Trent Richardson and No. 2 Alabama have convinced Nick Saban that they're worthy of competing for college football's top prize.

They'll have to wait a while before for the final decision is rendered.

Richardson rushed for a career-high 203 yards and AJ McCarron threw three first-half touchdown passes to lift Alabama to a 42-14 victory over rival Auburn on Saturday at Auburn, Ala., in what amounted to a statement game.

Let the lobbying begin. Saban said he thinks the Tide is one of the nation's best two teams, Richardson's the top player and 'Bama deserves a second shot at LSU.

"This team lost one game in overtime to a very, very good team who's No. 1 right now," the Tide coach said. "And we lost in overtime. Everybody's got to make their choices and decisions about that.

"But I think we've got a great football team and a great bunch of young men who have done a wonderful job and played some really dominant football on both sides of the ball. I think they deserve an opportunity, the best opportunity that's out there for them."

The Tide (11-1, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) has a week before finding out if its resume is good enough to secure a shot at a second national title in three years. No. 5 Oklahoma State, fourth in the BCS standings, and No. 1 LSU have big games remaining against No. 12 Oklahoma and No. 13 Georgia, respectively.

"That's out of our hands but I think we've proven we should be there without a doubt," said Alabama tight end Brad Smelley, who had six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown.

Richardson ran 27 times and caught a 5-yard touchdown pass in his final chance to impress Heisman voters. He had runs of 35 and 57 yards to set up second-half scores.

"To me, Trent's the best football player in the country," Saban said.

The thousands of 'Bama faithful in the stands seemed to agree.

Fans began chanting first "Heisman" and then "LSU" in the fourth, with a sizable contingent wearing crimson and white remaining in the stands afterward clamoring for a rematch. By then, there wasn't all that much orange and blue left.

The Tide fell to LSU 9-6 in an overtime game that 'Bama fans at least feel didn't settle the matter of which one is better.

Richardson said he'd already gotten a call from LSU star Russell Shepard saying "See you in New Orleans" for the title game.

No. 6 Virginia Tech 38, No. 24 Virginia 0: At Charlottesville, Va., Logan Thomas threw for two touchdowns and ran for one and David Wilson scored on two long runs in the second half as Virginia Tech shut out Virginia (8-4, 5-3).

The Hokies (11-1, 7-1) earned the league's Coastal Division title and a rematch with Clemson in next weekend's Atlantic Coast Conference championship game in Charlotte.

No. 11 Michigan State 31, Northwestern 17: At Evanston, Ill., Keshawn Martin returned a punt 57 yards for a touchdown just before halftime and Kirk Cousins threw two TD passes to B.J. Cunningham as Michigan State warmed up for next week's Big Ten championship game by beating Northwestern (6-6, 3-5).

The Spartans had already wrapped up the Legends Division title and a berth in the league championship game next week. Now they have the best record in the division, as well, and 10 victories overall (10-2, 7-1).

No. 12 Oklahoma 26, Iowa State 6: At Norman, Okla., Landry Jones threw for 256 yards, Blake Bell punched in two short touchdown runs and Oklahoma (9-2, 6-2) set up a Bedlam showdown for the Big 12 championship by beating Iowa State (6-5, 3-5).

Oklahoma will visit No. 4 Oklahoma State next week with the winner earning the Big 12 title.

No. 13 Georgia 31, No. 25 Georgia Tech 17: At Atlanta, Aaron Murray threw four touchdown passes and Georgia (10-2) extended its domination over Georgia Tech (8-4), pulling away for a victory that sent the Bulldogs into the Southeastern Conference championship game on quite a roll.

Next weekend, they'll be back in Atlanta to face top-ranked LSU.

No. 14 South Carolina 34, No. 18 Clemson 13: At Columbia, S.C., Connor Shaw threw for three touchdowns and ran for another to lead South Carolina to a 10-win season for the first time in 27 years and its third straight victory over Clemson.

The Gamecocks (10-2) choked off Clemson's once-high scoring offense, holding the Tigers (9-3) to 153 yards and Atlantic Coast Conference passing leader Tajh Boyd to 83 yards through the air.

No. 15 Wisconsin 45, No. 20 Penn State 7: At Madison, Wis., Montee Ball scored four more touchdowns in his pursuit of an NCAA record, powering Wisconsin to a rout of Penn State (9-3, 6-2) and a spot in next week's Big Ten championship game.

Ball has scored 34 touchdowns this season for the Badgers (10-2, 6-2), the second-most in a single season in NCAA history. Barry Sanders holds the record, scoring 39 for Oklahoma State in 11 games in the 1988 season.

With the win, Wisconsin will play Big Ten Legends division winner Michigan State in Indianapolis next Saturday.

No. 17 Michigan 40, Ohio State 34: At Ann Arbor, Mich., Denard Robinson accounted for five touchdowns, helping Michigan beat Ohio State and snap a school-record, seven-game losing streak in the rivalry.

The Wolverines (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten) were forced to settle for a six-point lead with 1:59 left on Brendan Gibbons' career-long 43-yard field goal after two apparent TDs were negated by a video review and then penalties.

The Buckeyes (6-6, 3-5) had a chance to win the game on their final drive, but freshman Braxton Miller sailed a pass over Deviser Posey's head on what could've been a 76-yard TD and threw a loss-sealing interception to Courtney Avery.

No. 21 Baylor 66, Texas Tech 42: At Arlington, Texas, Nick Florence threw two long touchdown passes after Robert Griffin was knocked out of the game and Baylor extended its winning streak to four games with a victory over Texas Tech (5-7, 2-7).

The Bears (8-3, 5-3 Big 12) went on to a record victory without Griffin, whose Heisman Trophy chances were dealt a blow.

Baylor set school mark for most points in a conference game, and was already ahead to stay when Griffin scored on a 3-yard keeper just before halftime. That score came after he was on the sideline for one play after taking an elbow to the helmet while sliding at the end of a run.