Blue Knile*

#57 Louisville – 0

#8 Arkansas – 40

The Cardinals had trouble keeping up with HB Knile Davis

FAYATEVILLE, Ark. -- Blue was aching for a breakout performance. He got one in Arkansas's 40-0 beatdown of Louisville, the most lopsided result of the young tournament.

For the first time this year, Blue exhibited efficiency in the passing game - QB Tyler Wilson went 9 for 10 for 132 yards with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. However, it was HB Knile Davis that stole the show for the Razorbacks.

Wilson found Davis through the air for a 7-yard touchdown on Arkansas's first play from scrimmage following a Teddy Bridgewater interception. Davis later punched it in on a 2-yard run and 59-yard screen play to give Arkansas a 21-0 halftime lead. They were able to cruise from there, with the defense holding Louisville to 1 for 8 on third down and 1 for 5 on fourth down for the game. Bridgewater finished 7 for 19  through the air and was held in check on the ground. As a team, Louisville went backwards to the tune of -31 yards rushing, thanks in part to a third-quarter sack of Bridgewater following a long dropback, one of four he endured on the day. 

After reaching 100 yards receiving in the first half, Davis took to the ground in the second, notching two more touchdowns to give him a total of five for the game. He finished the contest with 132 yards on 18 carries. Arkansas did not attempt a pass in the second half.

Things are finally starting to take shape in the Northleft bracket with #25 Texas now preparing to travel to Fayetteville, and a couple other possible second round matchups of interest on the radar, namely Alabama-Florida and North Carolina-South Carolina. There is a lot of first round football left, however, so believe me . . . it's a hypothetical.

Stats:
North Carolina
HB Knile Davis – 18 rushes, 132 yards, 3 TDs; 6 receptions, 100 yards, 2 TDs

*pun alert

Break On Through

#41 North Carolina  – 21
#24 Texas A&M – 13

North Carolina CB Lecount Fantroy shakes Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill on his way to the end zone

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Blue trudged into College Station battered and bruised, 2-7 record in tow. He and the North Carolina Tar Heels departed with a few extra gray hairs and a hard-fought victory in a tight contest between two talented squads.

Freshman return specialist/special teams gunner CB Lecount Fantroy keyed the win for UNC with two interceptions, including a 102-yard int return touchdown in the second quarter. "I'm just looking to contribute in any way I can," he said after the game. "I'm also looking to try and hang out later."

Fantroy's TD was bookended by two A&M field goals, one from 49-yards out, giving UNC a slim 7-6 advantage at the half.

Two plays into the third quarter, the Aggies returned the favor with a pick-six of their own. Junior CB Dustin Harris showed that he knows what a five is, as he Asante Samuel-ed the slot receiver running the out route, and took it to the house to put Texas A&M ahead 13-7.

North Carolina came right back on their next drive, which was capped by an 8-yard touchdown run by AJ Blue. Then, with four minutes remaining in the game, UNC got the ball back deep in their own territory on QB Ryan Tannehill's third interception of the day. The Tar Heels drove down the field, and QB Bryn Renner (UNC's other "gunner") found TE James Hurst up the middle to set up a 1st and goal from the 1. AJ Blue was able to punch it in again on a toss play, giving UNC an 8-point lead.

Texas A&M, needing a touchdown and 2-point conversion, was able to engineer a promising drive in the final minutes. They earned a 3rd and 2 at the UNC 25-yard line with 40 seconds to go, and opted to run, which may have been costly, as they were stopped short and had no timeouts remaining. Another handoff to HB Christine Michael on 4th and 1 narrowly yielded a clutch first down, but the Aggies only had time for a couple more plays. On the final play of the game, Fantroy picked off his second pass to seal it for the Heels.

It was Blue's first win over the Brothers Godfrey in 2012, and the second of three tough losses for Green on Thursday night.

North Carolina eagerly awaits the winner of #9 South Carolina and #56 Texas Tech.

Stats:
North Carolina
CB Lecount Fantroy – 2 INTs, 102-yd INT return for TD
HB AJ Blue – 11 rushes, 55 yards, 2 TDs; 5 receptions, 41 yards

Wolverines Have X-Factor In B1G TNS W

#54 Illinois – 7
#11 Michigan – 14

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan’s offense squandered multiple opportunities to build a lead against the Illini, but their defense kept them in the game and came up with a goal-line stand allowing @Denard Robinson to connect with @Roy Roundtree for a 48-yard game-winning touchdown with 16 seconds remaining.

The Wolverines D didn’t get off to a good start though. On their first play from scrimmage, Illinois QB Nathan Scheelhaase found TE Justin Lattimore for a 60-yard catch and run giving the Illini an early 7-0 lead. But it would be their only points of the day as Michigan held them to just 85 yards of offense for the remainder of the contest.

Two red-zone turnovers, a Vincent Smith fumble and Robinson interception, had the Wolverines in a hole before Robinson was able to find TE Kevin Koger for a 16-yard TD after eluding the oncoming rush from a play-action fake.

Illinois looked to have regained the lead midway through the 4th on a second down Jason Ford touchdown, but the run was called back for a holding penalty on sociology major Hugh Thornton (they’re student-athletes, remember). Scheelhaase completed his third down pass, but the Michigan D held the Illini up at the 2 yard line. Rather than kick the go-ahead field goal, Green rolled the dice and went back to Ford on a toss to the left side but the play was blown up immediately in the backfield and the Wolverines took over on their 7 yard line with 2:19 remaining.

Robinson was clutch on the eventual game-winning drive, continually completing 3rd down throws (the Wolverines were an impressive 7 for 9 on 3rd down conversations throughout the game) and calmly advancing the offense down the field. Content with doing no worse than overtime, Red bled the clock and when Green finally brought pressure off the edge on a corner blitz was able to find the streaking Roundtree for a 48 yard catch & run up the sideline to paydirt.

Sugar Land, Texas' Troy Woolfork, son of former Michigan All-American tailback Butch Woolfolk (1978-81), sealed the game with an interception.

Michigan racked up 9 first downs on the way to 219 yards of offense. With the win, the Wolverines will move on to play the winner of #22 Clemson vs. #43 Cal.

Stats:
Michigan
Denard Robinson – 13/21 for 181 yards, 2 TDs, INT
Roy Roundtree – 5 rec, 78 yards, TD
Darryl Stonum – 3 rec
Kevin Koger – 3 rec
Troy Woolfork – INT

21 Days/9 Games Later, Orange Goes Down

#52 Toledo – 20

#13 Michigan State – 23 (OT)

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Thwarted first by the unreliable PlayStation Network connectivity, Green was able to outlast Orange and defeat him for the first time of the 2012 tournament.

At the start of 2012 TNS, whispers loomed of a talented color seeking to prove himself on a third generation system where his comfort level matched his swagger.  No game Orange has contest could more speak to the dog, the fiery passion motivating him on this 2012 mission than his first defeat.

Throughout seven and a half quarters of play, Orange stood toe-to-toe with Green in what should have been a lopsided encounter,  After all, Michigan State is a highly ranked, talented team, which was playing on its home turf.  Green was able to jump out to a 20-10 second half lead, only to see Orange consistently chip away.  Toledo QB Terrance Owens hooked up with a receiver on a final possession before the end of regulation with a pass that was tipped multiple times by two Spartan defenders.  A Toledo kick goal forced overtime, Green’s second match of the tournament that could not be settled in regulation.

The game did not hang in the balance much longer, as Green was able to intercept Toledo’s first play from scrimmage in OT after winning the toss.  Green wasted no time and sent kicker Dan Conroy straight to the field on first down, who won it with a 42 yard field goal.

It was Orange’s first defeat yet Green left the match exasperated with his play, and perhaps more fearful of his brother despite picking up the W.  Michigan State advanced to set up an all B1G Ten match up against #21 Nebraska.

Stats:

Michigan State

Kirk Cousins – 8/18 for 214 yards, TD, INT, Fumble

Edwin Baker* – 23 carries for 127 yards, TD, 2 receptions for 49 yards, TD

Dana Dixon – 6 tackles (4 solo), 2 ATK

Toledo

Terrance Owens – 14/24 for 228 yards, 2 INT

Mark Singer – 11 tackles (8 solo), 3 ATK

13 first downs, 3 turnovers

Ready. Set. Terrible.

#47 Arizona State – 10
#18 Penn State – 0

Does this live ball look like it might actually be out of bounds? You should chall--oh wait

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- As Red put it, we set TNS back several years.

Not for the faint of heart, this game featured a stunning array of inexplicable throws, fumbles, interceptions, dropped interceptions, and nauseated fans looking away in disgust. One of the fumbles, pictured above, impossibly teetered on the edge of the field as the game teetered on the edge of madness, sinking into the existential gap between video game and horror movie; between timespace and nothingness.

When all was said and done, Arizona State, despite perpetrating most of the miscues, emerged with the win, Blue's second of the year. Rather than dignify the contest with a summary of its events, let's leave it at that. Nothing to see here.

Stats:
Arizona State
HB Cameron Marshall – 11 carries, 44 yards, TD; 7 receptions, 58 yards

Special Teams Play Lifts Horned Frogs To Victory

#53 Nevada – 0

#12 TCU – 20

FORT WORTH, Texas -- In yet another game that required a restart due to technical difficulties, Green controlled the ball for nearly fifteen minutes on the way to a dominating performance as TCU disposed of an inferior Nevada squad.

Horned Frog RB Ed Wesley churned out 134 yards on 28 carries, which allowed Green to play keep away from Red throughout.  TCU was able to force four turnovers, including a game-changing fumble return for touchdown on the kickoff to start the second half. Red was unable to overcome the insurmountable lead, as Green drove HB dive after HB dive into the teeth of the Nevada defense. 

Nevada fumbles 2nd half kickoff, one of its four turnovers

It was the second time this tournament that Green was able to put up a decisive victory despite his quarterback putting up sub-50% completion rate and under 100 passing yards. 

While Nevada had hopes of continuing the tradition Colin Kaepernick built, it must settle for a first round exit by way of a former mid-major/Big 12 convert.  A confident TCU program will look forward to a second round tilt with the winner of the worst offensive scheme (#44 Georgia Tech, wishbone) versus an even worse defensive scheme (#21 West Virginia, 3-3-5) battle. 

Stats:

TCU

Casey Pachall – 6/13 for 89 yards, INT

Ed Wesley – 28 carries for 134 yards, TD, Fumble, 2 receptions for 33 yards

Devin Johnson – 28 yard fumble recovery for TD on kickoff to open 2nd half

TOP 14:43

Nevada

Three first downs, 38 yards, 4 TO, TOP 5:17

Orange Continues To Frustrate Blue, Leads Cougars Over Courages

#39 BYU – 14

#26 Houston – 10

HOUSTON -- BYU and Houston squared off in the first round for a battle between two schools with the same mascots, double Cougars.  BYU was able to pull the upset, as Orange was able to push his win streak to 8-0 to start the 2012 Sensationalizationalism tournament.  

BYU was able to take a 7-3 lead into the half.  Houston answered to take the lead in the second half, but could not hold on.  Converting 7/11 on third downs allowed BYU to hold the ball for a total time of possession of 14:16 to Houston’s 5:44. 

QB Jake Heaps had an outstanding game, finishing 12 of 15 for 123-yards and two touchdowns.  Not to be outshined, HB JJ DiLuigi had 17 rushes for 119 yards and four catches for 45 yards.  Brandon Ogletree lead the defense with six solo tackles.

#39 BYU will face the winner of  #58 Purdue and #7 LSU in the second round.

Stats:
BYU
QB Jake Heaps – 12/15 for 123 yards, 2 TDs; 12 carries for 43 yards
JJ Di'Luigi – 17 carries for 119 yards; 4 receptions for 45 yards
Devin Mahina – 3 receptions for 41 yards, TD
O'Neill Chambers – 2 receptions for 26 yards, TD
Brandon Ogletree – 6 tackles (6 solo)
Jordan Johnson – 1 tackle, INT
285 total yards of offense, 7/11 on third down, 1 turnover
TOP – 14:16

Houston
125 yards of total offense, 1 turnover, TOP – 5:44

Integrity Dooms Green And His Beloved Buckeyes

#33 Florida – 17

#32 Ohio State – 10

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In the most anticipated first round match ups in the history of Sensationalizationalism, the Florida Gators faced off against The Ohio State Buckeyes along the banks of the Olentangy River.  In a game that has become known as the “Urban Bowl," a well-hyped battle between powerhouse football programs lived up to its billing.

Green made a bold decision to sit the group known as the “Tat 5” (starters QB Terrelle Pryor, LT Mike Adams, HB Boom Herron, and WR DeVier Posey), for their involvement in the infamous autographs-for-free-tattoos scandal that marred the proud institution.  The Gators were able to capitalize on this benching by blitzing the backup left tackle, forcing 6 sacks and two fumbles by the backup running back Jordan Hall. 

Freshman QB Braxton Miller was able lead the offense to a quick ten points, capitalizing off of early Gator turnovers.  Florida's offensive weapons Chris Rainy and Jeff Demps proved to be too much for the Buckeyes, however.  A late fumble by the Buckeyes gave Orange and Gators a short field, and Demps scored a go ahead touchdown.

Braxton Miller was able to convert a third and long deep in his own territory as he sought to carry his Buckeyes to the tying score.  The Buckeyes reach midfield, but came up short on fourth down, and Florida prevailed much to the dismay of 105,000 plus fans in attendance.

The road to glory for the Gators does not get any easier.  #33 Florida will likely face #1 Alabama in the second round, assuming Red can Roll Tide past upset minded #64 La Tech.

Stats:
Florida
QB Jeff Brantley – 6/14 for 80 yards, TD, INT
RB Jeff Demps – 12 carries for 44 yards, TD; 2 KR for 30 yards
WR Chris Rainey – 1 reception for 35 yards, TD; 1 KR for 27 yards
William Green – 3 tackles (3 solo), 3 TFL, FF, 2 FR
Matt Elam – 3 tackles (2 solo), ATF, INT
Josh Evans – 5 tackles (4 solo), ATK, INT

Ohio State
Four turnovers (2 INTs, 2 fumbles), 129 yards of total offense

Green's Wildcats Impressive In Win Over Hawkeyes

#42 Iowa – 7

#23 Kansas State – 17

Bryce Brown catches Hawkeye LBs in coverage, sneaks past for score

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Green continued his unprecedented success against Blue, imposing his will on the hapless Hawkeyes en route to a decisive victory in Manhattan.

Green struck first on a high risk/high reward third down conversion on an HB draw designed for RB Bryce Brown. Expecting a pass on 3rd and 7, Blue dropped his defenders into coverage and Green capitalized as Brown scampered into the end zone for the game's first score. 

The Hawkeye defense largely held QB Collin Klein in check, who was a meager 5/11 for 72 yards. Klein was able to connect with target Tramaine Thompson for a score on another third down conversion in the second half that put the game largely out of reach.

Unable to establish much rhythm on offense, Blue finished a combined 2/7 on 3rd and 4th down attempts. 

Iowa continued the struggles of the B1G Ten in postseason play. The former TNS champion Wildcats advance to the second round and will meet the winner of the #10 Wisconsin v. #55 Northern Illinois contest. 

Stats:

Kansas State

Collin Klein – 5/11 for 72 yards, TD, INT

Bryce Brown* – 21 carries for 64 yards, TD

Tramaine Thompson – 2 receptions for 33 yards, TD

Tre Walker – 6 tackles, TFL, 2 DEFL, FF

7 first downs, 124 yards, 5-10 on 3rd downs, TO

Iowa

9 first downs, 188 yards, 2-7 on 3rd & 4th downs, 3 TO (2 fumbles, INT)

Red Gambles With Two Point Conversion Attempt, Fails

#34 Mississippi State – 20

#31 Notre Dame – 21

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame was able to escape an early first round lost to the Bulldogs of Mississippi State with a defensive stop on a two-point conversion for the win.  

Mississippi State was able to control the ball for a total of 13 and half minutes, and led 14-7 at halftime.  Notre Dame took the lead 21-14 with a few minutes left in the 4^th quarter on a Dayne Christ 10 yard scramble for a touchdown.  

The contest proved to Orange's closest call of the tournament and was a tough loss for struggling Red.  "I'm not here for moral victories," a dejected Red muttered after coming within two and a half yards of victory.

Notre Dame will face the winner of #2 Oregon and #63 Arkansas State.


Stats:
Notre Dame
QB Dayne Christ – 13/17 for 195 yards, TD; 5 carries 15 yards, TD
RB Cierre Wood – 5 carries for 26 yards, TD; 3 receptions for 63 yards
WR Malcolm Floyd – 4 receptions for 90 yards, TD; 3 KR for 55 yards
Zeke Motto – 6 tackles (3 solo)
Joe Romano – 2 tackles (solo), ATK, INT
236 yards of total offense, TOP – 6:26, 3/4 on third down

Mississippi State
300 yards of total offense, TOP – 13:34, 1/6 on third down

Blackshirts Overwhelm Starry-Eyed SMU in First TNS Appearance

#45 SMU – 7

#20 Nebraska – 24

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Nebraska's Rex Burkhead was too much for SMU’s first TNS appearance as he rushed for 3 touchdowns. 

The Cornhuskers earned their Blackshirts title with a great performance on the defensive side of the ball.  Courtney Osborne led the charge, who was flying all over the field with nine tackles and a forced fumble.  

Nebraska will play either #52 Toledo or #13 Michigan State in the second round.

Stats:

Nebraska

QB Taylor Martinez – 8/11 for 150 yards; 10 carries for 43 yards

RB Rex Burkhead – 15 carries for 113 yards, 3 TDs; 2 receptions for 75 yards

Ben Cotton – 3 receptions for 88 yards

Will Compton – 3 tackles (3 solo), INT, PD

Courtney Osborne – 9 tackles (2 solo), FF

Eric Martin – 4 tackles (3 solo), 2 sacks

Virginia Tech Escapes After Baffling Clock Mismanagement by Tennessee

#48 Tennessee – 13
#17 Virginia Tech – 14

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Virginia Tech defeated Tennessee in one of the most bizarre and memorable finishes in TNS history. Trailing by 1 with less than a minute remaining, Tennessee found itself deep in Hokie territory after a Tauren Poole run. Facing 1st and goal from inside the 5, Blue inexplicably called for Tyler Bray to take a knee rather than stopping the clock or bringing on the field goal unit to attempt a game-winning kick.

“I was thinking about wasting time because [Red] had all his timeouts and I expected he would use them since there was enough time to get the ball back.”

But the Volunteers had none of their own and would not get off another snap as Red was able to keep the game in the playcalling screen until the clock expired.

David Wilson was bottled up on the ground, but the junior running back had a big day in the passing game with 6 receptions, surpassing the 100-yard mark. His 32 yard touchdown catch tied the game, with the extra point providing the winning margin. Jarrett Boykin also hauled in 4 catches for 67 yards, including a touchdown.

Virginia Tech had a chance to ice the game on offense late in the contest after forcing a turnover on downs. Following an offsides penalty, the Hokies needed just 5 yards for a first down to seal the victory but were turned away on 4th down. The drive did force the Volunteers to call all of their timeouts though, which came back to loom large.

The Hokie defense twice held Tennessee to field goals in goal-to-go situations in the first half.

Red improved to 1-4 with the victory. Virginia Tech will travel to the winner of #16 USC vs. #49 Pittsburgh.

Orange Longhorns Survive Tulsa's Upset Bid

#40 Tulsa – 17

#25 Texas – 20

AUSTIN, Texas -- An early upset alert took place in Austin until Longhorn defender Josh Turner was able to make an outstanding one-handed interception with a 39-yard return deep into Tulsa territory to start off the second half.  

With the score tied at 10-10, a Garrett Gilbert led Longhorn offense was able to capitalize with a touchdown.  Garrett was able to have a combined total of 194 yards and 2 TDs.  Texas later added a field goal that proved to be the difference.

The Longhorns will face the winner of #8 Arkansas and #57 Louisville in the second round.

Stats:
Texas
QB Garrett Gilbert – 8/17 for 168 yards, TD, INT; 6 carries for 26 yards, TD
RB Cody Johnson – 12 carries for 34 yards
Marquise Goodwin – 3 receptions for 55 yards, TD
Josh Turner – 4 tackles (solo), TFL, INT for 39-yard return
AJ White – 2 tackles (solo), INT
K Josh Turner – 2/2 FG (49-yard long), 2/2 PAT

Not Everybody's Got #UDUB's Price

#37 Washington – 21
#28 Missouri – 14

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- QB Keith Price led Washington to an early 21-0, and Green held off Red for the second time to improve to 3-1 in this young tournament.  Green rebounded nicely with a Huskie team that struggled mightily against Red in a preseason friendly.

Washington’s Chris Polk accounted for all three #UDUB touchdowns, including two on the ground and one through the air.  The final score of the game did not reflect the stronghold that Green held throughout, however, Red did ultimately have an onside kick opportunity that provided some drama late.  Green’s hands team safely covered the ball, and QB Price was able to kneel out the clock to secure a victory.  

Washington moves on the second round in the South-Left region, where Green is starting to develop a stronghold after already advancing Utah.  Washington looks forward to a potential matchup after familiar Pacific Northwest foe Boise State.

Stats:

Washington

QB Keith Price – 8/12 for 174 yards, TD, INT

RB Chris Polk – 19 carries for 48 yards, 2 TD; 2 receptions for 23 yards, TD

Cort Dennison – 8 tackles (5 solo), 3 ATK, FR

Lopsided Finish Causes First Green/Orange Brotherly Quarrel

#50 Virginia – 3

#15 Georgia – 29

ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia was able to overcome a slow start against a threatening Cavalier squad that forced three first half turnovers courtesy of QB Aaron Murray.  The Bulldog offense turned to RB WaShawn Earley in the ground game late, who was able to swing the momentum in a tied contest.

Orange's success running the ball caused tensions to flare in a brotherly Twitter war as the younger brother emerged victorious after scoring twenty-six consecutive points.

Georgia RB WaShawn Earley proved to be the difference, rushing for 116 yards on 13 carries, 69 of which came on an HB sweep (much to the disdain of Green).  Earley showed soft hands, catching six passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.   

Georgia will host the winner of what expects to be a good match up between #18 Penn State and #47 Arizona State.

Stats:
Georgia
QB Aaron Murray – 11/17 for 123 yards, TD, 3 INTs
RB Washaun Earley – 13 carries for 116 yards, TD (69-yard long); 6 receptions for 73 yards, TD
Christian Robinson – 8 tackles (4 solo) 3 TFL
Kwame Geathers – 2 tackles, forced safety
Cornelius Washington – 6 tackles, 2 INTs
Branden Smith – 2 tackles, INT 36-yard TD
Five turnovers

Virginia
Four turnovers

I'm Blue, I'm Lonesome*

#60 Vanderbilt  – 0
#5 Boise State  – 10

"I'm a man! I'm 40!"

BOISE, Idaho -- Boise State looks awfully lonely out there.

The Broncos have endured as Blue's only team in the second round after defeating Vanderbilt, 10-0. Blue's record through games played yesterday stands at 1-6. And the one win was not of the convincing variety.

Though the Commodores were shutout, they were able to control the ball for much of the first half, and trailed 3-0 at halftime. Boise State finally got it going a couple drives later by way of the ground game, and HB Doug Martin punched it in from 25 yards out for the game's lone touchdown. Martin led the way for the Broncos with 108 yards on 15 carries.

Boise State hopes to be sharper when they face #37 Washington in the second round.

Stay tuned for what is rumored to be a full night of games. #TNS

Stats:
Boise State
HB Doug Martin – 15 rushes, 108 yards, TD; two receptions, 27 yards

*Much like Red and his cryptic, unresolved Ben Folds references, I'm not one to miss an opportunity to mention a great American song

Sooner Schooner Rides Into Second Round Where Utes Await

#61 Ohio – 7

#4 Oklahoma – 28

NORMAN, Okla. -- Bob Stoops was able to get a first round win as the Sooner defense overwhelmed the inferior Bobcat squad.  Ohio was 0 for 5 on third down and 0 for 2 on fourth down, combined with two turnovers.   Boomer Sooner was also clicking on the offensive side of the ball as well.  Landry Jones was able to connect with both his favorite targets, Ryan Broyles and Kenny Stills at will.  Jones threw for a total of 267 yards and three touchdowns.  

Ohio was able to put up a touchdown in garbage time, yet Orange's early dominance of the tournament continued to shine despite the minor blemish.

This result also set up the first determined round-of-32 match up, as Oklahoma advanced to play #36 Utah. Green's Utah Utes rallied to beat the Cincinnati Bearcats in a thrilling first round contest that required overtime.  Green and Utah will have to slow down the clock to limit possessions, while getting off to a much faster start to hang with Orange.

Stats:

Oklahoma

QB Landry Jones – 9/14 for 267 yards, 3 TDs, INT
RB Roy Finch – 14 carries for 51 yards, TD; 2 KR for 43 yards

WR Ryan Broyles – 3 receptions for 117 yards, 2 TDs; 2 PR for 16 yards
WR Kenny Stills – 3 receptions for 96 yards
SS Tony Jefferson – 4 tackles (4 solo), INT
Jamarcus McFarland – 3 tackles (3 solo), 3 sacks
5/7 on third down, 1 turnover, TOP – 10:05

Ohio
0/5 on third down, 0/2 on forth down, 2 turnovers, TOP – 9:55

Opening Night Analysis

Yeah Man, That's Four Verts, You Gotta Cover That

#36 Utah – 17 (OT)

#29 Cincinnati – 10

CINCINNATI -- Twenty-two yards stood between Jordan Wynn and the Utah offense on what surely promised to be the final play of the game. It was an unlikely conversion on this fourth down that sparked the mostly stagnant Ute offense en route to a game tying drive before regulation expired. Wynn hit WR Kenneth Scott across the middle of the field with :13 seconds to force overtime. 

Despite winning the coin toss in overtime, Blue's Bearcats were unable to overcome the shock of having an first round win stolen from their paws. Bearcat defenders jumped offsides twice, providing for short “yards to go” situations, and Green was able to punch the ball in the end zone without putting it in the air during the first overtime possession.

After picking up a first down, Cincy QB Zach Collaros threw four passes into the end zone as Green nervously defended from the edge of his seat.  Utah was able to “user swat” Blue’s hopes of forcing a second overtime to the ground, despite dodging a bullet on a second down incompletion that looked like a touchdown.  With the victory, Green improved to 2-0 to start the 2012 TNS, while Blue dropped to 0-2.

Utah awaits the winner of Oklahoma-Ohio in the second round.

Stats:

Utah

Jordan Wynn – 9/18 for 157 yards, TD, 2 INT

Sausan Shakerin – 10 carries for 36 yards, TD

Kenneth Scott  – 2 catches for 49 yards, TD

Trevor Reilly* – 7 tackles (5 solo), 2 TFL, 2 sacks

Greg Bird – 8 tackles (5 solo), 3 ATK, DEFL

11 first downs, 187 yards, 1-6 on 3rd down, 3-3 on 4th down, 2 TO

Cincinnati

10 first downs, 1-9 3rd down, 3-5 on 4th down, 2 TO

*Denotes Player of the Game

Orange Swaggin' His 'Canes To First Dub Of 2012 TNS

#35 Miami (Fla) – 38

#30 Southern Miss – 14

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Orange and Miami handled business against Blue's overmatched Southern Mississippi squad, as Jacory Harris led the U with a 219 yard and three touchdown performance.  

The first victory of the 2012 Sensationalizationalism Tournament came by way of the upset variety.  A consciously motivated Orange manhandling Blue, perhaps sending a message that his struggles against Blue were as outdated as PlayStation 2.  The game was called in favor of Miami after technical difficulties were encountered late in the fourth quarter.  

Miami will face the winner of Stanford and Temple, presenting Orange with a difficult decision to make sure heavily favored Stanford prevail.

Stats:
Miami
QB Jacory Harris – 8/12 for 219 yards, 3 TDs
RB Lamar Miller – 15 carries for 115 yards, TD
Travis Benjamin – 3 receptions for 147 yards, 2 TDs; 1 carry for 37 yards, TD
Thomas Finnie – INT

TO's Doom Rutgers, Reigning BCS Champion Tigers Advance

#38 Rutgers – 7

#27 Auburn – 24

AUBURN, Ala. -- Barrett Trotter led an efficient offensive attack for Green’s Auburn Tigers, kicking off the 2012 Sensationalizationalism campaign in winning fashion over the Scarlet Knights of Red.  
Green was able to overcome Red’s decided advantage in time of possession, which saw Red receiving the opening kickoff and maintaining possession a minute deep into the second quarter.  The Rutgers special teams unit was unable to convert a field goal attempt at the end of the six minute-plus drive.  

After trading possessions, Green and Auburn Tigers got on the board first, and appeared poised to take a tight 7-0 lead into halftime as the Tigers had the ball deep in their own territory with only fourteen seconds remaining.  In a crafty move by Green, the Tiger offense lined up in a goal line formation and use a play action fake to draw in the Scarlet Knight safeties.  Barrett Trotter hooked up with WR Emory Blake on long touchdown pass to end the half up 14-0.

The second half proved to be more of the same, as Auburn secured Green’s first win of the tournament, 24-7.  The Tiger defense forced five turnovers in total, often providing short fields for the offense.  Perhaps no play better encapsulated Red’s tough luck than when Neiko Thorpe intercepted the Scarlet Knight QB in end zone, only to fumble the ball.  The ball was recovered and subsequently fumbled again by another Tiger defender, ultimately recovered by Thorpe for a touchback and change of possession to Green.  

Stats:

Auburn

QB Barrett Trotter – 5/9 for 145 yards, 2TD, fumble

RB Michael Dwyer – 16 carries for 52 yards, TD

WR Emory Blake – 2 receptions for 109 yards, TD

Neiko Thorpe – 2 tackles (solo), TFL, INT, fumble recovery

Rutgers  
5 turnovers (3 INT, 2 fumbles), 10 first downs, 170 yards

Opening Night!

One of the most anticipated days in TNS history is upon us: Opening Night of the 2012 Tournament. A few games on the slate (all times estimated):

9:20 ET
#38 Rutgers at #27 Auburn

9:30 ET
#35 Miami (FL) at #30 Southern Miss

10:30 ET
#36 Utah at #29 Cincinnati

11:30 ET
#33 Florida at #32 Ohio State

A Chance To Rewrite History

Time To Create Our Own Memories

Historical Figures

Colors

Blue - 160-98
Orange - 55-42
Green - 87-111
Red - 70-114

Sweet Sixteens
Blue - 43
Green - 22
Orange - 15
Red - 14

Elite Eights
Blue - 25
Green - 9
Orange - 8
Red - 6

Final Fours
Blue - 13
Green - 5
Red - 3
Orange - 3

Finals
Blue - 8
Red - 2
Orange - 1
Green - 1


Teams

Oregon - 16-5
LSU - 14-6
Texas - 14-6
Clemson - 12-6
Missouri - 12-5
Auburn 11-6
Florida - 11-6
Ohio State 11-6
Georgia 10-6
Alabama 10-5
Michigan 10-4

Sweet Sixteens
LSU - 4
Oregon - 4
Texas - 4

Elite Eights
Oregon - 4
Auburn - 3
Clemson - 3
Texas - 3

Final Fours
Missouri - 2
Oregon - 2

First Round Fun Facts 'n Pud'n

Color Combinations

Blue vs. Green - 5 games

Blue hosts 3, Green hosts 2

Blue is favored in 3

Orange vs. Red  - 5 games

Red hosts 3, Orange hosts 2

Red is favored in 4

Blue vs. Orange - 5 games

Orange hosts 3, Blue hosts 2

Orange is favored in 4

Green vs. Red - 5 games

Green hosts 3, Red hosts 2

Red is favored in 3

Blue vs. Red - 6 games

Red hosts 4, Blue hosts 2

Red is favored in 4

Green vs. Orange - 6 games

Green hosts 3, Orange hosts 3

Both favored in 3

Some Games That Might Be Worth Taking Note Of

#33 Florida at #32 Ohio State

The grandaddy of them all. Perhaps the most anticipated 1st rd game in the history of the tournament

#49 Pittsburgh at #16 USC

Believe it or not, these two are equal strength in the game

#48 Tennessee at #17 Virginia Tech

Two teams with proud TNS traditions square off early this year

#41 North Carolina at #24 Texas A&M
Yet another big game in the Northleft region

#36 Utah at #29 Cincinnati
Two evenly matched teams battle for the right to face #4 Oklahoma

#45 SMU at #20 Nebraska
It's SMU's first time in the field of 64

#37 Washington at #28 Missouri
UW basketball has more home wins than any other program in history. Unfortunately, this is football. And the game is at Missouri.

#34 Mississippi State at #31 Notre Dame
Notre Dame looks for its first win against an SEC opponent since beating Tennessee in 2005

#47 Arizona State at #18 Penn State
Penn State benefits from TNS's nonexistent discipline policy in this meeting between two surprisingly strong teams

#51 Northwestern at #14 Florida State
Red takes the reigns of the Purple Cats as they travel to Tallahassee

#46 NC State at #19 Baylor
RG III and Baylor face a challenge right off the bat after Green selected them with his second pick