College Football Weekend Recap: Nov 14, 2020

Each week we will have our recap of the weekend that was in college football. A quick look at the teams who impressed, the players who starred, some takeaway and final thoughts. A few big games and a few upsets highlighted the day. Here is our recap of the weekend that was in college football.

Teams That Impressed

Wisconsin

The Badgers were in this spot after their season opener, but then missed two weeks due to a Covid outbreak in the program. The team was in mid-season form and did not miss a beat against the Wolverines. Saturday night Wisconsin pummeled Michigan with a national audience watching.

In the season opener against Illinois, Wisconsin won behind big plays in the passing game. Against Michigan, it was the Wisconsin run game that dominated. The Badgers offensive line dominated at the line of scrimmage, getting good push at the point of attack and opening up big holes for the running backs. The strong play by the offensive line paved the way for 341 rushing yards on 51 carries and 5 touchdowns on the ground. Four different players ran for over 60 yards as the Badgers ran at will against the Wolverines. With the running game dominating the way it was, Wisconsin did not need to throw the ball much. Graham Mertz was not as sharp as he was in the season opener (a few weeks in quarantine can do that), but he got more comfortable as the game went on and made the plays he needed to. For the second year in a row, Wisconsin’s running game led the way for a blowout win against Michigan.

On the other side of the ball, Jim Leonhard’s defense suffocated the Michigan offense over four quarters. Michigan totaled 10 first downs for the game, converting just 3 of 11 third downs. The Badgers won at the line of scrimmage and shutdown the Michigan running attack, holding the Wolverines to 47 yards on 19 carries. The best part of the strong run defense? It did not come at the expense of the pass defense. The Badgers confused and harassed Joe Milton, forcing poor throws and poor decisions. Milton finished the game 9 of 19 for 98 yards with 2 interceptions. Wisconsin’s defense was a step ahead of the Michigan offense all game, they were quicker to the ball and more physical at the point of attack. It was clear midway through the first quarter that the defense was prepared for everything Michigan was going to throw at them.

Wisconsin has only played two games this season, but they have won both of those games convincingly. The Badgers are still breaking in several new starters in key roles on offense and should continue to get better as the season moves forward. They travel to Northwestern next week for a game that could decide the winner of the Big Ten West.

Indiana

Indiana has been on a mission to prove last season’s success was not a fluke but a stepping stone to reach new heights. The Hoosiers already beat Penn State, Rutgers and Michigan and have a big game coming up against Ohio State next week. It was possible they would overlook Michigan State sandwiched between a win over Michigan and a showdown with Ohio State, but Indiana took care of business with a 24 – 0 shutout.

Indiana’s defense played it’s best game of the season against Michigan State. Not only did Indiana shutout the Spartans’ offense, they made it nearly impossible for Michigan State to move the ball. Michigan State had 12 possessions in the game and gained more than 31 yards on just one of them. Six drives ended in a turnover or a turnover on downs. Michigan State never had any momentum and could not move the ball with any consistency. Indiana allowed 191 yards and just 9 first downs on Saturday, rendering the Michigan State offense completely ineffective. Micah McFadden and Jerome Johnson both had two sacks a piece and Tiawan Mullen intercepted two passes, while Reece Taylor added an interception of his own. The Hoosiers defense got big plays from several players and made life difficult for Michigan State’s offense.

Indiana’s offense had a good first half scoring 24 points by halftime, but slowed down in the second half with a big lead. Michael Penix led the way for the Hoosiers with 320 passing yards and two touchdowns. Indiana has a few weapons for him at receiver, but Ty Fryfogle was the one who put on a show against Michigan State, catching 11 passes for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns. The offensive line did a good job of protecting Penix, allowing just one sack on the day. Indiana did not overwhelm with their offense on Saturday, but they scored enough and controlled the game, moving the chains and holding a two to one advantage in time of possession and running 77 plays to Michigan State’s 51. Even though they seemed to ease up some in the second half, Indiana did enough offensively to win comfortably.

Indiana is 4 – 0 headed into a showdown with Ohio State that is likely to decide the Big Ten East championship. The Hoosiers have elevated themselves further in 2020 and will attempt to beat the reigning Big Ten champions next week.

Stars From The Weekend

QB – Kyle Trask, Florida

Florida’s offense has been scoring at a rabid pace and Kyle Trask has been the conductor of the explosive unit. Trask has put up impressive numbers on a weekly basis and Saturday night was just another excellent performance for the Florida quarterback. He completed 23 of 29 passes for 356 yards and 6 touchdowns, with no interceptions. He threw touchdowns to four different receivers and had five receivers with over 30 receiving yards in the game. Despite being without his star tight end, Kyle Pitts, Trask was able to find open receivers and march the offense up and down the field against Arkansas. Trask played well in 2019, but has taken his game to a new level in 2020, showing quicker decision making and better accuracy on his throws. The Florida offense has been unstoppable, Kyle Trask is the main reason why.

RB – Chris Rodriguez – Kentucky

Kentucky played a closer than expected game against Vanderbilt but held on for the win 38 – 35. Rodriguez only had 13 carries for the Wildcats, but made the most of those opportunities, running for 149 yards and 2 touchdowns. Rodriguez leads the team in rushing and has proven himself as a consistent powerful runner who has big play potential. He scored both of his touchdowns in the second half, the latter a 74 yard run through the defense that gave Kentucky a 17 point lead with less than 10 minutes to play. Rodriguez is an excellent fit behind the Kentucky offensive line, he has the burst to get through the holes they provide quickly and then can overpower or run past second level defenders. Kentucky mixes in several running backs so Rodriguez does not get a full load of carries, but hes been making them count when he gets them.

WR – Elijah Moore, Mississippi

Elijah Moore has had a big year for Mississippi and is the go-to receiver for quarterback Matt Corral. Against South Carolina, Moore was brilliant once again. He caught 13 passes for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns and ran the ball 6 times for another 45 yards. Moore had more receiving yards than the next three receivers on his team combined, leading the way for a pass offense that totaled over 500 yards in the game. Moore scored both of his touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the first of which was a 91 yard reception that put the Rebels ahead 45 – 42 with 12 minutes to play. Mississippi fans have become accustomed to Moore’s electric play, with his performance Saturday he has gone over 1,000 receiving yards on the season.

DE – Jaelan Phillips, Miami

Miami picked up a hard fought win against Virginia Tech, 25 – 24. Phillips terrorized the Virginia Tech offense throughout the game and Miami needed every one of his big plays to hold off the Hokies. Phillips recorded 8 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks against Virginia Tech, creating negative plays that put the Hokies offense behind schedule. Phillips was a riser in our recent defensive end rankings update, but he continues to progress every week and could be in line for another bump. His improved technique was on display Saturday, as he beat the Virginia Tech offensive line with an array of moves and his excellent athleticism. Phillips has become a star for the Hurricanes in his first season as starter and will only continue to get better with experience.

LB – Micah McFadden, Indiana

McFadden was a leader for the Indiana defense against Penn State. The junior linebacker was relentless in pursuit for the Hoosiers, making several plays in the Penn State backfield. He recorded 9 tackles with 3 tackles for loss and 2 sacks in the game but also created plays for his teammates. McFadden was excellent blitzing up the middle and was able to create pressure, getting a sack and creating chances for teammates. He also did a good job of pursuing plays to the outside and closing quickly on the ball. McFadden was one of a few players that excelled for the Hoosiers against Michigan State leading to a shutout victory for Indiana.

Notre Dame Keeps Rolling

Notre Dame followed up their double overtime win over Clemson with a convincing win against a scrappy Boston College team. Coming off the big win over Clemson, the Irish could have overlooked Boston College a bit, but Brian Kelly kept his team focused and got the 45 – 31 win.

Boston College started the game well and jumped out to a 10 – 3 lead. But it quickly became apparent that the Irish had just slowed themselves down early, the offensive line played well and Ian Book had the time to pick apart the over-matched Boston College defense. Book threw three touchdowns and almost 300 yards, he also led the team with 85 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. The offense spread the ball around and had four players run for more than 30 yards and four players over 30 yards receiving. Boston College could not account for all of Notre Dame’s weapons and the game snowballed quickly.

Notre Dame is now 8 – 0 and in first place in the ACC and in great position to make the conference championship game. The North Carolina game is the toughest regular season game remaining on the schedule and a win for the Irish would effectively eliminate the Tar Heels from contention in the ACC. Notre Dame has a talented roster that has progressed over the course of the season. Early in the season the running game and defense were carrying the team, since then the passing game has gotten more explosive helping the offense become more balanced. This is Notre Dame’s first and possibly only season in the ACC and the Irish are making it a memorable one.

Northwestern Grabs A Key Win

Coming into the weekend there were three undefeated teams in the Big Ten West. Wisconsin crushed Michigan and got to 2 – 0, while Northwestern and Purdue battled one another. Northwestern played sound defense and got enough plays from their offense to secure a 27 – 20 win to maintain their unblemished record.

Northwestern has been strong defensively all season, holding all four of their opponents to 20 points or less. The Wildcats rank second in the conference in scoring defense and total defense in 2020 and have had several players deliver big plays this season. On Saturday it was the linebackers who shined; Chris Bergin, Paddy Fisher and Blake Gallagher were the top three tacklers for the team and each was credited with at least half a tackle for loss. Fisher also recovered a fumble, picking up the one turnover the defense forced against Purdue. Northwestern plays disciplined defense with all eleven players doing their job, making the offense work for every yard. When Northwestern is good, the defense leads the way, that’s certainly happening in 2020.

Northwestern grinds out games on offense and makes enough big plays to get the win. They may not run the ball well every game but their commitment to the run game shows the physical nature and perseverance the team has. Saturday, the Wildcats ran the ball 40 times, despite only averaging two yards per carry against Purdue. Quarterback, Peyton Ramsey has fit in perfectly with his new team, showing the creativity and playmaking ability Northwestern needed from the position. Ramsey always seems to have one more play in him to get his team down the field and put points on the board. That’s been the story for Northwestern the last three weeks, they just seem to have one more big play in them than their opponent.

Closing Stats

• Northwestern held Purdue to 2 rushing yards on 17 carries (0.1 yards per carry).

• Wisconsin ran for 341 yards on 51 carries against Michigan (6.7 yards per carry).

• Wisconsin held Michigan to 47 rushing yards on 19 carries (2.5 yards per carry).

• Indiana only allowed 9 first downs against Michigan State.

• Indiana held Michigan State to 131 passing yards.

• Kentucky ran for 308 yards on 35 carries against Vanderbilt (8.8 yards per carry).

• Kentucky did not allow a sack or tackle for loss against Vanderbilt.

• Florida totaled 36 first downs against Arkansas.

• Florida converted 9 of 12 third downs against Arkansas.

• South Carolina ran for 318 yards on 39 carries against Mississippi (8.2 yards per attempt).

• Mississippi totaled 708 yards on 80 total plays against South Carolina (8.8 yards per play).

• Mississippi converted all four of their fourth down tries against South Carolina.

• Minnesota held Iowa to 111 passing yards.

• Iowa did not allow a sack against Minnesota.

• UCLA held California to 54 rushing yards on 28 carries (1.9 yards per attempt).

• North Carolina gained 742 yards of offense on 83 plays against Wake Forest (8.9 yards per play).

• Illinois ran for 338 yards on 59 carries against Rutgers (5.7 yards per carry).

• Louisville ran for 317 yards on 39 carries against Virginia (8.1 yards per attempt).

• Notre Dame did not allow a sack against Boston College.

For more content like this don’t forget to subscribe to our website.

For the latest content follow us on twitter @saturdayscfb & @cfbsaturdaysC or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CFBSaturday

Nakia Watson UW Badgers vs UM Wolverines Image taken by Bely Medved is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.