NO. 17 OREGON 30, NO. 7 WASHINGTON 27, OT
EUGENE, Ore. -- Mario Cristobal sprinted down the sideline beginning for a timeout. If Oregon was going to announce it was back among the elite of the Pac-12 Conference after a couple of down years, the coach wasn't about to risk a pass when it was obvious for the Ducks to do just that.
The Ducks were going to run. And they were going to give it to their young star running back seeking a bit of redemption for the mistake he made the last time Oregon was in a big game.
C.J. Verdell did exactly as Cristobal hoped, scoring on a 6-yard run in overtime, and No. 17 Oregon knocked off No. 7 Washington 30-27 on Saturday.
The Ducks potentially ended the Pac-12's hopes of landing a team in the College Football Playoff by getting the best of their rivals to the north after two straight years of receiving beatings by the Huskies.
And it was Oregon running it right through the middle of the Washington defense for the final winning score. Verdell finished with 111 yards but none were sweeter for the Ducks than the final 6, when he sprinted nearly untouched on third-and-goal and set off a wild celebration in the east end zone of Autzen Stadium.
The Ducks (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12) were fortunate to reach overtime after Washington kicker Peyton Henry missed a 37-yard field-goal attempt on the final play of regulation. Henry's kick was wide right.
Washington (5-2, 3-1) took possession first in overtime but had to settle for Henry's 22-yard kick after stalling inside the 10. The Huskies had a chance to force a long field goal as Oregon faced third-and-11 after a holding call.
But Justin Herbert threw a strike to Dillon Mitchell for 17 yards and the Ducks had first-and-goal. Three plays later, Verdell sprinted into the end zone and soon after the field was a sea of green and yellow celebrating.
NO. 3 OHIO STATE 30, MINNESOTA 14
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Dwayne Haskins threw for 412 yards and three touchdowns as No. 3 Ohio State held off persistent Minnesota in a game where little went well for the Buckeyes beyond their passing game.
The Buckeyes (7-0, 4-0) needed a pair of Blake Haubiel second-half field goals and a late TD pass from Haskins to K.J. Hill to put away the Gophers (3-3, 0-3).
NO. 5 NOTRE DAME 19, PITTSBURGH 14
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Ian Book threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Miles Boykin with 5:43 remaining and No. 5 Notre Dame remained unbeaten, coming from behind and then holding off Pittsburgh.
Pitt (3-4) led 14-12 thanks to a long first-quarter touchdown drive and a 99-yard kickoff return by Maurice French to start the second half.
IOWA STATE 30, NO. 6 WEST VIRGINIA 14
AMES, Iowa -- Freshman Brock Purdy threw for 254 yards and three TDs and Iowa State throttled sixth-ranked West Virginia (5-1, 3-1 Big 12), handing the Mountaineers their first loss in emphatic fashion.
David Montgomery had a career-high 189 yards rushing for the Cyclones (3-3, 2-2), who capped a wild day by beating a Top 25 team for the fifth time in seven tries.
MICHIGAN STATE 21, NO. 8 PENN STATE 17
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Brian Lewerke threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Felton Davis with 19 seconds left to lift Michigan State past No. 8 Penn State, making it two consecutive seasons that the Spartans used a late score to hand the Nittany Lions a second consecutive loss.
Lewerke completed 25 of 52 passes for 259 yards with an interception and two touchdowns for the Spartans (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten), who were coming off a loss at Northwestern but handed Penn State a devastating loss - just like last year.
NO. 9 TEXAS 23, BAYLOR 17
AUSTIN, Texas -- Shane Buechele came on for injured quarterback Sam Ehlinger early in the first quarter and No. 9 Texas slugged out a victory over Baylor that ended when the Bears' final pass sailed through the back of the end zone. The win makes Texas (6-1, 4-0 Big 12 Conference) bowl eligible.
Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer drove the Bears from their own 3 to the Texas 17 before he had to rush his final three throws under intense pressure.
NO. 10 CENTRAL FLORIDA 31, MEMPHIS 30
MEMPHIS -- McKenzie Milton threw for 296 yards and ran for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter as No. 10 Central Florida weathered its first significant test of the season before escaping with a victory over Memphis (4-3, 1-3).
Milton's 7-yard touchdown with 12:14 left completed a comeback for the Knights (6-0, 3-0 American Athletic Conference), who trailed 30-14 with 2:04 left in the first half.
NO. 12 MICHIGAN 38, NO. 15 WISCONSIN 13
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Shea Patterson accounted for 214 yards of offense and a touchdown, leading No. 12 Michigan to a victory over No. 15 Wisconsin.
The Wolverines (6-1, 4-0 Big Ten) beat a ranked conference team for the first time since topping the Badgers (4-2, 2-1) two years ago. They have won six consecutive games since opening this season with a seven-point loss to then-No. 12 Notre Dame.
VIRGINIA 16, NO. 16 MIAMI 13
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Jordan Ellis ran for a touchdown and Virginia kept No. 16 Miami's high-powered offense from ever getting a start.
Ellis scored on a 7-yard run in the first half and Brian Delaney kicked three field goals for the Cavaliers (4-2, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). Miami appeared to have stopped Virginia on a third-down run in the final minutes, but a personal foul call against Tito Odenigbo kept the drive alive and the Cavaliers were able to run most of the remainder of the clock out.
Sports on 10/14/2018