A"Shawn Robinson run defense bails out Alabama

Of all that went wrong for Alabama Saturday in a 14-13 win over Arkansas, the one thing the Crimson Tide needed most given the opponent — a stout run defense — proved to be reliable as ever.

The dynamic Razorbacks duo of Jonathan Williams (83 yards) and Alex Collins (13 yards) never broke free for the big gains that had highlighted a 317-yards-per-game rushing attack all season. As a team, Arkansas rushed 39 times for 89 yards, about 30 percent of their season average. Central to Alabama’s run-stopping efforts was sophomore defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson. The 320-pounder made five tackles, 1.5 of them for losses, and forced a fumble by Williams that Alabama recovered in the second quarter. In the fourth quarter,  Robinson beat a double-team to force a fourth-and-1 run outside, where Xzavier Dickson made a tackle for no gain.

Alabama entered the game ranked No. 3 in the NCAA in rush defense, allowing 65 yards per game.

Beyond Robinson, key defensive contributions came from everywhere. Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen blocked a PAT try that proved to be the difference in the game, All-American safety Landon Collins intercepted a pass and broke up two others, and inside linebacker Reggie Ragland made 12 tackles.

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A"Shawn Robinson run defense bails out Alabama

Everett Golson throws game-winner to take down Stanford

Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson committed two turnovers and completed fewer than half his passes, but he did hit on his final throw of the game Saturday and that enabled the Irish to edge Stanford 17-14 on a cold, rainy and windy day.

Golson hit tight end Ben Koyack for a 23-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-11 play with 1:01 left for the winning score, which helped Notre Dame improve to 5-0.

Golson was just 20-of-43 in the air — his first game completing less than half his passes in 13 outings, since early in the 2012 season — but the completions went for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Stanford came in allowing a nation’s-low 74.0 passing yards per game; the Cardinal also had surrendered just one touchdown pass in its first four games.

Golson was helped tremendously by his defense and — truth be told — by a middling Stanford offense. Stanford finished with just 205 total yards, including only 47 through the air. Part of that was good defense by the Irish, part uninspiring play-calling by Stanford. The Cardinal has scored just 44 points in three games against Power Five opponents (including the Irish).

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Everett Golson throws game-winner to take down Stanford

Shane Carden throws for 438 yards, 4 TDs for East Carolina

East Carolina got discovered when it upset Virginia Tech last week. This week, expect the Pirates to take the limelight.

Directed by senior quarterback Shane Carden, the Pirates rolled up 789 yards — yes, 789 — in hammering North Carolina 70-41. Carden threw for 438 yards and four TDs and also scored on two short runs in leading the romp. The Pirates ran 97 plays and averaged 8.1 yards per pop in winning their fourth in a row against an ACC rival.

Carden got some help from senior tailback Breon Allen, who rambled for 211 yards and two TDs on only 18 carries.

East Carolina rolled up 603 yards in beating UNC 55-31 in Chapel Hill last season, which season’s demolition came at home. It was only the Pirates’ fourth win in 17 meetings with UNC.

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Shane Carden throws for 438 yards, 4 TDs for East Carolina

Wisconsin"s Melvin Gordon seeming to return on track

Wisconsin junior tailback Melvin Gordon ranked himself Monday during the Badgers’ weekly news conference, and he gave himself a "D."

Gordon (6-foot-1, 213 pounds) rushed for 1,609 yards and 12 TDs and averaged 7.8 yards per carry last season; through two matches this season, he’s 198 yards and one TD and is averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Those amounts are strong, however they are nowhere near what’s asked of among the very talented backs in the country.

"It Is rough when everyone across the country is expecting one to break a very long one likely every match, and should you not, it is like, ‘Perhaps he is not what we believed he was,’" Gordon told reporters. & quot;But you have got to dismiss it the best you are able to make an effort to move forward and place your best foot forward in another match."

That next game is Saturday against Bowling Green, whose defense has let 374 rushing yards and seven rushing TDs in its two matches against FBS competitions this year. Last week, Indiana tailback Tevin Coleman ran for 190 yards and three TDs from the Falcons.

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Wisconsin"s Melvin Gordon seeming to return on track