Geno Smith threw three touchdown passes to Tavon Austin and No. 8 West Virginia outlasted Maryland, 31-21, on Saturday.Doug Rigg returned a fumble 51 yards for West Virginia (3-0) and Austin had another remarkable game against his home-state Terrapins. The Baltimore native caught 13 passes for 179 yards and set a school record for career receptions.
But West Virginia looked flat at times on offense, after averaging 56 points and 612 yards in its first two games. Smith had as many incompletions in the first half (nine) as he did in the first two games combined. He finished 30 of 43 for 338 yards. For Maryland (2-2), freshman Perry Hills threw for a season-high 305 yards and three touchdowns, two to freshman Stefon Diggs.
No. 14 Florida 38, Kentucky 0
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Jeff Driskel accounted for two touchdowns, helping the Gators extend their winning streak to 26 in the series.
The Gators (4-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) also recorded their first shutout in conference play since a 52-0 victory against Mississippi State in 2001.
Florida struggled early in the game, not a great sign with No. 2 LSU up next in two weeks. The slow start also was a rarity against the Wildcats (1-3, 0-1). The Gators had outscored Kentucky 94-3 in the first quarter in the last four meetings, sealing games before some fans settled into their seats.
It took a little longer Saturday.
The Gators scored three times in the second quarter, enough to put Kentucky away and extend the nation's longest winning streak in a current series between two teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
The Wildcats played without quarterback Maxwell Smith. He sat out with a shoulder injury. Backup Morgan Newton missed open receivers early and often, giving Kentucky little chance at an upset.
No. 16 Ohio State 29, Alabama Birmingham 15
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Braxton Miller ran for two touchdowns and the Buckeyes overcame a lethargic, mistake-filled effort in their final tuneup before Big Ten play.
UAB (0-3) more than held its own against the Buckeyes (4-0), who committed drive-killing penalties, had a punt blocked for a touchdown and had trouble scoring against a defense giving up 44 points and 477 yards a game.
The Blazers picked up points on special teams and started the second half by recovering an onside kick, but were undone by four chop-block penalties and a giveaway that led to a score. Miller completed passes for 12, 14 and 18 yards and ran for 26 yards to set up his own clinching 1-yard TD run with 5:03 left.
No. 17 Texas Christian 27, Virginia 7
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Brandon Carter had a 68-yard touchdown on one of his one-handed catches, linebacker Kenny Cain recovered a fumble and intercepted two passes and the Horned Frogs captured their 11th consecutive victory.
Casey Pachall threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns for the Horned Frogs (3-0), whose winning streak is the longest among FBS schools.
Josh Boyce had his TCU-record 18th touchdown catch. Freshman Jaden Oberkrom had field goals of 46 and 47 yards, the second field goal set up by Cain's 40-yard interception return.
The Frogs hadn't allowed a touchdown this season until Virginia (2-2) finally scored with 4 1/2 minutes left, when backup quarterback Phillip Sims threw a 5-yard TD to E.J. Scott.
Carter had five catches for 128 yards, his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game.
Wisconsin 37, Texas El Paso 26
MADISON, Wis. -- James White rushed for a pair of touchdowns, helping the Badgers overcome the early loss of Montee Ball.
Ball suffered a head injury on a 1-yard scoring run at the start of the second quarter, and was on the sidelines in street clothes for the second half. It was a tough day all around for the Heisman Trophy finalist, who had the first fumble of his career on Wisconsin's opening drive.
Despite the victory, this was another shaky outing for the Badgers (3-1).
The Miners (1-3) kept a third-quarter scoring drive alive with two fourth-down conversions, then got a 43-yard field goal from Steven Valadez on their next possession to cut Wisconsin's lead to 23-19 with 7:59 to play.
But Melvin Gordon ripped off a 20-yard run to set up White's 2-yard scoring run, the Miners fumbled the kickoff and Gordon put the game away with a 26-yard rushing TD.
But West Virginia looked flat at times on offense, after averaging 56 points and 612 yards in its first two games. Smith had as many incompletions in the first half (nine) as he did in the first two games combined. He finished 30 of 43 for 338 yards. For Maryland (2-2), freshman Perry Hills threw for a season-high 305 yards and three touchdowns, two to freshman Stefon Diggs.
No. 14 Florida 38, Kentucky 0
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Jeff Driskel accounted for two touchdowns, helping the Gators extend their winning streak to 26 in the series.
The Gators (4-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) also recorded their first shutout in conference play since a 52-0 victory against Mississippi State in 2001.
Florida struggled early in the game, not a great sign with No. 2 LSU up next in two weeks. The slow start also was a rarity against the Wildcats (1-3, 0-1). The Gators had outscored Kentucky 94-3 in the first quarter in the last four meetings, sealing games before some fans settled into their seats.
It took a little longer Saturday.
The Gators scored three times in the second quarter, enough to put Kentucky away and extend the nation's longest winning streak in a current series between two teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
The Wildcats played without quarterback Maxwell Smith. He sat out with a shoulder injury. Backup Morgan Newton missed open receivers early and often, giving Kentucky little chance at an upset.
No. 16 Ohio State 29, Alabama Birmingham 15
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Braxton Miller ran for two touchdowns and the Buckeyes overcame a lethargic, mistake-filled effort in their final tuneup before Big Ten play.
UAB (0-3) more than held its own against the Buckeyes (4-0), who committed drive-killing penalties, had a punt blocked for a touchdown and had trouble scoring against a defense giving up 44 points and 477 yards a game.
The Blazers picked up points on special teams and started the second half by recovering an onside kick, but were undone by four chop-block penalties and a giveaway that led to a score. Miller completed passes for 12, 14 and 18 yards and ran for 26 yards to set up his own clinching 1-yard TD run with 5:03 left.
No. 17 Texas Christian 27, Virginia 7
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Brandon Carter had a 68-yard touchdown on one of his one-handed catches, linebacker Kenny Cain recovered a fumble and intercepted two passes and the Horned Frogs captured their 11th consecutive victory.
Casey Pachall threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns for the Horned Frogs (3-0), whose winning streak is the longest among FBS schools.
Josh Boyce had his TCU-record 18th touchdown catch. Freshman Jaden Oberkrom had field goals of 46 and 47 yards, the second field goal set up by Cain's 40-yard interception return.
The Frogs hadn't allowed a touchdown this season until Virginia (2-2) finally scored with 4 1/2 minutes left, when backup quarterback Phillip Sims threw a 5-yard TD to E.J. Scott.
Carter had five catches for 128 yards, his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game.
Wisconsin 37, Texas El Paso 26
MADISON, Wis. -- James White rushed for a pair of touchdowns, helping the Badgers overcome the early loss of Montee Ball.
Ball suffered a head injury on a 1-yard scoring run at the start of the second quarter, and was on the sidelines in street clothes for the second half. It was a tough day all around for the Heisman Trophy finalist, who had the first fumble of his career on Wisconsin's opening drive.
Despite the victory, this was another shaky outing for the Badgers (3-1).
The Miners (1-3) kept a third-quarter scoring drive alive with two fourth-down conversions, then got a 43-yard field goal from Steven Valadez on their next possession to cut Wisconsin's lead to 23-19 with 7:59 to play.
But Melvin Gordon ripped off a 20-yard run to set up White's 2-yard scoring run, the Miners fumbled the kickoff and Gordon put the game away with a 26-yard rushing TD.