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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Pat White ran for 220 yards to set a school rushing record for a quarterback Thursday and lead No.12 West Virginia past Pitt 45-13.
With the win in swirling snow flurries and 7-degree wind chill, the Mountaineers (9-1, 6-0) clinched a tie for the Big East title. But USF (6-3, 4-1) can force a tie by beating Connecticut on Saturday and win the title by beating West Virginia on Dec. 3.
Meanwhile, the Panthers (5-6, 4-3), clinched their first losing season since 1999.
White, who surpassed the 205 yards of Ted Anderson in 1953 against VMI, also threw for 41 yards, ran for two touchdowns and passed for another.
He ran for 80 yards on West Virginia's second drive, including a 47-yard draw to the 1. After two penalties, White hit Steve Slaton, who rushed for 179 yards, with a 16-yard touchdown.
Down 21-13, Pitt fumbled on its first second-half series, leading to Pat McAfee's 29-yard field goal.
Pitt's Josh Cummings slipped on a 44-yard field goal that fell well short late in the third. On the ensuing possession, Owen Schmitt's 44-yard run moved the Mountaineers to the Panthers 21. That set up Slaton's 6-yard scoring run.
The Panthers reached the Mountaineers 15 on their next possession, but Tyler Palko's fourth-down pass was broken up in the end zone by Dee McCann.
AKRON 35, KENT ST. 3: Brett Biggs ran for 149 yards and scored twice for the host Zips, who clinched the Mid-American Conference's East Division title. They face Northern Illinois in the title game Dec. 1 in Detroit.
The Golden Flashes faltered early in a game that started in 27-degree weather with winds of 23 mph. They fumbled twice in their first three snaps. Brion Stokes scooped up the second and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown and 7-0 Akron lead.
Biggs, who accounted for 207 yards of offense, caught a 17-yard touchdown from Luke Getsy just after halftime to make it 21-3.
With Kent State punter Joshua Brazen standing near his goal line on the next series, the Zips blocked the kick. Jay Rohr recovered for a 2-yard touchdown return.
Today's gamesThe Big 12 championship and potential matchup with top-ranked Southern Cal will wait for Texas.
This one's about good, old-fashioned tradition.
The No. 2 Longhorns play at Texas A&M today in the 112th installment of a rivalry that raises emotions every Thanksgiving weekend.
The Aggies, who must win to become bowl eligible, are counting on those emotions to carry them through what looks like a mismatch.
"On paper, I'm sure we're the underdogs," A&M safety Melvin Bullitt said. "But the paper doesn't play the game. The paper doesn't mean anything. You can wash all that out. This is the game of the year."
Texas has everything to lose, namely the national title shot against the Trojans. But coach Mack Brown said beating A&M has deep meaning for the Longhorns, too.
"It is not about championships. It's not about anything other than state pride," Brown said.
"A lot of people have said, "Well, you know, A&M doesn't have a lot to play for.' But they do: winning the Texas game. For ours, it's the same, and it's enough to play for."
Meanwhile, LSU needs only to beat Arkansas at home to clinch the SEC West and a berth in the title game. (A loss puts Auburn in the title game.) Arkansas won't be going to a bowl game and gave up 70 in a loss to Southern Cal earlier this season.
Yet the Razorbacks have improved since and are coming off wins against Mississippi and Mississippi State.
Before that, they lost to 7-4 South Carolina 14-10 and at Georgia (currently ranked No.13) 23-20.
"Except for a break here or there, they could be 6-4 or 7-3 and be in good shape," LSU coach Les Miles said.
And seniors on both teams remember the 2002 game, when LSU, appearing to be on its way to the SEC title game, allowed the winning touchdown in the waning seconds.
"Any letdown would be really disappointing," LSU defensive tackle Kyle Williams said. "We want to play for the SEC championship."