Saturday’s other Top 25 football games

No. 2 Florida State 37, Florida 7

GAINESVILLE, FLA.

Jameis Winston threw three touchdown passes to Kelvin Benjamin, and Florida State moved a step closer to playing for the national championship. The Seminoles improved to 12-0 for the first time since 1999 and likely will earn a spot in the Bowl Championship Series title game by beating Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game next Saturday. Florida, meanwhile, ended its worst season since 1979. The Gators (4-8) lost their final seven games and missed a bowl for the first time since 1990. Florida’s bowl streak had been the second-longest in the country, behind Florida State.

No. 5 Missouri 28, No. 19 Texas A&M 21

COLUMBIA, MO.

Henry Josey broke loose for the go-ahead score on a 57-yard run with 3:34 to go and Missouri wrapped up the SEC East. Missouri (11-1, 7-1 SEC) advances to the conference championship game against Auburn — a matchup of schools very lightly regarded before the season. Missouri has made a six-win improvement from its initial SEC season and fourth-ranked Auburn (11-1, 7-1) has topped last year’s total by eight after stunning No. 1 Alabama. Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel was held in check for the second straight week, throwing one touchdown pass and rushing for 21 yards on 11 carries. He was 24 for 35 for 195 yards.

No. 10 South Carolina 31, No. 6 Clemson 17

COLUMBIA, S.C.

Connor Shaw threw for one touchdown and rushed for another as South Carolina won its record fifth straight over Clemson. The Gamecocks (10-2) won their 18th straight at home, extending a school record set earlier this year. For Shaw, it capped the senior’s home career at a perfect 17-0 as a starter in the sweetest way possible. The Tigers (10-2) had never lost five consecutive games to their rival in a series that began in 1896 — which they still lead 65-42-4 all-time. The loss also left record-setting quarterback Tajh Boyd 0-for-4 against the Gamecocks. South Carolina put things away with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to break away from 17-all tie. Mike Davis had a 2-yard scoring run with 11:47 left and Pharoh Cooper threw a 26-yard TD pass to Brandon Wilds.

No. 8 Stanford 27, Notre Dame 20

STANFORD, CALIF.

Wayne Lyons intercepted two passes from Tommy Rees late in the fourth quarter, and Stanford held off Notre Dame. The Cardinal (10-2) overcame two interceptions from Kevin Hogan and a penalty that wiped away another touchdown to win their 16th consecutive home game. Stanford will play for its second straight Pac-12 title and Rose Bowl berth next week when it faces No. 13 Arizona State in the conference championship game. Tyler Gaffney ran for 189 yards and a touchdown, and Hogan threw for 158 yards and TD pass to Devon Cajuste to help the Cardinal take a 21-6 lead in the third quarter. Rees nearly rallied the Fighting Irish (8-4) by throwing two touchdown passes later in the quarter. But interceptions on Notre Dame’s final two drives dashed Notre Dame’s come back.

No. 9 Baylor 41, TCU 38

FORT WORTH, TEXAS

Bryce Petty threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, and Baylor returned two interceptions for scores.The Bears (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) scored 21 straight points on either side of halftime with just 1 yard from their high-powered offense and bounced back from a blowout loss at Oklahoma State to maintain their hopes for a share of the conference title. Baylor could win the league outright and qualify for a BCS bid, likely the Fiesta Bowl, if it beats Texas and the Cowboys lose to Oklahoma next Saturday. The Horned Frogs (4-8, 2-7) were in position to tie in the final seconds, but Casey Pachall threw his third interception on a pass tipped by receiver Brandon Carter and grabbed by Baylor’s Terrell Burt in the end zone with 11 seconds left.

No. 22 UCLA 35, No. 23 USC 14

LOS ANGELES

Brett Hundley passed for 208 yards and rushed for two touchdowns, leading UCLA past Southern California and winning the crosstown showdown for the second straight season. Linebacker Myles Jack and defensive end Eddie Vanderdoes also rushed for touchdowns as the Bruins (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12) earned their first win at the Coliseum since 1997, retaining the Victory Bell by grinding out just their third victory over USC (9-4, 6-3) in 15 years. Javorius Allen rushed for 123 yards and a score for the Trojans, who had won five straight in their revitalized season under interim coach Ed Orgeron. Cody Kessler passed for 174 yards and hit Xavier Grimble with a TD pass for USC. But its defense couldn’t handle Hundley, who rushed for 80 yards.

No. 24 Duke 27, North Carolina 25

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.

Ross Martin kicked a 27-yard field goal with 2:22 left and Duke completed an improbable run to reach the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. Anthony Boone threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns to Jamison Crowder as the Blue Devils (10-2, 6-2 ACC) clinched the Coastal Division championship with their eighth straight victory. DeVon Edwards’ interception with 13 seconds left clinched the long-suffering program’s first 10-win season. Duke led 24-15 in the third quarter but needed to rally to beat the rival Tar Heels (6-6, 4-4). Marquise Williams ran for two scores and threw for another for UNC, which had won five straight.

Associated Press