Giant-killing Auburn rips No. 1 Alabama
Oklahoma, Clemson, Wisconsin romp
AUBURN, Ala. — Jarrett Stidham and No. 6 Auburn dominated top-ranked Alabama 26-14 on Saturday, earning a berth in next week’s SEC title game.
The Tigers’ QB passed for 237 yards and ran for a fourth-quarter TD to set up a rematch with No. 7 Georgia in the championship game Dec. 2 with a playoff spot almost certainly on the line.
Auburn (10-2, 7-1 SEC, No. 6 CFP) mostly shut down the league’s top scoring offense for its second win in three weeks over the top team in the playoff rankings. The Tigers won the Western Division a week after dispatching the Bulldogs with similar precision.
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn didn’t shy from a question about his team’s chances of making the playoffs with two losses. One of the defeats was to defending national champion Clemson, No. 3 at the time.
“We’ve got to win next week and that’s going to be a handful,” Malzahn said. “I don’t know, them experts got it figured out. I don’t think anybody else has played two No. 1 teams and a No. (3) team.”
The Crimson Tide (11-1, 7-1) made a rare assortment of mistakes for a team that had appeared to be headed toward a shot at a fourth consecutive SEC title and playoff berth.
“I don’t think one game defines who you are,” UA coach Saban said. “It certainly doesn’t define this team for who they are.” No. 3 OKLAHOMA 59, WEST VIRGINIA 31: In Norman, Okla., Baker Mayfield threw for 281 yards and three TDs after being punished for directing a lewd gesture toward the Kansas bench last week as Oklahoma routed West Virginia.
Mayfield was stripped of his captaincy and starting job for the game, his final home game as a Sooner. He entered the game on Oklahoma’s second possession.
Rodney Anderson ran for 118 yards and four touchdowns for the Sooners (11-1, 8-1 Big 12, No. 4 CFP). They will play TCU for the Big 12 title Saturday in Arlington, Texas. WVU is 7-5, 5-4. No. 4 CLEMSON 34, SOUTH CAROLINA 10: In Columbia, S.C., Kelly Bryant threw two touchdowns to Hunter Renfrow and Clemson kept on track for a third straight trip to the College Football Playoff with a victory over South Carolina.
The Tigers (11-1, No. 3 CFP) won their fourth straight game in the Palmetto State’s most cared-about sporting event. The Gamecocks are 8-4, No. 24 CFP. No. 5 WISCONSIN 31, MINNESOTA 0: In Minneapolis, Alex Hornibrook threw three TD passes for Wisconsin as it remained unbeaten by overwhelming Minnesota (5-7, 2-7 Big Ten) for its 14th straight win over the Gophers. Jonathan Taylor ran for 149 yards for UW (12-0, 9-0, No. 5 CFP).
No. 7 GEORGIA 38, GEORGIA TECH 7: In Atlanta, Sony Michel ran for 85 yards and a TD and Jake Fromm threw two touchdown passes as Georgia (11-1, No. 7 CFP) routed Tech (5-6).
No. 8 OHIO STATE 31, MICHIGAN 20: In Ann Arbor, Mich., Dwayne Haskins replaced injured star J.T. Barrett in the third quarter and led Ohio State (10-2, 8-1 Big Ten) past Michigan for the Buckeyes’ sixth straight win in the storied rivalry.
Michigan (8-4, 5-4) blew a 14-0 lead. Eldorado alum Zach Gentry had two catches for 32 yards.
No. 12 PENN STATE 66, MARYLAND 3: In College Park, Md., Trace McSorley threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score to carry Penn State past Maryland (4-8, 2-7 Big Ten). The Nittany Lions (10-2, 7-2, No. 10 CFP) built a 31-0 halftime lead.
No. 15 WASHINGTON 41, No. 14 WASH. STATE 14: In Seattle, Myles Gaskin ran for 192 yards and four TDs, and Washington forced four turnovers as the Huskies ended Washington State’s hopes for a Pac-12 North title.
The Apple Cup remained decorated in purple for the fifth straight year thanks to a thorough domination by Washington (10-2, 8-2 Pac-12, No. 17 CFP). WSU falls to 9-3, 6-3.
No. 17 MEMPHIS 70, EAST CAROLINA 13: In Memphis, Tenn., Riley Ferguson threw for three TDs, and Darrell Henderson scored twice and rushed for 122 yards as Memphis romped in a tuneup for the AAC title game.
The Tigers (10-1, 7-1, No. 20 CFP) completed their first undefeated home season at Liberty Bowl Stadium since it opened in 1965. ECU finished 3-9, 2-6.
No. 18 OKLA. STATE 58, KANSAS 17: In Stillwater, Okla., Mason Rudolph passed for 438 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two scores in his final home game to lead Oklahoma State to a victory over Kansas.
James Washington, Dillon Stoner and Marcel Ateman each went over 100 yards receiving for OSU (9-3, 6-3 Big 12, CFP No. 19). Kansas (1-11, 0-9) lost its 45th consecutive road game.
No. 19 LSU 45, TEXAS A&M 21: In Baton Rouge, La., Danny Etling passed 347 yards and three touchdowns as LSU (9-3, 6-2 SEC) beat A&M (7-5, 4-4).
No. 21 MICH. STATE 40, RUTGERS 7: In Piscataway, N.J., Brian Lewerke threw for a TD and ran for another as Michigan State (9-3, 7-2 Big Ten) held the ball for more than 47 minutes in routing Rutgers (4-8, 3-6).
No. 23 NORTHWESTERN 42, ILLINOIS 17: In Champaign, Ill., Justin Jackson ran for 144 yards as Northwestern (9-3, 7-2 Big Ten) beat Illinois (2-10, 0-10).
FRESNO STATE 28, No. 25 BOISE STATE 17: In Fresno, Calif., Marcus McMaryion threw for 332 yards and two TDs as Fresno State (9-3, 7-1) beat Boise State (9-3, 7-1) in a preview of the MWC title game scheduled for Saturday at a site to be announced today.
NEVADA 23, UNLV 16: In Reno, Nev., Kelton Moore scored from the 1 as Nevada (3-9, 3-5 MWC) drove for the winning score in the fourth quarter to break a tie and defeat UNLV (5-7, 4-4).
SAN JOSE STATE 20, WYOMING 17: In San Jose, Calif., DeJon Packer raced 44 yards for a TD with 2:09 left as SJSU (2-11, 1-7 MWC) snapped a 10-game skid. Wyoming is 7-5, 5-3.
BYU 30, HAWAII 20: In Honolulu, RB Squally Canada rushed for two TDs to lead BYU (4-9) over Hawaii (3-9).