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Clemson, S.C. • Deshaun Watson threw three early touchdown passes in Clemson's 59-0 rout of South Carolina State in the game that both coaches decided to shorten.
The game was such a mismatch that the Tigers (3-0) scored two touchdowns in the first quarter with no time running off the clock. An NCAA rule allows for games to be shortened by time if the coaches agree.
Clemson led 45-0 at the half against the FCS Bulldogs (0-3), and the third- and fourth quarters were 12 minutes each instead of the usual 15 minutes.
Watson completed 12 of 15 passes for 152 yards.
No. 9 Wisconsin 23, Georgia State 17 • In Madison, Wis., backup quarterback Alex Hornibrook led Wisconsin on three scoring drives in the second half, helping the sluggish Badgers beat Georgia State.
Hornibrook took over for Bart Houston late in the third quarter with Wisconsin (3-0) stuck in an offensive malaise. The freshman finished 8 of 12 for 122 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Penniston with 7:25 left to give the Badgers the lead for good, 20-17.
Conner Manning threw for a career-high 269 yards and a score for Georgia State (0-3).
No. 12 Michigan St. 36, No. 18 Notre Dame 28 • In South Bend, Ind., Tyler O'Connor threw for two touchdowns, Gerald Holmes ran for two more, including a 73-yard score, and Michigan State beat Notre Dame.
The Spartans (2-0) turned what had been a close game at halftime into a 29-point lead with three third-quarter touchdowns. Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer threw for two touchdowns and ran for another and the Irish (1-2) cut the lead to 36-28 with 6:02 left on a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Durham Smythe.
On Notre Dame's next possession, Kizer was sacked for a 5-yard loss by Raequan Williams on third-and-2 and Notre Dame punted with 3:37 left in the game and the Spartans ran out the clock.
O'Connor, a fifth-year senior making his third career start, was 19 of 26 passing for 241 yards and one interception on a deflected pass. Kizer threw for a career-high 344 yards, completing 20 of 37 passes.
No. 15 Tennessee 28, Ohio 19 • In Knoxville, Tenn., Joshua Dobbs threw two 20-yard touchdown passes to Josh Malone and ran for a third score and Tennessee overcame injuries and a suspension to hold off Ohio.
Tennessee (3-0) played without four starters — three were injured and defensive back Malik Foreman was suspended for team rules violations. During the first half, the Volunteers lost two of team captains to injuries — cornerback Cam Sutton and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin.
Ohio is 1-2.
No. 16 Georgia 28, Missouri 27 • In Columbia, Mo., Jacob Eason threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah McKenzie on fourth down with 1:31 left as No. 16 Georgia rallied for a 28-27 victory over Missouri on Saturday night.
Eason, who split time with senior Greyson Lambert in the Bulldogs' first two games, made his first collegiate start and played every snap, completing 29 of 55 pass attempts for 308 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
McKenzie caught 10 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He also carried the ball twice for 19 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown run near the end of the first quarter.
The Bulldogs (3-0, 1-0 SEC) were 0 for 2 on field goal attempts. William Ham missed both chances to the left. They were set up by interceptions of Lock's passes.
The Tigers (1-2, 0-1) turned the ball over five times, including four in the second half. Drew Lock was 23 of 38 for 376 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
J'Mon Moore had eight catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns, including a 79-yard score to give the Tigers a 20-14 lead midway through the second quarter.
No. 17 Texas A&M 29, Auburn 16 • In Auburn, Ala., Trevor Knight passed for 247 yards and Daniel LaCamera kicked five field goals to lead Texas A&M past Auburn.
Knight also ran for 42 yards and several first downs in his first Southeastern Conference game for the Aggies (3-0, 1-0). Myles Garrett had two sacks and Texas A&M harassed quarterback Sean White enough to minimize big-play chances for Auburn (1-2, 0-1).
In a matchup of teams trying to defy modest preseason SEC West forecasts, Texas A&M kept that hope firmly intact with a 478-yard offensive performance. Trayveon Williams weaved through Auburn defenders for an icing-on-the-cake 89-yard touchdown run with 6:52 left and gained 127 yards on eight carries.
No. 20 LSU 23, Mississippi State 20 • In Baton Rouge, La., Leonard Fournette returned from a bruised left ankle in powerful form, rushing for 147 yards and two touchdowns, and LSU held off Mississippi State.
Danny Etling completed 19 of 30 passes for 215 yards in his first start for LSU (2-1, 1-0 Southeastern Conference), including a 37-yard touchdown strike to D.J. Chark. But the Tigers nearly squandered a comfortable lead, giving up two touchdowns 4:10 and 3:30 left, the second after the Bulldogs (1-2, 1-1) recovered an onside kick.
Fournette, who sat out last week's victory over Jacksonville State, exhibited his typical mix of hard-nosed and explosive gains. He ran over tacklers for his 5-yard TD and burst into open field for his 25-yard score. He also had four receptions for 27 yards, but his performance was somewhat tarnished by two fumbles, one of which was recovered by the Bulldogs and one of which resulted in a failed fourth-and-short play in MSU territory in the fourth quarter. And it was that turnover on downs that sparked the Bulldogs late rally with backup Damian Williams at quarterback.
Nebraska 35, No. 22 Oregon 32 • In Lincoln, Neb., Tommy Armstrong Jr. scored on a 34-yard quarterback draw with 2:29 left, and Nebraska held on Oregon's final series.
Armstrong converted a fourth-and-9r with a 14-yard pass to Jordan Westerkamp before taking off on his winning run for the Huskers (3-0).
The Ducks, playing without star running back Royce Freeman since early in the game, made it to midfield on their last possession, failing to convert on fourth down.
Armstrong finished with 95 yards rushing, and completed 17 of 33 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns. Devine Ozigbo also ran for 95 yards.
Kani Benoit rushed six times for 100 yards to lead the Ducks (2-1), and Dakota Prukop passed for 146 yards and ran for 87.
No. 23 Florida 32, North Texas 0 • In Gainesville, Fla., Florida quarterback Luke Del Rio injured his left knee against North Texas on Saturday night, a huge concern as the Gators prepare to play at No. 15 Tennessee next week.
The injury overshadowed a dominant performance by Florida's defense, which allowed a school-record 53 yards on 50 plays. The previous mark was 59 yards allowed against Western Carolina in 2006.
Defensive lineman Joshua Wheeler hit Del Rio low at the end of incomplete pass late in the third quarter, drawing a personal-foul penalty. Trainers and coach Jim McElwain rushed to the field as Del Rio ripped off his helmet. Del Rio eventually got up and walked to the locker room without any assistance.
But that was hardly the end of it for Florida (3-0). McElwain, who seemingly believed Wheeler's hit was dirty, started yelling at the North Texas (1-2) sideline and had to be restrained by officials and then players. Both teams responded by stepping onto the field and moving toward the hash marks.
No. 24 Arkansas 42, Texas State 3 • In Fayetteville, Ark., Austin Allen threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns in less than three quarters of action for Arkansas,
The Razorbacks (3-0) were coming off a double-overtime win at TCU.
Rawleigh Williams topped the 100-yard rushing mark for the second straight game for Arkansas, finishing with 121 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. The Razorbacks outgained the Bobcats (1-1) 350-26 in total yardage in the first half.
No. 25 Miami 45, Appalachian State 10 • In Boone, N.C., Brad Kaaya threw for 368 yards and three scores, Mark Walton ran for 130 yards and two touchdowns and Miami rolled past Appalachian State.
Miami (3-0) came in having scored a school-record 108 points in its first two games in wins over Florida A&M and Florida Atlantic. The Hurricanes picked up where they left off, scoring on their first four possessions to build a 24-0 lead.
Appalachian State is 1-2.