UCLA beat Nebraska in a thriller at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, 36-30. Nebraska came into the game ranked 16th, and left defeated, and wondering how they could give up 653 total yards to a UCLA offense, that had very little offense last year. Brett Hundley, the UCLA freshman quarterback, threw for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns, and rushed for another 53 yards. In Jim Mora’s first year as head coach, UCLA looks like a much improved team on offense and defense.
The other big upset by a Pac 12 team over a Big 10 team, was Oregon State defeating 13th ranked Wisconsin 10-7 in Corvallis, Oregon. Wisconsin won the Big 10 Championship, and played in the Rose Bowl the last two years, but the Beavers weren’t impressed. They shut down the vaunted Badger running game, holding the Heisman Trophy finalist of last year, Montee Ball, to 61 yards rushing. The Oregon State defense was suffocating, with Wisconsin not even scoring until 1:31 remained in the game. The Beavers have been very tough at home against ranked opponents in the last several years, beating USC 3 times in the last decade. Saturday was a big day for the Pac 12 Conference.
Another notable upset occurred in Little Rock, Arkansas. Louisiana-Monroe shocked 8th ranked Arkansas at home, with a 4th down overtime touchdown to win 34-31. Louisiana-Monroe quarterback Kolton Browning, threw for 412 yards and 3 touchdowns, and added 69 yards rushing and another touchdown. Arkansas took a big hit, literally, when they had to play the second half without their first team All-SEC quarterback Tyler Wilson. But, the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks racked up 550 total yards to 377 for the Razorbacks, and the last 14 points in regulation, to force overtime. Arkansas kicked a field goal in overtime, then when Louisiana-Monroe had their chance, Browning ran in a 4th down, 16 yard touchdown to win the game. Saturday was a huge day for some big underdogs.
