For Dawgs, no doubt in rout
Stetson Bennett and the Georgia defense picked up where they left off in last year’s national championship game, even with a bunch of their former teammates now playing in the NFL.
Bennett threw for 368 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, a revamped defense didn’t miss a beat, and the No. 3 Bulldogs looked very much like a champion intent on repeating with a 49-3 rout of No. 11 Oregon on Saturday in Atlanta.
Bennett completed 25 of 31 passes with two touchdowns and ran for another score in the season opener before calling it a day in the third quarter. By that point, Georgia led 42-3 and had thoroughly ruined the debut of Oregon coach Dan Lanning, who spent the last three years as Georgia’s codefensive coordinator.
Georgia really opened it up on offense, throwing 37 times for 439 yards.
“I think when you watch what they did today, if you’re watching from home, you’re saying, ‘Man, I’d love to come play in that offense,’ ” coach Kirby Smart said.
Bennett guided the Bulldogs to the end zone on all six possessions he played. He ran for a oneyard score and tossed touchdown passes of four yards to Ladd McConkey — spinning away from a pass rusher who appeared to have him corralled — and 18 yards to Adonai Mitchell.
Florida 29, Utah 26
Quarterback Anthony Richardson ran for three scores in his second career start, including a twoyard scamper with 1:25 remaining, to lead the host Gators to the upset of the No. 7 Utes.
Fifth-year linebacker Amari Burney sealed the victory when he intercepted Cam Rising’s seconddown pass into the end zone with 17 seconds remaining.
“Someone had to make a play, It happened to be me,” Burney said.
Richardson ran 11 times for 106 yards and was never stopped for a loss. He completed 17 of 24 passes for 168 yards and played turnoverfree football.
Arkansas 31, Cincinnati 24
KJ Jefferson threw for 223 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another 62 yards and another score to lead the No. 19 Razorbacks past the No. 23 Bearcats.
Jefferson ran for the first touchdown of the game in the first quarter, threw a jump-pass touchdown to Trey Knox in the second and found Jadon Haselwood for another score in the third. Cincinnati was held scoreless in the first half despite four of its seven drives reaching Arkansas territory.
Alabama 55, Utah State 0
Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young passed for five first-half touchdowns and even ran for 100 yards to lead the No. 1 Crimson Tide. He completed 18 of 28 passes for 195 yards before exiting one drive into the second half following his touchdown run.
USC 66, Rice 14
Caleb Williams passed for 249 yards, rushed for 68 more and hit Jordan Addison for two touchdowns in coach Lincoln Riley’s debut for the No. 14 Trojans.
North Carolina 63, Appalachian State 61
Redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Maye threw for 352 yards and combining for five touchdowns to lift the visiting Tar Heels, who surrendered 40 points in a wild fourth quarter. Mountaineers quarterback Chase Brice threw for 376 yards and a schoolrecord six touchdowns — four of those in the fourth quarter.