As the clock hits zero, what was once a stadium filled to the brim with the home fans cheering on their team empties as they make their way down to the field to celebrate.
They storm the field, joining their classmates on cloud nine, as they upset one of the top schools in the country.
This was the reality for several schools last Saturday, which was a day full of mayhem.
Five top 11 teams lost this past weekend, giving shades of the chaotic season we once saw in 2007 known as the “Year of the Upset.”
As the season nears its halfway point, another one may be coming.
It first started in College Station, where the No. 25 Texas A&M Aggies took down the No. 9 Missouri Tigers. Although the Aggies were favored in this matchup at home, there was still a possibility that Missouri would prove that it had earned its top-10 ranking. However, that was quickly shut down as Texas A&M came out of the gates swinging.
Missouri couldn’t do anything on the offensive side of the ball, and that was thanks to the Aggies defensive front combining for six sacks, giving Missouri quarterback Brady Cook no time to operate. A&M also limited the Tigers’ explosive playmakers, Luther Burden III and Theo Wease Jr.
Texas A&M quarterback Connor Weigman had a productive game, completing 81% of his passes for 272 yards, but it was running back Le’Veon Moss who scorched the Tigers, rushing for 138 yards and three touchdowns.
His other running mate, Amari Daniels, also punched in two touchdowns for the Aggies.
Although the Tigers ranked higher than the Aggies, this didn’t feel like an upset.
The next and most shocking upset of them all was the No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide falling to unranked Vanderbilt.
This is what makes college football so unique.
A week ago, the world witnessed a potential “game of the year” as Alabama battled Georgia at home and ended up winning 41-34 in a crazy ending.
This week, as 22-point favorites, against a program that has never beaten a top-five team ever, Alabama fell victim to underestimating its opponent.
The Tide came out sleepwalking.
The Commodores scored on the first possession of the game and proceeded to get a pick-six on Alabama’s first drive. It was quickly 13-0, with the Crimson Tide down early.
Things kept getting worse as it was soon 23-7 in favor of Vanderbilt. However, like every Alabama team in recent years, the Tide fought and clawed their way back into the game.
The play of the game came from a strip sack by Vanderbilt edge rusher Miles Capers. Vanderbilt capitalized on the opportunity and scored a touchdown, making it 40-28.
A late Alabama score trimmed the lead to five, but it wasn’t enough as the Commodores ran out the clock and capped off a historic night for their program.
Coming into that game, Vanderbilt was 0-60 against top-five teams, including losing 23 straight to the Crimson Tide.
Quarterback Diego Pavia led the way with 308 total yards and two touchdowns.
It will be a night to remember for the people of Nashville as they take down the No. 1 team in the country.
Another SEC upset came in Fayetteville, Arkansas, as No. 4 Tennesee went down to the unranked Arkansas Razorbacks 19-14.
The Volunteers came into this game with one of the best offenses in the country, averaging well over 500 yards of total offense and over 45 points per game, but that team didn’t show up on Saturday.
The Razorbacks held them to 332 total yards and only 158 passing yards. However, Tennessee still had control for most of the game.
Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson had 138 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. The Volunteers were also up 14-3 halfway through the third quarter. Despite having the momentum, Tennessee punted the ball four consecutive times, and the missed opportunities to extend the lead caught up to them.
The Razorbacks took advantage and scored 16 unanswered points in their victory. Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green’s connection with Andrew Armstrong was strong all night as they connected nine times for 132 yards.
Green’s performances this season have not been the best, and this game was by far his best game of the season.
Completing 70% of his passes for 266 yards, he was truly the X-factor for Arkansas’ upset against the Volunteers.
Finally, to wrap up a crazy Saturday, the No. 11 USC Trojans came to Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the Gophers pulled off the upset.
It felt like a true Big Ten game as both teams struggled to pass the ball and both running backs exceeded 130 yards.
The Minnesota defense wreaked havoc as it forced three turnovers, including two interceptions on quarterback Miller Moss.
Minnesota scored a go-ahead touchdown with 56 seconds left. USC had a chance to tie, but the Trojans’ pass was intercepted by Koi Perich in the end zone to seal the game.
All these outcomes have a butterfly effect.
Although LSU didn’t move up in the AP polls, it helped them in the SEC race. The Tigers are one of three teams (Texas and Texas A&M) in the SEC who are undefeated in conference play.
LSU is now in the driver’s seat and controls their destiny for the College Football Playoff and SEC Championship.
The toughest stretch of their schedule is coming up, and they have to take care of business first against Ole Miss this Saturday.
