It’s better late than never for LSU

Louisiana State can forget last year’s disappointment against Tennessee. The No. 13 Tigers have their own comeback to celebrate.

JaMarcus Russell threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Early Doucet with nine seconds left to give LSU a 28-24 win over Tennessee, ending the No. 8 Volunteers’ chances of winning the Southeastern Conference title.

Russell’s third touchdown pass of the game gave the Tigers, 7-2 overall and 3-2 in the conference, their first road win of the season and revenge for last year’s Volunteers victory at Tiger Stadium.

“Our guys will remember this one,” LSU Coach Les Miles said.

“If you want to define who we are, if you want to write who we are, that’s who we are right there.”

Last year in Baton Rouge, La., in LSU’s first home game after Hurricane Katrina, the Volunteers overcame a 21-point deficit to win, 30-27, in overtime.

On Saturday, Tennessee (7-2, 3-2) almost got another comeback. The Volunteers went ahead, 24-21, after redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton, playing for injured starter Erik Ainge, completed a 54-yard touchdown pass to Robert Meachem with 7:29 left.

The Tigers got the ball back with plenty of time, and Russell methodically led them down the field, milking the clock, before the winning pass to Doucet.

Russell completed 24 of 36 passes for 247 yards. He also ran for 71 yards.

The LSU players and coaches stayed afterward to celebrate with their fans. It was the Tigers’ second win in Neyland Stadium, and they had to overcome four turnovers to earn it.

“I was still in the game. I knew I just had to go out and fight and sacrifice my body and myself and be willing to do whatever it takes to help my team,” said Russell, who saw three of his passes get intercepted.

The Vols’ loss gives Florida a spot in the conference title game.

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ATLANTIC COAST

at No. 11 Notre Dame 45, North Carolina 26: Brady Quinn passed for four touchdowns and a season-high 346 yards to help the Irish (8-1) overcome breakdowns on defense and special teams and beat the Tar Heels (1-8) at South Bend, Ind. The victory marked the first time Notre Dame has won at least eight games in consecutive seasons since 1996.

No. 20 Georgia Tech 31, at North Carolina St. 23: Reggie Ball threw four touchdown passes -- two to Calvin Johnson -- and the Yellow Jackets (7-2, 5-1) defeated the Wolfpack (3-6, 2-4) at Raleigh. Tashard Choice had a career-high 164 yards rushing in 34 carries, Ball was 13-of-35 passing for 215 yards with two interceptions and Johnson had nine catches for a personal-best 168 yards.

No. 23 Virginia Tech 17, at Miami 10: Brandon Ore ran for two touchdowns, including an eight-yard game-winner with 1:39 left to carry the Hokies (7-2, 4-2) over the Hurricanes (5-4, 2-3). Each of Ore’s scores were set up by Miami interceptions, one thrown by Kirby Freeman in the second quarter, the other off a deflected pass by Kyle Wright with 3:33 left.

at Florida State 33, Virginia 0: Tony Carter returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown 74 seconds into the game to lead the Seminoles (5-4, 3-4) over the Cavaliers (4-6, 3-3) at Tallahassee. Florida State held Virginia to 12 first downs and 183 yards in offense, posting its first shutout since a 37-0 win at Notre Dame in 2003.

Navy 38, at Duke 13: Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada ran for 119 yards and a touchdown and threw for a score as the Midshipmen (6-3) defeated the Blue Devils (0-9) at Durham, N.C., and clinched a berth in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

From the Associated Press

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BIG TEN

No. 1 Ohio State 17, at Illinois 10: The Buckeyes (10-0, 6-0) built a 17-0 halftime lead against the Fighting Illini (2-8, 1-5) and overcame a ho-hum performance by its offense to win at Champaign. Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith completed 13 of 23 passes for 108 yards and rushed for 37 yards in 11 carries. The Buckeyes had won all of their previous games by at least 17 points.

at No. 2 Michigan 34, Ball State 26: Mike Hart ran for 154 yards and Brandon Minor had 108, but the Wolverines (10-0) couldn’t put away the Cardinals (3-7) until the last play at Ann Arbor. Michigan trailed for only the second time this season, and receiver Mario Manningham, who returned from an injury, did not have a catch.

at No. 17 Wisconsin 13, Penn State 3: John Stocco threw a 14-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to Paul Hubbard to lead the Badgers (9-1, 6-1) over the Nittany Lions (6-4, 4-3) at Madison. It was the first touchdown given up by Penn State in more than 10 quarters.

Northwestern 21, at Iowa 7: C.J. Bacher threw for 218 yards and a touchdown, and Tyrell Sutton had 168 yards rushing as the Wildcats (3-7, 1-5) beat the Hawkeyes (6-4, 2-4) at Iowa City.

at Minnesota 63, Indiana 26: Bryan Cupito threw four touchdown passes to lead the Gophers (4-6, 1-5) over the Hoosiers (5-5, 3-3) at Minneapolis. It was the most points for Minnesota in a Big Ten game since scoring 67 in a win over Iowa in 1916.

Purdue 17, at Michigan State 15: Curtis Painter threw two touchdown passes and Casey Welch kicked an 18-yard field goal with 4:49 left to lead the Boilermakers (6-4, 3-3) over the Spartans (4-6, 1-5) at East Lansing.

From the Associated Press

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BIG 12

at No. 4 Texas 36, Oklahoma State 10: Colt McCoy threw three touchdowns passes to break the single-season school record and the Longhorns (9-1, 6-0) stayed in control of the Big 12 South with a win over the Cowboys (5-4, 2-3) at Austin. McCoy also had a career-high 346 yards on 23-of-29 passing for Texas. McCoy’s 27 touchdown passes broke the school mark of 26 shared by Vince Young (2005) and Chris Simms (2002). The redshirt freshman is two shy of the NCAA freshman season record of 29, set by Nevada’s David Neill in 1998. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State quarterback Bobby Reid, the nation’s third-rated passer, was 11 for 28 for 123 yards and two interceptions.

at Nebraska 34, Missouri 20: Receiver Maurice Purify threw a touchdown pass and caught another, and the Cornhuskers (7-3, 4-2) defeated the Tigers (7-3, 3-3) at Lincoln to take over the lead in the Big 12 North. Nebraska defeated Missouri for the 15th consecutive time at home and needs one more win to clinch a spot in the conference title game.

at Texas Tech 55, Baylor 21: Graham Harrell threw for four touchdowns -- three of them to Joel Filani -- and 483 yards to lead the Red Raiders (6-4, 3-3) over the Bears (4-6, 3-3) at Lubbock. Harrell threw to 10 different receivers, but Filani caught eight passes for 212 yards.

Kansas 41, at Iowa State 10: Kerry Meier threw two touchdown passes in his return to the starting lineup and backup Todd Reesing led the Jayhawks (5-5, 2-4) to two more scores in a victory over the Cyclones (3-7, 0-6) at Ames.

Kansas State 34, at Colorado 21: Josh Freeman completed 22 of 26 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns to lift the Wildcats (6-4, 3-3) over the Buffaloes (1-9, 1-5) at Boulder.

From the Associated Press

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SOUTHEASTERN

at No. 6 Auburn 27, Arkansas State 0: Brandon Cox passed for 251 yards and two touchdowns, and the Tigers (9-1) held the Indians (5-4) to 177 total yards in a victory at Auburn, Ala. Tailback Kenny Irons, bothered by an ankle injury for much of the season, played only the opening series for Auburn, which had four turnovers.

No. 7 Florida 25, at Vanderbilt 19: Chris Leak ran for two touchdowns and threw for another as the Gators (8-1, 6-1) held off the Commodores (4-6, 1-5) at Nashville and clinched the SEC East Division title for the first time since 2000 after Tennessee lost to Louisiana State.

No. 12 Arkansas 26, at South Carolina 20: Darren McFadden ran for a career-high 219 yards and two touchdowns, and Marcus Monk had eight catches for a career-best 192 yards to lead the Razorbacks (8-1, 5-0) over the Gamecocks (5-4, 3-4) at Columbia. Arkansas must win two of its last three to clinch the West Division, with Tennessee, Mississippi State and LSU on the schedule.

Mississippi State 24, at Alabama 16: Michael Henig passed for 143 yards and two touchdowns, and the Bulldogs (3-7, 1-5) upset the Crimson Tide (6-4, 2-4) at Tuscaloosa to give Coach Sylvester Croom his first victory over his alma mater.

at Kentucky 24, Georgia 20: Tony Dixon’s three-yard run with a minute left lifted the Wildcats (5-4, 3-3) to a comeback victory over the Bulldogs (6-4, 3-4) at Lexington, ending a nine-game losing streak against the defending SEC champions.

at Mississippi 27, Northwestern State 7: BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown to lead the Rebels (3-7) over the Demons (4-5) at Oxford.

From the Associated Press