Oklahoma survives in 59-56 shootout
Kyler Murray threw three touchdown passes and ran for one score and No. 6 Oklahoma scored two defensive touchdowns as the visiting Sooners defeated No. 13 West Virginia 59-56 Friday night to earn a spot in next week’s Big 12 title game.
The Sooners (11-1, 8-1) survived a wild and mostly defenseless affair that featured 1,372 yards of offense to earn a rematch Dec. 1 in Arlington, Texas, against No. 14 Texas, which beat Kansas earlier Friday.
Oklahoma also kept its College Football Playoff chances alive.
West Virginia (8-3, 6-3) lost to Oklahoma for the seventh straight time since joining the league in 2012.
Murray finished 20 of 27 for 364 yards and converted a late fourth down to seal a matchup of Heisman Trophy hopefuls. West Virginia’s Will Grier threw for four touchdowns and a careerhigh 539 yards on 32-of-49 passing. But Grier lost two fumbles, both of which were returned for touchdowns.
No. 14 Texas 24, at Kansas 17: Sam Ehlinger threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score as the Longhorns (9-3, 7-2) clinched a spot in the Big 12 title game.
Texas opened a 24-7 lead on Cameron Dicker’s 34yard field goal in the fourth quarter, but Kansas responded with Peyton Bender’s 31-yard touchdown pass to Daylon Charlot and recovered the ensuing onside kick.
After Gabriel Rui made it a one-score game with a 45yard field goal with 1:37 remaining, the Jayhawks (3-9, 1-8) were unable to recover another onside kick and the Longhorns closed it out from there.
No. 9 Central Florida 38, at South Florida 10: Central Florida lost quarterback McKenzie Milton to injury but still extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 24 games and completed a second consecutive undefeated regular season.
Milton, eighth in Heisman Trophy balloting a year ago, hurt his right knee when he was tackled at the end of a five-yard run in the second quarter. Darriel Mack Jr. replaced him and will probably make his second start of the year when Central Florida (11-0, 8-0) faces Memphis next week in the American Athletic Conference title game.
Central Florida coach Josh Heupel said Milton was in the hospital with a “traumatic” injury.
at Memphis 52, Houston 31: Junior Darrell Henderson rushed for 178 yards and two touchdowns — setting an AAC rushing record — for Memphis (8-4, 5-3).
Henderson set the season rushing record, passing the previous mark of 1,629 by Tulsa’s James Flanders in 2016.
at Cincinnati 56, East Carolina 6: Redshirt freshman Desmond Ridder threw a career-high four touchdown passes in the first half, and Cincinnati (10-2, 6-2 AAC) wrapped up the regular season with 10 victories for the first time since 2012.
at Virginia Tech 34, Virginia 31 (OT): Brian Johnson kicked a 42-yard field goal in overtime and Virginia Tech pulled out the wildest victory in its 100 meetings with Virginia. The Hokies (5-6, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their 15th in a row in the series and kept alive their hopes for a 26th consecutive bowl appearance.
at Missouri 38, Arkansas 0: In his final home game, quarterback Drew Lock rushed for two touchdowns and threw for two more for Missouri (8-4, 4-4 Southeastern Conference).
Lock completed 16 of 25 passes for 221 yards, surpassing the 3,000-yard mark for the third straight season.
at Iowa 31, Nebraska 28: Miguel Recinos drilled a 41yard field goal through a driving rain as time expired to give the Hawkeyes (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten) their fourth straight over the Cornhuskers (4-8, 3-6).
Buffalo 44, at Bowling Green 14: Tyree Jackson threw a touchdown pass and Buffalo (10-2, 7-1) ran in four scores to claim the MidAmerican Conference East Division championship.