Louisville linebacker C.J. Avery (9) tackles Boston College tight end Hunter Long (80) during the first half of Saturday's game at Chestnut Hill (AP photo)

BOSTON (AP) — Boston College coach Jeff Hafley thinks he spotted a tear in starter-turned-backup quarterback Dennis Grosel’s eye after the game.

The BC junior, who started in 2019 but lost his job to Phil Jurkovec this year, threw for two touchdowns after the Notre Dame transfer was injured and added a 44-yard run on Saturday to lead the Eagles to a 34-27 victory over Louisville.

“The starting quarterback gets beat out, yet he comes to work every single day. When his time came, he took the game over, and he made some huge plays,” Hafley said. “It’s such a good example for our young guys.”

Grosel completed 4 of 7 passes for 44 yards for the Eagles (6-4, 5-4 Atlantic Coast Conference). He also broke free for the run that set up a falling 11-yard touchdown catch by CJ Lewis that made it 27-13 early in the fourth quarter.

“It’s kind of like riding a bike,” Grosel said. “I did it last year, so I hopped right on and held on for the ride.”

After the game, Hafley went straight to Grosel to give him a hug.

“He deserved a moment like this, and I was just really happy for him. I think the whole team was,” Hafley said. “That’s a moment hopefully he’ll remember forever.”

Jurkovec completed 15 of 19 passes for 203 yards before the pocket collapsed around him in the third quarter and knocked him out of the game. He spent the rest of the game on the sideline with his left knee wrapped; Hafley said it was too early to say whether the injury is serious.

David Bailey ran 10 times for 53 yards and two touchdowns before he also left with an (unspecified) injury. Zay Flowers caught seven passes for 87 yards for the Eagles.

Malik Cunningham threw for 294 yards and ran for 133 more for Louisville (3-7, 2-7). After Grosel hit Jehlani Galloway from 21 yards out to make it 34-20 with just under five minutes remaining, Cunningham connected with Dez Fitzpatrick on a short pass-and-run for a 69-yard score.

Boston College went three and out, and Cunningham was moving the Cardinals before Jahmin Muse tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage and defensive lineman Shita Sillah intercepted it at the Louisville 47.

Cunningham finished 19 for 31, with two touchdowns and an interception, hitting Fitzpatrick eight times for 182 yards.

In key national games Saturday:

NO.1 ALABAMA 42, NO. 22 AUBURN 13

Once the Iron Bowl kicked off, Nick Saban was just another passionate, heavily invested fan who was powerless to help his team win.

His team still won — big .

Mac Jones passed for 302 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, highlighted by two long ones to DeVonta Smith, and No. 1 Alabama rolled over rival No. 22 Auburn without Saban.

The Crimson Tide (8-0, No. 1 playoff rankings) continued a dominating march through a schedule of all-Southeastern Conference games even minus its six-time national champion coach on the sideline.

Saban tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday and watched the game feed from home, witnessing the usual array of big plays with offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian running the show.

NO. 4 CLEMSON 52, PITTSBURGH 17

Trevor Lawrence has stuck to his plan throughout his time at Clemson — and if this is his final game at Death Valley, he couldn’t come up with a more perfect end.

Lawrence threw for 403 yards and two touchdowns in his first game in five weeks to lead the Tigers to victory in what’s likely to be his last home game.

The junior passer said before the season he hoped to play, graduate in December and then enter the NFL draft, where he’s widely expected to be taken No. 1 overall.

“Yeah, that’s kind of been the plan going into the season,” Lawrence said. “You just never know. If it is, it was a fun one for sure.”

Lawrence hadn’t seen the field on game day since beating Syracuse on Oct. 24. He tested positive for the coronavirus the following week and missed Clemson’s next two games, including its only loss this season — a 47-40 double OT defeat at No. 2 Notre Dame.

MICHIGAN STATE 29, NO. 11 NORTHWESTERN 20

No. 11 Northwestern put itself in position to play for the Big Ten title, then it hit the road.

Michigan State was ready.

Matt Coghlin made a tiebreaking 48-yard field goal with 3:35 left, and the Spartans handed Northwestern its first loss of the season with a 29-20 victory Saturday.

The Wildcats (5-1, 5-1) were coming off a 17-7 victory over Wisconsin that moved them into contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff. That prospect likely was dashed with the loss to the Spartans, but they remain in control of the Big Ten West.

NO. 12 INDIANA 27, MARYLAND 11

Indiana coach Tom Allen watched his defense force three more turnovers, record three more sacks and produce another game-changing play. It’s becoming part of the weekly routine.

Now the 12th-ranked Hoosiers might need even more from Allen’s improved defense.

After Stevie Scott III ran for three scores in a 27-11 victory over Maryland on Saturday, Allen’s biggest postgame concern was the health of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who left the game in the third quarter with a lower right leg injury and did not return.

NO. 16 COASTAL CAROLINA 49, TEXAS STATE 14

C.J. Marable ran for 157 yards and three touchdowns and Coastal Carolina wrapped up the Sun Belt Conference East Division title.

The Chanticleers (9-0, 7-0) had 572 yards of offense in extending their winning streak to 10 games. They moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision three seasons ago.

NO. 21 OKLAHOMA STATE 50, TEXAS TECH 44

Oklahoma State’s top two running backs were out with injuries. Dezmon Jackson played, and that was enough for the Cowboys.

Jackson rushed for career highs of 235 yards and three touchdowns. He hadson had 36 carries, in part, because Chuba Hubbard and LD Brown did not play.