Stanford's record-setting win over USC highlights weekend action

Pete Carroll and his USC Trojans took a record-setting beating at the hands of Stanford. (Icon SMI)

By Lindyssports.com staff report

Stanford blasted USC 55-21 as one of the most amazing games of the weekend, but certainly not the only one.

Ohio State punched its ticket to the Rose Bowl by beating Iowa in overtime.

TCU made its statement for inclusion in the BCS by blasting Utah.

Florida, Alabama and Texas continued their winning ways and held on to the top three spots in the BCS rankings.

And, of course, there was the usual parade of stars throughout college football.

With tailback Toby Gerhart rushing for 178 yards and three touchdowns, Stanford annihilated 11th-ranked USC 55-21, ending Trojans' seven-year reign atop the Pac-10. The game was remarkable for several reasons outside the performance of Gerhart and freshman quarterback Andrew Luck.

It was the most points ever scored on the Trojans, who have been playing football since 1888. For the second time in 15 days, the Trojans absorbed the worst loss in the Pete Carroll era. Two weeks ago, USC lost at No. 10 Oregon 47-20. USC lost for the first time in 29 November games under Carroll, who is 1-2 against Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh.

In the span of eight days, Stanford has defeated No. 7 Oregon and No. 11 USC by a combined 106-63.

At Columbus, Ohio, backup kicker Devin Barclay’s 39-yard field goal in overtime gave Ohio State a 27-24 victory over Iowa and sent the Buckeyes to the Rose Bowl. Ohio State will be out try to end the Big Ten's six-game losing streak in Pasadena.

Texas Christian routed Utah 55-28 in what was thought to be the last potential obstacle between TCU and unbeaten season and a berth in the BCS. With only Wyoming and winless New Mexico remaining, the Horned Frogs are headed for a perfect season. The Frogs are now pulling for an upset of Texas to possibly clear the way into the BCS title game.

A record crowd of 50,307 turned out at TCU’s 79-year-old Amon Carter Stadium, along with representatives from the Orange, Rose and Fiesta bowls. Fans stormed the field when the game ended.

Florida won its 20^th consecutive game over a stubborn South Carolina team by a score of 24-14. Tim Tebow tied the Southeastern Conference touchdown record with his 53^rd score and Florida recorded its first perfect league season in 13 years. The Gators remain on track for a third national title in four years.

Texas steamrolled Baylor 47-17 and Longhorn quarterback Colt McCoy tied an NCAA record by winning his 42^nd game as a Texas starter. The 42 wins matched the record previously held by Georgia’s David Greene. McCoy will break the record, more than likely in his next outing.

Alabama’s defense rose to the occasion again by stuffing Mississippi State 31-3 and foiling another motivational jersey switch by State. The Bulldogs warmed up in their normal maroon jerseys and then came out to play in black jerseys. It didn’t work and Alabama, behind Mark Ingram’s 149 yards rushing, won its 22^nd consecutive regular season game.

Some other performances of note from the weekend include:

* Ole Miss tailback Dexter McCluster rushed for 282 yards and finished with 324 all-purpose yards, both school records, as the Rebels beat Tennessee 42-17 and became bowl eligible.

* Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzie threw for four touchdowns and sneaked in for another as the 21st-ranked Badgers ripped Michigan 45-24.

* Kendric Burney returned one of his three interceptions for a 77-yard touchdown as North Carolina beat No. 12 Miami 33-24.

* Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis won his first three games against ranked opponents. Since then, he's 1-12, including Saturday night's 27-22 loss to No. 8 Pittsburgh. Overall, Weis is 35-25 — which is the exact record Bob Davie had after five seasons, which was all he got.

* Clemson tailback C.J. Spiller became the first player in Clemson history to score a touchdown passing, rushing and receiving in the same game as the Tigers defeated North Carolina State 43-23. Spiller, who broke Derrick Hamilton's single-season school record for all-purpose yards on his 16-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, rushed for 97 yards on 18 carries. He finished with three receptions for 48 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth.

* Georgia Tech whipped Duke 49-10 to clinch a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

* Michigan's 45-24 loss at Wisconsin was the Wolverines' sixth straight Big Ten loss. They dropped to 5-6, 1-6 in the Big Ten, and will miss out on a bowl for the second year in a row unless they can beat 10th-ranked Ohio State next weekend.

* Penn clinched at least a share of the Ivy League title, defeating Harvard 17-7 in a driving rainstorm.

* Iowa State is bowl eligible for the first time since 2005 after beating Colorado 17-10. The Buffaloes have lost 10 straight on the road.

* Quarterback Kellen Moore passed for five touchdowns, matching a career high, to lead Boise State to a 63-25 rout of rival Idaho. Austin Pettis caught four of the scores for the Broncos.

* USC's freshman quarterback Matt Barkley was picked off three times by Stanford. He has five interceptions and two TD passes in his last 10 quarters. He also fumbled, and all four of his turnovers led to Stanford touchdowns.