Iowa shocked third-ranked Penn State with a last-second field goal, all but eliminating Joe Paterno's hopes for a third national title, the Des Moines Register reports. Backup kicker Daniel Murray booted a 31-yarder to defeat the Nittany Lions 24-23. Elsewhere, No. 1 Alabama needed overtime to beat LSU 27-21, giving coach Nick Saban an emotional win at his former school, the AP notes. No. 2 Texas Tech crushed Oklahoma State, 56-20.
"We need to keep our heads up," said the 81-year-old Paterno after his team's first loss of the season. "We can still have one heck of a year." Penn State will now gun for the Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl berth, but the BCS championship is likely out of reach. "I knew I was going to make it," said sophomore kicker Murray. Iowa trailed 24-13 heading into the final quarter. (More Penn State Nittany Lions stories.)