Kansas State knocks off Texas

Texas lost its young star – and a whole lot more.

Quarterback Colt McCoy was hurt scoring a touchdown on the fourth-ranked Longhorns’ opening drive Saturday night, and his replacement struggled in a 45-42 loss to Kansas State that knocked the defending national champions out of the title hunt.

The Longhorns (9-2, 6-1 Big 12) got within a field goal on Chris Ogbonnaya’s 1-yard touchdown run with 1:36 to go. But Jordy Nelson recovered the ensuing onside kick and then caught a 6-yard pass for a first down that sealed the Wildcats win.

Josh Freeman threw for 263 yards and three scores and ran for another score for Kansas State (7-4, 4-3).

Georgia 37, (5) Auburn 15: At Auburn, Ala., Tra Battle and the Bulldogs snatched away Auburn’s title hopes. Battle intercepted three first-half passes, returning one for a touchdown, and the Bulldogs (7-4, 4-4 SEC) salvaged a disappointing season with an emphatic victory over the Tigers.

Auburn (9-2, 5-2) entered the game nearly a two-touchdown favorite and was among a handful of one-loss teams trying to play into a Bowl Championship Series title shot.

(6) Florida 17, South Carolina 16: At Gainesville, Fla., Jarvis Moss blocked a 48-yard field goal as time expired to give the Gators (9-1, 7-1 SEC) a victory over South Carolina, spoiling coach Steve Spurrier’s return and keeping the Gators’ national championship hopes intact.

Moss blocked an extra-point attempt earlier in the fourth quarter, leaving the Gamecocks (5-5, 3-5) with a 16-10 advantage.

(9) Notre Dame 39, Air Force 17: At Air Force Academy, Colo., the Fighting Irish manhandled Air Force for their eighth straight road win.

The Irish (9-1), who secured back-to-back nine-win seasons for the first time in 13 years, struck early and dispatched the Falcons (4-5), who never could capitalize on their ball-control option offense.

(10) West Virginia 42, Cincinnati 24: At Morgantown, W. Va., Pat White ran for two touchdowns and threw for another and Steve Slaton added two scoring runs as the Mountaineers (8-1, 3-1 Big East) bounced back from its first loss with a victory over the Bearcats (5-5, 2-3).

Slaton ran for 148 yards on just 12 carries.

Cincinnati lost to a ranked opponent on the road for the fourth time this season.

(11) Arkansas 31, Tennessee 14: At Fayetteville, Ark., Darren McFadden ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass, leading Arkansas to a victory over the Volunteers (7-3, 3-3 SEC).

The Razorbacks (9-1, 6-0) can clinch a spot in the SEC title game with a win next weekend at Mississippi State.

(12) LSU 28, Alabama 14: 14: At Baton Rouge, La., JaMarcus Russell threw three touchdown passes and frustrated Alabama with drive-extending scrambles to help the Tigers (8-2, 4-2 SEC) keep their slim hopes for an SEC West Division title alive with a victory over the Crimson Tide (6-5, 2-5).

(16) Wisconsin 24, Iowa 21: At Iowa City, Iowa, Tyler Donovan stepped in for an injured John Stocco and threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns as the Badgers beat the Hawkeyes.

Luke Swan added 113 yards receiving and a score for Wisconsin (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten), which snapped a four-game losing streak against Iowa (6-5, 2-5).

(17) Oklahoma 34, Texas Tech 24: At Norman, Okla., Paul Thompson threw for a career-high 309 yards and two touchdowns and freshman Chris Brown scored twice in the fourth quarter as the Sooners (8-2, 5-1 Big 12) rallied to beat the Red Raiders (6-5, 3-4).

With their top two tailbacks injured, the Sooners’ 15-game streak with a 100-yard rusher – the longest in the nation – was snapped.

(18) Wake Forest 30, Florida State 0: At Tallahassee, Fla., Kevin Patterson scored on a 48-yard interception return and Wake Forest shut out Florida State.

The resurgent Demon Deacons (9-1, 5-1 ACC) reached the nine-win mark for the first time in school history with their first win over the Seminoles (5-5, 3-5) in 23 years.

(19) Georgia Tech 7, North Carolina 0: At Chapel Hill, N.C., Tashard Choice ran for 119 yards and a touchdown to help the Yellow Jackets (8-2, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) beat the Tar Heels (1-9, 0-6) to earn a spot in the conference championship game.

Choice had 32 carries and also had 32 yards receiving on a sluggish offensive day for the Yellow Jackets, who have won three straight to wrap up the Coastal Division title.

(20) Virginia Tech 23, Kent State 0: At Blacksburg, Va., Brandon Pace kicked three field goals to set a school record with 19 consecutive successful attempts and Virginia Tech posted its third shutout of the season in a victory over Kent State.

The Hokies (8-2) gained only 214 yards, but allowed the Golden Flashes (5-5) just 182.

(22) Boston College 28, Duke 7: At Boston, L.V. Whitworth and Andre Callender each rushed for more than 100 yards and a touchdown and the Eagles (8-2, 4-2 ACC) took charge after a close first half to beat the winless Blue Devils (0-10, 0-6).

(23) Maryland 14, Miami 13: At College Park, Md., the Hurricanes fell behind 14-0 early in the second quarter, then fought back behind a determined defense and the prowess of backup quarterback Kirby Freeman. But the Terrapins (8-2, 5-1 ACC) held on for its fifth straight win. It was the third straight loss for Miami (5-5, 2-4), all to ranked opponents.

Nebraska 28, (24) Texas A&M 27: At College Station, Texas, Zac Taylor threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Purify with 21 seconds left as the Cornhuskers (8-3, 5-2 Big 12) clinched a berth in the Big 12 championship game with a wild win over the Aggies (8-3, 4-3).

Taylor completed passes of 22, 16 and 13 yards to Todd Peterson on the game-winning drive.