TCU survives Kansas scare
Trevone Boykin left with a right ankle injury and No. 13 TCU’s offense did just enough without its Heisman Trophy candidate to hold off winless Kansas 23-17 Saturday.
On his second play of the game, Boykin turned awkwardly on his right ankle as he slipped while trying to cut and was tackled by linebacker Joe Dineen Jr. The nation’s total offense leader didn’t return after getting sacked on TCU’s last offensive play of the first quarter.
The Horned Frogs (9-1, 6-1 Big 12, No. 15 CFP) played mostly without Boykin and one of the country’s top receivers in Josh Doctson, who was limited by a left arm and wrist injury from last week’s loss that likely eliminated them from the national title race.
The Jayhawks (0-10, 0-7) didn’t trail at halftime for the first time this year, but couldn’t avoid their 35th straight road loss and 13th overall.
The Horned Frogs tried two backups to Boykin in Bram Kohlhausen, a senior transfer from Houston, and redshirt freshman Foster Sawyer, who played for a private Fort Worth high school.
No. 1 Clemson 37, Syracuse 27: DeShaun Watson had a big day for Clemson with two touchdown passes and 101 yards rushing and a score.
The win gave the Tigers (10-0, 7-0 ACC; No. 1 CFP) at least 10 wins for the fifth straight season and their s first 10-0 start since they won their only national championship in 1981. With 13 straight wins, the Tigers have their longest winning streak in 34 years.
Syracuse (3-7, 1-5 ACC) put up a good fight for embattled coach Scott Shafer, but lost for the seventh time in a row. The Orange are 1-10 in games against the No. 1 team.
No. 2 Ohio State 28, Illinois 3: Ezekiel Elliott ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes (10-0, 6-0 Big Ten, No. 3 CFP) started slowly and led 7-3 for much of the first half before Elliott picked up the pace. Elliott accounted for 50 of the Buckeyes’ 75 yards on a third quarter drive that opened a 21-3 lead over the Illini (5-5, 2-4).
No. 3 Alabama 31, No. 20 Mississippi State 6: Derrick Henry ran for 204 yards and two touchdowns and Alabama had a season-high nine sacks.
Alabama (9-1, 6-1 Southeastern Conference, No. 2 CFP) easily survived its last major test before the Iron Bowl game against Auburn in two weeks. The Tide shook off a slow start thanks to three long touchdowns in the second quarter, starting with a 69-yard punt return by Cyrus Jones.
No. 6 Notre Dame 28, Wake Forest 7: Josh Adams scored on a 98-yard run, the longest scoring play from scrimmage in Notre Dame history, and defensive end Andrew Trumbetti scored on a 28-yard interception return.
Adams started and ran for 141 yards with Notre Dame rushing leader C.J. Prosise sidelined while recovering from a concussion. Adams, who was fourth on the Irish depth chart in the preseason, posted his second straight 100-yard game and third of the season.
No. 11 Florida 24, South Carolina 14: Jordan Cronkrite had two first-half touchdowns and Kelvin Taylor’s long run in the fourth quarter helped Florida hold off South Carolina.
The Gators (9-1, 7-1 Southeastern Conference, No. 11 CFP) were up 17-0 heading to the fourth quarter, with the defense having allowed only 44 yards.
No. 14 Michigan State 24, Maryland 7: Connor Cook left the game at halftime with an apparent shoulder injury, putting a bit of a damper on Michigan State’s victory.
The Spartans (9-1, 5-1 Big Ten, No. 13 CFP) have been dealing with injuries all season, particularly on the offensive line and in the secondary, but if Cook is limited, Michigan State could be a significant underdog next weekend at Ohio State.
No. 15 Michigan 48, Indiana 41, 2 OT: Mitchell Paige bobbled a fourth-down pass at the goal line that would have forced a third overtime and Michigan fended off Indiana to keep its Big Ten title hopes alive.
Jake Rudock forced overtime with a touchdown pass with 2 seconds left, and threw two more on back-to-back plays to lead Michigan. Rudock finished 33 of 46 with 440 yards and six touchdowns, and Jehu Chesson, caught 10 passes for 207 yards and four scores.
The Wolverines (8-2, 5-1, No. 14 CFP) won their third straight. Indiana (4-6, 0-6) has lost six straight since winning its first four and has dropped 20 straight in what has been a lopsided series.
No. 17 North Carolina 59, Miami 21: Marquise Williams accounted for four touchdowns and Ryan Switzer had a 78-yard punt return for a score for North Carolina.
No. 19 Florida State 34, North Carolina State 17: Marquise Williams accounted for four touchdowns and Ryan Switzer had a 78-yard punt return for a score for North Carolina.
No. 22 Navy 55, SMU 21: Keenan Reynolds broke the NCAA record for career rushing touchdowns, upping his total to 81 with four scores, and Navy beat SMU to remain undefeated in the American Athletic Conference.
No. 24 Northwestern 21, Purdue 14: Justin Jackson ran for 116 yards and a late touchdown, and Warren Long added two rushing TDs for Northwestern.