Saturday Top 25 Capsules.
(5) TEXAS 45, (1) OKLAHOMA 35

DALLAS Texas had taken somewhat of a back seat to Oklahoma and Missouri in the Big 12 Conference. That is no longer the case.

Cody Johnson rushed for two touchdowns in the final 7 1/2 minutes as the fifth-ranked Longhorns upset top-ranked Oklahoma, 45-35, to emerge as legitimate national championship contenders.

Oklahoma (5-1, 1-1 Big 12 South) became the second No. 1 team to lose this season, joining Southern California.

Sam Bradford tied a career high with five touchdown passes for Oklahoma. But the Sooners were hurt when linebacker Ryan Reynolds, their leading tackler, left in the third quarter with a knee injury and did not return.

The Longhorns (6-0, 2-0 Big 12 South), who battled back from deficits of 21-10 and 28-20, had more success moving the ball after Reynolds was injured.

Texas took the lead for good at 38-35 on Johnsons 1-yard TD run with 7:37 remaining. Johnson then provided insurance with a 2-yard score 3 1/2 minutes later.

Colt McCoy completed 28-of-35 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown as Texas defeated Oklahoma for the third time in the last four meetings.

In a game that featured a little bit of everything, it appeared that the acting of Oklahoma punter Mike Knell could turn out to be the difference.

After Texas took its first lead, 30-28, on Hunter Lawrences 28-yard field goal with 64 seconds left in the third quarter, the Longhorns forced the Sooners into a punt on the following possession.

But in a performance worthy of an Academy award, Knells acting drew a roughing-the-kicker penalty, even though replays showed that he was not touched. Knell suffered an apparent hamstring injury on the play without any contact being made, although he later returned.

Oklahoma took advantage of the questionable call, grabbing a 35-30 lead on Bradfords 14-yard TD pass to Manuel Johnson with 11:42 remaining.

But the Longhorns answered with an eight-play, 74-yard scoring drive that consumed just over four minutes.

Bradford had another spectacular game, completing 28-of-39 passes for 387 yards, the sixth straight time he has surpassed 300 yards this season.

However, the Longhorns were able to get more pressure on him in the fourth quarter. After Johnsons 1-yard score put Texas back ahead, the Longhorns forced a three-and-out.

The Longhorns then put away the contest as Chris Ogbonnayas 62-yard burst down to the 2-yard line set up Johnsons second touchdown two plays later.

(12) FLORIDA 51, (3) LSU 21

GAINESVILLE, Florida The only pain inflicted was the beating Tim Tebow and Florida administered to Louisiana State.

The 12th-ranked Gators stopped the third-ranked Tigers in an Southeastern Conference battle, 51-21, as the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and Percy Harvin put on a show in the first quarter and used a second-half surge to turn a close game into a romp.

A week that started with LSUs Ricky Jean-Francois saying the Tigers were targeting Tebow ended with the quarterback and the Gators blasting them from the unbeaten ranks.

Tebow, who was 14-of-21 for 210 yards and two touchdowns, and Harvin hooked up for two scoring passes as Florida roared to a 17-0 lead after 15 minutes. The first connection was 70 yards and the second was 7.

LSU was limited to four total yards in the first quarter, but mounted a rally at the end of the first half. Jarrett Lee found Chris Mitchell with a 6-yard pass to make the deficit 20-7 at intermission.

The Tigers (4-1, 2-1 SEC West) opened the second half with a 12-play, 80-yard drive that ate up almost seven minutes before Andrew Hatch scored on a 3-yard run.

Just as it appeared the Gators (5-1, 3-1 East) were reeling, Tebow led an eight-play, 67-yard drive that he capped with a 2-yard run on a beautifully designed play. Tebow appeared to be headed right but reversed his direction with a pivot step and rolled around the left side and into the end zone untouched to make it 27-14.

The Gators opened the gap to 34-14 when Jeffrey Demps rushed 42 yards for a score with a minute left in the third quarter.

Brandon Spikes intercepted Lee 12 seconds into the fourth quarter and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown to make it 41-14.

(6) PENN STATE 48, (24) WISCONSIN 7

MADISON, Wisconsin Darryl Clark threw a touchdown pass and rushed for two scores as sixth-ranked Penn State routed No. 24 Wisconsin, 48-7, in a Big Ten Conference blowout.

Clark completed 16-of-25 attempts for 244 yards for the Nittany Lions (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten), who are off to their best start since 1999.

After a slow first quarter, Penn State pulled away in the second to take a 24-7 halftime lead. Evan Royster scored on a 2-yard run with 11 minutes remaining in the first half, and Derrick Williams reeled off a 63-yard TD on a punt return to give the Nittany Lions a 17-0 cushion just 36 seconds later.

Quarterback Allan Evridge scored on a 5-yard run late in the first half to provide the only touchdown for the reeling Badgers (3-3, 0-3), who have lost consecutive home games for the first time since the 2002 season.

(17) OKLAHOMA STATE 28, (2) MISSOURI 23

COLUMBIA, Missouri Zac Robinson threw two touchdowns and ran for another, and Patrick Lavine came up with a crucial late interception as 17th-ranked Oklahoma State stunned No. 2 Missouri, 28-23.

Robinson completed 19-of-28 passes for 214 yards and hit Damian Davis for a 31-yard TD that put the Cowboys up, 28-17, with 6:30 left.

Kendall Hunter ran for 154 yards and a score for the Cowboys (6-0, 2-0 Big 12 South), who stymied the second-ranked offense in the Football Subdivision.

Heisman Trophy candidate Chase Daniel led an eight-play, 85-yard TD drive that cut Missouris deficit to 28-23, and the Tigers got ball back with 2:43 left.

But Lavine made a diving interception, sealing the win. It was the third interception of the game for Daniel, who completed 39-of-52 passes for 390 yards for Missouri (5-1, 1-1 Big 12 North), which entered the game averaging 54.2 points.

(19) MICHIGAN STATE 37, (22) NORTHWESTERN 20

EVANSTON, Illinois Michigan State used a big defensive effort to knock Big Ten Conference rival Northwestern from the ranks of the unbeaten.

The 19th-ranked Spartans forced three turnovers and Javon Ringer ran for two touchdowns as Michigan State upended the 22nd-ranked Wildcats, 37-20.

The Spartans (6-1, 3-0 Big Ten) convert their turnovers into points. After Michigan State safety Danny Fortener returned a pick 21 yards into Northwestern territory, it took the offense just four plays to reach the end zone, as Ringer dashed 13 yards to make it 17-0.

After C.J. Bacher threw his second interception midway through the second quarter, Brian Hoyer found fullback Andrew Hawken for a 7-yard score to make it 24-7.

Ringer, the nations top rusher, finished with 124 yards on 35 carries. The senior workhorse now has 1,112 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, leading the country in both categories.

Northwestern (5-1, 1-1) piled up 459 yards of total offense.

(7) TEXAS TECH 37, NEBRASKA 31 (OT)

LUBBOCK, Texas Nebraska kept Texas Techs vaunted offense off the field most of the day. But the Red Raiders had to get the ball in overtime.

Eric Morris scored on a 1-yard touchdown run as seventh-ranked Texas Tech escaped with a 37-31 overtime victory over Nebraska in a Big 12 Conference thriller.

The Cornhuskers dominated time of possession throughout regulation, holding the ball for 40:12 and running 80 offensive plays compared to 46 for the Red Raiders.

But Graham Harrell connected with Baron Batch on a screen pass down to the 1-yard line on the first play of overtime, and Morris scampered into the end zone on an end around three plays later.

Nebraska (3-3, 0-2 Big 12 North) blocked the extra point, giving it a chance to pull the upset against one of the nations most potent offenses. But following an incomplete pass on first down, Joe Ganz was intercepted by Jamar Wall to seal the dramatic win for Texas Tech.

Harrell and Michael Crabtree hooked up for two touchdowns, giving the sophomore wideout a school-record 32 career touchdown receptions. Jarrett Hicks held the previous mark with 30.

(11) OHIO STATE 16, PURDUE 3

COLUMBUS, Ohio Etienne Sabino scored on a blocked punt return as 11th-ranked Ohio State outlasted offensively-challenged Purdue, 16-3, in a Big Ten Conference slugfest.

Sabino scored the Buckeyes only touchdown just over three minutes into the contest when he scooped up Chris Summers blocked punt attempt and returned it 19 yards.

Chris Beanie Wells rushed for 95 yards and Ryan Pretorius kicked two field goals for the Buckeyes (6-1, 3-0 Big Ten), who have won their last three meetings with the Boilermakers.

Curtis Painter passed for 228 yards for Purdue (2-4, 0-2), which managed just 296 yards of total offense.

ARKANSAS 25, (23) AUBURN 22

AUBURN, Alabama Michael Smith busted a long touchdown run and No. 23 Auburns offensive woes continued in a 25-22 loss to Arkansas in a Southeastern Conference shocker.

Smith broke loose for a 63-yard scamper with 9:13 to play to give Arkansas a 25-20 lead.

The Razorbacks failed on their two-point conversion, meaning Auburn could have won the game with a TD. But the Tigers came up short when presented with the chance.

The Tigers (4-3, 2-3 SEC West) had a 1st-and-goal from the 5 with 2:26 to play. Quarterback Kodi Burns picked up one yard on first down and then threw three straight incompletions to give the ball back to the Razorbacks.

Arkansas (3-3, 1-2) gave up a safety rather than punt from its own end zone, and Auburn got the ball back at its 38 with 55 seconds left. But Burns was intercepted on second down by safety Matt Harris, and the Razorbacks ran out the clock.

MISSISSIPPI ST 17, (14) VANDERBILT 14

STARKVILLE, Mississippi Vanderbilt has not been 6-0 since 1928. The Mississippi State defense made sure that streak would last another year at least.

DeMon Glanton and linebacker Karlin Brown both made key interceptions and the Bulldogs defense was stifling en route to a 17-14 Southeastern Conference victory over the 14th-ranked Commodores.

Anthony Dixon rushed for 105 yards and Tyson Lee tossed a touchdown for Mississippi State (2-4, 1-2 SEC West), which held Vanderbilt to just 109 yards from scrimmage.

Mackenzi Adams replaced Chris Nickson at quarterback early in the fourth quarter and led Vanderbilt (5-1, 3-1 East) on a scoring drive. But Adams, who was the hero in last weeks 14-13 win over Auburn, was intercepted by Brown on a potential game-winning drive.

(10) GEORGIA 26, TENNESSEE 14

ATHENS, Georgia Knowshon Moreno rushed for over 100 yards and Blair Walsh kicked four field goals to lead No. 10 Georgia to a 26-14 victory over Tennessee in a Southeastern Conference matchup.

Coming off a much-needed bye week after a deflating home loss to Alabama, the Bulldogs (5-1, 2-1 SEC East) avenged a 35-14 defeat to the Volunteers last season that kept them out of the SEC title game and prevented them from earning a shot at the national championship.

Moreno was limited to 34 yards against Alabama, the second-lowest total of his career. He finished with 101 on 27 carries, as Georgia out-rushed Tennessee, 151-1.

Walsh kicked field goals of 34, 20, 41 and 28 yards, his last capping a 17-play, 76-yard drive that chewed up 11 minutes in the fourth quarter and finished the scoring.

(15) KANSAS 30, COLORADO 14

LAWRENCE, Kansas Jake Sharp ran for three touchdowns, including a pair in the fourth quarter, leading Kansas to a 30-14 Big 12 Conference victory over Colorado.

With the Jayhawks (5-1, 2-0 Big 12 North) leading, 16-14, Sharp scored on runs of 8 and 7 yards in the early stages of the fourth quarter to blow the game open.

Sharp, who also opened Kansas scoring with a 1-yard run in the second quarter, finished with 119 yards on 31 carries.

Colorado (3-3, 0-2) opened the scoring with just over three minutes left in the first quarter when Cody Hawkins connected with Cody Crawford for an 11-yard score.

(9) USC 28, ARIZONA STATE 0

LOS ANGELES Mark Sanchez tossed a touchdown and rushed for another as No. 9 Southern California defeated Arizona State, 28-0, in a Pac-10 Conference matchup.

Sanchez was intercepted three times and Joe McKnight rushed for 143 yards on 11 carries for the Trojans (4-1, 2-1 Pac-10), who overcame five turnovers to post their first shutout since last October 20 against Notre Dame.

USC took a 21-0 lead into the break after cornerback Kevin Thomas returned an interception 45 yards for a score with 4:56 remaining in the half.

Sanchez capped the Trojans opening drive with a 1-yard TD rush and found Damian Williams for a 4-yard score in the second quarter to provide a 14-0 cushion.

(8) BYU 21, NEW MEXICO 3

PROVO, Utah Max Hall threw three touchdown passes as eighth-ranked Brigham Young overcame a poor first half to defeat Mountain West Conference rival New Mexico, 21-3.

Hall completed 22-of-34 passes for 258 yards to pace BYU (6-0, 2-0 MWC) to its 16th consecutive win – the longest active streak in the country.

Halls favorite target was Austin Collie, who hauled in nine receptions for 154 yards and a TD.

(13) UTAH 40, WYOMING 7

LARAMIE, Wyoming Despite its weakest offensive showing of the season, Utah had no trouble dispatching lowly Wyoming.

The 13th-ranked Utes continued their march toward another potential BCS bowl with a 40-7 Mountain West Conference victory over the Cowboys.

The high-powered Utes (7-0, 3-0 Mountain West Conference) couldnt get much going on the offensive side of the ball, but found plenty of other ways to score. Less than five minutes into the contest, cornerback Sean Smith intercepted a tipped pass and ran it back 25 yards for the games opening touchdown.

(16) BOISE STATE 24, SOUTHERN MISS 7

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi Kellen Moore threw for 178 yards and three touchdowns as 16th-ranked Boise State cruised by Southern Mississippi, 24-7.

The redshirt freshman quarterback completed 22-of-31 passes and threw one interception.

Moore threw all three scores in the second quarter, completing two to Austin Pettis. Jeremy Childs also caught a 28-yard touchdown pass for Boise State (6-0).

Damion Fletcher ran for 69 yards and a touchdown to lead the Golden Eagles (2-4).

Posted on October 12th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: College football news, NCAA college football