The curse of No. 2 claimed another victim.
Second-ranked Oregon lost Heisman Trophy candidate Dennis Dixon to a knee injury and never recovered in a 34-24 upset by Arizona last night in Tucson.
Oregon (8-2, 5-2 Pac-10) became the fifth No. 2 team to lose since Oct. 6, following USC, Cal, South Florida and Boston College. The Ducks' defeat could open the door for third-ranked Oklahoma in The Associated Press Top 25, and for No. 3 Kansas in the Bowl Championship Series standings.
Dixon, Oregon's gifted starting quarterback, hurt his left knee in the first quarter, about seven minutes after he ran 39 yards for a touchdown. Dixon crumpled to the turf without being touched and took Oregon's national championship hopes with him.
“My foot got planted in the ground, and my knee went the other way,” Dixon told ESPN late in the game.
Antoine Cason returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown and an interception 42 yards for another score as the Wildcats shook up the national title race on a cool night in the desert. Red-clad students poured out of the grandstand as the Wildcats (5-6, 4-4) ambushed a ranked team in Arizona Stadium for the fourth straight season under coach Mike Stoops.
Brady Leaf, who replaced Dixon, completed 22-of-46 passes for 163 yards and threw two interceptions.
ARKANSAS ST. 31, NORTH TEXAS 27: Brandon Thompkins caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Corey Leonard with two seconds left to lift the Indians over the visiting Mean Green. Arkansas State, which never led until the end and trailed 21-0 at one point, drove 80 yards for the winning score.
NOTABLE: Louisville defensive end Deantwan “Peanut” Whitehead's football career has ended because of a spinal condition that showed up after an injury in last week's loss to West Virginia. Whitehead was diagnosed with congenital cervical spinal stenosis after seeing a specialist in Indianapolis, the school said. He was injured on a tackle on Nov. 8.
