College Football Top 25 Review

College Football Top 25 Review

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Ron Brooks returned an interception for a touchdown 28 seconds into the game and LSU piled up 353 yards rushing on the way to a 49-point romp. LSU's domination of Mississippi was so complete that with more than five minutes remaining in the game, the Tigers lined up in a victory formation, content to kneel four straight times rather than try for another touchdown. At 11-0, LSU matched its best start since 1958.

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With a bye week over Thanksgiving, undefeated Oklahoma State needed to survive one gimme game before a make-or-break Bedlam on Dec. 3. Instead, the Cowboys' national title dreams broke early. In a classic trap game scenario -- ranked team playing an inferior opponent on the road on a weeknight -- Iowa State came back from a 24-7 deficit to take Oklahoma State to overtime. Brandon Weededn opened the second extra frame with an interception, and the Cyclones capitalized.

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Alabama didn't win many style points by struggling against an FCS foe (it was 24-14 Alabama at the half), but the Tide escaped with the victory. Trent Richardson (pictured) had a monster day, rushing for 175 yards and two touchdowns and catching another score.

Robert Griffin threw for 479 yards and four touchdowns, including a 34-yard strike to Terrance Williams with 8 seconds left, adding more chaos to the BCS title race.

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In advance of its massive meeting with LSU on Good Friday, Arkansas earned some serious style points by annihilating SEC West foe Mississippi State. Tyler Wilson had another huge game, completing 32-of-43 passes for 368 yards and three scores.

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No Sammy Watkins? Big problem. With the freshman phenom sidelined by injury, NC State held Clemson to 338 yards and 13 points. With his favorite target out, Tajh Boyd failed to throw a touchdown pass.

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Andrew Luck threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns, and Stanford survived a shaky start to beat rival Cal in a rain-soaked Big Game. Luck revived his Heisman campaign by tossing scores to Levine Toilolo and Ryan Hewitt, keeping the Cardinal's slim chances of a Pac-12 title and national championship alive.

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Virginia Tech hasn't wrapped up the ACC Coastal yet, but it moved one step closer on Thursday night by beating upset-minded UNC. Logan Thomas (pictured) passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another as Tech built a 24-7 lead and then held off UNC's rally. The Hokies clinch with a Virginia loss to Florida State this week or a head-to-head win next week.

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The Broncos benefited from three Aztecs turnovers and Kellen Moore completed 28 of 40 passes for 366 yards and 4 touchdowns, including 3 to Tyler Shoemaker.

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Houston is 11-0. Case Keenum (pictured) set the FBS record for career completions, threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score as the Cougars overcame a sluggish start to knock off SMU and keep their perfect record intact.

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Michigan State took care of business against Indiana, and rival Michigan complied by beating Nebraska, securing the Spartans a spot in the first Big Ten championship game. Keshawn Martin (pictured) led the way with eight catches for 100 yards and a touchdown.

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It wasn't easy or pretty, but Georgia won its ninth game in a row to secure the SEC East division and a spot in the league championship game. The Bulldogs' hopes took a hit when star freshman Isaiah Crowell got dinged up on the first drive, but Brandon Harton (pictured) filled in admirably, rushing 23 times for 100 yards.

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Quarterback Connor Shaw had a huge day for South Carolina, throwing for 206 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 89 yards and another score. But Shaw didn't have to carry the load himself. On the same week stud tailback Marcus Lattimore underwent knee surgery, Brandon Wilds (pictured) rushed for 105 yards and two scores.

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Kevin Parks ran 10 yards for a touchdown with 1:16 left to give Virginia the lead and FSU's Dustin Hopkins missed a 42-yard field-goal attempt in the closing seconds as the Cavaliers upset the Seminoles to set up a showdown with intrastate rival Virginia Tech for a spot in the ACC championship game.

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Wisconsin trailed 17-7 at the half and couldn't get its offense going. Then Montee Ball (pictured) took over, rushing for 221 yards and two touchdowns on a whopping 38 carries. Ball now has 30 rushing touchdowns on the season.

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Collin Klein ran for a touchdown and passed for another and the Wildcats overcame a suffocating Longhorns defense. Klein was sacked five times and K-State managed just 121 total yards but still pulled out the win behind Klein's 16-yard touchdown pass to Chris Harper with 9 seconds left in the first half and his 3-yard scoring run in the third quarter.

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Denard Robinson passed for 179 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 84 yards and two additional scores and Fitz Toussaint rushed 29 times for 134 yards and two touchdowns. But Michigan also won with defense, which smothered Taylor Martinez (pictured) and the Huskers and held them to 256 net yards.

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No hangover for TCU following its Week 11 upset of title-hopeful Boise State. The Horned Frogs remained in the Mountain West driver's seat by knocking off the overmatched Rams, who outgained the Frogs 404 yards to 369 but were inefficient scoring.

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Penn State held tough in its first road game since Joe Paterno's firing, beating Ohio State to keep its Leaders Division title hopes alive. Running back Stephfon Green (pictured) led the way with 93 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.

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Southern Miss needed a little help, but it had an outside shot at earning a BCS at-large berth if it hung on this week and next and took out Houston in the Conference USA title game. Instead, the Golden Eagles suffered a shocking loss to usually hapless UAB. Jonathan Perry (pictured) passed for 236 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score, and Ty Long kicked a 38-yard field goal with 3:04 left to seal the victory on Thursday night.

AP

Not exactly a Top 25 performance, but just enough to avoid a big loss. The Irish matched last year's victory total with their fourth straight win, which they secured thanks to a Jonas Gray rushing touchdown, three David Ruffer field goals and an onside kick recovery with just under two minutes to play.

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Matt Barkley threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns and the Trojans held off the Ducks when Alejandro Maldonado missed a 37-yard field goal to tie the game with five seconds left.