GAINESVILLE, Fla. – With Hurricane Jeanne approaching, Florida squeezed in its game against Kentucky and beat the Wildcats 20-3 Saturday behind Ciatrick Fason’s career-high 210 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Kickoff was moved up 61/2 hours to 11:30 a.m. EDT because of the growing storm, which bore down on the state’s Atlantic coast with winds near 115 mph. Three million people were told to evacuate.
It didn’t keep the fans away from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, better known as The Swamp. The announced attendance was 89,741. Proceeds from concession sales from the game were to go toward relief funds for the victims of the three hurricanes that have already hit Florida this season.
No. 6 West Virginia 45, James Madison 10
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Rasheed Marshall threw two touchdown passes to Chris Henry to lead No. 6 West Virginia to a 45-10 victory over Division I-AA James Madison on Saturday.
West Virginia’s defense scored one touchdown and set up another as the Mountaineers (4-0) remained unbeaten heading into a showdown next week at former Big East rival Virginia Tech.
No. 8 Florida St. 41, Clemson 22
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Wyatt Sexton threw for 162 yards and a touchdown after replacing an injured Chris Rix, and No. 8 Florida State forced five turnovers in a 41-22 victory over Clemson on Saturday.
Rix sprained his right ankle late in the first quarter and was able to return, but spent the rest of the game on the sideline watching Sexton direct the offense.
No. 9 Auburn 33, The Citadel 3
AUBURN, Ala. – Jason Campbell passed for 194 yards in the first half and No. 9 Auburn beat The Citadel 33-3 Saturday, coasting in its sandwich game between a pair of high-stakes contests.
The Tigers (4-0) had no problem overcoming a few sloppy plays against the Division I-AA Bulldogs (0-2) in a workmanlike tuneup for next week’s showdown at No. 11 Tennessee. They have a six-game winning streak for the first time since opening the 1997 season 6-0 and only missed their second shutout of the season on a field goal in the fourth quarter.
Auburn outgained The Citadel 593-169 in total yards, allowing just 71 yards passing and eight first downs. Most fans left by the fourth quarter.
No. 12 Virginia 31, Syracuse 10
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Marques Hagans had 283 total yards with two touchdown runs and a TD pass to lead No. 12 Virginia to a 31-10 victory over Syracuse on Saturday.
Wali Lundy added a 27-yard run for his 10th touchdown of the season for the Cavaliers (4-0).
The Orange (2-2), 51-0 losers to Purdue in their season-opener, drove 68 yards for a field goal on their opening possession, then managed just 41 more yards on four possessions and trailed 21-3 at halftime.
No. 13 LSU 51, Mississippi State 0
BATON ROUGE, La. – Alley Broussard ran for a career-high three touchdowns in the first 17 minutes and No. 13 LSU held Mississippi State to seven first downs and 130 yards in a 51-0 victory Saturday.
Playing in a rare morning game, the Tigers rolled up 594 yards and led 34-0 at half.
No. 14 Utah 49, Air Force 35
SALT LAKE CITY – Marty Johnson tied a school record with four rushing touchdowns and No. 14 Utah held off Air Force 49-35 Saturday, giving the Utes their best start in 10 years.
Johnson, who had 21 carries for 72 yards, became the fourth Utah player to score four TDs and Alex Smith added a rushing score and passed for two more. Smith completed 13 of 23 passes for 260 yards and had 13 carries for 84 yards.
No. 15 Purdue 38, Illinois 30
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – When Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton called an audible on third-and-8, receiver Taylor Stubblefield had a better idea. He yelled at Orton, who got the message and found Stubblefield on a down-and-out for a 34-yard touchdown.
The play gave the Boilermakers a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter and they held on to beat Illinois 38-30 on Saturday.
No. 18 Michigan 30, Iowa 17
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Braylon Edwards caught six passes for 150 yards and a touchdown and No. 18 Michigan turned four turnovers into 27 points in a 30-17 win over Iowa on Saturday.
The Wolverines (3-1, 1-0) won their 23rd consecutive Big Ten opener. They have won 12 straight at home since Iowa handed them their worst loss at Michigan Stadium since 1967.
No. 20 Wisconsin 16, Penn State 3
MADISON, Wis. – Matt Bernstein bailed the Wisconsin Badgers out of trouble. The 264-pound fullback bullied his way to a career-best 123 yards after replacing an ineffective and injured Booker Stanley to help No. 20 Wisconsin hold off Penn State 16-3 Saturday night.
No. 23 Maryland 55, Duke 21
DURHAM, N.C. – Joel Statham threw four touchdown passes to offset a host of mistakes Saturday, and No. 23 Maryland piled up 685 yards in total offense to beat winless Duke 55-21.
For the second straight game, Statham was intercepted three times, and he also was charged with three fumbles. That gives him seven interceptions and eight fumbles in four games for the Terrapins (3-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who bounced back from an overtime loss to West Virginia last week.
No. 24 Louisville 34, North Carolina 0
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Eric Shelton ran for three touchdowns and No. 24 Louisville earned its second shutout of the season with a 34-0 victory over North Carolina on Saturday.
Shelton rushed for 86 yards to lead the Cardinals, who improved to 3-0 for the second straight season under coach Bobby Petrino. Brian Brohm added a touchdown run and Michael Bush ran for 82 yards.
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