Top 25 roundup: Kansas stuns No. 6 BYU, handing Cougars first loss
Devin Neal rushed for two touchdowns and a fluke occurrence on a punt led to the go-ahead score as Kansas notched a 17-13 upset of No. 6 BYU in Big 12 play on a chilly Saturday night in Provo, Utah.
Jalon Daniels completed 12 of 19 passes for 169 yards and one interception, but his biggest contribution was a fourth-quarter punt that struck a member of the Cougars and was recovered by the Jayhawks (4-6, 3-4) at the BYU 3-yard line. Neal scored the winning points on the next play, and Kansas protected the lead.
The setback is a major blow for the Cougars (9-1, 6-1), who dropped into a first-place tie with Colorado and will slip downward when the next College Football Playoff rankings are unveiled on Tuesday.
BYU's Jake Retzlaff completed 18 of 28 passes for 192 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Hinckley Ropati had a scoring reception for the Cougars.
Neal extended his school record to 45 rushing touchdowns, and his 52 yards rushing made him the first player in program history to top 4,000 on the ground. His total sits at 4,003.
No. 1 Oregon 1, Wisconsin 13
Atticus Sappington's 24-yard field goal capped a 10-point fourth-quarter rally as the Ducks staved off an upset with a comeback victory over the host Badgers.
Oregon (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten), which entered averaging 35.7 points per game, took over at the Wisconsin 43 after a 12-yard punt return with just under seven minutes left. On third-and-4, quarterback Dillon Gabriel eluded pressure and scrambled 8 yards for the first down at the 8. After Gabriel's third-down pass was incomplete, Sappington hit his third field goal of the game to put the Ducks up 16-13 with 2:36 remaining.
Wisconsin (5-5, 3-4) lost its third straight. The Badgers need one more victory to keep its streak of 22 consecutive bowl games alive.
No. 2 Ohio State 31, Northwestern 7
Chicago native Carnell Tate had two touchdown catches and Quinshon Judkins ran for two short scores as the Buckeyes overcame a slow start to defeat the Wildcats at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Tate, who had four receptions for 52 yards, made an 8-yard TD catch on the first drive for the Buckeyes (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) in the second half to make it 28-7 before a pro-Ohio State crowd. The score was set up by a 68-yard catch-and-run by Jeremiah Smith, who finished with four catches for 100 yards. Ohio State made it 31 straight points on a 28-yard field goal by Jayden Fielding with 44 seconds left in the third.
Northwestern (4-6, 2-5) quarterback Jack Lausch was 21-of-35 passing for 201 yards with Bryce Kirtz making seven catches for 92 yards.
No. 3 Texas 20, Arkansas 10
Quinn Ewers passed for 176 yards and touchdowns early and late to Matthew Golden as the Longhorns did just enough on the road to beat the Razorbacks in a key Southeastern Conference clash in Fayetteville, Ark.
The game was the first for the two programs as league foes since 1990 when they were a part of the now-defunct Southwest Conference. The intensity still was high as the Longhorns (9-1, 5-1 SEC) stayed on track for a spot in the SEC Championship Game in their inaugural season in the conference. Jaydon Blue rushed for 83 yards on 14 carries as Texas outgained the Razorbacks 315-231 in total yards.
Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green had 149 yards passing but absorbed six sacks for 48 yards in losses and threw an interception for the Razorbacks (5-5, 3-4).
No. 4 Penn State 49, Purdue 10
Drew Allar passed for three touchdowns and Tyler Warren found the end zone twice as the Nittany Lions rolled over the host Boilermakers in West Lafayette, Ind.
Allar finished with more touchdowns than incompletions, as he went 17 of 19 for 247 yards without a turnover for the Nittany Lions (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten). Warren totaled eight catches for 127 yards and a score and also had a 48-yard scoring run.
Hudson Card passed for 151 yards and Max Klare had 91 receiving yards and a touchdown for Purdue (1-9, 0-7), which has not won since Week 1 and has not beaten Penn State since 2004. The Boilermakers have faced three top-five opponents in the last month, losing those games by a combined margin of 129-10.
No. 12 Georgia 31, No. 7 Tennessee 17
Carson Beck completed 25 of 40 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns as the Bulldogs kept their Southeastern Conference Championship Game and College Football Playoff hopes alive by beating the Volunteers in Athens, Ga.
Beck also added a rushing score for the Bulldogs (8-2, 6-2), who bounced back from last week's 28-10 loss at Ole Miss. Nate Frazier ran for 68 yards and a touchdown, while Oscar Delp caught four passes for 56 yards and two touchdowns. Georgia beat Tennessee for the eighth straight year.
Nico Iamaleava completed 20 of 33 passes for 167 yards for Tennessee (8-2, 5-2), which had its four-game winning streak snapped. Dylan Sampson led the Volunteers with 101 rushing yards and a score.
No. 8 Notre Dame 35, Virginia 14
Jeremiyah Love ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns and Riley Leonard threw three touchdown passes to lead the Fighting Irish past the Cavaliers in South Bend, Ind.
Notre Dame won its eighth consecutive game and inched closer to securing a playoff berth. Love has scored at least one touchdown in 10 straight games, making him the program's fourth running back to do so. He also broke loose for a 76-yard score in the third quarter to put the Irish ahead 35-0.
Virginia (5-5) was unable to carry over the momentum from last week's upset up Pitt. The Cavaliers benched quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who completed only 8 for 21 passes for 69 yards with three interceptions, and replaced him with Tony Muskett in the second half. Muskett scored the Cavaliers' only two touchdowns.
No. 10 Alabama 52, Mercer 7
Jalen Milroe threw a pair of touchdown passes and Ryan Williams scored one rushing and one receiving TD as the host Crimson Tide cruised past the Bears in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The 10th-ranked Crimson Tide (8-2) received a collective effort from its offense, defense and special teams and was able to incorporate several reserve players into the game in the second half after taking a commanding 38-7 lead over the Bears (9-2). Milroe completed 11 of 16 passes for 186 yards, didn't throw an interception and ran for 43 yards and a touchdown on six carries to lead Alabama.
Mercer had a three-game winning streak snapped, but already clinched a berth in the FCS playoffs and a share of the Southern Conference championship. Whitt Newbauer completed 15 of 22 passes for 140 yards and an interception as Mercer was held to 202 yards of total offense.
No. 13 Boise State 42, San Jose State 21
Ashton Jeanty ran for three touchdowns and the Broncos overcame a 14-0 first-half deficit to the host Spartans to continue its march toward a hopeful playoff berth.
The victory keeps the Broncos (9-1, 6-0 Mountain West) in control of the one open spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff reserved for the highest-ranked Group of 5 team, and in the lead in the Mountain West Conference. Jeanty, who entered Saturday as the nation's leading rusher, ran for 159 yards in the win. Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen completed 22 of 30 attempts for 286 yards and a touchdown.
The Spartans' Walker Eget threw for a career-high 446 yards on 34-of-50 passing with three touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss. Justin Lockhart had 10 catches for 172 and a TD and Nick Nash added nine catches for 126 yards and a score for San Jose State (6-4, 3-3).
No. 14 SMU 38, Boston College 28
Kevin Jennings went 24-for-35 passing for 298 yards and three touchdowns as the Mustangs held off the visiting Eagles in Atlantic Coast Conference action in Dallas.
Jennings found three different receivers for touchdowns as the Mustangs (9-1, 6-0) remained unbeaten in their first ACC season. Jordan Hudson had seven catches for 99 yards and a score. Brashard Smith rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
In his first start since Thomas Castellanos was benched and entered the transfer portal, Grayson James completed 18 of 32 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown with an interception for Boston College (5-5, 2-4). Kye Robichaux rushed for two touchdowns and 90 yards on 21 carries.
No. 15 Texas A&M 38, New Mexico State 3
Marcel Reed passed for 268 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score to lead Texas A&M to a victory over New Mexico State in College Station, Texas.
Texas A&M (8-2) bounced back after a bye week that followed their first Southeastern Conference loss to South Carolina. Reed completed 20 of 31 passes and threw one interception.
New Mexico State (2-8) dropped its third in a row and suffered its eighth loss in its past nine games. Seth McGowan was one of the few bright spots for New Mexico State, rushing for 75 yards on 14 carries.
Arizona State 24, No. 16 Kansas State 14
Sam Leavitt was 21-of-34 for 275 yards and three touchdowns as the Sun Devils defeated the Wildcats in the first Big 12 Conference matchup between the two teams.
The Sun Devils (8-2, 5-2) built a 24-0 lead in the third quarter before K-State got its offense going. Arizona State reached Kansas State territory on each of its first nine drives and was 9-of-15 on third downs.
Avery Johnson finished 24-of-40 for 258 yards, but he had two interceptions and no touchdowns for Kansas State (7-3, 4-3).
No. 17 Colorado 49, Utah 24
Shedeur Sanders threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns as the Buffaloes withstood a late rally in a win over the Utes in Boulder, Colo.
Sanders connected on 30 of 41 passes and had an interception. Travis Hunter made big plays on offense along with an interception and pass defended on defense. He added five receptions for 55 yards and a 5-yard rushing touchdown. LaJohntay Wester had 10 receptions for 77 yards and a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown. Drelon Miller caught six passes for 108 yards and a touchdown, while Will Sheppard had five catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns for Colorado (8-2, 6-1 Big 12).
Isaac Wilson was 21-of-40 passing for 236 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions for Utah (4-6, 1-6). Utah's Dorian Singer had five receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown and Caleb Lohner had a touchdown catch.
New Mexico 38, No. 18 Washington 35
Quarterback Devon Dampier rushed for a 1-yard touchdown with 21 seconds left and the Lobos rallied from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter to upset the Cougars in Albuquerque, N.M.
Dampier gained 193 yards on 28 carries and scored three times as the Lobos improved to 5-6 and stayed alive for a bowl bid. He also completed 11 of 25 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown as New Mexico finished with 534 total yards.
John Mateer hit 25 of 36 passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns for Washington State (8-2). His 37-yard strike to Kyle Williams, the wide receiver's third touchdown catch of the night, gave Washington State a 35-31 edge with 3:12 left. Williams finished with nine catches for 181 yards.
Stanford 38, No. 19 Louisville 35
Emmet Kenney kicked a 52-yard field goal as time expired to lift the host Cardinal to an upset of the Cardinals.
The senior's heroics led to the crowd rushing to the field and snapped a six-game skid for the Cardinal (3-7, 2-5 ACC). It also capped a sensational comeback for Stanford, which trailed by 14 with less than 10 minutes remaining. Stanford got a season-high 298 yards passing and three touchdowns from Ashton Daniels, while freshman receiver Emmett Mosley V had 13 catches for 168 yards and three TDs.
Duke Watson ran for 117 yards and three scores on 11 carries for the Cardinals (6-4, 4-3), who rallied and appeared to take control of the game in the second half.
No. 20 Clemson 24, Pittsburgh 20
Pitt used a 13-0 scoring run in the fourth quarter to take a 20-17 lead with 1:36 remaining after a 47-yard field goal from Ben Sauls capped off an eight-play, 26-yard drive that burned nearly three minutes off the clock. Clemson (8-2, 7-1 ACC) needed three plays to move back in front. Klubnik dropped back to pass and took off at midfield zig-zagging and then sprinting up the field for the longest touchdown of the game.
Nate Yarnell, starting in place of an injured Eli Holstein for Pitt, completed 34-of-54 passes for 350 yards and a touchdown. Panthers tight end Gavin Bartholomew had the TD reception during Pitt's fourth-quarter comeback. Klubnik completed 27 of 41 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers. Antonio Williams hauled in 13 of Klubnik's passes for 149 yards and both of Clemson's scores through the air.
No. 21 South Carolina 34, No. 23 Missouri 30
LaNorris Sellers passed for 353 yards and five touchdowns as the Gamecocks edged the Tigers 34-30 in Columbia, S.C.
Rocket Sanders scored the decisive touchdown on a 15-yard shovel pass reception with 15 seconds left as the Gamecocks (7-3, 5-3 Southeastern Conference) kept their College Football Playoff hopes alive. Sellers completed 21 of 30 passes and also rushed for 45 yards.
Missouri quarterback Brady Cook returned from ankle and wrist injuries to complete 21 of 31 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown. Nate Noel rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers (7-3, 3-3 SEC), and Blake Craig kicked field goals from 38, 37 yards and 25 yards.
Florida 27, No. 22 LSU 16
DJ Lagway passed for 226 yards and a touchdown and the Gators handed the Tigers their third consecutive loss in Gainesville, Fla.
Lagway returned from a one-game absence due to a strained hamstring to complete 13 of 26 passes and Florida (5-5, 3-4 Southeastern Conference) moved within one victory of bowl eligibility with two games to play. Elijhah Badger caught six of Lagway's passes for 131 yards and a touchdown.
Garrett Nussmeier completed 27 of 47 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown for LSU (6-4, 3-3), but he was sacked seven times.
No. 25 Tulane 35, Navy 0
Makhi Hughes rushed for two touchdowns and the Green Wave defense smothered the Midshipmen in Annapolis, Md., in their American Athletic Conference showdown.
Darian Mensah threw for 138 yards and two scores and also ran for a TD for Tulane (9-2, 7-0 AAC), which clinched a berth in next month's conference title game against No. 24 Army. Hughes finished with 82 yards on 22 carries. He capped a 65-yard drive to open the third quarter with a 1-yard scoring run to extend Tulane's lead to 21-0.
The Midshipmen (7-3, 5-2) played most of the game without star quarterback Blake Horvath, who left with a rib injury after a 9-yard rush during Navy's third possession. Braxton Woodson, who came on for Horvath, turned the ball over twice in a rough outing. He completed 3 of 10 passes for 13 yards with an interception and rushed 13 times for 24 yards while fumbling the ball away deep in Navy territory.
