Georgia QBs deliver big vs. Mizzou

With Missouri gearing its defense to stop the run, Georgia relied on big plays in a passing game that was boosted by the return of quarterback JT Daniels.

Stetson Bennett passed for 255 yards and two touchdowns before giving way to Daniels, the former starter, leading the Bulldogs to a 43-6 win over Missouri on Saturday.

The game opened new questions for Georgia, No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings, at quarterback while affirming the Bulldogs’ season-long defensive dominance. Missouri was held to 273 total yards in Georgia’s seventh game of the season allowing no more than 10 points.

“I think ... their game plan was not to let us run the ball,” Bennett said. “They were trying to stop our run game and when they do that we have to try to be explosive.”

The Bulldogs completed four passes of 31 yards or longer and seven for at least 15 yards. Wide receivers Jermaine Burton, who had a 47-yarder, and Arian Smith, who had a 35-yard scoring catch from Bennett, have returned from injuries to boost the unit’s depth.

As usual, Georgia’s defense led the way. The Bulldogs began the day leading the nation with 6.6 points allowed per game. Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Travon Walker had sacks.

Georgia (9-0, 7-0 SEC) scored 40 straight points after Missouri’s early 3-0 lead. Still, coach Kirby Smith wasn’t satisfied, calling the overall performance “subpar” and noting the modest rushing total of 168 yards.

“We were trying to stop the run,” Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz said. “... When you do that you’re susceptible to the passing yards.”

Daniels opened the season as Georgia’s starter before missing more than a month with a lat injury. He came off the sideline midway through the third quarter. His 7-yard scoring pass to Ladd McConkey gave Georgia a 40-3 lead.

“We’re blessed to have two quarterbacks who can go out there and both play at a high level,” McConkey said.

Daniels’ second possession ended with an interception.

Missouri fell to 4-5, 1-4.

Cowboys dominate: Spencer Sanders threw two touchdown passes, No. 11 Oklahoma State had eight sacks and the Cowboys beat host West Virginia 24-3 on Saturday.

Oklahoma State (8-1, 5-1 Big 12) has won seven straight over the Mountaineers (4-5, 2-4).

The Cowboys pushed around West Virginia’s offensive line all game. Devin Harper and Brock Martin had two sacks apiece for the Cowboys.

West Virginia, which compiled 492 total yards in a win over Iowa State last week, was limited to 133 total yards Saturday, including 17 yards on the ground against the Big 12’s top rushing defense.

Both of Sanders’ TD passes went to Tay Martin.

Sanders finished 21 of 31 for 182 yards. He threw one interception.

Ole Miss gives Freeze cold shoulder: Matt Corral threw for 324 yards and a touchdown to lead No. 16 Mississippi beat former coach Hugh Freeze with a 27-14 victory over visiting Liberty.

Corral completed 20 of 27 passes, including six completions of 20-plus yards.

The Rebels (7-2) raced to a 24-0 halftime lead, highlighted by a 70-yard touchdown run by Jerrion Ealy on the game’s second play.

Freeze coached the Rebels from 20122016 to considerable success, including two victories over Alabama, before being forced to resign amid scandal.

Ole Miss officials apologized for since-deleted tweets from the team’s official Twitter account that mocked Freeze.

Badgers roll, win 5th straight: Graham Mertz threw a season-high three touchdown passes and No. 21 Wisconsin won its fifth straight game and become bowl eligible for the 20th straight year with a 52-3 road victory over Rutgers.

Chez Mellusi, Braelon Allen and Jackson Acker each ran for a touchdown and cornerback Caesar Williams highlighted a dominant performance by the Badgers’ top-ranked defense by returning an interception 29 yards for a TD.

Wisconsin had its biggest point production since scoring 61 against Central Michigan early in 2019.

Coupled with No. 20 Minnesota’s loss to Illinois, Wisconsin (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) will have a share of first place in the league’s West Division after opening the season 1-3, its worst since 1990.

Rutgers (4-5, 1-5) lost for the fifth time in six games.

Top recruit chooses A&M: Texas A&M got a commitment Saturday from defensive tackle Walter Nolen, ESPN’s No. 1-ranked prospect in the 2022 class.

The 6-foot-4, 325-pound Nolen, who’s from Powell, Tennessee, chose the Aggies over Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and Michigan. He’s the first No. 1 commit for coach Jimbo Fisher and his staff since joining Texas A&M.