ranked University of Alabama found its championship form in the nick of time, beating Auburn 26-21 in college football Friday. Outplayed most of the game, the Crimson Tide took the lead with a nearly perfect drive that was capped by Greg McElroy's 4-yard touchdown pass to Roy Upchurch with 1:24 left. Alabama completed a second straight perfect regular season, setting up 1 vs. 2 showdown with top-ranked Florida in the SEC championship game. But before they could think about the national championship, the state title almost slipped away from Alabama. Auburn pushed the ball to the Alabama 37 on the final drive, but Chris Todd's pass to the end zone was batted down by the Tide defense. No. 5 Cincinnati 49, Illinois 36: In Cincinnati, quarterback Tony Pike returned from an injury to his non-throwing arm and had a record day, passing for six touchdowns in a victory over Illinois that left fifth-ranked Cincinnati unbeaten and back to full strength. He started for the first time in six weeks and broke the school record for touchdown passes. Two of them went to Mardy Gilyard, who also ran back a kickoff for a score. Cincinnati remained one of six unbeaten Bowl Subdivision teams. The Bearcats finish their regular season next weekend in Pittsburgh, aiming for their second consecutive Big East title. Cincinnati had 35 points in the first half alone – as many as the Illini allowed in any full Big Ten game. No.6 Boise State 44, Nevada 33: In Boise, Idaho, Kellen Moore tied his career high with five touchdown passes, three to fill-in fullback Dan Paul, and Boise State remained undefeated with victory over Nevada. The Broncos withstood the Wolf Pack's rally from 24 points down in the first half. Boise State led 34-26 entering the fourth quarter before Moore's fifth scoring pass, to brother Kirby, clinched its 24th consecutive regular-season win. Doug Martin ran for 128 yards on 16 carries for the Broncos, who locked up at least a share of their seventh WAC championship in eight seasons. They have one more home date against lowly New Mexico State before BCS bids are announced next weekend. West Virginia 19, No. 8 Pittsburgh 16: In Morgantown, West Virginia, Noel Devine rushed for 134 yards and Tyler Bitancurt kicked four field goals, including a 43-yarder as time expired to lift West Virginia. West Virginia halted Pittsburgh's five-game winning streak and got a small measure of revenge for 2007, when the Mountaineers were a win away from playing for a national title but a struggling Pittsburgh caused an upset. This loss was not nearly as damaging for the Panthers, who can still earn the conference's Bowl Championship Series berth with a win at home next week against No. 5 Cincinnati. Pittsburgh was held out of the end zone on five drives inside the West Virginia 30 before Bill Stull found Jonathan Baldwin with a 50-yard TD toss with 2:54 left to tie the score at 16-16. That gave Jarrett Brown enough time to move West Virginia 42 yards into position for the winning field goal. Dion Lewis ran for 155 yards for the Panthers.
