Illinois shocks Wisconsin
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The plan was for Wisconsin to roll into a showdown with Ohio State next week unbeaten, with a defense putting up historic numbers and a Heisman Trophy contender at running back.
Illinois had other plans. James McCourt kicked a 39-yard field as time expired and the Illini pulled off the biggest upset of the college football season, knocking off No. 6 Wisconsin 24-23 on Saturday.
“Our program, we needed to get a signature win. I was just hoping today was the day, and the day came,” said Illini coach Lovie Smith, the former Chicago Bears coach who entered the game 11-31 overall and 4-26 in the Big Ten since taking over Illinois in 2016.
“Against the No. 6 team in the country, we played them toe-to-toe,” Smith said. “We saw so much fight. We learned an awful lot about ourselves. We’re pumped up. One of the best wins we can possibly have at this stage in our program.”
Tony Adams picked off a pass by Jack Coan for the Illini (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten), who were 30 1/2 -point underdogs, at midfield with 2:33 remaining that set up the winning drive.
Dre Brown’s tacklebreaking 13-yard run got Illinois (3-4, 1-3) to the Wisconsin 25 with 34 seconds left and then the Illini set up McCourt to attempt a winner. The junior kicker was down the middle with the field goal to give Smith the most significant victory for Illinois in years.
“No matter if it’s an extra point or a gamewinner you kind of have to take the approach that every kick is the same because if you take a different approach you might get thrown off or something might be a little different,” said McCourt, who missed a 40-yard attempt in the first quarter.
OREGON 35, WASHINGTON 31
Justin Herbert hit Jaylon Redd for a 5-yard touchdown with 5:10 left, the last of his four scoring passes, and Oregon (6-1, 4-0 Pac-12) overcame a 14-point deficit to beat Washington (5-3, 2-3).
PENN STATE 28, MICHIGAN 21
Clifford hit KJ Hamler on 25- and 53-yard scoring strikes and hooked up with tight end Pat Freiermuth for a 17-yard touchdown pass in a game Penn State (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) never trailed.
The Wolverines battled back from a 21-7 halftime deficit and with just over two minutes to play, had a chance to tie it on fourthand-goal from the 3. But Michigan wideout Ronnie Bell dropped what
would’ve been the tying touchdown with Penn State safety Lamont Wade playing tight coverage.
CLEMSON 45, LOUISVILLE 10
Trevor Lawrence overcame two early interceptions to throw three touchdown passes, Travis Etienne ran for 192 yards and a score and Clemson (7-0, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) routed Louisville for its 22nd straight victory.
LSU 36,
MISSISSIPPI STATE 13
Joe Burrow threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns to break the LSU season record with 29.
LSU (7-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) had 415 yards of total offense and averaged 6.9 yards per play.
GEORGIA 21, KENTUCKY 0
D’Andre Swift’s 39-yard touchdown run in the third quarter snapped a scoreless tie, and Georgia overcame a slow start to beat Kentucky.
FLORIDA 38,
SOUTH CAROLINA 27
Kyle Trask threw a career-high four touchdown passes, three in the fourth quarter, to help Florida (7-1, 4-1 SEC) bounce back from its loss at LSU.
AUBURN 51, ARKANSAS 10
Bo Nix passed for three touchdowns and ran for another for Auburn (6-1, 3-1 SEC).
UTAH 21, ARIZONA STATE 3
Zack Moss broke Utah’s career rushing record and scored two touchdowns in the Utes’ victory over Arizona State in the rain in Salt Lake City.
SMU 45, TEMPLE 21
Shane Buechele set career highs with six touchdown passes and 457 passing yards to help SMU improve to 7-0 for the first time since 1982.
MINNESOTA 42, RUTGERS 7
Rodney Smith ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns and Minnesota improved to 7-0 (4-0 Big Ten) for the first time since winning the national title in 1960.
CINCINNATI 24, TULSA 13
Gerrid Doaks ran for a pair of touchdowns and turned a short pass into a 28-yard score, helping Cincinnati hold on.
VANDERBILT 21, MISSOURI 14
Riley Neal came off the bench and threw a 21-yard touchdown to Cam Johnson with 8:57 left, and Vanderbilt upset Missouri with a stifling defensive performance.
IOWA 26, PURDUE 20
Mekhi Sargent scored on a 14-yard run with 2:16 left and Iowa (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) held off Purdue to snap a two-game losing streak.
APPALACHIAN STATE 52, LOUISIANA-MONROE 7
Zac Thomas threw for 214 yards and three TDs and ran for another score as Appalachian State (6-0, 3-0 Sun Belt) earned its first win as a Top 25 team.