Rattler’s 6 TDs derail Tennessee’s playoff bid
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Spencer Rattler had the best day of his unpredictable career, throwing for 438 yards and six touchdowns as South Carolina beat No. 5 Tennessee 63-38 on Saturday night, all but eliminating the Volunteers from the playoffs.
Tennessee (9-2, 6-2 Southeastern, No. 5 CFP) may have also lost Heisman Trophy candidate Hendon Hooker, who left the game in the fourth quarter with a leg injury, falling and fumbling without being hit.
Even before the injury, the quarterback of the night was Rattler, who went from Heisman contender to the bench at Oklahoma in 2021. The junior finally lived up to the potential fans of South Carolina (7-4, 4-4) hoped for when he arrived.
Rattler came into the night with nine interceptions and eight touchdowns and averaging 198 yards a game passing.
NO. 1 GEORGIA 16, KENTUCKY 6
Kenny McIntosh rushed for a career-best 143 yards, including a crucial 9-yard score late in the third quarter, and top-ranked Bulldogs withstood a fourthquarter rally for a road win and their second consecutive unbeaten season in the Southeastern Conference.
Georgia (11-0) clinched the Eastern Division title last week.
NO. 2 OHIO ST. 43, MARYLAND 30
Dallan Hayden scored three touchdowns in the second half of the visiting Buckeyes' victory to set up a monumental matchup of unbeatens next weekend against rival Michigan.
Ohio State (11-0) had plenty of problems against the Terrapins (6-5). The Buckeyes trailed 13-10 at halftime and were up just 33-30 when they turned the ball over on downs with 6:36 remaining in the game.
NO. 3 MICHIGAN 19, ILLINOIS 17
Jake Moody made a go-ahead, 35-yard field goal with nine seconds left, lifting the Wolverines to a home win.
Michigan (11-0) played much of the game without star running back Blake Corum, who grabbed his left knee after being tackled just before halftime.
NO. 6 LSU 41, UAB 10
Noah Cain scored on three short runs, Jayden Daniels had touchdowns rushing and passing, and the Tigers pulled away in Baton Rouge, La.
Daniels completed 22 of 29 passes for 297 yards and ran for 111 yards on 12 carries.
NO. 8 ALABAMA 34 AUSTIN PEAY 0
Jase McClellan rushed for a career-high 156 yards and two touchdowns, and Jermaine Burton caught a pair of scoring passes from Bryce Young during the Crimson Tide's win in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
NO. 9 CLEMSON 40, MIAMI 10
DJ Uiagalelei threw for two scores and ran for a third as the Tigers wrapped up an undefeated ACC regular season and won their 40th straight at home.
The Tigers (10-1) have won at least 10 games in 12 straight seasons and — for a half — had their most dominant showing on both sides of the ball.
NO. 11 PENN ST. 55, RUTGERS 10
Sean Clifford ran for a touchdown and threw for another and the visiting Nittany Lions scored twice on fumble returns and once on a kickoff return.
Freshman Nick Singleton scored on a 100-yard kickoff return, Kobe King gave Penn State (9-2) the lead for good with a 14-yard fumble return.
GEORGIA TECH 21
N0. 13 NORTH CAROLINA 17
Zach Gibson threw for 174 yards and the Yellowjackets scored 21 unanswered points for a oad win against the Tar Heels.
Georgia Tech (5-6, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) trailed 17-0 late in the first half, but started to methodically move the ball.
NO. 15 WASHINGTON 54 COLORADO 7
Running back Wayne Taulapapa rushed for two touchdowns and 107 yards and the Huskies cruised at home.
Taulapapa scored from 8 and 2 yards out to get Washington to a 21-0 lead and the Huskies never looked back.
NO. 18 NOTRE DAME 44 BOSTON COLLEGE 0
Cornerback Benjamin Morrison had three interceptions, the defense forced two fumbles and the Fighting Irish scored on their first eight possessions in a home shutout.
NO. 19 FLORIDA ST. 49 LOUISIANA 17
Jordan Travis and Treshaun Ward each had a pair of touchdown runs in the first half, and the Seminoles ran for 251 yards in a rout in Tallahassee, Fla.
Florida State (8-3) scored a season high in points and surpassed 200 rushing yards for a sixth straight time.
NAVY 17, NO. 20 UCF 14
Fullback Daba Fonfana rushed for 114 yards, and the Midshipmen beat the Knights without completing a pass.
Navy (4-7, 4-4 American Athletic) dominated possession of the ball and gained 248 yards, all on the ground.
NO. 23 OREGON ST. 31 ARIZONA ST. 7
Damien Martinez ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns in the Beavers' rout on the road.
The Beavers (8-3) won for just the second time at ASU since 1972; they were 1-19 on the road against the Sun Devils going into the game.
LOUISVILLE 25
NO. 24 N.C. STATE 10
Jahwar Jordan scored two touchdowns, one a 98-yard kickoff return, James Turner kicked four field goals and the Cardinals upset the visiting Wolfpack.
Jordan, a sophomore finished with 105 yards in 16 carries
NO. 25 CINCINNATI 23, TEMPLE 3
Jacob Dingel and Bryon Threats each intercepted passes, Noah Potter and Dontay Corleone each recovered fumbles and the Bearcats easily beat the host Owls.
Cincinnati (9-2) can guarantee a berth in its fourth straight conference title game with a win in its finale against Tulane.