SPORTS - Italy's Bronzini wins cycling worlds road race (AP)

SPORTS - Italy's Bronzini wins cycling worlds road race (AP)

AP – Kyle Busch climbs out of his car and raises his arms to fans after winning the NASCAR Trucks Series auto …

By DAN GELSTON, AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston, Ap Sports Writer – Sat Sep 24, 6:17 pm ET

LOUDON, N.H. – Kyle Busch can see the time when his own team thrives without him behind the wheel.

That time is not now — not with sponsors clamoring to sticker his truck with ads. Busch's success drives the corporate dollars that fill the Kyle Busch Motorsports coffers, almost forcing him out on the track most weeks to keep the company running.

"They want the guaranteed chance to go to Victory Lane," Busch said.

Busch is about as close as it gets to a guaranteed win in the Trucks Series. His latest victory was a romp, as he led all but 10 laps in one of the more dominating performances this season in the Trucks Series to win the race Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

"It was fun for us," Busch said, "maybe not for others."

Busch started from the pole and was never threatened en route to his 30th career victory in the series. He led 165 of the 175 laps and won for the sixth time this season.

Busch has 18 victories this season in Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Trucks.

Oh, and Busch believed he can duplicate the dominance on Sunday in the Sprint Cup series.

"A lot of the feel that I've been looking for in my Cup car I felt this weekend in my truck," Busch said. "We made a lot of changes to my Cup car over the weekend this weekend. We're vastly different than we've ever run here in the past. I'm hoping it doesn't bite us, but I can't see us going in the wrong direction."

Austin Dillon was second and claimed the lead in the points standings. He leads James Buescher by two points and has the championship in sight as the season winds down. Dillon chewed up some seconds on Busch's lead over the final laps, but it was way too late to end up in Victory Lane.

"He had such a big lead there at the end," Dillon said. "We could make big chunks of time out of his lead when he got in traffic and that was the only time we could gain on him. I wish we could have come out closer to him on pit road."

Dillon wasn't close on pit road and he couldn't catch him at the finish line. That spot was reserved for Busch.

"The truck was awesome today," Busch said.

Kevin Harvick, Ron Hornaday and Johnny Sauter rounded out the top five. Matt Crafton was sixth and only six drivers finished on the lead lap.

It was that kind of race, leaving little for Busch to break down. He stormed to the lead and stayed there under green to prove why he's one of the top drivers in any form of racing.

So talk turned to the future of Kyle Busch Motorsports. Busch said there are plans to expand the operation in the Trucks Series and maybe start a Nationwide team. Of course, it all depends on whether Busch can generate the sponsors needed to keep that many entries afloat.

"We'd like to move into two full time trucks at least and we'll see what happens from there," Busch said.

Once of those future plans could see Busch surrendering his ride. Busch, who won his 104th career NASCAR race, set 200 victories as a goal and stepping away from the Trucks Series could curtail that number.

"We've got to make sure that we can live and strive off of somebody besides myself," Busch said. "We're working towards that and we're trying really, really hard."

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SPORTS - Baddeley, Mahan tied for the lead at East Lake (AP)

SPORTS - Baddeley, Mahan tied for the lead at East Lake (AP)

AP – New York Giants defensive back Deon Grant is helped up by trainers during the first quarter of an NFL …

By TIM DAHLBERG, AP Sports Columnist Tim Dahlberg, Ap Sports Columnist – Sat Sep 24, 4:04 pm ET

With the number of injuries Deon Grant claims he's had, he probably should be in a hospital bed instead of lining up at safety for the New York Giants.

Two torn MCLs, a hole in his labrum, and a torn rotator cuff. Wrist issues, a torn ligament, and screws and a plate in his hip.

Did I mention the bad knee?

Tough guy, this Grant. So tough that he says he has never missed a game due to injury in his 11 years in the NFL.

So what was he doing flopping around like a beached mackerel when he was supposed to be defending near the goal line against St. Louis the other night?

"I am glad you asked me that," Grant said before going into a long defense that included a recap of every injury he has had in the NFL.

The latest was the swollen knee, which coincidentally happened at the same time teammate Jacquian Williams suddenly fell to the ground with what he would call a cramp. The injuries got the Giants a timeout, and they recuperated enough to stop the Rams from scoring a touchdown.

What they probably didn't count on was St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford hearing Giants defenders telling someone to "go down" because they couldn't substitute in time and were out of position to stop the Rams in their no-huddle offense. Bradford complained about it later, and suddenly what had been an open secret was no secret anymore.

So now the NFL is cracking down. Players and coaches have been warned.

The designated flopper on your defense? Make sure he knows how to play the part.

"I can tell you no one in this league is going to be any good at acting," said Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith. "They're probably not going to get any Oscar or Emmys for whatever they did."

Grant and Williams certainly won't. They couldn't get a role in a bad YouTube sketch the way they went down together.

It's their lot in life, though. No one, after all, is going to ask someone like Troy Polamalu or Ray Lewis to hit the turf.

"It's usually not a captain of the team," said Dolphins running back Reggie Bush. "It's a guy who's expendable."

A league memo obtained this week by The Associated Press warns of fines, suspensions and the loss of draft picks if the league determines a player faked an injury to stop both the clock and the other team's momentum. Just how the league is going to figure out who is faking and who isn't wasn't quite spelled out, but surely there's someone in a back room at the NFL's offices working late hours to come up with anti-faking formulas.

Feigned outrage at being called an actor might be tipoff No. 1.

"How can another person or the media tell you when you're hurt or faking an injury?" asked Grant. "They had a good offense. The drove the ball on us the whole game. That's something that will get you fatigued. So if five guys were to have caught a cramp on that particular play that can happen."

In Grant's defense, he does have a point. Instant replay can show only so much, and games in the NFL are already long enough without someone having to haul an MRI machine out on the field to finger a faker.

But the flopping may have cost the Rams a touchdown. And that could have cost them the game Monday night in New York.

"If the offense is a no-huddle and it's fairly evident that the defense goes down just to slow the offense down, I think there's got to be some sort of penalty," Bradford said. "That's the frustrating thing to me. When they have a couple of guys go down and look over and one of them sees the other guy on the ground and gets up, then it's like you've got to be kidding me."

Coaches and players around the league danced around the topic when asked by AP writers this week whether they've got a designated flopper for the times when the moment calls for it.

When it comes to other teams, though, they were a bit more, shall we say, candid.

"I've been places where it has been," Browns linebacker Scott Fujita said. "They have a name for it and I've been places where it's been pre-called. I've been places where it's one player who has been designated. Maybe I'm getting everyone in trouble, but I'm just being honest."

That may be, though honesty, though, isn't always the best policy in the NFL. In a league where deceit often is the key to victory, some things are better left unsaid.

Don't expect a league memo to change that. Teams may have to become more creative, but guys will continue to drop at crucial times. They'll get away with it, too, because there is no real way to prove intent.

The Giants, though, will have to find someone else to feign injury next time. Grant has been exposed.

He's about to become a former flopper.

___

Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg(at)ap.org or follow him at http://twitter.com/timdahlberg

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SPORTS - Kyle Busch wins Trucks race at New Hampshire (AP)

SPORTS - Kyle Busch wins Trucks race at New Hampshire (AP)

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SPORTS - Olympic Training Centers take on new look (AP)

SPORTS - Olympic Training Centers take on new look (AP)

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SPORTS - Moore throws 4TDs, Broncos beat Tulsa 41-21 (AP)

SPORTS - Moore throws 4TDs, Broncos beat Tulsa 41-21 (AP)

AP – Amanda Rodrigues, widow of former boxing champion Arturo Gatti, arrives at the Montreal courthouse on …

– Fri Sep 23, 4:25 pm ET

MONTREAL – Arturo Gatti's widow can no longer be questioned at trial about the night before the boxing champion died.

Justice Claudine Roy agreed Friday with the lawyer for Amanda Rodrigues, who argued the events of that night are not relevant to the ongoing civil trial dealing with the late boxer's estate.

Rodrigues and the Gatti family are disputing who should get the estimated $3.4 million in Gatti's estate.

On Thursday, Rodrigues testified that a drunken Gatti hit her in public and was involved in a street brawl just hours before he died in a Brazilian resort in 2009.

Gatti was found dead the next morning in their vacation home. His family does not accept the conclusion of Brazilian authorities that he committed suicide.

The family also rejects the legitimacy of the will, signed weeks before his death, that left everything to Rodrigues.

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SPORTS - Gatti judge: No more testimony on night he died (AP)

SPORTS - Gatti judge: No more testimony on night he died (AP)

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SPORTS - Jones dominates Rampage Jackson to defend title (AP)

SPORTS - Jones dominates Rampage Jackson to defend title (AP)

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SPORTS - US rallies to tie Europe 8-all at Solheim Cup (AP)

SPORTS - US rallies to tie Europe 8-all at Solheim Cup (AP)

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SPORTS - Hiller returns, makes 21 saves for Ducks (AP)

SPORTS - Hiller returns, makes 21 saves for Ducks (AP)

• Play Video Olympics Video:Pope holds Mass in Germany Reuters
• Olympics Video:Olympic swimmer sells gold medals Australia 7 News

By EDDIE PELLS, AP National Writer Eddie Pells, Ap National Writer – Sat Sep 24, 4:04 pm ET

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Olympic Training Center, long idealized as the American athlete's home base in the quest for Olympic glory, is turning into a for-profit operation, offering space for corporate outings, swim clubs and other outsiders in an attempt to recoup some of the $21 million a year spent on the facilities.

The U.S. Olympic Committee runs three official Olympic Training Centers — in Colorado Springs, Lake Placid, N.Y., and Chula Vista, Calif.

Rulon Gardner has worked out there. So have Michael Phelps and Apolo Anton Ohno.

But as time has passed, fewer elite athletes have been full-time residents at the OTCs. Members of the women's gymnastics team, for instance, train in gyms across the country, then use Bela Karolyi's ranch in Texas as their base. Canoe and kayak has a training center in Oklahoma City. And most track and field athletes work out with their coaches at tracks across the country.

Recognizing this reality, the USOC wants the national governing bodies of the sports to detail their plans to use the OTCs in their yearly high-performance outlines. If the plans are in there, those athletes will have full access. If not, the USOC wants to make sure the space gets used and will put it up for rent. The USOC already has made $500,000 on the program this year.

"We want to make sure NGBs who need it have priority access to it," CEO Scott Blackmun said Saturday after the USOC's quarterly board meeting. "But after that, we want to do a better job of monetizing the excess capacity we have over there."

The USOC is spending $22 million, $16 million of which is provided by the city of Colorado Springs, to revamp the Colorado-based training center — an indication that the OTCs aren't going anywhere soon. The Springs center is connected to a visitor center that the USOC is also trying to overhaul in an attempt to draw more tourists.

But neither entity has fully lived up to its potential. Last year, only 13 percent of athletes who used OTCs were Olympic athletes, while 46 percent were not in the elite-athlete pipeline, and so, the odds of a tourist running into a star athlete during a visit have grown increasingly long over the years.

And as the allure of the training centers has declined for both athletes and fans, the USOC needs to find a way to keep them relevant and productive.

"It's an incredibly important asset for us, in terms of being able to communicate to the American people what the athletes are doing," Blackmun said.

The change in attitude about the training centers doesn't represent a shift in training philosophy, Blackmun said. The USOC will continue to fund training in whatever venues the sports and their athletes need.

"We just need to make sure the money we spend is being put to good use," he said. Blackmun said the latest change is part of a shift that has been taking place since the 1980s.

Other business at the board meeting included:

_The forming of a national governing body for golf, which will make its debut at the Olympics in 2016. The USA Golf Federation will be headquartered in St. Augustine, Fla., and will be made up of members of the PGA, PGA Tour, USGA and LPGA. USOC chairman Larry Probst said he imagines the golf federation will operate much like the U.S. Tennis Association, which is better known for its non-Olympic functions — including running the U.S. Open — than for its Olympic connection.

_Providing board members an update on the USOC's progress in revenue-sharing negotiations with the International Olympic Committee. Blackmun and Probst reiterated that no bid for a future Olympics can take place until this multimillion-dollar issue is worked out.

_Discussing plans for U.S. women's soccer players to travel to Japan on a goodwill trip later this year. The U.S. women lost to Japan in the final of the World Cup this summer.

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SPORTS - Giants eliminated from postseason contention (AP)

SPORTS - Giants eliminated from postseason contention (AP)

AP – World Champion Italy's Giorgia Bronzini celebrates winning the elite women road race over 140 kilometers …

– Sat Sep 24, 2:57 pm ET

HOLTE, Denmark – Defending world champion Giorgia Bronzini won the 87-mile world road race Saturday in a mass sprint finish.

The Italian finished in 3 hours, 21 minutes, 28 seconds, ahead of Marianne Vos of the Netherlands by a half wheel. Ina-Yoko Teutenberg of Germany was third.

"I have no words," an exhausted Bronzini said after the race.

Clara Hughes of Canada broke free of the peloton early but was caught in the final miles.

The peloton had stuck together for most of the race. After 63 miles, Namoi Cantele of Italy unsuccessfully attempted a breakout and the field ended more strung out in the hilly landscape north of Copenhagen.

U.S. rider Amber Neben made a push in the eighth lap. But Hughes, a former Olympic speedskater turned cyclist, took off. At one point, Hughes was 46 seconds ahead before being passed near the finish.

For the U.S., Theresa Cliff-Ryan was 18th, Shelley Olds was 22nd and Neben finished 73rd, 41 seconds back.

New Zealand's Linda Villumsen, who won silver in the time trial Tuesday, crashed with several riders near the final mile.

In the junior world championships road race, Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier of France won the sprint.

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SPORTS - NBA players not taking serious look overseas yet (AP)

SPORTS - NBA players not taking serious look overseas yet (AP)

AP – U.S. player Morgan Pressel reacts after winning her fourballs match against Europe on day two of the …

By BRIAN KEOGH, Associated Press Brian Keogh, Associated Press – Sat Sep 24, 4:30 pm ET

DUNSANY, Ireland – The United States staged a dramatic rally to win the afternoon fourball session 3-1 Saturday and tie Europe 8-all at the Solheim Cup.

The Americans rallied to win the last three matches, leaving the sides tied heading into the 12 singles matches on Sunday. The U.S. is trying to win its fourth consecutive Solheim Cup.

Europe won the morning foursomes to extend its lead to 7-5 over the Americans in the biennial match play competition.

Veteran Laura Davies became the all-time Solheim Cup points scorer at 24 1/2 when she teamed up with Melissa Reid to beat Americans Brittany Lang and Michelle Wie 4 and 3 and put Europe ahead 8-5 at Killeen Castle.

In 2005 and 2009 when the matches were tied going into the final day, the U.S. won the singles to lift the trophy. The U.S. needs 14 points to retain the Solheim Cup, while Europe needs 14 1/2 points to win for the first time since 2003.

"I thought we played with a lot of heart yesterday, but coming back and tying up the matches today was just really huge," U.S. captain Rosie Jones said.

U.S. rookie Stacy Lewis earned her first point when she teamed up with the fellow first-timer Ryann O'Toole to beat Sandra Gal and Christel Boeljon 2 and 1. O'Toole was regarded as a wildcard but proved herself by registering two and a half points.

"I feel very calm and confident," O'Toole said.

Morgan Pressel and Cristie Kerr reduced the lead to 8-7 when they beat Europe's top player Suzann Pettersen and impressive rookie Caroline Hedwall by one hole.

Pettersen holed a 40-foot birdie putt at the 16th to square the match, but Pressel sank a winning birdie at the next and the held on for the win at the last hole.

Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome completed the U.S. comeback when they rallied from one down at the turn to defeat Maria Hjorth and Azahara Munoz 3 and 1.

"Those last three points were huge for us," said Creamer, who has won three and a half points out of four this week. "Just the momentum, the team room will have a great vibe. We're all very pumped up. We want to do really well. Especially going into singles, we feel like everybody is where we want to be."

A four-time major winner, Davies overtook Annika Sorenstam to become the all-time Solheim Cup points scorer. Davies has won 24 1/2 points in 45 matches in 12 Solheim Cups, while Sorenstam won 24 points in 37 matches in eight appearances.

"It's nice to finally get past Annika, who obviously has a spectacular record," Davies said.

The 47-year-old Davies will face 51-year-old Juli Inkster in singles on Sunday.

"We've messed up the singles so many times," Davies said. "This time we need to go out there and not worry."

European captain Alison Nicholas agreed with those sentiments.

"I'm very confident in my players," she said. "I knew it was going to be all about (Sunday) anyway. I know they're pretty up for it, and they're feeling good."

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SPORTS - Richardson leads No. 3 Bama past No. 14 Ark 38-14 (AP)

SPORTS - Richardson leads No. 3 Bama past No. 14 Ark 38-14 (AP)

AP – Hunter Mahan hits from the greenside bunker on the 10th hole during the third round of the Tour Championship …

By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson, Ap Golf Writer – Sat Sep 24, 6:48 pm ET

ATLANTA – Aaron Baddeley wanted to make a good impression on Greg Norman with hopes of being picked for the Presidents Cup.

He wound up impressing a lot of people Saturday in the Tour Championship.

Baddeley holed out for eagle on the fourth hole, and then lit up the back nine of East Lake with four straight birdies on his way to a 6-under 64 that put him atop the leaderboard with Hunter Mahan.

Mahan holed a birdie putt just over 20 feet on the par-3 18th for a 66.

They were at 9-under 201, both poised to capture a meaningful cup — even if it isn't the same one.

Mahan is No. 21 in the FedEx Cup and didn't think he had a chance at the $10 million prize at the start of the week.

Of the top five players in the standings, however, only Luke Donald remains in serious contention, and Mahan learned when he finished his round that he was projected to win golf's richest prize.

"I honestly didn't think that was a possibility," Mahan said.

The Tour Championship suddenly is loaded with possibilities.

Jason Day recovered from a ragged start and had a 69, leaving him only two shots back. The 23-year-old Australian was tied with K.J. Choi, who also started poorly and shot 70.

Donald, the world No. 1 who still can add his name to the prestigious list of players to have captured the FedEx Cup, had a 70 and was only three shots behind.

Bill Haas, who had a chance to make the Presidents Cup team last week until a 42 on the back nine at Cog Hill, was among those tied for the lead until the final two holes. He went bunker-to-bunker on the 17th and had to scramble for bogey, and then hit his tee shot on the 18th into the crowd, missed a 4-foot putt and made double bogey.

Haas was followed by his father, Jay Haas, an assistant captain for the Presidents Cup. He had to settle for a 69 and was so steamed that he refused requests for interviews.

Ten players were separated by five shots — the margin by which Baddeley trailed going into the final round — and the group includes Phil Mickelson, who won this event two years ago. He had a 67 and was only four shots behind.

"I feel like the first three rounds, I had three possibilities of 63, 64 that I turned into 68, 69," Mickelson said. "If I can just not do that and keep it where I feel the round should be, I think I can make a run tomorrow."

The pressure is building on so many fronts going into Sunday, and while it's easy to focus on the $10 million to the winner of the FedEx Cup — $9 million of that in cash — for some it's a cup that doesn't pay anything.

Baddeley, a winner at Riviera early in the year, grew up in Melbourne and desperately wants to be part of his first Presidents Cup team at Royal Melbourne. He is among three Australians — Robert Allenby and John Senden are the others _under consideration for two of Norman's picks. They will be announced Tuesday.

Baddeley spoke to Norman at the start of the week and knew the Shark would be watching. It didn't make Baddeley nervous, it made him determined.

"For me, it's a motivator," Baddeley said. "I want to play good. I want to be on that team, so I knew I had to play well this week. It's time to bear down. I got some good work done on Tuesday and Wednesday, so I was ready for Thursday."

Most of that practice time was spent on putting. Baddeley is among the best in golf, though he felt something was missing. He worked on getting the club more balanced, paying particular attention to his right hand on the putter. He seems to have figured it out, making a 35-foot putt on No. 7, and a pair of 20-footers on the 14th and 15th.

The rest of his game was sharp, too. From 176 yards in a fairway bunker on the 13th, he stuffed a 7-iron to inside 10 feet for yet another birdie.

Mahan also got in some late practice, mainly trying to get the club more square at impact because of a change in his release since working with Sean Foley. He got into the picture by hitting his approach on the eighth to inside a foot, then drilled a fairway metal from 274 yards to 20 feet for an eagle on No. 9.

Throughout the day, the projections for who might win the FedEx Cup were like watching the stock market. As many as five players moved to the top, although nothing really matters until Sunday.

Webb Simpson is No. 1 on the list, and he finished with a birdie on the 18th to get into a tie for 15th. If he were to finish in the top 12, he could still claim the $10 million even if Mahan wins the Tour Championship.

"It's kind of weird," Mahan said. "I could still win — I could play flawless golf tomorrow, win by five — and finish fifth in FedEx Cup points. I could finish 10th in FedEx Cup points. It's one of those things where you can't even worry about it just because you can't do the math that fast."

Adam Scott remains hopeful, at least of the Tour Championship. He was in the lead until a 39 on the back nine, compounded by a three-putt double bogey on the 14th. He wound up with a 74 and was five shots behind.

"Very disappointing," Scott said. "Going to come tomorrow and have the round of my life, hopefully."

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SPORTS - Lee leads No. 2 LSU over No. 16 WVU 47-21 (AP)

SPORTS - Lee leads No. 2 LSU over No. 16 WVU 47-21 (AP)

AP – LSU's Jarrett Lee throws a pass against West Virginia during the first quarter of a NCAA college football …

By JOHN RABY, AP Sports Writer John Raby, Ap Sports Writer – 47 mins ago

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – LSU's opportunistic defense overcame a record performance from West Virginia's Geno Smith, and the Tigers made their case to replace Oklahoma as the No. 1 team in the nation.

Jarrett Lee had another solid performance with three touchdown passes, Michael Ford ran for two scores and LSU beat No. 16 West Virginia 47-21 Saturday night.

Now it's up to the voters to decide whether LSU deserves to move ahead of No. 1 Oklahoma, which came from 11 points down to beat Missouri 38-28 Saturday night.

LSU coach Les Miles doesn't believe the Tigers are there yet.

"I like the position we're in, but I don't think we're the best team in college football today," Miles said. "I think there is a hope and want and desire to be there. I don't know if we're good enough right now to do everything we want to do. That's putting the cart before the horse."

The Tigers (4-0) converted two of the four turnovers they created into scores, built a big early lead and withstood West Virginia's strong comeback for its third win over a ranked opponent this season, with all of three coming away from home. Every win so far has been by double digits.

West Virginia (3-1) outgained LSU 533-366. Smith set school records for completions (38), attempts (65) and passing yards (463). But he was intercepted twice after throwing one in the previous three games.

And for the second straight year, the Mountaineers (3-1) couldn't overcome a double-digit halftime deficit to the Tigers.

"We got down early and we came out in the second half and fought to the end," Smith said. "We learned that if we don't shoot ourselves in the foot, we can pretty much play with anybody."

Lee wasn't too shabby, either. His three TD passes tied a career high and matched his output of the three previous games. He finished 16 of 28 for 180 yards.

"Jarrett Lee played a good game," West Virginia defensive end Bruce Irvin said. "He managed the game well and he got their guys calm when we started to make a little run. He kept them together as a good quarterback does."

West Virginia couldn't pad its resume with a win over a Southeastern Conference opponent at a time when there's been speculation the SEC might be interested in the Mountaineers as a 14th school. Texas A&M is set become the 13th member when it leaves the Big 12 next season.

West Virginia hadn't given up this many points at home since a 46-44 triple-overtime win over Louisville in 2005.

Pinned deep by superb punting from Brad Wing, who averaged 49 yards on six kicks, West Virginia time after time stared at needing to drive the length of the field. The Mountaineers started six possessions inside their 15.

West Virginia hoped to get off to a fast start, but for the third time this season, that didn't happen.

LSU jumped ahead to stay with the help of two first-quarter turnovers and consistently won the battle of field position.

"They gave us some short fields early," Miles said. "We threw some balls and completed some balls because they were packing the line, and got off to a nice start."

Just before halftime, Tyrann Mathieu batted a pass into the air, caught it at the West Virginia 17 and ran to the 1. Lee found Chase Clement in the end zone two plays later to put the Tigers ahead 27-7. Lee also had first-half scoring tosses of 11 yards to Rueben Randle and 52 yards to Odell Beckham.

LSU missed a field goal and punted twice on its first three possessions after halftime, giving West Virginia a chance to close the gap.

Smith found tight end Tyler Urban from 12 yards out to cap an 80-yard drive on West Virginia's first possession of the third quarter, then found Austin on a 72-yard pass play on the next series to set up Dustin Garrison's 1-yard run to cut the deficit to 27-21 late in the third.

But Morris Claiborne returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, breaking two tackles along the way, to put LSU ahead by double digits to stay.

Spencer Ware ran for 92 yards on 23 carries. Ford had 82 yards, including TD runs of 22 and 15 yards.

Smith broke Mark Bulger's school records of 34 completions and 429 passing yards set against Missouri in the 1998 Insight.com Bowl. Gerald Fisher held the previous mark of 57 pass attempts against Maryland in 1951.

Austin caught 11 passes for 187 yards for the Mountaineers.

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SPORTS - Column: Floppers beware as NFL cracks down (AP)

SPORTS - Column: Floppers beware as NFL cracks down (AP)

AP – Utah Jazz's Gordon Hayward signs autographs for fans before the start of a Indy Pro Am Lockout League …

By MICHAEL MAROT, AP Sports Writer Michael Marot, Ap Sports Writer – Sat Sep 24, 10:10 pm ET

INDIANAPOLIS – John Wall isn't taking his game overseas yet.

If the NBA lockout continues to drag on, well, he just might.

"Maybe down the road, but not right now," the former No. 1 overall pick said Saturday night when asked about the possibility before a loosely organized exhibition game in Indianapolis.

One day after league officials announced the postponement of training camp and the cancellation of 43 preseason games, 16 NBA players participated in a game that could become the new normal for NBA fans. Most participants played high school, college or pro ball near Indianapolis.

The game, of course, came without many of the NBA's usual trimmings.

Instead of thousands of fans, only a few hundred showed up at the University of Indianapolis, a Division II school that will be the practice site for this year's Super Bowl team from the NFC.

Instead of hearing a live person sing the National Anthem, a recording was played over the public address system.

Instead of wearing clearly distinguishing colors, the team with black jerseys was told to turn theirs inside out just before tip-off in an effort to delineate themselves from the navy blue team.

And instead of making money, the proceeds from Saturday's Indy Pro Am Lockout League game will benefit foundations headed by new Pacers player George Hill, former Indiana Mr. Basketball Eric Gordon and WNBA MVP Tamika Catchings.

Officials wore gray shirts with an NBA logo but were not sanctioned by the league, and team officials were not allowed to attend.

Players will take it, for now.

"I don't know how many games we'll miss or how long we'll be locked out," Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague said. "But this going to have to do because it's the only way to play against the best talent and be at an NBA level when it (the lockout) ends."

Nobody's sure when the lockout will end, so players are taking precautions.

Five of them told The Associated Press they are carrying insurance to cover any potential injuries during the lockout, and that's not the only way they're protecting themselves.

"The best thing about games like this is that all the guys realize you have careers," former Butler star and current Utah Jazz player Gordon Hayward said. "So we're not going to do something stupid."

Perhaps that accounted for the lack of defense Saturday night.

The blue team, Goodman League, won 170-167. Wall had 41 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds. DeMarcus Cousins had 33 points and 15 rebounds. Gordon led the Knox team with 40 points and nine assists. All but three of the 16 players reached double figures.

Whether it was Wall, the Washington Wizards point guard, or Eric Gordon, who plays for the Los Angeles Clippers, the key concern was staying in shape, to be ready for the return of NBA ball.

The players said they aren't even sure the league owners know what they want in a new deal.

"That's what it seems like from what I've seen in the media and from what I hear," Gordon said. "It's going to take a collective agreement by everybody to get this thing settled."

In the meantime, they'll continue working on their own.

Hayward is going through his training at St.Vincent Sports Performance in Indy. Some are working in groups, and others are playing in games like this, where there are almost as many smiles as dunks. Teague plans to return to Atlanta next week, where he will continue playing pro am games.

But each player has his own primary concern.

Josh McRoberts, an Indiana native who played with the Pacers last season, is a free agent who hasn't been able to negotiate a new deal. Shelvin Mack left Butler after his junior season, was selected by Washington in the second round of this year's NBA draft and is still unsigned.

"It's kind of tough," Mack said. "We've got things like this so we can still work on our skills, but you'd really like to get back to work."

For some players, that could come sooner — if they decide to move overseas. Kobe Bryant has been offered a $6.7 million, one-season contract to play for the Italian team Virtus Bologna.

Gordon said that while he's had offers, he's not jumping at the chance and neither is D.J. White, the former Indiana star who now plays for Charlotte.

"I've really not thought much about it," White said. "You really just want to work on your game and we'll see what happens. It's hard to put a time table (on deciding to play overseas)."

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SPORTS - No. 7 Oklahoma St rallies to 30-29 win over A&M (AP)

SPORTS - No. 7 Oklahoma St rallies to 30-29 win over A&M (AP)

AP – Alabama tight end Michael Williams (89) catches a pass on a fake field goal and runs it in for a touchdown …

By JOHN ZENOR, AP Sports Writer John Zenor, Ap Sports Writer – Sat Sep 24, 9:56 pm ET

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 3 Alabama turned the showdown with the Southeastern Conference's No. 1 offense into a showcase for the top defense. And the Crimson Tide's special teams.

Trent Richardson, too, of course.

Richardson rushed for 120 yards and caught a 61-yard touchdown pass and the Tide defense pretty much unplugged No. 14 Arkansas' normally high-powered passing game in a 38-14 win on Saturday.

The Tide (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) scored on special teams, defense and using the old-fashioned power run to emphatically win a game that the Razorbacks (3-1, 0-1) hoped would stamp them as legitimate contenders in the SEC.

Instead, the league's top defense thoroughly overpowered Tyler Wilson and the No. 1 offense.

"Well, we set out to establish that we were going against the best offense in the SEC and a lot of people were labeling us as the best defense in the SEC," Alabama linebacker Dont'a Hightower said. "So we wanted to go out and show people what we were capable of with all cylinders turning."

The result looked a lot like the Tide's 2009 national championship defense. Alabama had 10 tackles for loss, two interceptions, six pass breakups and four quarterback hurries. The downside: Linebacker C.J. Mosley sustained an elbow injury, and Saban said he is questionable for next weekend's game at No. 15 Florida.

Tide quarterback AJ McCarron also came up big in his first SEC start. He completed 15 of 20 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

Marquis Maze scored on an 83-yard punt return and DeQuan Menzie returned an interception 25 yards for another score. McCarron, also the holder, hooked up with tight end Michael Williams for a 37-yard touchdown on a fake field goal.

There was also a clear winner in the showdown between Bobby Petrino's passing game and Saban's defense.

The Razorbacks came in averaging 47 points and 517 yards a game against questionable competition, but didn't muster many threats this time.

They managed just 17 yards on 19 rushes and were outgained 397-226.

Wilson sat out most of the fourth quarter after completing 22 of 35 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns under near-constant pressure. Alabama defenders seemed to sniff out every screen and swing pass to his dangerous receivers for little or no gain.

Ronnie Wingo, who rushed for 109 yards against Troy, gained 14 yards on nine carries.

"They beat us in all three phases of the game," Petrino said. "In the first half, I thought our defense did a great job of keeping us in the game with the goal-line stand. That gave us a chance to come out in the second half and do something offensively but we just couldn't do it. They made big plays and we didn't."

Richardson had his third straight 100-yard game and also caught three passes for 85 yards, including the screen that went the distance. Backfield mate Eddie Lacy ran for 61 yards and punctuated the win with a 4-yard touchdown late in the third for the final points. It was the first rushing score allowed by Arkansas this season.

The Tide found plenty of flashier paths to the end zone, though. The result was a 17-7 halftime lead that was never threatened by the Razorbacks.

First, Alabama lined up for a 54-yard field goal on fourth-and-4 before McCarron shifted back and took the snap. He rolled left and lofted the ball to a wide-open Williams on the Tide's opening drive. It set the tone nicely for a game when just about everything seemed to go right for Alabama even though Arkansas tied it by the end of the first quarter.

Williams said the Tide had been practicing the play for about two years.

"We've been practicing it for a long time but I just finally said today the first time we got in field goal range, whether we were ahead 21 or behind 21, we were going to run it," Saban said.

The Arkansas defense salvaged some momentum in the second at the end of a 15-play drive, stuffing three straight runs from the goal line to force a field goal.

"We pinned our ears back and got after them," Arkansas linebacker Alonzo Highsmith said. "For a defense, that's the best thing in the world. At that point, we had the momentum and were feeling good about ourselves."

It proved a small and temporary victory.

Three plays later, Wilson's errant pass hit Menzie on his right forearm and bounced right back into the cornerback's arms for a 25-yard interception return to push the lead to double digits.

"We knew they were going to try to take a chance to get momentum back," Menzie said. "I just got in my zone and I saw the ball. They'd been on me all day because I dropped (an earlier chance) so I had to go make the play on the second one."

Maze squirted out of a couple of tackles on a punt return en route to an 83-yard punt return in the third.

McCarron then barely cleared a defensive lineman on a swing pass to Richardson, who sprinted to the end zone to make it 31-7.

Despite heavy pressure, Wilson responded quickly with a 39-yarder down the left sideline to Wingo and a 19-yarder to Cobi Hamilton in the back of the end zone. He was pounded an instant after making both throws.

"We've got to run the ball better and to throw it around better," Wilson said. "They brought a lot of pressure, and we've got to handle it better.

"They're a great football team."

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SPORTS - Broyles leads No. 1 Sooners' rally for 38-28 win (AP)

SPORTS - Broyles leads No. 1 Sooners' rally for 38-28 win (AP)

AP – Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden (3) throws a pass as he is pressured by Texas A&M defensive …

By KRISTIE RIEKEN, AP Sports Writer Kristie Rieken, Ap Sports Writer – Sat Sep 24, 9:11 pm ET

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Oklahoma State didn't panic when it was down by 17 points to eighth-ranked Texas A&M at halftime on Saturday.

It wasn't anything new to the seventh-ranked Cowboys, after they bounced back from a big first-half deficit last year to beat the Aggies.

Brandon Weeden threw for a school-record 438 yards and two scores and Justin Blackmon and Josh Cooper combined for 244 yards receiving as Oklahoma State rallied for a 30-29 win over Texas A&M.

"We came out confident in the second half," Blackmon said. "We knew we could come back if we played our game and executed the game plan (and) that's what we did."

The Aggies built a 20-3 halftime lead before the Cowboys (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) took advantage of three Texas A&M turnovers and numerous penalties to reel off 27 straight points to take a 30-20 lead.

"The way they handled that situation was beautiful," Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said of his team's second half. "And the win makes it's special. The way they fought back as a group shows a lot about their character and who they are."

Jeff Fuller caught a 4-yard touchdown pass with 2:20 remaining for A&M's first score since the second quarter to get A&M within 30-27.

A&M's defense forced a punt and the Aggies (2-1, 0-1) got the ball back with almost two minutes remaining, but Ryan Tannehill threw his third interception to seal the Cowboys' win.

Blackmon ran 39 yards into A&M's end zone for a safety as time expired to finish off the victory.

Oklahoma State won its fourth straight in the series and its seventh overall on the road in the first top 10 matchup at Kyle Field since 1975. It marks the first time the Cowboys have won consecutive games in College Station.

It could be the last time these teams meet in conference play with the Aggies likely headed to the Southeastern Conference next season. It was a fact not lost on the few Oklahoma State fans in attendance who chanted, "Big 12, Big 12" as the final seconds of the game ticked away.

The matchup was oddly similar to last year's matchup between these teams when A&M led 21-7 at halftime before errors led to a 38-35 Oklahoma State win in Stillwater.

The Aggies talked about what happened last year in hopes that they wouldn't suffer the same fate on Saturday. It didn't help.

"We gave the game away," Aggies safety Hunter said. "We didn't step up and play with the same passion we did in the first half. We weren't going out with that same fire and we weren't ready to fight. Regardless of what they did in the second half ... we just didn't go out and want to win."

Texas A&M kept Oklahoma State's high-powered offense in check through the first two quarters, but looked frazzled and tired dealing with its frenetic pace after halftime.

"They did a nice job of coming out in the second half and changing the tempo of the game and taking advantage of it," Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman said. "They kind of had us on our heels."

Several Texas A&M players had cramps and some had to receive IVs at halftime.

Jeremy Smith ran untouched into the end zone on a 13-yard run that cut the lead to 20-10 early in the third quarter. Blackmon's TD catch got the Cowboys within three and they took a 24-20 lead when Weeden found Tracy Moore on a 4-yard pass after an A&M fumble.

Quinn Sharp added two short field goals in the fourth quarter to extend the lead.

Tannehill threw for 309 yards and two scores and ran for another touchdown and Ryan Swope had 105 yards receiving for A&M.

Cooper had 11 catches for 123 yards — both career highs, Blackmon had 11 receptions for 121 yards, and Hubert Anyiam had 10 receptions for 92 yards. It was the first time in school history that three receivers had at least 10 catches in a game. Before Saturday, the Cowboys had never had more than one player with 10 catches in a game.

On Blackmon's score in the third quarter, Weeden found him in the corner of the end zone, but he dropped the ball well out of bounds and officials first said it was an incomplete pass. Blackmon yelled at an official that it was a touchdown as he walked away and after a review, the star receiver ended up being right. It was an 11-yard touchdown pass and Oklahoma was within 20-17.

The Cowboys were helped earlier in that drive when A&M's Jonathan Stewart hit Anyiam when he was out of bounds and the penalty tacked on 13 yards to the 9-yard reception.

Kenric McNeal caught a 33-yard pass from Tannehill on the second play of A&M's next drive, but fumbled, giving the Cowboys the ball right back.

They took advantage of the error and got their first lead of the game, 24-20, when Weeden hit Moore in the back of the end zone for the TD.

"At halftime we didn't change anything, we just started executing and things started going our way," said Weeden, who also set school records for his 47 completions and 60 attempts on Saturday. "Our guys did a great job up front. In the second half things started clicking."

On a repeat of their last drive, Texas A&M just got one play in before turning the ball over on the second. This time Tannehill was intercepted by Brodrick Brown.

The Aggies caught a break, though when Blackmon caught an 8-yard pass and was heading toward the end zone when he fumbled at the 2-yard line and the ball rolled out of the back of the end zone for a touchback.

But Texas A&M didn't get anything out of it when Tannehill threw another interception on the next drive which Oklahoma State converted into a short field goal that pushed the lead to 27-20 early in the fourth quarter.

Tannehill got A&M going on the fourth play of the game when he faked a handoff to Cyrus Gray and dashed 65 yards up the middle for a touchdown to make it 7-0.

The Aggies put together a 10-play, 86-yard drive capped by a 17-yard touchdown pass to Fuller to go up 17-3 early in the second quarter.

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SPORTS - LSU makes case for No. 1 against WVU (AP)

SPORTS - LSU makes case for No. 1 against WVU (AP)

AP – Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden (3) throws a pass as he is pressured by Texas A&M defensive …

By The Associated Press The Associated Press – 1 hr 10 mins ago

No. 2 looked more like No. 1 on Saturday night.

Second-ranked LSU pulled away from No. 16 West Virginia for a 47-21 victory, the Tigers' third decisive win away from home this season.

Meanwhile, No. 1 Oklahoma fell behind early and withstood a late push from Missouri to come away with a 38-28 victory.

Ryan Broyles finished with 13 receptions for 154 yards and three touchdowns for the Sooners, who have been No. 1 since the preseason, but might be looking at relinquishing that to LSU.

The Tigers' defense allowed 463 passing to Geno Smith, but also forced four turnovers and got a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Morris Claiborne.

Oklahoma had 37 first-place votes in the AP Top 25 last week to LSU's 14.

No. 1 Oklahoma 38, Missouri 28

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Landry Jones threw for 448 yards and three touchdowns to Ryan Broyles, leading Oklahoma back from a rare home deficit.

With two starting receivers out of the lineup, Broyles had to play up to his usual All-American standard without proven sidekicks. Kenny Stills, who caught the go-ahead touchdown in a win at then-No. 5 Florida State last week, was out with a head injury and Trey Franks is suspended indefinitely.

The Sooners roared back with 28 straight points to avenge a loss in Columbia last year when they were first in the BCS standings and move their home winning streak to 38 straight games.

The Tigers (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) pounced early to take a 14-3 first-quarter lead, breaking a streak of 20 straight home games in which Oklahoma (3-0, 1-0) never trailed.

No. 2 LSU 47, No. 16 West Virginia 21

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Jarrett Lee threw three touchdown passes, Michael Ford ran for two scores and LSU beating West Virginia.

The Tigers (4-0) converted two turnovers into scores, built a big early lead and withstood West Virginia's strong comeback for its third win over a ranked opponent this season, with all of three coming away from home. Every win so far has been by double digits.

Lee's three TD passes tied a career high and matched his output of the three previous games. He finished 16 of 28 for 180 yards.

West Virginia (3-1) outgained LSU 533-366. West Virginia's Geno Smith set school records for completions (38), attempts (65) and passing yards (463). But he was intercepted twice after making one in the previous three games.

No. 3 Alabama 38, No. 14 Arkansas 14

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — The Crimson Tide scored on special teams, defense and using the old-fashioned power run to emphatically win the SEC West showdown.

AJ McCarron completed 15 of 20 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns, including a 37-yard TD pass to Michael Williams on a fake field goal for the Tide (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference).

Marquis Maze scored on an 83-yard punt return and DeQuan Menzie returned an interception 25 yards for another score.

Tyler Wilson sat out most of the fourth quarter after completing 22 of 35 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns for Arkansas (3-1, 0-1).

No. 4 Boise State 41, Tulsa 21

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Kellen Moore tossed four touchdown passes, a pair to Tyler Shoemaker, in less than 2 1/2 quarters and Jerrell Givens had two interceptions for Boise State in its home opener.

The Broncos (3-0) won their 33rd consecutive regular season home game and led 27-0 at the break.

Tulsa (1-3) concluded a brutal early season stretch that featured a game at No. 1 Oklahoma and last week's wacky 59-33 loss at home to No. 7 Oklahoma State that didn't kickoff until after midnight early Sunday morning.

No. 6 Wisconsin 59, South Dakota 10

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Nick Toon had a career-high 155 yards receiving and two touchdowns in Wisconsin's final tune-up for Nebraska at Camp Randall next week.

Wisconsin (4-0) recovered from a slow start to take control of the game with a 21-point outburst in the final six minutes of the second quarter.

James White had a 49-yard touchdown run, Toon scored on a 59-yard catch-and-run from quarterback Russell Wilson and Toon added another score with 12 seconds left to send Wisconsin into halftime with a 31-3 lead.

Wilson had another big day for the Badgers, completing 19 of 25 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns before taking a seat in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Dante Warren struggled for South Dakota (2-2), a Football Championship Subdivision school. He eventually was replaced by Josh Vander Maten, who led the Coyotes to a late score.

No. 9 Nebraska 38, Wyoming 14

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — Rex Burkhead rushed for two touchdowns and a career-high 170 yards, Taylor Martinez threw for 157 yards and a score to lead Nebraska.

The Huskers (4-0) rolled up 490 yards total offense, including 333 on the ground, in their first road game of the season and last game before their highly anticipated Big Ten opener at Wisconsin next weekend.

Burkhead had TD runs of 45 and 16 yards. He carried the ball 15 times for an average of 11.3 yards per rush. His previous career rushing high was 129 yards against Iowa State in 2010.

Wyoming (3-1) was led by quarterback Brett Smith, who passed for 166 yards and two scores.

No. 21 Clemson 35, No. 11 Florida State 30

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Tajh Boyd threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as Clemson opened Atlantic Coast Conference play with a victory.

Boyd threw for 344 yards for the Tigers, who reached 4-0 for the first time since 2007. Freshman Sammy Watkins had two of Boyd's scoring passes for 24 and 62 yards as Clemson beat the Seminoles (2-2, 0-1) for the fifth straight time in Death Valley.

Watkins finished with eight catches for 141 yards, his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game.

Florida State played without starting quarterback EJ Manuel, hurt in last week's 23-13 loss to top-ranked Oklahoma. Backup Clint Trickett kept the Seminoles in this, though, with 336 yards and three touchdown passes.

No. 12 South Carolina 21, Vanderbilt 3

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Marcus Lattimore scored two touchdowns and had 150 total yards from scrimmage to lead South Carolina.

The Gamecocks (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) won on defense, holding the Commodores (3-1, 1-1) to 77 yards.

South Carolina is 4-0 for the first time in coach Steve Spurrier's seven years with the team.

Stephen Garcia threw four interceptions for South Carolina, but defensive end Melvin Ingram has scored his third TD of the season. Ingram recovered a teammate's fumble in the end zone to go with two sacks, a tackle for an 8-yard loss and swatted away a pass.

No. 13 Virginia Tech 30, Marshall 10

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — David Wilson rushed for 132 yards, Josh Oglesby scored two touchdowns and Virginia Tech won its final tuneup before opening Atlantic Coast Conference play against Clemson.

It was another lackluster win over an opponent from a non-BCS conference for the Hokies, who are off to their first 4-0 start since 2006.

Virginia Tech displayed some big-play ability and kept the turnover-prone Thundering Herd (1-3) in their own end for much of the game. But Marshall continued to expose Tech's vulnerabilities in the worrisome way East Carolina and Arkansas State did earlier this season.

No. 15 Florida 48, Kentucky 10

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Jeff Demps ran 10 times for 157 yards and two touchdowns as Florida beat Kentucky for the 25th straight time.

Florida (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) scored three touchdowns in a 4:31 span during the first quarter, taking advantage of two turnovers by Kentucky (2-2, 0-1). Trey Burton had a 1-yard touchdown run that put the Gators up 21-0.

Demps had an 84-yard touchdown run, Florida's longest since Emmitt Smith's 96 yarder against Mississippi State in 1988. Chris Raney added 105 yards, and John Brantley was 8 for 14 for 115 yards and a score.

Kentucky's lone touchdown came after an interception thrown by backup Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel. Morgan Newton, who was 16-of-33 for 124 and two interceptions, threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to La'Rod King with 1:18 before halftime to cut the Gators' lead to 31-10.

No. 17 Baylor 56, Rice 31

WACO, Texas (AP) — Robert Griffin III threw five touchdown passes and ran for another score to lead Baylor.

Griffin was 29 of 33 for 338 yards, upping his season totals to 13 touchdowns and 12 incompletions, and he didn't play in the fourth quarter. He came into the game leading the nation in passing efficiency and third in total yards.

Further boosting his Heisman Trophy credentials, Griffin ran for 51 yards and even punted once, on a quick kick, for 39 yards. His TD throws were caught by five different receivers.

Griffin led Baylor to touchdowns on five straight drives in the first half, putting the Bears (3-0) ahead 35-7.

The Owls (2-1) were coming off a win against Purdue, their first against a team from a BCS conference since 2001.

No. 18 USF 52, UTEP 24

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — B.J. Daniels threw for 202 yards and ran for 130 more for South Florida (4-0).

Daniels scored on a 71-yard run on the Bulls' second offensive play and threw touchdown passes of 54 and 18 yards to Lindsey Lamar in the second half. The junior's long TD burst was the fourth-longest in USF's relatively brief football history, and receiver Victor Marc's 67-yard scoring run later in the opening quarter was the fifth-longest.

UTEP (2-2) played without several key players sidelined with injuries, including starting quarterback Nick Lamaison, safety Travaun Nixon and defensive lineman Germard Reed.

No. 20 TCU 55, Portland State 13

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — TCU scored three touchdowns in a span of 1:18 just before halftime and Waymon James ran 65 yards for a score on the first play of the second half as the Horned Frogs won easily.

The Horned Frogs (3-1) extended a school record with their 22nd consecutive win at home. But they were still tied 3-3 with the lower-division FCS team until finally busting loose just before halftime.

Casey Pachall threw a short pass to Josh Boyce, who turned upfield to find a wide-open lane for a 66-yard touchdown with 1:55 left.

Portland State (1-2) took only one snap after that before Tank Carder's 26-yard interception return for a TD. After the Vikings went three-and-out on their next possession, Skye Dawson followed his 42-yard punt return with a 10-yard TD catch for a 24-3 halftime lead.

James also had an 82-yard kickoff return for a score.

No. 22 Michigan 28, San Diego State 7

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Denard Robinson ran for a season-high 200 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Wolverines past Michigan coach Brady Hoke's former team.

Robinson ran 21 times and reached 200 yards rushing for the third time in his career for Michigan (4-0). He matched his career high with three rushing scores and did it in one half for the first time.

San Diego State (3-1) had won its first three games for the first time since 1981, Ryan Lindley and the offense started slowly against Michigan. Lindley completed 23 of 48 passes for 253 yards and a TD. Ronnie Hillman ran for 109 yards on 21 carries.

No. 24 Illinois 23, Western Michigan 20

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Troy Pollard ran for a career-high 133 yards and Derek Dimke kicked three field goals as Illinois survived.

The Illini trailed at the half 13-10 and the game was tied 20-20 with less than nine minutes to play. Booing Illini fans recalled a 23-17 loss to the Broncos (2-2) the last time the teams met in 2008.

Pollard's 49-yard burst midway through the fourth quarter set up a 21-yard Dimke field goal that gave the Illini (4-0) the three-point lead they wouldn't give up.

Alex Carder was 30 of 48 with two touchdowns, 306 yards and one interception. His second-quarter scoring pass to Chleb Ravenell gave the Broncos their halftime lead. Jordan White caught 14 passes for 132 yards and a third-quarter touchdown that tied the game at 20.

No. 25 Georgia Tech 35, North Carolina 28

ATLANTA (AP) — Tevin Washington threw a long touchdown pass and ran for two scores, including a 5-yarder that gave Georgia Tech a 4-0 start.

The Tar Heels (3-1, 1-1 ACC) fought back from a 28-14 deficit, tying the game on freshman Giovani Bernard's 55-yard run with 7:22 left. Georgia Tech (4-0, 1-0) needed only four plays to respond.

Roddy Jones reached out to take a pitch from Washington that looked too far in front of the running back, going 48 yards down the sideline to the North Carolina 9. Two snaps later, Washington took it in for the winning score with 5:20 left.

Stephen Hill had a huge game for Georgia Tech with six receptions for 151 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown. Bernard rushed for 155 yards and two TDs.

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