In a week filled with drastic over-performances and under-performances, the Western 20 fit the mold, with multiple teams seeing significantly different results than normal.
Let’s recap what we saw in the 11 Western 20 games in Week 9.
Jacksonville State vs. New Mexico State
Final | Jacksonville State 24, New Mexico State 0
New Mexico State has had a middling pass defense this year, but the Aggies were able to limit Jacksonville State quarterback Caden Creel to just 109 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. However, they proceeded to let Creel rush for a ton: 211 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries… not the game plan the Aggies were expecting.
Creel’s career-high 211 yards were part of a 324-yard night on the ground for the Gamecocks, who after a 1-2 start to the season have reeled off five consecutive wins.
After allowing only 11 rushing yards against Sam Houston last week, the 324 rushing yards given up are the most in a game by the Aggie defense this season. The Aggies tried to keep pace, with James Jones posting his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season and 192 rushing yards overall, but the Gamecocks’ suffocating defense was too much for the Aggies to overcome.
Adam Damante has played solidly since taking over the starting quarterback duties at the end of September, but he was limited to just 29 yards and an interception by the Gamecocks.
Outside of the performance by Jones, the only bright spots on the night came from defensive backs RJ Chapman and Josiah Charles, who both recorded an interception, with Chapman returning his pick for 53 yards.
The Aggies had chances to score throughout the game, but two missed field goals and an interception deep in Gamecock territory secured the shutout loss.
New Mexico State falls to 3-5 with a 2-2 conference record, good for a tie for second among CUSA teams. After four straight Wednesday games, the Aggies get a mini-bye before taking on Liberty, who’s tied atop the CUSA standings with Jacksonville State, Saturday evening.
Kent State vs. Sacramento State
Final | Kent State 10, Sacramento State 31
Nothing has gone well so far for Sacramento State in its first FBS season, but the Hornets finally secured their first FBS and MAC win Friday night, beating Kent State 31-10.
The Hornets were led by freshman running back Isaiah Ene, who played his best game of the season with 107 yards and two touchdowns. Ene had yet to log more than 59 yards in a single game this season before Friday night’s win.
The Sacramento State defense, which had been allowing nearly 40 points per game during a six-game losing streak, limited the Golden Flashes to just 10 points and scored a pick-six, just its second defensive touchdown of the season and the first since Week 1.
After Ene’s touchdown late in the third quarter put the Hornets up 15-10, Sacramento State held its first second-half lead against an FBS opponent this season.
Sacramento State improves to 2-7 on the season with a 1-5 MAC record. The Hornets stay at home to welcome Toledo for Wednesday night MACtion.
UConn vs. Air Force
Final | UConn 26, Air Force 35
For the second time this season, the Air Force Falcons walked away with a victory despite not completing a single pass, beating UConn 35-26.
The Huskies, one of only two remaining FBS Independents alongside Notre Dame, were coming off back-to-back victories at Temple and against UMass, but the meat grinder that is Air Force’s nation-best rushing attack was too much for them to handle.
The Falcons had seven rushers combine for 366 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, with quarterback Kemper Hodges leading the way with 200 yards and four scores. Hodges, a senior and converted fullback, has thrown for only 74 yards in his career but, as is the norm among Air Force players, has an impressive 682 career rushing yards in a limited role.
Hodges stepped in for Evan Medders, who is dealing with a turf toe injury suffered against Wyoming. Hodges is the third quarterback to start a game for the Falcons this season, after Medders and season-opening starter Liam Szarka, who suffered a season-ending leg injury against Navy.
The Huskies made it a two-point game early in the fourth quarter after back-to-back drives ending in touchdowns of 45-plus yards, but Air Force used the next 11:37 to score its final touchdown, putting the Falcons up nine with only 3:09 left on the clock.
The win puts Air Force at 6-2 on the season. The Falcons travel to West Point to take on Army in next week’s Big Noon Kickoff game with the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy on the line Saturday.
Colorado State vs. Utah State
Final | Colorado State 14, Utah State 31
Colorado State seemed to have found its rhythm after quarterback Hauss Hejny made his triumphant return in last week’s win over San Diego State, but another return, this time for Utah State, ended the hype in a convincing 31-14 Aggie win.
McCae Hillstead returned to start at quarterback for the Aggies after backup Grady Brosterhous failed to seize the position, going 2-4 as the starter. Hillstead, a BYU transfer, last started in the Aggies’ shocking season-opening loss to FCS Idaho State. After sitting the last six games, he responded with 340 total yards, including a 44-yard reception, and two touchdowns.
The Aggies tacked on 464 yards against a beleaguered Colorado State defense, which, on the bright side for Rams fans, is significantly lower than the 526 yards per game the Rams have been giving up. Receiver Anthony Garcia had the best game of his career, posting career highs with 11 catches for 121 yards.
The Rams struggled to find any offensive rhythm for the first time under Hejny. Before Saturday, games started by Hejny had seen the Rams average 49.6 points, but the Aggie defense figured him out, limiting Colorado State to a season-low 14 points, all of which came in the second half.
Beyond Hillstead’s return, the Aggie defense was the story of this game. The Rams were limited to 67 total yards in the first half as the Aggie offense jumped out to a 17-0 lead. Utah State also recovered two Rams fumbles to help put the game away late.
Colorado State drops to 3-5 on the year with a 1-3 Pac-12 record. Utah State moves to 3-5 and draws even with a 2-2 conference record.
The Rams’ difficult stretch continues as they welcome AP No. 20 Boise State, while the Aggies stay home to face Fresno State on Saturday.
UTEP vs. North Dakota State
Final | UTEP 7, North Dakota State 31
UTEP, one of the worst teams in the Mountain West, kept its game against North Dakota State, one of the better Mountain West teams, a lot closer than people were expecting.
The Miners intercepted Bison quarterback Nathan Hayes on the opening drive of the game, and their first play from scrimmage was a 57-yard rushing touchdown by Raymond Moore III that kept them in front until the Bison took the lead late in the second quarter.
Moore had been filling in at quarterback for injured starter EJ Colson and helped ease Colson back into his first game in two weeks. Colson finished with only 59 passing yards and two interceptions, while Moore added 32 yards.
Despite the lopsided final score, the Bison weren’t able to take control of the game until late in the fourth quarter, when they led only 17-7. A Hayes rushing touchdown and a fumble-return touchdown on the Miners’ next drive blew the doors open and secured North Dakota State’s fourth conference win of the year.
The Bison offense was stifled most of the night by the Miner defense, but their own defense still stood tall. North Dakota State sits second in the country in yards allowed per game and tied for first in points allowed, and it held UTEP under both averages on Saturday.
Freshman Bison defensive back Marion Moore had his best game of the season, recording a fumble recovery and an interception, the first two takeaways of his career.
UTEP drops to 1-7 overall with an 0-4 Mountain West record. The Bison improve to 7-2 with a 4-2 conference record in their first season at the FBS level.
UTEP returns to El Paso to take on Hawai’i on Saturday, while North Dakota State goes on bye before traveling to take on Hawai’i in two weeks.
New Mexico vs. San Jose State
Final | New Mexico 21, San Jose State 16
On the back of one of the nation’s best defenses, the New Mexico Lobos escaped with their second straight 21-16 win, this time over a San Jose State team that refused to back down.
The Lobos were never able to fully pull away from a San Jose State team that’s been difficult to put down all season. Scottre Humphry rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 11 on the season, tied for ninth nationally, while fellow running back Kiefer Sibley put 102 yards on the ground.
Lobos quarterback Toa Fa’avae struggled, throwing for only 101 yards and a touchdown alongside three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to make the score 21-16.
The Spartans also struggled to get offense from the quarterback position, with Luke Weaver throwing for 190 yards and two interceptions while also carrying eight times for -22 yards. The only offensive scoring for the Spartans came off the leg of Trajan Sinatra, who went 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, all of them 28 yards or shorter.
The win was the Lobos’ first at San Jose State since 1969; they had previously been 0-7-1 there. The Spartans had won four straight against the Lobos.
New Mexico, now up to No. 22 in the AP Poll, moves to 7-1 on the year with a perfect 4-0 Mountain West record. San Jose State falls to 4-5 with a 2-3 conference record.
New Mexico travels north to take on Nevada in a Friday night showdown, while San Jose State hosts Mountain West newcomer Northern Illinois Saturday afternoon.
Nevada vs. UCLA
Final | Nevada 0, UCLA 27
In the Elevation Change Game of the Week, the Nevada Wolf Pack had a chance to take down one of three remaining unbeaten teams in AP No. 7 UCLA, but alas, it was not meant to be in a 27-0 beatdown by the Bruins.
UCLA capitalized on three straight Luke Duncan interceptions, the last of which was returned for a touchdown to make the score 10-0. Duncan was benched after a 1-of-8, three-interception start. AJ Bianco and Reeve Slone finished the game for Nevada, combining to go 7-of-16 for 75 yards and an interception.
The Wolf Pack mustered only 176 total yards of offense, but their defense kept UCLA’s offense in check most of the game. Talented Bruin running back Wayne Knight was limited to just 53 yards, his second-lowest total of the season, and quarterback Ty Diffenbach was held to 178 yards, his lowest total in a start this season.
With the win, the Bruins move to 8-0 and have jumped to No. 5 in the country. Nevada drops to 3-5 with the loss.
The Wolf Pack return home to take on their second AP-ranked team in as many weeks in No. 22 New Mexico Friday night.
Washington State vs. San Diego State
Final | Washington State 20, San Diego State 26
Behind Lucky Sutton and Javion Kinnard, the San Diego State Aztecs earned a victory over the pesky Washington State Cougars.
Sutton and Kinnard combined for 202 yards, with Kinnard scoring both of the team’s rushing touchdowns. Kinnard has now scored two touchdowns in back-to-back weeks, making the Aztec running back room significantly more dangerous.
The Aztecs and Cougars were in a dogfight all night, with San Diego State not pulling away until the middle of the fourth quarter. Owen Eshelman started his third game for the Cougars and played well, throwing for 299 yards and rushing for 34 more with two touchdowns.
Missouri transfer Daniel Blood put up a career-best performance for Washington State with eight receptions for 105 yards. Blood had yet to top 59 yards in a game this season, so this could be a sign of things to come for a Cougars team looking for anything to build on in a seemingly lost year.
The loss drops Washington State to 1-8 on the year with an 0-5 Pac-12 record, a very harsh year for one of the Pac-12’s original members. San Diego State moves to 4-5 on the season and is over .500 in conference play at 3-2.
Washington State goes on a much-needed bye week before playing Colorado State in two weeks. San Diego State also goes on bye before facing Utah State on November 14.
Texas State vs. Boise State
Final | Texas State 45, Boise State 46
Despite blowing a 25-point halftime lead, the Boise State Broncos survived against the Texas State Bobcats to remain the Group of Six’s CFP front-runner.
The Broncos led 28-3 (remind you of any particular game?) before Texas State scored the next 36 points in 21 minutes of game time. On top of that, Boise State lost quarterback Maddux Madsen to a left knee injury after a 20-yard pick-six, his first interception of the season, put the Bobcats up 11 with 8:58 to go in the game.
Max Cutforth came on in relief of Madsen and threw three touchdowns over the next seven minutes to retake the lead and win the game for the Broncos. The 25-point lead was the largest Boise State had ever blown, surpassing the 21-point lead it blew in a triple-overtime loss to Washington State in 2017.
Texas State was led by Brad Jackson’s 327 passing yards and four touchdowns. The Bobcat defense limited Boise State to just 22 yards on the Broncos’ first six drives of the second half to claw its way back into the game.
The final five minutes featured three lead changes and a critical failed two-point conversion by the Bobcats, which allowed the Broncos to take a one-point lead with 2:40 to go.
The Bobcats had the ball at the two-minute timeout but couldn’t convert on 4th-and-3, securing the win for the Broncos.
Boise State has now played close games in back-to-back weeks before securing the victory late in the fourth quarter. That trend will be telling as the Broncos navigate the final month of the regular season.
Texas State falls to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in its first season in the Pac-12. The Bobcats have shown they can compete at a high level against quality opponents, a good step forward for head coach G.J. Kinne’s squad. Boise State improves to 7-1 and 4-0 in conference.
Texas State continues its West Coast road trip next week at Oregon State, while Boise State travels to Fort Collins to take on Colorado State on Saturday.
Northern Illinois vs. UNLV
Final | Northern Illinois 24, UNLV 31
Not much has gone right for a Northern Illinois squad that just suffered its tenth straight loss, but a one-score game against a good UNLV team is a lot to build on in the Huskies’ first season in the Mountain West.
The Huskies got season-best production from nearly every position group. Taron Dickens finished with 253 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 50 rushing yards in his best overall game this season. Elijah Porter ran for 113 yards, nearly doubling his season total, and George Dimopoulos recorded seven receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown, all season bests. The Husky defense also came up with two interceptions, tying its single-game high.
UNLV got impressive performances from Jackson Arnold, who finished with 269 yards, three touchdowns, and 86 yards on the ground, and Jai’Den Thomas, who had 114 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Rebels are 4-1 since starting the season 1-2.
The Huskies went up 17-10 in the middle of the second quarter, but back-to-back Rebel touchdown drives sandwiched around a missed field goal gave UNLV a lead it would never relinquish.
Northern Illinois falls to 0-8 on the year, the only FBS team yet to win a game this season, and 0-4 in its first Mountain West season. UNLV improves to 5-3 with a 3-1 conference record.
Northern Illinois stays out west and travels to San Jose State, while UNLV stays home to take on Wyoming this Saturday.
Oregon State vs. Fresno State
Final | Oregon State 22, Fresno State 38
In perhaps the most shocking result of the weekend, the Fresno State Bulldogs became the first non-Big 12 team to figure out the powerful Oregon State Beavers offense in a dominant 38-22 win.
Oregon State had averaged 51 points a game during its five-game win streak but was limited to just 22 against Fresno State, its lowest total since a season-opening loss to then-No. 23 Houston. Five sacks, nine tackles for loss, three failed fourth-down conversions, and two lost fumbles by quarterback Braden Atkinson sealed the Beavers’ fate in their first conference loss of the season.
Atkinson still finished with 373 yards and a touchdown, staying atop the FBS ranks in passing yards and touchdowns this season.
Perhaps more impressively, Fresno State limited breakout freshman star Jesse Legree to just 70 yards on seven catches, his lowest output of the season and the first game in which he didn’t surpass 100 receiving yards.
Fresno State running back Bryson Donelson had a season-best 108 rushing yards against the Beavers, including a breakaway 63-yard touchdown late in the first quarter. He anchored a Bulldog rushing attack that outgained Oregon State 190-77 on the ground.
Oregon State falls to 5-3 on the season and 3-1 in the Pac-12. Fresno State pulls even with the Beavers at 5-3 overall but remains a game behind them in the Pac-12 standings at 2-2.
The Beavers return to Corvallis to take on a red-hot Texas State squad this Saturday, while the Bulldogs travel to Logan to take on a Utah State team also coming off an impressive win.