College Football 2015: Week 12 heroes

Another crazy week of college football, with three teams falling from the ranks of the unbeaten. Who covered themselves in glory?

Michigan State
Topping the list is the team who topped the number one Ohio State Buckeyes 17-14 in dramatic fashion in Columbus.

I honestly didn’t think the Spartans had the depth and talent, due to some key injuries. But I was wrong – and I don’t mind admitting it. This was a good win on the road without starting quarterback Connor Cook, a triumph in the trenches. Like so many other big Michigan State wins of recent times.

Following today’s triumph, the Spartans must beat Penn State to clinch the Big Ten East and get set for a match-up against currently undefeated Iowa for the Big Ten Championship. There’s also hope as far as a College Football Playoff berth goes. Of course, that loss to Nebraska – one that should never have been, thanks Big Ten officiating team – is going to hurt, but their victory over Oregon looks better every week.

All in all, not a bad year for the Spartans, who have beaten both Ohio State and Michigan, and led in those games for hardly more than a few seconds. It’s a funny game, sometimes!

Vernon Adams Jr
The finally healthy Oregon quarterback tore the USC defence to shreds at Autzen Stadium, throwing for six touchdowns – all of them coming from at least 20 yards away, an all-time record against USC. It was a performance for the ages.

His early interception was about the only blemish on a career day that shows any doubters that, yes, Adams can complete at FBS level, after lighting up the FCS with regularity. After a slow start to the season, Oregon are looking scary-dangerous again.

Baylor
The Bears, who won their first game in Stillwater since the first year of World War Two, 1939, deserve a lot of credit, roaring back with a vengeance after last week’s disappointing home loss to Oklahoma. They turned in a brilliant performance on both sides of the football to defeat the previously-undefeated Oklahoma State 45-35.

Really, the game wasn’t as close as the final score would suggest. Baylor were pretty much dominant in this one, only one yard shy of rolling up 700 yards of total offence. OK State just couldn’t keep up.

Northwestern
Another big win for the Wildcats, this one on the road at Wisconsin, where they haven’t won since the year 2000. The win came on the back of a 139-yard, one touchdown performance from back Justin James. They broke a five-game Wisconsin win streak, forcing five Badger turnovers. Another solid win for the Wildcats, heading into a big game against Illinois at Soldier Field next weekend.

Connecticut
The Huskies dealt Houston their first loss of the season, winning 20-17 chiefly thanks to forcing four Cougar turnovers.

Brandon Ross
The Maryland running back amassed a mammoth 250 yards on the ground – scoring touchdowns on runs of 79, 22 and 75 yards – and was the only bright spot for Maryland, who led early and were run down by Indiana.

Beniquez Brown
A great name and a great special teams play by the Mississippi State player who blocked a field goal attempt to preserve the Bulldogs’ wild 51-50 win over Arkansas.

UCLA
Went into Salt Lake City and beat a ranked Utah squad, 17-9. That sets up a mouthwatering clash against their chief rivals, USC, to decide who wins the Pac-12 South and punches a ticket to the conference’s championship game.

Oklahoma
After Oklahoma State’s loss, the Sooners had to withstand a furious TCU rally and hold the Horned Frogs out of the end zone on a two-point conversion that likely would’ve given them a memorable win. Instead, it’s Oklahoma who scores the memorable win, and they’re still alive in the College Football Playoff race. Barely! Such is life in the Big XII this year.

Air Force
Despite turning the football over four times, the Falcons outlasted Boise State 37-30 in Boise on Friday night, handing the Broncos their second straight loss in a row at home, something that hasn’t happened since 1997. The Falcons can now get to the Mountain West Championship Game with a win next week.

Most amazingly for a program that executes the triple option run offence so well, is that the Falcons did most of their damage through the air. Quarterback Karson Roberts threw for 279 yards and two big touchdowns.

The Citadel
The FCS squad – with perhaps the best-named school at any level of college football – went on the road and beat South Carolina 23-22, for their first win against an FBS team in 28 attempts. Running back Tyler Renew was the hero, running for 174 yards and two touchdowns. A remarkable day for this team.

Jim McElwain
With an ugly win over Florida Atlantic, the Florida head coach became the first man in program history to record a 10-win season in his debut year. Their biggest test is yet to come, an SEC Championship tilt.

Kansas State
The Wildcats were down and out, trailing 35-14 to Iowa State. It looked like curtains. Then a funny thing happened: Bill Snyder’s men rallied, and rallied some more, and then Jack Cantele nailed a 42-yard field goal to win a game that looked unwinnable. K-State needed that one, really badly.