EAST LANSING, MICH. — Wisconsin's dream of an unbeaten season might have ended just before halftime Saturday at Michigan State.
That's when Anthony Davis went airborne toward the goal line on fourth-and-inches, expecting to score the game-tying touchdown against the upstart Spartans.
But two Michigan State players met him head-on to stop him just short -- a pivotal play in a game that wound up a lopsided 49-14 Spartan victory.
"That was a big momentum shift," Davis said. "When something like that happens, you really have to pull together as a team and get the momentum back, some how, some way. We didn't do that."
Michigan State used a powerful rushing attack, a trick play and a key defensive stand to defeat No. 4 Wisconsin and knock the Badgers out of the national-championship race.
The Spartans (5-5, 4-3 Big Ten) handed the Badgers their first loss and knocked Wisconsin (9-1, 6-1) into a second-place tie with Iowa in the Big Ten behind Michigan. The win keeps Michigan State's bowl hopes alive.
The Badgers entered the game ranked fifth in the Bowl Championship Series standings, primarily because of a dominating defense that had allowed 9.1 points a game -- lowest in the nation. But Michigan State rolled up 551 yards of total offense, including 430 on the ground.
It sent Michigan State seniors out in style in their final home game at Spartan Stadium.
"What a deal for our seniors, something they'll remember the rest of their lives," Michigan State coach John L. Smith said. "Once we got the snowball rolling and got momentum, it was a good deal."
No. 5 California 42, Washington 12
Seattle -- J.J. Arrington ran for 84 of his 121 yards in the second half, and Aaron Rodgers shook off a slow start to throw two touchdown passes as the Golden Bears (8-1, 6-1 Pac-10) defeated the Huskies (1-9, 0-7). Washington, which closes its worst season in 35 years next week at rival Washington State, hasn't finished winless in conference play since going 0-7 in the old Pac-8 back in 1973.
No. 7 Utah 45, Wyoming 28
Laramie, Wyo. -- Alex Smith passed for 244 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a game-high 105 yards and another TD as Utah scored on its first five possessions in the game that started 1 hour, 39 minutes late because of a power outage. Utah clinched its second straight Mountain West title and boosted its hopes for a marquee bowl.
No. 9 Michigan 42, Northwestern 20
Ann Arbor, Mich. -- Michael Hart ran for 151 yards and a season-high three touchdowns, and Michigan scored TDs the first five times it touched the ball in the second half. The Wolverines (9-1, 7-0 Big Ten) led the Wildcats (5-5, 4-3) by only one point at halftime before turning the game into a rout with scores on the ground, through the air and on a punt return.
No. 18 Miami 31,
No. 10 Virginia 21
Charlottesville, Va. -- Roscoe Parrish returned a punt for a touchdown and caught a clinching touchdown pass in the final minute as Miami got back into the ACC title race. The Hurricanes (7-2, 4-2) ended a two-game losing streak and put themselves back in position to win the league title and its Bowl Championship Series bid with victories in their last two games. They play Wake Forest next weekend and Virginia Tech on Dec. 4, both in Miami.
No. 21 Boston College 36, No. 13 West Virginia 17
Morgantown, W.Va. -- Paul Peterson threw two first-half touchdown passes, and B.C. returned two punts for scores. The Eagles (7-2, 3-1 Big East) won in Morgantown for the first time since 1990. West Virginia (8-2, 5-1) lost in November for the first time under fourth-year coach Rich Rodriguez.
No. 14 Boise State 56,
San Jose State 49, 2OT
San Jose, Calif. -- Jon Helmandollar scored his third touchdown in the second overtime, allowing Boise State to extend the nation's longest winning streak to 20 games. Jared Zabransky passed for 200 yards and scored one of eight rushing touchdowns by the Broncos (9-0, 6-0 WAC), who hung on despite 14 penalties and an inspired effort by the Spartans (2-7, 1-5).
No. 17 LSU 26, Alabama 10
Baton Rouge, La. -- LSU defensive end Marcus Spears and linebacker Cameron Vaughn combined for the go-ahead touchdown for LSU. With the Tigers trailing 10-6 in the third quarter, Spears hit Alabama quarterback Spencer Pennington on the Crimson Tide eight-yard line, forcing a fumble. Vaughn picked up the ball and scampered in for the TD to give LSU (7-2, 4-2 SEC) its first lead.
No. 19 Iowa 29, Minnesota 27
Minneapolis -- Rhys Lloyd's 51-yard field goal try drifted left with 28 seconds remaining, allowing Iowa to hold on for its sixth straight win. Drew Tate completed 24 of 39 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns for Iowa (8-2, 6-1). Laurence Maroney rushed 19 times for 156 yards and a career-high three touchdowns for the Gophers (6-5, 3-5).
No. 20 Arizona State 45, Washington State 28
Tempe, Ariz. -- Andrew Walter passed for 332 yards and five touchdowns in his final home game for Arizona State (8-2, 5-2 Pac-10). The senior completed 26 of 41 passes without an interception while breaking the school record for touchdown passes in a season with 30. Mike Pagel set the old mark of 29 in 1981. Fifteen of Walter's TD passes came in his last three home games.
No. 23 UTEP 35,
Rice 28, 2OT
El Paso, Texas -- Jordan Palmer threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Johnnie Lee to give Texas-El Paso the lead in double overtime, then Rice's Ed Bailey fumbled on the two to give the Miners a victory. UTEP (7-2, 5-1 Western Athletic) was forced into the overtime when Rice (3-7, 2-5) recorded two safeties in the final 5:20. The second one came when punter Bryce Benekos lost a rain-soaked ball out of the end zone with 17 seconds left.
Pittsburgh 41,
No. 24 Notre Dame 38
South Bend, Ind. -- Tyler Palko became the first quarterback to throw five touchdown passes against Notre Dame, four in the first half alone, and Josh Cummings kicked a 32-yard field goal with one second left. The Panthers (6-3) became bowl-eligible with the victory.
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