Associated Press
The Top 25 roundup …
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame knew what was coming. Stanford doesn’t get cute inches from the goal line.
And after three years of getting pushed around by the Cardinal, the Fighting Irish pushed back, winning the most important shoving match they’ve had all season.
Or did they?
A wall of Notre Dame defenders stopped Stepfan Taylor inches from the end zone on fourth down in overtime and the seventh-ranked Irish remained unbeaten with a 20-13 victory against the No. 17 Cardinal on a soggy Saturday in South Bend.
Taylor went up the middle and was knocked back, but kept reaching and turning with bodies underneath him. His knee never did hit the ground before reaching the ball across the goal line. But the officials ruled it was too late. The whistle had blown, and that meant the play was stopped.
Taylor finished with 102 yards on 28 carries. He needed 103.
The celebration had to wait for a replay review. The call stood. Irish fans who weren’t already on the field spilled out of the stands, and Notre Dame’s national title hopes remained alive. The Irish are 6-0 for the first time since 2002.
No. 1 ALABAMA 42, MISSOURI 10
ST. LOUIS – Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon gave top-ranked Alabama a pair of 100-yard rushers in the same game for the first time this season and the duo combined for five scores in a soggy, weather-delayed game.
The defending national champion Crimson Tide (6-0, 3-0 SEC) led 21-0 late in the first quarter en route to their 10th straight victory, all by 19 or more points.
No. 4 FLORIDA 31, VANDERBILT 17
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The fourth-ranked Florida Gators remain perfect thanks to quarterback Jeff Driskel running the ball better than even Tim Tebow.
Driskel ran for 177 yards and three touchdowns, and the Gators remained undefeated going into their big showdown with No. 3 South Carolina.
The Gators (6-0, 5-0 SEC) finished off their last SEC road trip outside of the state of Florida with their 22nd straight win over Vanderbilt.
TEXAS TECH 49, No. 5 WEST VIRGINIA 14
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech’s defense consistently stymied West Virginia’s offense. Heisman Trophy hopeful Geno Smith completed 29 of 55 passes for 275 yards.
No. 6 KANSAS STATE 27, IOWA STATE 21
AMES, Iowa – Quarterback Collin Klein ran for 105 yards and three touchdowns to help K-State beat them for the fifth straight time.
No. 8 OHIO STATE 52, INDIANA 49
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) – Braxton Miller scored on a 67-yard touchdown run, threw TD passes of 60 and 46 yards and produced his third straight 100-yard rushing game to help the Buckeyes escape.
The victory makes the Buckeyes (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten) the first ranked team with seven wins.
Indiana (2-4, 0-3) has now lost 21 straight conference games to teams from outside the state and 18 straight to the Buckeyes since 1988, including the game Ohio State won two years ago but later vacated as part of an NCAA penalty.
No. 10 OREGON STATE 42, BYU 24
PROVO, Utah – Cody Vaz passed for 332 yards and three touchdowns in his first start since high school.
Vaz was filling in for Sean Mannion, who is out with a left knee injury.
Oregon State is 5-0 for the first time since 1939.No. 11 Southern Cal 24, Washington 14
SEATTLE – Anthony Brown blocked a punt and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown, Jawanza Starling forced a key fumble, and USC overcame an inconsistent offense in.
No. 13 OKLAHOMA 63, No. 15 TEXAS 21
DALLAS – Damien Williams broke off a 95-yard touchdown run for the longest rush in Red River Rivalry history, Blake Bell powered his way in for four TDs and Oklahoma got its second straight blowout of Texas.
No. 18 LOUISVILLE 45, PITTSBURGH 35
PITTSBURGH- Senorise Perry rushed for 101 yards and a career-high four touchdowns.
No. 20 RUTGERS 23, SYRACUSE 15
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Duron Harmon scooped up a blocked field goal attempt and ran 75 yard for a tie-breaking touchdown early in the third quarter and Rutgers rode its defense and special teams to 6-0.
No. 21 CINCINNATI 49, FORDHAM 17
CINCINNATI – Deven Drane scooted 76 yards for a touchdown after picking up a fumble and Munchie Legaux threw two TD passes, including a 78-yarder to Travis Kelce.
No. 24 BOISE ST. 20, FRESNO ST. 10
BOISE, Idaho – D.J. Harper rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown and Joe Southwick threw for another score.
No. 25 MICHIGAN 45, ILLINOIS 0
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Denard Robinson threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores, brushing off an undisclosed injury as well as the Illini.