The college football landscape experienced seismic shifts this weekend, headlined by two contrasting performances that could shape the rest of the season. No. 3 Texas solidified their status as national title contenders with a dominant 31-12 victory over No. 10 Michigan at the Big House. Quarterback Quinn Ewers led the charge for the Longhorns, completing 24 of 36 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian praised Ewers’ efficiency, noting, ‘I thought he played really efficiently. I didn’t think there was a throw that got forced today’.While Texas celebrated, Notre Dame suffered a stunning upset that could derail their playoff aspirations. The Northern Illinois Huskies, entering as 28-point underdogs, shocked the No. 5 Fighting Irish 16-14 in South Bend. The Huskies’ defense held Notre Dame to just 286 yards of total offense, and a late field goal by Kanon Woodill sealed the historic win. This marked Northern Illinois’ first victory against a top 10 team in program history, leaving head coach Thomas Hammock overcome with emotion.Elsewhere, other top teams asserted their dominance. No. 1 Georgia romped to a 48-3 victory against Tennessee Tech, with quarterback Carson Beck tying a school record with five touchdown passes. Ohio State also made a statement, shutting out Western Michigan 56-0 for their first shutout since 2019. Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day emphasized his team’s ‘leave no doubt’ mentality, which was evident in their comprehensive performance.As the dust settles on this eventful weekend, the college football hierarchy has been shaken. Texas emerges as a clear contender for the national title, while Notre Dame faces an uphill battle to salvage their playoff hopes. With more surprises likely in store, the 2024 season promises to be one of the most unpredictable and exciting in recent memory.
Key points
- No.
- Northern Illinois stunned No.
- Ohio State achieved their first shutout since 2019 with a 56-0 win over Western Michigan, demonstrating their ‘leave no doubt’ mentality.
3 Texas dominated No.
10 Michigan 31-12, solidifying their national title contender status.
5 Notre Dame 16-14 in a major upset, potentially derailing Notre Dame’s playoff hopes.
