Month: August 2024

Georgia running back Nate Frazier (3) scores a touchdown during the second half of the NCAA Aflac Kickoff Game against Clemson in Atlanta, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024.

Top 25 roundup: No. 1 Georgia crushes No. 14 Clemson

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Carson Beck completed 23 of 33 passes for 278 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs steamrolled the No. 14 Clemson Tigers 34-3 in Atlanta.

Georgia outscored Clemson 28-3 in the second half, extending its regular-season winning streak to 40 games. Nate Frazier added 83 rushing yards and a score for the Bulldogs, who won their third straight in the series.

Clemson was outgained 447-188, as junior quarterback Cade Klubnik was 18-for-29 for 142 yards. He also threw an interception to Malaki Starks.

Georgia outgained Clemson 160-76 in the first half, with the Bulldogs gaining 126 through the air and the Tigers 54. The Clemson offense managed just two first downs in the opening half to Georgia’s eight.

The 31-point loss was the Tigers’ largest defeat since a 51-14 loss to Florida State in 2013. Georgia now leads the all-time series 44-18-4.

No. 8 Penn State 34, West Virginia 12

Drew Allar threw for three second-quarter touchdowns and 216 yards as the Nittany Lions drilled the host Mountaineers.

Harrison Wallace caught two scores in the second period, while Kaytron Allen caught one. Allar was 11 of 17 for Penn State, which outgained West Virginia 457-246. Nicholas Singleton ran for a 40-yard score and finished with 114 yards on the ground for the Nittany Lions.

Garrett Greene hit on 15 of 28 attempts for 161 yards for the Mountaineers, who gained only 85 yards on 37 rushes and made just 4 of 14 third downs.

No. 15 Tennessee 69, Chattanooga 3

Redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava threw for three first-half touchdowns and running back Dylan Sampson reached the end zone three times before halftime as the Volunteers crushed the visiting Mocs.

Dont’e Thornton Jr. made two of the early touchdown catches, with Tennessee scoring on its first seven possessions.

Iamaleava finished 22-for-28 for 314 passing yards — all in the first half. For the game, 14 different Volunteers made at least one reception.

No. 17 Oklahoma State 44, South Dakota State 20

Ollie Gordon II ran for two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass as the host Cowboys ended the Jackrabbits’ 29-game winning streak.

Gordon, last season’s Doak Walker Award winner, totaled 104 rushing yards on 27 carries and added four receptions for 42 yards. Alan Bowman threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 25 of 34 passes, including 13 consecutive at one point.

Mark Gronowski, last season’s Walter Payton Award winner as the top player in the FCS, threw for 264 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for South Dakota State, which has won back-to-back FCS championships.

No. 25 Iowa 40, Illinois State 0

Leading 6-0 at halftime, the Hawkeyes opened the second half with a score and dominated the rest of the way in Iowa City, Iowa.

Hawkeyes QB Cade McNamara completed 13 of 14 passes for 177 yards and three scores in the second half and was 21-of-31 passing for 251 yards in his first appearance since tearing the ACL in his left knee against Michigan State on Sept. 30, 2023.

The Redbirds were outgained 492 total yards to 189 as Iowa assistant head coach Seth Wallace served as Iowa’s interim coach in place of suspended Kirk Ferentz.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) throws against the Akron Zips during the second quarter at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2 Ohio State stomps in-state rival Akron

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Freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith caught two of Will Howard’s three touchdown passes as No. 2 Ohio State stampeded visiting Akron 52-6 on Saturday in the season opener in Columbus.

Smith, the nation’s top recruit in the Class of 2024, dropped the first ball thrown to him but had scores of 16 and 9 yards in the first half to help the Buckeyes to a 17-3 lead at the break.

Howard, a Kansas State transfer in his Ohio State debut, was shaky, missing on his first four passes and completing only 10 of 21 for 116 yards through two quarters. He finished the game 17 of 28 for 228 yards.

Akron, a 48 1/2-point underdog, took a 3-0 lead at the 8:44 mark of the first quarter on a 48-yard field goal by Garrison Smith.

The Zips did little throughout the remainder of the half, finishing with 83 total yards, including minus-2 rushing.

The Buckeyes took control when Howard engineered a 75-yard drive capped with his scoring pass to Smith, who contorted to make the 16-yard grab along the left sideline.

After a field goal following a Denzel Burke interception, Howard found Smith on a slant for a 17-3 lead late in the second quarter.

Smith, a possible heir apparent to Marvin Harrison Jr., the No. 4 pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2024 NFL Draft, finished with six receptions for 92 yards.

Smith made a 45-yard catch to set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Quinshon Judkins to make it 24-3 midway through the third quarter. The Buckeyes went up 31-3 on Lathan Ransom’s 27-yard scoop-and-score 18 seconds later.

Howard’s third touchdown pass went for 34 yards to Carnell Tate with 10:16 to play for a 45-6 lead.

Akron quarterback Tahj Bullock was 9 for 13 for 68 yards and rushed for 42 yards in relief of starter Ben Finley, who was 8-for-14 for 53 yards with an interception.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes running back Damien Martinez (6) makes a catch against Florida Gators linebacker Grayson Howard (10) during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports

Cam Ward (3 TDs), No. 19 Miami dominate rival Florida

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Cam Ward threw for 385 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 19 Miami to a convincing 41-17 victory over host Florida on Saturday afternoon in Gainesville, Fla.

In the season opener for both teams, Ward completed 26 of 35 passes and threw only one interception in his first start for the Hurricanes since transferring from Washington State.

Miami beat Florida in Gainesville for the first time since 2002 and for the first time overall since 2013.

The loss snapped the Gators’ 34-game winning streak in home openers, and the Hurricanes’ 41 points were the most allowed by the Gators in a home opener.

Miami never trailed and built a 38-10 lead with 6:08 left in the third quarter. Ward escaped the Gators’ pass rush, rolled to his left and then made an impressive throw across his body for a 23-yard touchdown pass to Jacolby George in the back of the end zone to give the Hurricanes a 28-point lead.

Xavier Restrepo was Ward’s top target as he finished with seven catches for 112 yards and a touchdown.

Florida’s lone hope to make it a game came with 2:25 left in the first quarter when Shemar James picked off Ward at Miami’s 33-yard line. But the Hurricanes’ defense, which finished with three sacks, held the Gators to a Trey Smack 41-yard field goal.

Florida’s only big play came on a 71-yard TD sweep by Montrell Johnson Jr., which cut Miami’s lead to 17-10. But the Hurricanes answered with a 24-yard scoring pass from Ward to Restrepo with 45 seconds left in the half.

The Hurricanes amassed 529 yards of total offense, including 144 yards on the ground, as Miami showed off its offensive balance.

Damien Martinez led all Miami rushers with 65 yards on 15 carries, and Mark Fletcher Jr., who returned after recovering from a Lisfranc injury in the offseason, scored two touchdowns and finished with 23 yards on seven attempts.

Things got worse for Florida later in the quarter when Graham Mertz was injured after throwing an interception with 24 seconds remaining in the third. Mertz was hit as he threw and remained on the ground for a few moments. Mertz, who went 11-for-20 passing for 91 yards, no touchdowns and the lone interception, did not return.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange tight end Oronde Gadsden II (19) runs the ball after a catch into the end zone for a touchdown against Ohio Bobcats safety Adonis Williams Jr. (5) during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

QB Kyle McCord shines in Syracuse debut for win over Ohio

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Kyle McCord threw for 354 yards and four touchdowns in his Syracuse debut, guiding the host Orange to a 38-22 victory over Ohio on Saturday.

McCord, a highly regarded transfer from Ohio State, completed 27 of 39 passes, including seven to Oronde Gadsden II (108 yards, one TD) and six to Trebor Pena (78 yards, two TDs). Pena added a rushing touchdown, while LeQuint Allen collected 122 total yards and a score for the Orange (1-0) in their first game under coach Fran Brown.

Ohio’s Parker Navarro went 18 of 30 for 181 yards with an interception. The top offensive weapon for the Bobcats (0-1) was Anthony Tyus III, who rushed 16 times for 203 yards and two scores.

The Orange managed just nine yards in the first quarter and trailed 6-0 at the conclusion of the period after Gianni Spetic kicked field goals of 43 and 37 yards for the visitors.

The tide shifted in the second quarter, as Syracuse racked up 220 yards and outscored the visitors 17-3 en route to an eight-point lead at intermission.

McCord opened the second quarter with a 28-yard scoring pass to Gadsden, who got open down the left sideline for the game’s first touchdown. Brady Denaburg then boosted the lead to 10-6 with a 26-yard field goal.

Spetic kicked another field goal with 49 seconds left in the second quarter, but Syracuse responded in the waning moments of the half with McCord’s 20-yard TD pass to Pena along the left side of the end zone

Tyus’ 13-yard TD run early in the third quarter kept the Bobcats close, but the Orange scored the next three touchdowns to take control of the contest.

McCord threw TD passes of 5 yards to Allen and 14 yards to Pena to make it 31-16. Pena added a 1-yard TD rush early in the fourth to create a 38-16 cushion.

Tyus’ 46-yard scoring burst capped the scoring with 12:22 remaining.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers running back Ty Son Lawton (17) runs for a touchdown against Florida International Panthers defensive back Hezekiah Masses (12) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana cruises past FIU in coach Curt Cignetti’s debut

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Ty Son Lawton rushed for a pair of touchdowns as Indiana beat Florida International 31-7 in Bloomington, Ind., on Saturday afternoon in the season opener for both teams.

It marked the Hoosiers’ first victory under first-year coach Curt Cignetti, who was debuting with his new team after spending the previous five seasons at James Madison. The Dukes went 52-9 with Cignetti at the helm.

Lawton went for 74 yards on 16 carries to complement an efficient performance from Ohio transfer Kurtis Rourke. Rourke completed 15 of 24 passes for 180 yards and a TD.

Elijah Green finished with 82 yards and a TD on just five touches for Indiana, which outgained the Panthers 414-182.

Keyone Jenkins threw for 129 yards and a score on 20-of-29 passing as Florida International lost for the fourth time in four all-time meetings with the Hoosiers. Jenkins was picked off once.

Indiana put together a monster drive in the second quarter, eating 8:05 of clock by going 93 yards in 16 plays. Lawton punctuated the march with a 2-yard scamper to the end zone, giving the Hoosiers a 21-0 cushion.

FIU answered with its first sustained drive, finally getting on the board when Jenkins connected with Rocky Beers for a 7-yard TD with 48 seconds left in the first half.

A 35-yard field goal from Nicolas Radicic pushed Indiana’s lead to 24-7 with 5:55 to play in the third quarter.

The Panthers’ comeback hopes officially died when the Hoosiers stopped Florida International on fourth-and-19 with 5:26 left in the game.

Green closed the scoring by bursting up the middle for a 51-yard TD with 1:06 remaining.

Rourke opened the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Zach Horton with 9:14 left in the first quarter.

The Hoosiers went up 14-0 with 1:23 remaining in the frame, as Lawton rushed for a 13-yard score to cap a nine-play, 76-yard drive.

Indiana racked up 23 first downs to FIU’s 13.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; The Colorado State Rams take the field before a game against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Meullion-USA TODAY Sports

Quinn Ewers (3 TDs), No. 4 Texas clobber Colorado State 52-0

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Quinn Ewers threw three touchdown passes as No. 4 Texas needed a quarter to get its high-octane offense warmed up in a 52-0 win against Colorado State on Saturday in Austin, Texas, in the season opener for both teams.

In just over three quarters, Ewers was 20-for-27 passing for 260 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. The Texas’ offense compiled 545 total yards while the defense held Colorado State to 192 total yards and 11 first downs. It was the first season-opening shutout for Texas since 2004 and the first time the Rams have been shut out in 11 years.

After a punt on their first possession, the Longhorns scored on seven of their next eight drives. It started with a 3-yard touchdown run by Quintrevion Wisner that capped a four play, 64-yard drive at 9:36 in the first quarter to give Texas a 7-0 lead.

On the Longhorns’ next possession, as Ewers escaped the pocket, his pass was tipped by Rams defensive lineman James Mitchell and intercepted by Chase Wilson with 19 seconds left in the first quarter.

Texas’ defense forced another punt. Rams punter Paddy Turned bobbled the snap, decided to run and was stopped short of the first down. Texas took over on the Rams’ 31-yard line and settled for a Bert Auburn 45-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead.

Colorado State would go three-and-out which led to a seven-play, 70-yard Texas scoring drive where Ewers hit on all four of his passes and tossed a 1-yard score to Matthew Golden to make it 17-0.

Jahdee Barron intercepted a pass from Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and returned it 30 yards to set up a 7-yard touchdown pass from Ewers to Isaiah Bond for a 24-0 Texas lead. The Longhorns scored once more before the half ended as Ewers hit Golden for an 11-yard score and Texas went up 31-0 at the break.

On its first second-half possession, Texas scored on a 5-yard run by Jerrick Gibson and the afternoon was over for Ewers. Arch Manning entered in relief and his first pass was a 40-yard completion to Johntay Cook II.

Two plays later, Manning scrambled from the pocket and flipped a short pass to Silas Bolden, who dove into the end zone for a 5-yard score and a 45-0 Texas lead. Another Colorado State punt set Texas up with a short field, and Manning led an 11-play, 55-yard drive that he ended with a 1-yard QB sneak to give Texas a 52-0 lead with 10:10 left in the game.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats running back Cam Porter (1) runs against the Miami (Oh) Redhawks during the first half at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Northwestern holds off Miami (Ohio) in low-scoring affair

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Mike Wright passed for 178 yards and ran for 65 yards and a touchdown in his team debut to lift host Northwestern to a 13-6 season-opening win over Miami (Ohio) on Saturday in Evanston, Ill.

Northwestern regrouped from a sluggish start, driving 62 yards in eight plays on its first drive of the second half for the game’s lone touchdown.

Wright, a Mississippi State transfer, punctuated the possession with a 13-yard scoring run up the middle to put the Wildcats up 10-3 with 9:42 left in the third quarter. A 25-yard pass down the left side to Thomas Gordon set up the touchdown.

Miami made its only trip to the red zone on the day in the fourth quarter, capitalizing on a six-yard pass from Brett Gabbert to Cade McDonald and an ensuing roughing the passing penalty. The drive stalled inside the Wildcats’ 10 as the Redhawks settled for a 26-yard Dom Dzioban field goal with 7:28 remaining to draw Miami within the final margin.

Robert Fitzgerald sealed the victory when he intercepted Gabbert at the Northwestern 25 with 57 seconds to go.

Jack Olsen kicked field goals of 45 and 38 yards for the Wildcats, who outgained the Redhawks 328-267.

Gabbert was 22-for-37 for 227 yards and two interceptions. Jordan Brunson led the ground game with 33 yards on eight carries and McDonald had eight receptions for 105 yards.

Bryce Kirtz caught six passes for 91 yards for Northwestern while Cam Porter had 63 yards on 13 carries. Wright was 18-of-30 passing.

The schools traded field goals in an uneven first half.

Northwestern opened the scoring on a 45-yard Olsen field goal with 7:21 remaining in the first quarter. The Redhawks answered just under six minutes later on Dzioban’s 43-yarder.

Early turnovers hampered the Wildcats. After losing just one fumble during all of last season, Northwestern lost two – both by Wright – in the second quarter. Dzioban was short on a 50-yard field goal attempt after the first fumble.

The second occurred on a keeper at the Redhawks’ 1-yard line, one play after a nine-yard Porter run brought the Wildcats to the doorstep of the end zone.

Northwestern is playing home games in a temporary stadium on campus for the next two seasons as the university renovates the Wildcats’ longtime home, Ryan Field.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) passes the ball against North Dakota during the first quarter in the season opening game at Jack Trice Stadium on Aug. 31, 2024,  in Ames, Iowa

Rocco Becht, Iowa State handle North Dakota in season opener

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Rocco Becht passed for 267 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a score to lead Iowa State to a 21-3 victory over North Dakota in the season opener for both teams on Saturday at Ames, Iowa.

Jaylin Noel caught eight passes for 135 yards and one touchdown and Jayden Higgins had five catches for 75 yards and a scoring reception for the Cyclones. Becht completed 20 of 26 passes.

Simon Romfo was 17-of-30 passing for 121 yards and one interception for North Dakota, which is ranked 22nd in the FCS Coaches Poll. Bo Belquist caught six passes for 43 yards to raise his career total to 212 receptions, four shy of the school mark held by Greg Hardin (2010-13).

The Cyclones outgained the Fighting Hawks 353 to 295, but North Dakota State possessed the ball (37:51) for nearly 16 minutes longer.

Iowa State moved 75 yards on two plays at the outset of the game to grab the early lead. Becht hit Noel for 54 yards on the first play and followed up with a 21-yard scoring pass to Higgins.

North Dakota threatened to tie the score with a 23-play, 88-yard drive that took 12 minutes, 24 seconds. But the possession that started with 24 seconds left in the first quarter eventually stalled at the Iowa State 9-yard line and C.J. Elrichs kicked a 26-yard field goal with three minutes left in the first half.

The Cyclones responded with a much quicker drive and Noel caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Becht with 48 seconds left in the half.

North Dakota possessed the ball for 22:29 of the half but trailed 14-3 at intermission.

Iowa State added to its lead when Becht scored on a 2-yard keeper with 12:33 left in the contest.

The Fighting Hawks reached the Cyclones’ 11 in the middle of the fourth quarter but came up empty when Elrichs missed a 33-yard field goal with 7:04 left.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) reacts with Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Tyrin Smith (4) after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter of the College Football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Towson Tigers at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024.

Brendan Sorsby (4 total TDs), Cincinnati knock off Towson

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Brendan Sorsby finished 22-of-31 passing for 383 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two scores to lead host Cincinnati over FCS Towson 38-20 on Saturday in the season opener for both teams.

Cincinnati (1-0) amassed 658 total yards in winning its 23rd straight home opener. Towson (0-1) held its own with 425 yards in the first meeting between the schools.

Xzavier Henderson caught seven passes for 101 yards and a touchdown while Evan Pryor broke off a 64-yard TD run and finished with 105 yards on just four carries.

Towson’s Carlos Davis completed 20-of-36 passes for 231 passes and two touchdowns.

In his first game since transferring from Indiana, Sorsby started out on fire. He completed 8-of-9 passes for 200 yards and two TDs in the opening quarter, guiding the Bearcats to a 21-3 lead.

After opening the scoring on a 2-yard QB keeper, Sorsby threw perfect, deep scoring strikes of 42 yards to Henderson and 61 yards to Sterling Berkhalter.

But Towson (0-1), which plays in the FCS Coastal Athletic Association, bounced back behind Davis. The senior connected on TD passes of 76 yards to Jaceon Doss and 28 yards to John Dunmore in the second quarter.

Towson trailed 28-17 at the half and could’ve been closer but Cincinnati’s defense, led by new coordinator Tyson Veidt, stopped the Tigers on back-to-back tries from the Bearcats’ 2 to start the second quarter.

Towson made it a one-score game at 28-20 when it took the opening drive of the second half and marched 59 yards, thanks in part to errors by the Bearcats.

Cameron Roetherford took a roughing-the-passer penalty away from the play on third-and-13 from the Towson 22, extending the drive. Keegan Vaughn’s 33-yard field goal made it 28-20.

But on the next play from scrimmage, Pryor ran off the right side and broke free for a 64-yard touchdown to put Cincinnati up 35-20.

The Bearcats looked poised to add to a 38-20 lead, but Victor Dawson ended his 47-yard run down to the Towson 17 by losing a fumble to open the fourth quarter.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers running back CJ Donaldson Jr. (4) runs the ball during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Drew Allar, No. 8 Penn State have little trouble dispatching West Virginia

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Drew Allar threw for three second quarter touchdowns and 216 yards Saturday as No. 8 Penn State opened its season with a 34-12 road drilling of West Virginia in Morgantown.

Allar was 11 of 17 for the Nittany Lions, which shrugged off a slow start to outgain the Mountaineers 457-246. Not even a storm delay of more than two hours, which resulted in some flooding at Mountaineer Field during an extended halftime, could help the home team.

Garrett Greene hit on 15 of 28 attempts for 161 yards for West Virginia, which struggled to run the ball and convert on third down. The Mountaineers gained only 85 yards on 37 rushes and made just 4 of 14 third downs.

After a scoreless first quarter that saw Penn State possess the ball for less than five minutes, Allar cranked up his arm. He hooked up with Harrison Wallace on passes of 18 and 14 yards before their 50-yard scoring connection on the first play of the second period.

Allar made it 13-0 just over five minutes later, completing a 71-yard drive with a short pass to Kaytron Allen that the running back turned into a 20-yard touchdown. West Virginia pulled within 13-6 on field goals of 38 and 39 yards by Michael Hayes.

However, the Mountaineers’ momentum was blunted when Allar followed a 55-yard strike to Omari Evans by hitting Wallace with an 18-yard score with six seconds remaining in the half for a two-touchdown advantage at the break.

The Nittany Lions made it 27-6 on the first drive of the second half as Nicholas Singleton broke a 40-yard run for six points, the highlight of his 114-yard game.

West Virginia got into the end zone with 12:49 left in the game on a 1-yard run by CJ Donaldson. But backup quarterback Beau Pribula capped the Penn State scoring with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Warren with nine minutes remaining.

Wallace collected 117 yards on five receptions.

–Field Level Media