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Inside the Boxscores Week 2 Part 2

Inside the Boxscores is a weekly article by Matt Fargo that has been widely recognized as the best summary of college football. Take an in-depth look at each game and extract the most relevant information that will help you in future handicap games. College football is full of wacky plays, tricky scores, and unexpected endings. Fargo takes you inside the action.

(9) STATE OF FLORIDA 24 Troy 17

The Seminoles’ offense struggled once again, generating only 381 total yards, but it was the running game that was most disappointing. Florida St. rushed for just 45 yards on 28 carries (1.6 ypc). Troy actually led this game with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter before the Seminoles tied the game and then took the lead following an interception. The Trojans rushed for just 24 yards on 14 carries (1.7 ypc).

MARYLAND 24 Middle Tennessee 10

Middle Tennessee outscored the Terrapins 321-274 but the Blue Raiders couldn’t execute when needed. They committed three turnovers and also turned the ball over twice. Maryland also had its share of errors, including two missed field goals. Middle Tennessee dominated the time of possession, but the Terrapins dominated field position as their average start was at their own 42-yard line.

SAN JOSE ST 35 Stanford 34

San Jose St. overcame a 20-point deficit by scoring the final 21 points for the unlikely victory. After scoring the go-ahead touchdown midway through the third quarter, the Spartans’ defense went big with two turnovers and two forced punts. All three of Stanford’s turnovers occurred in Spartan territory and all came in the second half. San Jose St. rushed for 342 yards on 49 carries (7.0 ypc).

Indiana 24 STATE BALL 23

Ball St. blew a 16-point halftime lead when the offense shut down completely after the break. The Cardinals had only 110 yards of offense in the second half and a missed field goal proved to be the difference. Indiana scored touchdowns on its first two drives of the second half and then hit the game-winning field goal early in the fourth quarter. The Hoosiers held Ball St. to 41 rushing yards on 22 carries (1.9 ypc).

(6) LSU 45 Arizona 3

LSU dominated from the start, outscoring the Wildcats 461-152, while Arizona didn’t get on the board until their final series of the game. The Tigers entered Arizona territory in 10 of their 11 series and the score could have been worse as LSU committed three turnovers in three straight series. The Wildcats crossed midfield just once in the first half and finished with just 38 total yards.

ARKANSAS 20 Utah State 0

Arkansas had 457 yards of offense, including 279 rushing yards on 38 carries (7.3 ypc). The Razorbacks had two drives totaling 159 yards in which no points were scored due to a fumble and a missed field goal. Utah St. punted on his first 10 possessions of the game and ended up turning the ball over on attempts at the Arkansas 7-yard line on his last drive. The Aggies’ average starting field position was their own 18-yard line.

(21) CALIFORNIA 42 Minnesota 17

Minnesota drove for 71 yards on its first possession to take an early lead, but then California took over. The Golden Bears outscored the Gophers 522-281 the rest of the way and the only other touchdown allowed was on a kickoff return. After that, California opened the tie game by outscoring Minnesota 28-3. California dominated the time of possession and went 10-15 on third- and fourth-down conversions.

HOUSTON 45 Tulane 7

Houston outscored Tulane 621-224 and dominated the running game, gaining 244 yards on 35 carries (7.0 ypc) while holding Green Wave to 55 yards on 23 carries (2.4 ypc). The Cougars turned the ball over twice inside Tulane territory while also turning the ball over twice. Green Wave managed to gain just 84 total yards on his last nine possessions.

STATE OF IOWA 16 UNLV 10

The Cyclones outscored UNLV 340-292 but the Rebels missed chances for victory. UNLV missed a 23-yard field goal late in the third quarter and then had a chance to win the game by putting together a 69-yard drive in 16 plays, but fell short when time expired. A completed pass was ruled out of the end zone on the last play of the game. The Rebels finished with just 74 rushing yards on 31 carries (2.4 ypc).

KANSAS 21 UL-Monroe 19

The Warhawks outscored Kansas 466-377 and a failed two-point conversion was the ultimate difference. After La-Monroe pulled within two points late in the fourth quarter, the Jayhawks were able to run out time and not return the ball. Kansas limited the Warhawks to 51 yards on 23 carries (2.2 ypc) but allowed 377 receiving yards. All three of Kansas’ touchdown drives were 80 yards.

NORTH TEXAS 24 EMS 6

North Texas only outscored SMU by 43 yards when Mean Green started the scoring by blocking a punt for a touchdown. The Mustangs were able to put in some decent runs, but entered the red zone only once. North Texas used ball control to keep the ball away from SMU as they won the TOP battle by over 17 minutes. A Mustang fumble late in the fourth quarter set up North Texas’s final game-ending touchdown.

(13) TENNESSEE 31 Air Force 30

Air Force came close to causing an upset, but the failed two-point conversion cost them the win. The Falcons trailed by two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter, but ran 78 yards to close within seven and then recovered the onside kick. It only took them another minute to add the final score. Air Force finished with 281 rushing yards on 51 carries (5.5 ypc) while Tennessee only had 79 yards on 32 carries (2.5 ypc).

TEXAS A&M 51 UL Lafayette 7

The Aggies outscored La-Lafayette 496-171 while leading 26-10 at first down. Texas A&M was inside the Cajuns’ red zone on their first nine possessions and scored eight times, the only exception being a missed 32-yard field goal. La-Lafayette crossed midfield just twice and finished with just 17 passing yards on 2-12 passing. The Aggies went 10-15 on third- and fourth-down conversions.

WESTERN MICH 31 Toledo 10

Toledo actually outscored the Broncos 306-261, but the Rockets were plagued by four turnovers that led to 14 points. One of those touchdowns for Western Michigan was a 92-yard interception return that turned a potential three-point lead by Toledo into an 11-point deficit. The Rockets have had three turnovers in their last four series. The Broncos limited Toledo to 88 rushing yards on 32 carries (2.8 ypc).

UAB 17 East Carolina 12

The Pirates nearly won this game, but a fumble at the Blazers’ five-yard line with 1:12 remaining cost them the win. East Carolina outscored UAB 376-323 but that fumble coupled with an interception in Blazers territory and two short field goals made the difference. 10 of UAB’s points came from turnovers, but the Blazers also shot themselves in the foot with two fumbles inside the East Carolina seven-yard line.

SOUTH FLORIDA 21 Florida International 20

Florida International kept this one close with defense and special teams as they scored touchdowns on a punt return and an interception return. The Golden Panthers had a 13-point lead, but the Bulls scored the last two touchdowns and the last one was facilitated by a fumble recovery. Florida International got the ball back but was unable to move. An extra point missed on the Golden Panthers’ first score was the difference.

State of Oklahoma 35 STATE OF ARKANSAS 7

Oklahoma St. limited the Indians to just 188 total yards and kept their offense out of the end zone. Arkansas St.’s only touchdown came on a 51-yard interception return for the game’s first touchdown. After going scoreless in the first quarter, the Cowboys scored touchdowns on their next four possessions to end the game. Arkansas St. had just 78 yards passing on 7-19 passes.

KANSAS STATE 45 Florida Atlantic 0

Kansas St. only had 346 yards of offense, but he opened the game by returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Three of the Wildcats’ six scoring drives were 27 yards or less, while 17 of their points came from the Owls’ failed fourth-down conversions. Florida Atlantic finished with just 200 total yards, including 59 rushing yards on 42 carries (1.4 ypc). The Owls won the TOP battle by 11 minutes but also committed 12 penalties.

(10) Georgia 18 SOUTH CAROLINA 0

The Bulldogs outscored South Carolina 387-255 and held the Gamecocks to just 35 rushing yards on 22 carries (1.6 ypc). South Carolina had plenty of chances, but turned the ball over three times in the second half, including one at the Georgia 1-yard line. The Gamecocks also gave up opportunities at the Bulldogs’ two-yard line in the fourth quarter. Both teams were 4-11 in third-down conversions.

New Mexico 34 NEW MEXICO ST 28

New Mexico St. outscored the Lobos 532-426 but the Aggies committed five turnovers, four of which occurred in New Mexico territory. 20 of Lobos’ 34 points were turnovers and while the Aggies were in New Mexico territory on nine possessions, they walked away with just four touchdowns. New Mexico St. passed for 472 yards but was limited to just 60 rushing yards on 30 carries (2.0 ypc).

(1) Ohio State 24 (8) TEXAS 7

Ohio St. outscored the Longhorns by just 22 total yards, but turnovers made the difference. A 14-point swing went the way of the Buckeyes as they recovered a fumble at the two-yard line and then went 50 yards for a touchdown. Texas also threw an interception deep in its own territory that set up a field goal. Texas had 211 total yards on goal in the first half just 115 yards after the break.

(24) Texas Tech 38 TEXAS-EL PASO 35

The offenses dominated the game as UTEP gained 495 yards while the Red Raiders had 479 yards. Texas Tech missed two field goals in the fourth quarter and the Miners capitalized on the second with a game-tying touchdown with 1:04 remaining. Following an interception in overtime, the Red Raiders kicked a 49-yard field goal to earn the victory. The teams combined for 751 receiving yards.

(22) STATE OF ARIZONA 52 Nevada 21

Arizona St. outscored the Wolf Pack 486-306 and the defense forced four turnovers, three of which came in Nevada territory. Five of the Sun Devils’ touchdown drives covered at least 73 yards. After the Wolf Pack tied the game in the second quarter by returning an interception for a touchdown, Arizona St. scored 24 straight points in the fourth to pull away. Nevada finished just 2-4 inside the red zone.

(18) Oregon 31 FRESNO STATE 24

Oregon jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs battled back to tie the game on two separate occasions before the Ducks scored the game-winning touchdown with 4:55 remaining on a fake field goal. Fresno St. dominated time of possession thanks to 206 rushing yards on 41 carries (5.0 ypc). The Ducks blocked a field goal but rallied and then scored a touchdown to take a 24-17 lead.

UCLA 26 Rice 16

UCLA outscored the Owls 401-184 and limited Rice to just 53 rushing yards on 31 carries (1.7 ypc). The scoreline could have been much worse, but the Bruins were forced to kick four field goals and commit four turnovers as well. UCLA was not forced to punt until its final possession as it racked up 26 first downs and won the TOP battle by 10 minutes. The Owls went 2-13 on third-down conversions.

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