Pac-12 roundup: No. 4 Oregon beats No. 17 Utah, 51-27

Joe Walker returned Kaelin Clay’s careless goal-line fumble 100 yards for a touchdown, Marcus Mariota threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score and No. 4 Oregon turned back No. 17 Utah, 51-27, on Saturday night.

Mariota ran for 114 yards and was 17-for-29 passing for 239 yards, keeping the Ducks (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12) in the thick of the College Football Playoff race.

Clay had 152 yards on five catches, but it was the 1 yard he let slip away that will be remembered most.

The Utes (6-3, 3-3) were on their way to taking a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter when Wilson connected with Clay, who was cruising to long touchdown when he casually dropped the ball a yard before he crossed the goal line. As the Utes celebrated, Walker grabbed the ball and chugged down the sideline for a touchdown.

at Arizona 38, Colorado 20: Anu Solomon threw for four touchdowns and ran for a career-best 115 yards, and No. 19 Arizona kept Colorado winless in the Pac-12 Conference by beating the Buffaloes, 38-20, on Saturday night.

Colorado’s Sefo Liufau threw for 252 yards and a touchdown but had two passes intercepted and lost two fumbles. The sophomore left after a vicious hit while throwing his second interception with 11 minutes 16 seconds left.

Arizona (7-2, 4-2) scored a touchdown after each of the four turnovers by the Buffaloes (2-8, 0-7).

Tra’Mayne Bonderant returned Liufau’s fumble 22 yards for the Wildcats’ first TD.

Arizona’s Nick Wilson rushed for 86 of his 153 yards in the fourth quarter.

The Wildcats, coming off a 17-7 loss at UCLA, grabbed the lead for good when Solomon threw a one-yard touchdown pass to David Richards that made it 21-17 with 11 seconds left in the first half.

But it was a tight game until Solomon connected with Samajie Grant for a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Grant’s first touchdown made it 31-20 with 9:50 to play. The 27-yard reception came after Devin Holiday intercepted Liufau, who was hit hard by Sani Fuimaono just as he let go of the ball.

Liufau stayed on the ground for several minutes before getting to his feet and walking off. Sophomore Jordan Gehrke finished the game at quarterback for the Buffaloes.

Washington State 39, at Oregon State 32: Redshirt freshman Luke Falk made his first start and threw for 471 yards and five touchdowns and the Cougars (3-7, 2-5) snapped a four-game losing streak.

Sean Mannion, who set the Pac-12 record for career passing yards last weekend in a loss to California, threw for 419 yards and a touchdown. Garrett Owens added four field goals for the Beavers (4-5, 1-5), who have lost four straight.

Falk started in place of senior Connor Halliday, who broke his ankle last weekend in a 44-17 loss to USC. The injury ended the prolific senior’s college career.