Northwestern ( 3- 0) has yet to give up point in second half

With Big Ten- best 8picks, Wildcats haven’t yet lost.

Northwestern is 3- 0for the first time since 2015 largely because of a defense that’s yet to give up a point after halftime.

In a 2 1 - 13 win over Nebraska on Saturday, the Cornhuskers reached the Northwestern 25, 4 and 14 after half and came away empty each time. Two of those seriesendedwith interceptions and the third on downs.

Six of Northwestern’s Big Ten- leading eight interceptions have come in second halves.

Northwestern, which made its first appearance of the season in The Associated Press poll at No. 23 Sunday, also has beaten Maryland and Iowa. The Wildcats are the only FBS team that has played more than one game to have shut out each of its opponents in the second half.

Cincinnati’s defense is next- best after half, allowing 2.6 points against FBS opponents. The Bearcats havebeenespecially toughin the second half the last three weeks, limiting high- scoring SMU to three points and shutting out potent Memphis and Houston offenses.

Best Buffs debut: Jarek Broussard had the most rushing yards by a player in his first game for Colorado, going for 187 yards and three touchdowns in a 48- 42 win over UCLA. The

freshman tailback had the third- best rushing day by a player making his starting debut. Mike Pritchard in 1990 and BillyWaddy in 1973 each had over 200 yards in their first starts.

Sack ’ em Sooners: Oklahoma sacked Kansas’ Jalon Daniels a national season- high and school record- tying nine times in a 62- 9win. The Sooners also had six quarterback hurries and 11 tackles for loss. They have 20 sacks and 39 TFLs over its last four games.

Kansas has allowed 38 sacks in seven games after giving up 23 in 12 games in 2019.

The guy can score: North Carolina’s JavonteWilliams scored four touchdowns in a 56- 24 win at Duke and leads the nation with 17 ( 14 rushing, three receiving). All of Williams’ TDs against Duke camein the first half, making him the first Carolina player since Kelvin Bryant in 1981 to score four times in the first two quarters.

Give me Liberty: No. 2 Notre Dame has the longest active win streak in the FBS at 13 games.

Which team has the secondlongest? No. 22 Liberty, whichwon its ninth in a row with its 38- 35 victory at Virginia

Tech.

The Flames are 2- 0against ACC opponents — they beat Syracuse three weeks ago — after entering the season 0- 8 against the league. Liberty also is 4- 0 against 2019 bowl teams.

National leaders ( minimum 4 games)

Team offense: Scoring, Alabama, 47.2 ppg; rushing, Army, 308.1 ypg; passing, UCF, 417.7 ypg; total, UCF, 652.5 ypg.

Team defense: Scoring, Marshall, 9.5 ppg; rushing, Marshall, 68.8 ypg; passing, West Virginia, 161.6 ypg; total, Marshall, 252.2 ypg.

Individual: Rushing, BreeceHall, Iowa State, 147.1 ypg; passing, Dillon Gabriel, UCF, 417.7 ypg; receiving, Marlon Williams, UCF, 140 ypg.

AP North Carolina running back JavonteWilliams ( right, running away fromDuke linebacker ShakaHeyward on Saturday) leads the nationwith 17 touchdowns.