You know it’s a crazy week of college football when one of America’s most decorated head coaches is abruptly fired during the season’s halfway point. While shocking, it shows the cutthroat nature of the game: if you aren’t winning, then get out.
Last weekend lived up to Lato’s Lens standards in nearly every way, shape and form. I was glued to the couch for the entirety of my Saturday, in awe of some of the week’s upsets that were unfolding in front of my very eyes. But anyways, here are Week 7’s biggest upsets, top performers and The Lato’s Lens Game of the Week:
Biggest Upsets
Northwestern 22, Penn State 21
Saturday was a tragedy for the now unranked Penn State Nittany Lions.
While losing 22-21 in their Week 7 game against Northwestern, former five-star quarterback and projected first-round pick Drew Allar exited the game late in the fourth quarter due to a brutal leg injury. The Nittany Lions were driving to win the game, but were stopped short on fourth down to inevitably lose.
In the post-game press conference, head coach James Franklin announced that Allar will miss the rest of the season, a brutal blow after losing to winless (and coachless) UCLA the previous week.
One day later, the media announced that Franklin was relieved from his duties as head coach of the Nittany Lions. He yielded a 104-45 record through his 11-year tenure as head coach, but his unsatisfactory 4-21 record against top 10 opponents led to his abrupt dismissal.
With that, the head coaching position in Happy Valley is now open. Names like Curt Cignetti (Indiana), Matt Rhule (Nebraska) and even Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame) are being thrown around as potential successors to Franklin.
Texas 23, No. 6 Oklahoma 6
The Red River Rivalry.
The annual matchup between Texas and Oklahoma ranks among college football’s most heated and toxic rivalries. Named after the Red River, which runs along the border between Texas and Oklahoma, the game is played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas during the Texas State Fair, adding an electric atmosphere.
Entering the game unranked after losing to unranked Florida the previous week, Texas posed all sorts of problems for No. 6 Oklahoma in their 23-6 upset win.
In his first game since injuring his hand against Auburn, Sooners quarterback John Mateer and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle’s offense were blanketed by the Texas defense in the second half, not scoring a single touchdown or field goal. This was made possible by defensive end Colin Simmons, who sacked Mateer 2.5 times and found himself in the Sooners’ backfield the entire night. The defense also amassed three interceptions, including two from defensive back Malik Muhammad.
Arch Manning finally had the game he needed to regain confidence after early season struggles. He completed 21 of his 27 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown, not accounting for a single interception.
Though 4-2, the Longhorns are a dangerous team and should not be left out of the playoff conversation just yet.
USC 31, No. 15 Michigan 13
USC’s triumph over No. 15 Michigan was, by definition, an upset. But am I surprised? No.
Head coach Lincoln Riley has silently developed a monster at quarterback for USC. His name: Jayden Maiava.
Through six games, the junior signal-caller has thrown for 1,852 yards, 13 touchdowns and only two interceptions; not to mention, his 93.1 QBR ranks among the highest in college football. Coupled with Riley’s unique, gadget-laden spread offense, the two make an incredible duo.
Against Big 10 foe Michigan, Maiava completed 25 of his 32 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Makai Lemon, Maiava’s top target, caught a team-high nine passes for 93 yards and a touchdown, ravaging the Michigan defense.
If USC continues to play good enough defense to win games, there’s no question as to whether the Trojans are a College Football Playoff contender: However, this has been much of a problem in the past.
Top Performances
Ryan Niblett, DB/PR (Texas) — Returned an Oklahoma punt 75 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter of the Longhorns’ 23-6 defeat of the Sooners in the Red River Rivalry.
Byrum Brown, QB (South Florida) — Completed 22 of 28 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns through the air, while adding 82 rushing yards and another two scores in USF’s 63-36 win over undefeated North Texas.
Aiden Fischer, LB (Indiana) — Recorded 11 total tackles, including 1.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss, in No. 7 Indiana’s 30-20 upset win over No. 3 Oregon.
Devon Dampier, QB (Utah) — Rushed for 120 yards and three touchdowns on ten carries in the Utes’ crushing 42-10 victory over No. 21 Arizona State. He also added another 104 yards through the air.
Lato’s Lens Game of the Week
No. 20 USC (5-1) at No. 13 Notre Dame (4-2) – Saturday, 7:30 p.m. at Notre Dame Stadium (South Bend, Ind.)
There’s nothing like a Friday night rivalry game, especially between the two storied programs of USC and Notre Dame. They’ll be playing for the Jeweled Shillelagh, a Gaelic war club that functions as the trophy for the winning team. Currently, Notre Dame holds the Shillelagh after defeating USC 49-35 on Nov. 30, 2024. The Fighting Irish also lead the series all-time with a 52-37-5 record.
This matchup possesses massive playoff implications: For whoever loses, making the postseason will require a lot of help from other teams.
While I talked a lot about USC’s Maiava earlier, Notre Dame also has a gunslinger at quarterback in CJ Carr. He’s thrown for 1,622 yards and 13 touchdowns through six starts and is surrounded by offensive weapons.
Carr’s top target, wide receiver Jordan Faison, is one of the NCAA’s most dynamic athletes. Not only is he a star for the school’s nationally ranked lacrosse team, but Faison also leads the wide receiver corps in yards (376) and receptions (29).
USC must play sound defense to stay in the game, despite defense not being the hallmark of Lincoln Riley’s coaching tenure. They’ll need a spectacular performance from linebacker Eric Gentry, who leads the team with 41 total tackles.
This game is a must-watch.
PREDICTION: Notre Dame