CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 160 yards and scored two touchdowns, and Illinois recovered an onside kick to preserve a 31-26 victory over Wisconsin, ending the nation’s longest winning streak.
Mendenhall had 100 yards rushing in the first half, leading the Illini (5-1, 3-0 Big Ten) to a 17-6 lead. Wisconsin rallied to within 31-26 with 1:31 left, but couldn’t recover the onside kick.
The Badgers (5-1, 2-1) hadn’t lost since Sept. 16, 2006, at Michigan.
Wisconsin’s P.J. Hill entered the game as the Big Ten’s top running back, averaging 133.4 yards a game. But the Illini held him to 83 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown.
Illinois quarterback Juice Williams ran for another 92 yards on 14 carries.
Wisconsin quarterback Tyler Donovan threw two interceptions in Illinois territory, the first to safety Kevin Mitchell and the second to cornerback Vontae Davis. But Donovan led Wisconsin back, hitting tight end Garrett Graham for a 12-yard touchdown that made it 31-26.
No. 7 Boston College 55, Bowling Green 24
BOSTON (AP) – Matt Ryan threw four touchdown passes and Boston College pulled away with four interceptions late in the first half to overwhelm Bowling Green.
The No. 7 Eagles entered the game with their highest ranking in 23 years, and are off to their best start in 65 years.
Boston College (6-0) scored 38 straight points after Tyler Sheehan’s 6-yard pass to Freddie Barnes with 8:55 left in the half cut BC’s lead to 14-10. After that, the Eagles were well on the way to their 16th straight home victory.
Ryan finished 24-for-32 for 312 yards before Chris Crane took over on BC’s first series of the fourth quarter. For the season, Ryan has thrown for 15 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Sheehan went 27-for-43 for 275 yards for Bowling Green (3-2), with one touchdown and five interceptions.
No. 13 West Virginia 55, Syracuse 14
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) – Fullback Owen Schmitt scored his first two touchdowns of the season, defensive tackle Keilen Dykes returned an interception 19 yards for another score, and No. 13 West Virginia gave coach Rich Rodriguez his 100th victory.
The Mountaineers (5-1, 1-1 Big East), who committed six turnovers in a loss to South Florida, converted two deflected passes into touchdowns in the first half to build a commanding 31-7 lead over the Orange (1-5, 1-1).
West Virginia quarterback Pat White suffered what appeared to be a shoulder injury midway through the third quarter against Syracuse and never returned. Before he was relieved, White was 12-of-15 for 148 yards and a T and had 14 carries for a team-high 89 yards and another TD.
The maligned Syracuse defense held Steve Slaton to 69 yards rushing on 15 carries. Slaton entered the game averaging 122.4 yards a game, second in the nation.
Kansas 30, No. 24 Kansas St. 24
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) – Todd Reesing threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns and the Jayhawks overcame some potentially ruinous mistakes to beat their archrivals and start a season 5-0 for just the third time in 39 years.
Reesing, the sophomore quarterback who had thrown for 1,119 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first four games, hit Dexton Fields with a 30-yard scoring pass for a 27-24 lead. That play came just 65 seconds after the Wildcats (2-3) had taken the lead on a halfback option pass.
Jeff Webb booted a 24-yard field goal a few minutes later when Kendrick Harper intercepted Josh Freeman’s pass on the 26.
Freeman hit 31 of 48 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown. But he was also intercepted three times, the last by Aqib Talib with 1:12 to play.
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