IOWA CITY, Iowa — With Ricky Stanzi watching from the sideline on crutches, No. 8 Iowa ran out of magic.

Dan Persa threw a touchdown pass and Marshall Thomas recovered a fumble for another score, and Northwestern dealt a crushing blow to Iowa's national championship hopes with a 17-10 victory yesterday.

Stanzi was knocked out of the game with an ankle injury in the second quarter on the play in which Thomas scored the Wildcats' first touchdown.

"Anytime you lose your quarterback, that's not good," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.

The Hawkeyes (9-1, 5-1 Big Ten) have been living dangerously all season, making a habit of comebacks and close games. Still, they were good enough to be fourth in the latest BCS standings, hoping that with a slip or two by Florida, Alabama and Texas they could end up in the BCS national championship game in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 7.

Now that their 13-game winning streak — second longest in the nation — has been snapped, the Hawkeyes' focus can shift to the other big game in Pasadena. Iowa can still win the Big Ten and land in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 for the first time since the 1990 season.

It was the first win over a top-10 opponent for the Wildcats (6-4, 3-3 Big Ten) since knocking off No. 6 Ohio State, 33-27, in overtime in 2004. It also ended the nation's second-longest winning streak.

Ferentz said Stanzi had a "severe" ankle injury. Freshman James Vandenberg was just 9 of 27 for 82 yards and couldn't lead the Hawkeyes to any points after Stanzi left the game.

Ferentz said that while preliminary X-rays on Stanzi's ankle were negative, he'll likely be out the next couple of weeks.

NO. 1 FLORIDA 27, VANDERBILT 3

Tim Tebow accounted for two touchdowns, Caleb Sturgis kicked two field goals and the host Gators (9-0, 7-0 Southeastern Conference) extended their winning streak to 19 games with a lackluster victory over the Commodores (2-8, 0-6).

NO. 2 TEXAS 35, CENTRAL FLORIDA 3

Colt McCoy passed for 470 yards with two touchdowns and Jordan Shipley set a school record with 273 yards receiving, including an 88-yard touchdown, as the Longhorns (9-0) broke away from a 14-3 halftime lead to rout the Knights (5-4).

NO. 3 ALABAMA 24, NO. 9 LSU 15

Julio Jones caught a 73-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and Leigh Tiffin booted a 40-yard field goal with 3:04 left to seal victory as the host Tide (9-0, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) beat the Tigers (7-2, 4-2).

NO. 4 CINCINNATI 47, CONNECTICUT 45

Zach Collaros threw for 480 yards — second-best passing performance in school history — and a touchdown as the Bearcats (9-0, 5-0 Big East) held off the Huskies (4-5, 1-4) for their best start since 1951.

NO. 6 TCU 55, SAN DIEGO STATE 12

Andy Dalton threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more, and the visiting Horned Frogs (9-0, 5-0 Mountain West) scored on five of their first six possessions to romp past the Aztecs (4-5, 2-3) for their 11th straight victory.

NO. 10 GEORGIA TECH 30, WAKE FOREST 27

After the Demon Deacons (4-6, 2-4) kicked a field goal on their first overtime possession, Josh Nesbitt scored on a 3-yard run on fourth down to lift the host Yellow Jackets (8-1, 6-1) closer to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

NO. 12 USC 14, ARIZONA STATE 9

Will Harris returned an interception 55 yards for a score, Matt Barkley threw a 75-yard pass to Damian Williams for another score, and the visiting Trojans (7-2, 4-2 Pac-10) held on for a shaky victory over the Sun Devils (4-5, 2-4).

NO. 13 HOUSTON 46, TULSA 45

After failing on a potential tying 2-point conversion with 21 seconds left, the visiting Cougars (8-1, 4-1 Conference USA) recovered an onsides kick and Matt Hogan kicked a 51-yard field goal as time expired to beat the Golden Hurricane (4-5, 2-3).

NO. 14 PITTSBURGH 37, SYRACUSE 10

Greg Williams returned an interception 51 yards for a touchdown late in the first half and freshman Dion Lewis ran for 110 yards and a touchdown as the host Panthers (8-1, 5-0 in Big East) routed the Orange (3-6, 0-4) for their fifth straight victory.

NO. 15 OHIO STATE 24, NO. 11 PENN STATE 7

Terrelle Pryor threw two touchdown passes and ran for another, and Ray Small had two long punt returns to set up scores as the visiting Buckeyes (8-2, 5-1 Big Ten) beat the Nittany Lions (8-2, 4-2) to move into a tie for the conference lead with Iowa.

NO. 16 MIAMI 52, VIRGINIA 17

Graig Cooper rushed for a career-best 152 yards and a touchdown, Damien Berry ran for a pair of second-half scores, and Thearon Collier had a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown as the host Hurricanes (7-2, 4-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) pounded the Cavaliers (3-6, 2-3).

NO. 17 UTAH 45, NEW MEXICO 14

Jordan Wynn passed for 297 yards and two touchdowns in his first college start and Eddie Wide set a school record with his sixth straight 100-yard rushing game as the host Utes (8-1, 5-0 Mountain West) routed the Lobos (0-9, 0-5).

NO. 18 OKLAHOMA STATE 34, IOWA STATE 8

Keith Toston ran for a career-high 206 yards and three touchdowns, Zac Robinson threw a touchdown pass and the visiting Cowboys (7-2, 4-1 Big 12) bounced back from their drubbing by Texas to beat the Cyclones (5-5, 2-4).

NEBRASKA 10, NO. 20 OKLAHOMA 3

Matt O'Hanlon had three of his team's five interceptions and Ryan Hill caught a 1-yard TD pass from Zack Lee in the second quarter as the host Cornhuskers (6-3, 3-2 Big 12) beat the Sooners (5-4, 3-2 Big 12), who failed to score a touchdown for the first time since a 29-0 loss to Texas A&M in 1998.

OREGON STATE 31, NO. 23 CALIFORNIA 14

Sean Canfield threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score to lead the visiting Beavers (6-3, 3-3 Pac-10) over the Golden Bears (6-3, 3-3), who lost star tailback Jahvid Best to a concussion after he leaped over a defender for a second-quarter TD.

NO. 25 BYU 52, WYOMING 0

Max Hall threw for 312 yards and four touchdowns in just over two quarters, and the visiting Cougars (7-2, 4-1 Mountain West) recorded their first shutout of the season and second straight over the Cowboys (4-5, 2-3).