Ohio St. continues dominance of Michigan
After a most unusual regular season for Ohio State, it was business as usual against Michigan. Dwayne Haskins threw five touchdown passes, freshmanChrisOlavehada breakout performance and No. 10 Ohio State continued its mastery over No. 4 Michigan with a record-setting 62-39 victory Saturday that sends the Buckeyes to the Big Ten championship game. The Wolverines were two victories away from their first conference championship since 2004 and a trip to the College Football Playoff, facing an Ohio State team that has looked discombobulated on defense and onedimensional on offense much of the season. Looking to snap a six-game losing streak against the Buckeyes (11-1, 8-1, No. 10 CFP) and get coach Jim Harbaugh his first victory in four tries in the rivalry known simply as The Game, the Wolverines (10-2, 8-1, No. 4 CFP) wilted. In the 115th meeting between two of college football’s most storied schools, Ohio State scored more points than it ever had against Michigan — more points than any team has ever scored in regulation against Michigan. And now, despite all the dysfunction at Ohio State this season — both on and off the field — the Buckeyes will face No. 20 Northwestern next week in Indianapolis with a chance to repeat as Big Ten champs and maybe even squeeze into the playoff. “I think we definitely showed the country the Ohio State Buckeyes are still here,” offensive tackle Isaiah Prince said. Alabama 52, Auburn 21 — Tua Tagovailoa threw five touchdown passes and ran for a score to lead the topranked Crimson Tide over the visiting Tigers. Tagovailoa and Alabama (12-0, 8-0 Southeastern Conference, No. 1 CFP) took over with an explosive third quarter, when the Heisman Trophy contender threw three long touchdown passes. He’s the first Alabama player to have a hand in six TDs in a game and matched the school record with the five scoring passes. Now, ‘Bama heads to the SEC championship game against No. 5 Georgia with a guaranteed playoff spot on the line. Georgia 45, Georgia Tech 21 — In Athens, Ga., Jake Fromm threw a career-best four touchdown passes, D’Andre Swift ran for 105 yards and the No. 5 Bulldogs romped into the SEC championship game with a rout of the rival Yellow Jackets. Florida 41, Florida State 14 — In Tallahassee, Fla., Feleipe Franks had three touchdown passes and the No. 13 Gators used a punishing ground attack to end a five-game losing streak to the Seminoles. The Gators (9-3) halted Florida State’s (5-7) bowl streak, which began in 1982. They ensured the Seminoles their first losing season since 1976, Bobby Bowden’s first season as head coach. Florida had 536 offensive yards and reinforced its case for an at-large spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game. Penn State 38, Maryland 3 — In State College, Pa., Trace McSorley completed 12 of 22 passes for 230 yards and had a hand in three touchdowns to help the 15thranked Nittany Lions rout the Terrapins. Kentucky 56, Louisville 10 — In Louisville, Ky., Terry Wilson accounted for 340 yards and four touchdowns, Benny Snell Jr. rushed for two scores and the No. 17 Wildcats blew out the archrival Cardinals 56-10 on to win the Governor’s Cup. Northwestern 24, Illinois 16 — In Evanston, Ill., Clayton Thorson accounted for three touchdowns, Isaiah Browser rushed for 166 yards on 18 carries and the No. 20 Wildcats beat the Fighting Illini for its seventh straight Big Ten win. Miami 24, Pittsburgh 3 — Travis Homer rushed for 168 yards and a long touchdown, DeeJay Dallas ran back a punt for one of his two scores and the Hurricanes closed its regular season by knocking off the 24th-ranked Panthers in Miami Gardens, Fla. Iowa State 42, Kansas State 38 — In Ames, Iowa, David Montgomery ran for three touchdowns, including the winner with 4:34 to go, and the 25th-ranked Cyclones rallied from 17 down in the fourth quarter to stun Kansas State and snap a 10-game skid against the Wildcats.