CATBIRD SEAT
NORTHWESTERN 17, WISCONSIN 7 Wildcats pull upset to go 5- 0, take control of Big Ten West race
BYU relied on efficient offense to demolish another overmatched opponent.
Zach Wilson threw for 212 yards and four touchdowns before halftime and added 33 yards rushing as the No. 8 Cougars routed vising North Alabama 66- 14 on Saturday to improve to 9- 0. Wilson had a season- high 256.3 QB rating against the FCS Lions ( 0- 4).
Tyler Allgeier ran for a careerhigh 141 yards, his fourth 100- yard game of the season, and two touchdowns for BYU, which scored touchdowns on all six first- half drives. The Cougars rolled up 394 total yards and averaged 11.3 yards per play before halftime.
“That’s having fun with your friends, man,” center James Empey said. “That’s a lot of fun. That’s playing football and executing at a high level regardless of who you’re playing. That’s really what we’ve been trying to do.”
Wilson hit Gunner Romney with a 50- yard pass in double coverage on the Cougars’ first play from scrimmage to set up a two- yard scoring toss to Isaac Rex that put BYU up 7- 0.
Allgeier scored on two- yard runs on each of BYU’s next two drives. His longest run of the day, a 39- yard sprint down the sideline, set up a 19- yard pass from Wilson to Neil Pau’u on the next play that gave the Cougars a fourtouchdown lead. Isaiah Kaufusi scooped up a fumble and returned it 50 yards to set up a three- yard TD catch from Isaac Rex, extending the lead to 35- 0.
Cincinnati 36, UCF 33
The No. 7 Bearcats ( 8- 0, 6- 0 American Athletic) were in a fourquarter struggle for the first time all season, but they weathered the storm behind Desmond Ridder.
Ridder threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores in holding off the host Knights ( 5- 3, 4- 3) to head into the release of the first College Football Playoff rankings unbeaten.
The Bearcats fell behind 14- 3 in the first quarter but grabbed the lead by halftime.
Dillon Gabriel threw for 243 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for the Knights, who took a 25- 22 lead in the third quarter with a 19- yard touchdown pass from Gabriel to Marlon Williams.
Oklahoma 41, Oklahoma St. 13
Spencer Rattler passed for 301 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another score to help the No. 18 Sooners ( 6- 2, 5- 2 Big 12) rip the No. 14 Cowboys ( 5- 2, 4- 2). Rhamondre Stevenson ran for a career- high 141 yards, and Theo Wease caught two touchdown passes for host Oklahoma.
Florida 38, Vanderbilt 17
Kyle Trask passed for 383 yards and three touchdowns and the No. 6 Gators ( 6- 1) overcame an early deficit to defeat the host Commodores ( 0- 7). Trask is the first quarterback in SEC history with 30 touchdown passes in seven games.
North Carolina St. 15, Liberty 14
The host Wolfpack ( 6- 3) blocked Alex Barbir’s 39- yard field- goal attempt with 1: 18 left to upset the No. 21 Flames ( 8- 1). Liberty was trying to earn a third win against an ACC opponent this year, all on the road.
Alabama 63, Kentucky 3
DeVonta Smith caught nine passes for 144 yards and set the Southeastern Conference career record with two more touchdowns as the No. 1 Crimson Tide ( 7- 0) routed the visiting Wildcats ( 3- 5).
Clemson- FSU canceled
The game between No. 4 Clemson and Florida State was postponed hours before kickoff when medical personnel from both schools could not agree it was safe to play.