College Football Top 25 Review

College Football Top 25 Review

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Jordan Jefferson's first start of the season went well enough for LSU to win comfortably, even if it started a little slower than the Tigers would have liked. One week after playing most of LSU's 9-6 overtime victory at Alabama, Jefferson (No. 9) got the start against the Hilltoppers, hitting 8-of-14 passes for 168 yards, including a 59-yard scoring strike to Rueben Randle.

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Texas Tech upset Oklahoma earlier this season. The Red Raiders didn't come close to repeating the feat against Oklahoma State. Joseph Randle (pictured) scored three rushing touchdowns to help the Cowboys improve to 10-0, while Brandon Weeden had another huge day through the air, passing for 423 yards and five scores.

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LaMichael James (center) ran for 146 yards and three touchdowns and Oregon (No. 7 BCS) sprinted past Stanford (No. 4 BCS), giving Andrew Luck's Heisman Trophy campaign a blemish and taking a giant step toward hosting the inaugural Pac-12 championship. James ran for scores from 1, 4 and 58 yards and had Stanford (9-1, 7-1) defenders slipping all over a slick field.

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Trent Richardson rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown, Alabama's defense gave up just 131 total yards and the Crimson Tide beat the Bulldogs. It was a typical no-frills victory for Alabama (9-1, 6-1 Southeastern Conference), which has won nine of its last 11 against Mississippi State, including four straight.

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For the second year in a row, Boise State's BCS championship dreams have been foiled by a missed field goal. This was a back-and-forth game all day, and TCU moved within one in the closing minutes, then went ahead on a successful two-point conversion. Kellen Moore drove the Broncos down the field in the final minute with the aid of two key penalties, but Boise's 39-yard field goal attempt was pushed wide right. This was Chris Petersen's first home loss as Boise coach.

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Tyler Wilson threw for three touchdowns, and Dennis Johnson (pictured) ran for two more, totaling 96 yards on 11 carries. Arkansas improved to 9-1 on its way to a Black Friday showdown with No. 1 LSU. The loss dropped Tennessee to 4-6. The Vols must beat Vanderbilt and Kentucky to become bowl eligible.

AP

Clemson trailed 28-14 midway through the third quarter, but the Tigers mounted an impressive comeback, winning on a 43-yard field goal as time expired. Brandon Ford (pictured) helped close that gap with his late third-quarter touchdown, and the Tigers improved to 9-1 to remain atop the Atlantic Division.

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Virginia Tech (9-1) put itself back in the ACC Coastal Division driver's seat and eliminated Georgia Tech (7-3) from conference-title contention with a 37-26 win on Thursday night. Mammoth Hokies quarterback Logan Thomas (pictured) proved too much for the Yellow Jackets to handle, passing for three touchdowns and rushing for two more.

AP

Case Keenum may get all of the headlines, but Houston receiver Patrick Edwards (pictured) is having a special season as well for the undefeated Cougars (9-0). Edwards caught three touchdown passes from Keenum against the Green Wave and scored another touchdown on a punt return. The senior now has 15 receiving touchdowns on the year.

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It can't have been easy for the Nittany Lions to take the field after a week of scandal and despair, nor for the Cornhuskers to walk into the circus that has engulfed State College. In a touching moment, players and coaches from both teams came together to pray before kickoff. Ultimately, Penn State's closing drive fell short, and Nebraska escaped with the narrow victory. Both teams are now 8-2.

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Iowa upset Michigan last week, but wasn't able to knock off Michigan State this week. Kirk Cousins found B.J. Cunningham (pictured) for two touchdowns, and the Spartans improved to 8-2 despite going just 4-of-16 on third-down conversions.

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One win. That's what Georgia (8-2, 6-1) needs to lock up the SEC East and play for the conference championship. The Bulldogs won their eighth in a row in dominating fashion behind a four-touchdown day from Aaron Murray, who broke Matthew Stafford's school record with his 27th touchdown strike of the season.

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South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw couldn't get much going through the air, but he ran for 88 yards and two touchdowns to help the Gamecocks improve to 8-2 and stay alive in the SEC East. The Gators fell to 5-5 overall and 3-5 in SEC play.

Brace Hemmelgarn/Icon SMI

Wisconsin improved to 8-2 by beating Minnesota, and also held on to Paul Bunyan's Axe for the eighth year in a row. Montee Ball (pictured) had another huge day for the Badgers, rushing 23 times for 167 yards and two touchdowns and setting the Big Ten's single-season touchdown record in the process with his 27th score of the year.

AP

Kansas State stopped the bleeding, but it wasn't easy. After dropping two in a row to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, the Wildcats survived the Aggies in overtime. Texas A&M led off the fourth extra frame with a field goal, but Kansas State got a one-yard touchdown run from Collin Klein (pictured) to secure the victory.

AP

It was a career day for Curtis McNeal (pictured), who rushed for 148 yards and broke off a 79-yard touchdown dash. The Trojans improved to 8-2 overall and 5-2 in Pac-12 play, but are ineligible to play for the conference title.

AP

Missouri has been inconsistent this season, but the Tigers (5-5) had an up day against the Longhorns (6-3) at home on Saturday. Kip Edwards (pictured) and the Missouri defense flustered Texas all day, holding the 'Horns to 249 net yards. This is the first time Missouri has beaten Texas under head coach Gary Pinkel.

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Denard Robinson (pictured) got hit in the third quarter and did not return, but Michigan improved to 8-2 anyway thanks to another big day from running back Fitzgerald Toussaint, who rushed for 192 yards and a score. The Michigan defense held Illinois scoreless in the first half, and the Illini lost their fourth straight game as a result.

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Cincinnati lost the game, but the Bearcats may have suffered a much greater loss: Quarterback Zach Collaros injured his knee while being tackled by Bruce Irvin (play pictured) and was carted off the field.

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Danny Hrapmann kicked five field goals and Southern Mississippi narrowly avoided an upset. Central Florida's J.J. Whorton caught a 25-yard touchdown pass as time expired, but Southern Mississippi safety Jacorious Cotton got a hand on Blake Bortles' 2-point conversion pass to seal the win. Senior Ryan Balentine (left) caught six passes for 122 yards for the Eagles.