Oregon's defense found a way to stop Chris Perry - and the rest of Michigan's lauded offense, too.
Perry, the nation's leading rusher going into the game, ran for just 26 yards as No. 22 Oregon upset No. 3 Michigan 31-27 on Saturday in front of the largest crowd ever at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.
Jason Fife, half of Oregon's quarterback tandem with Kellen Clemens, ran for one touchdown, tailback Terrence Whitehead rushed for another, and the Ducks (4-0) were able to take advantage of some key Michigan (3-1) errors before 59,023 yellow-clad fans.
Michigan, making its first road trip of the season, narrowed it with John Navarre's 36-yard TD pass to Steve Breaston with 2:18 left, but couldn't get any closer.
Navarre's 9-yard scoring pass to Breaston and conversion pass to Braylon Edwards made it 24-21 with 11:04 to go, but the Ducks answered with Jordan Carey's fumble recovery in the end zone with 6:55 left.
It started when Keith Lewis blocked Adam Finley's punt. The ball sputtered just out of reach of Oregon's Ryan Shaw, but free safety J.D. Nelson got to it, only to fumble on the 1 before Carey landed on it in the end zone for the score.
Michigan, which was averaging more than 307 yards on the ground so far this season, lost 3 yards on 19 carries.
Navarre completed 28 of 55 passes for 360 yards and three touchdowns, but he wasn't able to carry the offense.
No. 1 Oklahoma 59, UCLA 24: Antonio Perkins brought back three punts for touchdowns and finished with 277 yards on seven returns to break two NCAA records as homestanding Oklahoma routed UCLA.
Perkins, who came into the game with only 80 yards on 13 punt returns, scored on returns of 74, 84 and 65 yards to become the first Division I-A player to return three punts for TDs in a game.
Perkins also broke the record of 219 yards on punt returns set by BYU's Golden Richards against North Texas in 1971.
Jason White threw two touchdown passes, and Renaldo Works ran for two more scores for Oklahoma (4-0). The Sooners have won 18 straight nonconference games.
No. 2 Miami 33, Boston College 14: Roscoe Parrish set a school record with a 92-yard punt return and Sean Taylor returned an interception for another score as visiting Miami won its final Big East meeting against the Eagles.
Miami (4-0) is departing the conference for the ACC after the season, leaving Boston College (2-2) still looking for a Big East win against the Hurricanes.
Parrish broke the record set by Kevin Williams, who ran one back 91 yards in 1991 against Penn State.
No. 5 Ohio St. 24, Bowling Green 17: Will Allen intercepted Josh Harris' pass on the final play as defending national champion Ohio State survived another scare to run its winning streak to 18 games.
For the 10th time in the last 15 games, the homestanding Buckeyes (4-0) won a game decided by a touchdown or less.
Lydell Ross scored two touchdowns and the Buckeyes' defense held the nation's most prolific offense to 366 yards. The Falcons (3-1) came in averaging 575 yards and 51 points.
Ohio State did not have quarterback Craig Krenzel, who watched the game from the sideline because of a hyperextended right elbow. Scott McMullen took his place and passed for one touchdown.
Marshall 27, No. 6 Kansas St. 20: Graham Gochneaur threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jason Rader with just over 3½ minutes left as Marshall upset Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan.
Marshall (2-2) won NCAA Division I-AA titles in 1992 and 1996 but had never beaten a ranked major-college opponent. Kansas State (4-1) had a 41-game home nonconference winning streak broken.
Gochneaur, making his second start in relief of Stan Hill (sprained knee), was 16-for-24 for 106 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. The Thundering Herd forced four turnovers and got 112 yards rushing from Franklin Wallace.
No. 11 LSU 17, No. 7 Georgia 10: Matt Mauck threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Skyler Green with 1:22 left as LSU snapped Georgia's nine-game road winning streak in Baton Rouge, La.
LSU (4-0, 1-0 SEC) put together a long drive in the fourth quarter, going to Georgia's 18. But Mauck fumbled on a keeper, giving the ball back to Georgia (3-1, 1-1).
Georgia's David Greene then hit Tyson Browning with a screen pass and Browning, after getting some key blocks, ran 93 yards to tie it at 10 with 4:25 remaining.
Devery Henderson returned the kickoff 48 yards to set up the Tigers. Six plays later, Mauck hit Green for the game-winner.
Toledo 35, No. 9 Pittsburgh 31: Bruce Gradkowski threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Lance Moore with 43 seconds left as host Toledo (3-1) stunned Pittsburgh.
Pitt (2-1) had one final shot at the end zone, but Rod Rutherford's pass was batted down in the end zone, setting off a wild celebration on the field.
No. 10 Florida St. 47, Colorado 7: Chris Rix threw two long touchdown passes to Craphonso Thorpe, and Xavier Beitia kicked four field goals for homestanding Florida State.
Although the Seminoles (4-0) couldn't get their running game untracked for the second straight week, Rix passed for a career-high 394 yards in three quarters, completing 30 of 39 attempts.
No. 12 Tennessee 24, No. 17 Florida 10: Casey Clausen threw a 48-yard touchdown pass that ricocheted off two defenders to James Blake on the last play of the first half as Tennessee beat homestanding Florida.
Clausen also completed a 57-yard pass to Bret Smith in the third quarter to set up the first of two TD runs by Jabari Davis as the Volunteers (3-0) won their Southeastern Conference opener.
No. 13 Texas 48, Rice 7: Cedric Benson scored three touchdowns and backup Selvin Young had two more in visiting Texas' 41-point first half.
The Longhorns (2-1) were coming off a 38-28 loss to Arkansas, when they managed only 62 rushing yards.
After that game Texas players took a vow of silence to prepare for the four-touchdown underdog Owls (0-3). The Longhorns had 322 yards rushing on 53 carries against the Owls, who ranked 104th in rushing defense going into the game.
No. 14 Arkansas 31, North Texas 7: Cedric Cobbs ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns in Little Rock to become the first Arkansas back since Jerry Eckwood in 1975 to open the season with three 100-yard games.
The Razorbacks (3-0) scored three touchdowns in a 2:40 span late in the second quarter as they avoided a letdown after their emotional 38-28 victory at then-No. 6 Texas. George Wilson had four receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown.
No. 18 Iowa 21, No. 16 Arizona St. 2: Nathan Chandler threw three touchdown passes and Iowa frustrated Arizona State with outstanding defense in Iowa City.
Fred Russell added 154 yards rushing in 27 carries for the Hawkeyes (4-0), off to their best start since 1997. Arizona State (2-1) couldn't capitalize on the momentum from an early safety and struggled against an Iowa defense that was able to pressure quarterback Andrew Walter with a four-man rush.
No. 19 Washington 45, Idaho 14: Rich Alexis ran for 116 yards and two touchdowns and defensive lineman Terry Johnson recovered a fumble for an early score as homestanding Washington beat winless Idaho.
The Huskies (2-1) were sloppy to start the second half, but it didn't matter after they scored 21 straight points, all on the ground. Idaho (0-4) hasn't beaten the Huskies since 1905.
No. 20 TCU 30, Vanderbilt 14: Freshman Robert Merrill ran for 119 yards and the go-ahead touchdown as TCU (3-0) beat Vanderbilt (1-3) without its starting quarterback and top two running backs.
Merrill, who didn't have a carry in the first two games, ran 29 times - all after starting tailback Lonta Hobbs left the game in Fort Worth, Texas, midway through the first quarter with an injured right foot. Merrill also caught three passes for 44 yards.
N. Illinois 19, No. 21 Alabama 16: Josh Haldi threw two second-half touchdown passes and Michael Turner ran for 156 yards as Northern Illinois upset Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Turner wore out Alabama's defense, carrying 26 times and gaining 98 second-half yards. Alabama (2-2) had been allowing 50 rushing yards a game.
No. 23 Missouri 41, Middle Tennessee 40, OT: Brad Smith scrambled for a 4-yard touchdown run in overtime and Mike Matheny converted the extra point to lift homestanding Missouri past Middle Tennessee.
Smith also threw three touchdowns passes, the last one a 12-yarder to Darius Outlaw with 1:17 left in regulation. Smith, who finished with 192 yards passing and 136 more on the ground, then ran in a 2-point conversion to tie it at 34.
With the first possession in overtime, Middle Tennessee (0-4) took a 40-34 lead on Andrico Hines' 4-yard TD run. But Brian Kelly's extra-point attempt hit the left goal post, leading to Smith's decisive score for Missouri (4-0).
No. 24 Washington St. 23, New Mexico 13: Drew Dunning kicked a school-record five field goals in Washington State's victory over New Mexico in Pullman, Wash.
The Cougars (3-1) had a difficult time figuring out the Lobos' defense and didn't score a touchdown until late in the third quarter, when quarterback Matt Kegel pushed across from the 1.
No. 25 Purdue 59, Arizona 7: Kyle Orton threw three touchdown passes and Jerod Void and Jerome Brooks each ran for two TDs as Purdue (2-1) routed Arizona (1-3) in West Lafayette, Ind.
Void carried 12 times for 60 yards and two scores before leaving. Brooks finished with 21 carries for 122 yards in backup duty, and Orton completed 16 of 28 passes for 261 yards, including a career-long 81-yard TD pass to John Standeford, before being pulled late in the third quarter.
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Perry, the nation's leading rusher going into the game, ran for just 26 yards as No. 22 Oregon upset No. 3 Michigan 31-27 on Saturday in front of the largest crowd ever at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.
Jason Fife, half of Oregon's quarterback tandem with Kellen Clemens, ran for one touchdown, tailback Terrence Whitehead rushed for another, and the Ducks (4-0) were able to take advantage of some key Michigan (3-1) errors before 59,023 yellow-clad fans.
Michigan, making its first road trip of the season, narrowed it with John Navarre's 36-yard TD pass to Steve Breaston with 2:18 left, but couldn't get any closer.
Navarre's 9-yard scoring pass to Breaston and conversion pass to Braylon Edwards made it 24-21 with 11:04 to go, but the Ducks answered with Jordan Carey's fumble recovery in the end zone with 6:55 left.
It started when Keith Lewis blocked Adam Finley's punt. The ball sputtered just out of reach of Oregon's Ryan Shaw, but free safety J.D. Nelson got to it, only to fumble on the 1 before Carey landed on it in the end zone for the score.
Michigan, which was averaging more than 307 yards on the ground so far this season, lost 3 yards on 19 carries.
Navarre completed 28 of 55 passes for 360 yards and three touchdowns, but he wasn't able to carry the offense.
No. 1 Oklahoma 59, UCLA 24: Antonio Perkins brought back three punts for touchdowns and finished with 277 yards on seven returns to break two NCAA records as homestanding Oklahoma routed UCLA.
Perkins, who came into the game with only 80 yards on 13 punt returns, scored on returns of 74, 84 and 65 yards to become the first Division I-A player to return three punts for TDs in a game.
Perkins also broke the record of 219 yards on punt returns set by BYU's Golden Richards against North Texas in 1971.
Jason White threw two touchdown passes, and Renaldo Works ran for two more scores for Oklahoma (4-0). The Sooners have won 18 straight nonconference games.
No. 2 Miami 33, Boston College 14: Roscoe Parrish set a school record with a 92-yard punt return and Sean Taylor returned an interception for another score as visiting Miami won its final Big East meeting against the Eagles.
Miami (4-0) is departing the conference for the ACC after the season, leaving Boston College (2-2) still looking for a Big East win against the Hurricanes.
Parrish broke the record set by Kevin Williams, who ran one back 91 yards in 1991 against Penn State.
No. 5 Ohio St. 24, Bowling Green 17: Will Allen intercepted Josh Harris' pass on the final play as defending national champion Ohio State survived another scare to run its winning streak to 18 games.
For the 10th time in the last 15 games, the homestanding Buckeyes (4-0) won a game decided by a touchdown or less.
Lydell Ross scored two touchdowns and the Buckeyes' defense held the nation's most prolific offense to 366 yards. The Falcons (3-1) came in averaging 575 yards and 51 points.
Ohio State did not have quarterback Craig Krenzel, who watched the game from the sideline because of a hyperextended right elbow. Scott McMullen took his place and passed for one touchdown.
Marshall 27, No. 6 Kansas St. 20: Graham Gochneaur threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jason Rader with just over 3½ minutes left as Marshall upset Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan.
Marshall (2-2) won NCAA Division I-AA titles in 1992 and 1996 but had never beaten a ranked major-college opponent. Kansas State (4-1) had a 41-game home nonconference winning streak broken.
Gochneaur, making his second start in relief of Stan Hill (sprained knee), was 16-for-24 for 106 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. The Thundering Herd forced four turnovers and got 112 yards rushing from Franklin Wallace.
No. 11 LSU 17, No. 7 Georgia 10: Matt Mauck threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Skyler Green with 1:22 left as LSU snapped Georgia's nine-game road winning streak in Baton Rouge, La.
LSU (4-0, 1-0 SEC) put together a long drive in the fourth quarter, going to Georgia's 18. But Mauck fumbled on a keeper, giving the ball back to Georgia (3-1, 1-1).
Georgia's David Greene then hit Tyson Browning with a screen pass and Browning, after getting some key blocks, ran 93 yards to tie it at 10 with 4:25 remaining.
Devery Henderson returned the kickoff 48 yards to set up the Tigers. Six plays later, Mauck hit Green for the game-winner.
Toledo 35, No. 9 Pittsburgh 31: Bruce Gradkowski threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Lance Moore with 43 seconds left as host Toledo (3-1) stunned Pittsburgh.
Pitt (2-1) had one final shot at the end zone, but Rod Rutherford's pass was batted down in the end zone, setting off a wild celebration on the field.
No. 10 Florida St. 47, Colorado 7: Chris Rix threw two long touchdown passes to Craphonso Thorpe, and Xavier Beitia kicked four field goals for homestanding Florida State.
Although the Seminoles (4-0) couldn't get their running game untracked for the second straight week, Rix passed for a career-high 394 yards in three quarters, completing 30 of 39 attempts.
No. 12 Tennessee 24, No. 17 Florida 10: Casey Clausen threw a 48-yard touchdown pass that ricocheted off two defenders to James Blake on the last play of the first half as Tennessee beat homestanding Florida.
Clausen also completed a 57-yard pass to Bret Smith in the third quarter to set up the first of two TD runs by Jabari Davis as the Volunteers (3-0) won their Southeastern Conference opener.
No. 13 Texas 48, Rice 7: Cedric Benson scored three touchdowns and backup Selvin Young had two more in visiting Texas' 41-point first half.
The Longhorns (2-1) were coming off a 38-28 loss to Arkansas, when they managed only 62 rushing yards.
After that game Texas players took a vow of silence to prepare for the four-touchdown underdog Owls (0-3). The Longhorns had 322 yards rushing on 53 carries against the Owls, who ranked 104th in rushing defense going into the game.
No. 14 Arkansas 31, North Texas 7: Cedric Cobbs ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns in Little Rock to become the first Arkansas back since Jerry Eckwood in 1975 to open the season with three 100-yard games.
The Razorbacks (3-0) scored three touchdowns in a 2:40 span late in the second quarter as they avoided a letdown after their emotional 38-28 victory at then-No. 6 Texas. George Wilson had four receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown.
No. 18 Iowa 21, No. 16 Arizona St. 2: Nathan Chandler threw three touchdown passes and Iowa frustrated Arizona State with outstanding defense in Iowa City.
Fred Russell added 154 yards rushing in 27 carries for the Hawkeyes (4-0), off to their best start since 1997. Arizona State (2-1) couldn't capitalize on the momentum from an early safety and struggled against an Iowa defense that was able to pressure quarterback Andrew Walter with a four-man rush.
No. 19 Washington 45, Idaho 14: Rich Alexis ran for 116 yards and two touchdowns and defensive lineman Terry Johnson recovered a fumble for an early score as homestanding Washington beat winless Idaho.
The Huskies (2-1) were sloppy to start the second half, but it didn't matter after they scored 21 straight points, all on the ground. Idaho (0-4) hasn't beaten the Huskies since 1905.
No. 20 TCU 30, Vanderbilt 14: Freshman Robert Merrill ran for 119 yards and the go-ahead touchdown as TCU (3-0) beat Vanderbilt (1-3) without its starting quarterback and top two running backs.
Merrill, who didn't have a carry in the first two games, ran 29 times - all after starting tailback Lonta Hobbs left the game in Fort Worth, Texas, midway through the first quarter with an injured right foot. Merrill also caught three passes for 44 yards.
N. Illinois 19, No. 21 Alabama 16: Josh Haldi threw two second-half touchdown passes and Michael Turner ran for 156 yards as Northern Illinois upset Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Turner wore out Alabama's defense, carrying 26 times and gaining 98 second-half yards. Alabama (2-2) had been allowing 50 rushing yards a game.
No. 23 Missouri 41, Middle Tennessee 40, OT: Brad Smith scrambled for a 4-yard touchdown run in overtime and Mike Matheny converted the extra point to lift homestanding Missouri past Middle Tennessee.
Smith also threw three touchdowns passes, the last one a 12-yarder to Darius Outlaw with 1:17 left in regulation. Smith, who finished with 192 yards passing and 136 more on the ground, then ran in a 2-point conversion to tie it at 34.
With the first possession in overtime, Middle Tennessee (0-4) took a 40-34 lead on Andrico Hines' 4-yard TD run. But Brian Kelly's extra-point attempt hit the left goal post, leading to Smith's decisive score for Missouri (4-0).
No. 24 Washington St. 23, New Mexico 13: Drew Dunning kicked a school-record five field goals in Washington State's victory over New Mexico in Pullman, Wash.
The Cougars (3-1) had a difficult time figuring out the Lobos' defense and didn't score a touchdown until late in the third quarter, when quarterback Matt Kegel pushed across from the 1.
No. 25 Purdue 59, Arizona 7: Kyle Orton threw three touchdown passes and Jerod Void and Jerome Brooks each ran for two TDs as Purdue (2-1) routed Arizona (1-3) in West Lafayette, Ind.
Void carried 12 times for 60 yards and two scores before leaving. Brooks finished with 21 carries for 122 yards in backup duty, and Orton completed 16 of 28 passes for 261 yards, including a career-long 81-yard TD pass to John Standeford, before being pulled late in the third quarter.
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