The 2011 college football season is only a couple days old and we already have some monstrous upsets. While most people are focused on the Baylor upset of TCU, the real upset of the week belongs to the little known Sacramento State of the Football Championship Subdivision. The Hornets knocked off the Oregon State Beavers 29-28 on a two point conversion in overtime.
The Sac State Hornets join the Richmond Spiders as the first two significant FCS upsets of the 2011 season. The Spiders knocked off Duke, although they've beaten Duke three of the last six seasons, so it's not exactly a major upset anymore. This follows five FCS upsets of the FBS in 2010 and five more in 2009.
The Hornets jumped on top in the second quarter taking a 14-3 lead behind a pair of Jeff Fleming touchdown passes. The Hornets entered the fourth quarter with a 21-6 lead after a trick play led to a touchdown pass by wide receiver Morris Norrise.
The Beavers stormed back with a pair of touchdowns and a two point conversion to force overtime. OSU jumped on top with a 17-yard touchdown run by Malcom Agnew, his third touchdown run of the game. ON the ensuing Sacramento State possession, the Beavers forced a pair of third downs but allowed conversions on both. Jeff Fleming converted the second with six yard touchdown pass to Brandyn Reed. Rather than go for the tie, the Hornets decided they had nothing to lose and went for two. Flemind and Reed connected a second time and the Hornets had the stunning 29-28 upset.
The win is arguably the biggest in Sacramento State history, even if Oregon State is nowhere near the same team it was with Jacquizz Rodgers. The Beavers may be looking at tough times for the foreseeable future, but that doesn't take anything away from the Hornets victory.