HOUSTON (AP) — CeeDee Lamb had a career-high 17 catches for 189 yards and his 12-yard TD reception with 40 seconds left lifted the Dallas Cowboys to a 34-30 win over Houston on Sunday to keep the Texans winless.
Javonte Williams ran for a career-high three touchdowns — all in the second half — to help the Cowboys to the victory.
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Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins makes a catch as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Reddy Steward defends during the second half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb makes a touchdown catch during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb celebrates his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery is hauled down by Dallas Cowboys defenders during the second half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb, right, celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Dak Prescott during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dallas (2-2) trailed by 4 after a 6-yard touchdown run by Woody Marks with about 2 ½ minutes to play. The Texans were facing third-and-14 when a hook-and-ladder play with a 2-yard catch by Dalton Schultz and a 19-yard run by David Montgomery set up that score.
Dak Prescott then orchestrated an 11-play, 74-yard drive that included a fourth down conversion and capped it with the throw to Lamb to give the Cowboys the victory.
The Texans (0-4) had a last chance after that, but C.J. Stroud’s desperation pass fell incomplete.
Prescott threw for 335 yards and Stroud had 347 yards passing.
Nico Collins had seven receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns in his return after missing two games with a hamstring injury. But his big day wasn't enough to get the Texans in the win column.
The Cowboys took their first lead on the third score by Williams, a 2-yard run that made it 27-23 with about 11 minutes to go.
Dallas cut the lead to 16-13 on an 8-yard run by Williams on the opening drive of the third quarter. A 30-yard reception by Lamb set up the score.
The Texans had great field position on their next drive thanks to a 53-yard kickoff return by Jaylin Noel. The second score by Collins made it 23-13 with about 11 minutes left in the third.
George Pickens grabbed a 53-yard reception over Kamari Lassiter to get the Cowboys to the 11-yard line after that. Lassiter was flagged for pass interference on Pickers on third down to give Dallas a first down at the 1.
Jadeveon Clowney stuffed Williams for a loss of 3 on first down and the Cowboys couldn’t move the ball after that to bring up fourth down. Dallas went for it and a holding penalty by Lassiter gave the Cowboys another first down at the 1.
Williams plunged in for the touchdown on the next play to cut the lead to 23-20 with seven minutes left in the third.
Collins had a 45-yard catch-and-run on Houston’s first play and made it 7-0 when he capped the drive with a 7-yard TD reception.
Houston led by 4 when Will Anderson blocked Brandon Aubrey’s 62-yard field-goal attempt about 4 ½ minutes before halftime.
Kaʻimi Fairbairn’s 39-yard field goal on Houston’s next drive extended the lead to 13-6.
Aubrey’s 65-yard attempt with about 30 seconds left in the second quarter sailed wide left.
A 54-yard field goal by Fairbairn made it 16-6 at halftime.
Houston: CB Jaylin Smith left in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. … DT Jaden Crumedy injured his shoulder in the third quarter.
The Texans, who are in their 25th season, had an anniversary celebration at halftime. Texans greats including Hall of Famer Andre Johnson, Arian Foster, DeAndre Hopkins, Brian Cushing and Billy Miller along with former coach Gary Kubiak were honored in the ceremony. J.J. Watt did not attend but recorded a message that was played on the video boards.
Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. played extensively his debut with the Cowboys after being traded from the Steelers on Wednesday. It was his first action of the season after he was inactive for the first three games while upset about his contract situation and dealing with a back issue.
Cowboys: Host Tampa Bay Thursday night.
Texans: Visit Tennessee next Sunday.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins makes a catch as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Reddy Steward defends during the second half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb makes a touchdown catch during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb celebrates his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery is hauled down by Dallas Cowboys defenders during the second half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb, right, celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Dak Prescott during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Florida’s stint in the top 10 of the AP Top 25 rankings proved short-lived.
The Gators fell in the rankings after losing in a rout to Missouri. The Tigers climbed 11 spots to No. 14 and jumped over the Gators in the process. Florida dropped eight spots to No. 16.
Florida’s fall made room for a light shuffle in the top 10: No. 6 Alabama and No. 7 Indiana traded rankings, BYU moved up two rungs to No. 8, Mississippi remained No. 9 and LSU climbed one spot to No. 10.
Texas goes into this coming Saturday’s Red River Rivalry game against Oklahoma as the No. 1 team for the fourth straight week. The rest of the top five stood pat, with Georgia remaining No. 2, followed by Notre Dame, Miami and Ohio State.
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, made its season debut in the poll at No. 25.
Here's the latest in the AP Top 25:
By MAURA CAREY
No. 2 Georgia at No. 6 Alabama headlines next week’s slate of games for the AP Top 25.
Not only does it mean a shakeup is in store for the top 10, but it’s a matchup that always seems to matter come playoff time. Last year, Alabama snapped Georgia’s 33-game home win streak before Georgia bounced back with a 28-7 SEC Championship victory over the Crimson Tide.
Both teams have plenty at stake as they look to build the strongest résumés possible for the College Football Playoff committee. And with both teams sitting in the top six, there’s a lot on the line in the rankings as well.
By MATT MCGAVIC
There were a few ranked teams that I actually docked a spot or two because of their performances.
I bumped BYU down to No. 12 because of their less-than-impressive win over TCU. Same with USC to No. 22 for their game against Washington. SMU I took out entirely because I thought another team just outside my personal top 25 was more deserving.
By MAURA CAREY
Kentucky received the most votes of any unranked team, falling two points shy of a tie with Pitt for No. 25.
Wake Forest finished 20 points shy of No. 25 with a 57-3 win against Stanford. The 54-point victory was the largest margin in an ACC game in program history.
Wisconsin, Duke, Northwestern, Nebraska, Minnesota, Arizona, James Madison and North Dakota State also received votes.
It was the fourth consecutive week that North Dakota State received votes, an achievement in itself after transitioning from the FCS to the FBS in July.
Six teams held steady in this week’s Top 25, and 14 teams fluctuated one or two spots. The rest saw bigger changes.
Missouri was the biggest mover, jumping 11 spots to No. 14 after beating Florida. The Gators fell out of the top 10 and dropped eight spots to No. 16.
No. 20 Iowa had the second-biggest fall behind Florida, dropping six spots after a loss to Ohio State. No. 24 SMU fell three spots after a win against Boston College that was likely too close for comfort.
Pitt was the only other team that improved by more than one or two, leaping seven spots to No. 25.
Heating up: Alabama (6), BYU (8), LSU (10), Texas Tech (11), Utah (12), Oregon (13), Missouri (14), Tennessee (15), Oklahoma State (18), UCLA (21), Houston (22) and Pittsburgh (25).
Cooling down: Indiana (7), Florida (16), Mississippi State (17), USC (19), Iowa (20), Boise State (23), SMU (24) and Kentucky (OUT)
Holding steady: Texas (1), Georgia (2), Notre Dame (3), Miami (4), Ohio State (5), Ole Miss (9).
Kentucky’s overtime thriller didn’t quite impress voters enough. One week after joining the rankings at No. 24, Kentucky tumbled out of the poll after a narrow win against South Carolina.
The Wildcats’ fate might say more about how voters view South Carolina, however. The Gamecocks have fallen short of expectations over the past two years, leading to questions about Shane Beamer’s job security.
Kentucky’s departure from the rankings cleared room for this week’s sole newcomer, No. 25 Pitt.
The Panthers’ 14-point comeback over Virginia Tech ultimately carried more weight with voters than Kentucky’s 17-point comeback against South Carolina.
Voters heard Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi loud and clear after he complained of being left out of the AP Top 25. The 5-0 Panthers entered the poll this week for the first time this season, coming in at No. 25.
The Panthers overcame a 14-0 deficit and scored 21 unanswered points en route to a 35-33 win against Virginia Tech.
Pitt lost starting quarterback Mason Heintschel early in the second half, but backup quarterback Holden Geriner performed well off the bench, throwing for 78 yards and a touchdown.
It was a narrow one for the Panthers, who got lucky with a Hokies missed field goal as time expired.
Missouri moved up 11 spots to No. 14 and jumped over Florida in the AP Top 25 after the Gators fell to the Tigers this weekend. Florida dropped from No. 8 to No. 16 in the rankings.
The Tigers beat the Gators 45-17 on Saturday. Quarterback Austin Simmons had a standout performance, completing 23 of 30 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns. Jamal Roberts ran the ball 24 times for 211 yards and three rushing scores.
Before the game, Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz was 0-10 in the regular season against top-10 teams and had a nine-game skid against AP Top 25 teams. He wasn’t eager to talk about recent history.
“Doesn’t mean anything,” he said. “That’s noise people create on social media for no reason. … Each game is a life of its own, opponent of its own. We try to make it the best matchup we can.”
The SEC leads the way in the AP Top 25, with nine ranked teams from the conference: Texas (1), Georgia (2), Alabama (6), Ole Miss (9), LSU (10), Missouri (14), Tennessee (15), Florida (16) and Mississippi State (17).
The Big Ten has six ranked teams: Ohio State (5), Indiana (7), Oregon (13), USC (19), Iowa (20) and UCLA (21).
The Big 12 has five teams in the poll: BYU (8), Texas Tech (11), Utah (12), Oklahoma State (18) and Houston (22).
The ACC has three ranked teams: Miami (4), SMU (24) and Pittsburgh (25).
No. 23 Boise State remains the sole Pac-12 representative, and No. 3 Notre Dame is independent.
By MATT MCGAVIC
I think that’s a product of IU’s non-conference schedule, where they opted to load up on relatively easy games. Then in the Big 10 play, their two wins are against Rutgers and a not-very-dominant home game vs. NW — although they could actually be better than we expect.
By MAURA CAREY
The Crimson Tide improved to No. 6 after an impressive 56-23 win against Mississippi State. The move came at the expense of Indiana, which moved down one spot to No. 7.
Alabama is one of three remaining unbeaten SEC teams in elite company alongside No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Georgia.
That will change next week when Georgia and Alabama square off in Tuscaloosa on Saturday night.
By MATT MCGAVIC
As far as my personal top 10, I bumped Ohio State from No. 4 to No. 3 for their impressive road win at Iowa — just behind Texas and Georgia.
Then, with Alabama putting together one of the best performances of the season, I have them cracking the top 10 all the way up to No. 4, which meant Notre Dame falls to fifth on my ballot.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
1. Texas
2. Georgia
3. Notre Dame
4. Miami (Fla.)
5. Ohio State
6. Alabama
7. Indiana
8. BYU
9. Mississippi
10. LSU
11. Texas Tech
12. Utah
13. Oregon
14. Missouri
15. Tennessee
16. Florida
17. Mississippi State
18. Oklahoma State
19. USC
20. Iowa
21. UCLA
22. Houston
23. Boise State
24. SMU
25. Pittsburgh
Others receiving votes were: Kentucky, Wake Forest, Wisconsin, Duke, Northwestern, Nebraska, Minnesota, Arizona, James Madison and North Dakota State.
By MAURA CAREY
Any speculation that young quarterback Keelon Russell may not rise to the occasion subsided as he passed for 285 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing score in a 56-23 win against No. 16 Mississippi State.
Trae’shawn Brown ran the ball in for two scores and Rico Scott added a pair of receiving touchdowns. Dijon Lee Jr. also added a 30-yard pick-six.
Nevertheless, there may not be much room for improvement for the seventh-ranked Crimson Tide this week because No. 1 Texas was idle and Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami, Ohio State and Indiana each landed in the win column.
After moving up 13 spots in the poll and cracking the top 10 for the first time since 2021, Florida could be in line for a big fall in the rankings after losing 45-17 to Missouri.
The Tigers found success in minimizing Florida’s star running back Jadan Baugh’s impact, holding him to just 13 yards on 12 carries. Baugh was averaging 150 rushing yards per game before the Gators’ trip to Columbia.
It was the first loss of the Jon Sumrall era for Florida, falling to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in Southeastern Conference play.
Only three Top 25 teams lost this week, all in ranked matchups. No. 8 Florida fell 45-17 on the road to No. 25 Missouri. No. 14 Iowa dropped 31-14 to No. 5 Ohio State. And No. 16 Mississippi State lost 56-23 to No. 7 Alabama.
Six Top 25 teams had the week off and 16 ranked teams landed in the win column.
Six AP Top 25 teams had the week off.
No. 1 Texas was idle after beating Tennessee in a hard-fought Week 4 road victory. No. 9 Ole Miss had a week to regroup following its first loss of the season to Florida. No. 13 Utah was off after a 31-17 win against Big 12 foe Iowa State.
No. 15 Oregon’s bye week came at a good time, giving quarterback Dante Moore a week to focus on recovering after a scary hit to the head.
Two of last week’s poll newcomers were also idle: No. 19 Oklahoma State and No. 23 UCLA.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
For decades, voters called, emailed and faxed their votes to the AP and ballots were tabulated by hand.
Now voting happens online, and the count is automated first before AP checks for miscues.
The poll operates on a 1-to-25-point system, with the No. 1 team receiving 25 points down to the 25th team receiving 1 point. In between, the poll lists the teams with the most points from 24 down to 2. Teams that receive votes but not enough to make the top 25 are noted separately.
Notre Dame safety Luke Talich (28) celebrates his interception with defensive lineman Armel Mukam (88) and other teammates during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Vanderbilt safety Davin Chandler (21) tackles Georgia running back Chauncey Bowens (5) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
