No. 16 BYU: 20 at Notre Dame: 28
Two of the biggest independent teams met on Saturday for the first time in nearly a decade. Unfortunately, this matchup in Las Vegas could not have started worse for the Cougars. On the first play from scrimmage, TaRiq Bracey intercepted a jump ball thrown by Jaren Hall, leading to a Fighting Irish field goal. Hall did make up for the interception a few minutes later by tossing a touchdown to Kody Epps on 4th and goal. However, Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer carved up the BYU defense on his way to setting the all-time catch record for a tight end.
Jayden Thomas, the other Fighting Irish tight end, made a spectacular catch to put Notre Dame up by 12 at halftime.
Trailing by 19 at the end of the third quarter, BYU could have folded, but they fought their way back into the game, starting with a 53-yard bomb from Jaren Hall to Kody Epps.
With another 28-yard touchdown run coming from Christopher Brown Jr at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Cougars were within five points of taking the lead. Unfortunately, BYU failed to score more points and fell to Notre Dame by eight. Consequently, the Cougars dropped out of the AP poll for the first time all season.
Up Next for BYU: vs. Arkansas
South Florida: 24 at No. 24 Cincinnati: 28
With Cincinnati earning a spot in the AP poll for the first time since week one, the Bearcats sought to start quickly. However, South Florida was the team that found the endzone first, as Brian Battie scampered for a 22-yard touchdown. Then, after a Bull’s field goal, Ben Bryant found Jadon Thompson, who maneuvered through the entire Bull’s defense for a 29-yard score.
The back-and-forth contest continued as Xavier Weaver caught his second touchdown pass of the day to give South Florida a three-point lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
However, the play of the game was Charles McClelland’s breakaway run in the fourth quarter.
Cincinnati’s defense did its job throughout the rest of the game as Luke Fickell, and his team avoided the upset at home.
Up Next for Cincinnati: BYE
Houston: 33 at Memphis 32
So far, the 2022 Houston football team’s story is about losses that come down to the wire. On Friday night, Dana Holgorsen and the Cougars flipped that narrative, even though Houston was outperformed in the first quarter. The Tigers methodically manipulated the Cougar’s defense and ran the ball in for a score on their first drive. When Houston received an opportunity of their own on offense, veteran quarterback Clayton Tune threw a costly interception to Quindell Johnson. Tune did redeem himself by running into the endzone at the end of the second quarter. Although these were the only points in the first half for Dana Holgorsen’s team, they were within ten points of Memphis at halftime. However, Clayton Tune and the Cougars exploded in the fourth quarter. The triumphant comeback attempt included a 100-yard kick return by Jayce Rogers.
Even after Roger’s kick return, things looked bleak as the Cougars were down by 13 with just over a minute to play in the game. But, while Tune found Kesean Carter for a touchdown just seconds later, a successful onsides realistically gave Houston a chance to win.
It took the Houston offense under a minute to drive down and find the endzone for the go-ahead score.
Although this season may not be what Houston fans envisioned, this remarkable comeback is a memory the Cougars’ fanbase can cherish for many years.
Up Next for Houston: at Navy
SMU: 19 at UCF: 41
Previously scheduled for week five, the UCF administration decided to move this matchup for the second time because of hurricane Ian’s destruction. When the game finally kicked off, John Rhys Plumlee, Isaiah Bowser, and the UCF offense had trouble putting up points. The Knights finally found the endzone at the end of the half to tie the game at ten. Luckily for Gus Malzahn’s team, they started fast in the third quarter, taking their first possession down for a touchdown and then stopping SMU on fourth and one. Plumlee then found Ryan O’Keefe in the corner of the endzone on the play of the night.
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However, the exclamation point on the victory was O’Keefe’s 58-yard reception, where his speed was on full display.
The UCF defense only allowed a garbage-time touchdown on the game’s last play and tacked on a safety in a dominant 22-point victory.
Up Next for UCF: vs. Temple
Photo by Stephen Pinchback / Houston Athletics
