Stanford wallops USC
Ohio State is definitely headed to the Rose Bowl, but the Buckeyes shouldn't expect Southern Cal to join them.
No. 25 Stanford threw the Pac-10 season further out of kilter by jumping all over the No. 11 Trojans, 55-21, in Los Angeles yesterday afternoon.
KEITH SRAKOCIC / Associated Press
Pittsburgh's Jarred Holley picks off a Notre Dame pass in the first half. The Panthers posted a 27-22 victory at home.
Toby Gerhart rushed for 178 yards and three touchdowns as Stanford (7-3, 6-2) followed up on its 2007 upset at the Coliseum and kept itself in the conference race.
"It was just will. The offensive line just moved people, Gerhart said.
It was the most points ever allowed by the Trojans (7-3, 4-3), and the loss was Southern Cal's worst since a 51-0 defeat at home against Notre Dame in 1966.
"This isn't really what we've grown up watching SC football," said freshman quarterback Matt Barkley, who lost a fumble and had three passes intercepted.
Ohio State 27, Iowa 24 - Backup kicker Devin Barclay kicked a 39-yard field goal in overtime to give the No. 10 Buckeyes (9-2, 6-1) a win over the No. 15 Hawkeyes (9-2, 5-2) at home and send Ohio State to the Rose Bowl.
The Buckeyes clinched at least a share of their fifth straight Big Ten crown, as well as the conference's automatic BCS bid.
Iowa, which overcame a 24-10 deficit with just over 11 minutes left, lost its second straight game. James Vandenberg, filling in for the injured Ricky Stanzi at quarterback, was intercepted three times, the final time by the Buckeyes' Anderson Russell to end Iowa's only possession in overtime
Florida 24, South Carolina 14 - Tim Tebow tied the SEC touchdown record as the No. 1 Gators (10-0, 8-0) remained perfect with a victory over Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks in Columbia, S.C.
Down by 17-14, South Carolina (6-5, 3-5) drove 48 yards to Florida's 22. But defensive lineman Justin Trattou intercepted Stephen Garcia and brought it back 53 yards. Tebow cashed in the touchdown four plays later, a 1-yard burst that was the 53d of his SEC career to match LSU great Kevin Faulk.
Texas 47, Baylor 14 - Colt McCoy threw two touchdown passes to Jordan Shipley to help the No. 2 Longhorns (10-0, 6-0 Big Twelve) blow past Baylor (4-6, 1-5) in Waco, Texas. McCoy is 42-7 in his career, tying him with Georgia's David Greene for the most victories by a major-college quarterback.
Texas reached 10 wins for the ninth straight season, second only to Florida State's run of 14 consecutive 10-win seasons from 1987 to 2000.
Alabama 31, Mississippi State 3 - Mark Ingram rushed for 149 yards and two scores, and the Crimson Tide's fierce defense turned back the Bulldogs (4-6, 2-4 SEC) time and again as Alabama (10-0, 7-0 SEC) romped in Starkville, Miss.
The Tide's offense committed no turnovers or penalties.
Texas Christian 55, Utah 28 - The No. 16 Utes (8-2, 5-1 Mountain West) yielded their most points since 1996 as No. 4 TCU (10-0, 6-0) flattened them at home in Fort Worth.
Ed Wesley ran for 137 yards and a touchdown and Andy Dalton threw for 207 yards and a score for the Horned Frogs.
Boise State 63, Idaho 25 - Kellen Moore threw four touchdown passes to Austin Pettis and tied a career high with five overall, as the No. 6 Broncos (10-0, 5-0 WAC) overwhelmed the Vandals (7-4, 4-3) in Boise, Idaho. Moore has thrown 32 TD passes and just three interceptions.
Georgia Tech 49, Duke 10 - The No. 7 Yellow Jackets (10-1, 7-1) rushed for 306 yards as they clinched a spot in the ACC title game by routing the Blue Devils (5-5, 3-3) in Durham, N.C.
Pittsburgh 27, Notre Dame 22 - Jonathan Baldwin made two exceptional catches that lifted No. 8 Pitt (9-1) over the Fighting Irish (6-4) at home. Star receiver Golden Tate scored twice for Notre Dame.
Louisiana State 24, Louisiana Tech 16 - The Bulldogs (3-7), trying for their first win over LSU since 1904, took a 13-10 halftime lead but couldn't finish off the No. 9 Tigers (8-2) in Baton Rouge.
North Carolina 33, Miami 24 - Kendric Burney returned one of his three interceptions for a 77-yard touchdown, and Melvin Williams helped out after Burney fumbled his third pick, grabbing the ball and running it 44 yards for a score as the Tar Heels (7-3, 3-3 ACC) upset the No. 12 Hurricanes (7-3, 4-3) at home.
Central Florida 37, Houston 32 - Quarterback Brett Hodges and the Knights (6-4, 4-2 Conference USA) rallied from a two-TD deficit to outduel the explosive Case Keenum and the No. 13 Cougars (8-2, 4-2) in Orlando, Fla.
California 24, Arizona 16 - With star back Jahvid Best sidelined, Cal's Shane Vereen scored on a 61-yard run to seal a victory for the Golden Bears (7-3, 4-3 Pac-10) over the No. 18 Wildcats (6-3, 4-2) in Berkeley, Calif.
Virginia Tech 36, Maryland 9 - Tyrod Taylor threw for 268 yards and a career-high three touchdowns as the No. 20 Hokies (7-3, 4-2 ACC) coasted past the Terrapins (2-8, 1-5) in College Park, Md.
Wisconsin 45, Michigan 24 - The woeful Wolverines (5-6, 1-6 Big Ten) lost for the sixth time in seven games as the No. 21 Badgers (8-2, 5-2) got four touchdown passes and a TD sneak from Scott Tolzien at home in Madison.
Brigham Young 24, New Mexico 19 - Max Hall passed for two touchdowns and got his 29th win at BYU (8-2, 5-1 Mountain West) to match Ty Detmer's school record as the No. 22 Cougars outlasted the Lobos (0-10, 0-6) in Albuquerque, N.M.
Clemson 42, North Carolina State 23 - Heisman hopeful C.J. Spiller ran for a touchdown, caught a scoring pass, and threw one of his own to help the No. 24 Tigers (7-3, 5-2 ACC) beat the Wolfpack (4-6, 1-5) in Raleigh, N.C.
