San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Illinois tops Penn St. in first 9-overtime game
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Over the course of an unprecedented nine overtimes, Illinois survived Penn State’s botched attempt at a trick play, lost its quarterback and a powerful running back to injury, and failed to gain just three measly yards again and again.
When Casey Washington finally came down with the winning catch Saturday, he hardly knew what to do.
“I actually cried,” he said. “It just felt good.”
The Illini came out victorious in the NCAA’s first ever nineovertime game, edging the seventh-ranked Nittany Lions 20-18 on Washington’s 2-point conversion catch from Brandon Peters to end a string of goal-line stalemates under college football’s recently rewritten overtime rules.
The sides were tied at 10 after regulation, exchanged field goals in the first two overtimes, then began to alternate one-and-done drives from the 3-yard line in the third OT as part of a format tweaked ahead of the 2021 season.
Finally in OT No. 8, Isaiah Williams ran one in to put Illinois up 18-16, only to have Noah Cain keep the game alive with a 2point run of his own.
In the ninth OT, Clifford’s pass to Parker Washington was broken up by linebacker Khalan Tolson. Peters then found Washington near the back of the end zone for the winning completion.
NO. 2 CINCINNATI 28, NAVY 20
Arquon Bush intercepted a pass with 25 seconds left to help the Bearcats hold off the Midshipmen in Annapolis, Md.
The Bearcats (7-0, 3-0 American Athletic Conference) weren’t in significant danger until the final minute, when Navy scored to make it a one-score game and then recovered an onside kick with 48 seconds left.
NO. 6 MICHIGAN 33 NORTHWESTERN 7
Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins combined for 229 yards rushing and four touchdowns to carry the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The Wolverines (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) closed strong after a sluggish start. They led by just three points at halftime, looking as if they were peeking ahead to next week’s game against ninthranked Michigan State on the road.
NO. 10 OREGON 34, UCLA 31
In Pasadena, Calif., defensive
back D.J. James picked off Bruins quarterback Ethan Garbers in the final seconds as the Ducks (6-1, 3-1) survived. Travis Dye became the first player in Football Bowl Subdivision history to score a touchdown on four consecutive carries.
NO. 12 MISSISSIPPI 31, LSU 17
In Oxford, Miss., the Rebels (6-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) scored 17 points in the second quarter to cruise.
NO. 16 WAKE FOREST 70 ARMY 56
Sam Hartman threw for a
career-high 458 yards and five touchdowns in a big-play display and ran for another score, and the Demon Deacons improved to 7-0 in West Point, N.Y.
Army (4-3), which lost its third straight, have not defeated a ranked opponent since a 17-14 victory over Air Force in 1972, but the Black Knights made Wake Forest earn it.
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 for the host Panthers (6-1
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 the Badgers prevail in West Lafayette, Ind.
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). Wisconsin has won 15 straight against Purdue (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten). The Boilermakers were coming off an upset of No. 2 Iowa.