Nits close strong in win over Owls

National - Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon rushed for an FBS-record 408 yards and four touchdowns in only three quarters of a 59-24 win over visiting Nebraska. TCU's LaDainian Tomlinson had 406 in 1999.

Local - Widener's defense forced six turnovers in a 44-28 win over fellow unbeaten Delaware Valley in Chester. It's the program's 12th unbeaten regular season and second in 3 years, this one with first-year coach Mike Kelly.

Penn State 30, Temple 13

The Owls will have to wait until next year's game in South Philly to try to end a losing streak that dates back to 1941.

They've lost four of their last five, sandwiched around a home win over then-ranked East Carolina, to fall to .500 (5-5) for the first time since early September.

It was 6-6 early in the third quarter in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions (6-4), who'd won at Indiana last week to break a four-game losing streak, scored two TDs in less than a minute. The first came on a two-play drive that consisted of two long runs. The second came one play after an interception return set up PSU on the Temple 8.

The Owls immediately answered with a 75-yard pass from P.J. Walker to Jalen Fitzpatrick. They wouldn't get past midfield after that. Walker was picked off four times; one was run back for a TD that made it 27-13 early in the fourth.

The Owls had eight first downs and were 3-for-16 on third downs. In their last four losses, they haven't scored more than 14. They had 20 against ECU.

They get their third bye this week, then host Cincinnati (6-3) on Nov. 29 before closing at Tulane (3-7). They need to win to, like PSU, become bowl eligible for the first time since 2011.

Villanova 48, Albany 31

John Robertson had a season-high 393 yards of offense in the Wildcats' (9-2, 6-1 CAA) last regular-season home game. They'd like to have at least one more in the playoffs. They can pretty much assure that with a win in Saturday's finale at Delaware (6-5, 4-3).

The Walter Payton Award favorite tied a career record with five touchdowns, three rushing and two passing. He ran for 168 yards on 22 carries, and was 15-for-21 for 225. The junior has accounted for 40 TDs with just two INTs for the No. 6 team in FCS.

It was 28-10 after 30 minutes.

The Wildcats have won the first half this season, 240-113. They've had at least 20 by the break seven times. This was the eighth time they've gone over 40.

Afterward, Albany coach Greg Gattuso was upset with Andy Talley for giving the ball twice to Fred O'Connor, who had six career carries, instead of taking kneel-downs. The first resulted in a 19-yard gain, the second got 1 to end things. The Great Danes (6-5, 2-5) had scored on a 25-yard pass with 49 seconds left.

"We wanted to get a senior running back in the game who is a 4-year walk-on, and we wanted to give him the ball," Talley said. "It's not like we were throwing the ball . . . I mean, if you're going to be upset, then be upset that I am trying to run up the score, which we absolutely were not doing. I've been coaching here 30 years. Ask anyone in this league, I've never run up the score on anybody."

Harvard 34, Penn 24

After 23 seasons, this was Al Bagnoli's last game at Franklin Field. The Quakers (1-8, 1-5 Ivy League) led by seven after three quarters against the No. 17 team in FCS. The Crimson (9-0, 6-0) scored the final 17, going ahead to stay on a TD with 10 1/2 minutes left and adding a clincher at 6:42.

Harvard, which scored on its first play, was in front 17-10 at the half.

Afterward, Bagnoli was given a framed No. 9 jersey for his record nine outright titles.

Paul Stanton Jr. rushed for 235 yards and three TDs on 22 carries.

The Quakers had a chance to stretch their lead to 10 late in the third, but a low snap resulted in a missed 38-yard field goal.

It was the most points given up by Harvard this year since allowing 18 in the opener.

Bagnoli's farewell is at Cornell (1-8, 1-5), which just lost by three at previously winless Columbia.

Say what you want about Florida State and Jameis Winston, but until somebody actually finds a way to finally take the Seminoles out . . . Maybe they got lucky on that tipped pass that went for a touchdown, like Auburn a year ago, but they do have a way of getting it done when it matters most. Something to be said for that.

Arizona State found out what it's like to play a team you should beat that has nothing to lose. Especially on the road. TCU did too, but managed to survive. And, oh yeah, Alabama knocked off No. 1 Mississippi State at home as most anticipated. Which means the Crimson Tide is again the team to really look out for. And remember, they might only be a field-goal return at Auburn away from going for a fourth straight national title. Just saying.

Rakeem Cato broke the Marshall record with his 116th career TD pass. The mark had belonged to Chad Pennington (1995-99).

* Clemson freshman QB Deshaun Watson, after missing three games with a broken hand, injured a knee in the first quarter.

* Georgia's Todd Gurley, back from a four-game NCAA suspension, suffered a torn ACL late in the win over Auburn and is out for the year.

* Stanford lost consecutive games for the first time since October 2009.

* Florida State was behind at halftime for the fifth time.

* Northwestern rushed for 263 yards at Notre Dame, after having minus-9 a week ago against Michigan.

* Virginia Tech avoided its first four-game losing streak since 1992.

* LSU lost back-to-back under Les Miles for the second time, as Arkansas got its first shutout since 2006.

MICHAEL JACK'S TOP 10
1. Florida State (10-0). Beat Miami, 30-26. All the Seminoles do is keep finding a way. Something to be said for that. Saturday: vs. Boston College.
2. Alabama (9-1). Beat Mississippi State, 25-20. This is the team nobody wants to play. Saturday: vs. Western Carolina.
3. Oregon (9-1). Idle. Won at Colorado last year, 57-16. I'd lean toward the over. Saturday: vs. Colorado.
4. Mississippi State (9-1). Lost at Alabama, 25-20. Has to win at Ole Miss on the 29th and hope that's enough. Saturday: vs. Vanderbilt.
5. TCU (9-1). Beat Kansas, 34-30. Frogs might need help, especially if Baylor wins out. Next: Nov. 27 at  Texas.
6. Baylor (8-1). Idle. Is 2-16 against Oklahoma State. Lost last year in Stillwater, 49-17. Saturday: vs. Oklahoma State.
7. Ohio State (9-1). Beat Minnesota, 31-24. Wonder who the starting QB is next year when Braxton Miller returns? Saturday: vs. Indiana.
8. Mississippi (8-2). Idle. Won at Arkansas, which just broke a long SEC losing streak, by three in 2012. Saturday: at Arkansas.
9. Georgia (8-2). Beat Auburn, 34-7. Dawgs need Missouri, which they beat 34-7 on the road, to lose either at Tennessee or to Arkansas. Saturday: vs. Charleston Southern.
10. Michigan State (8-2). Beat Maryland, 37-15. Hasn't played Rutgers since 2004 (19-14 road loss). Saturday: vs. Rutgers.
Next five: UCLA, Kansas State, Arizona, Arizona State and Wisconsin. You were expecting maybe Notre Dame?
FRAUD FIVE PLUS
Arizona State — You can't be losing at Oregon State, especially when you're talking playoffs. Guess the Devils were still thinking about Notre Dame.
Nebraska — You can be losing at Wisconsin, but not by 59-24. Good thing Huskers led 17-3 and got a TD with 3 minutes to go.
Notre Dame — Brian Kelly should know the difference between having an 11-point lead and a 12-point lead. And the difference between a 12 and 13. Either way, still shouldn't be losing at home to Northwestern. So much for a major bowl.
Auburn — It's OK to lose at Georgia. But not by 34-7.
Duke — Can't be losing at home to Virginia Tech. Then again, Ohio State did.
Miami — I don't care if it was Florida State, you shouldn't be blowing a 16-point third-quarter lead at home, especially in a game that a lot of people had you winning.
TCU — Oops, never mind. But Kansas hadn't beaten a top-five team since 1995.