.5 to 4.4 yppl. Mississippi St. was just 8-19 on third down.