No. 2 Georgia 14, South Carolina 7: At Columbia, S.C., Knowshon Moreno’s sliding 4-yard TD run in the third quarter lifted the Bulldogs over the Gamecocks.
Reshad Jones sealed the victory for the Bulldogs (3-0, 1-0 SEC), intercepting South Carolina’s Chris Smelley’s pass with 13 seconds left inside the Georgia 10.
The Bulldogs had all offseason to remember how last September’s 16-12 loss to South Carolina (1-2, 0-2) likely kept them from playing for the SEC and national titles.
For much of this one, it looked like the Gamecocks would do it again as the Bulldogs trailed 7-6 midway through the third quarter.
Georgia had already muffed a scoring chance near the goal line, settling for Blair Walsh’s 23-yard field goal after having a third-and-goal at the South Carolina 1.
Moreno, who finished with 79 yards on 20 carries, didn’t squander the Bulldogs’ next opportunity.
He ran left, then took a hard cut up the middle with his feet sliding out from under him. He steadied himself with his right hand, then slipped through for his seventh TD of the year.
Stafford converted the 2-point try on a pass to Kris Durham and Georgia led 14-7.
No. 6 Missouri 69, Nevada 17: At Columbia, Mo., Chase Daniel threw for 405 yards and four TDs and the Tigers (3-0) scored on their first 10 possessions in routing the Wolf Pack (1-2).
Daniel was 23-for-28 and led Missouri to seven TDs and a field goal before exiting in the third quarter.
The Tigers gained 651 total yards and averaged 10 yards per play. The 69 points tied a team record set against Kansas in 1969, and they’ve scored 173 points in three games.
Nevada lost a second straight game to a Big 12 opponent after falling to Texas Tech a week ago.
No. 7 LSU 41, North Texas 3: At Baton Rouge, La., Charles Scott ran for TDs of 39 and 43 yards and Trindon Holliday scored on a 92-yard punt return as the Tigers routed the Mean Green. The dominant victory came at a price. Starting linebacker Darry Beckwith left the game with an apparent right knee injury. Beckwith could not put any pressure on his injured leg as two trainers helped him to the sideline, where he was given crutches. LSU officials did not specify the extent of the injury.
No. 9 Auburn 3, Mississippi St. 2: At Starkville, Miss., Wes Byrum kicked a 36-yard field goal in the second quarter and that was all the Tigers (3-0, 1-0 SEC) needed to beat the Bulldogs (1-2, 0-1). The Tigers committed three turnovers, missed two field goals and handed the Bulldogs their only points with a safety. But Auburn allowed only 116 yards to Mississippi State, which scored with 7:05 to play the fourth quarter when Auburn offensive lineman Ryan Pugh was called for holding in the end zone.
No. 10 Wisconsin 13, No. 21 Fresno St. 10: At Fresno, Calif., P.J. Hill ran for 112 yards and Allan Evridge threw a TD pass before leaving with an injury to help the Badgers (3-0) beat the Bulldogs (1-1) in a very physical game.
No. 11 Alabama 41, Western Kentucky 7: At Tuscaloosa, Ala., John Parker Wilson passed for 215 yards and two TDs and freshman Mark Ingram ran for two scores, leading the Crimson Tide (3-0) over the Hilltoppers (1-2). Alabama rolled to 557 yards a week after getting held to 172 by Tulane to enter SEC play on a high note. Glen Coffee rushed for 97 yards on 11 carries before sitting out the second half. His career-long 51-yarder set up a TD. Freshman Julio Jones caught five passes for 66 yards, including a 12-yard TD.
No. 12 Texas Tech 43, SMU 7: At Lubbock, Texas, Graham Harrell threw for 418 yards and five TDs, three to Michael Crabtree, to help the Red Raiders (3-0) rout the Mustangs (1-2). Texas Tech safety Daniel Charbonnet had three interceptions to set a school record for a game.
No. 14 E. Carolina 28, Tulane 24: At New Orleans, the Pirates rallied for the victory over the Green Wave when Patrick Pinkney threw a 24-yard TD pass to Jamar Bryant with 1:41 to play. The Pirates (3-0, 1-0 Conference USA) vaulted into the national rankings and national spotlight by upsetting Virginia Tech and West Virginia in consecutive weeks, and almost had Tulane (0-2) pull the same trick on them.
No. 17 Penn State 55, Syracuse 13: At Syracuse, N.Y., Jordan Norwood and Deon Butler each caught a pair of TD passes in the first half and the Nittany Lions (3-0) humbled the Orange (0-3) in the first game between the old rivals in 18 years. The victory was the 375th for Penn State coach Joe Paterno.
No. 22 Utah 58, Utah State 10: At Logan, Utah, Matt Asiata ran for three TDs and Brian Johnson threw for two more as the Utes (3-0) defeated the Aggies (0-3) for the 11th consecutive time.
No. 24 Illinois 20, Louisiana-Lafayette 17: At Champaign, Ill., Daniel Dufrene had a career-high 126 yards rushing and Matt Eller’s late field goal helped the Illini (2-1) hold off the Ragin’ Cajuns (0-2).
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