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The most ‘college football’ things that happened in Week 3

16 September 2024Last Update :
The most ‘college football’ things that happened in Week 3

Week 3 was wonderful and — perhaps a recurring sentiment in the post-conference realignment era — wacky. For the first time in college football history, Oregon and Oregon State suited up against one another in September as opposed to November, when the two arch-rivals typically met as members of the Pac-12.

Utah–Utah State and Washington–Washington State also battled it out much earlier than traditionally. Oregon, Utah and Washington State were victorious. From tailored traditions to canceled games, here are the wildest moments from Week 3.

The blue-(or gray?)-collar way

Eastern Michigan football takes its blue-collar mentality very seriously. The Eagles’ stadium is dubbed “The Factory.” At every game, a 51-pound green-painted pipe wrench is carried on the shoulders of a player without ever touching the ground. Their gray field — one of three non-green playing surfaces in the FBS — represents a parking lot, “where hard work and grit shine through, no matter the conditions,” per the school’s website.

And yesterday, the coaching staff’s shirts, which resemble a uniform more fit for a mechanic, had their moment in the spotlight. The shirts aren’t new, but they gained recognition online after the broadcast caught a great shot of the coaches together in action.

“Our colors are green and white, but our collars are blue,” head coach Chris Creighton has said before.

Now we’re just left wondering the origins behind the nicknames “Juice,” “Beef,” and “Big O.”

The traditions don’t stop there; the first 750 students to enter yesterday’s EMU home opener received a free hard hat. The Eagles came out on top in overtime 37-34 versus Jacksonville State.

Whooping cough outbreak forces game cancellation

Portland State called off its game against South Dakota on Saturday after a whooping cough outbreak swept through the Vikings program. Portland State said in a statement the cancellation was made by both programs “in the interest of the health of the student-athletes” and that no players are “seriously ill at this time.”

Symptoms of whooping cough, formally known as pertussis, include coughing fits, fatigue and labored breathing. Fractured ribs from intense high-pitched coughs, or “whoops,” can occur.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Those who get these coughing fits say it’s the worst cough of their lives.”

Portland State entered Saturday 0-2 and is scheduled to visit Boise State on Sept. 21. South Dakota is 1-1 coming off a loss at Wisconsin last week.

In a statement Saturday, Boise State said it is monitoring the outbreak: “We are in communication with Portland State’s administration and will remain so as we continue to monitor the situation as it pertains to next Saturday’s game. Our utmost priority and concern are for the health and safety of everyone involved.”

Throw and catch, and go

Luke Altmyer pass complete to Luke Altmyer.

Altmyer, the Illinois quarterback, completed 19 of 29 passes in the team’s 30-9 win over Central Michigan — including a lob to himself.

On first-and-10 at CMU’s 44-yard line, Altmyer’s pass was tipped by a defensive lineman and the ball trickled back toward Altmyer. The junior QB caught it and ran, gaining three yards and taking out one referee in the process.

The drive ended in a 59-yard Fighting Illini field goal to take the 20-6 lead at half. Altmyer finished the day with 242 yards and two touchdowns as Illinois improved to 3-0.

Second-and- … how long?

Fifty-nine. Second-and-59 yards. Seriously.

What started as a first-and-10 at the Boston College 38 quickly unraveled, starting with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to back up Missouri. Another penalty — for an ineligible receiver downfield — did so once more to make it second-and-30 at the Missouri 42.

Another two Missouri-charged personal fouls — one backing the Tigers up 15 yards and the next half the distance to the goal — on the ensuing drive put them on their own 14-yard line. And on second-and-59, Missouri ran the ball, with running back Nate Noel picking up 24 yards. A great run against a traditional set of downs, but not even half of enough for the scenario’s demands.

It was, unbelievably enough, more than 30 yards away from the longest down-and-yard record in recent history.

In a 2017 meeting between Louisiana Tech and Mississippi, Louisiana Tech lined up for a third-and-goal on the 7-yard line, and a bad snap turned into a game of hot potato 87 yards in the wrong direction.

While players tried to possess the ball, it just kept tumbling backward. Both Mississippi State and Louisiana Tech players took turns trying to pick it up, but no one was able to secure it until wide receiver Cee Jay Powell recovered it on his own 7-yard line.

Make that third-and-93.

Before Louisiana Tech claimed the unwanted record, the most yards needed for a first down since 2004 was 57 (by Georgia against Tennessee in 2011), per ESPN Stats & Info.

The wunderkind wideout

He’s 17, and we don’t mean his jersey number. Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams collected 78 yards and his fourth career touchdown pass in the Tide’s 42-10 takedown of Wisconsin, but his most impressive stat is his age.

The 17-year-old freshman enrolled at Alabama early to join the Tide this season. He does not turn 18 until after the college football season.

To put it into perspective, Williams and the iPhone are the same age.

A win is a win, and an interception is not an incompletion

Against Arkansas State on Saturday, someone was always catching Michigan QB Davis Warren’s passes — whether they were in maize and blue or not.

Warren did not throw a single incompletion, going 11-of-14 for 122 yards, no touchdowns and — there it is — three interceptions.

Warren has now thrown six interceptions in three games.

Michigan beat Arkansas State 28-18 and improved to 2-1 after falling to Texas last week. Arkansas State dropped to 2-1.

A low blow

There’s the typical descriptors for missed kicks — “wide right,” “wide left” — then there’s Tulane freshman Ethan Head’s second-quarter extra-point attempt.

After driving 75 yards to score their first touchdown of the game with 19 seconds to go in the half, the Green Wave brought out Head for the extra point. Without being tipped or tarnished, the kick stayed low in a line-drive, almost pelting the referee standing between the goal posts and offensive/defensive lines, under the crossbar.

One of one

For every lowlight in college football, there seems to be double the highlights, including Ole Miss wide receiver Antwane Wells Jr.’s 31-yard, one-handed touchdown catch in stride. That sealed the Rebels’ 40-6 win with roughly 6 1/2 minutes remaining.

West Virginia wideout Justin Robinson’s 28-yard, one-handed end-zone grab put the Mountaineers up 34-27 in a back-and-forth Backyard Brawl.

Pitt would respond with two unanswered touchdowns to win the annual rivalry matchup 38-34 and improve to 3-0. West Virginia fell to 1-2.

Stats of the day

At halftime of Texas Tech’s 66-21 win against North Texas, the Mean Green had as many points (7) as Texas Tech had TDs. The Red Raiders tied their school record with 52 first-half points en route to the win.

Meanwhile, Notre Dame recovered from last week’s shocking upset against Northern Illinois with a lights-out 66-7 win against in-state opponent Purdue. The Fighting Irish scored those 66 points in exactly 66 plays. Quarterback Riley Leonard, who passed for 112 yards and rushed for another 100, looked happy about it.

An unexpected mascot

“Got cat-like moves, cat-like speed, he’s got cat-like reflexes.”

No, this wasn’t a description of a player on the field. It was commentary on the cat that snuck onto the field at McLane Stadium in the fourth quarter of Baylor’s 31-3 win against Air Force.

Baylor ended a nine-game home losing streak against FBS opponents in the win and did not allow a touchdown in its second consecutive home game — the first time it has done so since 2014.

More on Week 3

  • Mandel’s Final Thoughts
  • What we learned about the CFP this week

(Top photo of Luke Altmyer: Ron Johnson / Imagn Images)

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