College football Week 7 highlights: Notre Dame tops USC; Oregon St., UNC win

Week 7 of the college football season featured a little bit of everything, including thrilling finishes, highlight plays and an outstanding top-10 showdown in the Pac-12.

Kicking things off, No. 2 Michigan blew out Indiana at home. The Wolverines ran away with another Big Ten game with eight unanswered scoring drives en route to remaining undefeated. Recap all the action here. 

Meanwhile, the game of the week lived up to its billing, as No. 7 Washington outlasted Pac-12 rival No. 8 Oregon after the Huskies scored the game-winning touchdown in the game's final minutes and the Ducks missed what would have been the game-tying field goal as time expired.

In the nightcap, a handful of ranked teams were in action. No. 21 Notre Dame avenged its upset loss from last week with a statement win over No. 10 USC, 48-20.  No. 15 Oregon State defeated No. 18 UCLA in another important Pac-12 showdown, winning 36-24. Finally, No. 12 North Carolina took control in the second half against No. 25 Miami (Fla.), winning 41-31 to remain undefeated.

Here are the top moments!

No. 21 Notre Dame 48, No. 10 USC 20

Quick score

After a huge interception to start the game, the Irish were on the board first when QB Sam Hartman found RB Gi'Bran Payne for a quick 4-yard score.

Fourth-and-nowhere to go

USC wanted to try and extend its drive in hopes of evening up the game as it trailed, 10-3, in the second quarter. But Notre Dame's defense shut down its run play in the backfield on fourth-and-1, getting the big tackle for loss as USC's offense remained unusually quiet. 

Capitalizing off the interception

Right after Notre Dame's defense recorded its second interception of Caleb Williams, Audric Estime delivered with a 1-yard score to extend its lead to 17-3. 

A hat trick for Notre Dame's defense

The Fighting Irish continued to make it difficult for Williams in the first half, intercepting him for a third time late in the quarter. It marked the first time that Williams had been intercepted three times in a game in his college career. Notre Dame capitalized again shortly after, with Estime running in for a short score to make it 24-3.

Trojans trying to get back in

USC finally found the end zone at the start of the second half, with MarShawn Lloyd taking the pitch from Williams on the option 31 yards for a touchdown that cut Notre Dame's lead, 24-13.

Hartman heaves one out for a touchdown

Notre Dame responded to USC's first touchdown of the game with another one of its own. Hartman hit Chris Tyree deep for a 46-yard touchdown that made it 31-13.

Caleb can do it

The USC QB brought his team back within two scores as he moved around the pocket before hitting Brenden Rice for a score, making it 31-20 Notre Dame.

The Fighting Irish fight back immediately 

Notre Dame responded right away after USC scored its second touchdown of the game. Jadarian Price returned the ensuing kick 99 yards for a score to give Notre Dame a 38-20 lead roughly halfway through the fourth quarter.

No. 15 Oregon State 36, No. 18 UCLA 24

Oh, Moore

Dante Moore got himself in trouble twice in the first quarter, throwing two interceptions. His first pick came on the game's opening drive, with Akili Arnold making an impressive play to help Oregon State get in UCLA territory to kick a field goal.

A couple of possessions later and following another Oregon State field goal, Moore had another pass get intercepted as he threw the ball while getting hit, putting UCLA in early trouble.

Velling smelling six

Jack Velling helped Oregon State capitalize off the turnover, getting wide open on third-and-goal to score a touchdown and make it 13-0. 

Loya has Moore's back

Logan Loya helped UCLA's freshman QB out after a rough first quarter, hauling a touchdown grab that cut into Oregon State's lead, 13-7. 

More interceptions for Moore lead to six for Oregon State

UCLA was driving down the field and looking to take the lead going into halftime. But Moore had a pass along the sideline intercepted and returned 65 yards for a touchdown to put Oregon State up, 23-10.

Feeling bold

Silas Bolden helped the Beavers get some cushion at the start of the second half, hauling in a 43-yard touchdown that gave them a 29-10 lead. 

Selling TDs to Velling

Right after UCLA scored a touchdown to make it a 29-17 game, Oregon State responded with a quick drive to get those points back. Velling scored his second touchdown of the game as he got open up the seam for a score.

No. 12 North Carolina 41, No. 25 Miami (Fla.) 31

Tez touchdown

Tez Walker scored the game's first touchdown, hauling in an 18-yard grab from Drake Maye to give the Tar Heels a 7-0 lead. The score came in Walker's second game back after the NCAA reversed its decision to rule him ineligible for this season. 

Van Dyke on the dot

Tyler Van Dyke completed a deep throw right before getting drilled, hitting Jacolby George in stride for a 35-yard touchdown to give Miami a 14-7 lead. 

Tez gets two

Walker found the end zone for the second time in the game on UNC's opening drive of the second half, hauling in Maye's deep pass for a 56-yard score that gave the Tar Heels a 21-17 lead. 

Hat trick for Tez

Walker scored his third touchdown of the game in the third quarter, getting a pass from Maye on a crossing route on third-and-20 before turning upfield for the score. The 33-yard touchdown gave UNC some cushion, putting it up 28-17.

No. 7 Washington 36, No. 8 Oregon 33

Dynamic duo

Washington was first on the board after QB Michael Penix Jr. linked up with WR Giles Jackson for a dazzling 26-yard TD.

Lucky Bucky

Oregon RB Bucky Irving helped the Ducks get on the board with his touchdown run, shifting right by Huskies defenders for a 12-yard score. Oregon opted to go for the 2-point conversion and got it, scoring on a sweep to take an 8-7 lead.

Penix to Polk

Washington's star QB spread the touchdown wealth to his stacked receiving corps in the first half, connecting with Ja'Lynn Polk for his second touchdown pass of the game. Penix hit Polk in stride, with the receiver hauling in the lefty's pass in the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown reception to give the Huskies a 14-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Here you go, Herbert!

Patrick Herbert (yes, Justin Herbert's younger brother) made a leaping grab in the end zone as Oregon QB Bo Nix threw on the run and across his body, recording an 11-yard touchdown grab to put the Ducks back up, 15-14.

Dashing into the end zone

In the back-and-forth battle, Washington got the lead back when RB Dillon Johnson broke away for a 7-yard score.

That touchdown made it a 20-15 game, so the Huskies went for the 2-point conversion to go up by seven. Washington dopted for a screen play that was successful, making it a 22-15 game.

Defensive stand

After Penix threw an interception with just under a minute left in the half, Oregon swiftly moved the ball down the field. But its drive began to stall out within Washington's 10-yard, giving it a fourth-and-goal with six seconds left in the half.

Instead of kicking a field goal to cut Washington's lead to 22-21, Oregon opted to go for it and try to the lead going into the break. It was unsuccessful, with Nix struggling to find an open receiver as he rolled to his right before throwing a pass into the end zone that was batted away, keeping Washington's 22-18 lead intact.

Firing on all cylinders

Rome Odunze capped off the Huskies' first second-half drive by hauling in a 17-yard grab to extend their lead, 29-18.

Finding Franklin

Nix and the Ducks got right back in it in the third quarter when Troy Franklin went up the sideline for a 30-yard touchdown. Oregon made the ensuing 2-point conversion, making it a 29-26 ballgame in the final minutes of the third quarter.

Oregon back on top

The Ducks found the lead for the first time in the second half when Jordan James powered his way through Huskies defenders, driving a pile into the end zone for a 10-yard score. 

The touchdown gave Oregon a 33-29 lead in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.

Stopped!

Oregon made a major goal line stand midway through the fourth quarter, preventing Washington from scoring after it got the ball to the 1-yard line for a first down.

Then, Oregon opted to go for it on fourth-and-3 from Washington's 47-yard line to try and ice the game, but Nix's pass sailed incomplete, giving the Huskies one last shot.

Oh my, Odunze!

Penix & Co. took care of business upon getting the ball back. First, Penix completed a 35-yard pass to Polk. On the next play, he completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Odunze, giving the Huskies a 36-33 lead with 1:38 remaining.

Oregon was able to drive down to Washington's 25-yard line to set up a 43-yard field goal for the final play of regulation to try and tie the game. However, the kick went wide right and Washington held on to a 36-33 win in an instant classic.

Oklahoma State 39, No. 23 Kansas 32

Double trouble

Oklahoma State came out swinging in this one, grabbing a quick 14-0 lead with back-to-back scores right out of the gate. First, QB Alan Bowman found RB Ollie Gordon II for a 17-yard score on the Cowboys' opening drive.

Another one!

Then, Bowman connected with WR Brennan Presley for a 20-yard touchdown to extend their lead.

Bombs away!

After an all-out effort on Kansas' ensuing drive, the Jayhawks closed the gap slightly with a monster 47-yard touchdown courtesy of star receiver Trevor Wilson.

Fair play

Kansas found the end zone again after its first touchdown, with Bean hitting Mason Fairchild over the middle for a 30-yard touchdown pass to cut into Oklahoma State's lead, 17-13.

Fairchild gets loose again!

Oklahoma State forgot to cover the Kansas tight end again, letting him break free on a straight route up the seam for a 44-yard touchdown that gave the Jayhawks a 19-13 lead.

There goes Gordon!

Ollie Gordon II helped give Oklahoma State the lead back, using his speed to dash by Kansas defenders for a 42-yard score to put it up, 24-19.

Speeding away for the TD

Quentin Skinner helped Kansas take the lead right back, hauling in a grab from Bean along the sideline before turning upfield to get a 49-yard touchdown. The Jayhawks weren't able to convert on the 2-point try, keeping it a 25-24 game. 

Skinner goes for a second

Kansas extended its lead in the second half when Bean found Skinner again for a score, launching a deep pass for the 42-yard touchdown and giving the Jayhawks a 32-24 lead.

For the win!

Brennan Presley took the end around and turned upfield, driving Kansas defenders with him for a 6-yard score that put Oklahoma State on top with less than three minutes left. It wasn't able to convert the 2-point conversion, but the score gave it a 36-32 lead and the win.

No. 3 Ohio State 41, Purdue 7

Hot start!

Marvin Harrison Jr. had the hot hands on the Buckeyes' opening drive, and he was rewarded with a 14-yard touchdown to put Ohio State ahead early, 6-0. The extra-point attempt from Jayden Fielding was no good.

Applying pressure

The Buckeyes ran the ball for seven out of eight plays during their ensuing scoring drive, with multiple players getting a touch. QB Devin Brown led the charge and nabbed the score to help lift his team to a 13-0 lead.

Not how they drew it up

Brown was about to make a 20-point game when he fumbled in the end zone, and Purdue linebacker Kydran Jenkins recovered the ball. The Boilermakers weren't able to capitalize on the turnover, however, and punted three plays later.

Making a statement

On Ohio State's following possession, QB Kyle McCord connected with TE Cade Stover for a 4-yard score to extend the Buckeyes' lead, 20-0.

McCord found Stover again, this time for a 14-yard score in the third quarter to put the Buckeyes up 34-0.

Not giving up

The Boilermakers defense came up big with a sack on McCord, who fumbled the ball. The turnover led to Purdue's one and only score of the day, as QB Hudson Card connected with wideout Deion Burks to avoid a shutout.

No first-year jitters here

Freshman WR Brandon Inniss got his first catch of the season midway through the fourth quarter, which also happened to be a monster 58-yard touchdown that helped seal the win for the Buckeyes, 41-7.

Iowa State 30, Cincinnati 10

First on the board

The Cyclones were first to strike after DB T.J. Tampa picked off a pass at Cincinnati's 34-yard line. Iowa State ended the drive with a field goal from Chase Contreraz to take a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Finding a rhythm 

Then, the Bearcats grabbed a 7-3 lead after QB Emory Jones connected with TE Chamon Metayer on a 20-yard touchdown to close out the first quarter.

Ground game strong

Iowa State regained the lead, 10-7, early in the second quarter when QB Rocco Becht punched in a two-yard score.

Boom!

Becht followed that up with another stellar drive, first linking up with wideout Jayden Higgins for a 75-yard gain that put the Cyclones deep in enemy territory.

Then, Becht found TE Benjamin Brahmer a 14-yard passing touchdown to make it a 10-point game, 17-7, headed into halftime. It marked the seventh consecutive game in which Becht has thrown a passing score.

Leap for it!

Cyclones TE Stevo Klotz got his first career touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter, as Iowa State ran away with the double-digit win on the road.

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