College Football 25 Dynasty Rebuild - Kent State Ep. 8

welcome back for week nine Kent State fans hope you are having a great day and thank you for the support the golden flash has secured a hardfought victory against Bowling Green winning 3123 to extend their undefeated streak to S and0 this game tested their mental toughness but they proved capable of responding under pressure Kent State adjusted well especially on defense limiting the Falcons to just two field goals in the third and fourth quarters let's break down the key stats and performances that led to this win ulatowski had a remarkable game with 401 passing yards and three touchdowns showing his ability to connect on big plays his passer rating of 235.68 per completion rate may raise some concerns about consistency but his ability to stretch the field with a 16.7 yards per attempt average was key in this game Garcia was the most effective rusher for Kent State though his impact was limited due to the team's Reliance on the passing game his 5.8 yards per carry demonstrates his ability to find gaps and gain valuable yardage but the golden flashes were unable to establish a consistent ground game which might need to be addressed in future games Thomas chipped in with a short yardage touchdown but the rushing attack was not a significant factor in this game ethd had a standout performance leading the team in receiving yards with 166 on just five catches his ability to gain yards after the catch was particularly impressive totaling 109 yards his 81 yd reception highlights his deep threat capability and he played a crucial role in turning the tide in Kent st's favor McCrae was another big play receiver for Kent State averaging 30 yards per catch his 54y reception and touchdown were key moments in the game showcasing his ability to stretch the field and make significant contributions with limited opportunities however his three drops are concerning and could be a focus for improvement King made the most of his two receptions both of which were explosive plays including a 69 yd catch his 45.5 yards per catch average was the highest on the team making him a critical deep threat option for ulatowski King's performance was clutch but with only two Targets the team may look to get him more involved in future games junker made a significant impact with his lone reception a 41 yard catch although he had only one target his ability to come through with a big play shows depth in the receiving core this kind of contribution from secondary targets will be crucial as defenses focus more on ethd McCrae and King Abu ham day was a disruptive force in the back field with three tackles for loss his ability to penetrate the line of scrimmage was crucial in slowing down bowling Green's rushing attack this kind of performance sets the tone for the defense and his impact was felt throughout the game folk was active around the line of scrimmage contributing two tackles for loss his involvement in both run stopping and coverage helped to limit bowling Green's offense especially in critical situations folks versatility and ability to read plays were evident in his performance Dy was a key playmaker with two sacks bringing pressure that disrupted bowling Green's passing game his ability to Blitz effectively provided a spark for the defense and forced the opposing quarterback into hurried decisions which limited their ability to execute downfield doson had a solid game in the secondary with five tackles while he didn't record any interceptions or passes defended his tackling was consistent preventing big plays after catches Branch added another interception to the team team's tally showing great awareness in the secondary his four tackles were also significant as he was often the last line of defense against deep passes Branch's performance helped secure the win by limiting bowling Green's big play potential glass was reliable as always hitting all of his kicks including a 30-yard field goal Smith did his part in the field position battle with a solid punting performance let's take a look at a recap of week eight in the Mac University edged out Ohio in a tight contest Miami's defense held strong in the fourth quarter preventing Ohio from mounting a late comeback this win moves Miami to three and four on the season and two- one in Mac play keeping them in the hunt within the conference Ohio on the other hand drops to two and five overall and remains winless in the conference continuing a tough season for the Bobcats Central Michigan got back on track with a decisive win over Eastern Michigan the chipa dominated on both sides of the ball scoring 42 points while holding the Eagles to just 20 this Victory improved Central Michigan to three and4 overall and 2-1 in Mac play positioning them well for a late season surge Eastern Michigan Falls to two and five with their struggles continuing as they remain windless in conference action Ball State pulled off an impressive non-conference victory against SEC opponent Vanderbilt the Cardinals outlasted the commodor in a back and forth game showcasing their resilience and ability to compete against higher tier programs this win boosts ball State's record to four and three and while it doesn't impact their conference standing it gives them momentum heading into the heart of Mac play Western Michigan secured a solid Road win against Buffalo Improv moving to four and three on the season the Broncos defense was the story holding Buffalo to just 15 points and forcing several key turnovers with this win Western Michigan stays in the thick of the Mack race while Buffalo drops to four and three overall but remains winless in conference play putting them in a difficult position moving forward Northern Illinois came out on top in a thrilling matchup against Toledo the huskys held on for a three-point Victory improving to 4 and3 overall and 3 and0 in the Mac this win keeps them undefeated in conference play positioning them as serious contenders Toledo meanwhile suffers a tough loss falling to four and3 overall and two- one in the conference which shakes up the standings and opens the door for others in the division let's look at the max standings Kent State remains in a class of its own in the Mack staying perfect in conference play their offense has been consistently productive while their defense continues to hold opponents in check the golden flashes are firmly in control of their Destiny to play in the MAC Championship Game Northern Illinois is also undefeated in conference play riding a three-game winning streak despite their strong Mac record the Huskies have a negative Point differential indicating they've had some close calls their upcoming matchups will be critical as they aim to stay in the hunt for the division title Ball State picked up a much needed win to keep Pace in the conference they have been competitive both at home and on the road but they will need to maintain consistency to challenge for the top spot in the west Toledo's recent loss has put them in a tough spot especially with Northern Illinois unbeaten in conference play however the Rockets still have a solid foundation and can make a push if they can clean up their play on the road Central Michigan has evened out their overall record in a big way the chipa are on the rise with back-to-back wins and are in the mix despite an overall losing record their point differential shows that they've been in some battles and they'll need to continue their recent form to stay relevant in the race Western Michigan has been one of the more explosive teams in the conference and they are starting starting to find their groove with their second consecutive win they remain in the thick of the MC West Race and could make a serious push for the title Miami has turned their season around with two straight wins pulling them into a tie for second in the East however their point differential suggests they need to shore up their defense if they hope to stay competitive Akon's promising start has been stalled by two consecutive losses despite this they remain above 50 overall but their struggles in the ma could be a sign of tough times ahead Bowling Green has faced some tough losses recently and they're starting to slip in the standings with a losing record both overall and in conference play the Falcons need a quick turnaround to avoid falling out of contention entirely Buffalo is the only team in the Mac without a conference win which is surprising given their strong overall record they need need to find a way to win within the conference if they want to salvage their season Eastern Michigan season continues to spiral with three consecutive losses the Eagles have struggled mightily on both sides of the ball and their hopes for a strong finish are fading fast Ohio season has taken a nose dive with four straight losses despite a respectable record at home their inability to win on the road has been their downfall they are now firmly entrenched at the bottom of the standings as we head into the latter half of the season the Mac race is heating up and the next few weeks will be crucial for teams jockeying for position in the standing let's look at the top 25 Oregon Alabama and Utah Remain the top three teams all sitting at 7 and zero they've been dominant and show no signs of slowing down Miami jumps into the top four after a convincing win over Louisville setting up a high stakes matchup against hash 20 Florida State Michigan and Old Miss Hold Steady in the top six both continuing their strong Seasons with key wins Texas and Ohio State are on the rise moving up in the rankings after significant victories Florida cracks the top 10 showcasing their consistent performance in the SEC Penn State is steadily climbing despite a lighter schedule their upcoming game against Wisconsin will be crucial Maryland took the biggest hit this week dropping 10 spots after their first loss of the Season against USC Maryland's loss was a significant blow dropping them 10 spots in the rankings from 8th to 18th the terpens had been riding high with a 6-0 start but ran into a tough opponent in USC this loss has raised questions about their ability to compete against top tier teams especially as they head into a critical matchup against Minnesota their defensive struggles were evident allowing USC to control the pace of the game particularly in the second half Colorado Florida State Syracuse Texas Tech and UCLA all enter the rankings this week signaling strong performances as we head into the season's second half Ruckers and West Virginia both dropped after tough losses but remain in the top 25 West Virginia's Dro from 12 to 22nd reflects the severity of their loss to Kansas State the Mountaineers were unable to muster much offense against the Stout Kansas State Defense which exposed some of the weaknesses in their air raid system this defeat not only affected their ranking but also put a dent in their big 12 title hopes West Virginia will need to bounce back quickly as they face Arizona next another tough road test Rutger's narrow loss to UCLA was a heartbreaker costing them five spots in the rankings despite being competitive throughout the game ruter couldn't seal the deal in the final moments allowing UCLA to secure a victory this loss highlighted ruter struggles in closing out games against quality opponents something that will need to be addressed as they face a challenging schedule ahead including a matchup with USC the game showed that while Rutgers has the potential to compete they still still have to iron out their inconsistencies particularly on defense Auburn and NC State continue to perform well in the SEC and ACC respectively with both teams making significant gains in the rankings the shifting rankings reflect how competitive and unpredictable the season has become with each game carrying significant implications for the postseason landscape these losses highlight the volatility of college football where even one misstep can drastically alter a team's trajectory as the season progresses teams that can recover from these setbacks will be the ones contending for top spots in the rankings and a chance at major bowl games looking at the players of the week dy's dominant performance was instrumental in Kent State's victory over Bowling Green his ability to disrupt the back field and apply consistent pressure on the quarterback with two crucial sacks help the golden flashes maintain control of the game dy's recognition on the national stage speaks to his impact on the field solidifying his status as one of the top defensive players in the Mac shank's explosive game against USF was a masterclass in wide receiver play racking up 246 yards on 12 catches and finding the endzone five times he was virtually Unstoppable his performance is not just impressive on paper it demonstrates his ability to be a GameChanger for uab's offense Shanks is week puts him squarely in the conversation as one of the nation's most dangerous receivers Mac players of the week Steven dy's inclusion as both a national and Mac player of the week underlines his critical role in Kent State's defense which could be a major factor as the golden flashes push towards a strong finish in the Mac Robinson made the most of his limited touches against Vanderbilt turning just two receptions into 122 yards and two touchdowns his big play ability was on full display as he averaged an incredible 61 yards per catch Robinson's efficiency and explosive plays were key in ball State's Victory making him a well-deserved recipient of the Mack offensive player of the week Heisman watch update KJ Jefferson is leading the Heisman race and it's easy to see why after his recent performance throwing for seven touchdowns and adding solid rushing yards Jefferson showcased his dual threat capability his leadership and ability to perform in high- press situations have made him a clear front runner Leonard continues to rise in the Heisman rankings his consistent performances for Notre Dame have kept the Fighting Irish competitive in every game Leonard's skill set and football IQ make him a serious Contender as the season progresses Holden's play for the undefeated Oregon Ducks has been Stellar with his gamechanging abilities making him the top non-quarterback candidate for the Heisman as Oregon continues its strong season Holden stock may continue to rise milroe has dropped slightly in the rankings but he's still in the hunt his Dynamic play style for Alabama ensures he remains in the high man conversation though he may need some standout performances in the coming weeks to climb back up despite Marilyn's recent loss Morris has performed well enough to stay in the top five his ability to rebound from the team's defeat will be crucial if he wants to make a serious run at the Heisman trophy for my coaching points this week I'm going to put them into the cross trainining tree because I eventually want to move players to different positions and I'm curious if this helps helps maybe I will find another Travis Hunter looking at the recruiting board this week I found a four start free safety who has moved us to number one on his list and we send the house at him he has some really good speed and 78 Zone coverage we are still so close to kenoi that I keep the house sent to see if we can beat out Syracuse Dubois still has us at number one and we are his only offer so we keep contacting his family and friends he will be visiting during the Ohio game which should be a easy win everyone else Remains the Same and we are just waiting for them to narrow down their schools Western Michigan enters this matchup as a solid team with balanced ratings across the board despite their mid-tier Mac ranking they have the potential to challenge any team on a given day thanks to their experienced roster and key standout Players let's look at some of the key players to watch Gideon is the anchor of Western Michigan's offensive line as a pass protector his ability to Shield the quarterback and create Lanes in the Run game will be crucial his high awareness and strength make him a challenging opponent in the trenches controlling the line of scrimmage will require Kent State's defensive front to bring their aame against Gideon West is another critical component of the Broncos offensive line he complements Gideon well and together they form a formidable interior line his his strength and awareness will help Western Michigan maintain a clean pocket and could make the Run game effective between the tackles wmac is a dynamic receiver with excellent speed and acceleration making him a deep threat his agility and change of directions allow him to create separation quickly Kent State's secondary will need to focus on containing him as he can break a game open with a single play Buckley is the prim AR ball carrier for the Broncos his combination of speed and acceleration makes him dangerous in the open field despite being a sophomore his impressive ratings indicate he can be a GameChanger if given space the key to limiting Western Michigan's offense will be keeping Buckley contained and forcing them into passing situations wolf is a seasoned quarterback with good decision-making skills and the ability to manage the game effectively he doesn't have Elite Speed but can maneuver in the pocket and make the necessary throws Kent States focus on pressuring him as forcing wolf to make quick decisions could lead to mistakes with multiple senior players particularly on the interior Western Michigan's offensive line is a major strength they can provide both run support and pass protection effectively players like wac and Buckley bring speed and playmaking ability with could cause problems if they get into open space while their defense is solid overall they lack standout Stars which could make it difficult for them to consistently stop a balanced offense like Kent states exploiting mismatches in the secondary or on the edges of the line could yield big plays wolf is not a mobile quarterback which could be a disadvantage if Kent State can generate consistent pressure forcing him to move out of the pocket or make hurried throws could lead to turnovers Kent State Should approach this game with confidence but also caution as Western Michigan has the potential to capitalize on any lapses in Focus keeping the game plan tight and executing on both sides of the ball will be key to maintaining their unbeaten streak well it's game day Kent State fans see you at the game and back here next week Where is Waldo Stadium kalamazo Michigan it is the home of the western Michigan Broncos and the fans have been eager for this showdown for a while today an interc conference battle between a couple of Mac Rivals as we'll see the winners of seven straight the Kent State golden flashes taking on the western Michigan Broncos for EA Sports college football I'm Reese Davis joined here in the booth by David Pollock and Jesse Palmer and guys let's get this thing started the Broncos will kick it away to start set to kick this one he'll bring it back from inside his spot he was looking for some Running Room but not much to be found as he stopped at the 18 so the K State golden flashes this offense takes the field for the first time today and here he comes the guy who pulls all the strings in this attack I think what makes him so unique he has such a good understanding of this offense always seems to know what the answer is to the test always in control the receivers know they're going to get the football everybody believes in this dude the give to the back pass the sticks in still on his feet finally run out of bounds but he has this offense rolling with a first down those outside runs if they can get the edge like they do great job by the Right Guard right tackle getting the edge and now what does this do this makes cornerbacks come up and Tackle safeties come up and Tackle as opposed to linebackers and big defensive players you get your guy out in space where he can use his speed and his physicality against guys that usually cover and don't come up and make tackles catch in the middle it's McCrae a nice job by the QB there timing out that drag throw it's Zone coverage so he's got to make sure he gets it to his receiver in a window to allow to catch the ball and then turn it up field Nifty little dance step and they make the tackle but he has plenty for the first down man that was a good run but it was almost even better great job by the offense keep the running game going you get big chunks Like This Not only was that a big chunk it also looked like it could have gone for more across at 25 he's got R and he was loose and in the open field and on his way a tremendous pick up on that one man I want to be a running back in this offense when you take that hand off to the right and you see that blocking and all the holes open up that's a good sight for a running back you've heard of Reed and react I think the defense read it they and the heat will get home and the quarterback goes down at the 17 they'll try to keep that sack from Wrecking this drive here on second and 15 quarterback checking on off dropping back it's ulatowski makes his connection they get it down to the seven on that pass play in Prime position for a score they'd love to pick up this third down and get a fresh set with first and goal leaves it with the running back and the defense knew exactly where that first down line was and they stopped him short and so on their opening drive of the game they want to stay on the field and the offense will go for it on fourth down he'll try to throw and pick up the first down unleashes to the end zone and he's got it touchdown golden fashion I love the aggressive nature and the play calling there in the opening drive of the game you have an opportunity on fourth down obviously to just kick a field goal Take the Lead early establish some momentum instead they get aggressive they go for it and not just just get it they score a [Applause] [Music] [Applause] touchdown on to attempt the try kicker is on for the extra point and the pat makes it 7 nothing almost ready to kick it away after scoring the touchdown zero here he comes from inside his own five not a lot of space to be found good Hustle by the coverage team and they stop him at the 21 so the Western Michigan Broncos offense taking the field first chance we have to see them [Music] today on down here comes this [Music] offense out of the gun the running back has it tripped up at the 25 after picking up four it's just simple simple first down run showing your physicality setting your offense up in a good spot wants to throw it's wolf pressure coming wide open downfield delivers the contact and a pick up of better than 30 yds on that completion before the defense brings him down they used the chunk play across Midfield and they've got it first and 10 just outside the 40 touch pass on the Jet Sweep discards a man and he'll step out of bounds after a very productive play and how about set the tone right there like you're going to cover this guy coming across the field get it to him early on the first drive let him know this playmaker is going to be touching the ball early and often and he picks up the big game and the Broncos get enough to move the chains I love when players understand situations and they understand where the first down marker is and they understand where I got to get to a lot of people you'll see run north south and try to bounce out wide and make big plays sometimes it's not about making big plays sometimes it's about getting that first down to make sure I get an extra set of downs instead of trying to make those big touchdown RS halfway there on first down it's second and five going to run it it's Buckley tackle is made after the first down I think throughout the week in practice when they were game planning their opening script I don't even know if they envisioned it going as well as it has this has been beautiful nice balance really nice Rhythm it feels like everything they're dialing up here on their first drive of the game is working to Perfection he's brought down solid pick up but a little bit short on the first down nice completion here to this wide receiver and you're going to see this receiver line up in different spots all over the field all game long defense has got to keep their eye on where this guy is because they know he's a big part of this touchdown Broncos a great catch and run for six what did I start for this offense the throw game getting working getting the touchdown pass this quarterback getting a little bit of confidence this passing game getting in a rhythm nice start for this [Music] [Applause] offense lining up for the pat for the extra point right down the boulevard they March 79 ydd on the drive number 35 set to kick this one oh he's going to take a chance I know he thinks he can house every return but sometimes you just have to take a knee as he stopped at the 14 guys let's see how it goes this time for the Kent State offense if you like oldfashioned grind it up run over him football that last touchdown Drive was for you Jesse that was impressive man great blocking up front and tough physical running by these ball carriers David and now you wonder how the defense responds like are they going to get way more aggressive to try to stop the run I got to do something to break the rhythm of that running game not what they had in mind to start this drive here comes second and 13 quarterback making adjustments with his receivers throws to the wide out complete to the right really needed to play like that to get out of their own end they move the chains they mark it at the 29 let's see if they can put the defense on its heels in first and 10 for the off dropping back it's ulatowski they're bringing heat he'll pull it down and run and that's a very productive first down play and bringing up second and three you see a lot of quarterbacks get in trouble when they start forcing things he did a really good job he wanted to throw the football you could tell drops back nothing open it's okay I'm just going to take off get what I can get defense on skates that time they finally dragg him down at the 42 one of the things I love about this offense Reese is they have tons of speed they like to try to get the ball going east west that time they generated a huge play going to the right side and the defense either not fast enough to fit or got knocked out of the fit yeah they got to do a better job containing that as this game goes on they got to funnel the football back to the middle of the field can't IND his man as he took a shot trying to deliver that football and it'll be second down yeah and your first job is to affect the quarterback and try to get him off his spot they get him off his spot he gets outside the pocket and a nice job chasing not quitting getting to the quarterback and still getting a good lick as he's throwing the football the ball is out behind the line bounced right back to them well ball security doesn't just apply to running backs and receivers QB's got to keep two hands on the ball as well and they're very lucky after that fumble that the offense jumped [Applause] on they fought to a stand still in the first let's see if someone can get the edge in the second [Applause] quarter back on the field after the break and we'll start the quarter here on third down the receivers often will run their route based on a side adjustment looks as if they didn't get it off in time it'll be a delay of game delay of game offense that is a completely avoidable penalty the quarterback just went into brain lock and lost track of the play clock they're about to run a dirty half dozen plays on this drive to the air it's ulatowski [Applause] and a missed opportunity on third down as the defense knocks it free and fourth down is coming up the golden flashes will try to pin them back with the punt getting our first look of the afternoon at the punter Western Michigan has it back as they send the offense onto the field how big is this drive scored a touchdown the last time they had it defense gets a stop and now it's up to them in a game all right so if you're the offensive coordinator here let's dial it in who are your best matchups and best Playmakers to take advantage of this golden opportunity yeah and I'm interested to see this defense too like the momentum is clearly not in your favor how do you get it back how do you make a big play do you be more aggressive here to try to get the football back to your offense and the DB making a huge play knocking it away down field nice job in coverage there offense trying to take a shot down field Defender able to tip that one up in the air and force it incomplete second and 10 [Applause] here leaves it with the back a strong tackle and wrap up from the junior the Run game just has not been working for this offense all game long you saw it on that last play as well just not getting enough push up front on the offensive line they haven't been physical enough they're trying to get to it yeah it fell incomplete because you did a great job of getting to the quarterback he's in the pocket yeah he's he's comfortable but you get in there and you get a hit on him now he feels it can't throw the football can't follow through with his arm motion nice job by the [Applause] [Music] [Applause] defense guys let's see how it goes this time for the Kent State offense they hope to be able to cash in on this drive David after having to punt it last time yeah and I think this offense needs to start it with the first play you need to be successful and produc on that first play and it gets you in less predictable situations no doubt too and don't you just feel like there's a little bit more sense of urgency on this drive it just feels like they've got to be able to put some points up on the board here you hear about shot plays all the time offensive coordinat love to take deep shots down the field they plan them they plan when they're going to do them and I bet you we'll plan to see a few more throughout this game they go to the draw they'll wrestleing down just short of the first down I don't even think they're going to bring out the change to measure this one trying to move the sticks on third down they'll try to get the first through the air got him downfield he found plenty of room and he gets it to the 39 yd line there's a reason third down is called the money down what a great find by the quarterback great job finding his receiver at the end of the game you look at third down percentages it tells a a huge story and it goes a long way in deciding who wins a football [Applause] game okay and the golden flashes will snap it on First and [Applause] 10 he's looking to throw it he uncorks a bullet to the right and he's got it inside the 15 yd line and he stries his way into the end zone touchdown Ken State this is a receiver that is so good running routes you never know which way he's going to go at the top of his route because he doesn't peek he doesn't Telegraph where he's going the timing on Corner RS is so important and the quarterback did a nice job getting it out early so his receiver could make the catch and then take it into the end zone lining up to tack one more onto that lead and the pat gives him a 14-7 lead quick work on that scoring drive just four plays and the points come on a pass from 39 yd out he thought about bringing that out for a half second but he'll take a knee and they'll bring it to the 25 guys we're about to get another look at this Western Michigan offense looking for a productive play on first down used the play fake now to throw and that pass is intercepted looking for more room and he has taken it all the way back touchdown golden fashion look a lot of time left there's a little bit of distance right now being put on on the scoreboard there is but it's so awesome when you're a defense and you study all week about what's coming and what routes to be ready for and then you jump the route and you make the plays and you just go get in that End Zone it is so beautiful they'll try to add another to their lead for the extra point and the extra point will tack another one onto this lead they're about to kick away and the defense probably can't wait to get back out there after the pick six return runs out [Music] [Applause] of Western Michigan offense ready to go back to work now we'll get a chance to see if they can answer that last score trailing by 14 Jesse Yeah and at this point of the game I feel like offensively you should go back to what's been working for you in this game don't be afraid to dial up plays that you've already had success with running it and throwing it it's okay to repeat plays down 14 at this point and I would also say Palmer kind of understanding that my defense is not playing great so I know offensively I got to put some good possessions together here make something happen on this side of the football pretty good effort on that one to work his way up to the 42 listen I know that's not a huge game but those run plays add up they make you tackle the back every single play physically you have to get some guy on the ground it takes its toll throughout a fourth quarter game and a decent game there before the defense makes the stop I think you run that play so you stay out of third and long third and long is not where an offense ever wants to thrive third and medium hey I'm good with that so you run that play to make sure you're set up for a good third down wants to throw on third quarterback just flat missed it incomplete defense did a great job third and on the opponent side of the field they're expecting quick throw everybody they dug their heel on the ground they're able to break on the ball Force the [Applause] incompletion and the punt team gets down there and gets the Return Man On The Ground guys let's see how it goes this time for the Kent State offense that last Drive really productive David wound up with a touchdown they'll try to do it again yeah so I don't expect this offense to change too much Reese they had a great Drive Drive they got the touchdown everything working I would expect them to keep pushing this ball down here and just imagine if they could put another touchdown on the board right here they could capture so much momentum in this game with back-to-back TDS pass the sticks and he may get more tackled but he has a first down as we reach the two-minute warning they'll need to try to get a stop to keep this thing from getting out of hand now on First and 10 from the 27 looking to throw it's ulatowski right down the middle and the physical play there forces the incompletion on first down and you see those balls in Black sometimes they're just off the mark you don't know how to control them you don't know what goes wrong but sometimes QB's Miss and it's an incompletion receiver on the Move gets the touch pass really good job to pick up a chunk of yardage and get it out to the 39 yd line it's so hard for a defense to have to stop plays like that because it really forces you to play with great eye discipline you see the pre- snap motion defense doesn't know if he's just running across the field and he's going to run a route if he's going to block or if he has the football that time he was able to outflank the defense and hurt them to get that first down and the incompletion brings up a second down for this offense looking to throw it again rifles it down the middle and he reels it in at the 15 yd line touchdown Kent State and they add six more to the board with that trip to the house they've extended the lead and taken control here in week nine and so many times the safeties tell the tape and that's what QBs are studying and reading and he drops back and you could tell he sees his receiver coming from the right side and he knows exactly where he's going to end up with that post pushes the ball down the field for the big play got the safety out of position made the big touchdown [Applause] [Applause] throw winding up to add another kicker is on for the extra point and they knock through the extra point and they're up 28 to7 so that scoring Drive took only six plays and the score comes courtesy of the big play covering 61 yards on the touchdown pass and no chance at a return here they'll start this drive at their own 25 Western Michigan has it back as they send the offense onto the field these guys have taken some body blows in the first half but now a chance to do something to feel a little better going into halftime ree they got to respond now they they got to put points on the board right here cut into this deficit create a little bit of momentum cuz this one's going to get out of hand otherwise yeah there are a lot of offenses out there that might just say okay let's just regroup and figure it out this offense doesn't have time to do that they've got to be aggressive they've got to throw it down field they've got to score points good job running that route to get past the sticks because he got nothing after the G the off dropping back it's wol going to going over the and that pass intercepted just a short return but that would have been icing on the cake they've got it first down at the 42 and this is obviously not a great start for this quarterback here two interceptions already in this game he's got to do a much better job with his decision making [Applause] guys let's see how it goes this time for the Kent State offense this has been an impressive first half and Jesse they love nothing better than to attack another one on before the break and why would they want to stop at this point everything they've dialed up they've been able to execute throwing and running the football game and how critical is it for this defense to get a down right now before the half they can create some momentum on their side by getting a stop before the half they've got it at the 37 it's first and 10 trying to get to him and he was hit just as he released it and it falls to the turf yeah this defense hasn't had a lot of success this offense has been doing what it wants and will finally get into the QB finally getting some pressure finally getting a big hit on him that'll pay some dividends down the road and a really short game before he gets a whole bunch of company from the defense they line up with some serious to do if they want to convert this one feeling some heat and the quarterback will be slung down back at the 43 they'll immediately call timeout and they've been waiting for something good to happen with respect to getting after the quarterback right they're outside of the top 100 in the country in sacks per game but finally now you see they're generating this pass rush three sacks on the game so far perhaps emboldened by converting a fourth down early in the game they'll try a second time he'll try to throw and pick up the first down the completion well past the sticks and he cruises his way to the house touchdown golden flashes this receiver is dangerous because of what he can do after the catch once he has the football he is so good at making Defenders miss you saw it on that play [Applause] [Music] [Applause] lining up to tack one more onto that lead exra point and with the extra point they push the lead out a little further a very efficient five play scoring drive and they close the deal from 43 yds out with a touchdown pass and it'll be a Touchback the ball will come out to the 25 yd line guys we're about to get another look at this Western Michigan offense after throwing the pick on the last drive need to take care of the ball this time Jesse we're going to find out a lot about this quarterback right here too how does he fight through adversity after that last Drive yeah clear the mechanism move on that that's a part of it right you're going to be a great player got to learn how to handle these mistakes in moving a timeout is called as this offense tries to find a way to get more points on the board before the half looking for a man it's wolf finds his man in the middle to the 43 yd line and a first down for this offense here's a Timeout on the field tight game here late in the first half michig they'll throw it on first down fires to the wide out can't quite make the connection there might have let him a little too much this offense just has to find a way to find a rhythm here they're playing at home and they want this crowd to stay involved and be an asset in the game but they need to start making plays they can't keep throwing incompletions this early and they get him down for the sack and they'll go to the locker room feeling good about their pass rush third down coming up first half in the books time now now to join Kevin Connor in our halftime update fellas you have been calling a great broadcast today from there in cazoo and it's been a battle of wills between these two teams through two quarters Bend but don't break they've manage to neutralize the explosive Playmakers on each side by shutting down passing windows and providing tight coverage forget the jimmies and Joe's this second half could really be about the x's and o's and with that let's send it back to the guys inside Waldo [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Stadium the golden Flash will boot it away to start the second [Music] [Applause] half Western Michigan offense ready to go back to work got blown out in the first half and now just desperate to find anything to generate momentum here in the third quarter it just starts with one play though you just need one thing to go right for this offense to start to build that momentum and then that becomes infectious for the defense for special teams everything can change it just takes one play it really can and it's so strange and you can't quantify it and I don't know how to describe it as a coach or as a player but you got to make something happen and it's got to start on this drive and they'll finally bring him down after he rips off a huge play man this guy's a playmaker and he does not need a lot of space really nice job that time letting the pass rush get up field so when he got the football there was just green grass out in ahead of him and he made the defense pay and when I got a guy like that man I I just got to find ways to get him past the D line right and then the draw play is a good way to do it let them run themselves up the field then you can see he's got some serious speed a lot of speed in space is always a good recipe for offense and just a short safe pass play they pick up a few great play by the cornerback he was just w way too physical at the point of attack he beat his man trying to block him and he tackled that receiver on the scen kept it on the ground on first down now back to the line going to run it it's buley one step wrap two-step squeeze this junior knows how to get him on the ground and these defensive tackles just eat people they swallow human beings when you get near them they're so big so strong those guys those running backs coming they just need a mid they put one mid on a running back and he usually falls to the ground just because of their sheer mass and strength he makes a catch he's run out of bounds but not before turning in a big pick up and moving the sticks for a first down the Broncos come to the line with a fresh set of downs wants to throw on first down off the play fake looking left makes the grab and he'll go out of bounds just short of the goal line and they've got it right on the doorstep we've seen really nice balance here on this drive quarterback's three for three picking this defense apart they've also run the ball well too and here they are down close to the go line this defense has no idea what's coming next and they just tried to slam it in from the doorstep but they went nowhere and it'll be marked down at the one and the D deny them on second and goal finds his big tight end takes it to the house touchdown Broncos a methodical drive that they finished shot by tossing into the tight end and the tight end I tell you what this is a position that's evolved so much right and you see him move all over the field it's kind of like Where is Waldo you got to find this big fella especially down in the Red Zone area this is the guy they're going to Target and make the big play get the touchdown now they'll line up for what they hope is automatic and the extra point is good they still Trail 3514 and for a quick update let's go to Kevin Connor in the studio Dynamite match up this week fellas let's show you what's going down Vanderbilt has the lead right now but if this team has taught us anything over the years it's that no lead is safe there in Nashville they're up by just two Over Texas we'll Circle back if anything big happens you should know about thanks for the update on that with Kevin let us know when it goes final the offense set for a first down play looking for a man it's ulatowski he unleashes a long one and it's caught inside the 25 and a big reason why this team has the lead in this game is because of plays like that they know they've got Firepower throwing the ball they've got the dudes outside that can make things happen you saw it in the first half and you see it here again early in in the third [Applause] quarter that last play has this defense on its heels now it's first and 10 from the 21 he wants to throw he's got it down the middle boy that was a Precision play all the way around Pro catch tackle bang bang bang he's just winning that matchup in the slot every time and when you put him in the slot Reese's closer to the quarterback it's an easier throw we can run in we can run out and really take advantage of his versatility of the guy that slot position that completion takes him down to the seven yd line and they are ready to strike well offensively they knew they were going to have some matchups they could take advantage of in this one and all of a sudden this quarterback has now over 300 yd passing in the game defensively David he has got them on their heels and the ball scor free the D Scoops it up and everybody reverses field and they'll drag him down after a good return and you see wide receivers make those catches and try to get upfield and now turn into a running back make something happen and a lot of times you just forget to secure that football real tight and you can tell DB got it out big mistake big turnover nice Force turnover by the defense Western Michigan has it back as they send the offense onto the field there's certainly still a hill to climb they've got to make sure these drives pay off got a touchdown last time can they back it up here well and it's amazing in a football game how sometimes they'll surprise you with what you do once you get settled and you realize what's going on now I'm comfortable with it Jesse this offense looked comfortable on its last Drive they sure did it looked like they started to find some momentum so now it's on this defense to stop that all right you're a little bit upset based on what just happened the previous drive you've got to Bow up again and go back to what was working really last game the offense has it now at the 48 yd line first and [Applause] 10 got his man quickly and a good job of coverage by that defense just a short pick up I don't know if that's the coverage you want to be throwing wide receiver screens against often times you want the receivers to have some access you want the DVS to be off a couple yards so you can help set up the blocks and give the receivers somewhere to go with it it's hard to run that against press coverage and they only picked up a few yards there you run the slant route day one and this is something that the quarterback and the wide receiver has done a 100 million times out there on the field in the off season I see manto man coverage I know I can run the slant boom stick my foot in the ground throw it it with my wide receiver and I just love when guys know exactly where the sticks are you could tell ran with purpose finished through the sticks and got just enough for the first down and a nice job up front too right good communication everybody knew where they had to go hat on a hat work the double teams and get some push that he's brought down at the 35 brings up second didn't get much on first down it's second and [Applause] nine they go to the ground they get him down but he does pick up three to the 32 yd line and this offense is desperate to keep this drive alive trailing by multiple possessions and it's getting late back to throw it's wolf a Shot For The End Zone and swatted down by the defense to stop the scoring opportunity third and short in college football today you see so much more pass than you used to the offense stays aggressive and I think they stay aggressive cuz they know they're the field goal range they got that three in their back pocket is no good that is no good couldn't find the range on the field goal couldn't cut into the deficit and they are still down by 21 [Applause] guys let's see how it goes this time for the Kent State offense that fumble in plus territory just ruined that last Drive David yeah and those are frustrating when you got the offense moving a little bit and you put that thing on the deck Jesse but move on reload forget about at the end of the day it's just fundamental football right they practice it all week five points of pressure every ball carrier has to have it they just got to do a better job moving forward and man this quarterback has had a day with that pass he goes over 300 yard on the day really nice job executing putting up some yards today pretty good day for the young man comes out throwing on first down quarterback moving out of the pocket on the move it's a 30 obliterates him still on the move and it is a chunk play a huge gain on that one before the defense brings it to an end ready guys that'll do it for the quarter and it's K State on top let's take a quick look at the national rankings to see how this playoff race is shaping [Applause] up back at it to open the quarter with this first down play here we go tuna tuna looking to move it through the air coming after him touchdown Kent State and the punishment has been extended the lead gets bigger here in the fourth quarter and their run continues about to go eight and0 and this offense is clicking another touchdown didn't have to go far for this drive but this offense is doing what they want how they want when they [Applause] [Music] [Applause] want he'll try to add another to their lead ex the kick is up and good and put one more on the lead quick strike offense on that three-play scoring drive and it was punctu by an 11 ydd Run for the score and he takes this from inside the five nice job by the kickoff team everybody stayed in their lanes and they'll stop him at the 16 guys we're about to get another look at this Western Michigan offense we'll see what they can do on this drive that starts at the 16 yd line and that incomplete pass caused by the big hit on first down second down coming the offense came into this game knowing that for them to win they were going to have to make some big plays throwing the football that just is not been the case here in the fourth quarter they've been held to less than 200 passing yards and that's really the story of the game look it can't take away everything right so you give them that and rally and make a solid tackle yeah and a lot of times in zone coverage I like when I can get all the eyes on the quarterback I like when I can see the routes and see them develop in the middle and you could tell they had keys on the tight end he wasn't going anywhere after he caught that football trailing this much in the fourth quarter the offense is looking for an explosive play to try to ignite them and get them back in this one but nothing doing nice job in coverage on fourth down they'll pass for it makes the grab and it's predy for the first down and he's knocked down immediately but not before he moves the chains really nice job by the offense hey man trust your guys right we got all these analytics on fourth down set it go for it they trust their quarterback he gets it done with the completion and gets the big first down he'll just keep slinging it unloads to the wide out it's caught downfield able to work it to the 39 yard line and that'll be a first down and the Broncos have their offense in high gear motion from the offense to the air it's Wolfe throwing right he's got he's right out of bounds but a big play on that one and it'll be a first down the Broncos come to the line with a new set of downs get set Get Set set going up top on first down shoots it to the left and it's incomplete if you're going to take a hit like that you might as well hang on to the ball at this point of the game in the fourth quarter it is going to be tough for this offense to get completions here because now trailing by this much the defense is expecting pass and they're putting a whole bunch of extra DBS on the field to help them out in coverage and oh he was Off to the Races after the catch and they finally drag him down now on First and 10 from the 35 good job by the receiver there not to run into coverage but to find a spot that the quarterback could throw him the ball yeah on those types of routes Rees they say if you're looking you're booking so if that's man coverage the receiver staring at the quarter all the way across the field that time the receiver didn't give the quarterback his eyes so they were on the same page they both knew it was Zone and they executed that perfectly he's got an open man couldn't quite nudg it in not sure you could get much closer but it'll be first and goal a big game there as they did a tremendous job working the middle of the field yeah and if you're going to complete that throw Reese quarterbacks got to play with anticipation you've got to get it out of your hands early give your receiver an opportunity before the defense gets to the ball let's go running back goes in motion touch pass on the right touchdown Western Michigan and they made it to the house where they found that six points waiting on him nice pitch nice catch and listen maybe this helps next game right like we're trying to find a rhythm find something that works find somebody to go to and this offense is struggling you're down by a, but I like that they continue to fight they're down big but they'll keep fighting to The Bitter End and line up for the onside kick here that's why they call them the hands team they're able to secure the onside kick guys let's see how it goes this time for the Kent State offense line gets set first down now the quarterback changing the original play call trying to start the drive with a pass fires to the middle ball in the air [Applause] intercepted and he's wrapped up after a solid return on the pick man down on the play as the officials take a break to let him be checked out [Applause] [Applause] offense set on first down 55 he's going to pass unloads it left got his man he will step out of bounds but not before the big pick up and a first down for this offense a new set of downs after the completion CLE CLE he'll come out throwing on first down finds his man they've got it inside the 30 they'll mark it at the 28 it's first down and listen you get Zone coverage and you can hit that curl route and he comes open continually keep hitting it this might be a play to come back to incomplete thanks to the great defensive pressure there that sort of threw them out of rhythm after the misconnection it's second down and you see this formula work in all levels of football you pressure the quarterback his numbers start to drop he's not as efficient nice job by the defense and the defense makes the immediate tackle but he has enough for the first down these routes have some reads and adaptability built in and the big fella found that cushion and made the play man it's so awesome how much offenses have evolved they know exactly what they're getting where to sit down quarterback tight end on the same page gets the first down and they'll stop him inside the five but the defense is backed up in the shadow of its own goal post to the air it's wolf fires to the end zone and good coverage there to knock it away and deny the score well that last incompletion is a good example of why your timing has to be so good as a quarterback because the windows they open and they close so quickly at this part of the field got nothing last time now second and goal from the three wide out in motion they want to just keep throwing it just had to get rid of that one good job to avoid the loss it's third down now and they ought to be able to get off one more play before the two-minute warning here we go from the gun wants to pass lets it Fly pulls it in in the endzone touchdown Western Michigan and this is how I want to operate nice job he catches the football makes a decision gets the ball out of his hands and let his playmaker work get the ball to wide receiver out wide he'll do the rest he'll get the touchdown nice job being on the same page quarterback wide [Music] [Applause] receiver ready to try the point after is on for the extra point smashes it through for the the p8 they are running out of time here they need to get the ball back they'll line up for the onside [Applause] kick they are running out of time here they need to get the ball back they'll line up for the onside kick they'd H to get that thing bouncing around but the hands team is able to Corral it [Applause] guys let's see how it goes this time for the K State offense let's see if this drive goes better than the last one they were in and out quickly after the quick pick David yeah first play big mistake man now let's get this offense in a little bit of a rhythm maybe before you open it up again Palmer or do you trust him right away uh he seems to me like the guy maybe that just needs to kind of get into the flow of the game so maybe you get the running game going here and just give him some easy looks to let him get LED looking downfield it's katowski and they got him he'll get him down from the sack timeout called there by the defense desperate to get the ball back and save as much time as [Applause] [Music] [Applause] possible defense trying to keep this offense from getting a line on who to block even if they don't convert picking up a few would give them a decision to make on fourth down is third and long from the 45 and he'll pull it in inside the 20 touchdown golden fashes made the snag and strolled his way into the end zone that one pushes this lead out a little bit more here in the fourth and now they can smell eight straight wins and this offense continuing to put up points this game's Out Of Reach you know you're win but still throwing the football still finding that connection I imagine there'll be some salty handshakes at the end of this [Music] [Applause] game getting set for the point after on for the extra point and the extra point splits the upright and they're up a full three touchdowns a 21-point cushion in the fourth they're just about ready to kick it away on the move from inside is five nice job by the kickoff team everybody stayed in their lanes and they'll stop him at the 16 Western Michigan offense ready to go back to work not a lot to feel great about in this one Jesse but I'm sure they'll try to seek out some positives well this might be an opportunity to re to go back when they watch this game just find the plays and the schemes that we're working weren't a lot obviously David but maybe an opportunity for the coaching staff to condense The Playbook a little bit I was going to say there's not a lot of good to go back to that' be a quick film session cuz there was more negatives than positives but when you look at this this week you got a week to figure it out figure out what your offense is going to be moving [Music] forward let's see what they've got on second down looking to throw it's wolf that pass is incomplete and they might be fortunate it wasn't knock free for a fumble it'll be third down and this is just one of those days man where everything has gone wrong right like they just haven't been in a rhythm they haven't they haven't got it going and never built the momentum this is this is one of those days you learn from you try to grow from a lot of things that we're going to show in the film room that people aren't going to like but hopefully you can learn from it and do better next time and that one's too high too wide out of bounds and incomplete and this defense has put a game together like it is hard to put all the facets of Defense together run defense pass defense they've been so good man dialed in you could tell they were ready they were fast they were physical they dominated this football game today on fourth down looking for the completion he's got it and they convert well they just drained all the suspense out of the fourth down conversion moving the chains easily trying to get everybody set with the clock still running first down to the air on first down and he just flat dropped it I think he wanted to run before he secured it the offense has lost the element of surprise here right fourth quarter they're trailing by a lot they're trying to go four verticals but the defense knows it's coming they do a nice job in the back end making sure that falls incomplete trying play action a deep throw as the clock winds down well give the defense credit because they're forcing this quarterback to throw into very small Windows under duress the aerial assault continues here's a throw downfield late snags it on the right touchdown Western Michigan and they take it in for six more points nice job by the offense going down the field putting points on the board but you're still down a couple possessions still need some good things to happen you need your kicker to go over there and get warmed up we need an onside we need to score some points we need a lot of things to go right to win this [Music] [Applause] football P unit on the field for the extra point splits the upright and let's check in with Kevin Conor's in the studio Kevin all right guys a little update on what else is happening in college football this weekend Michigan is running away with this one thanks to an offense that's been clicking in every facet of the game they're up by 25 over Michigan State we've got our eye on this one and everything else going on throughout the day guys oh and how about that I know Kevin and those guys will be keeping an eye on it for us guys let's see how it goes this time for the Kent State offense quarterback and running back set up in the pistol looking to go up top on first down throws to the wide out a strike downfield and he'll be run out of bounds and these guys are piling up some serious yardage totals just inside the Red Zone first and 10 from the 19 going for it all reels it in in the endzone touchdown Kent State they're on the board again and it looks as if this winning streak is going to continue there's no mercy rule in college football man they have got a huge lead here in the fourth quarter they are still chucking it and they are still scoring [Applause] [Music] he'll try to tack on one more for the extra point and the extra point splits the upright and they're up a full three touchdowns a 21-point cushion in the fourth the kickoff team out there and ready to goest Michigan 35 [Applause] on the run from inside his own five and the returner will be dragged down Western Michigan has it back as they send the offense onto the field it has been a rather forgettable day that's finally coming to a close David yeah it's been an awful day I mean just not not functioning well on offense defense giv up a lot of points this is a day Palmer they'll like to forget yeah you're going to find out a lot about their character right now obviously not they hope this would be and that's demoralizing for a lot of these kids that have worked really hard in practice all week but at this point here you're just trying to prove to your coaching staff that you're not going to quit and this will be incomplete a big hit there forces second down couldn't make the connection last time let's see if they throw it again to throw it's Wolf pocket starts to collapse what a SP spacular grab there as they try to finish this game with a little something to feel good about the offense calls timeout and they won't have any more left this half they'll throw it on first down getting some heat he's got it off he goes touchdown Broncos and they add six more to the board with that trip to the house and a nice touchdown continuing to fight continuing to play this one it's pretty much over down multiple possessions this late in the football game it would take a miracle but nice job by this offense continuing to fight push the ball down the field make [Applause] plays they'll try to attack one more on their score [Music] [Applause] hor splits those uprights right in half quick work on that scoring drive just four plays and they finish things off with a scoring toss from the 33 timeout is called the clock stopped with 26 seconds left time is against them still down by two scores but they'll line up for the onside kick they were ready for the onside kick and that executed perfectly and they secure the football yeah and this is why you put your hands team on the field most of the time when you know it's coming and you put those guys that are great catchers in the football the first guys what do they do they go block they go blow somebody up the next guys catch the football secure get your butt on the ground and most of the time when you do this the ball game is over plenty of fireworks in this one a lot of points they always talk about having the chalk last and it seemed like whoever was on off had the last lap it's amazing how much offensive has just boomed in college football so good so many ways to hurt you and you saw both of these offenses put on a show today Jess Dave we talked to both of these coaching staffs and their defensive coordinators were losing sleep all week they knew this was going to be a tough task ahead of them so much speed so much Firepower on both of these offenses and man we saw that here today that's going to do it for us from here for Jesse Palmer David po ree Davis and this has been another presentation of EA Sports college football