Columbia, S.C. ? Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson had no doubt how his Commodores would react, even if many others did, following last week’s disheartening loss to Georgia.
“It made us a little angry,” he said.
And Vanderbilt took it out on coach Steve Spurrier and No. 6 South Carolina on Saturday with a 17-6 victory.
The victory was Vanderbilt’s first over Spurrier in 15 tries and the highest-ranked opponent it defeated in more than 70 years.
A week ago, the Commodores left their home stadium after Georgia’s 20-17 victory on a last-second field goal.
“I’m sure that people thought we’d fold in the second half here” after the Commodores led 17-0, Johnson said. “But we didn’t. We came back and played great, maybe better than in the first half.”
“That’s a misconception about Vanderbilt,” Johnson said. “They do everything they possibly can to try and win.”
No. 1 Ohio State 24, Michigan State 17
Columbus, Ohio – No. 1 Ohio State got a scare, but avoided being yet another upset victim.
The Buckeyes built a comfortable lead before allowing two touchdowns off turnovers in the third quarter – they almost lost another fumble after that – and slipped past Michigan State.
The Buckeyes rolled for most of the first three quarters.
No. 5 LSU 30, Auburn 24
Baton Rouge, La. – Matt Flynn threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Demetrius Byrd with a second left to lift LSU, keeping its national-title hopes alive and well.
With South Florida losing earlier in the week, LSU is certain to move up to at least third in the BCS standings, behind only Ohio State and possibly Boston College, which was idle this weekend.
Flynn finished with 319 yards passing and three touchdowns.
No. 7 Oregon 55, Washington 34
Seattle – Jonathan Stewart rushed for a career-high 251 yards and two touchdowns, and Andre Crenshaw added a pair of second-half scoring runs for Oregon.
Stewart’s 32 carries were seven more than his previous high.
No. 14 Florida 45, No. 8 Kentucky 37
Lexington, Ky. – Tim Tebow threw for a career-high four touchdowns, and Florida rebounded from back-to-back losses with its 21st straight victory against the Wildcats.
The victory puts the defending national champions back in the Southeastern Conference title hunt.
No. 9 West Virginia 39, Mississippi State 13
Morgantown, W.Va. – Pat White threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score in the first half, and Steve Slaton rushed for 127 yards and a score.
West Virginia scored on its first five possessions and wasn’t threatened. The Mountaineers now enter the heart of the Big East schedule with a game next Saturday at Rutgers.
West Virginia put together its best first quarter of the season following an open week on the schedule.
UCLA 30, No. 10 California 21
Pasadena, Calif. – Nate Longshore’s return wasn’t enough to get California back on the winning track. Having Patrick Cowan back did the trick for UCLA.
With Cal in UCLA territory, Alterraun Verner intercepted Longshore’s pass and sprinted 76 yards to the end zone with 1:33 remaining to seal the victory.
Kahlil Bell rushed for 142 yards on 22 carries, and Kai Forbath kicked three field goals as UCLA remained perfect in conference play.
The loss almost certainly cost Cal, which came up short at the end for the second week in a row, any chance at the Pac-10 title.
No. 13 USC 38, Notre Dame 0
South Bend, Ind. – Southern California handed Notre Dame a beating for the ages.
Mark Sanchez threw four touchdown passes – two on short drives after miscues by the Fighting Irish – and USC’s victory over the Fighting Irish was by the largest margin in the 79-game history of the rivalry.
Alabama 41, No. 20 Tennessee 17
Tuscaloosa, Ala. – John Parker Wilson passed for a career-high 363 yards and three touchdowns, DJ Hall had a school-record 13 catches for 185 yards for Alabama.
It was a rollicking debut for Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban in the intense border rivalry that had been dominated lately by the Volunteers.
Alabama had lost 10 of the last 12 meetings.
Saban set the tone by opening the game with a successful onside kick that set up the first of four Leigh Tiffin field goals.
Pittsburgh 24, No. 23 Cincinnati 17
Pittsburgh – LaRod Stephens-Howling scored the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter to lead the Panthers (3-4, 1-1 Big East)
Pitt, which had lost four in a row, didn’t take the lead until Stephens-Howling carried the ball for the fifth consecutive play during a last-quarter drive that ended with his 7-yard score.
Cincinnati entered the game leading the Big East in rushing defense but was shredded by a Pitt running attack that featured big days by Stephens-Howling and LeSean McCoy.
No. 24 Michigan 27, Illinois 17
Champaign, Ill. – Carlos Brown ran for 113 yards filling in for Mike Hart, and Mario Manningham scored two touchdowns.
Hart, the nation’s leading rusher with 152 yards a game, watched from the sideline in street clothes after hurting an ankle last weekend in a win over Purdue.
