DETROIT (AP) — Quarterback Rocky Lombardi ran for three touchdowns and Jay Ducker ran for 146 yards on 29 carries to power Northern Illinois to a 41-23 victory over Kent State in the Mid-American Conference title game. Dustin Crum, the MAC’s most valuable player this season, was intercepted by C.J. Brown who returned it 26 yards for a touchdown as the Huskies went ahead 24-3. The Golden Flashes cut the deficit to 24-10 with 27 seconds left in the third quarter when Crum hit Nykeim Johnson on a 17-yard scoring strike. The Huskies ended Kent State’s comeback hopes when Lombardi scored on a 3-yard keeper with 10:54 left making it 31-10.
Also in Illinois:
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Quarterback Cam Miller ran for two scores, TaMerik Williams tallied 112 yards rushing and two scoring runs, and second-seeded North Dakota State was never threatened in a 38-7 win in the second round of the FCS playoffs. The Bison advance to play No. 7-seed East Tennessee State. North Dakota established a 10-0 lead after the first quarter when Miller ran it in from the 9-yard line to complete a nine-play, 83-yard drive. Jake Reinholz then kicked a 20-yard field goal with 1:58 left in the first. Nic Baker threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Landon Lenoir six seconds into the second and the Salukis were within three. But the Bison established two sustained scoring drives that broke Southern Illinois’ will.
Elsewhere in college football:
— Bryce Young stunningly carved up the nation’s best defense, giving Nick Saban and Alabama a shot at another national championship. Young threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide (No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings) rolled over No. 1 Georgia 41-24 in the Southeastern Conference championship game. The result likely sends both powerhouse programs to the four-team College Football Playoff, which will be announced Sunday. Georgia cruised through the regular season with a 12-0 record, barely challenged, and a unanimous choice as the nation’s No. 1 team for the past two months. But the Bulldogs were blown away by Young’s wizardry.
— No. 2 Michigan captured its first Big Ten title in 17 years and a probable playoff berth with a 42-3 rout over No. 15 Iowa. Hassan Haskins broke open the game with a 4-yard TD run midway through the third quarter then sealed the victory by becoming the first Michigan running back to score 20 TDs in a single season on a 1-yard run early in the fourth. In the first quarter, quarterback Cade McNamara lateraled to running back Donavan Edwards and the freshman threw a perfect pass to a wide open Roman Wilson for a 75-yard score and a 14-0 lead.
— Cincinnati stands as the only remaining undefeated team in the AP top 25, after rolling past No. 16 Houston 35-20 to win the American Athletic Conference championship game. Jerome Ford rushed for 187 yards and two touchdowns and Desmond Ridder threw three touchdown passes as the No. 3 (CFP No. 4) Bearcats broke open a close game in the third quarter. Cincinnati firmed up their position as they hope to become the first non-Power 5 team to qualify for the College Football Playoff.
— Baylor has proven to be the killer of hope for fellow Big-12 teams with College Football playoff aspirations. The Bears defense held as Oklahoma State’s Dezmon Jackson came up inches short on a desperate, fourth-down dive with 24 seconds remaining, as No. 9 Baylor beat the fifth-ranked Cowboys, 21-16, to win the Big 12 championship. Quarterback Blake Shapen threw three TDs, starting again for injured Gerry Bohanon.
— The No. 17 Panthers beat No. 18 Wake Forest 45-21 in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. Kenny Pickett accounted for three touchdowns and Erick Hallett II returned one of Pittsburgh’s four interceptions for a touchdown.
— Utah State won its first Mountain West Conference title with a 46-13 rout of No. 19 San Diego State. Brandon Bowling caught two touchdown passes from Logan Bonner during the decisive third quarter as the Aggies improved to 10-3.
— No. 20 Louisiana-Lafayette capped off soon-to-be Florida coach Billy Napier’s time with the Ragin’ Cajuns by defeating Appalachian State 24-16 in the Sun Belt Conference championship game. Levi Lewis scored on a career-high 56-yard run and passed for another touchdown.
