Clemson silences unbeaten Wolfpack
N.C. State no match for No. 3 Tigers; No. 1 Alabama has no trouble with Volunteers
Trevor Lawrence threw for a career-high 308 yards, Travis Etienne rushed for three touchdowns and No. 3 Clemson turned an expected Atlantic Coast Conference showdown with No. 16 North Carolina State into a 41-7 rout Saturday.
The Tigers (7-0, 4-0) opened with seven straight wins for the third time in four seasons in topping the Wolfpack (5-1, 2-1) for the seventh consecutive season.
It was the ACC's first matchup of undefeated teams this deep in a season since 2013, a game that also took place in Death Valley. But unlike five years ago when the 6-0 Tigers were pummeled by eventual national champ Florida State 51-14, it was Clemson who took control early and never gave the Wolfpack a chance to rally.
North Carolina State quarterback Ryan Finley came in leading the ACC at more than 324 yards passing a game. He managed just 156 yards passing with two interceptions and a fumble.
The Wolfpack avoided their first shutout in four years on Reggie Gallaspy's 9-yard TD run to start the fourth quarter. Still, it was their fewest points scored since that 41-0 loss to the Tigers in 2014.
The Wolfpack came in averaging 480 yards of offense a game, but were held to 297.
NO. ALABAMA 58, TENNESSEE 21: Tua Tagovailoa threw touchdown passes to four receivers and No. 1 Alabama started fast again in a victory over Tennessee.
Alabama had touchdowns on its first four possessions while outscoring Tennessee 28-0 and outgaining the Volunteers 217-6 in the opening period. Alabama has outscored opponents 165-31, and Tennessee has been outscored 69-16 in first quarters this season.
Tagovailoa went 19 of 29 for 306 yards before leaving midway through the third quarter with Alabama ahead 51-14. He took a big hit on his final play of the day, a 51-yard touchdown pass to Henry Ruggs III.
Earlier, Tagovailoa connected on touchdown passes to Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle and Irv Smith Jr. The Heisman Trophy contender has thrown 25 touchdown passes without an interception this season.
Alabama (8-0, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) beat Tennessee (3-4, 1-3) for the 12th straight year and had the highest points total either team has ever recorded in the 101-game history of the series. Alabama is scoring 54.1 points per game and entered the weekend leading all Football Bowl Subdivision teams in that category.
NO. 15 WASHINGTON 27, COLORADO 13: Jake Browning threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Fuller on fourth down with less than four minutes remaining.
Washington's four-year starting quarterback had an unremarkable game up until the Huskies (6-2, 4-1 Pac-12) needed a big play. Rather than trying for a long field goal, Browning and the Huskies' offense stayed on the field. Facing a Colorado blitz, Browning found Fuller on a quick slant with nothing but the end zone ahead.
Salvon Ahmed and Kamari Pleasant both scored on touchdown runs in the first half for the Huskies, who played without starting running back Myles Gaskin due to a shoulder injury. Washington's offense was far from its best but found enough running options in the backfield to control the game on the ground. The stable of Ahmed, Pleasant and Sean McGrew led the way for a run game that rushed for 201 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per rush.
TEMPLE 24, NO. 20 CINCINNATI 17, OT: Anthony Russo threw a tying 20-yard touchdown pass with 49 second left to Brandon Mack, and then a 25-yarder to Isaiah Wright in overtime for Temple.
Russo was 20 for 41 for 237 yards and three touchdowns for the Owls (5-3, 4-0 American). He led a seven-play, 75-yard drive in the closing minutes to tie it.
Cincinnati (6-1, 2-1) got a first down on its first play of overtime, but an errant snap behind quarterback Desmond Ridder left the Bearcats with second-and-21 and a personal foul pushed them even farther back. Ridder's pass was intercepted by by Shaun Bradley on third-and-36 to end the game.
NO. 18 PENN STATE 33, INDIANA 28: Trace McSorley passed for 220 yards, ran for 107 and had a hand in three touchdowns in Penn State's victory over Indiana.
Penn State (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) rallied to snap a two-game losing streak after Indiana (4-4, 1-4) took a 21-20 lead in the third quarter on Steve Scott's 3-yard touchdown run.
NO. 23 WISCONSIN 49, ILLINOIS 20: Jonathan Taylor rushed for 159 yards and Taiwan Deal ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns and Wisconsin took advantage of Illinois' five first-half turnovers. Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) has won nine straight against Illinois (3-4, 1-3). The Badgers had three interceptions and recovered two fumbles on the way to building a 28-10 halftime lead. Alex Hornibrook threw three touchdown passes and two interceptions.
ARMY 31, MIAMI-OHIO 30, OT: Reeling after a late charge by Miami of Ohio forced overtime, Army regrouped and won again at Michie Stadium. Darnell Woolfolk scored on a bruising 7-yard run up the middle in the second overtime, sophomore quarterback Cam Thomas rushed for 137 yards and one touchdown in his first career start, and Army survived to the delight of a sellout homecoming crowd. Army (5-2) remained unbeaten at home this season and extended its home winning streak to 10 games.
SYRACUSE 40, NORTH CAROLINA 37, 2OT: Syracuse's season hung in the balance. After two straight defeats in heartbreaking style, the Orange was perched on the precipice of another crushing loss after coughing up a 20-7 lead. But then redshirt freshman quarterback Tommy DeVito came to the rescue, leading the Orange (5-2, 2-2 ACC) to a thrilling double-overtime victory over North Carolina (1-5, 1-3).