A predictable outcome for Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Tim Tebow’s final home game went about like everyone expected.

There were tears, touchdowns and another thumping.

Tebow threw for three TDs, ran for two scores and top-ranked Florida beat rival Florida State 37-10 Saturday for its sixth consecutive victory in the heated rivalry.

The Gators stayed unbeaten heading into next week’s Southeastern Conference showdown against No. 2 Alabama, extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 22 games and improved to 12-0 for just the second time in school history

Tebow may have even secured a third consecutive trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation.

The Seminoles (6-6) lost for the second time in six games, and longtime coach Bobby Bowden’s likely finale at Florida Field showed exactly why some FSU faithful are urging him to retire: Florida outplayed its in-state rival at every position.

Bowden said after the game he had some soul-searching to do before he decided if he wanted to return for one more season.

Tebow completed 17 of 21 passes for 221 yards. He also ran 15 times for 90 yards against a defense that has been among the worst of any Florida State team under Bowden.

No. 14 Virginia Tech 42, Virginia 13

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Ryan Williams ran for 182 yards and four touchdowns and Virginia Tech beat Virginia in what was likely Al Groh’s last game as Cavaliers coach.

The Hokies (9-3, 6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their sixth straight in the series and for the 10th time 11 meetings with the Cavaliers (3-9, 2-6). It was their eighth victory in nine games against Groh, and ended Virginia’s worst season since it finished 2-9 in 1982.

Groh, who has a contract clause requiring that the school inform him by Nov. 30 if it plans to add a year, is expected to instead be fired. Virginia has had three losing seasons in the last four and its average attendance has fallen by nearly 14,000 in two years.

South Carolina 34, No. 15 Clemson 17

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Stephen Garcia threw three touchdown passes and South Carolina’s defense slowed down Clemson star C.J. Spiller.

Spiller opened the game with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, an NCAA record- setting seventh of his career. But the Gamecocks (7-5) bottled up Spiller and Clemson’s high-scoring offense after that to end the Tigers’ six-game win streak.

Clemson (8-4) had won two straight, six out of seven and 10 of 12 against the Gamecocks, who had only one victory over the Tigers in the last 10 games at Williams-Brice Stadium.

That changed against a South Carolina defense ranked third in the Southeastern Conference and fresh from a week off.

Clemson had just 260 yards of offense and Spiller finished with 18 yards rushing and 19 receiving.

No. 18 BYU 26, No. 22 Utah 23, OT

PROVO, Utah — Max Hall threw a 25-yard touchdown pass in overtime to Andrew George to give No. 18 BYU a win over 22nd-ranked Utah for the Cougars’ third victory in four years in the in-state rivalry.

Hall found George open for a quick dump-off over the middle and George had nobody between him and the goal line, hugging the ball with both hands as he went for the winning score for the Cougars (10-2, 7-1 Mountain West).

George was mobbed first by his teammates, then by fans who ran down from the stands. A few minutes later the field was covered with blue-clad fans, who were still celebrating a win in another thriller against the Utes (9-3, 6-2).

No. 19 Miami 31, South Florida 10

TAMPA, Fla. — Javarris James rushed for two touchdowns, Jacory Harris threw for two more, and Miami took a big early lead on the way to beating South Florida.

Dedrick Epps and Leonard Hankerson caught touchdown passes for Miami (9-3), which ran out to a 21-3 halftime lead and capped its first nine-win regular season since 2005. A bowl victory would give Miami its first 10-win season since 2003.

Damien Berry rushed for 114 yards and Graig Cooper added 83 more for Miami, which played without ill left tackle Jason Fox and still rolled.

A.J. Love caught a 12-yard touchdown pass for South Florida (7-4), which closes its regular season at Connecticut next Saturday. The Bulls fell to 10-2 against teams from the state of Florida, with both those losses against Miami.

Mississippi State 41, No. 20 Mississippi 27

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Little-used backup quarterback Chris Relf accounted for three touchdowns, Anthony Dixon set the Mississippi State single-season rushing record and the Bulldogs earned an Egg Bowl upset.

Ole Miss (8-4, 4-4 SEC) couldn’t stop the one-two combination of Relf and Dixon, who finished with 133 yards and a touchdown. Dixon has 1,390 yards in 11 games, breaking James Johnson’s school record by seven yards.

The defense also came up with several big plays, including a 64-yard interception return for a touchdown by Corey Broomfield that sealed the victory.

North Carolina St. 28, No. 23 North Carolina 27

RALEIGH, N.C. — Russell Wilson threw four touchdown passes and Alan-Michael Cash blocked a field goal with about 5 minutes left to help North Carolina State upset North Carolina.

Wilson connected twice with Owen Spencer for scores, including the go-ahead 38-yard touchdown two plays into the fourth quarter that gave the Wolfpack (5-7, 2-6 ACC) a third straight win against its next-door neighbors and fiercest football rival.

T.J. Yates threw two touchdown passes to Jheranie Boyd for the Tar Heels (8-4, 4-4), while Johnny White scored on a 40-yard run that helped North Carolina take a 10-point halftime lead.