Luck, Cardinal are too much for Irish

NATIONAL ROUNDUP

Stanford is in line for a BCS berth

November 27, 2011|From Staff and Wire Reports

Virginias Rodney McLeod (right) gives up the chase as David Wilson heads… (Steve helber/Associated…)

Andrew Luck set the school record for the most career touchdown passes and eclipsed his own season mark, throwing for 233 yards and four scores to lead fourth-ranked Stanford past No. 22 Notre Dame, 28-14, in his home finale last night.

Luck topped John Elway’s record of 77 touchdown passes and helped the Cardinal (11-1) build a 21-0 halftime lead. He has thrown for 80 touchdowns in three years and 35 this season.

Tommy Rees threw an interception, lost a fumble, and took a bruising blow to the ribs for Notre Dame (8-4) before getting benched. Andrew Hendrix threw for 192 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score in a second-half rally for the Fighting Irish that came up short.

The victory likely vaulted Stanford into an at-large BCS bowl bid for the second straight year - with the Fiesta Bowl among the leading possible destinations - but the program will not play for a major championship. The lone loss to Oregon put the Ducks in the Pac-12 title game out of the North Division and crushed the Cardinal’s dreams of a national title.

Virginia Tech 38, Virginia 0 - Logan Thomas threw for two touchdowns and ran for one, and David Wilson scored on two long runs in the second half as the No. 6 Hokies shut down the No. 24 Cavaliers (8-4, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) in Charlottesville.

The Hokies (11-1, 7-1) earned the league’s Coastal Division title and a rematch with No. 18 Clemson in Saturday’s ACC championship game in Charlotte.

Boise State 36, Wyoming 14 - Kellen Moore threw three touchdown passes, including a last-ditch 46-yarder on the final play of the first half, and Doug Martin rushed for two scores as the No. 7 Broncos (10-1, 5-1 Mountain West) scored 23 straight points in the second half to overpower the Cowboys (7-4, 4-2) and lock up second place in the conference.

Oregon 49, Oregon State 21 - LaMichael James ran for 142 yards before leaving with a left elbow injury, and the No. 9 Ducks clinched the Pac-12 North and a spot in the conference’s first championship game with the victory in Eugene.

The Ducks (10-2, 8-1) will host UCLA with a chance to win their third straight conference title and a Rose Bowl berth. The Beavers (3-9, 3-6) aren’t going to a bowl game for the second straight season.

Southern Cal 50, UCLA 0 - Matt Barkley passed for 423 yards and six touchdowns as the 10th-ranked Trojans (10-2, 7-2 Pac-12) closed out their season with a rout of the visiting Bruins (6-6, 5-4).

Michigan State 31, Northwestern 17 - Keshawn Martin returned a punt 57 yards for a touchdown just before halftime and Kirk Cousins threw two TD passes to B.J. Cunningham as the No. 11 Spartans (10-2, 7-1) warmed up for Saturday’s Big Ten championship game against Wisconsin by beating the host Wildcats (6-6, 3-5).