TULSA, Okla. — David Johnson threw for 264 yards and a touchdown, ran for two more scores and No. 19 Tulsa overpowered the University of Central Florida, 49-19, last night in the Golden Hurricane's first game in the Top 25 in 17 years.

Damaris Johnson made up for a critical first-half fumble by returning the second-half kickoff 70 yards to set up a go-ahead touchdown. David Johnson zoomed in from 10 yards out to give Tulsa (8-0, 5-0 Conference USA) a 21-19 lead, and he kept the nation's top-ranked offense in gear from there on out.

UCF held Tulsa to a season-low 436 yards, nearly 200 below its 625-yard average, but had only 187 yards of its own.

The win helped make up for last season's pair of losses to the Knights (2-5, 1-2), including one in the Conference USA championship game, and moved Tulsa to 8-0 for only the sixth time in school history.

STANDINGS, POLLS

PENN STATE MOVES UP

Penn State surged in the Bowl Championship Series standings after its big win at Ohio State, closing the gap on first-place Texas and second-place Alabama yesterday.

Still, the Nittany Lions are in danger of being unbeaten and left out of the BCS national championship game.

The Longhorns were again first by far in all the polls and on top of all the computer rankings. Staying undefeated won't be easy for Texas, which plays at Texas Tech Saturday, but if Colt McCoy and company can, a trip to Miami for the Jan. 8 title game will be theirs.

Texas' .9981 BCS average is the third highest since the current formula, which counts the USA Today coaches' poll and Harris poll for two-thirds of the grade and a compilation of six computers for the other third, was put in place in 2004.

The Crimson Tide (.9499) were a solid second in the polls, and second in all but one of the computer ratings.

Penn State's 13-6 victory over Ohio State helped in the computer rankings and pushed its average to .9257. The problem for the Nittany Lions is the perceived weakness of the Big Ten in comparison to the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12.

After a week off, Penn State plays at Iowa (5-3) and finishes the season with home games against Indiana (3-5) and Michigan State (7-2).

Meanwhile, Texas Tech has its highest ranking in the AP Top 25 in 32 years, and a chance to make another momentous leap coming up.

The Red Raiders moved up to No. 6 in the poll released yesterday as they get ready to host No. 1 Texas.

The Longhorns are a unanimous No. 1 for the second week in a row, receiving all 65 first-place votes, and the rest of the top five remained the same: No. 2 Alabama, followed by Penn State, Oklahoma and Florida.

The USA Today coaches Top 25 has the same top four, with Texas Tech at No. 5.

WASHINGTON

WILLINGHAM UNDER FIRE

The yellow paint on the benches in the lower bowl of Husky Stadium on Saturday were more noticeable than the fans who stuck around to watch one of the worst offensive performances in Washington's history.

Those who remained made their feelings known. One held a sign saying "re-TY-re." Another wore a "Fire Ty" paper bag over his head. Perhaps the best was the fan offering Washington coach Tyrone Willingham back to Notre Dame, which beat the Huskies, 33-7.

Willingham could be gone at any time. Athletic director Scott Woodward has stated many times that he does not believe that an in-season coaching change is a prudent move, yet the Huskies have dropped nine straight, dating to last season, and are assured of not going to a bowl for the sixth straight year.

Willingham is 11-32 in his four seasons, and the Huskies are 0-7 for only the second time in school history.

ELSEWHERE

Wisconsin: Tight end Travis Beckum, who decided to return for his senior season rather than apply for the NFL draft, broke his left leg Saturday against Illinois and is out for the season. Beckum, who had surgery on his fibula Saturday night, ended his Wisconsin career with 159 receptions for 2,149 yards and 11 touchdowns.

North Carolina: Quarterback T.J. Yates, who broke his left ankle Sept. 20 against Virginia Tech, will do some light throwing during this bye week, but is not expected to play next week against Georgia Tech.

Pittsburgh: Junior quarterback Bill Stull was released yesterday from a Pittsburgh hospital after receiving a concussion and a sore neck during a hit in Saturday's game against Rutgers. Stull will undergo tests and be evaluated during the week. His playing status is unknown.