With Rivalry Week in full swing, it’s hardly surprising that the biggest games of college footall Week 14 also provided the biggest hits.
Taking a look at some the plethora of highlights from the holiday weekend, these are the biggest hits we saw.
Bryce Perkins gets lit up, throws pick
During the first quarter of Friday’s huge game between Virginia Tech and Virginia, Cavaliers quarterback Bryce Perkins took one of the biggest hits of college football Week 14 on a high-low tackle combo, throwing an interception in the process.
Here’s a look at the huge hit he took from a couple of different angles.
This turnover led to Virginia Tech scoring its first points of the game on a field goal to pull to within three points early, 6-3. However, Perkins responded with a brilliant touchdown, and that sparked a 39-30 win for the Cavaliers that snapped a 15-game losing streak against Virginia Tech.
Najee Harris lowers the boom
There were plenty of big moments during Saturday’s thrilling Iron Bowl between No. 5 Alabama and No. 15 Auburn. But it was established very early on that Najee Harris was going to be a big factor for the Crimson Tide.
Here, Harris drives an Auburn defender yards backward on this big hit, which showed off his tremendous power.
Harris had a huge game overall for Alabama, tallying 172 yards and a Superman flying leap of a touchdown. Unfortunately for him, the Crimson Tide made too many mistakes in key moments and fell, 48-45.
Jaylon Jackson with the perfect special teams hit
The No. 6 Utah Utes needed to win Saturday night in the worst way, but they got off to a rough start when Demari Simpkins was blasted by Jaylon Jackson and nearly lost possession.
Check out this perfect special teams hit by Jackson.
Poor Simpkins had no chance to hang onto that ball. Thankfully for him teammate Samson Nacua was Johnny on the spot. In the end, the mistake didn’t cost his team whatsoever. Utah went on to annihilate Colorado, 45-15, to secure a trip to the Pac-12 Championship Game against Oregon.
Throwing haymakers in Atlanta
Now here’s a costly mistake you’re about to witness. Georgia receiver George Pickens — one of the top receivers on the Bulldogs’ roster — will miss the first half of next weekend’s SEC Championship Game against LSU for throwing haymakers uring a brawl with Georgia Tech cornerback Tre Swilling.
It’s honestly surprising that Swilling wasn’t also ejected for throwing hands here.
This had no bearing on Saturday’s game, which No. 4 Georgia won handily, 52-7. But it could hurt the Bulldogs big time next Saturday.
Tre Sterling tossed from Bedlam over monster hit
Oklahoma State safety Tre Sterling made what many would say is just a clean, but brutal hit on Charleston Rambo early in the fourth quarter Saturday night.
The refs reviewed this hit and determined that Sterling did, in fact, target Rambo, and tossed him from the game.
We get it. Rules are rules. This hit clearly was a violation of the NCAA’s targeting rule. But man, what else is the guy supposed to do?
Whatever your take on this hit, it was costly. The Sooners advanced into enemy territory after the penalty yards were applied, and proceeded to score another touchdown to seal the 34-16 win.
Bonus points for the flop?
We’ve shown you big hits. Now it’s time to show you pretty much the opposite of that, along with an acting job that’s so bad it’s hilarious.
During Friday night’s Cincinnati-Memphis game, Bearcats linebacker Perry Young got smacked on the helmet by a frustrated Memphis player. It wasn’t really much of a hit. But then, as Young looked around he saw that a ref was watching him, and about two seconds after being hit he threw himself onto the ground and made a big show of holding his poor, aching head.
So, the hit to his head wasn’t very jarring. But the lack of penalty flag was a pretty big hit to Young’s ego on this play.
In the end, Cincinnati would lose this game, 34-24.
Blast from the past: Denzel Ward shows no mercy
Being that Ohio State established itself as the most dominant team in college football so far with a blowout win over Michigan, it is only fitting we remember one of the biggest hits by a Buckeyes defender in modern history.
Before he was playing for the Cleveland Browns on Sundays, Denzel Ward was terrorizing receivers in the Big Ten. Here, he absolutely levels former Maryland receiver Taivon Jacobs.
You can feel that one in your bones, more than two years after the fact.