Notre Dame stays unbeaten, then get more good news


                     
              Notre Dame running back George Atkinson III scores  touchdown against Wake Forest during the second half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. Notre Dame defeated Wake Forest 38-0. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
            
                  Notre Dame running back George Atkinson III scores touchdown against Wake Forest during the second half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. Notre Dame defeated Wake Forest 38-0. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
By The Associated Press
AP /  November 18, 2012
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No. 6 OHIO STATE 21, WISCONSIN 14

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Carlos Hyde scored on a 2-yard run in overtime and the Buckeyes stayed perfect.

The Buckeyes (11-0, 7-0) clinched the Leaders Division title outright with the win. But they are ineligible for the postseason as part of their punishment for NCAA violations under former coach Jim Tressel, and the best they can hope for is to end the year unbeaten and to maybe capture the AP Top 25 title.

Montee Ball scored his 78th touchdown, tying Travis Prentice’s major-college record for career scores. But he fumbled on what would have been the record-breaker with 2:46 left in regulation.

The Badgers forced overtime anyway, on Jacob Pedersen’s 5-yard catch, but Curt Phillips couldn’t find him again in overtime.

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No. 7 FLORIDA 23, JACKSONVILLE STATE 0

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — No. 7 Florida used a strong defensive effort to overcome a sluggish offensive performance.

The Gators scored a touchdown on their first possession when Mike Gillislee plowed into the end zone from 7 yards out. But that was the only offensive touchdown all day from Florida.

The Gators (10-1) also scored on a 7-yard interception return by Jonathan Bostic early in the third quarter. Caleb Sturgis added three field goals from 21, 44 and 47 yards out to complete the scoring.

Florida’s defense allowed a 76-yard pass completion on the first play of the game, but held the Gamecocks to 176 total yards the rest of the game. Jacksonville State, an FCS program that plays in the Ohio Valley Conference, completed its season with a 6-5 record.

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No. 8 LSU 41, MISSISSIPPI 35

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Jeremy Hill scored his third touchdown with 15 seconds left to lift LSU to a victory.

The game included seven turnovers, numerous momentum swings and long touchdowns, perhaps none better than Odell Beckham Jr.’s 89-yard punt return for a score that evoked memories of Billy Cannon’s famous return against the same team, along the same sideline, for the same yardage back in 1959.

Beckham’s return tied the game at 35, but LSU (9-2, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) still needed a pair of clutch sacks by Anthony Johnson and Lavar Edwards to drive Ole Miss (5-6, 2-5) out of routine field goal range later in the fourth quarter, setting up the winning drive.

Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace passed for 310 yards and two TDs and ran for two scores, but also was intercepted three times.

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No. 9 TEXAS A&M 47, SAM HOUSTON STATE 28

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Johnny Manziel threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for 100 yards and two more scores in a bit more than a half for Texas A&M.

The redshirt freshman threw an 89-yard touchdown pass to Uzoma Nwachukwu on A&M’s first offensive play of the second half. The dual-threat quarterback then attempted the extra point, but it sailed wide right, ending the Heisman hopeful’s day with A&M (9-2) leading 40-0.

He broke the NCAA freshman quarterback rushing record of 1,029 set by Missouri’s Brad Smith in 2002, and the freshman record for total offense of 3,827 set in 2000 by Jared Lorenzen on A&M’s first drive. He also became the fifth player and first freshman in FBS history to pass for at least 3,000 yards with at least 1,000 yards rushing in a season.

His 4,161 yards are a school record for total offense in a season.

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No. 10 FLORIDA STATE 41, MARYLAND 14

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Devonta Freeman ran for 148 yards and two touchdowns as Florida State earned a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

Florida State (10-1, 7-1) led 27-0 at halftime and cruised to its fifth straight victory. The Seminoles clinched the league’s Atlantic Division title for the second time in three years and will play for its 13th ACC crown on Dec. 1.

EJ Manuel completed 17 of 23 passes for 144 yards and two scores to supplement a running game that gained 237 yards.

Operating against an injury-plagued Maryland team using a linebacker at quarterback, Florida State allowed 170 yards.

The defeat formally ended any chance Maryland had of becoming bowl eligible. The Terrapins (4-7, 2-5) have dropped five straight.

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No. 11 CLEMSON 62, NORTH CAROLINA STATE 48

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Tajh Boyd threw for five touchdowns and ran for three more scores to lead Clemson to a record-shattering win.

The Tigers (10-1, 7-1 Atlantic Coast) gained 754 yards, two off the school record. The 110 combined points were just seven off the ACC record set by Georgia Tech and North Carolina last week.

The Wolfpack (6-5, 3-4) led 24-13 early in the second quarter before Clemson scored 42 straight. Boyd was responsible for every Clemson touchdown. The junior was 30-for-44 for 426 yards and ran for 105 yards — the combined 531 yards set another school record.Continued...