No. 17 SMU wins in OT to stay unbeaten

Brandon Crossley ended the first overtime possession with an interception and Chris Naggar made a 34yard field goal to give No. 17 SMU a 3734 victory at Tulane on Friday night.

Crossley intercepted Tulane freshman Michael Pratt’s pass to put the Mustangs ( 50, 30 American Athletic) in position to win with the field goal.

SMU is 50 for the second straight season, a feat it last accomplished in 1983.

“Being able to accomplish what we have these last two years says we are getting better as a program,” said SMU head coach Sonny Dykes, the former Cal head coach. “When you take over a program, you want to always try to get better. It’s a credit to the players for buying in.”

The Green Wave ( 23, 03) rallied to force overtime on Merek Glover’s 27yard field goal with 1: 30 left.

# 14 BYU 43, Houston 26:

Zach Wilson threw four touchdown passes and finished 25for35 for 400 yards as visiting BYU improved to 50 for the first time since 2008. Dax Milne caught nine passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns. Houston fell to 11. Saban negative: Alabama head coach Nick Saban has tested negative in a followup test for the coronavirus, leaving open the possibility of a return to the sideline for Saturday night’s Georgia game.

Alabama head athletic trainer Jeff Allen said Saban’s test came back negative Thursday. If he tests negative again Friday and Saturday, Saban would be allowed on the sideline for the secondranked Crimson Tide’s SEC matchup with No. 3 Georgia.

Allen said the PCR test Thursday was conducted by the SEC appointed lab. He said Wednesday’s initial positive result came from an outside lab Alabama has “used to supplement the SEC mandated testing.”

The PCR test is considered the preferred method of testing for the virus as identified by the NCAA’s Resocialization of College Sports Guidelines.

“He will continue to remain in isolation and receive daily PCR tests,” Allen said. “Should he have three negative PCR tests through the SEC appointed lab, each 24 hours apart, the initial test would be considered a false positive pursuant to SEC protocols and he would be allowed to return.”

Allen said Saban, 68, has remained asymptomatic and hasn’t had a fever.

SEC postponement: The SEC postponed next week’s game between Missouri and No. 10 Florida, the third conference game moved this week because of virus outbreaks.

The Gators had at least 21 players and coaches test positive for the coronavirus and dozens more quarantined because of contract tracing. That left them with fewer than the conferencemandated 53 scholarship players available Saturday against defending national champion LSU.

Because of the SEC’s safety protocols, Florida likely would not have gotten everyone back in time to practice and prepare for Mizzou.