Sep 05, 2018

Big Ten & SEC Week 1 Recap: Alabama impresses in Camping World Kickoff

Standings and Results

Big Ten

SEC

AP Top 10

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Georgia
4. Ohio State
5. Wisconsin
6. Oklahoma
7. Auburn
8. Notre Dame
9. Washington
10. Stanford

‘Bama tops Louisville in Orlando

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns, and the Crimson Tide defense held Louisville to 16 yards rushing in a 51-14 victory over the Cardinals in Saturday’s Camping World Kickoff. With the victory, Alabama improved to 12-0 in season-openers under head coach Nick Saban.

The Crimson Tide’s latest CFP championship defense started quickly, as Jerry Jeudy capped off a seven-play, 65-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown reception to put Alabama up 7-0 with 11:55 left in the first quarter. After rushing touchdowns from Tagovailoa and Najee Harris, Jeudy hauled in another touchdown pass — this time from 25 yards out — to put the Tide up 28-0 with nine seconds left in the first half. Josh Jacobs also added a 77-yard kick return touchdown midway through the third and Shyheim Carter returned an interception 45 yards for a score, giving Alabama multiple non-offensive scores in a game for the first time since the 2016 SEC championship game.

Louisville got on the board with 6:27 left in the third quarter thanks to a 12-yard touchdown pass from Jawon Pass to Kemari Averett. Pass and Averett connected for another touchdown pass with 1:55 left in the game, but it wasn’t enough to topple the Tide.

Notre Dame holds off Michigan in South Bend

Defending Citrus Bowl champion Notre Dame picked up right where it left off last season, as the Fighting Irish opened the year with a 24-17 win over Michigan under the lights in South Bend. The meeting was the first since 2014 between the longtime rivals and marked Notre Dame’s third consecutive home victory over the Wolverines.

Notre Dame got on the board first Saturday, thanks to a 13-yard touchdown run from Jafar Armstrong. On the next Irish drive, quarterback Brandon Wimbush led his unit 96 yards on seven plays, putting Notre Dame up 14-0 on a 43-yard touchdown pass to Chris Finke.

Michigan’s Ambry Thomas provided a spark for the Wolverines at the end of the first half, running back a 99-yard kickoff return to cut the deficit to 21-10, but a Justin Yoon field goal put Notre Dame back up by two touchdowns late in the third, and Jerry Tillery forced a Shea Patterson fumble with 46 seconds to play to seal the Notre Dame win.

Auburn notches Top-10 win over Washington

After dropping two consecutive games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to close out the 2017 season, Auburn returned to Atlanta to open 2018 and walked away with a 21-16 win over No. 6 Washington.

Auburn jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first-ever matchup ever between the two teams, but Washington responded and Heisman hopeful Jake Browning connected with Quinten Pounds on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 43 seconds left in the second quarter to cut the lead to 15-13 before the half.

Early in the fourth quarter, Washington took its first lead of the game on a 30-yard Peyton Henry field goal to put the Huskies on top 16-15, but two drives later, Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham marched the Tigers down the field and JaTarvious Whitlow capped the drive off with a 10-yard rushing touchdown that proved to be the difference in the game.

Vote for the Play of the Week!

Week 1 was filled with memorable plays in the Big Ten and SEC. Here were two of our favorites. Make sure you vote for the best in the poll below!

1) Auburn’s Sal Cannella put the Tigers on the board with this incredible grab against Washington in Atlanta:

2) Antoine Winfield, Jr. wasn’t going to let anything get in his way during this 76-yard punt return touchdown against New Mexico State:

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