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Perfect finish for TCU

Andy Dalton threw three touchdown passes before leaving with a minor elbow injury in the second quarter as No. 4 Texas Christian (12-0, 8-0 Mountain West) capped its second straight undefeated season with a second consecutive conference championship by demolishing lowly New Mexico, 66-17, in Albuquerque on Saturday.

Arkansas' Joe Adams hauls in a 39-yard TD pass over Louisana State defender Tyrann Mathieu.
Arkansas' Joe Adams hauls in a 39-yard TD pass over Louisana State defender Tyrann Mathieu.Read moreDAVID QUINN / Associated Press

Andy Dalton threw three touchdown passes before leaving with a minor elbow injury in the second quarter as No. 4 Texas Christian (12-0, 8-0 Mountain West) capped its second straight undefeated season with a second consecutive conference championship by demolishing lowly New Mexico, 66-17, in Albuquerque on Saturday.

The next stop for the BCS-busting Horned Frogs could very well be the Rose Bowl, if form holds next week across the college football landscape.

TCU had been jockeying with Boise State for a possible BCS appearance and got a major boost when Nevada knocked off the previously unbeaten Broncos on Friday night to clear the Frogs an easier path to Pasadena.

Of course, TCU coach Gary Patterson and his players hold out hope that top-ranked Oregon could lose next week to Oregon State, or No. 2 Auburn could be upset by South Carolina in the SEC title game.

Fullback Luke Shivers scored twice on short runs and reserve quarterback Casey Pachall passed for one TD and ran for another as the Frogs, as expected, dominated the Lobos (1-11, 1-7).

Wisconsin 70, Northwestern 23 - The fifth-ranked Badgers (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten) earned a share of the conference title with a rout of the Wildcats (7-5, 3-5) in Madison, Wis.

The Badgers appear to have the inside track on a Rose Bowl berth, which will be determined by the BCS rankings.

Montee Ball rushed for 178 yards and four touchdowns for the Badgers. Scott Tolzien was 15 of 19 for 230 yards and four TDs, including a pair to wide receiver Nick Toon.

Ohio State 37, Michigan 7 - Jordan Hall broke the game open with an 85-yard kickoff return and the Buckeyes' defense shut down the Wolverines' high-powered offense in Columbus, Ohio, for their seventh straight win in the 107-year rivalry.

The No. 8 Buckeyes (11-1, 7-1) picked up two celebration penalties after TDs but had a lot to celebrate: a share of a record-tying sixth straight Big Ten title and, most likely, a BCS bid.

Terrelle Pryor had two TD passes and Dan "Boom" Herron finished with 175 yards on 22 carries.

It was another stumble for Michigan (7-5, 3-5) under coach Rich Rodriguez, now 0-3 against the Buckeyes.

Ohio State players, dressed up in bright scarlet helmets and shoes for the game, were twice flagged for forming an "O" with their gloved hands while celebrating after TDs.

Stanford 38, Oregon State 0 - Andrew Luck threw four TD passes and the No. 7 Cardinal (11-1, 8-1 Pac-10) improved their BCS chances by trouncing the Beavers (5-6, 4-4) in Stanford, Calif.

Stanford needs to wait a week to learn its bowl fate, hoping for an at-large berth in the BCS with top-ranked Oregon having already wrapped up the Pac-10's automatic berth.

With Boise State and LSU losing, Stanford has a chance to move up from sixth to fourth in the BCS standings - guaranteeing a berth in one of the high-profile bowls.

While TCU has the inside track for the Rose Bowl, Stanford would be an option for the Fiesta, Orange or Sugar.

If the Cardinal don't finish in the top four, they could end up in the Alamo Bowl because they lack the strong following bowls look for as they try to sell out their stadiums.

Oklahoma 47, Oklahoma State 41 - Landry Jones matched the school record with 468 yards passing and threw two long touchdown passes in a wild finish to the Bedlam game as the No. 14 Sooners beat the No. 10 Cowboys in Stillwater, Okla., to forge a three-way tie atop the Big Twelve South.

Jones threw an 86-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Kenney then answered Justin Gilbert's kickoff return score for Oklahoma State (10-2, 6-2) with a 77-yarder to James Hanna 29 seconds later as Oklahoma (10-2, 6-2) survived to likely earn a spot in the Big Twelve title game.

The division will be decided based on who comes out ahead in the BCS ranking on Sunday between the two in-state rivals and Texas A&M. Oklahoma State came in ninth, with Oklahoma 13th and A&M 17th.

Arkansas 31, Louisiana State 23 - Ryan Mallett threw for 320 yards and three TDs as the No. 12 Razorbacks (10-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) made their case for the school's first BCS bowl game with a win over the No. 6 Tigers (10-2, 6-2) in Little Rock, Ark.

Arkansas likely still needs Auburn to win the SEC championship next week against South Carolina, but losses by Alabama and Boise State on Friday helped its case.

Minnesota 27, Iowa 24 - Duane Bennett's touchdown run with 4:31 left lifted the Golden Gophers (3-9, 2-6 Big Ten) to a victory over the 24th-ranked Hawkeyes (7-5, 4-4) in Minneapolis.

Iowa is one of four teams Minnesota plays for traveling trophies. The Gophers' seniors had to wait until their final game to get one, but they euphorically paraded the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy, a bronze pig, after the game.

"You only can dream and imagine things like that," said Minnesota QB Adam Weber.

Virginia Tech 37, Virginia 7 - Ryan Williams ran for two touchdowns and Tyrod Taylor threw for 176 yards and a touchdown as the No. 13 Hokies (10-2, 8-0 ACC) won their 10th consecutive game and seventh in a row over the Cavaliers (4-8, 1-7) in Blacksburg, Va.

Virginia Tech will face Florida State in the ACC championship game on Dec. 5.

Florida State 31, Florida 7 - Christian Ponder threw for three TDs to lead the No. 22 Seminoles (9-3) past the Gators (7-5) in Tallahassee, Fla.

South Carolina 29, Clemson 7 - Stephen Garcia threw for two touchdowns and the No. 18 Gamecocks (9-3) beat the Tigers (6-6) in Clemson, S.C.

Maryland 38, North Carolina State 31 - Danny O'Brien threw for 417 yards and four TDs, all to Torrey Smith, and the Terrapins (8-4, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) denied the No. 21 Wolfpack (8-4, 5-3) a spot in the conference title game with a win in College Park, Md.

Missouri 35, Kansas 7 - Blaine Gabbert directed scoring drives on his team's first two possessions as the No. 15 Tigers (10-2, 6-2 Big Twelve) beat the Jayhawks (3-9, 1-7) in Kansas City.

Utah 17, Brigham Young 16 - Brandon Burton blocked a last-second field goal to lift the Pacific Ten-bound No. 23 Utes (10-2, 7-1 Mountain West Conference) to a wild win over the Cougars (6-6, 5-2) in Salt Lake City, in the schools' final game as conference rivals.

Mississippi State 31, Mississippi 23 - Chris Relf threw for 288 yards and three TDs as the No. 25 Bulldogs State (8-4, 4-4 SEC) topped the Rebels (4-8, 1-7) for an Egg Bowl win in Oxford, Miss.