Ryan Bailey could not have scripted his first college field goal any better. Bailey, a walk-on kicker for the Longhorns, who before Saturday had never attempted a field goal in college, hit the game winning field goal for Texas vs. Nebraska. Texas head coach Mack Brown told Bailey before the kick, “you’re the luckiest guy in the world.”
Luckiest maybe, which might not have been what was going through Bailey’s mind. The Longhorns season was now on a kicker who most on the team didn’t even know existed. He fought through the pressure and the attempted icing of Nebraska and nailed it from 22 yards out with only 23 seconds left in the game. Bailey wasn’t the starting kicker going into the game though. Starter Greg Johnson, who also starts at punter, was pulled after missing two field goals and an extra point earlier in the game. Johnson did connect on two field goals though.
The opening kickoff for Texas was run all the way down to the nine yard line, but the drive stalled and Johnson would make a field goal from 22 yards out. Both teams would go through stalling drives before Nebraska’s Zac Taylor found Maurice Purify down field, who broke a couple wimpy Texas tackles and took it in for six 63 yards later. In the second quarter Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who through eight games this season was finally playing out of the state of Texas, finally found his rhythm. McCoy connected with Quan Cosby from six yards out, but the extra point, kicked low, would be blocked by Nebraska. Texas was now leading 9-7. Not long after Texas would get the ball back before halftime as McCoy ounce again found someone to go to down field. This time it was wideout Limas Sweed from 55 yards out. McCoy took a shot on the play but stood in the pocket to deliver the good throw. Going into halftime Texas had the lead 16-7.
With snow flurries and 20+ mph winds neither team was able to get a scoring drive going in the third. Early in the fourth Nebraska would get back onto the scoreboard after Taylor shovel passed it to running back Brandon Jackson who took it 49 yards downfield to tighten the score 16-14. Texas’s Greg Johnson would make another 22 yard field goal with 6:33 left in the game. Nebraska pulled out some trickery with just less than five minuets left though. Running back Marlon Luckey took the handoff from Taylor then backed off from the line and threw it down to a wide open Nate Swift in the endzone from 25 yards out. They now had reclaimed the lead for the first time since the first quarter. With the two point conversion failing though it was only a one point lead 20-19. There was plenty of time for Texas to bring in a score though. That’s when Ryan Bailey came into the picture. Bailey hit the field goal and the rest is history.
Any loss is a heartbreaker but for Nebraska they have now lost six of the last seven meetings against Texas. As big of a loss it was for Nebraska is was just as big of a win for the Longhorns as they are still undefeated this season in Big 12 play, and have now won 19 consecutive conference games. This might not be the only time Nebraska and Texas face one another this season though as they could see each other once again in the Big 12 Championship game. As for Bailey’s future, Coach Mack Brown would not comment on whether or not he would be the starter next week vs. Texas Tech. Nebraska just needs to shake it off and concentrate on Oklahoma State next week.
Week 8 Quick Hits
BCS Conference Outlook
With the season coming closer to an end and the BCS ruining team’s national title hopes its time to get a glance of how the BCS conferences might turn out. Not just the winners, but a team that everyone in the conference should be weary of.
Big 12
Champ: Texas - The longhorns are playing impressive football lately and quarterback Colt McCoy has really come around since their only loss to Ohio State early in the season. With tough conference games to go at Texas Tech, Oklahoma State at home and then Texas A&M, the season is far from over for Texas.
Look out for: Nebraska – Texas did just beat the Cornhuskers but it’s not the end of Nebraska’s Big 12 Championship hopes. With Nebraska in the North and Texas in the South they just may play for the title. Nebraska needs to stay focused and beat Missouri on November 4th if they want that to happen though.
Pac 10
Champ: USC – Although the dominant Southern Cal has been struggling with everyone they face lately it seams they are just too powerful overall to let the conference title slip from their grasp. They had better have their problems worked out by November though as they face off against three straight ranked opponents including two conference games against Oregon and Cal.
Look out for: California - The Golden Bears have been rolling ever since their first game of the year when they lost to Tennessee. They have been averaging 39 points a game in their last seven games much in part to the three headed monster in Lynch, Longshore, and Jackson. If Cal can beat USC on November 18th, Crown the Golden Bears champs.
Big 10
Champ: Ohio State – It seems that Ohio State is on a mission this year not only to win the Big 10 but the National Championship as well. With only one opponent who has a chance left to beat them in Michigan, the Buckeyes look well on their way to being champs. Quarterback Troy Smith is on a roll and is taking the team along for the ride.
Look out for: Michigan - Don’t crown the Buckeyes champs of the north just yet though. Michigan is having their best season since their National Championship year of 1997 and by the looks of their play; they want to end it the same as they did in ’97. Running back Mike Hart has rushed for seven 100 yard games this season including four straight and the defense is playing better than any in the country. Come November 18th we shall see who’s more powerful; the Michigan defense or the Ohio State offense.
ACC
Champ: Boston College - Who would have thought that with the powerhouse teams of the new ACC in Florida State, Miami, and Va. Tech, that BC would potentially end up with the crown. No one outside of New England that’s who. With impressive wins over Tech and FSU the past two weeks and a win over Clemson earlier in the season it looks as if the Eagles are well on their way. Two teams lay in the path though in Wake Forest and a Thanksgiving Day game at Miami who could have their problems worked out by then.
Look out for: Clemson - With Boston College being in the same ACC division as the Tigers, its going to take a loss for the Eagles for Clemson to get to Jacksonville to take on the Coastal division champ. A loss to either Wake Forest or Maryland would put the Tigers in. Clemson needs to stay focused themselves though as they face three ACC opponents in the future.
Big East
Champ: West Virginia - With the electric combo of running back Steve Slaton and quarterback Pat White it seems hard to think of this team being stopped short of a Big East championship. With the thicker part of their schedule ahead as they face Big East foes Louisville, Pittsburgh, and Rutgers it won’t be easy. The combo has been stopped before, i.e. East Carolina, and I would recommend to the future opponents of the Mountaineers that they study that game film as Slaton was held to just 80 yards and White threw three interceptions.
Look out for: Rutgers - Yes Rutgers is an actual conference championship contender. After rolling over Big East opponent Pittsburgh on the road last week 20-10 its clear they are for real. As long as running back and Heisman candidate Ray Rice can keep getting his yards people should keep an eye on the Scarlet Knights. It’s not going to be easy though as they face Louisville and West Virginia later in the year. This is college football though, anything can happen.
SEC
Champ: Auburn - If it wasn’t for a shocking loss to Arkansas three games ago, it would seem that Auburn would be the clear SEC champion right now, because of the loss though it’s not as clear. Auburn is heading into the easier half of their schedule as they face no more ranked opponents. They do face Alabama in their last game of the year, which is never a given, and Georgia the game before. The two headed running back combo of Brad Lester and Kenny Irons will need to continue to be a factor in all of their remaining games.
Look out for: Arkansas - With an impressive win over Auburn and their only loss coming from powerhouse USC in their first game of the year, Arkansas is far from out of it for the SEC championship. True freshman quarterback Mitch Mustain is getting comfortable with the offense and sophomore running backs Darren McFadden (690 yards 7 TDs) and Felix Jones (520 yards 9.0 avg.) have been running wild and have taken a lot of pressure off the young Mustain. They do face tough test against Tennessee and LSU though.
Heisman Hopefuls
It’s rare that anyone ever wins the Heisman trophy by a landslide, but this year if he keeps playing the way he is, Troy Smith might just do that. Besides the prolific quarterback from Columbus the rest of the Heisman race has been a toss up each week with players rising and falling regularly. This week two new Candidates move into the top five and three stay constant in their performances. Here is a look at my Heisman watch for week eight.
1.) Troy Smith | QB - Ohio State
.::.131/193 ... 1,715 yards ... 21 TDs ... 2 INTs
2.) Steve Slaton | RB - West Virginia
.::.151 carries ... 1,059 yards ... 7.0 avg ... 9 TDs
3.) Mike Hart | RB - Michigan
.::.214 carries ... 1,032 yards ... 4.8 avg ... 8 TDs
4.) Brady Quinn | QB - Notre Dame
.::.1475/278 ... 1,938 yards ... 18 TDs ... 4 INTs ... 1 Rush TD
5.) James Davis | RB - Clemson
.::.139 carries ... 961 yards ... 6.9 avg ... 16 TDs
Player(s) of the Week
James Davis | RB - Clemson
.::.21 carries ... 216 yards ... 2 TDs
.::.With Clemson facing Georgia Tech, one of the other top ACC teams this season, they needed someone to step up and be the game changer. Davis was just that player, rushing for over 200 yards on a tough Tech defense. Davis is now a contender for the Heisman with his consistent game braking play all year.
Week 9 Games to Watch
Georgia @ (9) Florida
3:30 on CBS
.::.With the inconsistent play of Georgia and the dominating play of Florida this season, the usual Georgia vs. Florida “largest cocktail party game” isn’t as big a game on the college football landscape. But for these two teams it means the season to have a win in this one. If true freshman quarterback Matthew Stafford gets the start here for Georgia he will be overwhelmed with the Florida Swamp. The one two punch of Leak and Tebow will run and pass all over the Georgia D as the struggles will continue for the Bulldogs.
IMPACT PLAYER: Tim Tebow | QB - Florida
PICK: Florida 31, Georgia 13
Miami (Fla.) @ (21) Georgia Tech
3:30 on ABC
.::.Georgia Tech is coming off a tough loss to Clemson and should be a little shocked. Miami returns all of their starters from suspensions stemming from the FIU fight. Last week we saw what happens when a team wins the rushing battle between Georgia Tech as Clemson put on over 300 rush yards on the Yellow Jackets. Miami running back Javarris James should have a big day here. The Miami defense just needs to work on containing quarterback Reggie Ball, as they have struggled against running quarterbacks in the past. If they stop Ball, Johnson will be shut out as well. Many people consider Miami’s season to be over, but with a win here they are still in the hunt for the ACC championship game.
IMPACT PLAYER: Javarris James | RB - Miami
PICK: Miami 23, Georgia Tech 20
(19) Oklahoma @ (23) Missouri
Noon on ABC
.::.Oklahoma’s season is at a downward spiral after the loss of Heisman contender Adrian Peterson, but the season could be saved with a win at Missouri this coming weekend. With the way Chase Daniel and the rest of the Missouri team has been playing this year that won’t be an easy task. If Missouri wants to end the season on a good note then Oklahoma is the building block, as they finish up with Nebraska and Iowa State after. I believe Paul Thompson and Oklahoma will be sent home with another loss to go with their disappointing season.
IMPACT PLAYER: Chase Daniel | QB - Missouri
PICK: Missouri 38, Oklahoma 19
You can reach Drew @ dkochanny@featurepresentationonline.com.
