Pluck of Irish
Julian Love returned his second interception of the season for a touchdown and running back Josh Adams had another big day, rushing for 202 yards, to help No. 9 Notre Dame beat No. 14 North Carolina State, 35-14, on a blustery Saturday in South Bend, Ind.
The sixth straight victory by Brian Kelly’s Fighting Irish, now 7-1, avenged a 10-3 loss at N.C. State last year in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. The Wolfpack (6-2) saw their six-game winning streak come to an end.
Love’s 69-yard return behind a convey of his defensive mates with 12:05 left in the third quarter ended N.C. State quarterback Ryan Finley’s streak of consecutive passes without throwing an interception at 339. Love, who also broke up three other Finley attempts, had a 50-yard interception return for a TD in Notre Dame’s 38-18 victory at Michigan State.
A little less than eight minutes after Love’s theft, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Adams, who earlier in the game became the quickest back in school history to go over 1,000 yards in a season on his 110th attempt, broke up the middle for a 77-yard touchdown run that provided further breathing room. Adams had his second 200-yard rushing game of the season and his sixth game over 100 yards this year.
Georgia 42, Florida 7
In Jacksonville, Fla., Sony Michel put No. 3 Georgia (8-0, 5-0 SEC) up big early and put Florida (3-4, 3-3) away late, scoring on two long runs in a drubbing that might have been the final game for Gators coach Jim McElwain.
Nick Chubb also scored for the Bulldogs, who ended a three-game losing streak in “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” and started 8-0 for the first time since 2002.
Florida started the day by responding to a tweet from a sports lawyer who said Florida and McElwain’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, have engaged in buyout negotiations and are “miles apart.” Athletic director Scott Stricklin released a statement several hours before the game saying the buyout report was inaccurate.
Iowa St. 14, TCU 7
In Ames, Iowa, Kyle Kempt threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns and No. 25 Iowa State (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) upset No. 4 TCU (7-1, 4-1), handing the Horned Frogs their first defeat and leaving the conference without an unbeaten team.
Marcel Spears intercepted a Kenny Hill pass with 1:16 left to seal it for the Cyclones, who forced a pair of turnovers in the red zone in the second half in winning their fourth straight game.
Wisconsin 24, Illinois 10
In Champaign, Ill., Alec Ingold and Garrett Groshek scored on short runs in the first half, offensive lineman Michael Deiter added another touchdown on a trick play late in the game, and No. 5 Wisconsin (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) beat Illinois (2-6, 0-5).
Clemson 24 Georgia Tech 10
In Clemson, S.C., Kelly Bryant threw for 207 yards and two touchdowns and No. 7 Clemson (7-1, 5-1 ACC) bounced back from its first loss of the season with a dominating 24-10 victory over Georgia Tech (4-3, 3-2).
Bryant showed few negative effects from injuries that knocked him out early of the Tigers’ past two games and connected on a 38-yard TD pass to Deon Cain less than three minutes into the game.
Okla. St. 50, West Va. 39
In Morgantown, W.Va., Mason Rudolph threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score to lead No. 11 Oklahoma State (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) over No. 22 West Virginia (5-3, 2-2).
Washington 44, UCLA 23
In Seattle, Myles Gaskin led Washington’s running onslaught with 169 yards and one touchdown, Lavon Coleman added 94 yards and three touchdown runs and the No. 12 Huskies (7-1, 4-1 Pac-12) routed UCLA (4-4, 2-3).
UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen was 12-of-21 passing for 93 yards and was sacked four times.
Rosen, who had been limping after a secondquarter sack, was pulled midway through the third quarter and later was on the sideline in sweats.
Miami 24, N. Carolina 19
In Chapel Hill, N.C., Malik Rosier threw for a career-high 356 yards with three touchdowns to help eighth-ranked Miami (7-0, 5-0 ACC) hold off North Carolina (1-8, 0-6).