BULLDOGS RIP GATORS AS MCELWAIN RUMORS FLY
FLA.» Sony Michel slipped JACKSONVILLE, through the line untouched, sprinted past several defenders and then spun into the end zone.
The rout was on, and the losing streak was essentially over.
Michel put third-ranked Georgia up big early and put Florida away late, scoring on two long runs in a 42-7 drubbing Saturday that might have been the final game for Gators coach Jim Mcelwain. It was Florida’s most lopsided loss in the series since a 44-0 shutout in 1982.
Nick Chubb also scored for Georgia (8-0, 5-0 SEC), which started 8-0 for the first time since 2002 and ended a three-game losing streak in “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.”
“I haven’t been told anything,” said Mcelwain, who is now 22-12 in three seasons. “There have been no conversations about that . ... Nothing in this world surprises me. I know what I was brought here to do. Look, we haven’t been good on offense. I get it. We’ve won a few games, but we haven’t won enough, haven’t won a championship. That’s real. That’s life. And I take full responsibility for all of it, no doubt.”
Florida (3-4, 3-3) started the day by responding to a tweet from a sports lawyer who said Florida and Mcelwain’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, have engaged in buyout negotiations and are “miles apart.” Athletic director Scott Stricklin released a statement several hours before the game saying the report was inaccurate.
Mcelwain was told about it during a team breakfast. “Those eggs didn’t taste real good,” he said.
Mcelwain created a firestorm Monday when he said Florida players and families received death threats amid the team’s struggles. In the Big Ten. Alec Ingold and Garrett Groshek scored on short runs in the first half, offensive lineman Michael Deiter added another touchdown on a trick play late in the game, and No. 5 Wisconsin (8-0, 5-0) beat Illinois (2-6, 0-5) 24-10. Star running back Jonathan Taylor had 73 yards, but missed the second half with a left leg injury. The freshman entered the game averaging 158.6 yards rushing.
• Clayton Thorson threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Flynn Nagel in the third overtime, Nate Hall intercepted Brian Lewerke and Northwestern (5-3, 3-2) beat No. 16 Michigan State (6-2, 4-1) 39-31.
In the ACC. Kelly Bryant passed for 207 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 67 yards as No. 7 Clemson (7-1, 5-1) defeated Georgia Tech (4-3, 3-2) 24-10.
• Malik Rosier threw for a career-high 356
In the Pac-12. Myles Gaskin led Washington’s running onslaught with 169 yards and one touchdown, Lavon Coleman added 94 yards and three touchdown runs and the 12th-ranked Huskies (7-1, 4-1) routed UCLA (4-4, 2-3) 44-23.
• Receiver Charles Nelson got tripped up on a reverse but regained his footing to make a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Breeland and Oregon (5-4, 2-4) went on to beat Utah (4-4, 1-4) 41-20.
In the American Athletic. D’eriq King kept Houston’s hopes alive with a 30-yard completion on fourth-and-24, then finished a game-winning drive with a 20-yard touchdown run with 11 seconds remaining, lifting the Cougars (5-3, 3-2) over No. 17 South Florida (7-1, 4-1) 28-24. — The Associated Press