Penn St. claims Big Ten title, BCS bid
Penn State coach Joe Paterno says he plans to return in 2009 after leading the Nittany Lions to a Big Ten title and Rose Bowl berth.
Daryll Clark threw for career highs of 341 yards and 4 touchdowns, and a stingy defense held Javon Ringer to a season-low 42 yards as the No. 7 Nittany Lions clinched BCS bid with a 49-18 victory against No. 17 Michigan State on Saturday in State College, Pa.
The 81-year-old Paterno was asked after the if he would coach again next season. The winningest coach in major college football history says he never planned to do anything else but coach another year.
Penn State improved to 11-1 overall, 7-1 in the Big Ten. Michigan State fell to 9-3, 6-2.
Ohio St. 42, Michigan 7: Ohio State has never dominated Michigan the way it does right now.
In the rivalry's most lopsided result in 40 years, the Buckeyes won their fifth straight over that hated school up north for the first time, ending a dreadful first season for Wolverines coach Rich Rodriguez.
Ohio State improved to 10-2 overall, 7-1 in the Big Ten. Michigan finishes at 3-9, 2-6.
SIU 17, ISU 10: Chris Dieker threw a 29-yard touchdown pass in overtime to lead Southern Illinois over host Illinois State as the Salukis (9-2, 7-1) clinched the Missouri Valley championship.
Minutes after the loss, Illinois State coach Denver Johnson announced his resignation from the Redbirds (3-8, 2-6), who he's coached for the last nine seasons.
Wisconsin 36, Cal Poly 35 (OT): Wisconsin (7-5) escaped an upset bid by Cal Poly (8-2) of the Football Championship Subdivision, mounting a late comeback and capitalizing on 3 missed extra points to win in overtime on John Clay's second touchdown of the game.
Purdue 62, Indiana 10: Purdue (4-8, 2-6 Big Ten) provided the perfect ending to Joe Tiller's tenure. The offense didn't stop scoring, the defense gave up virtually nothing, and Tiller got his hands back on the Old Oaken Bucket with a victory over visiting Indiana (3-9, 1-7).
Utah 48, BYU 24: Utah is BCS bound once again. Brian Johnson passed for 303 and 4 touchdowns, and the eighth-ranked Utes (12-0, 8-0) completed a perfect regular season by beating No. 16 BYU, winning the heated state rivalry and taking the undisputed Mountain West Conference title away from the two-time defending champion Cougars (10-2, 6-2).
Florida 70, Citadel 19: Tim Tebow threw for 201 yards and 3 touchdowns, Chris Rainey ran for 142 yards and a score, and third-ranked Florida (10-1) overwhelmed The Citadel (4-8).
EIU 38, Tennessee Tech 20: Desmin Ward scored 3 rushing touchdowns as visiting Eastern Illinois (5-7, 3-5 Ohio Valley) beat Tennessee Tech (3-9, 1-7).