By The Associated Press

BATON ROUGE, La. - Matt Mauck threw four touchdown passes to send No. 3 LSU into the Southeastern Conference title game and keep the Tigers in contention for the national championship with a 55-24 victory over Arkansas on Friday.

Mauck threw scores of 10, 2, 22 and 37 yards to help LSU (11-1, 7-1) clinch the SEC West for the second time in three years. Mauck, who left after the third quarter, was 12-for-19 for 186 yards to give the Tigers their second 11-win season ever.

LSU will play either Georgia, Tennessee or Florida for the conference championship next Saturday in Atlanta. With a win, the Tigers could have a chance to play for their first national championship since 1958.

LSU is currently third in the BCS standings that determine which two teams will play for the title in the Sugar Bowl but could jump ahead of Southern California with a win over a quality opponent in their season finale.

The Tigers took advantage of sloppy play from Arkansas (8-4, 4-4), which fumbled six times and lost three.

No. 6 Texas 46, Texas A&M 15

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Cedric Benson ran for 283 yards and four touchdowns and Texas strengthened its position for the school's first Bowl Championship Series bid.

Benson rushed for 205 yards in the second half against the 95th rated defense in the nation, helping the Longhorns (10-2, 7-1 Big 12) break open a game the Aggies (4-8, 2-6) kept close until the third quarter with two short touchdown drives after Texas turnovers.

Benson had 35 carries and scored on runs of 21, 4, 8 and 35 yards. He broke the record of the most rushing yards against the traditionally tough Wrecking Crew defense, surpassing former Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams' 259 yards in a Texas win in 1998.

Texas posted its sixth straight win since a 65-13 loss to No. 1 Oklahoma back on Oct. 11 that knocked it out of the national title chase. The Longhorns are ranked No. 6 in the BCS standings and most likely within an Oklahoma victory of an at-large bid to the Fiesta Bowl or Rose Bowl.

No. 25 Nebraska 31, Colorado 22

BOULDER, Colo. - T.J. Hollowell's interception set up Judd Davies' 1-yard touchdown run with 5:48 left, helping No. 25 Nebraska hold off Colorado in a bid to bolster Cornhuskers coach Frank Solich's job security.

Solich has been under fire despite a 58-19 record in six seasons. The Lincoln Journal Star quoted unidentified boosters this week as saying that Solich would be forced into retirement after Friday's game.

The Huskers (9-3, 5-3 Big 12) appeared to rally around their beleaguered coach. They went ahead 24-22 on David Dyches' 19-yard field goal with 8:30 remaining.

Three plays later, Hollowell intercepted Joel Klatt's pass and returned it 25 yards to the 6 to set up Davies' score.

Colorado (5-7, 3-5) failed to become bowl eligible.

How the Top 25 fared

How the top 25 teams in The Associated Press' college football poll fared Friday:

No. 1 Oklahoma (12-0) did not play. Next: vs. No. 14 Kansas State, Big 12 championship, Dec. 6.

No. 2 Southern Cal (10-1) did not play. Next: vs. Oregon State, Dec. 6.

No. 3 LSU (11-1) beat Arkansas 55-24. Next: vs. TBA, SEC championship, Dec. 6.

No. 4 Michigan (10-2) did not play. Next: vs. TBA, Rose Bowl.

No. 5 Georgia (9-2) did not play. Next: at Georgia Tech, today.

No. 6 Texas (10-2) beat Texas A&M 46-15. Next: TBA.

No. 7 Tennessee (9-2) did not play. Next: at Kentucky, today.

No. 8 Ohio State (10-2) did not play. Next: TBA.

No. 9 Florida State (9-2) did not play. Next: at No. 11 Florida, today.

No. 10 Miami (9-2) did not play. Next: at No. 20 Pittsburgh, today.

No. 11 Florida (8-3) did not play. Next: vs. No. 9 Florida State, today.

No. 12 Purdue (9-3) did not play. Next: TBA.

No. 13 Iowa (9-3) did not play. Next: TBA.

No. 14 Kansas State (10-3) did not play. Next: vs. No. 1 Oklahoma, Big 12 championship, Dec. 6.

No. 15 Miami U. (11-1) beat UCF 56-21. Next: at TBA, MAC championship, Dec. 4.

No. 16 Washington State (9-3) did not play. Next: TBA.

No. 17 Mississippi (9-3) did not play. Next: TBA.

No. 18 Boise State (10-1) did not play. Next: vs. Nevada, today.

No. 19 TCU (10-1) did not play. Next: at SMU, today.

No. 20 Pittsburgh (8-3) did not play. Next: vs. No. 13 Miami, today.

No. 21 Virginia Tech (8-3) did not play. Next: at Virginia, today.

No. 22 Bowling Green (9-2) did not play. Next: vs. Toledo, today.

No. 23 Oklahoma State (9-3) did not play. Next: TBA.

No. 24 West Virginia (7-4) Next: vs. Temple, today.

No. 25 Nebraska (9-3) beat Colorado 31-22. Next: TBA.