The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Auburn knocks off Alabama in Iron Bowl
AUBURN, Ala. — Jarrett Stidham and No. 6 Auburn dominated top-ranked Alabama 26-14 Saturday, earning a berth next week in the Southeastern Conference title game.
Stidham passed for 237 yards and ran for a fourthquarter touchdown to set up a rematch with No. 7 Georgia in the SEC championship game Dec. 2 with a playoff spot almost certainly on the line.
Auburn mostly shut down the league’s top scoring offense for their second win in three weeks over the top team in the playoff rankings. They won the Western Division a week after dispatching the Bulldogs with similar precision.
The Crimson Tide made a rare assortment of mistakes for a team that had appeared to be headed toward a shot at a fourth consecutive SEC title and playoff berth.
NO. 8 OHIO STATE 21, MICHIGAN 20:
Dwayne Haskins replaced injured star J.T. Barrett in the third quarter and No. 8 Ohio State rallied to beat Michigan, the Buckeyes’ sixth straight win in the rivalry.
The Buckeyes head to the conference championship game next week to face No. 5 Wisconsin, with hopes of making the College Football Playoff. The Wolverines have lost 13 of 14 to Ohio State, including the last three with coach Jim Harbaugh.
NO. 3 OKLAHOMA 59, WEST VIRGINIA 31:
Baker Mayfield threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns after being punished for directing a lewd gesture toward the Kansas bench last week, and Oklahoma routed West Virginia to maintain its momentum heading into the Big 12 Championship game.
Mayfield was stripped of his captaincy and starting job for the game, his final home game as a Sooner. He received the loudest cheers when the seniors were announced, then more loud cheers when he entered the game on Oklahoma’s second possession.
NO. 5 WISCONSIN 31, MINNESOTA 0:
Alex Hornibrook threw three touchdown passes without an interception and Wisconsin, remained unbeaten by overwhelming rival Minnesota for its 14th straight victory over the Gophers.
Jonathan Taylor rushed for 149 yards on 20 carries, including a 53-yard scoring sprint on the first play of the fourth quarter that gave the Badgers their largest winning margin in a Big Ten game this season. The only other time Wisconsin completed the conference slate without a loss was in 1912, when there were only five contests on the schedule.
NO. 7 GEORGIA 38, GEORGIA TECH 7:
Sony Michel ran for 85 yards and a touchdown, Jake Fromm threw two touchdown passes and Georgia protected its playoff hopes.
The Bulldogs had 247 yards rushing. Michel, Nick Chubb and D’Andre Swift ran for touchdowns. Fromm threw scoring passes of 21 yards to Javon Wims and 78 yards to Ahkil Crumpton.
NO. 12 PENN STATE 66, MARYLAND 3:
Trace McSorley threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score to cap an outstanding regular season and carry Penn State past Maryland.
The Nittany Lions built a 31-0 halftime lead and cruised to their third straight victory. The streak began after successive losses at Ohio State and Michigan State by a combined four points.
NO. 17 MEMPHIS 70, EAST CAROLINA 13:
Riley Ferguson threw for three touchdowns, Darrell Henderson scored twice and rushed for 122 yards and Memphis dominated in a tuneup for the American Athletic Conference title game.
Patrick Taylor ran for 127 yards and scored twice for Memphis.
The Tigers completed their first undefeated home season at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium since it opened in 1965. Memphis won its sixth straight, the lone loss coming Sept. 30 against No. 13 Central Florida.
NO. 18 OKLAHOMA STATE 58, KANSAS 17:
Mason Rudolph passed for 438 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two scores in his final home game to lead Oklahoma State.
James Washington, Dillon Stoner and Marcel Ateman each went over 100 yards receiving for Oklahoma State.
NO. 21 MICHIGAN STATE 40, RUTGERS 7:
Brian Lewerke threw for a touchdown and ran for another and Michigan State held the ball for more than 47 minutes against Rutgers.
Redshirt freshman Matt Coghlin kicked a careerbest four field goals and Gerald Holmes ran 2 yards for a touchdown as Michigan State flipped its overall record from a year ago.
NO. 23 NORTHWESTERN 42, ILLINOIS 7:
Justin Jackson ran for 144 yards and a touchdown and Northwestern won its seventh straight, beating Illinois.
The bowl-bound Wildcats held Illinois scoreless after giving up a first-quarter touchdown, and put 42 straight points on the board.
FRESNO STATE 28, NO. 25 BOISE STATE 17:
Marcus McMaryion threw for 332 yards and two touchdowns and Fresno State beat Boise State in a preview of the Mountain West title game.
West champion Fresno State and Mountain winner Boise State had already wrapped up the division titles. They will meet Saturday in the MWC championship game at a site to be determined.