DALLAS (FWAA) The Oregon State Beavers posted their first win over a top-10 team since 2010 and likely knocked Arizona State out of the national playoff conversation with a 35-27 home win Saturday, earning the Big Game National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Nov. 15.
The announcement came exclusively on SiriusXM Radio's "College Sports Today," hosted by
Mark Packer and Houston Nutt.
The Beavers (5-5) got the clinching score from when linebacker Michael Doctor
returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown with 1:38 left. OSU led 28-27
to that point behind Sean Mannion, the Pac-12 career passing yards leader who
threw two second-half touchdowns, and tailbacks Terron Ward (148 yards) and
Storm Woods (125), who combined for 273 rushing yards. The last time two Beavers
rushed for 100 yards in the same game was the 2007 Emerald Bowl.
"We had lots of contributions all the way around the block," Oregon State
head coach Mike Riley said after the game. "I am really happy for our players.
They have competed well and been ahead three times in the fourth quarter in the
last month and haven't won. It was a great reward for them to finish and win."
Other Big Game National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Nov. 15:
Arkansas (5-5): The Razorbacks posted their first shutout of an SEC opponent since 2002 with a 17-0 home win over LSU to snap a 17-game conference losing streak. Arkansas outgained LSU 264-123 to also earn its first win over a ranked opponent since the 2012 Cotton Bowl.Linebacker Martrell Spaight led the defense with 10 total tackles and a sack.
Northwestern (4-6): The Wildcats rallied from 11 points down in the fourth quarter to force overtime, then Jack Mitchell punched a 41-yard field goal through for the game-winner in Northwestern's overtime 43-40 win at Notre Dame. Northwestern marked its first trip to South Bend in 19 years with its second win over a ranked team this season. The Wildcats racked up a season-high 547 total yards behind freshman tailback Justin Jackson's 149 yards plus Trevor Siemian's 284 passing yards.
The Football Writers Association of America has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the first season The Big Game Football Factory has presented the award. Members of the FWAA All-America Committee decide the weekly honor. Each remaining Monday during the 2014 college football regular season, the FWAA will name a National Team of the Week.
Big Game USA is the largest American-owned football factory. Nearly half of all Football Bowl Subdivision programs play with a ball made by Big Game USA. This season, Big Game has introduced gametag, the latest development in football technology. It allows fans an opportunity to own a piece of football memorabilia, but more than that, gametag· offers complete authentication. Currently, four Division I schools (Mississippi State, Navy, Nebraska and Texas A&M) use balls equipped with gametag·. For more information about Big Game USA, visit biggameusa.com or contact Josh Eells at 972-292-0700 or jeells@biggameusa.com.
The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization
founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,400 men and women who cover college football.
The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key
executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas
that include gameday operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For
more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson
at tiger@fwaa.com or 214-870-6516.