The Cardinals of North Central College and the Seahawks of Kesier University should consider themselves fortunate as they wake up Sunday morning. North Central celebrated homecoming with a 69-0 drubbing of a previously 4-1 North Park University squad, while Keiser edged out an undefeated Southeastern team, 17-10, thereby allowing the No. 1 teams in Division III and NAIA to avoid the affliction that hit every other No. 1 in college football.
On Saturday, the No. 1 teams in FBS, FCS and Division II all lost.
Texas, which entered the weekend a commanding No. 1 in the AP poll, the coaches poll and the SP+, was thoroughly humbled in a 30-15 loss to No. 5 Georgia. The previously high-flying passing attack resulted in a net of minus-13 yards (36 yards gained, 49 yards lost via sacks), plus two fumbles and an interception in a first half that saw the Longhorns trail 23-0. Texas fought back to make it a game in the third quarter, but never possessed the ball with a chance to tie the contest in the second half.
At the FCS level, it was Game of the Year stuff as No. 2 North Dakota State hosted No. 1 and two-time defending national champion South Dakota State inside the Fargodome.
Trailing 9-7 with 7:14 to play, North Dakota State took possession at their 8-yard line and promptly pieced together a 10-play, 92-yard drive to take the lead. The drive was nearly all Cam Miller; the Bison quarterback rushed or passed on nine of the 10 plays, going 7-of-7 through the air for 76 yards, including the game-winning 20-yard strike to RaJa Nelson. Miller entered the drive 13-of-20 for 87 yards.
South Dakota State pushed the ball near midfield on their responding drive, but Logan Kopp intercepted SDSU quarterback Mark Gronowski with a minute to play to seal the win.
The Jackrabbits hadn't lost a regular season game to an FCS foe since Nov. 13, 2021. In, by far, the most important rivalry at the FCS level, SDSU had taken five in a row from NDSU. The two programs have combined to win 11 of the last 13 FCS national championships.
"I'm so happy for the seniors," NDSU head coach Tim Polasek said. "They haven't played poorly in these last five games, but it's a championship bout with two programs that have positioned themselves to play big-time college football games."
But easily the most notable result of the weekend came in Division II.
Harding entered Saturday as, pound for pound, the most dominant team in college football. The Bisons had won 25 games in a row, including the 2023 Division II title, with wins this season by scores of 59-0, 59-7, 63-3, 66-0, 57-3, and 62-0.
That rampage of destruction ended, or at least paused, Saturday in Arkadelphia, Ark., as No. 9 Ouachita Baptist outlasted the Bison, 17-13.
The Bisons entered the game averaging 461 rushing yards, but were limited to just 218 on 50 carries, and were shut out on all seven drives in the second half. After Harding took a 13-10 first half lead, a wide receiver pass to Ouachita Baptist quarterback Eli Livingston was the only scoring play after halftime.
Ouachita Baptist limited Harding to 79 second-half yards, with three 3-and-outs, one 4-and-out, four punts, one fumble and two turnovers on downs, both coming on Harding's final two possessions. Harding never penetrated further than the Ouchita 39-yard line in the second half.
All in all, it will probably go down as the most impressive defensive performance in any college football game all season long. The Ouachita Baptist Tigers made Georgia's three 3-and-outs, five punts, four turnovers and seven sacks registered against FBS No. 1 Texas look downright pedestrian by comparison.
Oregon, North Dakota State, and Grand Valley State will likely slide up to No. 1 in their respective polls, but after Saturday all three might be careful what they wish for.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.