STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Casey Washington caught a 2-point conversion pass from Brandon Peters to end the first nine-overtime game in NCAA history and lift Illinois over No. 7 Penn State 20-18. The teams were tied at 10 after regulation, exchanged field goals in the first two overtimes, then began to alternate 2-point attempts in the third OT as part of a format tweaked ahead of the 2021 season. Neither team converted until the eighth overtime when Isaiah Williams ran one in to put Illinois up 18-16. Noah Cain kept the game alive with a 2-point run of his own before Peters and Washington combined to end it in the ninth OT.
Elsewhere in college football:
— The nation’s second and third-ranked teams struggled on Saturday before remaining unbeaten. Arquon Bush picked off a pass with 25 seconds remaining to secure second-ranked Cincinnati’s 27-20 victory at Navy. The 7-0 Bearcats appeared in control until the Midshipman scored a touchdown and recovered the onside kick with 48 seconds remaining. Desmond Ridder threw for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Jerome Ford’s 43-yard touchdown run made it 20-10 in the third quarter as the Bearcats scored on four straight possessions.
— Third-ranked Oklahoma overcame a sluggish first half by outscoring Kansas, 35-13 in the second of a 35-23 win over the Jayhawks. Caleb Williams threw for two touchdowns and ran 40 yards for a score on a pivotal fourth down play. A 66-yard run by Trevon West set up the Sooners’ go-ahead TD early in the fourth quarter. Jason Bean passed for 246 yards and a score for Kansas, which led 17-7 late in the third quarter before Oklahoma moved to 8-0.
— The eighth-ranked team also suffered an upset as Brock Purdy threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns to help Iowa State beat Oklahoma State, 24-21. Breece Hall scored the go-ahead touchdown with 5:29 left, then the Cyclones’ defense forced a three-and-out and stopped the Cowboys on fourth down with 1:09 left. Purdy completed 27 of 33 passes, and Xavier Hutchinson had a career-best 12 catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns for the Cyclones.
— Bryce Young threw for two touchdowns and ran for two others in fourth-ranked Alabama’s romp over Tennessee, 52-24. Young was 31 of 43 for 371 yards and turned five of his scrambles into TDs or first downs. Brian Robinson ran for 107 yards and three touchdowns for the Crimson Tide, who scored 21 points in the first six-plus minutes of the fourth quarter.
— C.J. Stroud threw four touchdown passes and TreVeyon Henderson scored three times in leading No. 5 Ohio State to a 54-7 rout at Indiana. The Buckeyes scored the final 37 points of the first half, allowing coach Ryan Day to pull his starters after three quarters.
— Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins combined for 229 yards rushing and four touchdowns as sixth-ranked Michigan took care of Northwestern, 33-7. Corum finished with 119 yards rushing and two touchdowns for the Wolverines. Haskins ran for 110 yards and two scores. Michigan outscored the Wildcats, 23-0 over the first 17 minutes of the second half.
— No. 10 Oregon was a 34-31 winner over UCLA as Travis Dye became the first player in Football Bowl Subdivision history to score touchdowns on four consecutive carries. Dye finished with 35 yards on 14 carries for the Ducks, who trailed 14-0. Anthony Brown had 381 yards of total offense for the 6-1 Ducks.
— Matt Corral (koh-RAL’) threw for a touchdown and ran for another while 12th-ranked Mississippi scored 31 straight points in a 31-17 victory against LSU. The Rebels had 470 yards of total offense against the Tigers, LSU’s first game since it was learned that head coach Ed Orgeron would leave at the end of the season.
— Kyren Williams ran for a season-high 138 yards and two short touchdowns on 25 carries in Notre Dame’s 31-16 victory against Southern Cal. Williams had a 1-yard run late in the third quarter to put the 13th-ranked Irish up 24-3 en route to their fourth straight victory in the 92-game series.
— No. 16 Wake Forest won a shootout as Sam Hartman threw for a career-high 458 yards and five touchdowns in a 70-56 win against Army. Hartman also ran for a TD and had scoring passes of 41, 54, and two of 75 yards as he matched the Michie (MY’-kee) Stadium record for touchdown throws.
— Ainias (ay-NEE’-ahs) Smith had a 95-yard punt return for a touchdown and Jalen Wydermyer added two TD catches as No. 17 Texas A&M clobbered South Carolina, 44-14. The star rushing duo of Isaiah Spiller and Devone Achane combined for 256 yards and two touchdowns.
— Miami posted a 31-30 victory against No. 18 N.C. State as Tyler Van Dyke passed for 325 yards and four touchdowns. Charleston Rambo had two scoring receptions and Jaylan Knighton totaled 166 total yards, 83 apiece on the ground and through the air.
— Kaegun Williams and Chance Bell ran for touchdowns and 22nd-rated San Diego State withstood Air Force’s comeback bid to win, 20-14.
— Kenny Pickett threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns as 23rd-ranked Pittsburgh topped Clemson, 27-17.
— Frank Harris threw two touchdown passes to Zakhari Franklin and No. 24 UTSA celebrated its first national ranking with a 45-16 victory over Louisiana Tech.
— Chez Mellusi ran for 149 yards and a touchdown, while Braelon Allen had 140 yards on the ground and two scores to help Wisconsin beat No. 25 Purdue, 30-13.
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