NCAA Football Top 10 Review

(1) USC 49, (14) NEBRASKA 31 ----------------------------
LINCOLN, Nebraska (Ticker) -- Southern California gave the nation a first-hand look at why it is the top-ranked team in college football. Stafon Johnson rushed for a career-high 144 yards as the Trojans steamrolled No. 14 Nebraska, 49-31, in a nationally televised game. Southern Cal (2-0) looked well-rested coming off a bye last week, grinding out 312 total rushing yards in a game billed as a showdown between two of the sport's most-storied programs. Nebraska (2-1) came out emotionally charged in the first quarter and grabbed a 10-7 advantage - its only lead of the game - six minutes into the second on Alex Henery's 37-yard field goal. But the Trojans outclassed the Cornhuskers from there, racing for 35 consecutive points to turn this one into a laugher.

(3) OKLAHOMA 54, UTAH ST 3 --------------------------
NORMAN, Oklahoma (Ticker) -- Third-ranked Oklahoma scored on its first three possessions and never looked back, rolling to a 54-3 victory against overmatched Utah State. The Sooners (3-0) opened the scoring with a 35-yard touchdown run by wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias just over three minutes in. Redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Bradford threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Kelly and later hooked up with tight end Joe Jon Finley for a nine-yard scoring pass to make it 21-0. The Aggies (0-3), who were outgained, 617-153, scored their only points on a 30-yard field goal by Peter Caldwell in the second quarter to pull within 21-3.

(6) TEXAS 35, UCF 32 --------------------
ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- Colt McCoy was unspectacular but effective on Saturday - much like his team. McCoy passed for 261 yards and Jamaal Charles' 46-yard touchdown run helped sixth-ranked Texas stave off Central Florida, 35-32, in the first game ever played at Bright House Networks Stadium. McCoy completed 32-of-47 passes, throwing one touchdown and one interception for the Longhorns (3-0), who led by as many as 13 points in the second half before withstanding a furious rally by the hosts. Central Florida (1-1), which had played its home games in the Florida Citrus Bowl for the past 28 years and was 0-16 all-time against ranked opponents, looked poised for the upset with 3:50 remaining in the fourth quarter.

KENTUCKY 40, (9) LOUISVILLE 34 ------------------------------ LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Ticker) -- Andre Woodson lifted Kentucky to a rare win over Louisville and cemented his name as perhaps the greatest quarterback in school history. Woodson threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Steve Johnson in the closing seconds and No. 9 Louisville's final comeback bid fell 12-yards short as the Wildcats posted a 40-34 victory over their in-state rival on Saturday night. Kentucky (3-0) posted its first win over Louisville since 2002 and its first over a top-10 opponent since a victory over No. 4 Penn State in 1977. It looked as if the Cardinals would avoid the upset before an inexplicable defensive gaffe gave the Wildcats the lead. Anthony Allen scored from two yards out with 1:45 to play for Louisville (2-1). Brian Brohm overthrew Mario Urrutia on the two-point conversion attempt, but the Cardinals still held a 34-33 lead. That put the game in the hands of Woodson, and the senior prevailed. Kentucky drove into Louisville territory with a minute to play but was set back by a personal foul penalty after Woodson completed a short pass to Rafael Little. Facing a 2nd-and-24 from the Kentucky 43, Woodson found Johnson, who had streaked past a pair of Louisville defensive backs and raced untouched into the end zone. Brohm and the Cardinals took over at their own 20 with 21 seconds to play and no time outs. They got out to the 43 before Brohm's Hail Mary as time expired was tipped and caught by Harry Douglas at the Kentucky 12, but he was tackled on the spot and the game was over. Woodson completed 30-of-46 passes for 270 yards and four TDs. He has thrown a Southeastern Conference-record 257 consecutive passes without an interception, 14 shy of Trent Dilfer's all-time NCAA mark.

(8) CALIFORNIA 42, LOUISIANA TECH 12 ------------------------------
BERKELEY, California (Ticker) -- Lavelle Hawkins returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and Justin Forsett visited the end zone three times as No. 8 California routed Louisiana Tech, 42-12. Hawkins led all receivers with seven catches for 87 yards while Forsett fueled the ground attack, finishing the game with 152 yards on 23 carries as Cal (3-0) remained undefeated entering Pac-10 Conference play. Golden Bears quarterback Nathan Longshore completed 22-of-33 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns while the defense stymied Louisiana Tech, allowing just 274 total yards while forcing three turnovers. The defense helped Cal extend its lead to 14-0 after defensive end John Allen sacked Zac Champion, forcing a fumble with 9:25 left in the second quarter. Cal capitalized on the turnover just over a minute later, when Forsett scored his third touchdown of the season from the goal line. Louisiana Tech (0-3) responded on the ensuing drive when Champion threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Joe Anderson, capping off an eight-play, 54-yard drive.

(2) LSU 44, MIDDLE TENN 0 -------------------------
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (Ticker) -- Louisiana State proved why it is the second-ranked team in the nation. LSU piled up 505 yards of offense and allowed just 90 yards to Middle Tennessee en route to a dominating 44-0 victory. Ryan Perrilloux led the Tigers' offense while starting in place of the injured Matt Flynn, who hurt his ankle during last week's 48-7 thrashing of then-No. 9 Virginia Tech. Perrilloux completed 20-of-25 passes for 298 yards and three touchdowns before being replaced by Andrew Hatch with six minutes left in the third quarter. LSU (3-0) has outscored its opponents, 137-7, over the first three games and has scored 40 or more points in its opening three contests for the first time since 1930. The Tigers' defense surrendered just nine yards rushing and 81 yards passing to Middle Tennessee (0-3), registering their second shutout of the season.

(10) OHIO ST 33, WASHINGTON 14 ------------------------------
SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Ohio State finally slowed down upstart Washington. Chris "Beanie" Wells ran for 132 yards with a touchdown and Todd Boeckman tossed another score as the 10th-ranked Buckeyes pulled away from the Huskies in the second half for an 33-14 victory in an intriguing non-conference matchup on Saturday afternoon. Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline each caught a TD for Ohio State (3-0), which extended its regular-season winning streak to 21 games. The Buckeyes' last loss was in last January's BCS Championship game vs. Florida. But the Huskies (2-1) had been the hot team entering Saturday's contest. Unranked Washington had won its first two contests, including a 24-10 upset of then-No. 22 Boise State last Saturday. It looked like more of the same in this one for the Huskies, who led, 7-3, at halftime on their home field. But they just could not matchup with the powerful Buckeyes.