Parity reached another level in college football on Saturday, with four games involving at least one ranked team going to overtime and four others being decided by three or fewer points.
It matched the most overtime games in one day since Sportradar began keeping track in 2000 — the only previous date showing four overtime games was Sept. 27, 2003. It was just the 10th time Sportradar's records showed at least three overtime games on the same day.
The overtime games were No. 4 Penn State’s 33-30 win over Southern California, No. 8 Tennessee’s 23-17 victory over Florida, No 13 LSU’s 29-26 win against No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 23 Illinois’ 50-49 win over Purdue.
In the other close calls on Saturday, No. 3 Oregon defeated No. 2 Ohio State 32-31, No. 7 Alabama knocked off South Carolina 27-25, No. 18 Kansas State held off Colorado 31-28 and No. 22 Pitt topped California 17-15.
Coaches say the transfer portal and teams switching conferences have leveled the playing field. Oklahoma coach Brent Venables, whose Sooners left the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference this season, had one of those close calls a few weeks ago when the Sooners rallied for a 27-21 win over Auburn.
“I think you would be naive if you don’t believe that the portal hasn’t had a dramatic effect on some of the parity that you’re seeing," Venables said. “The margins are closer than they’ve ever been in the game of college football, and you’re seeing that week in, week out and, so you got to always be prepared, ready to play.”
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said he expects tough games on a regular basis. His Crimson Tide went from beating then-No. 1 Georgia to losing to Vanderbilt to edging South Carolina in three weeks.
“We talked a lot about different things that South Carolina would do that would be tougher matchups for us,” DeBoer said. “Areas and the strengths of their team that were maybe different than (what Vanderbilt offered) a week ago. That’s the way it’s going to be every single week.”
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said the lack of familiarity with opponents is a factor. California is a new team in the Atlantic Coast Conference, so the whole game was like a feeling out process.
“That’s the problem when you play these teams just once — you don’t know how they’re going to play, what they’re going to do,” he said. “That’s why I always liked that Coastal Division, because you get used to playing people and find out. But obviously the next time we get to play them, we’ll know a little bit more about how they’re going to try to defend you, and that’s part of the chess match out there.”
USC moved from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten, and face dogfights on a regular basis. All three of the Trojans' conference losses were by seven points or fewer, making Saturday's loss tougher to handle.
“Came down to the last play, and it hurts to not be able to get this done," USC coach Lincoln Riley said. "We’ve had a few games like this, where we’ve had chances to win right there at the end -- and to not make the plays, to not have some of the breaks bounce your way, it’s a gut punch. There’s no doubt about it. We’re very disappointed with not finishing it off.”
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Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant (13) Declan Duley (31) and Devin Hale (53) celebrate with the Purdue cannon after the team's 50-49 overtime win over Purdue in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant celebrates with the Purdue cannon after the team's 50-49 overtime win over Purdue in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates (AP) — India captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten half-century went in vain as defending champion Australia took four wickets in the last over of the cricket match and won by nine runs at the Women’s T20 World Cup on Sunday.
Australia advanced from Group A to the semifinals with the win. India's fate now depends on the outcome of the New Zealand versus Pakistan game on Monday.
In the early match, Maia Bouchier smashed 62 not out off 34 balls as England crushed Scotland by 10 wickets with 10 overs remaining in their Group B clash.
Kaur took her team close to a successful chase with 54 not out off 47 balls. India started the final over at 138-5, needing 14 runs to win. Two run-outs and two wickets for Australia bowler Annabel Sutherland saw India finish its innings at 142-9.
Australia chose to bat first and rode on vital middle-order runs from Tahlia McGrath (32) and Ellyse Perry (32) after opener Grace Harris hit 40 in a total of 151-8.
Australia finished top of its group, winning all four games.
India is currently second after two wins and two losses. Both India and New Zealand have four points each, two more than Pakistan.
A win for the Kiwis on Monday will see them through, while Pakistan winning will make it a three-way fight for the final qualification spot dependent on net run-rate.
England powered its way to 113-0 in only 10 overs as Bouchier put on an unbeaten opening stand with Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, who continued her splendid tournament form to score 51 not out off 26 balls.
This was after Scotland was restricted to 109-6 in its 20 overs. Left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone picked up 2-13 in four overs.
With the win England moved to the top of Group B with three successive wins in as many games.
It is equal on six points with second-place South Africa, but ahead on a comfortable net run-rate of +1.716. England’s final game is against third-place West Indies (four points). All three teams could find themselves in a battle for the two knockout spots from the group.
Scotland has lost all four group games in its first Women’s T20 World Cup campaign, and along with hosts Bangladesh, is out of contention to advance from the group.
Scotland opted to bat and its openers made a decent start. Sarah Bryce scored 27 off 31 balls and put on 38 for the first wicket with Saskia Horley (13).
Nat Sciver-Brunt provided the breakthrough, and then Ecclestone had Sarah Bryce stumped with the score at 50-2 in 10.4 overs.
Skipper Kathryn Bryce top scored with 33 off 28 but the other batters were unable to kick on against disciplined English bowling led by Ecclestone.
In reply, England’s openers made light work of the chase. Wyatt-Hodge, who has previous scores of 41 and 43 in the tournament, smacked seven fours.
Bouchier hit 12 fours to reach 50 off 30 balls as the opening duo overhauled the target with half the innings to spare.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Australia's players celebrates their win against India during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
India's Shafali Verma bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Australia at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
India's Shafali Verma bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Australia at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Australia's Grace Harris bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Australia at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
India's Smriti Mandhana bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Australia at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Australia's Annabel Sutherland celebrates after taking the catch to get the wicket of India's Shafali Verma during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Australia at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Australia's Annabel Sutherland, left, celebrates with her teammates after taking the catch to get the wicket of India's Shafali Verma during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Australia at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Australia's Grace Harris bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Australia at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur walks off the field after losing to Australia during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Australia's Annabel Sutherland bowls a delivery during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Australia at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
England players celebrate the wicket of Scotland's Sarah Bryce during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between England and Scotland at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
England's Maia Bouchier, left, and Danni Wyatt bumps their fists as they bat during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 matchbetween England and Scotland at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Scotland's Darcey Carter dives unsuccessfully to stop the ball during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between England and Scotland at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Scotland's Abtaha Maqsood prepares to bowl during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between England and Scotland at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
England's Danni Wyatt and Maia Bouchier celebrates their win against Scotland during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
