No. 21 Colorado defeats UCLA in Pac-12 play

Isaiah Oliver returned a punt 68 yards for a score with 5 minutes, 27 seconds remaining and No. 21 Colorado overcame eight personal-foul penalties to beat UCLA 20-10 on Thursday night in Boulder, Colorado.

Oliver caught the punt on the right side of the field, cut back to the left and went untouched for the decisive score. It was the first punt return for a TD in 11 years for Colorado (7-2, 5-1 Pac-12, No. 15 CFP) and came on a night when the Buffaloes struggled to get much going.

The game featured a combined 25 penalties for 224 yards, two blocked kicks and five turnovers. UCLA (3-6, 1-5) has dropped four straight.

Third-string Colorado kicker Chris Graham connected on a 37-yarder with 13:40 left to give the Buffaloes a 13-10 lead. He also hit a 21-yard field goal that was tipped at the line but still got through. He had another blocked.

Colorado has kicker issues with Davis Price out because of mono and Diego Gonzalez done for the season after tearing his Achilles tendon.

The Bruins fared no better on field goals, missing two kicks and having another blocked .

The Buffaloes struggled to control their temper and was called for eight personal foul penalties, including a targeting call that led to the ejection of outside linebacker Jimmie Gilbert early in the first quarter.

Quarterback Mike Fafaul stepped in with Josh Rosen hampered by a shoulder injury. He finished 15 of 29 for 185 yards and one TD. He also threw an interception.

Colorado QB Sefo Liufau went a school-record 152 attempts without throwing an interception before throwing two in a span of six passes. Later, the senior fumbled on a big hit by Takkarist McKinley and freshman Steven Montez briefly took over.

(12) Oklahoma 34, Iowa State 24: Baker Mayfield threw for 328 yards and four touchdowns and the Sooners (7-2, 6-0) handed the Cyclones (1-8, 0-6) their sixth straight victory in Big 12 play in Ames, Iowa.

Dede Westbrook caught seven passes for 131 yards and a score for the Sooners. They beat the Cyclones for the 18th time in a row and the 74th time in 81 meetings.

Mayfield threw TD passes to Westbrook and Dimitri Flowers in the final 4:16 of the first half, extending his streak of games with at least four touchdown tosses to an FBS-high four games. Mayfield has 31 scoring passes, good for second nationally, with just six interceptions.

“That was a big jolt. They didn’t have the lead but for 10 seconds,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said about the 65-yard TD reception by Westbrook that came right after Iowa State jumped ahead 17-14. “Dede and Baker have been doing that a bunch.”

Oklahoma’s defense stiffened after some early struggles, allowing just seven points in the second half to help the injury-depleted Sooners survive on the road.

“To be down and without so many of our players…for the guys to continue to battle and play hard and make runs, I’m really proud of them,” Stoops said.

Jacob Park passed for 160 yards and two touchdowns for the Cyclones. They’ve dropped five straight.

Iowa State played without rushing leader Mike Warren. He sprained an ankle last week in a loss to Kansas State.