College Football Weekend Recap: Winners and Losers
The third weekend of college football is in the books, with Texas, Syracuse, Indiana, and Penn State emerging as big winners, while Cincinnati took a step back. A number of storylines have begun to take shape as the season unfolds. The Longhorns showed off their offense and defense in a decisive victory over Michigan, while Syracuse's Kyle McCord continues to impress in his new role. Indiana broke a school record for points and yardage in a blowout of Western Illinois, while Penn State narrowly escaped Bowling Green.
Key Takeaways:
- Texas took a significant step forward with a 31-12 rout of Michigan, with Quinn Ewers throwing for 246 yards and three touchdowns.
- Syracuse's Kyle McCord threw for 381 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-28 victory over Georgia Tech, with Trebor Pena and Oronde Gadsden II catching two touchdowns each.
- Indiana broke a school record for points and yardage in a 77-3 pounding of Western Illinois, with the team amassing 703 yards and 77 points.
- Penn State narrowly escaped Bowling Green with a 34-27 victory, despite the Falcons having six first downs and three points in the second half.
- Cincinnati blew a 21-point lead in the final 16 minutes against Pittsburgh, ultimately falling 28-27.
- The Bearcats' loss may have a lasting impact on their season, particularly as they face Miami (Ohio), Houston, and Texas Tech over the next three weeks.
Statistics:
- Quinn Ewers (Texas): 246 yards passing, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception
- Kyle McCord (Syracuse): 381 yards passing, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception
- Trebor Pena (Syracuse): 2 touchdowns receptions
- Oronde Gadsden II (Syracuse): 2 touchdowns receptions
- Indiana: 777 yards, 77 points (school record)
- Penn State: 475 yards, 34 points (34-27 victory over Bowling Green)
Sources:
- ESPN: Patrick Stevens (quoted and cited directly from the original text)
- Without external references, the original text is self-contained and sufficient for analysis.