This story appears in ESPN The Magazines November 28 Tall Ball Issue. Subscribe today!We know... the only record that counts is the one in the win-loss column. But that doesnt mean we should pass on these other runs at history.Score, Tide, scoreTHE FEAT Through the first 12 Saturdays, Alabama had nine defensive touchdowns, the most in FBS play since 2004 and tied for the season record held by Southern Miss (2011) and SMU (2012). Those nine TDs are three more than any other defense has managed this year -- Ohio State has six -- and have come courtesy of seven players.THE FUNDAMENTALS Jonathan Allen, Alabamas two-time All-SEC defensive lineman who has scored on two fumble recoveries this season, says the Tide are opportunistic because they literally practice what they preach. In practice, even if its an incomplete pass, we want to try to pick it up and return it for a score, he says. In that way, they learn how to be offensive players too. Scoop and score. Thats something we live by.THE FUTURE The Tigers loom. Auburns offense, No. 25 in efficiency, is back to looking like a Gus Malzahn-helmed attack (most of the time; see: Georgia). The Tigers have only 11 turnovers all year, which is good for a top-20 FBS ranking. Still, the Bama D makes its living harassing opposing quarterbacks, and Auburn has already allowed 18 sacks. They dont have to blitz, says Eddie Gran, Kentuckys offensive coordinator. They can send four and get to the quarterback. And that leads to hurried throws, which leads to errant throws, which leads to intercepted throws, which leads to ... well, you get it.The first 6,000-yard man?THE FEAT Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes could accomplish what no player at any level of college football has ever done: gain 6,000 yards in a single season. Former Red Raiders quarterback B.J. Symons came closest in 2003, with 5,976 total yards. Averaging 454 total yards of offense per game, Mahomes is on pace for a season-long total of 5,902 yards -- if Tech (4-6 with two games to go) plays in a bowl game.THE FUNDAMENTALS On average, Mahomes is passing for 67 more yards per game than last year, a jump in production that Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury says is helped by his ... incompletions. The number of throwaways Ive seen? I love it, he says. We always dance that fine line of When is the party over, and when do you make that exceptional play? This year hes surrendered a bunch on second down and got us a third down instead of turning the ball over.THE FUTURE If Tech doesnt make a bowl, Mahomes will need to average 730 yards of offense in his final three games. The good news: He surpassed the 500-yard mark five times in his first 10 outings. The bad news: In the season finale in Arlington, Tech faces Baylor and its Big 12-best pass defense (201.4 yards per game allowed, No. 32 in the FBS).This Cardinal rulesTHE FEAT Louisville QB Lamar Jackson cant not score. He was responsible for 46 touchdowns (27 passing, 19 rushing) through 10 games. If he keeps that pace, hell threaten Colt Brennans record of 63 TDs in 2006 in the postseason. Jackson, the Heisman favorite, has outscored 57 FBS offenses this year.THE FUNDAMENTALS Jackson rushed for 11 TDs last year, but his growing understanding of how to use his arm has opened up his game. Hes getting comfortable with reading defenses, says Louisville co-offensive coordinator Lonnie Galloway, who points to Jacksons third-down slant to James Quick in the second quarter in Louisvilles 63-20 rout of Florida State. The Cards were ahead just 14-10, and a defensive back in tight coverage was in the passing lane. Instead of forcing a dart in to Quick, Jackson lofted the ball just over the defenders reach. I dont think he makes that throw last year, Galloway says.THE FUTURE Houston, Louisvilles penultimate opponent, might prove a stout test; the Cougars rank No. 23 in defensive efficiency and have held QBs to a 37.8 QBR (No. 23 in the FBS). Then comes in-state rival Kentucky, which looks riper for Jacksons picking: UKs defense has surrendered 40 touchdowns this year, tied for 84th in the FBS.The rest of the bestDONNEL PUMPHREY The running back has quietly hoarded 6,051 career rushing yards at San Diego State, putting him 346 shy of Ron Daynes career mark (6,397 from 1996 to 99), and hell have room to run: The Aztecs are bowl-eligible, and their final two regular-season opponents allow 4-plus ypc.COREY DAVIS With 4,814 career receiving yards, Western Michigans stud receiver needs 191 yards in his next three games to pass Trevor Insleys record of 5,005 yards (Nevada, 1996-99). Other than his last game against Kent State where he had just 18 yards, Davis has gained at least 63 yards in every game this year.JAKE BROWNING Russell Wilson holds the highest passer efficiency rating in a season (191.78 at Wisconsin in 2011), but Washingtons Browning is closing in on the record this year at 189.1. And his odds look good: he faces Arizona State (No. 124) and Washington State (No. 74) to close the regular season.RYAN SWITZER As a North Carolina freshman in 2013, Switzer ran back five punts for TDs, wizardry that approached the all-time career mark (Wes Welker and Antonio Perkins both collected eight) in just one year. He had none in 2014 but two last year, followed by zero this year. If he can recapture the magic just once, hell crack the record books.NAVY The Middies are once again the nations least penalized team; with just 2.4 flags per game, theyre on pace for 29 hankies. Since the record was first charted in 2004, Navy has accrued the fewest penalties in the country four times (including the record low of 28 in 2011) and has never ranked below No. 5. Cheap Puma Shoes China . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Cheap Puma Shoes Wholesale . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. http://www.clearancepuma.com/ . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. Puma Shoes Clearance Sale . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. Puma Shoes Online Sale . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. (STATS) -- Theres an intruder in the FCS national semifinals, but unseeded Youngstown State has proven it belongs.Top-seeded North Dakota State, second-seeded Eastern Washington and fourth-seeded James Madison -- all 12-1 conference champs -- have done their part to keep the 24-team bracket to form.The exception is the No. 3 seed, Jacksonville State, fell to Youngstown State last week, and the surging Penguins (11-3) kept the momentum going in the national quarterfinals this weekend.All four semifinalists have won an FCS title previously. North Dakota State will host James Madison Friday night and Youngstown State will go to Eastern Washington next Saturday.The two winners will meet in the national championship game Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas.Heres a quarterfinal-round review:---=Saturday, Dec. 10No. 1 seed North Dakota State 36, No. 8 seed South Dakota State 10Story Line: The five-time defending FCS champion Bison scored the final 36 points after falling into their first double-digit deficit of the season. In rallying to their 22nd straight win in the FCS playoffs, they avenged their only defeat of the season.Game Ball: Bison quarterback Easton Stick usually limits the mistakes. Although he threw an interception near the South Dakota State goal line and had poor clock management near the end of the first half, the redshirt sophomore still produced for an offense that dominated the game clock. He had 271 yards of total offense, rushed for two touchdowns and threw for one.Key Stats: The Bisons ability to convert third downs (10 of 13) led to a decisive edge in time of possession (40 minutes, 55 seconds) and kept SDSUs triple threat of quarterback Taryn Christion, wide receiver Jake Wieneke and tight end Dallas Goedert from beating them. Christion managed only 155 passing yards and no touchdowns.The Takeaway: Coach Chris Klieman talked afterward about the resolve of his Missouri Valley Football Conference co-champion, which survived SDSUs early 10-0 lead and then dictated the game in a way the Bison so often do. They wont win the run game against semifinal-round foe James Madison in the same way they did against SDSU (302 yards to 37), but they are big enough up front to impose their will.Up Next: North Dakota State will host No. 4 seed James Madison in the semifinals. Their run of five straight national titles began with a 26-14 win over the Dukes in the 2011 second round.---=Youngstown State (11-3) 30, Wofford (10-4) 23, 2 OTsStory Line: The upstart from the Missouri Valley made it three straight wins in its first playoff appearance in 10 years, overcoming three missed field goals and various mistakes to win in the second overtime on Tevin McCasters 2-yard touchdown run.Game Ball: While McCaster scored the game-winner, Youngstown States running attack featured Jody Webbs 213 yards on 34 carries -- both career highs. The senior also had 118 yards on four kickoff returns, giving him 331 all-purpose yards.Key Stat: Woffords triple-option offense was one-dimensional, which gave the Penguins a big advantage in the passing game. Quarterback Hunter Wells threw for 173 yards and three touchdowns, while the Terriers two signal callers didnt have a completion in three attempts.The Takeaway: Coach Bo Pelinis squad had been on such a dominating roll that it was a positive to see it could survive and advance despite not playing one of its better games. The Penguins will need to rrun the ball to beat Eastern Washington in the semifinals, so it will be beneficial if Martin Ruiz can heal up over the next week.ddddddddddddUp Next: Red will be the optimum color when Youngstown State travels to No. 2 seed Eastern Washington for the FCS semifinals. The Penguins won four FCS national titles in the 1990s and EWU captured its lone title in 2010.---=No. 2 seed Eastern Washington 38, Richmond 0Story Line: Gage Gubrud threw for three touchdowns in the first half, and the Eagles often-maligned defense posted its first shutout since the 2009 regular season by forcing five turnovers and getting six sacks.Game Ball: Senior defensive end Samson Ebukam, in his 36th career start, tied for Eastern Washingtons team high with eight tackles and added two sacks, two other tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception.Key Stat: Richmond had hoped to control the game against an Eagles defense that was allowing 200 rushing yards per game. But add in the sacks and the Spiders managed only 48 net rushing yards on 37 carries. Meanwhile, the Eagles carried the ball 33 times for 154 yards.The Takeaway: This years improvement of the Eagles defense reached a new level with their first shutout in 102 games. They were aggressive against Richmonds young offensive backfield. Coach Beau Baldwins Eagles, who won a share of their fourth Big Sky Conference title in five years, have surrendered only 113 points in their last seven games.Up Next: Eastern Washington will host Youngstown State in the FCS semifinals. The only previous meeting occurred in the same round of the 1997 playoffs, with YSU winning 25-14 in Cheney, Washington, on the way to its fourth national title of the decade.---=Friday, Dec. 9No. 4 seed James Madison 65, No. 5 seed Sam Houston State 7Story Line: The CAA Football champ reached the semifinals for the third time, dominating in all three phases of the game and silencing Sam Houston State record-setting quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe. Running backs Khalid Abdullah and Trai Sharp combined for 285 rushing yards and five touchdowns.Game Balls: The Dukes secondary was exceptional while keeping Briscoe (13 of 44, 143 yards) without a touchdown pass just six days after he set the FCS single-season record with his 57th scoring toss. Curtis Oliver and Raven Greene both had interceptions, and Oliver joined fellow cornerback Jimmy Moreland with three pass breakups.Key Stat: The Bearkats failed to convert on their first 12 third-down attempts, finishing 2 of 19 overall, which led to nine punts. The punts werent such a good option as the Bearkats had one returned for a touchdown, blocked for a touchdown and one poorly snapped, resulting in punter Joseph Figenshaw being tackled in the backfield.The Takeaway: The second-largest margin in FCS playoff history -- only Montanas 70-7 win over Troy in the 1996 semifinals was larger -- did not bode well for Southland Conference teams closing the gap on the best conferences, namely the CAA and Missouri Valley, especially on a physical level. James Madison emerged as the most impressive winner of the national quarterfinals.Up Next: James Madison will play at top-seeded North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals. The Dukes, under first-year coach Mike Houston, may be up to the task. Wholesale HoodiesNFL Shirts OutletJerseys NFL WholesaleCheap NFL Jerseys Free ShippingWholesale Jerseys CheapCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaWholesale JerseysWholesale NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '