College Football Friday: Sparty Outruns Boise, Tennessee Rocks N.C. State

At the end of the first half of Tennessee’s game against North Carolina State in Atlanta on Friday night, Bray received the snap a foot shy of the goal line from under center. What Bray was supposed to do was fall in a gap, just lurch forward with the ball, and then allow gravity and his 6’6 frame to complete the easy carry. Play tree, you can hear Derek Dooley saying to him, because Derek Dooley is the kind of coach who would totally say something this weird.

Tyler Bray may also be America’s worst falling tree.

For a long stretch in the second half, it looked like the Broncos were going to squeak out a three-point win. Michigan State was able to score the only touchdown in the half with 7:43 left in the game on a nine-play, 56-yard drive that was capped off with a 5-yard touchdown run by Bell.

Michigan State then methodically drove the ball down the field, collecting first downs until time expired.

Vols fans watching the replay were very convinced it was a touchdown (of course), making far more celebratory noises during replays than Wolfpack fans were. All that really matters is who was doing the cheering after the ruling, though.

What does it look like to you?

Joe Southwick isn’t having a great night against Michigan State in his first start for Boise State, but, c’mon, fate, give a guy a better chance of becoming something more than “Not Kellen Moore” than you do here, please.

It’s not really clear where Southwick was going with this throw, except “the wrong place no no no stop,” but it sure wasn’t supposed to go off Isaiah Lewis’ hands and into R.J. Williamson’s as Williamson rolled over on the ground.

Are saves a stat in college football? If so, this Boise State cheerleader is now leading the nation in saves for hanging on to his hoist partner despite an incoming Darqueze Dennard. Clutch cheerleading, my friend.

Via @bubbaprog:

Reasonable bookmakers would have made betting the under on 0.5 hurdles of large men for Bell this year a no-win proposition, so let’s hope someone actually did make that bet. (GIF via Mocksession.)

Michigan State went on to score on this drive, their first of the 2012 season, with Bell running the ball eight times for 35 yards and plunging in for a touchdown from a yard out. The score on the board is 7-0, Sparty, but the style point tally is far more lopsided.

Remember when we sort of thought Tennessee’s frightening passing game was sunk due to the loss of Da’Rick Rogers? His replacement, four-star JUCO transfer Cordarelle Patterson, just screamed past N.C. State’s talented secondary for a 41-yard touchdown.

Meanwhile, at the Ohio Valley Conference’s Tennessee Tech:

Four Boise State players have been suspended for the Broncos’ opener against Michigan State, according to Brian Murphy of the Idaho Statesman.

Ajayi is missing the game as a result of his suspension from the MAACO Bowl last season. In December, the redshirt freshman pled guilty to misdemeanor petty theft. He is expected back for the Broncos’ September 15th matchup against Miami of Ohio.

Game time, TV channel: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU

Complete 2012 Tennessee schedule