By: Alec Nederveld
Halloween just passed, and like Frankenstein’s monster, these five teams are finding ways to win after their season looked dead to rights.
Oklahoma State
Long-time coach Mike Gundy had one of his best years in 2021, and that looked to be carrying over into 2022 with a 5-0 start and top-ten ranking. Well, the Cowboys finished 7-6 and, after a less-than-ideal offseason, had major doubts coming into 2023. They ineffectively played three quarterbacks, which led to two ugly wins and a 33-7 loss to South Alabama. Eventually, journeyman Alan Bowman was named the starter before the Iowa State game, a loss that brough OSU to 2-2.
Finding a stable QB has certainly helped out, but the performance of Ollie Gordon II has been the catalyst of the Cowboys’ Comeback. Gordon has 999 total yards and nine scores in the four-game winning streak and leads the FBS in rushing yards. Oklahoma State is one of five teams tied for first in the Big 12. A win over Oklahoma this week will bring that number to four (or less) and prime the Cowboys for another trip to Arlington.
Virginia Tech
After week four, Virginia Tech was 1-3 and just lost to Marshall. HC Brent Pry was on top of Mike Huesmann’s Week Five Hot Seat list. Since then, his team has won three of four, all by 17 or more points. With a win over Louisville this Saturday, Virginia Tech will be second in the ACC.
Kyron Drones, the transfer QB from Baylor, took over the starting job after week two and has played very well recently on the ground and through the air. The run defense has also stiffened, allowing 38, 35, and 0 yards in wins. They are aided by a large contribution from sacks, which the Hokies have generated thirty of. Lastly, to complete the return to Beamer Ball-esque play, WR Tucker Holloway is fifth in the nation with 224 punt return yards. Pry is gaining the trust back from the fanbase, who recently wanted to move past him.
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Nebraska
Two games into Matt Rhule’s tenure, and it looked like nothing had changed in Lincoln. The Cornhuskers choked a late lead vs. Minnesota and were blown out by Colorado. QB Jeff Sims, who had seven turnovers in seven quarters, got injured and was later replaced by Heinrich Haarberg, who has gotten the job done.
Outside of a QB who is better at holding onto the football, the defense has been incredible. Other than the aforementioned Colorado game and a loss to Michigan, the defense hasn’t allowed more than 14 points or 338 yards. No team all year, except for the Wolverines, has run for more than 100 yards. This combined has led to wins in five of six and has positioned Nebraska to be tied for first in the west. Because of this, Rhule is also getting close to the A+ grade given by the website’s namesake in July.
Iowa State
Sitting at 1-2 and later 2-3, vultures were circling around Matt Campbell. After a great start to his career, the Cyclones missed a bowl game last year and were hit by a large-scale gambling controversy that knocked out starting QB Hunter Dekkers, among many others. So much talent was lost, and it seemed that Campbell would get the axe and a rebuild would start in Ames.
That has not happened. Like Oklahoma State, Iowa State is tied for first in the Big 12 and has won their last three by double-digits. Their upcoming game vs #22 Kansas seems massive, possibly bigger than any of the 102 prior games. Coach Cambell really deserves his flowers for the turnaround. Led by a stingy defense, the Cyclones and possibly his career have been saved.
Boston College
In 2022, Boston College had a letdown 3-9 season after winning six or more games in the last six years. Starting 1-3 this year with a loss to Northern Illinois and a near loss to FCS Holy Cross, it seemed that another poor year was on the horizon. Now, the Eagles are 5-3 and one game away from getting back to a bowl.
The strength of this year’s team was by far the largest weakness from last year. The run game. After being the worst in the country, It needed to improve, and transfer QB Thomas Castellanos is pushing as many rushing yards (673) as the entire team ran for last year (759) and has doubled the touchdowns himself (9 vs 4). Fellow transfer RB Kye Robichaux has almost 500 yards as well. A laughingstock has turned into a respectable unit in Chesnut Hill.
