West Virginia came into Saturday’s game at Texas Tech in the drivers’ seat for the Big 12 title, undefeated and eyeing a shot at the BCS championship and with quarterback Geno Smith acclaimed as a Heisman Trophy front-runner.
The No. 5 Mountaineers left with none of it after a 49-14 loss to the Red Raiders that was the most lopsided Texas Tech victory over a team ranked in the top five.
Texas Tech’s defense consistently stymied West Virginia’s offense.
Heisman Trophy hopeful Smith completed 29 of 55 passes for 275 yards, well off his season averages of nearly 400 yards and a 81 percent completion rate.
The Red Raiders offense had no trouble moving the ball as quarterback Seth Doege threw TD passes of 39, 19, 16, 2, 29 and 7 yards. He completed 32 of 42 passes and the six touchdowns matched his career-high. Darrin Moore caught three touchdown passes.
No. 1 Alabama 42, Missouri 10: At St. Louis, Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon gave top-ranked Alabama a pair of 100-yard rushers in the same game for the first time this season and the duo combined for five scores in a soggy, weather-delayed game.
The defending national champion Crimson Tide (6-0, 3-0 SEC) led 21-0 late in the first quarter en route to their 10th straight victory, all by 19 or more points.
No. 4 Florida 31, Vanderbilt 17: At Nashville, Tenn., Gators remain perfect thanks to quarterback Jeff Driskel running the ball better than even Tim Tebow.
No. 6 Kansas State 27, Iowa State 21: At Ames, Iowa, Quarterback Collin Klein ran for 105 yards and three touchdowns to help K-State hold off the Cyclones and beat them for the fifth straight time.
Kansas State (6-0, 3-0) is the only undefeated team left in the conference, but next Saturday faces what should be a motivated West Virginia team, followed the next week by Texas Tech, which is also 2-1 in the league
No. 10 Oregon State 42, BYU 24: At Provo, Utah, Cody Vaz passed for 332 yards and three touchdowns in his first start since high school.
No. 11 Southern Cal 24, Washington 14: At Seattle, Anthony Brown blocked a punt and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown, Jawanza Starling forced a key fumble, and USC overcame an inconsistent offense in.
No. 13 Oklahoma 63, No. 15 Texas 21: At Dallas, Damien Williams broke off a 95-yard touchdown run for the longest rush in Red River Rivalry history, Blake Bell powered his way in for four TDs and Oklahoma got its second straight blowout of Texas.
No. 18 Louisville 45, Pittsburgh 35: At Pittsburgh, Senorise Perry rushed for 101 yards and a career-high four touchdowns.
No. 20 Rutgers 23, Syracuse 15: At Piscataway, N.J., Duron Harmon scooped up a blocked field goal attempt and ran 75 yard for a tie-breaking touchdown early in the third quarter and the Scarlet Knights rode its defense and special teams to 6-0.
No. 21 Cincinnati 49, Fordham 17: At Cincinnati, Deven Drane scooted 76 yards for a touchdown after picking up a fumble and Munchie Legaux threw two TD passes, including a 78-yarder to Travis Kelce.
The Bearcats (5-0) stayed perfect but the Rams (4-3), playing up a level from the Football Championship Subdivision, hung around for a half.
The win was Cincinnati’s 24th straight in nonconference games at Nippert Stadium and upped its overall winning streak to eight in a row.
No. 24 Boise St. 20, Fresno St. 10: At Boise, Idaho. D.J. Harper rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown and Joe Southwick threw for another score.
