NO, TEAM, REC, THIS WEEK, SYNOPSIS, NEXT GAME*
1., Ohio State, 8-0, W 44-3 vs. Indiana (4-4), Troy Smith’s 4 TD passes gave him 21 for season, exceeded by only 2 other OSU QBs: Bobby Hoying 29 (1995), Joe Germaine 25 (’98)., vs. Minnesota, 2:30
2., Michigan, 8-0, W 20-6 vs. Iowa (5-3), Punishing performance from nation’s No. 7 defense. Iowa QB Drew Tate: “They are without question the best defense we’ve played.”, vs. Northwestern, 11 a.m.
3., USC, 6-0, Idle, Soph. LB Rey Maualuga (36 tackles) 1 of 10 semifinalists for Butkus Award; last Trojan to win award was Chris Claiborne in 1998., at Oregon State, 2:30
4., West Virginia, 7-0, W 37-11 at UConn (3-4), Fri, Steve Slaton ran for 128 yds, 56-yd TD–longest of career. QB Pat White ran for 102 yds, TD and threw 52-yd TD in 14th win in row., N2 at #6 Louisville, 6:30
5., Texas, 7-1, W 22-20 at #17 Neb. (6-2), Forced fumble at Nebraska 44 to set up Ryan Bailey’s winning FG with :23 to go. Won 16th in row on road, 19th straight in Big 12., at Texas Tech, 1
6, Louisville, 7-0, W 28-13 at Syracuse (3-5), On last drive, Kolby Smith ran for 77 yds, TD. Syracuse coach Greg Robinson: “He busted that run. That made you want to vomit.”, N2 vs. #4 West Virginia, 6:30
7., Tennessee, 6-1, W 16-13 vs. Alabama (5-3), Scored 10 in 4th for win. Nearly held out of end zone for 1st time this season before Arian Foster’s winning 1-yd plunge with 3:28 left., at South Carolina, 6:45
8., Auburn, 7-1, W 38-13 vs. Tulane (2-5), Freshman Ben Tate ran for 156 yds, TD; he had only 119 yds entering game. Tulane lost 31st in row to ranked opp. dating to 1982., at Mississippi, 11:30 a.m.
9., Florida, 6-1, Idle, Became 4th No. 2 team to fall after last week’s loss at Auburn. Next: Georgia, which ended 2-game skid–barely, 27-24 over Miss. State., vs. Georgia, 2:30
10., Notre Dame, 6-1, W 20-17 vs. UCLA (4-3), Jeff Samardzija’s grab with :27 left tied school mark of 22 career TD catches (Derrick Mayes ’95). 3rd time ND won with TD in last :30., at Navy, 11 a.m.
11., California, 7-1, W 31-24 OT vs. Wash. (4-4), Marshawn Lynch ran for 150 yds and 2 TDs, including 22-ydr in OT. After scoring 192 pts in previous 6 1st halves, Cal had only 2 FGs., N4 vs. UCLA, 7
12, Clemson, 7-1, W 31-7 vs. #13 Ga. Tech (5-2), James Davis ran for 2 TDs, career-high 216 yds; freshman C.J. Spiller scored 2 50-yard TDs (run, catch) in surprisingly easy victory., at Virginia Tech, 6:45
13., Georgia Tech, 5-2, L 31-7 at #12 Clemson (7-1), Star WR Calvin Johnson held without catch for 1st time in career. Outgained by Clemson 426 to 205. Snapped 5-game win streak., vs. Miami, 2:30
14., LSU, 6-2, W 38-6 vs. Fresno State (1-6), Buster Davis 77-yd punt return for score, 30-yard TD catch. Dwayne Bowe caught 21st career TD, tying Michael Clayton’s school mark., N4 at #7 Tennessee, TBA
15., Arkansas, 6-1, W 38-3 vs. Mississippi (2-6), Felix Jones took opening KO 100 yds for TD. Led 14-0 after 1st 5:17. Coach Houston Nutt on 4-0 SEC record: “We’re in the driver’s seat.”, vs. Louisiana-Monroe, 6
16., Oregon, 5-2, L 34-23 at Wash. St. (5-3), Down 27-3 in 4th; QB Brady Leaf (2 TDs) spelled Dennis Dixon (2 INTs). WSU’s Dwight Tardy (145 yds, TD): “We hit them in the mouth.”, vs. Portland State, 6
17., Nebraska, 6-2, L 22-20 vs. #5 Texas (7-1), RB Marlon Lucky threw 25-yard TD for 20-19 lead with 4:54 left. Lost 6th of 7 to ‘Horns. Texas coach Mack Brown: “Nebraska is back.”, at Oklahoma State, 2:30
18., Boise State, 8-0, W 42-26 at Idaho (4-4), Ian Johnson ran for 183 yds, 4 TDs–3 in 2nd half after Idaho closed within 21-17 early in 3rd. He has 1,181 yds, 18 scores this season., N1 vs. Fresno State, 7
19., Rutgers, 7-0, W 20-10 at Pittsburgh (6-2), Ray Rice ran for 225 yds on 39 carries, nearly outgaining Pitt’s entire offense (236 yds). His 1-yd TD plunge iced game with 11:13 to go., O29 vs. Connecticut, 7
20., Oklahoma, 5-2, W 24-3 vs. Colorado (1-7), Allen Patrick, replacing injured Adrian Peterson, ran for 110 yards, 4th-qtr TD on 35 carries–1st to top 100 yds vs. Buffaloes this season., at #24 Missouri, 11 a.m.
21., Wisconsin, 7-1, W 24-3 at Purdue (5-3), P.J. Hill ran for 161 yds, 2 TDs on 29 carries. Purdue coach Joe Tiller: “He’s a good player, he’s a strong player, he’s a physical player.”, vs. Illinois, 11 a.m.
22., Boston College, 6-1, W 24-19 at Florida St. (4-3), L.V. Whitworth’s 6-yd run, DeJuan Tribble’s 36-yd INT return in last :51 of 1st half gave Eagles 21-10 lead. Held FSU to 28 yds rushing., vs. Buffalo, noon
23., Texas A&M, 7-1, W 34-33 OT at Okla. St. (4-3), Stephen McGee’s 2-yd TD pass to TE Joey Thomas forced OT with :10 left in regulation, Red Bryant blocked PAT attempt in OT to win it., at Baylor, 6
24., Missouri, 7-1, W 41-21 vs. Kansas St. (4-4), Chase Daniel threw 4 TDs, has team-record 19 this season. Tigers snapped 13-game skid to K-State; last win in series was in ’92., vs. #20 Oklahoma, 11 a.m.
25., Wake Forest, 6-1, Idle, Deacons ranked for 1st time since 2003; bowl-eligible for 1st time since 2002. Highest-ever ranking was No. 12 on Nov. 6, 1944., at North Carolina, 2:30
*–Saturday unless noted
———-
Compiled by Ed Cavanaugh
