TOP 25 | Saturday’s games

No. 5 Oregon 24, No. 9 USC 17

EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon can start seriously thinking about a national title run. As for Southern California, just winning the Pac-10 could be a long shot at this point. Jonathan Stewart ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Dennis Dixon completed 16 of 25 passes for 157 yards. He also ran for 76 yards and a touchdown for Oregon (7-1, 4-1). The Ducks, who came into the game ranked second nationally in total offense, had 339 yards against the Trojans’ third-ranked defense. But it was turnovers — including a fumble recovery and a pair of interceptions — that gave Oregon the advantage over the Trojans (6-2, 3-2). USC, which came into the season ranked No. 1 and a heavy favorite to play for a national title, now will need lot of help to defend the Pac-10 crown it’s owned at least a share of for five straight seasons. Mark Sanchez, making his third start for the Trojans in place of the injured John David Booty, completed 26 of 41 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns, but the misthrows hurt him.

No. 20 Georgia 42, No. 9 Florida 30

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Knowshon Moreno ran for a career-high 188 yards and three scores, Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes and Georgia earned a rare victory over Florida. The Bulldogs (6-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) sacked Tim Tebow six times and contained the Gators’ high-scoring offense most of the game. Florida (5-3, 3-3) had won 15 of the last 17 at the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party and eight of nine. Georgia turned it around Saturday, taking advantage of Tebow’s bruised non-throwing shoulder and Florida’s porous defense. Tebow finished 14-of-22 for 236 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.

Connecticut 22, No. 11 South Florida 15

STORRS, Conn. — Andre Dixon ran for a career-high 189 yards and Connecticut used a late goal-line stand to upset South Florida and get its first win over a ranked opponent. The victory keeps UConn (7-1, 3-0 Big East) in sole possession of first place in the Big East, and all but assures them of the first Top-25 ranking the program’s history. South Florida (6-2, 1-2), which was ranked No. 2 just two weeks ago, has lost two straight. Matt Grothe finished with 146 yards rushing on 25 carries and threw for 189 yards for the Bulls. He also had two interceptions. UConn quarterback Tyler Lorenzen was 13-for-25 for 194 yards and a touchdown.

No. 12 Kansas 19, Texas A&M 11

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Chalk up another win for Kansas, and this one is downright historic. Brandon McAnderson rushed for a career-high 183 yards and two touchdowns and the 12th-ranked Jayhawks improved to 8-0 for the first time since 1909 with a 19-11 win over Texas A&M. Todd Reesing went 21-for-33 for 180 yards and the Jayhawks’ fifth-ranked defense did the rest, holding the Aggies to 127 yards and six first downs through three quarters. A&M gained 191 yards in the fourth quarter, after the Jayhawks built a 19-0 lead. Kansas improved to 4-0 in the Big 12 for the first time, snapped a seven-game losing streak to A&M and earned its first win in Texas since 2001. The Jayhawks have reached eight victories for just the 12th time in school history.

No. 13 Missouri 42, Iowa State 28

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Lorenzo Williams recovered a fumble in the end zone at the start of the second half and Missouri pulled away from stubborn Iowa State. Jimmy Jackson, Tony Temple, Martin Rucker and Jeremy Maclin each scored for the Tigers (7-1, 3-1 Big 12), who had been four-touchdown favorites against the downtrodden Cyclones (1-8, 0-5). Missouri was held to a season-low 366 yards. Chase Daniel was 28-for-37 for 250 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Missouri. Alexander Robinson had 149 yards on 21 carries with a 37-yard scoring run for Iowa State, his first career 100-yard game.

Mississippi State 31, No. 14 Kentucky 14

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Wesley Carroll threw for two touchdowns and Mississippi State forced six turnovers in the second half to upset Kentucky. Kentucky (6-3, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) has lost two straight since knocking off No. 1 LSU in triple overtime. Heisman Trophy hopeful Andre Woodson threw for 230 yards, but was sacked three times and threw three interceptions. The Bulldogs (5-4, 2-3) hadn’t won three road games since 2000, the last time they appeared went to bowl game. Carroll threw for 152 yards and Christian Ducre rushed for a career-high 119 yards and a 34-yard TD run in the fourth quarter for the Bulldogs.

No. 17 Texas 28, Nebraska 25

AUSTIN, Texas — Jamaal Charles ran for fourth-quarter touchdowns of 25, 86 and 40 yards to send the Cornhuskers to their fourth straight loss. Nebraska has lost four in a row for the first time since 1961, another black mark for beleaguered coach Bill Callahan, who’s future with the Huskers beyond this season is in the hands of former Huskers coach and interim athletic director Tom Osborne. For Texas coach Mack Brown, the win was a milestone — No. 100 with the Longhorns. The Longhorns spent three quarters trying to pass against one of the worst rush defenses in the country and Nebraska (4-5, 1-4) led 17-9 to start the fourth behind two touchdown passes from Sam Keller to Nate Swift.

No. 23 Auburn 17, Mississippi 3

AUBURN, Ala. — Brandon Cox threw a 34-yard scoring pass to Rod Smith in the final minutes and Brad Lester rushed for a career-high 96 yards, helping Auburn hold on and avoid another down-to-the-wire finish. Patrick Lee set up the drive with an interception in the end zone for the Tigers (6-3, 4-2 Southeastern Conference), who were coming off a last-second loss at No. 3 LSU. They got a scare from the Rebels (2-7, 0-6), double-digit underdogs still seeking their first league win. Down 10-3, Ole Miss had the makings of an impressive tying drive. Starting from their own 1, the Rebels surged from the goal line with three consecutive rushes. Quarterback Seth Adams was hurt on the third play on a hard hit by Tray Blackmon at the end of a run.

N.C. State 29, No. 21 Virginia 24

RALEIGH, N.C. — Daniel Evans threw for a career-high 347 yards and three touchdowns, two to Donald Bowens, to lead North Carolina State past Virginia . Bowens finished with 11 catches for 202 yards for the Wolfpack (3-5, 1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), who snapped a nine-game conference losing streak that dated to the middle of last season. Koyal George added a touchdown on the first catch of his career, while Jamelle Eugene ran for 112 yards. Jameel Sewell threw for 260 yards and two scores for the Cavaliers (7-2, 4-1) before leaving the game with an apparent right leg injury with about 7 minutes left. Mikell Simpson also scored a pair of touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to allow Virginia to set a school record with its eighth straight win.

Associated Press