It Takes Five Overtimes, but Tennessee Wins, 51-43

Casey Clausen carried the 22nd-ranked Tennessee Volunteers into the fifth overtime with his arm, then won it with a one-yard quarterback sneak in a 51-43 victory over the Crimson Tide on Saturday at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Tennessee, 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the Southeastern Conference, became the first visitor to win three straight times at Bryant-Denny Stadium and ended a two-game losing streak.

“This was a Tennessee-Alabama classic game,” Tennessee linebacker Robert Peace said. “You can tell both teams wanted it and that we were both exhausted.”

Corey Larkins gained 20 yards in three carries to start the fifth overtime and Alabama had an offside penalty. On third down from the two, Clausen rolled right and dived toward the goal line.

He was stopped just short but did get the first down and scored on the next play. Clausen then connected with James Banks for the two-point conversion.

The Crimson Tide (3-6, 1-4) has lost five of its last six games, twice in overtime. Alabama couldn’t get a first down in the final overtime.

“Just when you think you’ve seen it all and been through a lot of ups and downs, all of a sudden there’s a game like this,” Alabama Coach Mike Shula said.

Mississippi 19, No. 21 Arkansas 7 -- Mississippi shut down a short-handed Arkansas offense and Jonathan Nichols kicked four field goals at Oxford, Miss.

The Rebels (6-2, 4-0) are off to their best start in the SEC in 33 years. They have their defense to thank for their fourth straight victory as Ole Miss held Arkansas (4-3, 1-3) scoreless in the second half.

The Razorbacks, who were playing without injured leading rusher Cedric Cobbs, didn’t get their initial first down of the second half until there was less than four minutes to go.

Arkansas has lost three straight.

The Rebels forced two turnovers late to wipe out any chance of an Arkansas rally.

No. 9 Louisiana St. 31, No. 17 Auburn 7 -- Justin Vincent ran for 127 yards and Matt Mauck passed for 223 yards and three touchdowns at Baton Rouge.

LSU (7-1, 4-1) outgained Auburn (5-3, 4-1) 381 yards to 193 yards, including a 157-53 edge on the ground.

Mauck completed 17 of 28 passes, Vincent averaged more than nine yards per carry, and fellow freshman Alley Broussard ran for 35 yards and a touchdown. Devery Henderson had six catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns.

After the start of the game was delayed 19 minutes because of lightning, LSU scored three first-quarter touchdowns.

Kentucky 42, Mississippi State 17 -- Derek Abney tied the NCAA career record for kick return touchdowns with an 80-yard punt return in the third quarter and also added a long scoring catch at Lexington, Ky.

Kentucky (4-4, 1-3) rallied from a 17-0 first-half deficit against the Bulldogs (2-6, 1-3), who have the worst defense in the SEC.

Abney gave the Wildcats their first lead at 21-17 with an 80-yard punt return in the third quarter. It was Abney’s eighth kick return for a score, tying the NCAA record held by Cliff Branch of Colorado (1970-71) and Johnny Rodgers of Nebraska (1970-72).

South Carolina 35, Vanderbilt 24 -- Dondrial Pinkins ran for three touchdowns and threw for another at Columbia, S.C.

Pinkins completed 13 of 21 passes for 161 yards and ran for 50 yards for the Gamecocks (5-3, 2-3).

Vanderbilt (1-8, 0-5) lost its 22nd conference game in a row.