Michigan routs Ohio St., dominates second half
COLUMBUS, Ohio — J.J. McCarthy threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score, Donovan Edwards busted the game open with two long fourth-quarter TD runs and No. 3 Michigan beat No. 2 Ohio State 45-23 Saturday, taking down the Buckeyes with stunning ease for the second straight season.
Playing almost the whole game without injured star running back Blake Corum, Michigan (12-0, 9-0) was still able to beat Ohio State
(11-1, 8-1) in Columbus for the first time since 2000.
The Wolverines advance to face Purdue in Saturday's Big Ten championship game, with hopes for a second straight playoff appearance firmly in their control. The Buckeyes will have to hope they can back into the CFP after crumbling in their biggest game of the season.
Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines snapped an eight-game losing streak against their fiercest rivals last year. Now, they have a twogame winning streak in The Game for the first time in 22 years.
McCarthy, the second-year quarterback who won the starting job from incumbent Cade McNamara, played the game of his career when Michigan needed it most. His previous longest pass completion was 42 yards, but against the Buckeyes he threw three touchdown passes of at least 45 yards, the most scoring passes of 45 or more in the history of the rivalry game. He finished 31 of 48 for 349 yards with two interceptions.
Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud was 31 for 48 for 349 yards and two interceptions, but Ohio State never got a running game going and settled for field goals in the red zone.
NO. 1 GEORGIA 37, GEORGIA TECH 14
Stetson Bennett threw two touchdown passes, and the host Bulldogs (12-0) completed back-toback undefeated regular seasons for the first time in school history by overcoming a slow start to beat the Yellow Jackets (5-7) for the fifth straight time.
NO. 5 USC 38, NO. 15 NOTRE DAME 27
Caleb Willams polished his Heisman Trophy credentials with 232 yards passing and four total touchdowns, and the Trojans (11-1) capped their outstanding regular season under coach Lincoln Riley by staying firmly in the College Football Playoff race.
NO. 8 ALABAMA 42, AUBURN 27
Bryce Young passed for 343 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score in perhaps his final home game for the Crimson Tide (10-2, 6-2 SEC) in its Iron Bowl win over the Tigers (5-7, 2-6).
Alabama reached double digits in wins for a 15th consecutive season despite being unable to fulfill its national title aspirations.
SOUTH CAROLINA 31 NO. 8 CLEMSON 30
Spencer Rattler threw for 360 yards and two touchdowns, Mitch Jeter hit the go-ahead field goal with 11 minutes left and the visiting Gamecocks (8-4) crushed the playoff hopes of a second straight top-10 team.
NO. 21 OREGON STATE 38 NO. 9 OREGON 34
Isaiah Newell ran for the goahead touchdown with 8:11 remaining, and the host Beavers (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12) took advantage of critical mistakes in the fourth quarter to rally past the Ducks (9-3, 7-2).
The Ducks can still make the Pac-12 championship game but needed Washington State to beat rival Washington later Saturday. If Washington wins, No. 14 Utah would advance to the title game against No. 5 Southern California.
NO. 10 TENNESSEE 56 VANDERBILT 0
Jaylen Wright ran for 160 yards and two touchdowns on five carries, with Jabari Small running for two more scores as the Volunteers (10-2, 6-2) capped their first 10-win season since 2003.
NO. 11 PENN STATE 35 MICHIGAN STATE 16
Sean Clifford threw four touchdown passes and the Nittany Lions' defense tightened up late to beat the Spartans (5-7, 3-6) in the regular-season finale for both teams.
Penn State evened the all-time series with the Spartans (10-2, 6-2) at 18-18-1, but needed a fourthquarter push to do so.
The Spartans (5-7, 3-6) were down a handful of players due to injuries and suspensions.
NO. 14 UTAH 63, COLORADO 21
Cameron Rising threw three touchdown passes before taking a seat for the second half, Ja'Quinden Jackson ran for three scores and the Utes (9-3, 7-2 Pac-12) routed the host Buffaloes to remain in the chase for the last spot into the Pac-12 title game.
The Buffaloes (1-11, 1-8) closed a dreary season that saw head coach Karl Dorrell fired in October and interim coach Mike Sanford go 1-6 in his place. Maddox Kopp finished with 123 yards passing and a late 1-yard touchdown to offensive lineman turned tight end Frank Fillip.
NO. 25 UCF 46, SOUTH FLORIDA 39
Alec Holler made a leaping, one-handed catch for a touchdown on a 14-yard pass from Mikey Keene with 20 seconds remaining as the Knights (9-3, 6-2) will face Tulane for the AAC title.
KENTUCKY 26, NO. 25 LOUISVILLE 13
Will Levis passed for two touchdowns, including a 3-yarder to Barion Brown in the third quarter, Matt Ruffolo kicked a career-best