Southern Mississippi upsets No. 7-ranked Houston, 49-28

HOUSTON -- Austin Davis passed for four touchdowns and No. 24 Southern Miss blocked a punt for another score to upset No. 7 Houston, 49-28, in the Conference USA championship game.

The host Cougars (12-1) failed in their bid to become the first C-USA team to reach a BCS bowl game.

Southern Miss (11-2) jumped to a 14-0 lead and led 21-14 at the half. Furious Bradley came in untouched to block a punt early in the third quarter, scooping it up for an 11-yard touchdown return.

Davis’ 61-yard strike to Tracy Lampley pushed the lead to 42-21 late in the third quarter.

Houston’s Case Keenum, the NCAA career leader in passing yards, ouchdown passes and total offense, was had two passes intercepted after entering the game with only three interceptions. He went 41 of 67 for 373 yards and two touchdowns.

The Golden Eagles won their first conference title since 2003, having lost in their previous championship game appearance in 2006.

A 5-9, 168-pounder, Lampley was the best player on the field. The junior ran for 71 yards and caught six passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

No. 18 Texas Christian 56, UNLV 9

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Greg McCoy returned a kickoff 99 yards and Kris Gardner had a 16-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 12-second span, and the 18th-ranked Horned Frogs could bust into the BCS again with the victory in their Mountain West Conference finale.

TCU (10-2, 7-0 MWC) wrapped up its third consecutive outright Mountain West title, winning its last 24 games in that league before moving to the Big 12 next season.

The consecutive TD returns by McCoy and Gardner just before halftime came about the same time Southern Miss was wrapping up a 49-28 victory at previously undefeated Houston in the Conference USA championship game.

If the Frogs move up two spots into the top 16 of the final Bowl Championship Series standings Sunday, they will be virtually guaranteed to go to their third consecutive BCS game.

UNLV (2-10, 1-6) finished with five consecutive losses.

Cincinnati 35, Connecticut 27

CINCINNATI -- Munchie Legaux threw a career-high three touchdown passes and the Bearcats’ defense got two scores to set up the victory and a three-way share of the Big East title.

Although the Bearcats (9-3, 5-2) got their third title in four years, they likely will miss out on the league’s BCS bid. No. 22 West Virginia (9-3, 5-2) will get it if, as expected, the Mountaineers are the highest-ranked Big East team in the final BCS standings.

Louisville (7-5, 5-2) also shared the title and would have gotten the bid if the Bearcats had lost on Saturday. The Huskies (5-7, 3-4) didn’t have another upset in them.

Lineman Walter Stewart plucked the ball from UConn quarterback Johnny McEntee’s passing hand in the end zone for Cincinnati’s first touchdown, and Drew Frey returned an interception 15 yards for a 14-0 lead.

No. 1 LSU 42, No. 12 Georgia 10

ATLANTA -- Tyrann Mathieu returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown and set up two other scores with a fumble recovery and another dazzling return, leading the Tigers to a rout in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

The Tigers (13-0) locked up a spot in the Jan. 9 BCS title game in New Orleans, a trip they might’ve gotten even with a loss to the Bulldogs (10-3). But, after a dismal first half in which they managed only 12 yards and failed to pick up a first down, they outscored Georgia 35-0 over the final two quarters. Mathieu, the fearless sophomore known as “Honey Badger,” sparked the comeback from a 10-0 deficit with his punt return for a touchdown midway through the second quarter.

No. 9 Boise State 45, New Mexico 0

BOISE, Idaho -- Kellen Moore threw three touchdowns in the final home game of his brilliant career and Doug Martin ran for two more to lead the Broncos.

Moore was 28 of 33 for 313 yards before heading for the sideline midway through the third quarter. His three touchdowns give him 41 for the season, setting a new school single-season record. He also set a new school record for completions in a season with 300.

Martin rushed for 110 yards on 19 carries, and his 40-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave the Broncos a 38-0 lead.

The victory gives the Broncos (11-1, 6-1) their second straight season with a single loss and looks to clear the way for another trip to the MAACO Bowl in Las Vegas, where they dismantled No. 20 Utah a year ago 26-3.

New Mexico (1-11, 1-6) managed only 197 total yards on offense and the offense only crossed midfield twice.

No. 16 Kansas State 30, Iowa State 23

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- John Hubert ran for 120 yards and the go-ahead touchdown, and the Wildcats kept alive their chances for a share of the Big 12 championship.

Collin Klein ran for a touchdown and threw for another, and Anthony Cantele was perfect on three field-goal attempts, allowing the Wildcats (10-2, 7-2) to reach 10 wins for the first time since 2003, when they knocked off Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game.

The Wildcats need some help from the Sooners this time.

If No. 13 Oklahoma beats third-ranked Oklahoma State in Bedlam on Saturday night, the teams will finish in a three-way tie atop the conference and share the championship.

Jeff Woody ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns for the Cyclones (6-6, 3-6), who became bowl eligible for the second time under Paul Rhoads when they knocked off the Cowboys a couple weeks ago.

No. 19 Baylor 48, Texas 24

WACO, Texas -- Robert Griffin III ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more to cpa the Bears’ best regular season in 25 years and perhaps do enough to persuade Heisman Trophy voters he’s the best player in college football.

Baylor’s defense, ranked among the worst in nation, gave up a 14-0 lead but forced also forced six turnovers, three of them setting up Baylor touchdowns.

Baylor fans will now wonder if Griffin has played his last home game for the Bears (9-3, 6-3 Big 12). Griffin, a fourth-year junior who has already graduated, must decide if he will leave for the NFL.

Case McCoy passed for 356 yards and three touchdowns for Texas (7-5, 4-5) but had five turnovers.

Pittsburgh 33, Syracuse 20

PITTSBURGH -- Antwuan Reed returned a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown with less than 3 minutes remaining to lift the Panthers to the victory.

The Panthers (6-6, 4-3 Big East) became bowl eligible for the fourth straight year with the victory. Tino Sunseri threw for 259 yards and a score and Kevin Harper drilled four field goals while the Pitt defense forced the reeling Orange (5-7, 1-6) into six turnovers.

Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib threw his 22nd touchdown pass of the season to tie a school record but also tossed two interceptions and fumbled twice as the Orange dropped their fifth straight.

The game may have been the final Big East contest for both schools, who announced in September they’re heading to the ACC by 2014.