College Football Top 25 Review

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Nov 30, 2009

College Football Top 25 Review

No. 1 Florida 37, Florida State 10

In his Swamp swan song, Tim Tebow accounted for 311 total yards and five TDs, as the top-ranked Gators have now cleared all paths to their showdown with the No. 2 Tide next week in Atlanta.

No. 2 Alabama 26, Auburn 21

Alabama needed Justin Woodall (27) and Rolando McClain (25) to break up this Hail Mary to complete a second straight perfect regular season in the Iron Bowl. Alabama did it the hard way Friday, falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter, but ultimately did its part to set up a 1 vs. 2 showdown with top-ranked Florida in the SEC championship game. Greg McElroy 's 4-yard touchdown pass to Roy Upchurch with 1:24 left proved decisive.

No. 3 Texas 49, Texas A&M 39

A common happening in Thursday's game: Colt McCoy leaving Aggies in his wake. The senior rushed 18 times for a career-high 175 yards and a touchdown and threw for 304 yards and four more scores as UT kept its national-title hopes alive. After A&M scored to make it 42-39, Marquise Goodwin returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a TD, and the Longhorns could finally breathe easy.

No. 4 TCU 51, New Mexico 10

Andy Dalton (No. 14) matched a career high withfour touchdown passes, two to Antoine Hicks in a 12-second span, as Texas Christian wrapped up its first undefeated regular season in 71 years. Representatives from the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar bowls were in attendance.

No. 5 Cincinnati 49, Illinois 36

Tony Pike answered all the questions six times over. The senior returned from a major injury to his non-throwing arm and had a record day Friday, passing for six touchdowns in a victory that kept Cincinnati unbeaten. UC (11-0) remained one of six unbeaten Bowl Subdivision teams, ranked fifth in the BCS standings. The Bearcats finish their regular season next weekend in Pittsburgh, playing for their second straight Big East championship.

No. 6 Boise State 44, Nevada 33

Sophomore Doug Martin (center) rushed for 128 yards and Kellen Moore added five touchdown passes to power Boise State (12-0, 7-0). Boise State locked up at least a share of its seventh WAC championship in eight seasons, pending one more game at home against lowly New Mexico State before BCS bids are announced next weekend. BSU has won 24 straight regular-season games.

West Virginia 19, No. 8 Pittsburgh 16

The outcome of the Backyard Brawl was in the hands - or more specifically on the foot - of a redshirt freshman and Tyler Bitancurt wasn't about to mess up his perfect night. Bitancurt kicked his fourth field goal, a 43-yarder, as time expired to lift West Virginia (8-3, 4-2) Friday night. The Panthers (9-2, 5-1) can still earn the conference's Bowl Championship Series berth with a win at home next week against No. 5 Cincinnati.

Georgia 30, No. 7 Georgia Tech 24

Georgia tailbacks Washaun Ealey (pictured -- 183 yards) and Caleb King combined for 349 rushing yards and two TDs in the Bulldogs' upset victory. Georgia Tech can still capture the ACC title next week in Tampa.

Oklahoma 27, No. 11 Oklahoma State 0

Frank Alexander (left) and the Sooners limited the Cowboys to six first downs and 109 total yards. Oklahoma State (9-3, 6-2) was shut out for the first time since 2005 by an Oklahoma (7-5, 5-3) defense coming off its worst outing of the year in a loss at Texas Tech last week. The Sooners have won seven in a row in the Bedlam rivalry and 30 straight home games, the longest streak in the Bowl Subdivision.

No. 15 Virginia Tech 42, Virginia 13

Hokies RB Ryan Williams torched the beleaguered Cavaliers for 183 rushing yards and four TDs, and now Virginia Tech can realistically think about playing in a New Year's Day bowl -- perhaps the Gator.

South Carolina 34, No. 15 Clemson 17

C.J. Spiller got Clemson off to a good start -- he set an NCAA record with his seventh career kickoff return for a touchdown to start the game -- but the Gamecocks had the last laugh, rebounding from the special teams play and taking control for the rest of the game.

No. 18 BYU 26, No. 22 Utah 23 (OT)

O'Neill Chambers (4) and BYU lost the statistical battle in total yards, first downs and passing yards against Utah ... but still managed to eke out the victory and finish with a 10-2 regular-season mark.

No. 17 LSU 33, Arkansas 30 (OT)

With this DeAngelo Peterson touchdown, LSU grabbed a seemingly comfortable 24-13 lead over Arkansas in the third quarter. The victorious Tigers, who would evetually get the win, are likely headed for the Capital One Bowl.

No. 19 Miami 31, South Florida 10

Led by Javarris James (5) and Dedrick Epps (77 combined yards, three TDs), the Hurricanes can now brag about being the second-best team in the Sunshine State this season (behind you-know-who).

Mississippi State 41, No. 20 Ole Miss 27

Charles Mitchell's fourth-quarter interception helped Mississippi State manhandle the Rebels. The Egg Bowl was supposed to be a victory lap for the Rebels, who appeared on their way to their second straight nine-win season for the first time since 1961-62, second place in the SEC West and a balmy bowl appearance somewhere in central Florida. The home team won for the 10th time in 11 games.

No. 24 USC 28, UCLA 7

Malcolm Smith got the Trojans off to a fast start with his 62-yard interception-return TD. All told, the USC defense yielded only seven points and 322 total yards to its crosstown rival.

No. 25 Houston 73, Rice 14

In a ho-hum outing (at least for him), Houston QB Case Keenum dissected the Rice defense for 323 passing yards and two touchdowns. Amazingly, Keenum only had six incompletions in 31 pass attempts.

College Football Top 25 Review