San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
2nd-ranked Georgia routs No. 8 Arkansas
Georgia’s determination to win its top-10 matchup against Arkansas on the ground had nothing to do with which of its quarterback started.
Instead, it was all about taking what the visiting Arkansas defense gave Georgia — and the Bulldogs just kept taking and taking. And that made it even easier for the Georgia defense to dominate.
Zamir White rushed for two touchdowns and recovered a blocked punt for another score, and No. 2 Georgia pounded No. 8 Arkansas 37-0 on Saturday.
Georgia (5-0, 3-0 SEC) raced to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter despite playing without quarterback JT Daniels, who was out with a right lat injury.
Stetson Bennett filled in and passed for only 72 yards as the Bulldogs relied on their running game and top-rated defense to beat Arkansas (4-1, 1-1).
“They were basically challenging us, could we run the ball?” Bennett said. “They said we couldn’t, but we said we could today.”
The Bulldogs rushed for 273 yards and wore down the Arkansas defense, holding the ball for 36 minutes.
Georgia, leading the nation in total defense and scoring defense (4.6 points per game) after last Saturday’s 62-0 win at Vanderbilt, held Arkansas to 10 first downs and 156 yards. The last time Georgia recorded back-to-back shutouts in SEC games was in 1980, its last national championship season.
It was a sobering experience for Arkansas second-year coach Sam Pittman, the former Georgia offensive line coach.
“I don’t want to simplify this, but they just whipped us physically,” Pittman said.
#1 Alabama 42, #12 Mississippi 21:
Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for career highs of 171 yards and four TDs for the host Crimson Tide (5-0, 2-0 SEC). The Rebels (3-1, 0-1) had breezed through three nonconference games. #4 Penn St. 24, Indiana 0: Sean Clifford threw for 178 yards and three TDs and the host Nittany Lions (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) forced eight punts, two turnovers and blocked a field goal to blank the Hoosiers (2-3, 0-2).
#6 Oklahoma 37, Kansas St. 31:
Spencer Rattler threw for 243 yards and two TDs, the visiting Sooners (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) had two crucial calls overturned in their favor after video reviews, and Oklahoma recovered an onside kick with just over a minute left to hold off the Wildcats (3-2, 0-2).
#7 Cincinnati 24, #9 Notre Dame
13: Desmond Ridder threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score late in the fourth quarter as the visiting Bearcats (4-0) beat the Fighting Irish (4-1) in a game they hope can be the centerpiece of a playoff resume.
Kentucky 20, #10 Florida 13: Trevin Wallace returned a blocked field goal 76 yards for the go-ahead touchdown late in the third quarter, Chris Rodriguez Jr. had a 9-yard scoring run early in the fourth, and the host Wildcats (5-0, 3-0 SEC) made a final defensive stand to hold off the Gators (3-2, 1-2).
#11 Ohio St. 52, Rutgers 13: C.J. Stroud threw for 330 yards and a career-high five touchdowns after sitting out a game to rest his shoulder and the visiting Buckeyes (4-1, 2-0) won their 20th straight Big Ten game. The freshman connected with Chris Olave on touchdown passes of 56 and 11 yards and finished 17-for-23.
#14 Michigan 38, Wisconsin 17:
Cornelius Johnson caught both of Cade McNamara’s touchdown passes and the Wolverines (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) beat the host Badgers (1-3, 0-2 Big Ten), who lost quarterback Graham Mertz to a chest injury. Mississippi St. 26, #15 Texas A&M
22: Will Rogers threw for 406 yards and three touchdowns as the visiting Bulldogs (3-2, 1-1 SEC) beat the Aggies. Texas A&M (3-2, 1-1) was outgained 438-297 and trailed 28-15 in first downs. #16 Coastal Carolina 59, Louisiana-Monroe 6: Grayson McCall threw for 212 yards on 13-of-13 passing with two touchdowns to Isaiah Likely for the host Chanticleers (5-0, 1-0 Sun Belt), who have won 16 of their past 17 the past two seasons.
#17 Michigan St. 48, W. Kentucky
31: Kenneth Walker and Jayden Reed combined to score five touchdowns in the first half to help the host Spartans (5-0) build a 26-point lead, 35-9. #19 Oklahoma St. 24, #21 Baylor
14: Jaylen Warren ran for 125 yards and two touchdowns as the host Cowboys (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) overcame three interceptions by Spencer Sanders. The Bears (4-1, 2-1) had 10 first downs; Oklahoma State had 24. #23 N.C. State 34, Louisiana Tech
27: Devin Leary threw for two touchdowns and the host Wolf Pack (4-1) held off the Bulldogs (2-3).
#24 Wake Forest 37, Louisville 34:
Nick Sciba kicked a 29-yard field goal with 22 seconds left to lift the host Demon Deacons (5-0, 3-0 ACC), who got 324 yards and two passing TDs from Sam Hartman. Malik Cunningham had a big day for the Cardinals (3-2, 1-1), throwing for 332 yards and two scores and running for two TDs. #25 Clemson 19, Boston College
13: B.T. Potter had four field goals, hitting a tie-breaking 35-yarder late in the third quarter, and the Tigers (3-2, 2-1 ACC) escaped with a home win.
PAC-12
Oregon State 27, Washington 24:
Everett Hayes kicked a 24-yard field goal as time expired as the host Beavers (4-1, 2-0) took first place in the Pac-12 North for the first time in program history. B.J. Baylor ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns for Oregon State. The Huskies (2-3, 1-1), who outgained Oregon State 318-290, got two touchdowns and 103 yards rushing from Sean McGrew.
USC 37, Colorado 14: In Boulder, Colo., Kedon Slovis threw three TD passes for the Trojans (3-2, 2-2 Pac-12). Slovis completed 19 of 29 throws for 276 yards and hit Drake London, Michael Trigg and Gary Bryant Jr. for touchdowns. The Buffaloes (1-4, 0-2) are 0-15 against USC.