Cincinnati, Oklahoma avoid upsets
Arquon Bush intercepted a pass with 25 seconds left to help No. 2 Cincinnati hold on for a 27-20 victory over host Navy on Sunday.
The Bearcats (7-0, 3-0 American Athletic Conference) weren’t at their best, but they never looked like they were in significant danger of an upset until the final minute, when Navy scored to make it a one-score game and then recovered an onside kick with 48 seconds left.
The Midshipmen (1-6, 1-4) didn’t do much with that final chance, though. Tai Lavatai’s third-down pass was picked off by Bush near the Cincinnati 45.
The Bearcats were fortunate to lead by three after a mistake-filled first half, but Cincinnati eventually snapped out of its offensive funk. Desmond Ridder threw for 176 yards and two touchdowns.
Navy was hosting a top-five team for the first time since 1984, and the Midshipmen didn’t trail until a wild swing at the end of the first half. With the game tied at 10, Navy was driving and looked poised to use up the remaining time in the second quarter. But after losing yards on back-toback plays, the Midshipmen had to try a 51-yard field goal.
The kick was blocked, and Cincinnati’s Deshawn Pace nearly ran it back for a touchdown, but he stepped out of bounds with 1 second left. That was enough time for Alex Bales to kick a 52-yard field goal and give the Bearcats a 13-10 lead.
No. 3 Oklahoma, 35, Kansas 23: Caleb Williams threw two touchdown passes, ran 40yards for a score on a pivotal fourth down and Oklahoma rallied to beat host Kansas 35-23 and avoid an enormous upset.
The Sooners (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) trailed by double figures on two occasions — including 10-0 at the
Ahalf — but outscored the Jayhawks 35-13 in the second half to win their 16th straight game.
Jason Bean passed for 246 yards and a score for Kansas (1-6, 0-4), which led 17-7 late in the third quarter.
No. 6 Michigan 33, Northwestern 7: Michigan got off to a sluggish start, perhaps peeking ahead to playing Michigan State. Then the Wolverines used a strong finish to seal a matchup of undefeated rivals.
Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins combined for 229 yards rushing and four touchdowns, carrying host Michigan to a win over Northwestern.
The Wolverines (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) led the Wildcats (3-4, 1-3) by just three at halftime. They pulled away by outscoring them 23-0 in the first 16:40 of the second half.
Iowa State 24, No. 8 Oklahoma State 21:
Brock Purdy threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns and the Iowa State defense made a late stand in the closing minutes as the host Cyclones knocked off Oklahoma State.
Breece Hall scored the go-ahead touchdown with 5:29 left, then the Cyclones’ defense forced a three-and-out and stopped the Cowboys on fourth down with 1:09 left.
AANo. 10 Oregon 34, UCLA 21: Oregon Oregon running back Travis Dye became the first player in Football Bowl Subdivision history to score touchdown on four consecutive carries during the Ducks’ victory against host
UCLA.
Before Dye’s record day, six players shared the mark with TDs on three consecutive carries, including Illinois’ Howard Griffith and Virginia’s
Tiki Barber. Cal’s Joe Ayoob was the last to accomplish it on Sept. 23, 2005, against New Mexico State.
Dye had 5 yards on four carries in the first quarter before scoring on runs of 1 and 4 yards to tie the game at 14. The Ducks trailed 17-14 at halftime, but Dye would score from 1 and 5 yards out in the third quarter to give Oregon a 27-17 advantage. No. 12 Mississippiu 31, LSU 17: Matt Corral threw for a touchdown and ran for another, directing host Mississippi (6-1, 3-1 SEC) to a 31point outburst that spanned the second and third quarters to beat lame-duck coach Ed Orgeron and LSU.
LSU (4-4, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) lost in its first game since it was announced Orgeron wouldn’t return next season. A former Mississippi coach, he led the Tigers to
AAthe national championship less than two years ago.
No. 16 Wake Forest 70, Army 56: Sam Hartman threw for a careerhigh 458 yards and five touchdowns in a big-play display and ran for another score, and Wake Forest defeated host Army to remain unbeaten.
Army (4-3), which lost its third straight, had not defeated a ranked opponent since a 17-14 victory over Air Force in 1972, but the Black Knights made Wake Forest (7-0) earn it.
Hartman was unstoppable and rarely pressured, completing 23 of 29 passes and hitting touchdown passes of 41, 54 and two of 75 yards as he matched the Michie Stadium record for scoring passes.
No. 23 Pittsburgh 27, Clemson 17: Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett made the most of his Heisman Trophy showcase, throwing for 302 yards and two touchdowns as the host Panthers topped Clemson.
Pickett completed 25of-39 passes to overtake Alex Van Pelt for the most career completions in school history. The fifthyear senior ran for two drive-extending dives late in the fourth quarter after the Tigers had drawn within 10.
Pitt (6-1, 3-0 ACC) gained firm control of the Coastal Division by winning its fourth straight following a stunning home upset loss to Western Michigan last month. Clemson (4-3, 3-2) saw its chances for another Atlantic Division title take a massive hit thanks in large part to an offense that remains very much a problem.
Wisconsin 30, No. 25 Purdue 13: Chez Mellusi ran for 149 yards and a touchdown and Braelon Allen had 140 yards and two scores to help Wisconsin beat Purdue. Mellusi and Allen both had career highs for yards, with Mellusi carrying 27 carries and Allen 12 for the Badgers (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten).
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