Associated Press
The Top 25 roundup …
OXFORD, Miss. ó LSU’s domination of Mississippi was so complete that with more than five minutes remaining in the game, the Tigers lined up in a victory formation, content to kneel four straight times rather than try for another touchdown. It was the only mercy No. 1 LSU would show during the 52-3 rout Saturday night.
“Victory was assured,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “There was no reason to take snaps at that point.”
Actually, the Tigers had the win in hand much sooner.
Ron Brooks returned an interception for a touchdown 28 seconds into the game, LSU built a 35-3 lead by halftime and kept pounding away at the Ole Miss defense all night, rushing for 353 yards.
LSU running back Michael Ford said Brooks’ big play was all the Tigers needed.
“It definitely took their breath away because it took our breath away, too,” Ford said.
The Tigers (11-0, 7-0 SEC) matched their best start since 1958. It was the worst margin of defeat for Ole Miss since a 49-0 loss to Georgia in 1974.
No. 2 ALABAMA 45, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 21
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ó Trent Richardson rushed for 175 yards and scored three touchdowns to power Alabama (10-1).
No. 18 USC 38, No. 4 Oregon 35
EUGENE, Ore. ó Matt Barkley threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns and the No. 18 USC Trojans held off No. 4 Oregon 38-35 when Alejandro Maldonado missed a 37-yard field goal to tie the game with five seconds left.
No. 6 ARKANSAS 44, MISSISSIPPI STATE 17
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. ó Tyler Wilson had a school-record 32 completions for Arkansas and threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns. It was the seventh straight victory for the Razorbacks (10-1, 6-1 SEC), who travel to No. 1 LSU next week for a game with conference and national title implications.
It also clinched the first back-to-back 10-win seasons since 1988-89 for Arkansas.
No. 10 BOISE STATE 52, SAN DIEGO STATE 35
SAN DIEGO ó Kellen Moore completed 28 of 40 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns, three to Tyler Shoemaker, and No. 10 Boise State benefited from three San Diego State turnovers.
No. 11 HOUSTON 37, SMU 7
HOUSTON ó Case Keenum set the completions mark on his seventh throw, breaking the previous mark (1,403) set by Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell (2005-08).
The Cougars’ sixth-year quarterback also joined Hawaii’s Tim Chang as the only quarterbacks to reach 4,000 yards passing in three seasons, and he tied Chang’s FBS record for career 300-yard passing games (36).
No. 12 MICHIGAN STATE 55, INDIANA 3
EAST LANSING, Mich. ó Kirk Cousins threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns in just over a half and Michigan State clinched a spot in the Big Ten championship game.
The Spartans entered with a one-game lead over both Nebraska and Michigan. When the Wolverines beat the Cornhuskers, Michigan State (9-2, 6-1) won the Legends Division.
No. 13 GEORGIA 19, KENTUCKY 10
ATHENS, Ga. ó Aaron Murray threw a touchdown pass to Marlon Brown on the first play of the fourth quarter, Blair Walsh kicked four field goals and Georgia clinched a spot in the SEC championship game.
Georgia (9-2, 7-1) struggled on offense after losing top rusher Isaiah Crowell to a left ankle injury after only two carries.
No. 14 SOUTH CAROLINA 34, THE CITADEL 20
COLUMBIA, S.C. ó South Carolina’s Connor Shaw threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns, including Alshon Jeffery’s first scoring catch in more than a month.
The Gamecocks (9-2) reached nine victories in back-to-back years for the first time in school history.
Jeffery caught a 32-yard scoring pass using just his right arm as Citadel defender Joseph Boateng pinned him near the left sideline of the end zone.
No. 15 WISCONSIN 28, ILLINOIS 17
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. ó Montee Ball rushed for 224 yards and scored three times, and Wisconsin forced four turnovers in a comeback victory.
The Badgers (9-2, 5-2) scored on drives of 44, 39, 30 and 2 yards. Their first 14 points were set up by an Illinois turnover and a badly botched punt.
No. 19 TCU 34, COLORADO STATE 10
FORT WORTH, Texas ó Antoine Hicks, Ed Wesley and Matthew Tucker ran for touchdowns and Tank Carder returned an interception 69 yards for a touchdown, helping TCU (9-2, 6-0) win a share of the Mountain West title.
No. 20 MICHIGAN 45, No. 17 NEBRASKA 17
ANN ARBOR, Mich.ó Denard Robinson threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores to help Michigan keep alive hopes for earning a BCS at-large bid.
The Cornhuskers (8-3, 4-3) lost any hope of playing in the Big Ten’s first title game.
The Wolverines (9-2, 5-2) are home against Ohio State next week, trying to snap a seven-game skid against their rivals.
No. 21 PENN STATE 20, OHIO STATE 14
COLUMBUS, Ohio ó Penn State won for the first time since coach Joe Paterno was fired, with Stephfon Green running for two touchdowns and the Nittany Lions’ solid defense holding Ohio State (6-5, 3-4) scoreless in the second half
Penn State (9-2, 6-1) earned a share of the Big Ten’s Leaders Division title and set up a division title game next week at Wisconsin. The winner will play in the conference’s first championship game on Dec. 3.
No. 24 NOTRE DAME 16, BOSTON COLLEGE 14
SOUTH BEND, Ind. ó Jonas Gray rushed for a touchdown as Notre Dame held off Boston College. The win was the fourth straight for the Irish (8-3), who matched last year’s victory total. But it was a costly win, with Gray leaving in the third quarter with an apparent knee injury.
No. 16 Kansas State 17, Texas 13
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) ó Collin Klein ran for one touchdown and passed for another and No. 16 Kansas State overcame a suffocating Texas defense for a 17-13 win.
Klein was sacked five times and Kansas State (9-2, 6-2 Big 12) managed just 121 total yards, but still pulled out the win behind Klein’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Chris Harper.