EAST LANSING, Mich. — Kenneth Walker rushed for 197 yards and five touchdowns, helping No. 8 Michigan State top No. 6 Michigan 37-33 for a thrilling comeback victory Saturday.
The Spartans (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) trailed by nine at halftime and 30-14 with 6:47 left in the third quarter before Walker boosted his chances of winning the Heisman Trophy.
Walker’s fifth touchdown — a 23-yard run — lifted Michigan State to a 37-33 lead with 5:08 remaining.
“I don’t feel like it was a Heisman moment,” said Walker, who started the day leading the nation in rushing and finished it with 1,194 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns. “But it was just a great team win.”
The Wake Forest transfer had a lot to do with it.
The Wolverines (7-1, 4-1) forced a final punt and had the ball at their 33-yard line with 1:15 and no timeouts left.
After a roughing-the-passer penalty gave Michigan the ball at midfield, Michigan State cornerback Charles Brantley sealed the victory by picking off a floating pass from Cade McNamara.
McNamara threw for 383 yards and two touchdowns, but his interception was costly, as was freshman quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s lost fumble in the fourth quarter.
“This one stings,” McNamara said. “We have to respond. Our backs are against the wall now.”
The rivals were on the same field with 7-0 or better records for the first time, matching up as top-10 teams for the first time since 1964.
Ethan Garbers, starting for injured Dorian Thompson-Robinson, flashes potential but is failed by Chip Kelly’s defense in UCLA’s 44-24 loss to Utah.
Michigan State’s win puts the program in contention for the Big Ten Conference championship and potentially a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Michigan’s loss leaves Jim Harbaugh with a 3-4 record against Michigan State as a coach, putting even more pressure on him to get a win against No. 5 Ohio State next month.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — TreVeyon Henderson ran for 152 yards and a touchdown, and the Buckeyes (7-1, 5-0 Big Ten) made just enough long plays and short field goals to hold off the Nittany Lions (5-3, 2-3).
Facing their first real challenge in a month and half, Ohio State finally finished off Penn State on Noah Ruggles’ fourth field goal, a 26-yarder with 2:41 left to make it a nine-point lead.
Coming off an ugly nine-overtime loss at home to Illinois, Penn State looked a lot like the team that had climbed into the top five before losing to Iowa in a game in which quarterback Sean Clifford got hurt.
The senior looked sharp and healthy, going 35 for 52 for 361 yards and a touchdown after a tentative performance last week. Still, the Nittany Lions lost their third straight to fall out of contention in the Big Ten East.
Meanwhile, Ohio State, which had hardly been tested since losing to Oregon in Week 2, looked like the team that struggled to get off the field on third down and finish drives against the Ducks.
Trojans star wideout Drake London suffered what could be a season-ending injury, while Jaxson Dart returned to action as USC beat Arizona 41-34.
The highest-scoring team in the country was held out of the end zone for the first 26 minutes before two explosive plays in the span of about a minute and a half gave Ohio State the lead.
C.J. Stroud floated a deep ball that Chris Olave ran down for a 38-yard touchdown to give the Buckeyes their first lead, 10-7 with 3:48 left in the first half. Stroud finished with 305 yards passing.
Penn State responded by moving quickly into Ohio State territory, but Clifford was sandwiched by ends Tyreke Smith and Zach Harrison and the ball came loose. Jerron Cage scooped it up and sprinted untouched 57 yards for a touchdown to make it 17-7.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Bulldogs (8-0, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) and their top-ranked defense dominated the Gators (4-4, 2-4), scoring three touchdowns off turnovers in a 12-play sequence that turned “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” into a lopsided affair.
Georgia won its 12th consecutive game since getting steamrolled in Jacksonville a year ago. The Bulldogs’ injury-riddled defense gave up 571 yards in that one, the most in coach Kirby Smart’s six seasons.
Georgia vowed to not let it happen again and responded with another demoralizing effort that might be its most impressive all season.
Florida managed no points, 11 first downs and 214 yards through three quarters, and it looked as if its decades-old, NCAA-record scoring streak might be in jeopardy down the stretch. But the Gators finally got on the scoreboard with 2:49 remaining, extending the streak to 418 games. They have scored in every outing since getting shut out by Auburn in 1988.
The late touchdown run by Emory Jones did little to negate Georgia’s mastery for three-plus hours on a cool, sun-drenched afternoon. All the empty seats on Florida’s side of TIAA Bank Field told the real story.
NEW ORLEANS — Desmond Ridder threw two touchdown pass to tight end Josh Whyle, and the Bearcats (8-0, 4-0 American Athletic Conference) beat the Green Wave (1-6, 0-4) to remain undefeated.
Jerome Ford rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown — his 14th this season — for Cincinnati. The Bearcats briefly trailed in the second quarter and led by just two points at halftime.
Ridder passed for 227 yards and three touchdowns to go with his 47 yards rushing, but he also was sacked in the end zone for a safety and threw an interception. Whyle caught four passes for 79 yards.
Tulane running back Tyjae Spears, coming back from a knee injury that wiped out his 2020 season, rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown.
NORMAN, Okla. — Caleb Williams threw for 402 yards and six touchdowns, and the Sooners (9-0, 6-0 Big 12) finally put together a complete game, rolling past the Red Raiders (5-4, 2-4).
The true freshman quarterback tied Kyler Murray and Landry Jones for the second-most touchdown passes in a game in school history. Baker Mayfield threw seven against Texas Tech in 2016.
Marvin Mims caught four passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns, and Mario Williams had five receptions for 100 yards and a score to help the Sooners extend their nation-leading winning streak to 17 games.
Donovan Smith passed for 192 yards for the Red Raiders in Sonny Cumbie’s first game as interim coach since Matt Wells was fired.
EUGENE, Ore. — Anthony Brown Jr. threw for 307 yards and three touchdowns, and the Ducks (7-1, 6-1 Pac-12) amassed a season-high 568 total yards in a victory over the Buffaloes (2-5, 1-4).
Travis Dye ran for two touchdowns and added a touchdown catch for Oregon, which extended its winning streak at Autzen Stadium to 17 games.
Brendon Lewis threw for 224 yards and three touchdowns for the Buffaloes, who were outmatched by the Ducks. Brenden Rice, son of San Francisco 49ers great Jerry Rice, had 102 yards receiving and a touchdown.
MADISON, Wis. — Graham Mertz scored on two quarterback sneaks and threw a touchdown pass to help the Badgers (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) defeat the Hawkeyes (6-2, 3-2) for their fourth consecutive victory.
Wisconsin forced three turnovers, produced six sacks and limited Iowa to 24 yards rushing in 30 carries. The Badgers maintained control of their destiny in the Big Ten West Division race and regained possession of the Heartland Trophy that goes to the winner of this annual matchup.
Iowa has been outscored 51-14 in its last two games after being ranked second in the nation just a couple of weeks ago. This was the Hawkeyes’ first game since a 24-7 home loss to Purdue on Oct. 16.
Wisconsin freshman Braelon Allen rushed for 104 yards in 20 attempts.
AUBURN, Ala. — Bo Nix passed for 276 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more scores for the Tigers (6-2, 4-1 SEC), and Auburn’s defense made a number of big stops to hold off the Rebels (6-2, 3-2).
Auburn remained the top challenger to No. 3 Alabama in the Western Division with Nix winning a quarterback duel with Heisman Trophy candidate Matt Corral.
Mississippi’s three-game winning streak ended after it squandered four second-half scoring chances, three with failed fourth-down passes in field-goal range. Plus Jaylin Simpson intercepted a pass in the end zone — only Corral’s second interception this season — midway through the fourth.
Nix completed 22 of 30 passes and ran for 30 yards. Tank Bigsby rushed for 140 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers. Jahcour Pearson caught seven passes for 135 yards for the Rebels.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Kyren Williams raced 91 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and the Fighting Irish (7-1) held off Sam Howell and the upset-minded Tar Heels (4-4) in a game that had more than 1,000 yards in offense.
Williams ran for a career-high 199 yards in 22 carries to help Notre Dame earn its third straight victory — and ruin the 400th college game for North Carolina Hall of Fame coach Mack Brown.
The Irish won despite being outgained by the Tar Heels in total yardage 554-523. But Notre Dame outrushed North Carolina 293-223.
Howell, who became the Tar Heels’ first quarterback with more than 10,000 passing yards, finished with 341 yards on 24-for-31 passing with one touchdown and one interception. He added another 101 yards in 18 carries, one a 31-yard touchdown run.
The Irish’s Jack Coan finished with 213 passing yards on 16-for-24 passing with one touchdown — a 21-yarder to Kevin Austin — and added a 21-yard running touchdown in the third quarter.
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Dillon Johnson ran for two touchdowns, and the Bulldogs (5-3, 3-2 SEC) scored 14 points off four turnovers in defeating the Wildcats (6-2, 4-2).
Mississippi State came up big with three interceptions of Will Levis and a fumble recovery. The Bulldogs turned a third-quarter fumble and pickoff into consecutive touchdowns to put the game out of reach.
Mississippi State’s Will Rogers set an SEC record for completion percentage with 30 or more attempts at 92%, going 36 for 39 for 344 yards and a touchdown.
Kentucky managed just 66 yards rushing in being outgained 438-216.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Sam Hartman continued his recent tear by accounting for five touchdowns to help the Demon Deacons (8-0, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) beat the Blue Devils (3-5, 0-4), giving Wake Forest its best start in program history.
Hartman threw for 402 yards and three touchdowns, including a 38-yarder to Jaquarii Roberson on the first possession. He also ran for 61 yards and two scores, including a 26-yarder, for the Demon Deacons.
It came a week after Hartman threw for five touchdowns and ran for a sixth score in a 70-56 victory over Army. That tied this year’s team for the best start in program history set in 1944, nine years before the formation of the ACC.
Now coach Dave Clawson’s bunch owns a new milestone in what is becoming a special season. Wake Forest finished with 677 total yards.
STILLWATER, Okla. — Spencer Sanders threw for 157 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 53 yards and a score, all in the first half, to lead the Cowboys (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) to a dominating victory over the Jayhawks (1-7, 0-5).
Jaylen Warren added 69 yards rushing in just nine carries and backup running back Dominic Richardson gained 79 yards and a touchdown in 11 rushes for Oklahoma State.
After suffering their first loss, 24-21 to Iowa State, last week, the Cowboys responded by dominating Kansas on both sides of the ball.
WACO, Texas — Baylor tight end Ben Sims had a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter before Abram Smith spun away for a 32-yard scamper to the end zone as the Bears (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) became the third consecutive team to overcome a double-digit deficit against the Longhorns (4-4, 2-3).
The handoff to the sweeping Sims for a score with 12:48 left put Baylor back ahead for the first time since the first quarter. Texas then had a failed fake punt attempt, setting up Smith’s nifty run three plays later in which he took a quick pitch left, reversing field after spinning away from a defender.
Texas was coming off its open date, which followed consecutive losses to No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 15 Oklahoma State in which the Longhorns led by at least two touchdowns before halftime both times.
PITTSBURGH — Miami freshman Tyler Van Dyke outdueled Heisman Trophy candidate Kenny Pickett, throwing for 426 yards and three touchdowns as the Hurricanes (4-4, 2-2 ACC) upset the Panthers (6-2, 3-1).
Van Dyke completed 31 of 41 passes for the three scores and an interception as Miami defeated a ranked opponent for a second straight week.
Pickett bolstered his Heisman Trophy resume by throwing for a school-record 519 yards and four touchdowns, but he also threw his second and third interceptions of the season, both of which led to huge momentum shifts.
Pitt remains in control of its destiny in the ACC Coastal Division, but any remote shot at crashing the College Football Playoff is long gone.
HOUSTON — Marcus Jones returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown with 17 seconds remaining to lift the Cougars (7-1, 4-1 American Athletic) past the Mustangs (7-1, 3-1) for Houston’s seventh straight victory.
After SMU tied it at 37 on a 45-yard field goal by Blake Mazza with 30 seconds left, Jones took the kickoff a the goal line and broke several tackles before breaking loose for the Cougars.
Tanner Mordecai had one last chance to tie it in the final seconds, but his pass into the end zone was knocked down.
Houston’s Clayton Tune threw for a career-high 412 yards and four touchdowns, Nathaniel Dell caught nine passes for 165 yards and three scores.
Jake Haener passed for 306 yards and a touchdown, Jordan Mims rushed for a career-high 186 yards and two scores, and the Bulldogs (7-2, 4-1 Mountain West) handed the Aztecs (7-1, 3-1) their first loss with a victory at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.
Fresno State raced out to a 20-0 second-quarter lead as it picked up its second win against a ranked team this season. The Bulldogs had 485 yards of total offense, ending San Diego State’s 29-game streak of holding opponents under 450 yards.
Haener completed 25 of 42 passes for his sixth 300-yard game this season. Mims had his second straight 100-yard game and became the first running back this season to hit the century mark against the Aztecs.
San Diego State’s Lucas Johnson had 280 yards of total offense. The senior quarterback was 14 for 31 for 220 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions along with 60 yards rushing. Greg Bell was held to 63 yards in 15 carries.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Jarret Doege threw three touchdown passes, Leddie Brown ran for two scores, and the Mountaineers (4-4, 2-3 Big 12) beat the Cyclones (5-3, 3-2).
West Virginia came alive on offense after averaging 20 points in its first four conference games.
Iowa State was missing leading tackler Mike Rose because of an undisclosed injury, and the conference’s top defense gave up a season-high 492 yards. The linebacker had started all 45 previous games in his career.
Doege completed 30 of 46 passes for 370 yards. He threw two interceptions, one on a deflected pass. Breece Hall rushed for 167 yards, including a 70-yard scoring run on the Cyclones’ third play from scrimmage.
PROVO, Utah — Tyler Allgeier rushed for a career-high 266 yards and five touchdowns, leading the Cougars (7-2) to a victory over the Cavaliers (6-3).
Jaren Hall threw for a career-high 349 yards and three touchdowns. Hall also ran for 42 yards and another score. BYU pulled away after scoring 21 points off three turnovers.
Brennan Armstrong threw for 329 and four touchdowns to lead Virginia, and he also tossed a pair of interceptions. Armstrong added 94 yards and two touchdowns in 11 carries. He left late in the fourth quarter after sustaining an apparent rib injury.
The loss ended the Cavaliers’ four-game winning streak. BYU and Virginia combined for 1,322 yards and 115 points.
TEMPE, Ariz. — Jayden de Laura accounted for three touchdowns, and the Cougars (5-4, 4-2 Pac-12) forced five turnovers in a win over the Sun Devils (5-3, 3-2).
Washington State, one of the nation’s best at creating takeaways, was at its ball-hawking best in the first half, forcing four turnovers. The Cougars’ offense capitalized, scoring 24 points after Arizona State turnovers for Washington State’s first win since coach Nick Rolovich was fired Oct. 18 for not complying with the state’s vaccination mandate.
The Sun Devils got off to an abysmal start coming off a bye week, turning it over on their opening three drives, including twice in the first three plays.
Jayden Daniels threw two interceptions and Arizona State lost three fumbles to suffer a second straight lackluster defeat that had fans inside Sun Devil Stadium booing throughout.
The worst part was the Sun Devils had an extra week to regroup after giving up 28 second-half points in a 35-21 loss to Utah on Oct. 16. They could have used another week off.
BERKELEY — Chase Garbers threw one of his three touchdown passes one play after California partially blocked a punt, and the Golden Bears (3-5, 2-3 Pac-12) beat the Beavers (5-3, 3-2).
The key point in the game came in the closing seconds of the third quarter with Cal leading by seven points.
Chance Nolan couldn’t connect with Trevon Bradford on a third-down pass, and Luke Loecher was sent out to punt.
Nick Alftin got a piece of the kick, and it went out of bounds one yard past the line of scrimmage. Garbers then went deep and connected on a 38-yard touchdown pass to Trevon Clark to make it 31-17 on the final play of the third quarter.
Oregon State lost for the second time in three games and fell a game behind rival Oregon in the Pac-12 North.
PALO ALTO — Dylan Morris threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan with 21 seconds remaining, lifting the Huskies (3-2, 4-4 Pac-12) past the Cardinal (2-4, 3-5).
Sean McGrew ran for 114 yards in 19 carries to pace Washington’s best game of the year running the ball. Cameron Davis added 99 yards in 18 attempts to help the Huskies pile up a season-high 229 yards on the ground.
Peyton Henry matched his career high with four field goals.
Stanford has lost three straight since knocking off then-No. 3 Oregon.
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