San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Notre Dame erupts in 4th, routs Wisconsin
CHICAGO — To win more games than any coach in the storied history of Notre Dame football, Brian Kelly has needed to be adaptable.
Maybe never more than the first month of this season. The Fighting Irish have used three quarterbacks and four left tackles, moved away from their run-first mentality and added new wrinkles on defense to head into October unbeaten.
Chris Tyree returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown and Drew Pyne threw a fourthquarter touchdown pass in relief of an injured Jack Coan, helping No. 12
Notre Dame pull away from No. 18 Wisconsin
41-13 on Saturday at Soldier Field.
The Fighting Irish (4-0) have shown plenty of vulnerabilities as they retooled a team that went to the College Football Playoff last season. But they keep winning.
“We got a long way to go still, but they’re getting better each week,“Kelly said. “I’m having fun coaching them. They’re not perfect by any means, but they’re going to be better in November.”
With victory No. 106 in 12 seasons at Notre Dame, Kelly (106-39) surpassed the legendary Knute Rockne (105-12-5).
Graham Mertz threw four interceptions for Wisconsin (1-2), including two that were returned for touchdowns in the final 2:30 to blow the game open. Notre Dame scored the final 31 points and the Badgers lost their seventh straight to a ranked team.
NO. 2 GEORGIA 62 VANDERBILT 0
In Nashville, Tenn., JT Daniels threw for 121 yards and two touchdowns while playing only the first quarter as the Bulldogs earned their biggest win in a series that started in 1893.
The game was effectively over when Georgia
(4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) led 35-0 after the first quarter. The Bulldogs started three of four drives in Vandy territory.
They recovered a fumble on a kickoff to set up one TD, then Christopher Smith intercepted a pass to set up a second TD less than 30 seconds later.
NO. 5 IOWA 24 COLORADO STATE 14
Spencer Petras threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns, and the Hawkeyes (4-0) needed a second-half comeback. The Hawkeyes (4-0) won their 10th consecutive game, the program’s longest streak since winning 12 games to open the 2015
season.
NO. 6 PENN STATE 38 VILLANOVA 17
Sean Clifford passed for four touchdowns and a career-high 401 yards as the host Nittany Lions showcased their speed against their in-state FCS opponent.
Clifford completed 19 of 26 passes, finding Parker Washington for two TDs and Jahan Dotson and KeAndre Lambert-Smith for one apiece. Tyler Warren rushed for a touchdown and Jordan Stout kicked a field goal for the Nittany Lions
(4-0), who led 17-3 at the break in their eighth straight win.
N.C. STATE 27
NO. 9 CLEMSON 21
In Raleigh, N.C., Devin Leary threw four touchdown passes as the Wolfpack (3-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) shocked the Tigers (2-2, 0-1 ACC).
NO. 17 COASTAL CAROLINA 53, MASSACHUSETTS 3
Grayson McCall threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third, and the host Chanticleers scored on eight of nine possessions and sent UMass to a 15th straight loss.
The Chanticleers started 4-0 for the second straight season and have won 15 of their past 16 games the past two years. They also cranked things up after a subpar offensive showing in 28-25 win at Buffalo last week.
NO. 19 MICHIGAN 20 RUTGERS 13
In Ann Arbor, Mich., Hassan Haskins ran for touchdowns the first two times the Wolverines had the ball and they held on to remain undefeated.
Michigan (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) opened conference play by running the ball on its first seven snaps and Jim Harbaugh’s conservative game plan almost cost him. After leading 20-3 at halftime, the Wolverines failed to pick up a first down on their first four possessions in the second half.
ARMY 23, MIAMI (OHIO) 10
Christian Anderson ran for a pair long first-half touchdowns, and the host Black Knights remained undefeated.
Anderson sprinted 72 yards on Army’s third play then eclipsed that personal best with a 75yard score in the second quarter. He had a careerhigh 236 yards rushing on 15 carries before leaving with just over six minutes to go in the fourth quarter with an apparent shoulder injury. Anderson had to exit the game twice in the first half with injuries before returning both times.