Offensive Player of the Week – Not a starter for Alabama. Not a problem. Jalen Hurts, playing his first game as Oklahoma’s quarterback, had one of the greatest games in Sooners history. He completed 20 of 23 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, and ran 16 times for 176 yards (11 yards per carry) and three more scores in the win over Houston. That’s 508 total yards, responsible for six touchdowns. How about three consecutive Heismans for Oklahoma?
Defensive Player of the Week – Head coach Mack Brown’s first game back at North Carolina is one that Myles Wolfolk will never forget. The junior defensive back had three tackles and three assists. He sealed the 24-20 upset win by intercepting South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley twice in the last three drives, the last one with 1:43 remaining at the Tar Heels 26-yard line.
Upset of the Week – Georgia State, which started its football program eight years ago, played at Tennessee, a school that started its football program 128 years ago. The best team won – 25-point underdog Georgia State, which won just two games in 2018. The Panthers, members of the Sun Belt Conference, had more first downs, held the Vols to 93 yards rushing and built a 15-point lead before winning, 38-30. “I’m disgusted to be honest,” said UT quarterback Jarrett Guarantano, who was sacked four times in the humiliating loss.
Quote of the Week – “It was earth to Houston. Houston to earth. There was nobody up there.” … Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy after Cowboys’ assistant coaches were stuck in the stadium elevator on the way back up to the press box after halftime of his team’s 52-36 win over Oregon State in Corvallis on Friday.
Inside Scoop – It was ugly for several Southeastern Conference teams. Ole Miss lost for the second consecutive year to Memphis. The score was close, but not the stats. The Tigers doubled the Rebels in total yards and held the ball for about 39 minutes. … Mack Brown, back for the second time as North Carolina head coach, won his 70th game as Tar Heel head coach with the comeback win over South Carolina. … Missouri, picked as an SEC East darkhorse led by former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant, lost to Wyoming, picked near the bottom of the Mountain West. … That wasn’t the only big Mountain West win. Boise State, forced by Hurricane Dorian to play in Tallahassee rather than on a neutral field, trailed Florida State, 31-13, midway through the second quarter before scoring 23 consecutive points in a 36-31 win. … It was much the same for conference member Nevada. The Wolf Pack trailed Purdue of the Big Ten, 31-14, midway through the third quarter before scoring 20 consecutive points in a 34-31 win. The final points came from a 56-yard field goal with 36 seconds remaining.
