The eighth-ranked Texas A&M Aggies taught Texas something about returns in their 100th meeting.
Freshman Leeland McElroy tied an NCAA record with his third kickoff return for a touchdown of the season, a game-breaking 100-yarder, and the Aggies rode several other big plays for an 18-9 Thanksgiving night victory.The victory, A&M's record 23rd straight against Southwest Conference foes, means the Aggies will return to the Cotton Bowl for the third straight year as the league's champion.
"Even the fans seemed to be a little bit quiet, but that changed after Leeland's return," Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum said. "When Leeland took off, it seemed to lift the entire stadium."
The Aggies (10-1, 7-0 SWC) beat the Longhorns (5-5-1, 5-2) for the ninth time in 10 games. A&M won its 19th consecutive home game before 74,748 freezing fans at Kyle Field, where the Aggies are 50-3-1 since 1985.
Texas kicked two early field goals to lead 6-0, but upset hopes were tarnished midway through the second quarter when McElroy became the fifth NCAA player to return three kickoffs for TDs in a season.
McElroy took the ball 2 yards deep in his end zone, broke between blocks by Wilbert Biggens and Detron Smith to get into the clear, then sidestepped and outran Texas kicker Scott Szeredy to the end zone.
But the Longhorns, 21-point underdogs, were within striking distance until the 5:55 mark of the fourth quarter.
Facing fourth-and-1 at the Aggie 2-yard line, backup defensive back Dennis Allen intercepted Shea Morenz's pass.
The Aggies then zoomed downfield on Rodney Thomas' 54-yard run and hit a 20-yard field goal by Terry Venetoulias with 53 seconds to play to end the Longhorns' disappointing season.
Louisville 28, Tulsa 0
In Tulsa, Okla., Anthony Shelman, taking over when quarterback Jeff Brohm broke the index finger on his throwing hand, rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown to lead Louisville.
Marty Lowe threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Cook with 8:51 left to put the game out of reach, but the Cardinals (8-3) kept control all game with Shelman, who had seven first-down carries.
The Golden Hurricane (4-6-1) had the ball inside the Louisville 28 four times, but failed on three fourth-down plays and an interception at the 3.
Georgia 43, Ga. Tech 10
In Atlanta, Eric Zeier broke Shane Matthews' Southeastern Conference single-season passing record, throwing for 328 yards and a touchdown as Georgia crushed Georgia Tech.
Zeier, who completed 15 passes in a row during one stretch, had his sixth consecutive 300-plus yard passing performance and finished the season with 3,525 yards, breaking the mark of 3,205 set by Matthews of Florida last year.
Both teams finished the season 5-6.
Zeier's only scoring pass came with 1:29 remaining, a 4-yarder to James Warner that triggered several fights between players and eventually had both teams swarming the field.
Officials took about three minutes to restore order.
The Bulldogs turned the game into a rout with three touchdowns in the final 5:04, one following a fourth-down play that failed, another following a fumble recovery and the other a 20-yard interception return by Greg Tremble.