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College football scores, rankings, highlights: Clemson, USC overcome slow starts to remain undefeated

Though no top-10 teams were upset, Week 6 featured a lot of survive-and-advance moments

Though Week 6 marked a rare Saturday in which no top-10 teams lost, little came easy for the nation's best teams as upsets were thwarted by some heavy favorites around the country. Among those escaping with victories after some early trouble were No. 1 Alabama, No. 5 Clemson and No. 6 USC with all three teams remaining undefeated ahead of big conference games next week.

Clemson found itself locked in a 3-3 tie with struggling Boston College for nearly the entire second quarter before the Tigers finally scored the game's first touchdown in the final minute of the first half en route to a 31-3 win. Though the Tigers dominated defensively, it was clear even in a 28-point victory that the offense remains a work in progress; Clemson totaled just 364 yards and punted seven times. The Tigers travel to Florida State next week.

Similarly, USC held off Washington State for a 30-14 home win largely because of its defense. The Trojans initally squandered an early 10-0 lead by allowing back-to-back touchdown drives in the second quarter. From there, they buckled down, holding Washington State scoreless on its next eight possessions to close the game. Travis Dye led the way offensively with 149 yards rushing and a touchdown on 28 carries for the Trojans, which travel to face No. 11 Utah next week. The Utes lost 42-32 at UCLA on Saturday but may still present USC with its toughest test yet.

Outside the top 10, NC State overcame the loss of quarterback Devin Leary to edge a feisty Florida State team 19-17. The Wolfpack outscored the Seminoles 16-0 in the second half with Leary on the sideline with his arm in a sling. 

College football scores, schedule: Week 6

No. 4 Michigan 31, Indiana 10 -- Recap
No. 8 Tennessee 40, No. 25 LSU 13 -- Takeaways, recap
No. 17 TCU 38, No. 19 Kansas 31 -- Recap
No. 23 Mississippi State 40, Arkansas 17 -- Recap
Texas 49, Oklahoma 0 -- Takeaways, recap
No. 2 Georgia 42, Auburn 10  -- Takeaways, recap
No. 7 Oklahoma State 41, Texas Tech 31 -- Recap
No. 18 UCLA 42, No. 11 Utah  32 --  Recap
No. 3 Ohio State 49, Michigan State 20 -- Takeaways, recap
No. 5 Clemson 31, Boston College 3 -- Recap
No. 6 USC 30, Washington State 14  -- Recap
Notre Dame 28, No. 16 BYU 20 --  Recap
No. 1 Alabama 24, Texas A&M 20 -- Takeaways, recap
Check out the entire Week 6 scoreboard 

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Getting wild

Early 4Q: UCLA 35, Utah 25

Dorian Thompson-Robinson hit Logan Loya for a 70-yard touchdown pass on the second play of the drive for the Bruins just 22 seconds after Cam Rising got Utah back within 3 points on a 9-yard touchdown run. Big plays have been the issue for Utah in this game as UCLA has hit on explosive play after explosive play to stay one step ahead.
 

Momentum swing

End 3Q: Oklahoma State 34, Texas Tech 31

Big momentum swing in favor of Oklahoma State as the Cowboys go from 8 points down to tied and now leading after a Mason Cobb interception that sets up an OSU field goal. The Red Raiders had the football up eight points just a couple of minutes ago, and now all a sudden, they are trailing entering the fourth quarter.

 

Bruins on the brink

Start 4Q: UCLA 28, Utah 18

UCLA is on the brink of improving to 6-0 as it takes a 10-point lead on Utah into the fourth quarter. Zach Charbonnet has 165 yards on the ground, DTR has three passing touchdowns and another on the ground. Bruins are averaging 8.5 yard per play and driving for a potential gut punch score as the fourth quarter begins.
 

Texas Tech ball 

Mid 3Q: Texas Tech 31, Oklahoma State 23

The Red Raiders get Oklahoma State quickly after a 65-play touchdown drive to go back up 31-23. Spencer Sanders is just 15 of 31 through the air for the Cowboys and has missed 4 of his last five passes. Chance for Texas Tech to take an authoritative lead if it can get score here, bu it will require a 95-yard drive after a questionable fair catch decision.

 

Utah TD

Late 3Q: UCLA 21, Utah 18

Cam Rising's 6-yard touchdown run caps an impressive 75-yard drive for Utah that eats nearly six minutes of the third quarter clock. Two-point conversion — also a run by Rising — makes it a field goal game. Good finish brewing in Westwood between a pair of top-20 Pac 12 foes. Utah is moving the football just as well as UCLA and actually has double the number of first downs as the Bruins.
 

Kentucky without star QB Will Levis

No. 13 Kentucky is hosting South Carolina on Saturday night, but it appears that it will be without star quarterback Will Levis. The senior has been fighting a foot injury since last week's loss to Ole Miss, and isn't warming up with the other quarterbacks during warmups in Lexington.
 

Red Raiders up

Half: Texas Tech 24, Oklahoma State 20

With Vanderbilt up on Ole Miss and Texas Tech up on Oklahoma State, we've got two top-10 teams trailing as favorites as league games here in the afternoon window. The Cowboys led 17-7 early but have been terrible defensively. The Red Raiders have 347 yards through two quarters of action and have already run a ridiculous 62 plays.

 

Washington?

Late 2Q: Arizona State 24, Washington 10

After suffering its first loss against UCLA last week, Washington's status as a 2022 Pac-12 darling is in serious jeopardy. The Huskies are trailing 24-10 at Arizona State, which is playing Trenton Bourget at QB following an injury to Emory Jones. This would be a stunning result if the Sun Devils are able to get it to the finish line.
 

Rebels and Commodores in a tight one

Half: Vanderbilt 20, No. 9 Ole Miss 17

Ole Miss entered Saturday's contest with Vanderbilt as 17-point favorites, but you wouldn't know it based on how the Commodores played in the first half. Quarterback AJ Swann has 142 yards and a passing touchdown, Ray Davis has 60 yards and a score on the ground, as the 'Dores have a double-digit lead at the break over the nationally-ranked Rebels. The Ole Miss rushing attack, which was the best in the SEC coming into the game, has been held largely in check, which has prevented the offense from getting in rhythm. 
 

Spartans hanging around

Mid 2Q: Ohio State 21, Michigan State 13

Nice scoring drive from Michigan State gets the Spartans within 21-14 against Ohio State. Payton Thorne hit Jayden Reed for a 24-yard gain to start the drive and then found him with an 18-yard touchdown to cap it. The PAT missed wide right. Now the question is if the Spartans can do something, anything defensively against these Buckeyes. 

 

Badgers going crazy

Late 2Q: Wisconsin 28, Northwestern 0

In the first game following the firing of coach Paul Chryst, Wisconsin is not holding back. Interim coach Jim Leonhard has his guys up big at Northwestern as halftime approaches. Badgers already have 350 yards of offense and it's not even halftime. That's a sight for sore eyes after how inept Wisconsin seemed offensively early this season. Even letting Braelon Allen show his arm!
 

Red Raiders!

Mid 2Q: Texas Tech 21, Oklahoma State 17

Looks like we've got a wild one going in Stillwater, where Texas Tech leads the nation's No. 7 team 21-17. The Cowboys led it 17-7 early, but the Red Raiders put together scoring drives of 81 yards and 64 yards. Behren Morton is having himself a day at quarterback for Texas Tech in his first career start. Was a four-star prospect in the Class of 2021.

 

Georgia running at will

Mid Q2: No. 2 Georgia 14, Auburn 0

Georgia is running the dang ball against Auburn in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry. Kenny McIntosh and Daijun Edwards each have a touchdown on the ground, and Branson Robinson has two carries for 32 yards, as the Bulldogs have racked up 111 yards and 7.9 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford is 3 of 11 through the air, which has not helped his running game find room to cook.
 

UCLA is balling

Mid 2Q: UCLA 14, Utah 3

Zach Charbonnet just broke off a 44-yard run to set UCLA up for another score. Dorian Thompson-Robinson finds Jake Bobo for a 7-yard score. The Bruins are humming offensively and in command early in this top-20 Pac-12 showdown. UCLA will get the football to start the third quarter, so this next offensive possession is big for the Utes.

 

Ole Miss struggling

Start 2Q: Ole Miss 3, Vandy 3

A somewhat surprising score here as Ole Miss is even with Vanderbilt at the end of the first quarter. Ole Miss moved the football well on its first two possessions, but settled for a field goal and then had a turnover on downs. Those are the kinds of defensive stands the 'Dores will need if they're going to pull a stunner here.

 

Michigan pulls away

Final: No. 4 Michigan 31, Indiana 10

This game was in doubt at halftime, but Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy threw three touchdowns in the second half and the defense held the Hoosiers scoreless over the final 30 minutes to keep the unblemished record intact. Could they have been looking ahead? Jim Harbaugh's squad will host No. 10 Penn State next week in what will be the biggest Big Ten East game of the year. 
 

Bulldogs post another home blowout

Final: No. 23 Mississippi State 40, Arkansas 17

For the second straight week, Mississippi State posted another blowout win over an SEC West rival. Last week, it was Texas A&M. This week, it was an Arkansas team that was without quarterback KJ Jefferson. His absence wasn't a difference-maker, though. The Bulldogs racked up 568 yards and quarterback Will Rogers threw for 395 yards in another tremendous passing performance.
 

Tennessee makes a statement

Final: No. 8 Tennessee 40, No. 25 LSU 13

Is Tennessee a national title contender? It certainly looked like it in Baton Rouge in a blowout win over the Tigers. Jabari Small rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns, Hendon Hooker threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns, and the Volunteers racked up 503 yards in a game they controlled from the outset. Make no mistake, this was a statement win for Tennessee. Sure, Death Valley wasn't as crazy as it normally is. But to go on the road and blow out a top 25 team is a message to the college football world that the Vols are Georgia's primary contender in the SEC East.
 

Bulldogs making a statement

Q4: No. 23 Mississippi State 34, Arkansas 17

Mississippi State coach Mike Leach has always been known to air it out and essentially abandon the running game, but that isn't the case today. Dominique Johnson and Jo'quavious Marks have combined for 141 yards, and Johnson has scored twice in a game that Leach has been in control of from the outset. Arkansas has had its share of quarterback issues, but it might be time to start buying stock in the Bulldogs.
 

No. 8 Tennessee on cruise control

Q4: No. 8 Tennessee 37, No. 25 LSU 7

The Volunteers' offensive success has led LSU fans to bail after just three quarters. Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker has made a Heisman statement, throwing for 231 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 56 more. Josh Heupel's crew racked up 422 yards through three quarters on an LSU defense that has been solid all year -- especially in second halves of games.
 

Arkansas alive

Half: Mississippi State 21, Arkansas 10

Looked early as though the Bulldogs might totally run away with this thing, but the Razorbacks scored 10 unanswered to close the first half and give themselves a shot. Mississippi State has amassed 286 yards of total offense. Razorbacks have played Cade Fortin and Malik Hornsby at QB amid the injury to K.J. Jefferson. It was Hornsby who hit Jadon Haselwood for a 68-yard pass that set up Arkansas' lone TD of the half.
 

Big 12 battle

Early 3Q: Kansas 10, TCU 10

Got a good one in Lawrence between unbeaten Big 12 teams. The Jayhawks are playing without star quarterback Jalon Daniels, who suffered an apparent shoulder injury in the first half. He hasn't been ruled out, but it's Jason Bean at QB for KU here in the third quarter. TCU is of course rolling with Max Duggan at QB after he began the year as a backup as well before being pressed into duty after the injury to Chandler Morris.
 

Michigan in a battle

Half: Michigan 10, Indiana 10

Surprising score here as Indiana is putting up a fight as a 21.5-point underdog at home against the nation's No. 4 team. Hoosiers have racked up 16 fist downs, and their passing game looks a little more in sync than it has the past few weeks. Blake Corum has 60 yards on the ground for Michigan, but 50 of them came on a single play on the Wolverines' first drive. Been tough sledding since then. 

 

Tennessee takes advantage of LSU miscue

End Q1: No. 8 Tennessee 13, No. 25 LSU 0

Things got started with a bang for the visiting Volunteers as they recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff and scored five plays later. Dee Williams took off on a 58-yard punt return after the Vols stopped the Tigers on the next drive, and that led to a field goal. LSU isn't accustomed to 11 a.m. local time kickoffs, and it appeared like the team slept-in a little too much this morning.
 

No. 23 Mississippi State all over Arkansas

End Q1: No. 23 Mississippi State 14, Arkansas 0

Bulldogs coach Mike Leach's teams aren't known for running the football, but they're doing it today. Dillon Johnson has eight carries for 34 yards and one touchdown, and Jo'quavious Marks added six carries for 25 yards as they jumped all over the Razorbacks. Quarterback Will Rogers has made his statement as well. The star quarterback is 8 of 11 for 96 yards and a touchdown as they've picked up right where they left off from last week.

 

Week 6 expert picks

The midway point of the 2022 season is just two weeks away, and as promised last week, the college football rankings underwent a significant shakeup as top 25 opponents squared off in conference play. Well, guess what?! The same will be true this week with three such games between ranked opponents along with a number of rivalry showdowns that will help make early determinations in clearing up the College Football Playoff picture.
 

News out of Arkansas

The status of Arkansas star quarterback KJ Jefferson has been the subject of some concern all week, and it sounds like he won't be the first off of the sideline.
 

Upset Alert

There are eight games involving ranked teams with single-digit lines in Week 6. That's where we thrive. Remember, we're taking big swings for the fences with money lines. Our final record probably won't look impressive. But when a big line hits, there's no better feeling. Here are five games with big money lines that could end in upsets. 
 

SEC picks

The SEC schedule in Week 6 features one of the most highly anticipated SEC West matchups of the season. Instead this showdown being a de facto division championship game like many believed, however, it has transformed into a lifeline for a program on the decline. Texas A&M has been one of the biggest disappointments in the country but is traveling to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to take on No. 1 Alabama as it searches for its second straight win over the Crimson Tide.
 

Big 12 showdown

"Smack in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago, Max Duggan jumped in his car and drove three hours from his Council Bluffs, Iowa, home to a city park in Prairie Village, Kansas. He was met that May 2020 day by Wisconsin's Graham Mertz, Rutgers' Noah Vedral (transferring from Nebraska) and Minnesota's Jacob Clark. They were united by their throwing coach, Justin Hoover, head of Spin It Quarterback Academy in suburban Kansas City. It was that and the longing just to do something again with a football in their hands."

Great story on TCU quarterback Max Duggan ahead of today's big TCU-Kansas game.
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