Gators Wrestle With Defeat

Top 25

Florida’s reign as the nation’s top-ranked team expired at Death Valley.

Cedric Donaldson returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown and Herb Tyler scored on an 11-yard run during a 93-second span in the fourth quarter as No. 14 LSU shocked the Gators 28-21 Saturday night in Baton Rouge, La.

The Tigers (5-1, 3-1 SEC) beat defending national champion Florida (5-1, 3-1) for the first time since 1987 and avenged last year’s embarrassing 56-13 loss to the Gators.

LSU, criticized by coach Gerry DiNardo after last week’s 7-6 win over Vanderbilt, responded with an inspired performance against Florida. The Tigers snapped the Gators’ two long Southeastern Conference winning streaks - 25 games overall and 19 straight on the road.

Next for Florida: at Auburn.

Next for LSU: vs. Mississippi.

(3) Nebraska 49, Baylor 21

Ahman Green scored four touchdowns and rushed for 158 yards as the Cornhuskers (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) overwhelmed the Bears (1-4, 0-2) in a rain-drenched Big 12 game at Waco, Texas.

Nebraska led 42-7 at halftime.

Next for Nebraska: at Texas Tech.

(4) Florida State 51, Duke 27

Thad Busby ran for two touchdowns and threw for a score as the Seminoles (5-0, 3-0 ACC) defeated the Blue Devils (2-4, 0-3) at Durham, N.C.

Florida State entered the game with the nation’s top-ranked defense (186.5 yards per game) but gave up 246 yards to the ACC’s third-worst offense.

Next for Florida St.: vs. Georgia Tech.

(5) North Carolina 30, Wake Forest 12

North Carolina was bailed out by two Wake Forest miscues as the Tar Heels (6-0, 3-0 ACC) converted a fumble and blocked punt into two quick third-quarter scores to defeat the Demon Deacons (2-4, 1-3 ACC) at Chapel Hill, N.C.

Next for North Carolina: at North Carolina St.

(6) Michigan 23, Northwestern 6

Brian Griese tossed two touchdown passes to Jermane Tuman and the Michigan defense held an opponent without a touchdown for the fourth time in five games as the Wolverines (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) defeated the Wildcats (2-5, 0-3) at Ann Arbor, Mich.

Next for Michigan: at Iowa.

(8) Auburn 49, La. Tech 13

Dameyune Craig became the first Auburn quarterback to surpass 300 yards in four consecutive games and matched a school record with four touchdown passes as the Tigers (6-0) hammered the Bulldogs (4-2) at Auburn, Ala.

With a 355-yard performance, Craig also broke Pat Sullivan’s school record with his sixth 300-yard passing game. Craig reached the mark in 15 fewer starts than did the 1971 Heisman Trophy winner.

Next for Auburn: vs. Florida.

(9) Tennessee 38, (13) Georgia 13

Freshman Jamal Lewis gained 232 yards and Peyton Manning threw for 343 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Volunteers (4-1, 2-1 SEC) past the Bulldogs (4-1, 2-1) at Knoxville, Tenn.

The Volunteers won their seventh straight over Georgia by shredding what had been the SEC’s leading defense for 628 yards, nearly triple what the Bulldogs allowed on average through their first four games.

Next for Tennessee: vs. Alabama, at Birmingham.

Next for Georgia: at Vanderbilt.

(11) Michigan St. 38, Indiana 6

Sedrick Irvin rushed for a career-high 178 yards and two touchdowns and returned a punt 80 yards for a third score as the Spartans (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) defeated the Hoosiers (1-5, 0-3) at Bloomington, Ind.

Irvin, a sophomore tailback, set up his first touchdown with a 51-yard run in the second quarter and scored his second TD on a career-long 56-yard run on the Spartans’ first possession of the third period.

Next for Michigan State: at Northwestern.

(15) Texas A&M 56, Iowa St. 17

Sirr Parker scored on an 80-yard run and a 78-yard kickoff return as the Aggies (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) overwhelmed the Cyclones (0-6, 0-3) at College Station, Texas.

Next for Texas A&M: at Kansas St.

(19) Air Force 10, Navy 7

Tim Curry recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown then recovered a fumble with 62 seconds left to end a late threat as the Falcons (7-0) held off the Midshipmen (2-3) at Annapolis, Md.

Next for Air Force: vs. Fresno State.

(20) Oklahoma St. 33, Colorado 29

At Stillwater, Okla., Tony Lindsay threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Alonzo Mayes with 1:56 left to give the Cowboys (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) their victory over the Buffaloes (2-3, 0-2 Big 12), leaving Oklahoma State 6-0 for the first time since 1945.

The Buffaloes drove to the Oklahoma State 46 on their final drive, but a last-second pass on the run fell incomplete.

Next for Oklahoma St.: vs. Missouri, Oct. 25.

Next for Colorado: vs. Kansas.

Rice 27, (21) BYU 14

At Houston, Benji Wood ran for 167 yards and two touchdowns as the Owls (4-2, 2-1 WAC) upset BYU (3-2, 1-1), snapping the Cougars’ 11-game WAC winning streak.

Next for Brigham Young: vs. Hawaii.

(22) Kansas St. 41, Missouri 11

Michael Bishop rushed for 196 yards and two touchdowns and threw a 44-yard touchdown pass as the Wildcats (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) defeated the Tigers (3-3, 1-2).

Bishop carried 14 times and consistently found big holes up the middle as he set a Kansas State record for rushing yardage by a quarterback, breaking the record of 126 yards set by Darrell Ray Dickey against South Dakota on Sept. 12, 1981.

Next for Kansas State: vs. Texas A&M.

(23) Virginia Tech 17, Boston College 7

Quarterback Al Clark threw a 50-yard touchdown pass and scored on a 42-yard run as the Hokies (5-1, 4-0 Big East) defeated the Eagles (2-4, 2-2) at Blacksburg, Va.

Next for Virginia Tech: at W. Virginia, Oct. 25.

(25) Georgia Tech 27, N.C. State 17

Joe Hamilton raced 18 yards on a quarterback draw with 5:34 remaining to break a tie and the Yellow Jackets (4-1, 3-0 ACC) went on to defeat the Wolfpack (3-3, 1-3) at Atlanta.

Tech won its fourth in a row for the first time since 1991.

Next for Georgia Tech: at Florida State.