The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
LSU topples No. 2 Georgia
BATON ROUGE, La. — Joe Burrow passed for 200 yards and had two short touchdown runs, LSU's defense staggered Georgia's normally prolific offense, and the 13th-ranked Tigers beat the No. 2 Bulldogs 36-16 on Saturday to give coach Ed Orgeron a signature victory.
Five fourth-down decisions by Orgeron influenced the result. LSU converted all four times it ran an offensive play on fourth down, sustaining three drives that produced a total of 13 points.
In another instance, Orgeron called timeout and elected to punt on fourthand-2 after the offense initially remained on the field. That decision pinned Georgia at its 4, and Kristian Fulton's interception of Jake Fromm's pass shortly afterward set up another of Cole Tracy's five field goals.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushed for 133 yards for LSU (6-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference), and Justin Jefferson caught six passes for 108 yards, including a 41-yard snag of a pass rifled over the middle and between converging defenders. That catch set up Burrow's second TD in the fourth quarter.
NO. 3 OHIO STATE 30, MINNESOTA 14
At COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dwayne Haskins threw for 412 yards and three touchdowns and Ohio State held off persistent Minnesota.
The Buckeyes (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) needed Blake Haubiel’s two second-half field goals and Haskins’ late touchdown pass from K.J. Hill to put away the Gophers (3-3, 0-3).
NO. 5 NOTRE DAME 19, PITT 14
At SOUTH BEND, Ind., Ian Book threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Miles Boykin with 5:43 remaining and No. 5 Notre Dame remained unbeaten.
The Fighting Irish are 7-0 for the first time since 2012, the year they went to the BCS title game, and this game against Pitt was reminiscent of that season's victory in South Bend against the Panthers (3-4).
Pitt led 14-12 thanks to a long first-quarter touchdown drive and a 99-yard kickoff return by Maurice Ffrench to start the second half.
Pat Narduzzi's Panthers were looking to upset an Associated Press top-five team for the third straight season after knocking off No. 3 Clemson in Death Valley during the 2016 season and No. 2 Miami last November in Pittsburgh.
NO. 17 OREGON 30, NO. 7 WASHINGTON 27
At EUGENE, Ore., C.J. Verdell scored on a 6-yard run in overtime and No. 17 Oregon knocked off No. 7 Washington.
Verdell finished with 111 yards but none were sweeter for the Ducks than the final 6, when he sprinted nearly untouched on thirdand-goal and set off a wild celebration in the east end zone of Autzen Stadium.
The Ducks (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12) were fortunate to reach overtime after Washington kicker Peyton Henry missed a 37-yard field-goal attempt on the final play of regulation. Henry’s kick was wide right.
NO. 9 TEXAS 23, BAYLOR 17
At AUSTIN, Texas, Shane Buechele came on for injured quarterback Sam Ehlinger early in the first quarter and No. 9 Texas slugged out a win over Baylor that ended when the Bears’ final pass sailed through the back of the end zone.
NO. 10 UCF 31, MEMPHIS 30
At MEMPHIS, Tenn., McKenzie Milton threw for 296 yards and ran for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter as No. 10 Central Florida weathered its first significant test of the season before escaping with a victory over Memphis.
NO. 14 FLORIDA 37, VANDERBILT 27
At NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jordan Scarlett ran 48 yards for the go-ahead touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter, and Florida rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat Vanderbilt in a game marred by a near brawl, with both head coaches yelling as each team spilled onto the field.
Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey was on hand for a firsthand view of the incident.
An official held back Florida coach Dan Mullen as he yelled at Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason, who was near the Gators’ sideline after checking on the Commodores defender whose helmet was knocked off by a hit by linebacker James Houston IV. Both teams spilled onto the field, drawing unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. The penalty cost the Gators their leading tackler, with Vosean Joseph ejected for his second such penalty of the first half. Two people escorted an emotional Joseph off the field.
TENNESSEE 30, NO. 21 AUBURN 24
At AUBURN, Ala., Jarrett Guarantano passed for 328 yards and two touchdowns and Tennessee snapped an 11-game Southeastern Conference losing streak.
NO. 22 TEXAS A&M 26, SOUTH CAROLINA 23
At COLUMBIA, S.C., Kellen Mond threw for 353 yards and freshman Seth Small had four field goals, including the go-ahead kick in the fourth quarter, to lift No. 22 Texas A&M to a victory over South Carolina.