Quarterback debate lives as Florida crushes USF
TAMPA, Fla. — No. 13 Florida tuned up for the start of Southeastern Conference play with a 42-20 rout of overmatched
South Florida that may — or may not — have answered the question of whether starter Emory Jones or backup Anthony Richardson is best suited to run the Gators offense.
The quarterbacks shared playing time for the second straight week, with each having his way in the opening half against a USF defense that allowed touchdowns on five consecutive possessions after producing a three-and-out to start the game.
Jones threw a 35-yard TD pass to Xzavier Henderson and scored on a 33-yard run on the way to a 35-3 halftime lead before a crowd of 66,646 at Raymond James Stadium.
The redshirt junior from LaGrange, Georgia, was not nearly as effective the rest of the way, though, tossing a pair of interceptions and turning the ball over on downs on four straight possessions to begin the second half.
Richardson, meanwhile, took an astounding passer rating of 917.2 into the fourth quarter after completing his first two attempts to Jacob Copeland on scoring plays of 75 and 41 yards before halftime.
NO. 6 CLEMSON 49 SOUTH CAROLINA ST. 3
D.J. Uiagalelei ran for two touchdowns and threw for a third as the Tigers cranked up their offense at home after a sorry showing in a loss to second-ranked Georgia a week earlier.
Uiagalelei and the Tigers (1-1) had touchdowns on all four of their first-quarter possessions.
NO. 22 MIAMI 25 APPALACHIAN ST. 23
D’Eriq King threw for 200 yards and rushed for 67 more, freshman Andy Borregales kicked a go-ahead 43-yard field goal with 2:04 remaining and the Hurricane rallied from a halftime deficit to beat the visiting Mountaineers.
NO. 8 NOTRE DAME 32 TOLEDO 29
Jack Coan hit Michael Mayer for an 18-yard touchdown pass with 1:09 remaining for the third lead change in a wild fourth quarter and the Fighting Irish held off the visiting Rockets.
The victory preserved a 25game home winning streak for Notre Dame (2-0, 1-0 independent).
NO. 18 WISCONSIN 34 EASTERN MICHIGAN 7
Chez Mellusi ran for 144 yards and a touchdown, leading the Badgers past the Eagles at home.
Wisconsin (1-1, 0-1 Big Ten) piled up 352 rushing yards.
NO. 24 NORTH CAROLINA 59 GEORGIA ST. 17
Sam Howell threw three touchdown passes and rushed for two more scores as the Tar Heels shook off the disappointment of a loss in its opener with a win over the visiting Panthers.
Howell played a role in four of the Tar Heels’ first six touchdowns. He completed 21 of 29 passes for 352 yards without an interception.
NO. 20 MISSISSIPPI 54 AUSTIN PEAY 17
Matt Corral threw for five touchdowns — four in the first half — as the Rebels routed FCS member Austin Peay at home.
NO. 25 AUBURN 62 ALABAMA ST. 0
Demetris Robertson scored three touchdowns and Jarquez Hunter rushed for 147 yards as the Tigers raced past the visiting Hornets.
After a fast start in Bryan Harsin’s first game as head coach last week, Auburn (2-0) was held to just one offensive touchdown and fewer than 200 yards in the first half.
NO. 11 PENN ST. 44 BALL ST. 13
Sean Clifford completed 21 of 29 passes for 230 yards, ran for a touchdown and threw for another as the Nittany Lions won at home in their sixth straight game dating to last season.
NO. 1 ALABAMA 48, MERCER 14
Bryce Young threw three touchdown passes and Jase McClellan scored three times to help fuel the Crimson Tide to a rout of the Bears at home.
NO. 2 GEORGIA 56, UAB 7
Stetson Bennett tied a school record with five touchdown passes filling in for injured starter JT Daniels, leading the Bulldogs to a rout of the visiting Blazers.
NO. 7 CINCINNATI 42 MURRAY ST. 7
Jerome Ford rushed for 113 yards and three touchdowns, Desmond Ridder passed for 243 yards and two TDs, and the Bearcats beat the visiting Racers.
NO. 19 VIRGINIA TECH 35 MIDDLE TENNESSEE 14
Raheem Blackshear rushed for two touchdowns to lead the Hokies to a victory over the Blue Raiders at home.
NO. 17 COASTAL CAROLINA 49 KANSAS 22
Reese White ran for 102 yards and three touchdowns, Grayson McCall threw for two scores and ran for a third and the Chanticleers beat the visiting Jayhawks for the third straight season.