How USF 2012 Opponents Fared - Week 4

Every week we'll fill you in on how the other 11 opponents on USF's 2012 football schedule did. Where available, the links take you to the SB Nation site and their recap of the game.

No USF opponent fared better than Ball State, who got their fourth ever win against a BCS school, and their first against someone other than Indiana. Which shouldn't be much on the karma scale for all the upsets USF has pulled over the years, but it still feels pretty crappy. Anyway, on to this week's results:

CHATTANOOGA (1-3, 0-1 Southern Conference) lost 34-17 to Appalachian State in their conference opener. Appalachian State fell behind 10-0, but scored 34 straight points to take control of the game. This would be a pattern in games involving USF opponents.

NEVADA (3-1, 1-0 Mountain West) turned a 20-17 game into a 69-24 laugher by ripping off six straight touchdowns against Hawaii. Nevada's Stefphon Jefferson tied an NCAA record with 7 touchdowns, and Nevada broke a seven-game road losing streak against Hawaii. This may have been a conference game.

#23 RUTGERS (4-0, 1-0 Big East) went on the road and drove another nail in the coffin of a team once thought a BCS darkhorse... and then nine days later, beat Arkansas 35-26. Gary Nova, which is the most Rutgers name ever, shredded the Hogs defense for 397 yards passing, The Razorbacks got two field goals from Zach Hocker, which is the most Arkansas name ever. OK, maybe if it was "Billy Zach Hocker."

#4 FLORIDA STATE (4-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast) won college football's marquee game of the night, 49-37 over #10 Clemson. Clemson took a 28-14 lead early, but Florida State ripped off a 35-3 run in the third quarter to put the Tigers in their rear-view mirror. EJ Manuel threw for 380 yards and ran for 102, the first Seminole quarterback to pass for 300 and run for 100 since the incomparable Charlie Ward. Chris Thompson also ran for 100, and James Wilder Jr. had two touchdowns.

TEMPLE (1-2, 0-0 Big East) lost 24-13 to That Insufferable School That Should Have Been Forced To Drop Football For At Least One Year. Matt McGloin threw for a career-high 318 yards, which could also be a school record for all I know or care. Vacated results aside, Temple has lost 22 straight in this series, dating back to 1941.

After the jump, how the other half (of USF's schedule) lived.

#19 LOUISVILLE (4-0, 0-0 Big East) escaped 28-21 against SCUMBAGS, as it is blog tradition to call a certain school in North Miami. Teddy Bridgewater didn't have his best night, but the Cardinals survived against a team that upset them in Louisville last year.

SYRACUSE (1-3, 0-0 Big East) continued to be "the best (Syracuse's lousy record) team in the country" by losing 17-10 at Minnesota.

CONNECTICUT (2-2, 0-0 Big East) lost to Western Michigan, 30-24 in a rain-soaked game.The Huskies fell behind 17-0, rallied to within 24-17, then a fumble return touchdown by WMU's Desmond Bozeman was the decisive score. This is UConn's second straight loss to Western Michigan.

MIAMI (3-1, 2-0 Atlantic Coast) beat Georgia Tech 42-36 in overtime. The game was exactly what you'd expect from a battle of flaky programs: the Hurricanes ran out to a 19-0 lead, then gave up 36 straight points, then scored the last 23 to win. If you're wondering why the scores were weird, there was a safety and a two-point conversion mixed in there.

CINCINNATI (2-0, 1-0 Big East) was off. They play Virginia Tech in the Redskins' stadium next week. I would call it an important battle for intra-conference bragging rights, but the Big East has already lost that war. And finally:

PITTSBURGH (2-2, 0-1 Big East) improved its season record against I-AA teams to 1-1 by blowing out Gardner-Webb, 55-10.