Oregon beats UCLA for Pac-12 title
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 14 years AGO
<p>Oregon's LaMichael James, left, runs for a touchdown while teammate Darrion Weems blocks UCLA's Glenn Love during the first half Friday night at Eugene, Ore.</p>
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LaMichael James ran for 219 yards and three touchdowns and No. 8 Oregon beat UCLA 49-31 in the inaugural Pac-12 championship game Friday night at Eugene, Ore., for the Ducks' third straight conference title and a berth in the Rose Bowl.
Rick Neuheisel tipped his hat to the UCLA fans in his last game as coach. The former Bruins quarterback was fired this week after four seasons with his alma mater.
While the Bruins (6-7) played with passion for their outgoing coach and kept it closer than many thought they would, it was not enough to overcome the Ducks (11-2), who head to a BCS bowl for the third straight season.
Darron Thomas threw for 219 yards and three touchdowns, becoming Oregon's career leader with 63 TD passes.
James became the first rusher in Pac-12 history with three straight 1,500-yard seasons. He moved into a tie with USC's LenDale White (2003-05) for second on the league's career rushing TD list with 52.
Neuheisel, fired following last weekend's 50-0 loss to No. 9 Southern California, hugged quarterback Kevin Prince as time ran out.
Oregon will play the winner of the first Big 10 championship game today between No. 11 Michigan State and No. 15 Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2.
The Ducks scored on their first series when James ran 30 yards for a touchdown.
Northern Illinois 23, Ohio 20: At Detroit, Mathew Sims kicked a 33-yard field goal on the final play that gave Northern Illinois (10-3) a victory over Ohio (9-4) in the Mid-American Conference title game.