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Air Force ends Boise State’s Mountain West title bid with 27-20 upset

Boise State safety Chanceller James tackles Air Force wide receiver Jalen Robinette by the facemask during the second half Friday, drawing a penalty.
(David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
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Air Force had a late goal-line stand, Tyler Weaver returned a blocked punt 11 yards for a touchdown and the Falcons beat Boise State, 27-20, ending the Broncos’ bid for the Mountain West Conference title.

Haji Dunn Jr. recovered quarterback Brett Rypien’s fumble on fourth down with around two minutes left to help the Falcons (9-3, 5-3 Mountain West) knock off Boise State for a third consecutive season. They join Idaho (1982-93) and Nevada (1996-98) as the only teams to beat the Broncos at least three years in a row.

The Broncos (10-2, 6-2, No. 19 CFP) needed a win at Air Force and for New Mexico to upset Mountain Division-leading Wyoming on Saturday to earn a spot in the conference’s title game.

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at No. 21 Western Michigan 55, Toledo 35

Corey Davis and Western Michigan wrapped up an undefeated regular season in style, routing Toledo to secure a berth next week in the Mid-American Conference championship game. Western Michigan will face Ohio in the MAC title game in Detroit next Friday night.

Davis became the career FBS leader in yards receiving, and the Broncos (12-0, 8-0) never trailed, scoring a defensive touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and eventually breaking it open in the third quarter. Kareem Hunt ran for 200 yards and a touchdown for Toledo, but there was only so much he could do after the Rockets (9-3, 6-2) fell way behind in the second half.

at Memphis 48, No. 18 Houston 44: In what might be sought-after Coach Tom Herman’s final game with Houston, Riley Ferguson threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Miller with 19 seconds left to lift Memphis.

Herman helped guide the Cougars (9-3, 5-3 American Athletic, No. 20 CFP) back from a 17-point halftime deficit. Greg Ward gave Houston a 44-41 lead with 1:29 remaining with his fourth touchdown pass, a three-yarder to Chance Allen. But Memphis (8-4, 5-3) drove 72 yards in five plays for the winner. Ward completed 47 of 67 passes for 487 yards. He also ran for a team-high 65 yards.

at Iowa 40, No. 17 Nebraska 10: C.J. Beathard threw three touchdown passes and Iowa pummeled Nebraska, knocking the Cornhuskers out of Big Ten title contention and sending Wisconsin to the championship game.

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LeShun Daniels Jr. ran for 158 yards and two scores and George Kittle caught two TD passes for the Hawkeyes (8-4, 6-3 Big Ten). Tommy Armstrong started for Nebraska (9-3, 6-3) despite a balky hamstring and was just 13 of 35 passing for 125 yards.

Texas Christian 31, at Texas 9: Quarterback Kenny Hill ran for two touchdowns and the Horned Frogs sent Longhorns Coach Charlie Strong to a crushing loss in what might be his final game after three seasons. The loss dropped Strong to 16-21 at Texas and he’s the first coach in program history with three consecutive losing seasons.

Strong said he expects to meet with Texas President Greg Fenves and Athletic Director Mike Perrin on Saturday. “I said the third year we’ll make progress, the fourth year will be our year,” Strong said. “I was told when I came in three years ago to build a program. The wins and losses don’t add up, but it’s more than that. [It’s] taking the program in the right direction.”

Texas Tech 54, Baylor 35: Patrick Mahomes threw for 586 yards and matched his career high with six touchdown passes, including three on one-play drives before halftime, as the Red Raiders finished its season with the win in Arlington, Texas.

In what might have been his last game for the Red Raiders (5-7, 3-6 Big 12), Mahomes completed 30 of 46 passes and became only the third FBS player with multiple seasons of 5,000 total yards. Baylor (6-5, 3-5) has lost five in a row since starting 6-0 to become bowl eligible.

North Carolina State 28, at North Carolina 21: Jaylen Samuels ran for one touchdown and threw for another on a trick play, and the Tar Heels earned bowl eligibility while also locking up a division title for Virginia Tech.

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at Missouri 28, Arkansas 24: Drew Lock completed 16 of 26 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown, and the Tigers scored 21 unanswered second-half points.

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