Georgia-Alabama delivered on the hype. However the greatest recreation of the 2024 faculty soccer season wasn’t the one recreation this weekend that left our heads spinning.
So, strap your leather-based helmet on and dive in, as a result of we’re tackling Week 5’s winners and losers.
Winner: Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe
Milroe was unbelievable in a Heisman-worthy efficiency for Related Press No. 4 Alabama (4-0, 1-0 in SEC) towards No. 2 Georgia (3-1, 1-1 in SEC) in Week 5’s marquee recreation.
In the course of the first half of a 41-34 thriller, Milroe was 18-of-20 for 186 yards, one landing and an interception. He added 106 yards and two touchdowns on 9 carries.
As Fox Sports activities faculty soccer insider Bruce Feldman wrote on social media, Milroe’s 305 yards by way of two quarters had been “greater than half of the whole yards Georgia has allowed (606) in its first three video games mixed.”
Arguably Milroe’s greatest play was on a fourth-and-one from the Georgia 35-yard line when he discovered the sting and accelerated down the sideline to provide the Tide a 28-0 lead.
Georgia had an unimaginable comeback, however Milroe capped Bama’s win with a 75-yard landing go to freshman Ryan Williams.
With the way in which Milroe performed, he might turn into the primary quarterback since Joe Burrow (2019 LSU) to win the Heisman and nationwide championship in the identical season.
Loser: Ole Miss
This was purported to be Ole Miss’ 12 months. The Rebels (4-1, 0-1 in SEC) added one of many high switch portal lessons and returned Heisman contender Jaxson Dart at quarterback. As a substitute, Lane Kiffin’s squad flinched on the first signal of strain, dropping to Kentucky (3-2, 1-2 in SEC) 20-17 within the Rebels’ first take a look at this season.
Harder SEC video games lie forward, making Ole Miss’ residence loss as a 15.5-point favourite a troubling signal for what’s to return.
Winner: Massive 12’s new blood
The Massive 12’s additions over the previous two seasons are taking the convention by storm. BYU (5-0, 2-0 in Massive 12) is tied atop the Massive 12 standings after Saturday’s win at Baylor (2-3, 0-2 in Massive 12), 34-28.
Colorado (4-1, 2-0 in Massive 12) matched its 2023 win complete with one of the best win of the Deion Sanders, a 48-21 romp over beforehand undefeated UCF (3-1, 1-1 in Massive 12).
Loser: Cheerleaders being your greatest tacklers
Auburn (2-3, 0-2 in SEC) blew an 11-point lead at residence in a 27-21 loss to No. 21 Oklahoma (4-1, 1-1 in SEC), its third at Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2024.
Primarily based on how Sooners freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. ran over the Tigers, they could wish to provide one cheerleader a scholarship.
As Oklahoma entered the sector earlier than the sport, an Auburn cheerleader flipped right into a Sooners participant, flattening him on the turf.
In his first collegiate begin, Hawkins was 10-of-15 for 161 yards with 14 carries, 69 yards and a speeding landing.
That Auburn cheerleader’s tackling kind wants work, however that is the kind of effort the Tigers wanted extra of towards the Sooners.
Winner: Divorce legal professionals in Alabama
Attorneys in Alabama is perhaps lining up for a brand new shopper. Throughout ESPN’s “Faculty GameDay” reside from Tuscaloosa, one man set himself up for 18 years of kid help funds with a confession he most likely ought to have stored to himself.
“My spouse is having a child, however I select to be right here,” learn the signal.
That future episode of “Divorce Court docket” might be must-watch tv.
Loser: Enjoying on Peacock
Saturday served as a warning for faculty soccer followers. In case your favourite crew is taking part in on Peacock, save your self the $7.99 a month.
In Nebraska’s 28-10 win over Purdue (1-3, 0-1 in Massive Ten), the groups mixed to overlook 4 first-half area targets, together with three from Nebraska (4-1, 1-1 in Massive Ten). The Cornhuskers and Boilermakers additionally mixed for a staggering 24 penalties for 259 yards.
No. 15 Louisville’s 31-24 loss to No. 16 Notre Dame (4-1) featured a comedy of errors, starting with a fumble by the Combating Irish on the opening kickoff, adopted by two extra fumbles (one by every crew), a snap going over Louisville punter Brady Hodges’ head and the Cardinals turning the ball over on downs.
The nightcap, No. 3 Ohio State’s 38-7 win over Michigan State (3-2, 1-1 in Massive Ten), did not disappoint. The Spartans had a turnover on downs on their first possession. Later, back-to-back drives ended with a Michigan State fumble and an Ohio State interception.
Winner: UNLV
A tumultuous week that included former beginning quarterback Mathew Sluka leaving this system as a consequence of an NIL dispute culminated with the Rebels asserting their place atop the Mountain West.
UNLV (4-0, 1-0 in MWC) defeated Fresno State (3-1, 1-1 in MWC) 59-14. Quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams was an enchancment over Sluka, going 13-of-16 for 182 yards and three touchdowns whereas including 12 carries for 119 yards and one other landing.
The Rebels improved to 4-0 for the primary time since becoming a member of Division I soccer in 1978, in keeping with ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”
Loser: Celebrating “almost” stopping 75-yard touchdowns
UCF vast receiver RJ Harvey scored a 75-yard landing towards Colorado in a 48-21 loss, however social media accounts had been too mesmerized by Colorado vast receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter nearly tackling him to note.
Hunter, a professional Heisman contender, did lots of unimaginable issues on Saturday, together with scoring a landing and intercepting a go. We need not fawn over the performs he does not make.
Winner: LSU operating again Caden Durham
Throughout a season dominated by freshman vast receivers Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) and Ryan Williams (Alabama), LSU operating again Caden Durham has rapidly established himself as one of many Tigers’ most harmful offensive weapons.
He scored a landing 24 seconds into the sport on LSU’s first offensive play, taking a swing go from quarterback Garrett Nussmeier 71 yards to the top zone. Per LSU Athletics common content material supervisor Todd Politz, it was the primary opening-play landing by the Tigers since a 15-yard speeding landing from former operating again Dalton Hilliard in 1982.
On LSU’s subsequent play, Durham gained 86 yards on a run up the center of South Alabama’s protection, almost scoring a landing however being dominated down contained in the one-yard line.
Durham completed the 42-10 win with 10 touches, 217 yards and two touchdowns.
You did not suppose we might let Florida State (1-4, 1-3 in ACC) escape its 42-16 loss at SMU (4-0, 1-0 in ACC) with out discover, did you?
The Mustangs dominated, outgaining the Noles 467-297, together with a 213-75 benefit on the bottom.
Florida State quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei was 12-of-30 for 222 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Mike Norvell’s squad solely wants three extra losses to overlook a bowl recreation, and with video games towards No. 17 Clemson (3-1, 2-0 in ACC), No. 7 Miami (5-0, 1-0 in ACC) and No. 16 Notre Dame remaining, a seven-loss season looks like a secure guess.