Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Juwan Johnson caught a seven-yard TD pass as time expired and fourth-ranked Penn State rallied to stun host Iowa 21-19 in the Big Ten opener for both teams. Saquon Barkley added 211 yards rushing and 94 yards receiving for the Nittany Lions, who outgained Iowa 579-273 but nearly blew a game that could’ve been crippling to their postseason hopes. Penn State went 80 yards on 12 plays to close out the game, and McSorley found Johnson in the end zone on fourth down.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Tanner Lee led Nebraska on a 97-yard scoring drive for the go-ahead touchdown after Rutgers returned an interception for a touchdown, and the Cornhuskers shook off the Scarlet Knights in the second half for a 27-17. The Huskers picked up a much-needed victory for coach Mike Riley two days after athletic director Shawn Eichorst was fired following last week’s humiliating home loss to Northern Illinois. Rutgers has lost 15 straight Big Ten games.

CHICAGO (AP) — Alex Gordon homered, Whit Merrifield drove in three runs and Danny Duffy pitched into the seventh inning to lead the Royals to an 8-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox, keeping Kansas City’s slim playoff hopes alive. Salvador Perez went 2 for 4 with a pair of run-scoring doubles. With eight games remaining, the Royals trail Minnesota by 4 ½ games for the second AL wild card. Duffy allowed two runs in six-plus innings for his first win since Aug. 22.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Kerryon Johnson rushed for a career-high five touchdowns as No. 15 Auburn put an end to its recent offensive struggles in a 51-14 win over Missouri. Johnson, who had missed the previous two games with a hamstring injury, finished with 48 yards rushing on 18 carries _ falling one short of Carnell Williams’ school record of six rushing touchdowns in a game.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Will Grier threw for 347 yards and accounted for four touchdowns, Justin Crawford ran for 125 yards and another score and West Virginia pulled away late to beat pesky Kansas 56-34. David Sills and Kennedy McKoy each scored twice for the Mountaineers, who overcame a 291-yard rushing performance by the Jayhawks’ Khalil Herbert.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Lance Lynn allowed eight runs in the first inning and the St. Louis Cardinals slipped up against the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-6. St. Louis entered the day 1 1/2 games behind Colorado, which plays San Diego on Saturday night, for the second NL wild card. The loss ended the Cardinals’ four-game winning streak. St. Louis remained five games behind the Cubs in the NL Central after Chicago lost to Milwaukee, which is a half-game ahead of the Cardinals.

CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) — Scotty Gilkey threw two touchdown passes to Alexander Hollins and ran for another score to help Eastern Illinois beat Southeast Missouri State 19-16 in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams. Gilkey completed 9 of 20 for 142 yards passing and added 26 carries for 98 yards while Hollins had seven receptions for 118 yards for Eastern Illinois.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Grant Kraemer threw for 445 yards and two touchdowns, ran for another score, and Drake pulled away in the second half to beat Valparaiso 38-13 in its Pioneer Conference opener for its 14th straight win in the series. The Bulldogs (2-2) took a 17-13 halftime lead on Danny Donley’s short field goal after Valapraiso made a goal-line stand.