Why college football is awesome - Week 12: The College Station comeback

Every week, DAZN News's NCAA expert Simon Carroll reflects on the key action and memorable moments that you just do not get in any other sport, and what makes college football awesome.

With everything from seemingly impossible comebacks and landmark touchdowns to dominance from an unfancied team, Week 12 in college football did not disappoint:

Magic Mike

A program used to turmoil and drama, 2025 has been relatively, well, boring for Texas A&M. Traditionally a school that has thrown money at football and received little back to show for their outlay, the Aggies have been ruthlessly efficient this campaign; rolling to 9-0 and sitting pretty at #3 in the nation.

All of that was under threat on Saturday.

Absolutely nothing went right for Mike Elko’s team in the first half of their matchup against South Carolina. The Gamecocks are a tricky opponent, with LaNorris Sellers considered one of the best quarterbacks in college football. But it was the Aggies' offense that was misfiring, coughing up three first half turnovers that led directly to seventeen points.

South Carolina took ruthless advantage of A&M’s profligacy, and went into halftime with a 30-3 lead. Most assumed that the Aggies of old were back. There was no way they could come back from a four-score deficit was there?

There was.

This is a different team under Elko. There’s no drama, no fuss; just simple, robust football that plays to a talented roster’s strengths. A&M had thirty minutes to score four touchdowns; they managed it in just over nineteen, whilst shutting out the Gamecocks. Despite another late turnover the Aggies saw the game out and recorded the biggest comeback in school history.

Elko went straight from the game into the Athletic Director’s office and signed a reported six-year, $11m deal that makes him one of the five highest paid head coaches in college football. Magic Mike’s miracle comeback in College Station maintains A&M’s march to the playoffs, well worth a pay rise if you’re an Aggies booster.

Teams trailing by 27+ in SEC games were 0-286 since 2004 before yesterday. Texas A&M are legit.

Lubbock Linebacker’s Heisman Moment

Traditionally, college football’s biggest individual accolade has been reserved for those on offense.

The last time the Heisman trophy was won by a defender, Charles Woodson was prowling the secondary for Michigan. That was back in 1997, and strictly speaking he was a two-way player, having 230 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns on his resume. Even last year’s winner, Travis Hunter, spent time on both offense and defense.

So, as far as Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire is concerned, the maths is simple; for his star linebacker Jacob Rodriguez to be considered, he needs to shine on both sides of the ball.

Rodriguez has had a hell of a career in Lubbock, and his senior season is the best of the lot. 100 tackles, a sack, four interceptions and seven forced fumbles demonstrate his dominance, but when it comes to Heisman contenders, his name is rarely mentioned.

McGuire went into Saturday’s game against UCF determined to change that. Up 7-0 in the first quarter and on the Knights’ 2-yard line, he sent his linebacker in as the quarterback in a wildcat formation. Rodriguez took the high snap and rumbled his way into the endzone, doubling Texas Tech’s lead and sending the Red Raiders fans delirious.

A 48-9 blowout, #6 TTU march on to an inevitable playoff spot. But this was no garbage time bit of fun; to put the ball in his linebacker’s hands so early in the game was a testament to McGuire’s faith in Rodriguez, and his conviction that the linebacker is worthy of being in the Heisman conversation.

Rodriguez was a high school quarterback, and recruited to play QB by Virginia before transferring to Lubbock as a linebacker. The moustachioed menace can do it all - get him on that plane to New York.

Mean Green Machine

One of the more interesting storylines in this year’s playoff race is which Group of Five team will make the postseason bracket. Last year it was inevitable, with Ashton Jeanty dominating for Boise State. This year it appears the American Conference are favourites to send their champion to the dance, but as it stands five schools still have a shot at lifting that conference trophy.

One of those schools in the mix is North Texas. The Mean Green might not have got as much love as Navy, Memphis, Tulane or USF this season, but they are COOKING in Denton right now. UNT have put up fifty points five times this season, largely due to a pair of freshmen on offense…

Quarterback Drew Mestemaker has been a revelation under center, with 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns so far in 2025. More impressive is his ball security, with just four interceptions through ten games. Meanwhile, Caleb Hawkins is making sure the ground game keeps pace; already within touching distance of 1,000 yards on the season, Hawkins tore apart UAB on Saturday with 210 total yards and set a program record with five rushing touchdowns.

The Mestemaker-Hawkins tandem has the unfancied Mean Green within two games of a conference title game and three of an unlikely place in the playoffs. I’m not sure any big school will fancy going up against this offense in January.

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