Pac-10 cellar-dwellers put on show

The Pacific 10 Conference featured two games Saturday with national-title implications: Oregon vs. USC and California vs. Arizona State.

Another, UCLA vs. Washington State, will factor prominently in the conference title race.

Yet, for all the drama in the high-profile Pac-10 games, two conference cellar-dwellers provided at least as much entertainment.

Arizona defeated Washington, 48-41, behind quarterback Willie Tuitama, who passed for a school-record 510 yards and a career-best five touchdowns.

The Wildcats trailed, 41-26, with 12 minutes 52 seconds remaining before rallying with three Tuitama touchdown passes in the final 11:32, including the game winner to Mike Thomas with 2:02 remaining.

“Things fell our way there at the end,” linebacker Spencer Larsen said. “Those things are fun.”

Tuitama’s performance and the comeback overshadowed an impressive performance by Washington’s Jake Locker, who became the 19th player in major college football history to throw for more than 300 yards and rush for more than 100 yards in a game.

He had 336 yards passing and rushed for 157, but the Huskies had five turnovers -- four in Arizona territory.

“If we don’t have those turnovers, we might put 60, 70 points on the board,” Locker said.

Hoop it up

Basketball season isn’t supposed to start for another eight days, right?

You’d think Weber State and Portland State might be in line for NCAA sanctions after the Wildcats defeated the Vikings, 73-68.

But they were playing football.

The teams set an NCAA record for most points scored in regulation, eclipsing the 136 set in 1968 when North Park beat North Central, 104-32, in a Division III game.

It was also a major college record, passing the 133 scored by San Jose State and Rice in a 70-63 Spartans’ victory on Oct. 2, 2004. Portland State broke Rice’s NCAA record for points scored in regulation by a losing team.

Magic runs out

Virginia’s knack for late-game heroics was finally stifled when the Cavaliers lost, 29-24, against North Carolina State.

The Cavaliers, who had won four times with fourth-quarter comebacks, took possession with 1:24 to play, but turned it over on downs when North Carolina State’s Willie Young sacked Peter Lalich on fourth down with 17 seconds left.

No. 21 Virginia (7-2) hadn’t lost since the season opener. Along the way, the Cavaliers had developed a knack for repeatedly finding a way to win games in the final minutes.

They beat Middle Tennessee on a field goal with eight seconds left, then beat Connecticut on a field goal with about three minutes to play. Last week, they beat Maryland on a touchdown with 16 seconds left.

At a loss

Nebraska lost, 28-25, against No. 17 Texas, marking the fourth consecutive loss for the Cornhuskers. It’s the first time since 1961 that Nebraska has lost four in a row.

“We’ve never been so sick of losing in our entire lives,” defensive back Ben Eisenhart said.

Wounded Wolverines

Michigan running back Mike Hart and quarterback Chad Henne sat out Saturday in the Wolverines’ 34-10 victory over Minnesota, but are expected to play next week against Michigan State.

Hart has been sidelined 2 1/2 games since injuring his right ankle. Henne was on and off the field Oct. 20 against Illinois because of a shoulder injury.

“Of course,” Hart replied when asked if he’ll be ready to play.

Said Henne: “I’ll be back next week.”

Hobbling Hill

Wisconsin defeated Indiana, 33-3, but its chances of winning the Big Ten Conference may have taken a hit when running back P.J. Hill left in the first quarter because of a bruised foot.

Hill, the nation’s ninth-leading rusher at 126.1 yards per game, scored a touchdown and had 57 yards in 12 carries before leaving the game.

Record setters

Vanderbilt wide receiver Earl Bennett became the Southeastern Conference career receiving leader when he caught eight passes against Miami of Ohio to bring his career total to 215. . . . Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech had 12 receptions against Colorado, bringing his season total to 100, an NCAA freshman record. . . . Illinois secured bowl eligibility for the first time since 2002, coming from behind to defeat Ball State, 28-17, behind 189 yards and a pair of touchdowns from Rashard Mendenhall.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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peter.yoon@latimes.com

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In the ‘Zona

Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama threw for a school-best 510 yards and matched his career high with five touchdowns. Tuitama managed to overshadow Washington quarterback Jake Locker, who became the 19th player in Football Bowl Subdivision history (formerly Division I-A) to throw for more than 300 yards and rush for more than 100 in a game. Arizona’s single-game passing leaders:

*--* Yards Player Opp. Year 510 Willie Tuitama at Washington 2007 492 Jason Johnson at California 2002 446 Willie Tuitama New Mexico 2007 443 Jason Johnson at Washington 2002 427 Tom Tunnicliffe at Pacific 1982 418 Keith Smith at California 1996 416 Jason Johnson Utah 2002 406 Bruce Hill New Mexico 1975 381 Jason Johnson N. Arizona 2002 *--*