How Amway Coaches Poll top 25 teams fared in Week 9

Both No. 2 Michigan and No. 5 Louisville avoided upset scares to woeful opponents, with the Wolverines holding off a late rally by rival Michigan State and the Cardinals needing a game-winning touchdown pass to clip Virginia. Meanwhile, No. 8 Ohio State avoided another stunning defeat by escaping Northwestern.

No. 6 Baylor and No. 9 West Virginia, however, weren't as fortunate, and suffered upset losses to Texas and Oklahoma State, respectively.

And in the day's biggest showdown, No. 4 Washington survived No. 16 Utah to bolster its Playoff chances.

Here's a look at the rest of the action in Week 9:

► No. 2 Michigan (8-0) held off a late rally from rival Michigan State (2-6), 32-23.

De'Veon Smith had two rushing touchdowns and Amara Darboh piled up a career-high 165 receiving yards to lead the Wolverines past their rival. Jabrill Peppers also scored a rushing touchdown for Michigan while Wilton Speight completed 16 of 25 pass attempts for 244 yards.

► No. 3 Clemson (8-0) wins in thrill against No. 14 Florida State, 37-34.

Deshaun Watson hit Jordan Leggett for a 34-yard touchdown with 2:06 to play, and Clemson's defense shut the door to preserve victory over Florida State in a big ACC battle. Watson finished with 348 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Florida State QB Deondre Francois threw for 286 yards with a touchdown and interception, but absorbed a number of huge hits from the Clemson defense. Seminoles star Dalvin Cook finished with 169 yards on the ground. The Tigers remained undefeated with the victory in their biggest test since they took down Louisville.

College football's Week 9 winners and losers

► No. 4 Washington (8-0) defeated No. 16 Utah (7-2), 31-24.

Dante Pettis returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown with 3:25 remaining and fourth-ranked Washington held off a second-half rally from the Utes. Myles Gaskin rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown and Jake Browning threw for 186 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Huskies. Joe Williams rushed for 172 yards and a touchdown for Utah.

No. 4 Washington holds off No. 16 Utah to bolster Playoff bid

► No. 5 Louisville (7-1) survived a major upset scared from Virginia (2-6), 32-25.

Heisman Trophy front-runner Lamar Jackson threw a 29-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Jaylen Smith with 13 seconds left to help the Cardinals escape the Cavaliers. Jackson finished with 361 yards passing and four touchdowns, while rushing for 90 yards.

Lamar Jackson throws dramatic game-winning TD pass to avoid Virginia loss

►  Texas (4-4) handed No. 6 Baylor (6-1) its first loss, 35-34.

Longhorns running back D'Onta Foreman rushed for 250 yards, quarterback Shane Buechele threw for 291 yards and two touchdowns, and receiver Armanti Foreman had 142 yards off four receptions as Texas pulled off a shocker.

► No. 8 Ohio State (7-1) avoided another shocking upset, beating Northwestern (4-4), 24-20.

The Buckeyes dodged another stunning upset, breaking a tie early in the fourth quarter and holding on for a narrow win. Coming off a loss the previous week at Penn State, Ohio State faced another challenge but Curtis Samuel scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 3-yard run with 9:43 left to help Ohio State keep pace with front-running Michigan in the Big Ten East Division.

► Oklahoma State (6-2) upset previously unbeaten No. 9 West Virginia (6-1), 37-20.

The Cowboys shook off a late WVU rally, then surged at the end itself in pulling away for a convincing victory over a top-10 opponent. Quarterback Mason Rudolph passed for 273 yards and three touchdowns and the defense forced three turnovers for Oklahoma State.

► No. 10 Texas A&M (7-1) cruised past New Mexico State (2-6), 52-10.

Texas A&M posted an easy nonconference victory against New Mexico State in its return home. A&M outgained New Mexico State 515-316.

► No. 11 Wisconsin (6-2) knocked off No. 6 Nebraska (7-1) in OT, 23-17.

Wisconsin handed Nebraska its first loss of the season in overtime in Madison. The Cornhuskers rallied to force overtime in the huge Big Ten West showdown with 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, but the Badgers got a touchdown from Dare Ogunbowale and the defense held.

► No. 12 Florida (6-1) defeated Georgia (4-4), 24-10.

Although the Gators scuffled at times offensively another sterling effort by Florida's second-ranked SEC defense shut down the Bulldogs allowing Jim McElwain's squad to stay in the driver's seat for the East title. Florida held Georgia to 164 total yards including a season-low 21 on the ground and making life miserable for quarterback Jacob Eason.

► Wyoming (6-2) upset No. 13 Boise State (7-1), 30-28.

Wyoming handed Boise State its first loss of the year, essentially putting an end to the Broncos' outside College Football Playoff hopes. The Cowboys' victory was the first over the Broncos in 11 tries and made them bowl eligible just one season after going 2-10.

► No. 15 Oklahoma (6-2) crushed Kansas (1-7), 56-3.

Oklahoma's offense continued to roll, putting up 538 yards while limiting Kansas to just 170. The Sooners scored in all phases, taking a punt and interception to the house.

► No. 17 Auburn (6-2) pulls away from Ole Miss (3-5), 40-29.

Kamryn Pettway rushed for 236 yards, part of a 307-yard team performance, as Auburn pulled away from Ole Miss in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Sean White added 247 yards through the air as the Tigers ripped off their fifth straight victory.

► South Carolina (4-4) upends No. 18 Tennessee (5-3), 24-21.

South Carolina held Tennessee to under 300 yards and forced three turnovers in an upset victory in Columbia. Tennessee did not score an offensive touchdown until midway through the fourth quarter. With their strong defensive effort, the Gamecocks threw a huge hurdle in the way of the Volunteers' quest to contend for the SEC East title.

► South Florida (7-2) upset No. 22 Navy (5-2), 52-45. (Friday)

South Florida rushed for a school-record 412 yards while quarterback Quinton Flowers accounted for four touchdowns to lift the Bulls to the upset victory. Flowers threw for 219 yards and two touchdowns and added another 176 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

► No. 24 Houston (7-2) escaped Central Florida (4-4), 31-24.

Cougars quarterback Greg Ward Jr. had 240 yards and one touchdown, but threw three interceptions as Houston struggled to find a rhythm all day.

► No. 25 Virginia Tech got past Pittsburgh (5-3), 39-36. (Thursday)

Junior Joey Slye tied an ACC and Virginia Tech record by kicking six field goals and Isaiah Ford provided the winning margin with a 16-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter as the Hokies survived. Virginia Tech quarterback Jerod Evans threw for a career-high 406 yards.

Contributing: Staff and wire reports.  

ALL THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL ACTION IN WEEK 9