College football rivalry games
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Kyle McCord led Syracuse's stunning 21-point comeback with 380 yards and 3 touchdowns, securing a 42-38 upset over Miami and one of the biggest wins in school history.
It was rivalry week in college football, and that means that the sport's fiercest rivals go head to head for year-long bragging rights over their most hated competitors. This year was no different, as the drama was at an all-time high.
Whether flags were planted on opposing teams' logos, melees on the field, or one of the longest games in college football history, rivalry weekend continued to deliver to college football fans. In this article, we’ll break down some of these games and the chaotic and/or heated moments that define these rivalry games.
The Wolverines shocked the college football world with a surprising 13-10 upset win over their fierce rivals. Michigan’s defense was spectacular as they held the Buckeyes to a meager 10 points while forcing quarterback Will Howard to throw two interceptions.
They also held Ohio State’s tremendous backfield duo of Treyveon Henderon and Quinshon Judkins to a combined 77 rushing yards. This was a crushing loss for Ohio State in a heavily favored game. Their frustration was evident when tensions boiled over at the end of the game, and a melee ensued after several Michigan players tried to plant a Michigan flag on Ohio State’s logo at midfield.
It was a crazy end to just another chapter in this storied rivalry. It’s a triumphant outcome for Michigan head coach Sheronne Morre in a troubling season that saw Michigan finish with a 7-5 record. Ohio State coach Ryan Day will look to regroup as the team looks towards the playoffs.
In another surprise upset, the Syracuse Orange defeated Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) foe, the Miami Hurricanes, in a 42-38 shootout. At one point, Syracuse was down 21-0 to the Hurricanes, but senior quarterback Kyle Mccord sparked a furious comeback with 380 passing yards and three touchdowns throughout the game.
He went back and forth all night with Heisman candidate Cam Ward, as Ward himself had 349 passing yards and two touchdowns. Syracuse’s unbelievable comeback is one of the biggest wins in school history and will most likely result in them being ranked and playing in a major bowl game. On the other hand, Miami’s loss might have just daggered their hopes of making the college football playoffs.
This game was an all-time classic, as it took eight overtimes for Georgia to get the better of their in-state rival. It was the second-longest college football game ever, behind Penn State vs. Illinois in 2021.
Both quarterbacks put it all on the line for their respective squads. Georgia quarterback Caron Beck had 297 passing yards and five touchdowns. Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King had 303 passing yards, which resulted in two touchdowns, and 110 rushing yards, which resulted in three touchdowns. Georgia will look to carry this momentum into their next game against Texas, which is in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship.
All three games personified everything a rivalry stands for in college football: competition, hostility, and excitement. It’s obvious that all of these teams harbor genuine resentment towards each other, and this was evident in how closely contented each of these games was. What makes this week the most exciting in college football is that there are no guarantees because anything can happen in the fierce and volatile environment of a rivalry game.