Tao Johnson’s return of a two-point conversion attempt from Kansas State set up Utah’s comeback, leading to a 51-47 win for the Utes in Salt Lake City.
Kansas State (5-6, 4-4 Big 12) led 47-35 with seven minutes to go when the Wildcats opted to go for 2. Instead, Johnson intercepted the pass and returned it for two points, cutting the K-State lead to 10. Utah (9-2, 6-2) then scored on its next possession, forced a punt and scored the winning touchdown with less than a minute left.
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Devin Dampier threw for two scores and 259 yards, while Wayshawn Parker rushed for 100 yards. Utah faces Kansas on Friday in the season finale and must win to make the Big 12 title game. The Utes will need help elsewhere, but have no path to Arlington without beating the Jayhawks.
Joe Jackson rushed for 293 yards and three touchdowns for Kansas State. The Wildcats host Colorado on Saturday and must win to make a bowl.
Cougars Run Past Bearcats
LJ Martin rushed for a career-high 222 yards and two scores, and BYU clamped down on Cincinnati for a 26-14 win in the Queen City.
Martin did much of the damage for the Cougars (10-1, 7-1 Big 12), who controlled the ball for 38 minutes and change. BYU allowed just one score to the Bearcats (7-4, 5-3) until the fourth quarter, and Cincinnati never got closer than 20-14 with 4:37 to play.
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Brendan Sorsby threw for 300 yards, but was also Cincinnati’s leading rusher with just 38. The Bearcats are safely bowl-eligible and end the regular season at TCU on Saturday. BYU can reach the Big 12 title game by beating Central Florida on Saturday in Provo.
Frogs End Houston’s Title Hopes
Josh Hoover threw for 293 yards and two scores, overcoming three interceptions as TCU edged Houston 17-14 in the Space City.
Houston (8-3, 5-3 Big 12) could have had a chance at the Big 12 title game with a victory and help. But the Cougars missed a field goal with under two minutes to go, and TCU (7-4, 5-3) closed out the game from there.
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Jeremy Payne rushed for 103 yards, and the Frogs overcame a minus-3 turnover differential on the backs of their defense. TCU will host Cincinnati on Saturday. Houston will travel to Baylor to end its regular season.
Brown, Sun Devils Race Past Buffaloes
Raleek Brown’s 88-yard run started a 21-point fourth quarter for Arizona State, which kept its Big 12 title hopes alive with a 42-17 win over Colorado in Boulder.
The Sun Devils (8-3, 6-2 Big 12) need help from either West Virginia or some complex math to open the door to the Big 12 title game. If the Red Raiders lose, Arizona State is in with a win. That’s because a Texas Tech loss would bring the Sun Devils’ head-to-head win over the Red Raiders into any tiebreaker. Without a West Virginia win, Arizona State’s only path requires both BYU and Utah to lose.
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The Buffaloes (3-8, 1-7) could not take advantage of four Arizona State turnovers. Julian Lewis threw for 191 yards, but Colorado managed just 12 first downs. The Buffaloes visit Kansas State on Saturday; Arizona State hosts Arizona in a must-win game Friday.
Cyclones Put Jayhawks on Brink
Rocco Becht tossed three touchdown passes, and Iowa State ended a three-game losing streak, beating Kansas 38-14 in Ames.
The Cyclones (7-4, 4-4 Big 12) outgained the Jayhawks (5-6, 3-5) 462-323. Iowa State led 17-0 at halftime and never let the Jayhawks establish much of a rhythm.
Kansas held the ball for just 20:52 of the contest, as Carson Hansen’s 120 rushing yards kept Iowa State’s offense on the field. Kansas faces Utah on Friday at home, and must win to become bowl-eligible. Iowa State ends the year Saturday at last-place Oklahoma State.
Wildcats Lock Down Bears in Second Half
Kedrick Reescano rushed for three touchdowns, and Arizona outscored Baylor 27-0 in the second half, scoring a 41-17 win in Tucson.
The Wildcats (8-3, 5-3 Big 12) allowed touchdowns on Baylor’s first two possessions, but halftime changed the game. Baylor (5-6, 3-5) finished the third quarter with minus-2 yards of offense, and the Bears turned the ball over four times in the fourth quarter. That included a pick-six from Jabari Mann, finishing off the scoring.
Sawyer Robertson threw for 162 yards and a score, but tossed two back-breaking interceptions for Baylor. The Bears must beat Houston on Saturday to qualify for a bowl game. Arizona can ruin Arizona State’s Big 12 title hopes in Tempe on Friday.
Knights Survive Cowboys
Central Florida overcame a 14-point halftime deficit, edging Oklahoma State 17-14 in Orlando to keep hope alive for a bowl game.
The Knights (5-6, 2-6 Big 12) held the Cowboys (1-10, 0-8) to 228 yards of offense, but couldn’t get out of their own way until Tayven Jackson’s 83-yard pass to Dylan Wade. Jackson overcame two interceptions and tossed two touchdowns, along with 271 yards.
Rodney Fields rushed for 87 yards for Oklahoma State, which will try to end its 19-game FBS losing streak against Iowa State at home on Saturday. Central Florida visits BYU on Saturday and must win to reach a bowl game.
