The Tigers (13-0) locked up a spot in the Jan. 9 BCS title game in New Orleans, a trip they might’ve gotten even with a loss to the Bulldogs (10-3). But, after a dismal first half in which they managed only 12 yards and failed to pick up a first down, they outscored Georgia 35-0 over the final two quarters.

Mathieu, the fearless sophomore known as “Honey Badger,” sparked the comeback from a 10-0 deficit with his punt return for a touchdown midway through the second quarter.

In Stillwater, Oklahoma, Joseph Randle ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns, Richetti Jones returned a fumble for a score and Oklahoma State throttled Oklahoma to win the Big 12 championship and make its case to play for a national title.

The Cowboys (11-1, 8-1 Big 12) snapped an eight-game losing streak in the Bedlam rivalry and won their first outright conference title since 1948 in the three-team Missouri Valley.

Oklahoma State’s defense, badmouthed much of the season while giving up big yardage but leading the nation in takeaways, forced the Sooners into five turnovers — four of them by quarterback Landry Jones.

Fans started chanting “L-S-U!” midway through the fourth quarter with the victory well in hand, then stormed the field when it was over.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, Tajh Boyd threw three touchdown passes and ran for another as Clemson routed Virginia Tech to win its first Atlantic Coast Conference championship in 20 years.

The Tigers (10-3) clinched their first Orange Bowl berth since 1981, the year they won their only national championship. Clemson won’t be playing for a national title this season, but the victory was still sweet considering they’d lost three of four games to close the regular season.

In Houston, Austin Davis threw four touchdown passes and Southern Mississippi ruined Houston’s perfect season and Bowl Championship Series hopes in the Conference USA title game.

Case Keenum completed 41 of 67 passes for 373 yards and two touchdowns and two interceptions for Houston (12-1). He became the first quarterback to reach 5,000 yards passing in three seasons, one more record to tack onto his magnificent career.

Tracey Lampley caught two touchdown passes and the Golden Eagles (11-2) became the first team to hold Houston, averaging more than 50 per game, below 35 points this season.

In Forth Worth, Texas, Greg McCoy returned a kickoff 99 yards and Kris Gardner had a 16-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 12-second span for TCU in its Mountain West Conference finale.

TCU (10-2, 7-0 MWC) wrapped up its third consecutive outright Mountain West title, winning its last 24 games in that league before moving to the Big 12 next season.

The consecutive TD returns by McCoy and Gardner just before halftime came about the same time Southern Miss was wrapping up a 49-28 victory at previously undefeated Houston in the Conference USA championship game.

In Boise, Idaho, Kellen Moore threw three touchdowns in the final home game of his brilliant career and Doug Martin ran for two more for Boise State.

Moore was 28 of 33 for 313 yards before heading for the sideline midway through the third quarter. His three touchdowns give him 41 for the season, setting a new school single-season record. He also set a new school record for completions in a season with 300.

Martin rushed for 110 yards on 19 carries, and his 40-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave the Broncos a 38-0 lead.

In Indianapolis, Montee Ball ran for three touchdowns including the decisive 7-yard score with 3:45 to go, leading Wisconsin to victory in the inaugural Big Ten championship game.

Wisconsin (11-2) is now headed to its second straight Rose Bowl.

Ball ran 27 times for 137 yards and caught a TD pass, giving him 38 touchdowns this season. That’s one short of Barry Sanders’ single-season record.

Russell Wilson was 17 of 24 for 187 yards with three TDs and no interceptions. He set a new NCAA record with a TD pass in his 37th straight game. Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell had the previous mark of 36.

In Manhattan, Kansas, John Hubert ran for 120 yards and the go-ahead touchdown, and Kansas State kept alive its chances for a share of the Big 12 championship.

Collin Klein ran for a touchdown and threw for another, and Anthony Cantele was perfect on three field-goal attempts, allowing the Wildcats (10-2, 7-2) to reach 10 wins for the first time since 2003, when they knocked off Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game.

If No. 13 Oklahoma beats third-ranked Oklahoma State in Bedlam on Saturday night, the teams will finish in a three-way tie atop the conference and share the championship.