College football scores, rankings, highlights: SEC title race becomes clearer, Notre Dame gets key win

Wins by Auburn and Mississippi State gave clarity to the race towards the SEC Championship Game

Division races in the SEC came into clearer focus Saturday night. No. 1 Georgia wrapped up the SEC East hours after beating Florida 34-7 thanks to their fellow Bulldogs from Mississippi State, which knocked off No. 12 Kentucky 31-17. Mike Leach's team put together a solid defensive effort that held the Wildcats to 216 yards of offense. The loss drops Kentucky to 4-2 in the SEC, but since one of those two losses came to Georgia, the tie-breaker assures Kirby Smart's team will head to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game for the fourth time in the last five years.

On the other side of the division, No. 18 Auburn beat No. 10 Ole Miss 31-20, and now the Tigers remain alongside Alabama in the SEC West as the only teams with one loss. Quarterback Bo Nix had another solid night, throwing for 276 yards, rushing for 30 and accounting for three touchdowns.

Elsewhere, in a game between teams that shared a conference for one season, No. 11 Notre Dame became the latest team to make Mack Brown mad for raising preseason expectations for North Carolina. The Fighting Irish handed the Tar Heels a 44-34 loss capped late by an incredible 91-yard touchdown run by Notre Dame's Kyren Williams. The win improves the Irish to 7-1 and keeps them alive in the College Football Playoff hunt as we prepare for the season's first rankings on Tuesday. As for North Carolina, it falls to 4-4, and now is just hoping to reach bowl eligibility.

CBS Sports was here every step of the way to update you with the latest scores, highlights and storylines throughout the night.

College football scores, schedule: Week 9

No. 2 Cincinnati 31, Tulane 12 -- Recap
No. 8 Michigan State 37, No. 6 Michigan 33 -- Takeaways, recap
Wisconsin 27, No. 9 Iowa 7 -- Recap
No. 16 Baylor 31, Texas 24 --  Recap
Miami 38, No. 17 Pittsburgh 34 -- Recap
No. 1 Georgia 34, Florida 7 -- Takeaways, recap
No. 4 Oklahoma 52, Texas Tech 21 -- Recap
No. 7 Oregon 52, Colorado 29 -- Recap
No. 18 Auburn 31, No. 10 Ole Miss 20 -- Recap
Mississippi State  31, No. 12 Kentucky 17 -- Recap
Houston 44, No. 19 SMU 37 -- Recap
No. 5 Ohio State 33, No. 20 Penn State 24 -- Takeaways, recap
No. 11 Notre Dame 44, North Carolina 34 -- Recap
Check out the entire Week 9 scoreboard

Check these out ...

• TT25T: Michigan State moves up into the top five after marquee win
• Jeyarajah: Georgia cements status as playoff rankings near
• Dodd: Tucker, Walker vault Michigan State to front of Big Ten, playoff race
• WATCH: Houston stuns unbeaten SMU with winning kickoff return for TD
• Trashing Michigan: Ohio State's marching band trolls the Wolverines after loss
• Atlanta bound: Georgia punches its ticket to the SEC Championship Game
• Big Man TD: Ohio State's 300-pound DT rumbles 57 yards on a scoop-and-score
• Bad Beat: Florida State's final-play blunder gives Clemson a late cover
• Drake London injured: USC's star WR carted from field with leg injury
• Icing the game: Faking a kneel down is one way to score a TD
• ACC upset: Miami's frosh QB out-duels Heisman contender Pickett
• All brakes, no gas: Texas blows its third straight double-digit lead
• Ejected: Bowling Green coach tossed after two unsportsmanlike calls

Want more college football in your life? Listen below and subscribe to the Cover 3 College Football podcast for top-notch insight and analysis beyond the gridiron.

[Oct 31, 2021 at 2:16 am ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Fresno State smashes SDSU

FINAL: Fresno State 30, No. 21 San Diego State 20

Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener threw for 306 yards and running back Jordan Mims added 186 yards rushing to lead the Bulldogs to an upset victory over San Diego State. Aztecs quarterback Lucas Johnson threw for 220 yards in the loss, but turned the ball over twice. The loss is San Diego State's first of the season and could knock the Aztecs out of the AP Top 25. 

[Oct 31, 2021 at 2:03 am ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

BYU survives epic shootout

FINAL: No. 25 BYU 66, Virginia 49

BYU survived one of the wildest games of the season to move to 6-2. The game featured 115 combined points and 1,322 total yards behind some sensational quarterback play. Virginia starter Brennan Armstrong threw for 337 yards, rushed for 94 yards and accumulated 6 touchdowns. BYU's Jaren Hall threw for 349 yards and 3 touchdowns without any interceptions. Dynamic Cougars running back Tyler Allgeier posted 237 yards and 5 rushing touchdowns, his fourth multi-touchdown game of the season. 

[Oct 31, 2021 at 1:13 am ET · Ben Kercheval]

BYU, Virginia head to fourth quarter

By comparison, the first 15 minutes out of halftime were subdued in Provo compared to the first half. Both teams scored just one touchdown as the Cavaliers lead the Cougars 49-45 after three quarters. BYU did strike quickly coming out of halftime with a scoring drive in the first two minutes. Both quarterbacks are up to 300 yards through the air each and BYU is driving as we enter the fourth. 

[Oct 31, 2021 at 12:24 am ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Fresno State zooms up on SDSU

HALF: Fresno State 20, No. 21 San Diego State 7

Weeks ago, Fresno State was the hot, new team in the Mountain West behind electric quarterback Jake Haener. Now that San Diego State has taken its spot, Haener and the Bulldogs are out for revenge. Haener has 218 yards passing and a touchdown to pace a two-score lead over the Aztecs at the half. Running back Jordan Mims has 97 yards and a touchdown. San Diego State quarterback Lucas Johnson has thrown for 165 yards, but the Aztecs have just 38 rushing yards, and their high-powered defense is allowing 7.8 yards per play. 

[Oct 31, 2021 at 12:17 am ET · Ben Kercheval]

Virginia and BYU end insane first half

Bronco Mendenhall's return to Provo is undeniably the night cap that Week 9 of the college football season deserves. Mendenhall's Virginia Cavaliers, originally down 21-0, have stormed all the way back to take a -- and this is not a typo -- 42-38 lead over BYU at the end of 30 minutes. Of the 11 (!) touchdown drives so far, eight have been under two minutes. There were 21 points scored in the final two minutes of the half. Cavaliers quarterback Brennan Armstrong has five touchdowns and nearly 400 yards of total offense. Get yourself to ESPN2 once the second half starts if you aren't glued there already. This game is utter insanity and you will love it, I promise. 

[Oct 30, 2021 at 11:32 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

No. 5 Ohio State buttons up big win over No. 20 Penn State

FINAL: Ohio State 33, Penn State 24

Penn State struck first on the road in Columbus, Ohio, but the Buckeyes got the final word on their home turf as they defeated Penn State 33-24 to win its sixth consecutive game on the season and 22nd consecutive Big Ten game. This game had a little of everything -- including a big man touchdown -- but it featured freshman running back TreVeyon Henderson rushing for 152 yards on 28 attempts and C.J. Stroud adding 305 yards passing. Huge for them as they make their case as a playoff contender. 

[Oct 30, 2021 at 10:49 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Auburn comes up big

Final: No. 18 Auburn 31, No. 10 Ole Miss 20

The Tigers got 276 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns from quarterback Bo Nix, 140 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown from Tank Bigsby and held star Rebels' quarterback in check in what was a huge game in the SEC West landscape. With two conference losses and without a head-to-head tiebreaker against Alabama, the Rebels are essentially out of contention. Conversely, Auburn has only one conference loss and is tied with Alabama for the division lead heading into the final month of the season. The two will meet in the Iron Bowl on the last weekend of November.

[Oct 30, 2021 at 10:34 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Mississippi State stuns No. 12 Kentucky

Final: Mississippi State 31, No. 12 Kentucky 17

Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers broke the 300-yard mark through the air for the ninth time in his career -- tying a program record held by Dak Prescott -- en route to an emphatic win over the cross-division rival Wildcats. Rogers threw for 344 yards on 36 of 39 passing in the biggest win of the season for Mississippi State and coach Mike Leach. The loss officially ends Kentucky's chances at winning the SEC East and locks up the division for Georgia.

[Oct 30, 2021 at 10:04 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Wild finish coming in Houston

4Q: Houston 37, No. 19 SMU 34

Houston and SMU are battling in what has become one of the best games of the weekend. The Cougars picked of Tanner Mordecai to end an SMU drive and have the ball with nine minutes remaining and a shot to go up multiple scores. The two quarterbacks in this game have combined for nearly 700 yards and 7 touchdowns with more to come. 

[Oct 30, 2021 at 9:54 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Auburn up on Ole Miss

Start 4Q: No. 18 Auburn 28, No. 10 Ole Miss

Auburn stopped Ole Miss on fourth-and-seven on the 13-yard line late in the third quarter to preserve an eight-point lead in a critical game in the SEC West race. The loser of this one would almost certainly be out of the division title race, and Ole Miss' chances of making the CFP would be dashed with a loss. Auburn running back Tank Bigsby has 125 rushing yards and one touchdowns on the evening.

[Oct 30, 2021 at 9:46 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Notre Dame and North Carolina locked in a fist fight

3Q: No. 11 Notre Dame 24, North Carolina 20

The Fighting Irish are locked in a back-and-forth battle with a North Carolina team that is having a solid game offensively. Sam Howell has thrown for 184 yards and only tossed two incompletions, but Notre Dame quarterback Jack Coan has touchdowns on the ground and through the air to out-duel one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Ty Chandler has 76 yards and two rushing touchdowns for the Tar Heels.

[Oct 30, 2021 at 9:40 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Kentucky in trouble

Start 4Q: Mississippi State 31, No. 12 Kentucky 10

The Wildcats' SEC East title hopes are getting erased in front of the clanging cowbells in Starkville. Quarterback Will Levis has tossed three interceptions and the offense has managed just 166 total yards in what is rapidly becoming a disaster for coach Mark Stoops' crew.

[Oct 30, 2021 at 8:53 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

SMU coming back against UH

HALF: Houston 23, No. 19 SMU 20

After going down 17-0 in the first 13 minutes, SMU put together a 20-3 run to tie the game with 2:45 remaining in the half. The Cougars nailed a field goal to end the first half, but SMU's passing offense is finding its rhythm at the right time. Houston quarterback Clayton Tune is dealing with 295 yards and 2 touchdowns in the first half. WR Nathaniel Dell has 6 catches for 139 yards and both touchdowns. However, SMU QB Tanner Mordecai has 172 yards and 3 touchdowns of his own. The teams have combined for just 48 total rushing yards and 1.5 yards per carry. 

[Oct 30, 2021 at 8:43 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Auburn leads Ole Miss at the break

Half: No. 18 Auburn 28, No. 10 Ole Miss 17

The Tigers lead the Rebels in what likely will serve as an SEC West elimination game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn. Tigers quarterback Bo Nix has two rushing touchdowns and star running back Tank Bigsby has 94 yards and a touchdown to build the two-score lead going into the locker room. Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral is back in the game and scored a touchdown on the ground after suffering a lower leg injury that required him to be carted off the field.

The loser of this game will essentially be out of the mix for the division title. Ole Miss has a loss to Alabama on the books and Auburn's lone conference loss came to No. 1 Georgia. The second half of this matchup will be enormous for both teams.

[Oct 30, 2021 at 8:41 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Kentucky trailing at the half

Half: Mississippi State 14, No. 12 Kentucky 10

Kentucky has to beat Mississippi State on Saturday night to stay in the SEC East race, but things are not going well for coach Mark Stoops' crew. Jo'quavious Marks and Dillon Johnson each have touchdown runs for the Bulldogs and the defense has forced a Will Levis interception in what was a sloppy first half in front of all of the clanging cowbells in Starkville. Kentucky not only is hanging by a string in the division title race, but still has a legitimate chance to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff if it wins out. The final 30 minutes of the game will be huge for the future of the Kentucky program.

[Oct 30, 2021 at 7:57 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Houston off to blazing start vs. SMU

START 2Q: Houston 17, SMU 7

The Cougars had an impeccable start to their matchup against SMU by jumping out to a 17-0 lead against the No. 19 Ponies. Quarterback Clayton Tune threw two touchdowns to receiver Nathaniel Dell early and the defense has made life difficult for SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai. The Mustangs have won two straight games over Houston. 

[Oct 30, 2021 at 7:53 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Auburn leads Ole Miss, Matt Corral hurt

Start 2Q: No. 18 Auburn 14, No. 10 Ole Miss 3

Auburn running back Tank Bigsby and quarterback Bo Nix each have rushing touchdowns and the Tigers defense held the Rebels to a field goal after a 61-yard drive to give the home-standing Tigers an early lead in what will likely serve as an SEC West elimination game. To make matters worse, Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral suffered a left ankle injury with 1:38 left in the quarter. He escaped pressure from defensive lineman Derrick Hall, who missed a tackle while diving at his legs. Corral managed to get off a pass in the face of pressure from Smoke Monday and immediately came up hobbling. He was carted to the locker room and is questionable to return.

[Oct 30, 2021 at 7:20 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Hartman's monster day leads Wake Forest

FINAL: No. 13 Wake Forest 45, Duke 7

Wake Forest moved to 8-0 after shellacking Duke behind 463 total yards of offense and 5 touchdowns from quarterback Sam Hartman. The Demon Deacons posted 677 yards of offense to give head coach Dave Clawson all nine of the highest-yardage games in program history. Duke mustered just 315 yards and harmlessly scored its lone touchdown with 7:17 remaining in the game. Running back Mataeo Durant compiled another 100-yard performance in a losing effort. 

[Oct 30, 2021 at 7:12 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

Oregon ousts Colorado, stays atop Pac-12 race

FINAL: Oregon 52, Colorado 29

Oregon remains the class of the Pac-12 with a third consecutive win in league play over Colorado (2-6). The Ducks win 52-29 to improve to 7-1 on the season and atop the Pac-12 North standings. Oregon QB Anthony Brown totaled 307 yards passing and three passing scores. Oregon RB Byron Cardwell finishes with an all-time efficient stat line of 127 yards rushing and one touchdown on only SEVEN rushing attempts. 

[Oct 30, 2021 at 7:09 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Clemson survives Florida State

FINAL: Clemson 30, Florida State 20

Florida State took a late lead on the road against Clemson and seemingly had a shot to snap the nation's longest home winning streak. However, the Tigers responded with a dynamic 58-yard drive to go up for good and picked up an FSU lateral as time expired to miraculously cover against their rival. Running back Will Shipley rushed for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns in the win, while second-string rusher Phil Mafah added 69 yards. Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis threw for a pair of touchdowns in the loss. 

[Oct 30, 2021 at 6:55 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

Oklahoma goes wire to wire in win over Texas Tech

FINAL: Oklahoma 52, Texas Tech 21

Scoring bonanza today for No. 4 Oklahoma as it puts on an offensive clinic in a 52-21 home win over Texas Tech. Sooners rolled up 518 yards of offense led by freshman QB Caleb Williams and his 402 yards passing. He accounted for seven touchdown throws, tying the OU single-game freshman record. His six TD passes are the most by an OU quarterback since Kyler Murray had six against Baylor in 2018.

[Oct 30, 2021 at 6:51 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

Georgia routs Florida in impressive performance

FINAL: Georgia 34, Florida 7.

No. 1 Georgia goes wire-to-wire with a win on the road over Florida. Gators did not score until the fourth quarter. UGA quarterback Stetson Bennett with one TD and two picks but didn't matter. Ground game -- led by Zamir White -- rolled up 193 yards and a pair of scores and the defense was fabulous as usual. 

Big questions remain at QB for Florida. Anthony Richardson may well be the answer in the long term but he struggled against UGA, throwing two picks and turning 20 pass attempts into just 82 passing yards. Emory Jones was only slightly more effective, completing 10 of his 14 passes for 112 yards and adding 22 yards rushing and a score on the ground. 

[Oct 30, 2021 at 6:33 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Huge swing in FSU/Clemson

4Q: Florida State 20, Clemson 17

Florida State hasn't beaten Clemson since Jameis Winston's final season in 2014, but the Seminoles just took a fourth quarter lead after a scoop-and-score from star DE Jermaine Johnson. Clemson has outgained FSU by 100 yards, but the Seminoles have forced three turnovers and gotten consistent pressure on Clemson QB D.J. Uiagalelei to hold an advantage late. 

[Oct 30, 2021 at 6:23 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

Oklahoma QB Caleb Williams putting on show

End 3Q: OU 38, Texas Tech 14

True freshman quarterback Caleb Williams is enjoying a huge day for OU against Texas Tech as the Sooners cruise at home over the Red Raiders. He has nearly 400 yards passing and five touchdowns on the day with two of his receivers -- Marvin Mims and Mario Williams -- both over 100 yards receiving already. 

[Oct 30, 2021 at 6:10 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

Georgia putting the rout on Florida

3Q: Georgia 27, Florida 0

Georgia's defense is putting on a show (again), this time against Florida and Dan Mullen. The Bulldogs have held the Gators scoreless through three quarters of play despite some success rushing the ball. Florida holds the NCAA record having scored in 417 straight games but that is officially in jeopardy going to the fourth quarter.

[Oct 30, 2021 at 5:43 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

West Virginia comes back to beat No. 22 Iowa State

FINAL: West Virginia 38, Iowa State 31

In a surprising result out of the Big 12, West Virginia went on a 14-0 at home to close out Iowa State with a 38-31 win. That should properly shake up the Big 12 race after Iowa State last week knocked off previously-undefeated Oklahoma State. 

Mountaineers QB Jarret Doege threw for 370 yards and three touchdowns. Leddie Brown rushed for two and added 109 yards on 22 carries. Iowa State RB Breece Hall had 167 yards rushing on 24 carries.

[Oct 30, 2021 at 5:31 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Wake Forest obliterating Duke

HALF: No. 13 Wake Forest 28, Duke 0

The Demon Deacons are well on the way to moving to 8-0 after taking a four-touchdown lead over in-state rival Duke at the half. Quarterback Sam Hartman threw for 255 yards, rushed for 72 yards and posted 4 total touchdowns in the half alone to virtually bury the 3-4 Blue Devils. Duke running back Mataeo Durant has 103 yards to continue his fantastic season, but Wake Forest is on the cusp of staying undefeated. 

[Oct 30, 2021 at 5:20 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Oregon on track against Colorado

HALF: No. 7 Oregon, Colorado 14

Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown threw for 201 yards and 2 scores in the first half to pace the Ducks to a big halftime lead against the Buffaloes. Four rushers have combined for 143 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns on 7.5 yards per carry, including a 34-yard run from Brandon Cardwell. Colorado QB Brendon Lewis, a freshman from Melissa, Texas, is playing well with 129 yards and 2 touchdowns. However, the running game has mustered just 45 yards. 

[Oct 30, 2021 at 5:13 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Oklahoma cruising against Texas Tech

HALF: No. 4 Oklahoma 28, Texas Tech 7

The Sooners look like a top-five team for the first time this season as freshman quarterback Caleb Williams has Oklahoma on cruise control against Texas Tech. Williams has completed 13-of-18 passes for 268 yards and 4 touchdowns as Oklahoma has needed just 26 plays for 28 points. Four different receivers have caught touchdowns. Texas Tech WR Erik Ezukanma has 59 yards and a score, but the Red Raiders have struggled to complete drives. 

[Oct 30, 2021 at 5:05 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

Iowa State on upset alert at West Virginia

What has gotten into the Mountaineers' offense over the past couple of weeks? The 'Eers lead the No. 22 Cyclones 38-31 about midway through the fourth quarter. Jarret Doege has had his ups and downs this season, but he's thrown for 352 yards and three touchdowns, more than outplaying Brock Purdy for Iowa State. Leddie Brown has another 100-yard game while Breece Hall continues to do Breece Hall things with 130 yards on the ground. A tight one in Morgantown will probably come down to the wire.