Associated Press
The Top 25 roundup …
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ó No. 1 LSU gained the inside track to the BCS title game, beating No. 2 Alabama 9-6 on Drew Alleman’s 25-yard field goal in overtime after a fierce defensive struggle in which neither team reached the end zone Saturday night.
The Crimson Tide missed four field goals, including Cade Foster’s 52-yard attempt after Alabama got the ball first in the extra period. LSU appeared to win the game on Michael Ford’s run around left end after taking a pitch, but he stepped out of bounds at the 7.
After two plays gained nothing, LSU (9-0, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) sent on Alleman to attempt his third field goal of the game on third down. Alabama (8-1, 5-1) tried to freeze him by calling timeout, but he calmly knocked it through to set off a wild celebration by the visiting team.
The crowd of more than 100,000 at Bryant-Denny Stadium ó most of them dressed in crimson ó sat in stunned silence as LSU celebrated its victory in only the 23rd regular-season matchup between the top two teams in The Associated Press rankings.
LSU still must win its last three regular-season games ó No. 8 Arkansas is the toughest test ó and then would have to get through the SEC championship game. But the Tigers are the clear favorite after winning another huge game away from home, emerging with the victory in a matchup between the two teams generally considered the best in the land.
Alabama will long be moaning about how this one got away. Foster missed two first-quarter field goals, and Jeremy Shelley had one blocked before Shelley finally made one from 34 yards. Alleman kicked a 19-yarder on the final play of the first half, leaving the teams tied at 3 even though the Crimson Tide clearly had the upper hand.
Interceptions set up both field goals in the second half. Foster made one from 46 yards after Jarrett Lee threw his second pick of the game, then Alleman connected from 30 yards after Alabama’s AJ McCarron made an ill-timed throw.
No. 3 Oklahoma St. 52, No. 17 Kansas St. 45
STILLWATER, Okla. ó Brandon Weeden threw for a school record 502 yards and four touchdowns, and Joseph Randle scored the final, tiebreaking 23-yard touchdown with 2:16 remaining to lift No. 3 Oklahoma State (9-0, 6-0 Big 12) to a 52-45 victory against No. 17 Kansas State
No. 4 Stanford 38, Oregon State 13
CORVALLIS, Ore. ó Andrew Luck shook off the rain and the chill to throw for 206 yards and three touchdowns as Stanford extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 17 games. The Cardinal (9-0, 7-0 Pac-12) are off to their best start since 1952.
No. 7 Oklahoma 41, Texas A&M 25
NORMAN, Okla. ó Landry Jones threw two touchdown passes during Oklahoma’s 28-point third-quarter surge, but the Sooners lost All-America receiver Ryan Broyles for the year with a knee injury.
The Sooners (8-1, 5-1 Big 12) led just 13-10 at halftime, but Texas A&M (5-4, 3-3) had its second-half troubles continue ó the Aggies gave up big second-half leads in its previous three losses.
No. 8 Arkansas 44, No. 10 South Carolina 28
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. ó Tyler Wilson threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns as No. 8 Arkansas held on for a 44-28 win over No. 10 South Carolina on Saturday.
The Razorbacks (8-1, 4-1 SEC) won their fifth straight.
Northwestern 28, No. 9 Nebraska 25
LINCOLN, Neb. ó Second-string quarterback Kain Colter ran for two touchdowns and passed for another to lead Northwestern to an upset.
Taylor Martinez, who passed for 289 yards and two scores, hurriedly moved Nebraska (7-2, 3-2 Big Ten) down the field. He hit Kenny Bell for a 14-yard touchdown with 18 seconds to play, but Charles Brown recovered the onside kick and Northwestern (4-5, 2-4) ran out the clock.
Iowa 24, No. 13 Michigan 16
IOWA CITY, Iowa ó Marcus Coker ran for 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Iowa held off a late Michigan rally.
James Vandenberg added 171 yards passing and a TD for the Hawkeyes (6-3, 3-2 Big Ten), who have won three straight over Michigan for the first time in school history.
No. 14 Houston 56, UAB 13
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ó Case Keenum threw for 407 yards to become the most prolific passer in NCAA history and he added his first two rushing touchdowns of the season to lead No. 14 Houston past UAB 56-13 on Saturday night.
Keenum passed Timmy Chang’s career record of 17,072 yards passing for Hawaii from 2000-04. Keenum finished the game with 17,212 yards passing.
Houston (9-0 overall, 5-0 Conference USA) has won its first nine games for the first time in school history. It also was 8-0 in 1979 and 1990.
No. 15 Michigan State 31, Minnesota 24
EAST LANSING, Mich. ó Le’Veon Bell’s 35-yard touchdown run with 10:58 remaining helped Michigan State (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) hold off upset-minded Minnesota.
Bell ran for 96 yards and two touchdowns, and Kirk Cousins threw for 296 yards and a pair of TDs. The Spartans trailed 24-21 after three quarters before rallying.
No. 18 Georgia 63, New Mexico State 16
ATHENS, Ga. ó Aaron Murray threw five second-quarter touchdown passes, former walk-on receiver Brandon Harton ran for 98 yards and Georgia (7-2) won its seventh straight game.
No. 19 Wisconsin 62, Purdue 17
MADISON, Wis. ó Montee Ball rushed for a career-high 223 yards with three touchdowns and Wisconsin rebounded from back-to-back losses. Russell Wilson threw two touchdowns and scored on a scramble for the Badgers (7-2, 3-2 Big Ten).
No. 23 Cincinnati 26, Pittsburgh 24
PITTSBURGH (AP) ó Zach Collaros threw for 214 yards and ran for two touchdowns as No. 23 Cincinnati took firm control of the Big East race with a 26-23 win over Pittsburgh. The Bearcats (7-1, 3-0 Big East), who won their sixth straight .
Louisville 38, No. 24 West Virginia 35
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. ó Teddy Bridgewater threw for one touchdown, Andrew Johnson returned a blocked field goal for another score and Louisville upset West Virginia (6-3, 2-2).