No. 11 Kansas State’s rapidly improving defense pitched the first shutout of Texas in more than a decade in a 23-0 victory Saturday that kept the Wildcats unbeaten in Big 12 play.
Matthew McCrane kicked three field goals, and DeMarcus Robinson and Charles Jones each ran for a touchdown to lead the Wildcats (6-1, 4-0). Jake Waters threw for 224 yards, and Tyler Lockett had eight catches for 103 yards to climb another notch in the school record books.
Tyrone Swoopes was just 13 of 25 for 106 yards for the Longhorns (3-5, 2-3), who were shut out for the first time since a 12-0 loss to Oklahoma on Oct. 9, 2004. The blanking came just one week after they put up 524 yards of offense in a 48-45 victory over Iowa State.
No. 16 Nebraska 42, Rutgers 24
Ameer Abdullah ran for 225 yards and three touchdowns and set a school record with 341 all-purpose yards, leading the Cornhuskers to victory.
Abdullah surpassed 200 yards rushing for a nation-leading fourth time this season and fifth time in his career. He broke Roy Helu Jr.’s record of 321 all-purpose yards with his 23-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Cornhuskers (7-1, 3-1) reached the halfway point of conference play tied with Minnesota for first in the West Division.
Big Ten newcomer Rutgers lost 56-17 at Ohio State a week ago and has been outscored 98-41 in its past two games. The Scarlet Knights (5-3, 1-3) lost quarterback Gary Nova on the second-to-last play of the first half. Nova held his right knee after Maliek Collins brought him down as he got rid of the ball. Chris Laviano played the rest of the game.
North Carolina 28, Virginia 27
Mitch Trubisky threw a 16-yard touchdown pass on his only play of the game, giving North Carolina its first lead with 4:05 remaining, and the Tar Heels stunned Virginia.
Trubisky, who had been sharing the job with Marquise Williams until the last two games, was called into action when Williams was sacked and his helmet came off, setting up a third-and-15 from the 16. Trubisky hit a wide open T.J. Thorpe to give North Carolina (4-4, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) the lead.
Virginia (4-4, 2-2), which had kept the explosive Williams and North Carolina scoreless to that point in the second half, then was surprised when the Tar Heels tried, and recovered, an onside kick.
North Carolina drove to the Virginia 20 and ran out the clock. It is the fifth consecutive victory in the series for North Carolina.
Illinois 28, Minnesota 24
Illinois turned to its much-criticized defense Saturday for a late touchdown and a defensive stand that delivered a win.
Illinois (4-4, 1-3 Big Ten) trailed 24-21 with 6:33 left in the game when linebacker T.J. Neal stripped the ball from running back David Cobb. Cornerback V’Angelo Bentley grabbed the ball at the Gopher 12 and ran it in for a touchdown.
Illinois then held the Gophers four times at the Illini 26 with less than two minutes to play.
Wisconsin 52, Maryland 7
Melvin Gordon rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns, and Wisconsin’s restocked defense stifled mistake-prone Maryland.
Gordon had his three scores in the first half, when the Badgers (5-2, 2-1 Big Ten) raced out to a 24-0 halftime lead on a sunny homecoming weekend game. Joel Stave threw for two scores in the second half against Maryland (5-3, 2-2).
Arkansas 35, Alabama-Birmingham 17
Jonathan Williams rushed for a career-high 153 yards and had two touchdowns, and even 350-pound offensive lineman Sebastian Tretola had a part in the fun as Arkansas rolled to a win.
The win snaps a three-game losing streak for the Razorbacks (4-4), who led 35-0 at halftime and outgained the Blazers 484-195.
Williams topped his previous best of 151 yards rushing, set last year against Louisiana-Lafayette, while Brandon Allen added 205 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns. Alabama-Birmingham (4-4), which had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by J.J. Nelson, played without injured quarterback Cody Clements.
Navy 41, San Jose State 31
Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds ran for a career-high 251 yards and three touchdowns, and the Midshipmen scored on seven straight possessions.
Reynolds missed Navy’s previous game on Oct. 11 with knee and shoulder injuries. After resting during a bye, the junior put on a performance that earned him a place in the school record book.
Reynolds’ three touchdowns gave him 52 for his career, breaking the Navy mark of 49 held by Ricky Dobbs (2008-10). Ten of Reynolds’ TDs have come against San Jose State, including seven last year in a 58-52 overtime win. Joe Gray went 33 for 46 for 322 yards and three touchdowns for San Jose State (3-4). The Spartans hung with Navy (4-4) for a while, but they had no answer for Reynolds.
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