Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Auburn thumps CFP No. 1-ranked Georgia
■ No. 1 Alabama (10-0) beat No. 18 Mississippi State 31-24. Next: vs. Mercer, Saturday.
■ No. 2 Georgia (9-1) lost to No. 10 Auburn 40-17. Next: vs. Kentucky, Saturday.
■ No. 3 Notre Dame (8-2) lost to No. 7 Miami 41-8. Next: vs. Navy, Saturday.
■ No. 4 Clemson (9-1) beat Florida State 31-14. Next: vs. The Citadel, Saturday.
■ No. 5 Oklahoma (9-1) beat No. 8 Texas Christian 38-20. Next: at Kansas, Saturday.
■ No. 6 Wisconsin (10-0) beat No. 25 Iowa 38-14. Next: vs. No. 21 Michigan, Saturday.
■ No. 7 Miami (9-0) beat No. 3 Notre Dame 41-8. Next: vs. Virginia, Saturday.
■ No. 8 Texas Christian (8-2) lost to No. 5 Oklahoma 38-20. Next: at Texas Tech, Saturday.
■ No. 9 Washington (8-2) lost to Stanford 30-22, Friday. Next: vs. Utah, Saturday.
■ No. 10 Auburn (8-2) beat No. 2 Georgia 40-17. Next: vs. Louisiana-Monroe, Saturday.
■ No. 11 Ohio State (8-2) beat No. 13 Michigan State 48-3. Next: vs. Illinois, Saturday.
■ No. 12 Oklahoma State (8-2) beat No. 24 Iowa State 49-42. Next: vs. Kansas State, Saturday.
■ No. 13 Michigan State (7-3) lost to No. 11 Ohio State 48-3. Next: vs. Maryland, Saturday.
■ No. 14 Central Florida (9-0) beat Connecticut 49-24. Next: at Temple, Saturday.
■ No. 15 Southern California (92) beat Colorado 38-24. Next: vs. UCLA, Saturday.
■ No. 16 Penn State (8-2) beat Rutgers 35-6. Next: vs. Nebraska, Saturday.
■ No. 17 Virginia Tech (7-3) lost to Georgia Tech 28-22. Next: vs. Pittsburgh, Saturday.
■ No. 18 Mississippi State (7-3) lost to No. 1 Alabama 31-24. Next: at Arkansas, Saturday.
■ No. 19 Washington State (9-2) beat Utah 33-25. Next: at No. 9 Washington, Nov. 25.
■ No. 20 Memphis (8-1) did not play. Next: vs. Southern Methodist, Saturday.
■ No. 21 Michigan (8-2) beat Maryland 35-10. Next: at No. 6 Wisconsin, Saturday.
■ No. 22 South Florida (8-1) did not play. Next: vs. Tulsa, Thursday.
■ No. 23 West Virginia (7-3) beat Kansas State 28-23. Next: vs. Texas, Saturday.
■ No. 24 Iowa State (6-4) lost to No. 12 Oklahoma State 49-42. Next: at Baylor, Saturday.
■ No. 25 Iowa (6-4) lost to No. 6 Wisconsin 38-14. Next: vs. Purdue, Saturday.
AUBURN, Ala. — Kerryon Johnson and the Auburn Tigers delivered an emphatic statement to the rest of the Southeastern Conference: Don’t forget us.
The 10th-ranked Tigers emerged from the shadows of the nation’s top two teams, riding Johnson and a smothering defense to a 40-17 victory over No. 2 Georgia on Saturday.
With Johnson running for 167 yards and catching a 55-yard touchdown pass from Jarrett Stidham, Auburn (8-2, 6-1 Southeastern Conference) remained in Western Division and potentially playoff contention after snapping a three-year losing streak to one of its top rivals. The Bulldogs (9-1, 6-1) came in with the top spot in the playoff rankings and could get a rematch if Auburn can beat No. 1 Alabama in two weeks.
The first go-round wasn’t pretty for Georgia. The Tigers held Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and the SEC’s top ground game to 46 yards, 233 below their season average.
As Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said, “They seized the moment.”
“We have a great opportunity right now, and our goal was to win the SEC championship,” Malzahn said. “Here we are, Nov. 11, and we’re right in the middle of it. And all the dreams we have are still alive.”
Johnson ran 32 times and caught two passes for 66 yards. Stidham threw for 214 yards and three touchdowns, all of 30-plus yards. He also ran for a 7-yard score.
■ No. 1 Alabama 31, No. 18 Mississippi State 24 —
At Starkville, Miss., Jalen Hurts hit DeVonta Smith with a 26yard touchdown pass with 25 seconds left, capping a six-play, 68-yard, 44-second go-ahead drive by the Crimson Tide (100, 7-0) in their 10th straight win over the Bulldogs (7-3, 3-3). Neither team led by more than a touchdown. Mississippi State, which ran for 172 yards, held a lead against Alabama for the first time in nine years.
■ Louisiana State 33, Arkansas 10 —
At Baton Rouge, La., Derrius Guice ran for 147 yards and three touchdowns, and D.J. Chark had four catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers (7-3, 4-2), who held the Razorbacks (4-6, 1-5) to 318 yards of offense. David Williams ran for 81 yards on 13 carries for Arkansas.
■ South Carolina 28, Florida 20 —
At Columbia, S.C., Jake Bentley threw for 249 yards and ran for two touchdowns for the Gamecocks (7-3, 5-3), who gained 469 yards of offense to overcome Bentley’s three interceptions and a fumbled
“We knew we had a great team, but we had to go out and prove it,” Johnson said. “We did that today and that’s something we can hang our hat on.”
Georgia special teams blunders helped set up three Auburn touchdowns, including a roughing the penalty flag in the first half. The Bulldogs fumbled away a punt return and had a 15-yard personal foul penalty in the third quarter when Auburn pulled away with two touchdowns.
“What made it so lopsided was the uncharacteristic penalties,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said.
Ryan Davis returned a punt 26 yards into Georgia territory, with the flag pushing Auburn even closer to the goal line. Then Davis took a screen pass 32 punt. A.J. Turner ran for 136 yards on 22 carries for South Carolina. The Gators (3-6, 3-5) were missing at least 20 of their 85 scholarship players because of injuries or suspensions.
■ Kentucky 44, Vanderbilt 21—
At Nashville, Tenn., sophomore Benny Snell ran for 116 yards and three touchdowns while becoming the ninth player for the yards for a touchdown to make it 30-7. Darius Slayton made a 42-yard scoring grab earlier, rolling into the end zone.
The Bulldogs added a touchdown in the final minutes. Chubb gained just 27 yards on 11 carries with a 1-yard touchdown on the opening drive. Michel ran nine times for 21 yards.
Jake Fromm was 13-of-28 passing for 184 yards and a late touchdown pass. He was sacked four times.
Smart said Auburn “whipped” the Bulldogs at the lines of scrimmage.
“Humility is always a week away, and I think this team will answer and respond the right way,” he said. “We’ve got some good leaders in that room, and they want to improve on what they just showed.”