Top-25 College Football Game Capsules

Tuscaloosa, AL (SportsNetwork.com) – A.J. McCarron threw three touchdown passes and Kenyan Drake had a pair of scoring runs as top-ranked Alabama breezed to a 52-0 victory over Arkansas to remain undefeated. McCarron completed 15-of-21 throws for 180 yards without an interception before being pulled with the Crimson Tide (7-0, 4-0 SEC) up 42-0 midway through the third quarter. Drake amassed 104 yards on just eight carries to help Alabama pile up 352 yards on the ground, 96 more than the overmatched Razorbacks totaled on offense for the game. Derrick Henry added 111 yards on only six rushes, which included an 80-yard touchdown in the final minute that put the finishing touches on the rout, with T.J. Yeldon contributing 88 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts. Arkansas (3-5, 0-4), coming off a 52-7 throttling at home by South Carolina last week, wasn’t competitive either in its showdown with the two-time defending BCS champions and was dealt its fifth consecutive defeat overall. Razorbacks quarterback Brandon Allen hit on just 7-of-25 passes for 91 yards and was intercepted twice by Alabama’s fierce defense, which has surrendered a mere 16 points over its last five outings.

Final Score: (2) Oregon 62, Washington State 38

Eugene, OR (SportsNetwork.com) – Oregon sure looked pretty in pink. Marcus Mariota threw for 327 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score in the second-ranked Ducks’ 62-38 win over Washington State. The Ducks wore pink helmets, cleats and socks for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Oregon overcame the excessive passing of the Cougars’ Connor Halliday, who threw for 557 yards and four touchdowns to go with four interceptions on 58-of-89 passing. His pass attempts broke the FBS record of 83 set by Drew Brees in October of 1998.

Final Score: (5) Florida State 51, (3) Clemson 7

Clemson, SC (SportsNetwork.com) – It was the showcase game the Atlantic Coast Conference had been yearning for. It was completely one sided. Star freshman Jameis Winston’s Heisman hopes just skyrocketed. Winston threw for 444 yards and three touchdowns in No. 5 Florida State’s 51-14 rout of third- ranked Clemson in the ACC’s first top-five showdown in eight years. Winston was 22-of-34 passing and added a rushing score for the Seminoles (6-0, 4-0 ACC), who jumped out to a 24-7 halftime lead. Rashad Greene caught eight passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns, Nick O’Leary hauled in five receptions for 161 yards and Devonta Freeman ran for 84 yards and a touchdown in the triumph. Tajh Boyd completed 17-of-37 throws for 156 yards and a touchdown to go with two interceptions for Clemson (6-1, 4-1).

Final Score: (4) Ohio State 34, Iowa 24

Columbus, OH (SportsNetwork.com) – Braxton Miller threw a pair of touchdown passes and Carlos Hyde rushed for two scores as fourth-ranked Ohio State remained unbeaten under Urban Meyer with a 34-24 win over Iowa in Big Ten action Saturday. Miller efficiently moved the Ohio State (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten) offense, completing 22-of-27 passes for 222 yards. He also carried 18 times for 102 yards, while Hyde rushed 24 times for 149. Devin Smith and Corey Brown both had touchdown receptions for the Buckeyes, who extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 19 games. Iowa (4-3, 1-2) dropped its fifth straight game to OSU as Jake Rudock passed for 245 yards and three scores. Jake Duzey, C.J. Fiedorowicz and Kevonte Martin-Manley caught touchdown passes. Damon Bullock and Mark Weisman both rushed 10 times for 56 and 52 yards, respectively.

Final Score: Ole Miss 27, (6) LSU 24

Oxford, MS (SportsNetwork.com) – Even with a depleted defense, Ole Miss got its top-10 win. Andrew Ritter’s 41-yard field goal with two seconds remaining lifted the Rebels to a 27-24 triumph over No. 6 LSU. The Tigers overcame a 17-0 second-half deficit and tied the game at 24-24 with 3:19 left after Jarvis Landry hauled in a 4-yard TD pass from Zach Mettenberger. Unfazed, the Rebels’ Bo Wallace led his troops down the field. Beginning the trek at the 15-yard line, Wallace scrambled for seven yards on a 3rd-and-6 before later converting a 3rd-and-11 with a 14-yard strike to Ja- Mes Logan. The Rebels moved across midfield following a Wallace 10-yard run and I’Tavius Mathers’ 12-yard rush put Ole Miss in field-goal range at the LSU 30. Ritter snuck his kick just inside the right upright four plays later. The Rebels (4-3, 2-3 SEC) had lost three straight tilts coming in, including two against top-10 squads — a 25-0 defeat at top-ranked Alabama on Sept. 28 and a last-second 41-38 loss to then-No. 9 Texas A&M last Saturday. Ole Miss linebacker and leading tackler Serderius Bryant (concussion) and star freshman defensive end (hamstring) were among a plethora of defensive players who missed Saturday’s tilt. Wallace was 30-of-39 for 346 yards, while Jaylen Walton carried the ball 18 times for 103 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. Zach Mettenberger completed 19-of-33 passes for 274 yards and a touchdown, but tossed three critical interceptions for LSU (6-2, 3-2), which joined Texas A&M, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina as ranked SEC teams to drop games Saturday. Landry had seven receptions for 121 yards and a score in defeat.

Final Score: (24) Auburn 45, (7) Texas A&M 41

College Station, TX (SportsNetwork.com) – Tre Mason scored a go-ahead 5-yard touchdown with 1:19 remaining and the Auburn defense denied Johnny Manziel’s late comeback bid, as the 24th ranked Tigers edged No. 7 Texas A&M, 45-41, on Saturday at Kyle Field. Down by four, Manziel moved the Aggies (5-2, 2-2 SEC) inside the Auburn 20 with a pair of completions to Mike Evans, but on 4th- and-13 from the 21-yard line, Manziel was sacked for a 22-yard loss to seal the outcome.

Final Score: (13) Stanford 24, (9) UCLA 10

Stanford, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfield’s catch. Catch? More like an acrobatic stunt. Whitfield’s one-handed, 30-yard touchdown catch between two defenders helped No. 13 Stanford top previously unbeaten UCLA 24-10 on Saturday to avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time in four years. The catch gave Stanford a 10-3 lead in the third quarter after a punt-filled first half. It’s sure to make all the highlight reels. Whitfield — with Ishmael Adams draped on his back — leapt to grab the ball with his right hand, cradling it into his body as he fell for the touchdown. The catch was so good — Whitfield was turned sideways, the right side of his body facing the goal line — that another UCLA corner streaked in behind him with his arms outstretched, expecting an interception. All Anthony Jefferson found was air, though, as Stanford (6-1, 4-1 Pac-12) took the lead. The Cardinal had a 13-game winning streak snapped in a 27-21 loss at Utah last week and faced the possibility of two straight defeats for the first time since losses to Oregon State and Arizona in October 2009. Instead, they celebrated homecoming with their 13th straight home win.

Final Score: Tennessee 23, (11) South Carolina 21

Knoxville, TN (SportsNetwork.com) – Michael Palardy buried a 19-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Tennessee Volunteers to a 23-21 victory over the 11th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks in an SEC Eastern Division battle on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. Trailing by one with 2:48 remaining in the game, Tennessee took over at its own 35-yard line. Facing 3rd-and-10 early in the drive, Justin Worley heaved a deep ball down the left sideline for Marquez North, who made a spectacular one-handed grab with a defender draped all over him for a 39-yard gain down to the South Carolina 26. With the Gamecocks left with just one timeout, Marlin Lane carried the ball four straight times, including a 14-yard pickup down to the 2-yard line with 27 seconds left. Tennessee (4-3, 1-2 SEC) then ran the clock down before Worley spiked the ball with three seconds left to set up Palardy’s game- winning kick.

Final Score: (12) Baylor 71, Iowa State 7

Waco, TX (SportsNetwork.com) – Bryce Petty threw for 343 yards and a pair of first half touchdowns as No. 12 Baylor routed the Iowa State Cyclones, 71-7, on homecoming at Floyd Casey Stadium. Petty completed 23-of-31 before building a comfortable lead and giving way to Seth Russell, who went 5-of-7 for 39 yards. Both quarterbacks ran for a score. Lache Seastrunk ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns and Antwan Goodley hauled in 11 catches for 182 yards and two scores. The Bears (6-0, 3-0 Big 12), who cracked the 70-point mark for the fifth time this season, gained 715 yards of total offense while holding ISU to just 173. Baylor is 6-0 for the sixth time in program history and first time since 1980. Sam B. Richardson and Grant Rohach split time under center for Iowa State (1-5, 0-3) with minimal success. Richardson completed 7-of-14 for 68 yards and an interception, while Rohach went 8- for-13 for 65 yards, a touchdown and a pick.

Final Score: (14) Missouri 36, (22) Florida 17

Columbia, MO (SportsNetwork.com) – Freshman Maty Mauk made his first start for Missouri a memorable one, throwing for 295 yards and a touchdown while adding another score on the ground to guide the 14th-ranked Tigers to a 36-17 victory over No. 22 Florida at Faurot Field. Mauk was pressed into duty after starting quarterback James Franklin sustained a shoulder injury in last week’s win over Georgia that will leave him sidelined for the next couple weeks. Mauk finished an efficient 18-of-36 passing with an interception, while Henry Josey racked up 136 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries for the Tigers (7-0, 3-0 SEC), who hold a two-game lead in the loss column atop the SEC Eastern Division after both Georgia and South Carolina suffered setbacks on Saturday.

Final Score: Vanderbilt 31, (15) Georgia 27

Nashville, TN (SportsNetwork.com) – Jerron Seymour scored on a 13-yard run to cap a 17-point fourth quarter, as Vanderbilt rallied to claim a 31-27 upset of 15th-ranked Georgia. Vanderbilt took advantage of three huge Georgia mistakes in the second half to fuel the comeback, earning its first win over a ranked team since 2008 against Auburn. The Commodores (4-3, 1-3 SEC) had lost 17 straight games to ranked opposition and also snapped a 10-game home losing streak to Georgia, beating the Bulldogs at Vanderbilt Stadium for the first time since a 27-25 triumph in 1991. Georgia (4-3, 3-2) was coming off a 41-26 home loss against Missouri last week and has dropped two straight conference games for the first time since the 2010 season.

Final Score: (16) Texas Tech 37, West Virginia 27

Morgantown, WV (SportsNetwork.com) – Kenny Williams scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground in the second half, as the 16th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders rallied past the West Virginia Mountaineers 37-27 on Saturday. Williams carried the ball 16 times for 58 yards and caught five passes for 62 yards for the Red Raiders (7-0, 4-0 Big 12), who are 7-0 for the first time since the 2008 season. Davis Webb completed 36-of-50 passes for 462 yards and two touchdowns. Jace Amaro caught nine passes for 136 yards and two scores and Bradley Marquez had eight catches for 112 yards. Clint Trickett connected on 27-of-43 passes for 254 yards and one touchdown for the Mountaineers (3-4, 1-3), who have dropped two in a row since a win over then-No. 11 Oklahoma State on Sept. 28.

Final Score: (17) Fresno State 38, UNLV 14

Fresno, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Derek Carr threw four touchdown passes, all to Davante Adams, as No. 17 Fresno State rolled to a 38-14 win over UNLV on Saturday. Carr finished 33-for-46 for 412 yards and Adams caught eight passes for 221 yards for the Bulldogs (6-0, 3-0 MWC), who matched the best start in school history with the win. In 2001, Carr’s brother, David, also led the team to a 6-0 start. Caleb Herring completed 27-of-42 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown and Shaquille Murray-Lawrence carried the ball three times for 79 yards and a score for the Rebels (4-3, 2-1), who had their four-game winning streak snapped. It was the school’s longest streak since Randall Cunningham led the Rebels to seven straight wins in 1984.

Final Score: (18) Oklahoma 34, Kansas 19

Lawrence, KS (SportsNetwork.com) – The 18th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners stayed perfect in games immediately following the Red River Rivalry under the guidance of Bob Stoops. Blake Bell threw two touchdown passes in the Sooners’ 34-19 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday. Bell completed 15-of-25 passes for 131 yards and an interception for the Sooners (6-1, 3-1 Big 12), who bounced back from a 36-20 loss to Texas last weekend. Under Stoops, Oklahoma is now 15-0 in games immediately following its Red River Rivalry contest versus Texas, including a 7-0 mark against Kansas. Damien Williams carried the ball 15 times for 56 yards and a score for the Sooners, who have now won 21 consecutive games immediately following a regular-season loss dating back to 2004. Sterling Shepard caught seven passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns for the victors. Jake Heaps connected on just 5-of-13 passes for 16 yards and a touchdown for the Jayhawks (2-4, 0-3), who have lost three in a row. James Sims carried the ball 23 times for 129 yards and two scores.

Final Score: Arizona State 53, (20) Washington 24

Tempe, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) – Marion Grice scored three times and Arizona State dominated No. 20 Washington 53-24 in a Pac-12 battle on Saturday. Grice carried the ball 21 times for 158 yards and two scores and added four catches for 37 yards and a touchdown for the Sun Devils (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12), who have won their past two since a loss to Notre Dame on Oct. 5. Taylor Kelly went 26-for-42 for 271 yards, two touchdowns and an interception and ran the ball 13 times for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Keith Price was 16-for-39 for 217 yards and two touchdowns for the Huskies (4-3, 1-3), who have dropped three straight.

Final Score: (21) Oklahoma State 24, TCU 10

Stillwater, OK (SportsNetwork.com) – It wasn’t the prettiest homecoming game, but Oklahoma State will take the win. Josh Stewart set a school record with a 95-yard punt return touchdown and made an acrobatic catch that set up to another score, leading No. 21 Oklahoma State to a 24-10 win over TCU on Saturday. Clint Chelf replaced J.W. Walsh at quarterback after the Oklahoma State starter threw two interceptions in the first three drives. Chelf was picked off on his first attempt but the Cowboys scored 17 first- half points despite two missed field goals and held on late after TCU cut the lead to seven. Coming off its second bye week in a month, Oklahoma State (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) got its eighth straight home win, and 21st in a row over unranked opponents. The Cowboys are 15-1 in their last 16 at home. Desmond Roland and Rennie Childs had rushing touchdowns in the win and Chelf was 10-of-25 for 178 yards after Walsh went 9-of-18 for 115 on three drives.

Final Score: (23) Northern Illinois 38, Central Michigan 17

Mount Pleasant, MI (SportsNetwork.com) – Jordan Lynch amassed 471 yards of total offense, scoring three rushing touchdowns and passing for one more, leading 23rd-ranked Northern Illinois to a 38-17 decision over Central Michigan in a MAC clash on Saturday. Lynch finished with an FBS-record 316 of his program’s 437 rushing yards on 32 carries, while completing 20-of-30 passes for 155 yards. Former Northern Illinois quarterback Stacey Robinson held the previous mark of 308 yards rushing against Fresno State on Oct. 6, 1990. Tommylee Lewis contributed 54 yards and a score on 10 receptions and Cameron Stingily added a late rushing TD for the Huskies (7-0, 3-0 MAC), who remained unbeaten in a season’s first seven games since going 7-0 to begin the 2003 campaign. Cooper Rush finished with 271 yards passing and two touchdowns on 16-of-32 efficiency for the Chippewas (3-5, 2-2), who couldn’t maintain momentum from back-to-back conference road wins over Miami-Ohio and Ohio.

Final Score: (25) Wisconsin 56, Illinois 32

Champaign, IL (SportsNetwork.com) – Melvin Gordon rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns as No. 25 Wisconsin cruised to a 56-25 win over Illinois on Saturday. Joel Stave was 16-for-21 passing for 189 yards and two touchdowns and James White added 20 carries for 98 yards and two touchdowns and also caught TD for the Badgers (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten), winners in two straight. Wisconsin will have a bye next week before visiting Iowa on Nov. 2. Nathan Scheelhaase was 20-for-27 passing for 249 yards and rushed for a score for the Fighting Illini (3-3, 0-2), who have dropped three of their last four games.

Categorized in: NCAA Football