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Top 25 CFB Roundup: No. 4 Cincinnati runs record to 12-0

Nov 26, 2021; Greenville, North Carolina, USA;  Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) runs with the ball during the first half against the East Carolina Pirates at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2021; Greenville, North Carolina, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) runs with the ball during the first half against the East Carolina Pirates at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4 Cincinnati capped the second 12-0 regular season in program history with a 35-13 win over East Carolina on Friday afternoon in Greenville, N.C.

The Bearcats (12-0, 8-0 American Athletic Conference) clinched the right to host the league championship game next weekend with the victory. Cincinnati is also expected to stay inside the top four in the College Football Playoff rankings to be released Tuesday.

Desmond Ridder completed 17 of 28 passes for 301 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions while Alec Pierce had eight catches for 136 yards and a score.

East Carolina (7-5, 5-3) had a four-game winning streak snapped and lost their fourth straight against the Bearcats. Holton Ahlers hit on 19 of 38 passes for 228 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Related: Top 25 College Football Rankings – Alabama, Ohio State on top before 2022 season

No. 16 Iowa 28, Nebraska 21

The Hawkeyes rallied from down 15 points late in the third quarter to keep alive their shot at a Big Ten West Division title, winning vs. the Cornhuskers in Lincoln, Neb.

A 2-yard run by quarterback Spencer Petras, who took over for Alex Padilla after halftime, with 2:58 left gave the Hawkeyes (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) the victory after trailing 21-6 with less than 21 minutes remaining. They earned at least a share of the West title but need No. 14 Wisconsin to lose Saturday at Minnesota in order to clinch a spot in the Big Ten championship game.

Petras’ scoring run was Iowa’s only offensive TD of the game. The Hawkeyes also scored on a blocked punt, recorded a safety and got four field goals from Caleb Shudak.

No. 19 Utah 28, Colorado 13

Cameron Rising threw for three touchdowns to lead the Utes to a victory over the visiting Buffaloes in Salt Lake City.

Rising completed 14 of 23 passes for 179 yards, Tavion Thomas ran for 142 yards and a touchdown and T.J. Pledger added 103 yards on the ground for the Utes (9-3, 8-1 Pac-12), who earned their fifth straight victory of the season and their fifth consecutive win over the Buffaloes in their series. The Utes averaged 6.5 yards per play while racking up 444 total yards.

Brendon Lewis threw for 84 yards to lead Colorado (4-8, 3-6), which generated just 148 total yards against Utah’s imposing defense.

No. 20 North Carolina State 34, North Carolina 30

Devin Leary threw two touchdown passes to Emeka Emezie in the final 1:35 as the Wolfpack pulled out a remarkable comeback to defeat the Tar Heels in Raleigh, N.C., and keep alive their hopes for an Atlantic Coast Conference championship.

Leary’s 64-yard scoring pass to Emezie gave the Wolfpack a shot. Then kicker Christopher Dunn recovered his own onside kick. After a pair of 15-yard penalties on the Tar Heels, NC State converted that into a 24-yard scoring play between Leary and Emezie with 1:09 left.

NC State (9-3, 6-2) still needs a Wake Forest loss Saturday at Boston College in order to secure the Atlantic Division’s berth in next weekend’s ACC championship game opposite Pittsburgh in Charlotte, N.C. Leary had four touchdown passes while quarterback Sam Howell accounted for three touchdowns to lead North Carolina (6-6, 3-5).

No. 21 San Diego State 27, Boise State 16

Jordan Brookshire came off the bench to pass for one touchdown and rush for another and the Aztecs clinched a spot in the Mountain West conference championship game with a victory over the Broncos at Carson, Calif.

Brookshire entered late in the second quarter and led San Diego State to 24 consecutive points to overcome a 13-point deficit. He completed 11 of 15 passes for 192 yards and rushed for 46 yards on nine attempts for the Aztecs (11-1, 7-1).

San Diego State tied the program’s Division I mark for victories, also accomplished under legendary coach Don Coryell in 1969 and twice under Rocky Long (2015, 2016). The program is in the Mountain West title game for the first time since 2016, where it will face Utah State (9-3) on Dec. 4 in Carson. The Aggies clinched a berth with a 35-10 win over New Mexico on Friday.

No. 25 Arkansas 34, Missouri 17

Raheim Sanders rushed for two touchdowns as the Razorbacks closed out their regular season and Southeastern Conference play with a win over the Tigers in Fayetteville, Ark.

The West Division Razorbacks (8-4, 4-4 SEC) broke a five-game losing streak against their cross-division rival from the East and finished with their fourth win in five games.

Arkansas notched its first eight-win season since 2015 when it went 8-5. KJ Jefferson was 15-for-19 passing for 262 yards and a TD to Treylon Burks, who caught seven passes for 129 yards and a score.

–Field Level Media

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