LSU has target in mind
Michael Divinity Jr.’s interception set up Nick Brossette’s short one-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter, and Cole Tracy kicked four field goals to lead No. 5 LSU (7-1, 4-1 SEC) past No. 22 Mississippi State 19-3 on Saturday night in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Still, the Tiger Stadium crowd left angry after LSU’s top linebacker, Devin White, was ejected for targeting in the fourth quarter, meaning he will not be eligible to play in the first half of the Tigers’ showdown with unbeaten and topranked Alabama on Nov. 3.
“I’ve got to look at it. The call is the call. They reviewed it,” LSU coach Ed Orgeron said. “That’s the rule. The rule is you can’t lead with your head.”
White’s penalty was the low point of a banner performance by the Tigers’ defense, which had four interceptions of Bulldogs quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, who rushed for 131 yards but completed just 8 of 24 passes for 59 yards. The Bulldogs (4-3, 1-3) gained 201 yards on the ground but converted only 2 of 14 third downs.
“Our defense played lights-out,” Orgeron said.
LSU quarterback Joe Burrow completed 16 of 28 passes for 129 yards, and the running game was held to 110 yards.
“The one touchdown they got was off a short field, so the defense played great,” Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead said.
Washington State 34, Oregon 20
Gardner Minshew threw a 22yard touchdown pass to Dezmon Patmon with 3:40 remaining to seal the victory for the No. 25 Cougars (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12), who led 27-0 at halftime. It was the Cougars’ fourth consecutive victory over the No. 12 Ducks (6-1, 3-1).
Minshew was 39 of 51 for 323 yards and four touchdowns.
Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert was 25 of 44 for 270 yards. He had an eight-yard touchdown run and an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jaylon Redd in the third quarter as the Ducks narrowed the deficit to 27-20 on a Adam Stack 23-yard field goal with 6:38 remaining.
But the Cougars responded with an eight-play, 75-yard drive capped by Minshew’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Dezmon Patmon with 3:40 left to seal the victory.
Clemson 41, N.C. State 7
Trevor Lawrence threw for a career-high 308 yards and Travis Etienne rushed for three touchdowns for the No. 3 Tigers (7-0, 4-0 ACC), who opened with seven consecutive wins for the third time in four seasons and topped the visiting No. 16 Wolfpack (5-1, 2-1) for the seventh consecutive season.
It was the ACC’s first matchup of undefeated teams this deep in a season since 2013, when Florida State beat Clemson 51-14.
Wolfpack quarterback Ryan Finley came in leading the ACC with 324 yards passing a game. He managed just 156 yards passing with two interceptions and a fumble.
Alabama 58, Tennessee 21
The No. 1 Crimson Tide (8-0, 5-0 SEC) started fast, scoring four touchdowns on their first four possessions, and outgained the host Volunteers 217-6 in the first quarter.
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was 19-for-29 for 306 yards and threw touchdown passes to Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle, Irv Smith Jr. and Henry Ruggs III before leaving midway through the third quarter.
Alabama beat Tennessee (3-4, 1-3) for the 12th consecutive year and had the highest points total either team has ever recorded in the 101-game history of the series. Alabama is averaging 54.1 points.
Oklahoma 52, TCU 27
Kyler Murray threw four touchdown passes, Kennedy Brooks ran for 168 yards and Trey Sermon ran for 110 to lead the No. 9 Sooners (6-1, 3-1 Big 12). It was Oklahoma’s third victory over the host Horned Frogs (3-4, 1-3) in 11 months.
The Sooners won their 18th consecutive true road game, never trailing after scoring touchdowns on each of their first four drives.