Wolverines rout Iowa, win Big Ten
Hassan Haskins ran for two second-half touchdowns and broke a school record while running back Donavan Edwards threw a 75-yard TD pass to help No. 2 Michigan capture its first Big Ten title in 17 years and a probable playoff berth with a 42-3 rout over No. 15 Iowa on Saturday in Indianapolis.
Resurgent Michigan (12-1, No. 2 College Football Playoff) has won five straight, and if it reaches the playoff, as expected, would need one more win to return to Indianapolis to play for its first national championship since 1997.
It’s been an improbable run since coach Jim Harbaugh took a pay cut following a dismal 2020. The Wolverines started this season unranked and picked to finish in the middle of the Big Ten East, whose champion has won the last nine conference crowns. And it came on an emotional night when Michigan paid tribute to the victims from Tuesday’s school shooting, which resulted in the deaths of four students at Oxford (Michigan) High School.
They handed the Hawkeyes (10-3, No. 13) their second straight title game loss and prevented coach Kirk Ferentz from capturing his first conference crown since 2004.
Baylor 21, Oklahoma State 16
In Arlington, Texas, Dezmon Jackson came up inches short on a desperate, fourth-down dive with 24 seconds remaining and the fifth-ranked Cowboys (11-2, No. 5 CFP) fell to the ninth-rated Bears (11-2, No. 9 CFP) in the Big 12 championship game Saturday, knocking the Cowboys out of contention for a playoff spot.
Blake Shapen threw three TDs while completing his first 17 passes as Baylor took a 21-3 lead.
The Cowboys rallied back, then went 89 yards on 17 plays on their final drive. But their Big 12 and national championship hopes wound up just shy.
Pittsburgh 45, Wake Forest 21
In Charlotte, N.C., Kenny Pickett accounted for three touchdowns and Erick Hallett II returned one of Pitt’s four interceptions for a touchdown to help the No. 17 Panthers (11-2) beat No. 18 Wake Forest (10-3) in the ACC championship game.
Utah St. 46, San Diego St. 13
In Carson, Calif., Brandon Bowling caught two touchdown passes from Logan Bonner during the decisive third quarter, and the Aggies (10-3) won their first Mountain West Conference title by routing the short-handed No. 19 Aztecs (11-2).
Louisiana-Lafayette 24, Appalachian St. 16
In Lafayette, La., Levi Lewis scored on a career-high 56-yard run and passed for another touchdown, and No. 20 Louisiana-Lafayette (12-1, 9-0 Sun Belt) capped off soon-to-be Florida coach Billy Napier’s time with the Ragin’ Cajuns by defeating Appalachian State (10-3, 7-2) in the Sun Belt Conference championship game.
Jackson St. 27, Prairie View A&M 10
In Jackson, Miss., Deion Sanders checked the primary objective off his coaching to-do list with a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship, leading Jackson State (11-1, 8-0) over Prairie View A&M (7-5, 6-2).
The Tigers captured the title with a performance befitting Sanders’ Hall of Fame versatility as a cornerback, receiver and returner: scoring touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams.
The victory capped an impressive season for “Coach Prime,” who earned SWAC coach of the year honors, and whose son, Jackson State quarterback Shedeur Sanders named SWAC freshman of the year.