Winners and Losers: College football’s worst weekend lives up to its billing

We were promised a terrible weekend of football and we weren’t disappointed.

Yes, there were good games here and there, but unless you enjoy watching patsies get 70 points dropped on them, this weekend was pretty much a bust.

But there is good news – LSU coach Le Miles gave us this gem for the weekend:

And the weekend is over.

The weekends of terrible nonconference games are a thing of the past and we can now move forward with conference play.

If there’s one thing we can take from this weekend, it’s that offense reigns supreme. Four teams – Ohio State, Louisville, Baylor and Miami - scored more than 70 points on Saturday. Thirteen teams scored more than 50 points and 13 teams more than 40 points. And all these teams didn’t play lower-division opponents some of these are in conference play.

The increase of offense is a big win for fans who love to watch dazzling scoring plays and amazing runs and catches, but a big loss for defensive coordinators, who are doing all they can just to keep up.

Here are the rest of the winners and losers from the weekend:

WINNERS

Kansas: It’s been more than two years since Kansas could brag about a win over an FBS team – until Saturday. Matt Wyman’s 52-yard field goal as time expired gave the Jayhawks a 13-10 win over Louisiana Tech and snapped a 22-game losing streak to teams from the FBS. On the flipside, however, Kansas fans belong in our “Losers” section for rushing the field for a win against a 1-3 Louisiana Tech team. Hey, remember when Kansas was in the Orange Bowl?
**Some Kansas fans are refuting reports the field was rushed.

Baylor: Is this our favorite in the Big 12? Don't laugh, but the Baylor offense may be the best in the state of Texas and has a case for best in the country. The Bears put up 70 points on Louisiana-Monroe Saturday, and that was after a scoreless last 22 minutes. Running back Lache Seastrunk is averaging 11 yards per carry on the season, and Bryce Petty has tossed eight touchdowns.

Yeah, Baylor hasn't played anyone yet. But they've scored 69, 70 and 70 this season. That's an unmatched offensive resume, especially when you consider the below efficiency.

Texas: Mack Brown's stated team goal of winning the Big 12 is still on track. Is it enough to stop the printing thousands more Saban 2014 shirts?

Texas controlled Kansas State for a 31-21 win Saturday night to move to 2-2 on the season. The game was a little too close for many UT fans late -- Kansas State had the ball inside the Texas 10 with two minutes left -- but a Jake Waters fumble after he ran into a teammate sealed the deal for the Longhorns.

It wasn't a pretty win, and while Baylor is piling up the points, this is still a flawed Big 12. Texas still stacks up fourth at best if you're ranking the conference today, but the first win against Kansas State since 2003 goes a long way.

Steven Nelson: With Oregon State trailing by two with 2:30 to go in the fourth quarter and San Diego State with the ball, Nelson's role as cornerback would primarily be in run support, right? Nope. On second down, San Diego State drew up a pass play and Quinn Kaehler wildly overthrew his receiver on a quick stop route.

Nelson was there behind him, snatched the ball out of the air and waltzed into the end zone for a 34-30 Oregon State lead that would ultimately be the final score. The Beavers trailed most of the game, but came back with 20 fourth quarter points to win their third straight after losing the first week of the season against Eastern Washington.

Jeremy Hill: The LSU running back ran for two first quarter touchdowns and 184 yards in his second start of the season against Auburn Saturday night. After being suspended for a bar incident for the first game of the year against TCU, Hill has made the most of his return to the field. He’s totaled 351 yards on just 42 carries and has six touchdowns. With Hill bursting through the line and the improved play of Zach Mettenberger, LSU’s offense may be much better than we thought it would be.

BONUS WINNER

This photo was one of the best of the weekend as it showed the game-losing drop by Marshall receiver Davonte Allen during a three overtime loss to Virginia Tech.

LOSERS

West Virginia: Things are not good in Morgantown. The Mountaineers were shut out 37-0 against Maryland Saturday, the first time that coach Dana Holgorsen has been shut out at the D1 level either as an assistant or a head coach. Holgo has gone through three quarterbacks this season, Paul Millard, Clint Trickett and Ford Childress, and none have been effective. Childress got the call on Saturday and was a measly 11-22 for 68 yards and two interceptions. In a wide open Big 12, West Virginia looks like it's going to be at the bottom with Kansas and Iowa State.

Georgia ball boy: Things move fast in the Georgia offense, especially when the Bulldogs are facing a potential upset by North Texas. That’s why even the ball boys need to keep their heads on a swivel. Luckily for this guy, he appeared rattled, but unscathed.

Miami (Ohio): You have to take advantage of the times when your defense is pitching a shutout. The RedHawks didn’t do that. Miami held Cincinnati scoreless for 55 minutes, but once the Bearcats got into the end zone it was all over.

Why? Miami totaled a single net yard in the second half. One. It was a putrid offensive outing that failed to convert a single third down and resulted in 12 net yards rushing after five sacks on 28 carries. That’s 0.4 yards per carry. Cincinnati should almost be embarrassed the final score was just 14-0.

Braxton Miller: Ohio State’s star quarterback sat on the sideline – again – while backup Kenny Guiton took advantage of his opportunity to start and shined. Guiton threw an Ohio State record six touchdowns – by halftime. Miller has been on the bench nursing a strained MCL since Week 2 and in that time Guiton has been playing better and better and gaining a lot of momentum to be the starter.

While coach Urban Meyer said Miller, who was a Heisman Trophy candidate coming into the season, would not lose his starting spot to injury, you have to wonder how much leash he’ll get before Meyer turns back to Guiton.

Michigan State playcalling: Coach Mark Dantonio took the credit for a botched trick play late in the third quarter that ultimately led to Notre Dame scoring the game-winning touchdown early in the fourth quarter. With the offense rolling, Dantonio decided to put receiver R.J. Shelton in as a wildcat. Shelton threw the ball into double coverage and safety Matthias Farley picked him off.

“I felt like we needed a big play,” Dantonio said.

It was a big play all right. A big play that led to a 17-13 Notre Dame win.

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Nick Bromberg contributed to this post

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