No. 1 LSU routs Georgia to nab SEC crown, book spot in BCS title game

ATLANTA — The "Honey Badger" doesn't care when his team struggles.

He just takes what he wants.

In this case, it's a trip to the national championship game.

Tyrann Mathieu turned in an MVP performance when the No. 1 Tigers needed him most. He ran back a punt 62 yards for a touchdown, set up another score with a fumble recovery and finally finished off No. 12 Georgia with his best play yet — a whirling dervish of a return that led to the decisive TD in a 42-10 victory in the Southeastern Conference title game Saturday.

LSU (13-0) advanced to a spot in the BCS championship game in New Orleans, just 120 km from its Baton Rouge campus. The Tigers opponent will be announced Sunday night, but SEC West rival and No. 2 Alabama — already beaten by the Tigers 9-6 in overtime a month ago — had the inside track even though it didn't win its division.

The Crimson Tide would have to deal with a fearless sophomore who has the country's best nickname, and is an even better player.

"Last night, I envisioned me having three touchdowns," Mathieu said. "I think I came close to that. It comes down to me trying to do what I can for my team."

His moniker stems from a humorous YouTube video that supposedly depicts the world's fiercest animal ("Honey Badger don't care, he just takes what he wants," the narrator says). Defensive coordinator John Chavis showed the 175-cm, 79-kg player the clip on the way back from a victory at West Virginia, believing it fit Mathieu perfectly.

No argument there.

"My teammates love the name, and I think it depicts me on the field," Mathieu said. "I just go with it. My teammates do a great job having my back. Anything I can do to help those guys, lift their spirits, I'll do it. I think the Honey Badger does that sometimes."

No. 3 Oklahoma State 44, No. 13 Oklahoma 10: In Stillwater, Oklahoma, Joseph Randle ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns and Richetti Jones returned a fumble for a score as the Cowboys won the Big 12 championship to make their case to play for a national title.

The Cowboys ended an eight-game losing streak against the Sooners and won their first outright conference title since 1948 in the three-team Missouri Valley Conference.

No. 21 Clemson 38, No. 5 Virginia Tech 10: 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 clinched their first Orange Bowl berth since 1981, the year they won their only national championship. Clemson had lost three of its last four games to close the regular season.

No. 24 Southern Mississippi 49, No. 7 Houston 28: In Houston, Austin Davis threw four touchdown passes as Southern Mississippi captured its first Conference USA title and ruined Houston's perfect season.

Tracey Lampley also caught two touchdown passes for the Golden Eagles, who became the first team to hold Houston below 35 points this season. The Cougars had been averaging more than 50 points per game.

No. 15 Wisconsin 42, No. 11 Michigan State 39: In Indianapolis, Montee Ball ran for three touchdowns including the decisive 7-yard score with 3:45 to go as Wisconsin beat Michigan State in the inaugural Big Ten Conference championship game.

Wisconsin is now headed to its second straight Rose Bowl.

No. 9 Boise State 45, New Mexico 0: In Boise, Idaho, Kellen Moore threw three touchdowns in the final home game of his brilliant career and Doug Martin ran for two more as Boise State rolled over New Mexico.

Moore, the winningest starting quarterback in college football history, 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.

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