College football: 10 best and 10 worst teams of Week 7 – South Carolina stunner
We know which teams won and lost in Week 7, but who played the best? We dive deep into the box score of every matchup to determine the best and worst team performances.
In many ways, Week 7 was the most exciting to date. There were four matchups between teams ranked in the AP Top 25, which was more than any previous week to date. We saw two ranked teams forced into overtime, with one of them – No. 3 Georgia – becoming the first Top 5 team to lose this year. Three other ranked teams lost to unranked opponents, and we were also treated to several close calls.
We know the outcomes, but the final score doesn’t always show how well or poorly a team played. However, using CFB Winning Edge Team Performance ratings, which assign analytically driven game grades to every FBS team in every contest on a 60-100 scale, we can take a closer look to determine the 10 best and 10 worst teams of Week 7:
10 Best Team Performances of Week 7
10. Utah, 92.70
Two of the most impressive final scores posted in Week 7 – Utah beating Oregon State 52-7 and Clemson’s 45-14 dismantling of Florida State – battled it out for the No. 10 spot in Team Performance, with the Utes snagging the honors by 0.02.
Utah completely outmanned Oregon State, and out-gained the Beavers 503-217 overall and by an average of 4.99 yards per play. Only Indiana (6.00), Louisiana Tech (5.31) and LSU (5.21) posted a higher edge in net yards per play over the weekend. The Utes averaged 13.7 yards per pass and held the Beavs to a 4.0-yard average, and averaged 6.1 yards per carry compared to Oregon State’s 2.2.
9. Cincinnati, 92.81
The final score in Houston was far less impressive than Corvallis, but Cincinnati won the turnover battle 5-1 (Utah and Oregon State each had one turnover in their game), which played a huge part in the Bearcats beating Houston 38-23 and posting a Top 10 game grade. And though luck is often a key part in turnover margin, it’s also worth noting Cincinnati forced four interceptions, which are less random events than lost fumbles.
The Bearcats also posted solid passing numbers, both on offense and defense. Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder averaged 11.0 yards per pass attempt, for 263 yards and three touchdowns and one interception. Houston’s quarterbacks combined to complete just 10 of 30 attempts and averaged 7.8 yards per pass.
8. Louisville, 92.94
Louisville jumped out to a 28-7 lead over Wake Forest in the first half and held on to beat Wake Forest 62-59 – in regulation, and not in four overtimes, as the final score might suggest. The rebuilding Cardinals improved to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in ACC play in large part because they were able to overcome a 668-520 Wake Forest edge in total yardage, and a 40-22 deficit in first downs.
Big plays played a big role. The Cards averaged 7.54 yards per play, which was 0.99 more than Louisville allowed. A 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown also helped, as did a first quarter Wake Forest fumble that set up a quick scoring drive, and an interception in the red zone on the ninth play of the Demon Deacons’ final offensive drive before halftime.
7. Iowa State, 93.10
West Virginia scored a touchdown in the final minute of the second quarter to tie Iowa State 14-14. However, once the teams emerged from the locker room after halftime, the Cyclones dominated.
The Mountaineers gained just 49 total yards in the second half, and Iowa State held a 372-190 overall edge in total yardage, and out-gained West Virginia by an average of 1.51 yards per snap. The Cyclones held the Mountaineers to just 1.5 yards per carry on 28 rushing attempts and held quarterback Jack Allison (who replaced an injured Austin Kendall early) to just 5.8 yards per pass on 24 attempts.
6. Oregon, 93.39
It’s time we talked about the Oregon defense. The Ducks have held opponents to just 8.7 points per game, which ranks No. 3 in the country. Colorado had scored 30 or more points in four of its five games before traveling to Eugene but was held out of the end zone in a 45-3 Oregon victory. And that was with the services of receiver Laviska Shenault, who had missed the Buffaloes’ previous game with an injury.
The Ducks forced four interceptions and held Colorado to just 299 total yards and an average of 4.04 yards per play – more than two full yards fewer than the average the Buffs posted (6.14) in five games earlier this season.
5. Wisconsin, 93.95
Speaking of defense, no one has been better than Wisconsin. The Badgers lead the nation in every major statistical category, including scoring defense (4.8 points allowed per game), total defense (173.7 yards allowed per game), rushing defense (44.67), pass defense (129.0) and yards allowed per play (3.06). Wisconsin also picked up its fourth shutout this year, beating Michigan State 38-0.
The Badgers held the Spartans to just 149 total yards and an average of 4.0 yards per pass attempt and 1.4 yards per carry. Michigan State converted only two of 14 third-down opportunities, threw two interceptions (one each by QBs Brian Lewerke and Rocky Lombardi) and was sacked twice.
4. LSU, 94.80
Death Valley lived up to its reputation Saturday night as LSU beat Florida 42-28. The Tigers continued to post incredible offensive numbers despite playing one of the most talented defenses in the nation. Quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 293 yards, 12.2 yards per attempt, and three touchdowns without an interception, and the LSU rushing attack averaged 9.1 yards per carry.
The Tigers held an edge of 5.21 yards per play over the Gators and forced one huge turnover when Derek Stingley intercepted Kyle Trask in the end zone on a third-and-1 pass halfway through the fourth quarter. Instead of Florida tying the game 35-35, or pulling to 35-31 with a field goal, LSU was able to capitalize with a four-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to put the game away.
3. Alabama, 94.91
Tua Tagovailoa tossed his first interception of the season, and the Alabama defense surrendered 28 points, but the Crimson Tide still posted one of the three best game grades of Week 7 in beating Texas A&M 47-28 Saturday in College Station.
With Tagovailoa connecting for four touchdown passes, including three 30 yards or longer, to four different receivers, Alabama averaged 6.89 yards per play on offense, and out-gained the Aggies by an average of 1.34 yards per snap. The Tide also scored on a blocked punt.
Coupled with Oklahoma posting a season-low 88.88 game grade in its 34-27 win over Texas, Alabama improved to No. 1 in average Team Performance rating (94.93) overall.
2. Washington, 95.77
This season has been a roller coaster for Washington, with the Huskies looking like playoff contenders one week and Pac-12 also-rans the next. But Saturday’s 51-27 road win over Arizona was a bright spot.
The performance was not perfect, and Washington was fortunate in several aspects. The Huskies overcame a slow start, which led to a 17-10 halftime deficit. Washington also won the turnover battle 4-1, but three were recovered fumbles, including one the Huskies returned for a touchdown, and two (including a muffed punt) that set up easy scoring opportunities. The offense was also just 3-for-13 on third-down conversion opportunities.
Nevertheless, Washington outgained Arizona 450-360 overall and by an average of 1.72 yards per play. The Huskies averaged 11.0 yards per pass and held Arizona to just 6.3, while also recording four sacks. Quarterback Jacob Eason outdueled Khalil Tate, who was benched late in the contest, which is a great sign for the Dawgs moving forward.
1. South Carolina, 96.38
Much of the talk surrounding South Carolina in the preseason centered on its brutal schedule. And it’s true, the schedule makers were rough on the Gamecocks. However, by playing several of the highest-rated teams in the nation, Will Muschamp’s squad also had more opportunities than most to pull off a huge upset. Saturday, South Carolina knocked off Georgia 20-17 in overtime despite being more than a three-touchdown underdog on the road.
The Gamecocks did not post impressive offensive stats. Quarterbacks Ryan Hilinski and Dakereon Joyner combined for just 4.8 yards per pass attempt. For reference, Georgia Southern has averaged 4.8 yards per pass attempt this season and ranks No. 128 nationally. South Carolina was also held to just 3.9 yards per carry, which would rank 93rd overall.
Overall, the Gamecocks were outgained 498-297, though by only 0.56 yards per snap. The Carolina defense stepped up and held Georgia to 5.7 yards per pass (a figure that would tie the Alabama defense for ninth in the country for a full season), and 4.0 yards per rush (which would rank a modest No. 60, defensively). Most importantly, South Carolina forced four turnovers, including three interceptions by Israel Mukuamu.