Quick kicks

Crabtree sets mark

Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree set the NCAA freshman record for receptions in a season Saturday with a 19-yard touchdown catch against Colorado in Lubbock, Texas.

Crabtree caught his 99th pass when Graham Harrell hit him in the corner of the end zone to pull Tech within 31-19 late in the third quarter.

The 6-foot-3, 208-pound redshirt freshman overtook the 98 catches by former Tech running back Taurean Henderson in 2002.

The TD catch also gave him the Big 12 season record with 18, surpassing the mark set by Oklahoma State’s Rashaun Woods in 2002.

Coming into the game, Crabtree led the nation in receptions (88), receiving yards (1,320) and touchdowns (17).

Last week in Tech’s 41-10 loss to Missouri, Crabtree set an NCAA freshman record for receiving yards (1,320), and earlier this month he set the NCAA freshman touchdown mark in a 42-17 win over Iowa State.

Slumping

No. 17 Texas beat Nebraska 28-25, sending the Cornhuskers to their fourth straight loss. Nebraska has lost four in a row for the first time since 1961. … No. 19 Michigan beat Minnesota 34-10. The Gophers have lost eight of their first nine games for the first time in 15 years.

Big Ten bowl-fest

With three weeks left in the season, the Big Ten bowl boat is almost full.

Illinois became the sixth league school to clinch bowl eligibility with its sixth victory Saturday, and the league seems certain to have more teams eligible than it has bowl contracts.

Northwestern, Michigan State and Indiana all lost Saturday but still need only one victory each to be eligible. That would make nine of the 11 teams eligible for the postseason. Iowa is still alive at 4-5; only 1-8 Minnesota is out.

The glut in the middle of the Big Ten standings is caused largely by the contenders’ success in non-conference play. Excluding Minnesota’s 1-3 record, the Big Ten is 32-5 outside the conference, including 4-0 against Notre Dame.

Vandy receiver tops SEC

With a short reception in the first quarter against Miami of Ohio, Vanderbilt wide receiver Earl Bennett became the Southeastern Conference career receiving leader.

Bennett’s 7-yard catch, his second of the day, gave him 209 for his career, passing former Kentucky receiver Craig Yeast for first place. Bennett finished the game with 8 catches to give him 215 on the year. He has 54 this season, the second-highest total in the SEC. He led the league in catches the last two seasons.

Associated Press