The Midnight Hour Quarterback: CFB Week 5 Review

Okay pigskinners, week five is in the books and it was mostly uneventful, seeing that there was only one matchup of Top 25 teams and there were few upsets. Yawwwwn. The best part about this weekend is that it's over. Interestingly, we're one month through the 2014 season. It's going quick here fans. Nonetheless, here's the best of the day in college football.

Best Win:

- Missouri.

Let this sink in first… Mizzou got beat by Indiana last week. Yes, Indiana. That's why the Tigers 21-20 come-from-behind win at South Carolina was so vital today. Imagine their psyche if they had lost to the Hoosiers and then lost the first game of SEC play? Ugh. For three quarters, the Black and Gold looked drab and old, getting just 181 total yards in offense. But then Maty Mauk got a hot hand, finding Bud Sasser and Wesley Leftwich for long passes in the 4th quarter, which set up a pair of Russell Hansbrough TD runs, the last of which came with 1:36 left. With the win, Mizzou takes a big step in the SEC East title chase. But of course, the best part of the win was that  Mauk was able to give Steve Spurrier a stout shove in the back when he was pushed to the sidelines on a scramble.

Worst Loss: 

- Michigan.

Oh, those Wolverines. Aye yaye-yaye. Today's 30-14 home loss to Minnesota saw the big Blue offense gain just 171 yards all day. Keep in mind, this is Minnesota's defense they were going against. We all know that Brady Hoke's seat is getting hotter by the week, but O-coordinator Doug Nussmeier should shoulder a large portion of the blame too. That is one punchless offense. Let's just assume the Michigan fans need a LOT of chugs off that little brown jug. 

Best Off-The-Radar Win:

- Fort Hays State.

The unranked Tigers entered their game at No. 8 Pittsburgh State having suffered 35 straight losses to the powerful Gorillas. But an FHSU thrown interception which turned into a strip-and-score for Tiger receiver Ed Williams for a touchdown in the first quarter would stand in a stunning 7-6 upset. The Gorillas came in averaging 475 yards and 38 points a game, but was held to 159 yards. The last time Fort Hays beat Pitt State was in 1976.

Offensive Player of the Day:

- Todd Gurley, Georgia

28 carries, 208 yards, 2TDs in 35-32 win vs. Tennessee

Old Silver Britches was in trouble all day vs. the gutty young Vols, but Gurley was the difference-maker by making key runs in key situations for his career-high rushing yards in a single game. Oh sure, his biggest run might've been the 51 yard TD burst to put the Bulldogs up 28-17, but his most important run was his four-yard gain on 4th-and-3 in the waning seconds. That run helped play keep-away from the Tennessee offense and sealed the game. 

Defensive Player of the Day(s): 

- Ishmael Adams, UCLA.

Going into the Thursday night game at No. 15 Arizona State, the Sun Devil coaches were adamant about the effect of Adams, claiming "We can't let Ishmael Adams get loose today." All Adams did was completely change the game with a 95 yard INT return for a touchdown. In the second half, Adams added a 100 yard kickoff for six. The Bruins ended up cruising to a 62-27 win.

Game of the Day:

- California 59, Colorado 56, 2OT.

Even if you were just a casual fan, this thrill-a-minute game never would've given you a chance to catch your breath. This track meet featured little defense and 1,200 plus yards of offense and fireworks worthy of the 4th of July. An FBS record was set as both quarterbacks had seven passing touchdowns in the contest. Cal's Sefo Liufau was 46-of-67 for 449 yards and his seven TDs. CU's Jared Goff went 23-of-41 for 449 yards and seven pitches to paydirt. Oddly, it was a Cal Bear defensive stand in the 2nd OT which helped catapult them to a win. Colorado had first and goal from the two-yard line but the Bears held on four straight tries. James Langford's 34 yard field goal gave Cal its first Pac 12 win since October 13th of 2012.  

Goat of the Day: 

- Dan Skipper, Arkansas O-Tackle.

Get this. Arkansas had a 28-14 lead in the 4th quarter and just got a 57-yard run to the A&M one yard line, which means a 35-14 lead could have been a doorslammer. But on the big run to the one, 6'10" O-Tackle Dan Skipper was called for a tripping call on an Aggie defender who had no chance at making the tackle. The big gain was called back after that 15-yard penalty. Then, after being stopped on a 3-and-out, A&M came back with an 86 yard TD pass and changed the game for good. Eventually the Aggies would go on to win it in OT 35-28. By the way, Bret Bielema-coached teams were 38-0 with a two touchdown lead in the 4th quarter before today.

Best Comeback:

- Washington State.

Most of the East Coast media had gone to visit the Sandman before the Cougars could make a 17-point halftime deficit turn into a 28-27 win at previously unbeaten Utah. The winning score came on a Connor Halliday 81-yard pitch-and-catch-and-run to Vince Mayle with just under five minutes remaining. This big comeback comes one week after Wazzu put a major league scare into No. 2 Oregon, losing 38-31. Keep an eye on the rejuvenated Coogs.

The Dreaded Glitch Award:

- ESPN showing Penn State-TCU helmets

Right before Penn State-Northwestern highlights were shown, the boys in Bristol had the Nittany Lions and Horned Frogs helmets propped up on the lighted stage. Northwestern? TCU? Eh what the hell, they both wear purple. So no biggie. 

Best Line:

- ESPN's David Pollack on the officials coddling of the QBs on poor late hit calls in Thursday's Texas Tech-Oklahoma State game, "I know the quarterbacks wear green no-contact jerseys in practice, but I didn't know they wore them in games too. This is ridiculous." 

The Jekyl & Hyde Award:

- Boston College

How can a team go from beating then-No. 9 USC to losing to Colorado State 24-21? It actually could've been even worse had Rams QB Garrett Grayson not thrown a pair of picks deep in Eagle territory early in the game. BC alums like Mark Herzlich, Mathias Kiwanuka and Andre Williams of the New York Giants were on the sidelines during the game and were last seen hiding their eyes from what was going on. 

The History Lesson: 

- Ivy Leaguers beat a 1A team.

Hosting Army at the venerable 100 year old Yale Bowl, the Bulldogs took the Black Knights to overtime, then beat them on a Tyler Varga three-yard TD plunge. That was part of Varga's 185 yard, five TD day from his running back position. But the biggest news was that this win was the first one for a team from the Ancient Eight over a D1A/FBS team since 1986. On October 18th of that year, Penn dumped Navy 30-26 on its way to a perfect 10-0 season.

Misleading Stat of the Day:

- Ohio Northern out-possessing Heidelberg 40:09 to 19:51.

In D3 action - emphasis on the word "action" - 23rd-ranked Heidelberg College barely had its hands on the ball all day, yet pulled off a resounding 69-52 win. In fact, their defense had to be complaining of scoring drives being too quick. QB Michael Mees was a man among boys, throwing for 410 yards with five TDs and zero picks and also running for 116 yards and a TD. Last seen, Mees was getting oxygen on the Yale sidelines. Much deserved bro.

In Case You Needed Reminding:

- USC's Song Girls are still worth the price of admission.

These pretty SoCal surfer girls helped USC beat Oregon State in a late night battle 35-10.