Buckeyes handle Nittany Lions

Maybe now No. 1 Ohio State will get the respect for which it’s looking.

Todd Boeckman threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns and Chris Wells ran for 133 yards, leading the Buckeyes to another easy victory, 37-17 over No. 24 Penn State on Saturday night at State College, Pa.

The Buckeyes’ vaunted defense didn’t play up to its typical stingy standards, but it didn’t need to be at its best with Boeckman on a roll and Ohio State’s massive offensive line dominating.

Several Buckeyes (9-0, 5-0, Big Ten) earlier this week complained they weren’t getting enough respect despite their No. 1 ranking in the polls and Bowl Championship Series standings.

Penn State (6-3, 3-3) was only the second ranked team Ohio State has faced. While the competition has been so-so, the Buckeyes have been blowing out their opponents.

The Nittany Lions, seventh in the nation in total defense coming in, had breakdowns on numerous third-down plays. Ohio State was 7 of 8 alone in the first half on third-down conversions and gained 453 yards in total offense.

The Buckeyes scored on five of their first seven possessions, each of their scoring drives starting at no better than their own 22.

(6) West Virginia 31, (25) Rutgers 3: At Piscataway, N.J., West Virginia kept its BCS hopes alive with another win over Rutgers.

Steve Slaton ran for three touchdowns and quarterback Pat White rushed for 156 yards and a score as the Mountaineers (7-1, 2-1 Big East) beat the Scarlet Knights (5-3, 2-2), their 13th straight victory in the series.

Slaton went from sideline to sideline on a spectacular 38-yard run that gave West Virginia the early lead, and he scored on second-half runs of 1 and 6 yards to bury Rutgers.

Connecticut 22, (11) South Florida 15: At Storrs, Conn., Andre Dixon ran for a career-high 189 yards and the Huskies (7-1, 3-0 Big East) used a late goal-line stand to upset the Bulls (6-2, 1-2), Connecticut’s first win over a ranked opponent.

The victory keeps UConn in sole possession of first place in the Big East, and all but assures them of the first Top 25 ranking in the program’s history.

(12) Kansas 19, Texas A&M 11: At College Station, Texas, Brandon McAnderson rushed for a career-high 183 yards and two touchdowns and the Jayhawks improved to 8-0 for the first time since 1909 with a win over the Aggies (6-3, 3-2 Big 12).

Todd Reesing went 21 for 33 for 180 yards and the Jayhawks’ fifth-ranked defense did the rest, holding the Aggies to 127 yards and six first downs through three quarters.

Kansas improved to 4-0 in the Big 12 for the first time.

(13) Missouri 42, Iowa State 28: At Columbia, Mo., Lorenzo Williams recovered a fumble in the end zone at the start of the second half, giving the Tigers (7-1, 3-1 Big 12) breathing room and momentum in a victory over the stubborn Cyclones (1-8, 0-5).

Jimmy Jackson, Tony Temple, Martin Rucker and Jeremy Maclin each scored for Missouri, which had been four-touchdown favorites against the downtrodden Cyclones.

Mississippi State 31, (14) Kentucky 14: At Lexington, Ky., Wesley Carroll threw for two touchdowns and the Bulldogs (5-4, 2-3 SEC) forced a season-high six turnovers in the victory over the Wildcats (6-3, 2-3).

Kentucky has lost two straight since knocking off then-No. 1 LSU in triple overtime. A loss to Florida on Oct. 20 dashed the Wildcats’ national championship hopes, and the homecoming loss to the Bulldogs likely knocks them out of the SEC title race, too.

Tennessee 27, (15) South Carolina 24 (OT): At Knoxville, Tenn., Daniel Lincoln kicked a game-tying 48-yard field goal with 5 seconds left, then provided the only points in overtime, and the Volunteers (5-3, 3-2 SEC) recovered after blowing a big lead to beat the Gamecocks (6-3, 3-3).

Lincoln got two chances to force overtime. He hooked a 43-yarder wide left, but a false start penalty on the Vols gave him another chance. This time, Lincoln sent the 48-yarder through to tie the game at 24.

(17) Texas 28, Nebraska 25: At Austin, Texas, Jamaal Charles ran for fourth-quarter touchdowns of 25, 86 and 40 yards to carry the Longhorns (6-2, 2-2 Big 12) to a win over the Cornhuskers (5-4, 1-4), sending Nebraska to its fourth straight loss.

Nebraska has lost four in a row for the first time since 1961, another black mark for beleaguered coach Bill Callahan, whose future with the Huskers beyond this season is in the hands of former Huskers coach and interim athletic director Tom Osborne.

(19) Michigan 34, Minnesota 10: At Ann Arbor, Mich., Mario Manningham had five receptions for a career-high 162 yards and a victory-sealing touchdown early in the fourth quarter, helping the Wolverines (7-2, 5-0 Big Ten) pull away with a win over the Golden Gophers (1-8, 0-5).

Michigan has won seven straight since opening the season being stunned by second-tier Appalachian State and getting routed by Oregon.

N.C. State 29, (21) Virginia 24: At Raleigh, N.C., Daniel Evans threw for a career-high 347 yards and three touchdowns, two to Donald Bowens, to lead the Wolfpack (3-5, 1-3 ACC) past the Cavaliers (7-2, 4-1).

Bowens finished with 11 catches for 202 yards for the Wolfpack, who snapped a nine-game conference losing streak.

(23) Auburn 17, Mississippi 3: At Auburn, Ala., Brandon Cox threw a 34-yard scoring pass to Rod Smith in the final minutes and Brad Lester rushed for a career-high 96 yards, helping the Tigers (6-3, 4-2 SEC) hold on for a victory over the Rebels (2-7, 0-6).

Patrick Lee set up the drive with an interception in the end zone for the Tigers, who were coming off a last-second loss at No. 3 LSU.