SEC & Big Ten Week 9 Roundup: LSU holds on for third Top-10 victory
In a game that came down to the wire, LSU was able to hold off Auburn 23-20 in Death Valley on Saturday to earn its third victory over an AP Top 10 team this season. LSU was then rewarded for its success on Sunday, when the Tigers leapfrogged Alabama for the No. 1 spot in the latest AP poll.
In a battle of Tigers, Auburn’s defense lived up to its reputation early, as the potent LSU offense was held to just 47 total yards and no points in the first quarter, marking only the second scoreless quarter for LSU all season.
Despite holding LSU to a season-low 23 points, however, Auburn was unable to match LSU’s offensive production, as Auburn only recorded 287 total yards to LSU’s 508.
After entering the half tied 10-10, LSU took a commanding lead in the fourth quarter off of Joe Burrow’s 7-yard touchdown run, which put LSU up 23-13. Burrow passed for 321 yards and a touchdown on the day and also ran for 47 yards and the go-ahead score.
Auburn’s offense responded, and a Seth Williams touchdown from quarterback Bo Nix cut the lead to 23-20 with under three minutes to play. But on the ensuing kickoff, Derrick Dillon recovered an onside kick to seal the win for LSU.
Now let’s check out a few more highlights from an exciting Week 9 in the SEC and Big Ten:
Kentucky 29, Missouri 7:
In his first game as Kentucky’s converted quarterback, Lynn Bowden Jr. rushed for 204 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a win in a torrential downpour that caused seven total fumbles on the day.
Tennessee 41, South Carolina 21:
Volunteers quarterbacks Jarrett Guarantano and J.T. Shrout combined for a season-high 351 passing yards, and Tennessee outscored South Carolina 24-0 in the second half on Saturday’s win
No. 3 Ohio State 38, No. 13 Wisconsin 7: In a game that was played under a consistent downpour, J.K. Dobbins rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns against the Badgers’ top-ranked defense and the Buckeyes, led by Chase Young’s four sacks, held Wisconsin to 191 total yards.
Illinois 24, Purdue 6: Dre Brown ran for a career high 131 yards and Tony Adams returned an interception for a touchdown to help Illinois slosh through the rain for a 24-6 victory at Purdue. The Fighting Illini won their second straight game and claimed the Cannon Trophy for the first time since 2015.
No. 6 Penn State 28, Michigan State 7: Sean Clifford threw three of his four touchdowns to Pat Freiermuth and Penn State’s defense held the Spartans to 83 rushing yards Saturday in East Lansing.
Indiana 38, Nebraska 31: Peyton Ramsey led the Hoosiers with career-high 351 passing yards and two touchdowns as Indiana won in Lincoln for the first time since 1959.
No. 19 Michigan 45, No. 8 Notre Dame 14: Zach Charbonnet ran for two touchdowns in the first half, and quarterback Shea Patterson added two passing touchdowns in the second, as Michigan cruised to a win over Notre Dame 45-14 in driving rain Saturday night.