Nebraska headed to Big 12 title game

Running back Rex Burkhead passed for two touchdowns and ran for 101 yards and another score, and No. 16 Nebraska clinched the Big 12 North with a 45-17 victory over Colorado at Lincoln, Neb., in their final meeting before they head to different conferences.

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini was on his best behavior after his sideline berating of officials and quarterback Taylor Martinez last week earned him a public admonishment from the Nebraska chancellor.

Nebraska (10-2, 6-2) will go to Arlington, Texas, next Saturday hoping to win its third Big 12 title, and first since 1999, before joining the Big Ten next year.

Colorado (5-7, 2-6), which played its third game under interim coach Brian Cabral, failed to become bowl eligible in its last season before joining the Pacific-12.

With Martinez out because of injuries to his right ankle and left foot, the Cornhuskers relied heavily on Burkhead to take pressure off backup quarterback Cody Green.

West Virginia 35, Pittsburgh 10: At Pittsburgh, Brandon Hogan’s interception and fumble recovery led to touchdowns in the first half, Geno Smith threw two scoring passes to Tavon Austin after halftime and the Mountaineers upset the Backyard Brawl-rival Panthers for the second straight season.

Pittsburgh had a clear path to the conference title and an automatic BCS bowl bid, only to fumble it away with four turnovers.

Northern Illinois 71, Eastern Michigan 3: At Ypsilanti, Mich., Jordan Lynch rushed for 142 yards and scored two touchdowns and the Huskies beat the Eagles.

Northern Illinois finished with 646 yards of total offense – 544 on the ground – to Eastern Michigan’s 160 yards of total offense.

Kent State 28, Ohio 6: At Kent, Ohio, Eugene Jarvis ran for 106 yards and a touchdown to help the Golden Eagles end the Bobcats’ hopes of reaching the Mid-American Conference title game.

Ohio’s loss sends Miami of Ohio to the MAC title game to face Northern Illinois in Detroit next Friday.

Tulsa 56, Southern Mississippi 50: At Tulsa, Okla., G.J. Kinne passed for 406 yards and four touchdowns and ran for two scores as the Golden Hurricane outlasted the Golden Eagles.