Stat Pack: Week 5

Aubie Auburn

Week 5 brought all of the twists, turns and unexpected moments from another weekend of college football. 

This week, No. 1 Georgia faced a 17-10 second-half deficit and overcame Auburn 27-20 on the road. No. 2 Michigan took care of business against Nebraska, traveling to Lincoln and handing the Cornhuskers a 45-7 defeat.

PODCAST: Defense Still Matters and Saturday Proved It

Friday got the ball rolling early. No. 10 Utah suffered its first loss of the season when No. 19 Oregon State dialed up a 21-7 victory at home off the efforts quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, who finished with 204 passing yards and a touchdown and interception, and receiver Silas Bolden, who totaled 100 yards. 

Here are some of the top statistical performances from Week 5. 

Jonathon Brooks, Texas 

Texas relies heavily on quarterback Quinn Ewers. The Longhorns are fourth in the Big 12 Conference averaging almost 287 passing yards per game. 

Brooks brought balance to the Longhorns this week. Texas had more than 325 yards both passing and rushing during its 40-14 win over Kansas. 

Brooks had over 200 of those yards by himself. He ran for 217 rushing yards across 20 carries, topping his previous career-high by 53 yards. 

READ: Carey replaces Bell as Indiana offensive coordinator

Brooks broke off his first big run in the second quarter on a 67-yard dash setting up first down at the Jayhawks 8-yard line. 

He added runs of 54, 12 and 11 yards, and Brooks converted seven first downs when he had the football. 

Ray Davis, Kentucky 

This week’s leading rusher had a big game during the Wildcats upset win over Florida. 

Davis found “another gear” in his 280-yard rushing performance. He garnered 26 carries which set a season-high. 

Davis got his day started with 206 rushing yards in the first half against the Gators. He had three touchdowns in that span, and his first came through the air on a 9-yard reception during the first quarter. 

Davis’ rushing touchdowns came later, as he piled on a 75-yard breakaway for a score late in the first quarter and added another on the next possession during the second quarter. 

He would finish with three rushing touchdowns on the day. Davis’ 280 rushing yards tied him for third-most in a single game in Kentucky program history. 

Omarion Miller, Colorado 

It took a half of football for Miller to turn on, but when he did, he did so decisively. 

Miller caught a 65-yard deep ball thrown by quarterback Shedeur Sanders midway through the third quarter. 

READ: Williams throws 6 TDs, No. 8 USC outslugs Colorado 48-41

As Colorado’s comeback bid began — the Buffaloes trailed as much as 41-14 in the second half — that was when Miller continued piling on big catches. 

He converted a first down on a 44-yard catch in the third quarter, and it set up a Sanders touchdown pass on the next play to pull the Buffaloes within 48-27. 

Miller caught a touchdown of his own after the fourth quarter began. He found an opportunity and took advantage on a 9-yard score that was part of Colorado’s stretch of 20 unanswered points. 

Miller finished with 196 receiving yards across seven catches, all coming in the second half of Colorado’s narrow 48-41 defeat to No. 9 USC. 

Jalen Royals, Utah State 

UConn’s comeback efforts also fell short to Utah State and Royals, who had a career-day in the 34-33 win. 

Royals caught the go-ahead touchdown on a 52-yard reception early in the fourth quarter on Saturday. Utah State then held a 31-24 lead that would have to withstand the test of time. 

And it did. Utah State blocked the game-tying extra point with 40 seconds left to seal its second win of the year. 

Royals caught a game-high 185 yards, which set a new career best, across seven receptions. He also had touchdowns of 71 and 15 yards. 

Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland 

A renowned quarterback who’s older brother currently quarterbacks the Miami Dolphins, Taulia Tagovailoa had a statement performance on Saturday against Indiana. 

Tagovailoa, the program’s career passing leader, went 24-of-34 for 352 passing yards, a season-high figure. 

READ: Davis finds ‘another gear’ in 280-yard performance against No. 22 Florida

Tagovailoa and Maryland converted 13 first downs through the air, and they went a perfect 5-for-5 in the red zone. He added scoring throws of 9 and 3 yards. 

His farther passes went downfield for big payouts. Tagovailoa had six “big plays” of more than 15 passing yards: 62, 46, 31, 29, 23 and 19. 

Tagovailoa also finished with five touchdowns, which reached a new career-high for the fifth-year quarterback. He and the Terrapins have a major test this weekend when they travel to Columbus and face No. 4 Ohio State.