NCAA Football News and Notes: Illini Shock The College Football World

It has been a long time since Lovie Smith has won a truly meaningful game of football, but for the Illinois Fighting Illini, they were able to celebrate like they were champions, even if for one day. In a matchup against then-No. 6 Wisconsin, it was believed by most around the nation that this would simply be a steamrolling of Illinois, basically feeling like an off week for the Badgers. Sadly for Wisconsin fans, an off week is exactly what their players took, as Illinois came away with a 24-23 upset win over the Badgers on Saturday.

It was a comedy of errors that led to the outcome. Up by nine points, it was a fumble from Jonathan Taylor with about seven minutes left. The Illini took advantage with a score to cut it to a one-possession game at 23-21.

Then it was an interception thrown by quarterback Jack Coan with about two minutes left. After a running attack got the Illini into field-goal range, it was a 39-yard field goal by kicker James McCourt that gave the victory to Illinois.

This was the first time that Illinois has beaten a top-10 team in a long time. How long? It last happened in 2007. In fact, it was 2011 in a win over Arizona State since they had even beaten a top-25 team.

On Saturday, that all changed. Again, it was supposed to be an easy day for Wisconsin as they prepped for this week’s showdown with unbeaten Ohio State. In fact, the Badgers came into this one as a whopping 30-point favorite.

Updated Rankings

The loss to Illinois certainly didn’t do any favors for Wisconsin. Previously No. 6 overall, the Badgers dropped to 13th in the AP Top 25 poll. Aside from Wisconsin dropping out of the top 10, the other most noteworthy change is that Ohio State jumped to No. 3 in the rankings ahead of Clemson. With six teams still undefeated in the top 10, here is how the top 10 currently shakes out.

1. Alabama (7-0)

2. LSU (7-0)

3. Ohio State (7-0)

4. Clemson (7-0)

5. Oklahoma (7-0)

6. Penn State (7-0)

7. Florida (7-1)

8. Notre Dame (5-1)

9. Auburn (6-1)

10. Georgia (6-1)

Tagovailoa Has Surgery, Will Sit

Alabama currently sits atop the polls, but at least for one week, it is going to have to find a new person to man the quarterback position. Tua Tagovailoa, the stellar Crimson Tide quarterback, is out for next week’s game after suffering a high ankle sprain on Saturday.

In fact, on Sunday morning, he underwent a surgical procedure to try to help with the ankle. It is possible that it could be more than one game, but Tagovailoa and Alabama are trying to remain confident that his absence will be short-lived.

Luckily, this is not the same ankle that he injured last year, but it is still concerning nonetheless. The injury happened when his ankle rolled while he was taken to the ground by a defender.

This season, Tagovailoa has been phenomenal. In six games, he has gone 145 for 194 for 2,166 yards. He has also thrown an incredible 27 touchdowns versus just two interceptions.

He has also rushed for 30 yards and another two touchdowns on 18 carries. While Alabama will likely be able to get past Arkansas with very little worry next week, Nick Saban and the rest of the Alabama program hope that their quarterback will be able to get back on the field sooner than later.

AAC To Still Hold Conference Title Game

The departure of Connecticut has created a lot of unique issues for the American Athletic Conference, and one of them was the concern that it might not be able to have a conference title game.

However, it appears that the NCAA is granting them permission to do so, as they received a waiver for both 2020 and 2021. Technically, with 11 teams in the conference, they are still able to have a game, but the concern was that they didn’t have divisions within their conference.

Since not every team will play one another and because the conference doesn’t have divisions to even it out, it had to get permission from the NCAA. At least for the foreseeable future, that permission has been granted.

Cancer Survivor Gets Into Game

In a bit of a heartwarming story, there was quite a sentimental moment in the Minnesota-Rutgers game on Saturday. With the score 27-0, the Gophers sent in the kicker to tack on the extra point. The kick was good, but it was the one holding the kick that got the most out of it.

Casey O’Brien, a redshirt sophomore holder, got in the game for the first time after what has been a long and hard journey. O’Brien has fought and survived cancer four times now. In fact, with the football team, he has endured surgeries and chemotherapy throughout his tenure.

That didn’t stop him from living his dream, though. Many said that after his bouts with cancer (he was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer known as osteosarcoma) that he wouldn’t be able to play football again. In the Gophers’ win, he proved them all wrong.