Illinois upsets Penn St. in first nine-OT 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 nine-overtime 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.
NO. 2 CINCINNATI 27, NAVY 20
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Arquon Bush intercepted a pass with 25 seconds left to help the Bearcats hold on.
NO. 3 OKLAHOMA 35, KANSAS 23
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Caleb Williams threw two touchdown pass, ran 40-yards for a score on a pivotal fourth down and the Sooners rallied to avoid an enormous upset.
NO. 4 ALABAMA 52, TENNESSEE 24
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Bryce Young passed for 371 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more scores, carrying the Crimson Tide to a victory over the traditional rival Volunteers.
NO. 5 OHIO STATE 54, INDIANA 7
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — C.J. Stroud threw four touchdown passes and TreVeyon Henderson scored three times.
NO. 6 MICHIGAN 33, NORTHWESTERN 7
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins combined for 229 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
IOWA ST. 24, NO. 8 OKLAHOMA ST. 21
AMES, Iowa — Brock Purdy threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns and the Cyclone defense made a late stand in the closing minutes.
NO. 12 MISSISSIPPI 31, LSU 17
OXFORD, Miss. — Matt Corral threw for a touchdown and ran for another, directing the Rebels to a 31-point outburst that spanned the second and third quarters to beat lame-duck coach Ed Orgeron and the Tigers.
NO. 16 WAKE FOREST 70, ARMY 56
WEST POINT, N.Y. — Sam Hartman threw for a career-high 458 yards and five touchdowns in a bigplay display and ran for another score, and the Demon Deacons remained unbeaten.
NO. 17 TEXAS A&M 44, SOUTH CAROLINA 14
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Ainias Smith had a 95-yard punt return for a touchdown and Jalen Wydermyer added two TD catches.
MIAMI 31, NO. 18 NC ST. 30
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Tyler Van Dyke passed for 325 yards and four touchdowns, two of them to Charleston Rambo, and the Hurricanes snapped a six-game losing streak against Power 5 opponents.
NO. 23 PITT 27, CLEMSON 17
PITTSBURGH — Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett made the most of his Heisman Trophy showcase, throwing for 302 yards and two TDs.
WISCONSIN 30, NO. 25 PURDUE 13
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Chez Mellusi ran for 149 yards and a touchdown and Braelon Allen had 140 yards and two scores to help the Badgers.