Around the country: Michigan pulls out thriller
Michael Shaw scored on a 1-yard run, Tate Forcier threw a two-point conversion to Junior Hemingway and Michigan’s defense stopped the potential tying two-point try to lift the Wolverines (6-3, 2-3 Big Ten) to a 67-65 triple-overtime win over Illinois (5-4, 3-3) on Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Michigan snapped a three-game losing streak and became bowl-eligible for the first time in Rich Rodriguez’s three seasons.
The 132-point game was the highest-scoring game of the year in major college football and in the 131-year history of Michigan football.
Penn State 35, Northwestern 21: Joe Paterno became the first major college coach with 400 career wins as the Nittany Lions (6-3, 3-2 Big Ten) rallied from a three-touchdown deficit to beat the Wildcats (6-3, 2-3) in State College, Pa.
Penn State backup QB Matt McGloin had four TD passes.
Only two coaches have more wins than Paterno. Eddie Robinson had 408 with FCS school Grambling State, while John Gagliardi had 476 entering the weekend with Division III St. John’s, Minn.
Kansas State 39, Texas 14: Collin Klein and Daniel Thomas ran for two TDs apiece and the Wildcats (6-3, 3-3 Big 12) intercepted Garrett Gilbert five times en route to a win over the struggling Longhorns (4-5, 2-3) in Manhattan, Kan.
Texas is guaranteed its worst record in coach Mack Brown’s 14 years at the helm.
Navy 76, East Carolina 35: Ricky Dobbs ran for a TD and threw for two scores as the Midshipmen (6-3) beat the Pirates (5-4) in Greenville, N.C., setting a school single-game scoring record.
Air Force 42, Army 22: Tim Jefferson scored twice and hit Jonathan Warzeka on TD passes of 53 and 63 yards, and Jordan Waiwaiole returned a fumble 63 yards for a score, as the Falcons (6-4) beat the Black Knights (5-5) in West Point, N.Y., to win the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for the 17th time. Navy had won the past seven CICs.