COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECAPS

Top 25 Early Recaps: Worth, Navy stun No. 6 Houston

The Sports Xchange

October 08, 2016 at 8:12 pm.

Oct 8, 2016; Annapolis, MD, USA;  Navy Midshipmen quarterback Will Worth (15) runs during the first quarter against the Houston Cougars at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 8, 2016; Annapolis, MD, USA; Navy Midshipmen quarterback Will Worth (15) runs during the first quarter against the Houston Cougars at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The sixth-ranked Houston Cougars allowed 306 yards on the ground and probably were knocked out of the College Football Playoff race with a stunning 46-40 loss to Navy on Saturday.

Quarterback Will Worth ran for 115 yards with a touchdown and passed for two scores for the Midshipmen, who have sole possession of first place in the American Athletic Conference West division.

The Cougars had the nation’s top-ranked rushing defense, allowing only 42 yards per game, but struggled against Navy’s triple option.

No. 2 Ohio State 38, Indiana 17

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Freshman running back Mike Weber rushed for two touchdowns and quarterback J.T. Barrett ran for one and threw for a score to carry the Buckeyes to victory in Ohio Stadium.

Barrett did most of his work with his feet instead of his arm against the Hoosiers (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten), rushing for a game-high 137 yards on 26 carries as the Indiana pass defense gave the Buckeyes (5-0, 2-0) more trouble than expected.

The Heisman Trophy candidate, who came into the game with 14 touchdown passes and averaging 222 passing yards per game this season, connected with Dontre Wilson on a 37-yard strike with 3:51 left in the game for his only scoring pass.

No. 25 Virginia Tech 34, No. 17 North Carolina 3

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Quarterback Jerod Evans threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in the Hokies’ romp that was played in heavy rain from Hurricane Matthew at Kenan Stadium.

Virginia Tech (4-1 overall, 2-0 ACC) limited the Tar Heels to 131 yards of total offense, by far the lowest figure under coach Larry Fedora.

North Carolina (4-2, 2-1) had a 10-game conference regular-season winning streak snapped. The Tar Heels were unable to put themselves in position for a final-second victory like they pulled off the previous two weeks.

No. 20 Oklahoma 45, Texas 40

DALLAS — When the Sooners needed to control the clock with the game in the balance in the fourth quarter, they opted for a lot of three-yard runs and short passes rather than flashy, deep passes.

The focus of that late strategy was workhorse Samaje Perine, who ran for 214 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries, nine of which came on the decisive drive, as Oklahoma outlasted the reeling Longhorns before a sun-splashed crowd of 92,100 at the Cotton Bowl.

The Sooners’ Baker Mayfield passed for 390 yards and three touchdowns — all to Dede Westbrook, who hauled in 10 passes for 232 yards, the most yards ever by an Oklahoma player and most receptions ever for a Sooners player in the 111-year history of the series with Texas.

USC 21, No. 21 Colorado 17

Quarterback Sam Darnold threw three touchdown passes to offset his three turnovers as the Trojans held on for a win in Pac-12 play at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

The Buffaloes (4-2, 2-1) were playing as a ranked team for the first time since 2005.

USC (3-3, 2-2) was in control for much of the game but needed to answer after Colorado tied the score at 14 with 10:20 left on a 10-yard pass from Steven Montez to receiver Bryce Bobo.

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