After a quiet Week 2, six ranked teams lost in Week 3 to cause a major shake-up in the AP Top 25 poll.
Alabama holds on against Ole Miss
The top-ranked team in the nation proved its worth with a gritty 48-43 comeback victory against Ole Miss. Down 24-3 on the road with fewer than three minutes left in the first half, Alabama was on the ropes against the 19th-ranked Rebels. But the Crimson Tide did not back down and scored two quick touchdowns, including an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown by Eddie Jackson, which cut Ole Miss' lead to seven and gave the momentum back to Alabama before halftime.
The Crimson Tide took over in the second half, outscoring the Rebels 31-19, with 14 points coming on two defensive touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, Ole Miss mounted a late rally but saw a chance to avenge a Week 1 loss to Florida State slip through their fingertips. The Rebels dropped four spots to No. 23 after the loss, and Alabama held on to its No. 1 ranking.
Louisville demolishes Florida State's playoff hopes
After being picked by many as an early-season playoff contender, it would take a miracle for Florida State to stay in the conversation after the drubbing the Seminoles took from Louisville Saturday. Quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Cardinals ran over Florida State in a 63-20 victory, outrushing the Seminoles 314-171. Jackson racked up 146 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, including a 47-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.
The loss was a major blow for the second-ranked Seminoles, who allowed a program-worst 63 points to the Cardinals and plummeted to No. 13 in the rankings. On the other hand, Louisville’s football program continues to rise. With the 43-point victory, the Cardinals shot up to No. 3 in the AP poll. In addition, Louisville became just the second team in FBS history to score 60 points in each of its first three games of the season.
California gets first win against a ranked team in almost four years
Texas reappeared on the national stage following a double-overtime victory against Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., in Week 1, but this time, they fell victim to an upset at the hands of California Saturday night. Although the Longhorns put up more than 40 points for the third straight week, Texas’ defense could not contain quarterback Davis Webb and the Golden Bears. Webb led the charge in Berkeley, Calif., with 396 passing yards and four touchdowns. After trailing for most of the evening, California took the lead on a quarterback sneak by Webb early in the fourth quarter.
With the win, the Golden Bears avenged a heartbreaking loss at San Diego State last week and got themselves moving back in the right direction. But if they want continued success, they will have to find a way to stop opposing offenses from scoring, as they have allowed opponents to score more than 30 points in each of their first three games of 2016. California is still on the outside looking in at the top 25, and Texas dropped 10 spots to No. 21.
North Dakota State squeezes past Iowa with last second field goal
For the first time this year, a ranked FBS team has lost to an FCS opponent. North Dakota State stunned No. 13 Iowa 23-21 when Cam Pederson’s 37-yard field goal put North Dakota State ahead as time expired, giving the Bison their sixth consecutive victory against an FBS opponent.
Although the Hawkeyes never trailed in the second half until the final play, they struggled mightily throughout. Iowa was outgained 363-231 and was the inferior side in the running game, rushing for just 34 yards as the North Dakota State racked up 239 yards on the ground. This loss will need to serve as a wake-up call for the Hawkeyes, who tumbled out of the rankings and enter Big Ten play on the road next week against Rutgers.
Remarkable catch propels Ohio State past Oklahoma
With six seconds left in the first half, Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett threw a 21-yard pass to the end zone to wide receiver Noah Brown, who pinned the ball against Oklahoma defensive back Michiah Quick's back and controlled the ball to the ground for a touchdown.
Are you kidding?!
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 18, 2016
Noah Brown with the FILTHY Touchdown catch for @OhioStateFB! #OSUvsOU
https://t.co/3KVgmKjYQW
The catch capped an electric first half offensively for the Buckeyes and put them in front 35-17 heading into the locker room before they coasted to a 45-24 victory. Barrett threw four touchdown passes to Brown and Ohio State returned one of Sooner quarterback Baker Mayfield's two interceptions for a touchdown as the Buckeyes were in control throughout the game. Ohio State moved up one spot to No. 2 in the rankings, and Oklahoma—which started the season ranked third with playoff aspirations—is now No. 25 after a 1-2 start.
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Digital Strategy Director for Vol. 115, Michael was previously Sports Editor for Vol. 114 and Assistant Blue Zone Editor for Vol. 113. Michael is a senior majoring in Statistical Science and is interested in data analytics and using data to make insights.