Trinidad Chambliss leads No. 8 Mississippi past No. 7 LSU 32-24 in Lane Kiffin’s return to Ole Miss
Week 3 roundup
Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) is pursued by LSU defensive end Princewill Umanmielen (1) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) attempts to fight off a arm tackle by Mississippi linebacker Luke Ferrelli (12) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) is pursued by LSU defensive end Princewill Umanmielen (1) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) attempts to fight off a arm tackle by Mississippi linebacker Luke Ferrelli (12) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
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OXFORD, Miss. -- Lane Kiffin’s new team at LSU couldn’t deny Trinidad Chambliss -- the quarterback Kiffin helped transform into a star after recruiting him from a Division II program to Mississippi last year.
Chambliss passed for 363 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a tiebreaking score in the fourth quarter, and No. 8 Ole Miss delighted a crowd that was already revved up about Kiffin’s return, beating the seventh-ranked Tigers 32-24 on Saturday night.
“I’m glad it’s over. This was an emotional game for a lot of reasons,” Kiffin said. “I had a lot of life-changing experiences here. I thought (the Rebels) played really well -- and good for them.”
LSU stormed back from a 24-7 halftime deficit to tie the game before Chambliss engineered a 75-yard touchdown drive without the services of top running back Kewan Lacy, who left the game with an injured left shoulder.
Chambliss faked a handoff and ran 14 yards against the grain, outracing LSU safety Ty Benefield to the left pylon, and Ole Miss (3-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) added a 2-point conversion to take an eight-point lead with 6:14 to go.
Ole Miss drew LSU offside twice while lining up for the conversion before converting it from a half-yard out on a direct snap to JT Lindsey.
LSU answered by driving 69 yards to the Ole Miss 6 before Sam Leavitt missed open tight end Zach Grace along the goal line with a third-down pass, and then had his fourth-down pass deflect off the helmet of defensive end Kam Franklin. Jaylon Braxton intercepted the ball in the end zone to seal it as Kiffin sank into a low crouch with both hands on his white LSU visor.
As time expired, Ole Miss celebrated by charging from the sideline across the field. Rebels defensive tackle Will Echoles said he and a number of his teammates were just trying to find former coaches who’d joined Kiffin at LSU.
Chambliss, meanwhile, conceded that beating the Tigers with Kiffin on the opposing sideline was the most meaningful victory for Ole Miss since the coach left Oxford on Nov. 30 on a private jet sent by LSU.
At the end of a postgame television interview, he shouted out the common Ole Miss refrain, “Hotty Toddy,” but with an expletive mixed in. He later apologized for the profanity -- but not the emotion behind it.
“Emotions were high,” Chambliss said. “I got kind of caught up in the moment.
“This one meant a lot more than other games -- the coaches that were here, now at LSU, some players as well,” Chambliss said. “I wanted this one bad and our team did, too.”
Leavitt passed for 153 yards and a touchdown and ran for 63 yards and a score for LSU (2-1, 0-1).
The Tigers’ comeback bid began in earnest with pressure by Benefield, whose blitz forced Chambliss into a rushed throw that was intercepted by Ja’Keem Jackson and returned 10 yards to the Rebels 33.
Leavitt took it from there, gaining 10 yards on a scramble up the middle that ended with the QB being flipped upside down by multiple tacklers before crashing down hard on the 4-yard line. Leavitt followed that with a tackle-slipping scoring run on the next play to make it 24-14.
LSU pulled within 24-21 on Leavitt’s 26-yard pass to Ole Miss transfer Winston Watkins Jr. and was threatening to potentially take the lead when star tight end Trey’Dez Green injured his right knee on a first-down catch in Ole Miss territory. The Tigers wound up tying it with a field goal before Ole Miss drove for the decisive score.
“I was proud of the way our guys battled back,” Kiffin said. “I thought we had them on the ropes.”
Ole Miss has defeated LSU in consecutive seasons, with Chambliss starring in both games -- the first with Kiffin as his coach.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who was instrumental in an LSU athletic department shake-up last fall that precipitated Kiffin’s hiring, smiled widely as he posed for a picture with Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill on the field during pregame warmups.
But they couldn’t have been happy about how the game began.
Chambliss sparked Ole Miss to a 17-0 lead, highlighted by Lacy’s 5-yard power run through the middle of the line and Chambliss’ 21-yard pass to Traylon Ray.
Ray, who finished with seven catches for 115 yards, was instrumental on the first touchdown drive, outleaping two defenders for a 36-yard catch along the right sideline.
LSU trimmed the Rebels’ lead to 17-7 on Dilin Jones’ 2-yard run with 1:57 left in the half -- enough time for Chambliss to direct another scoring drive.
After eluding the LSU pass rush, Chambliss rifled a 20 yard pass to Deuce Alexander in the middle of the end zone to make it 24-7 just 7 seconds before halftime.
“We walked into a storm. Trinidad was on fire early,” Kiffin said. “You can see that he’s hard to beat.”
Elsewhere in the AP Top 25:
Texas wide receiver Cam Coleman, left, catches a touchdown pass as UTSA cornerback RJ Lester Jr., right, defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
NO. 1 TEXAS 30, UTSA 6
AUSTIN, Texas -- Arch Manning threw two early touchdown passes to Cam Coleman on a night he mostly struggled, and Texas beat UTSA in the Longhorns’ last game before starting their Southeastern Conference schedule.
Texas (3-0) vaulted to No. 1 after its thrilling 24-23 victory over Ohio State last week when Manning led a 21-point rally in the fourth quarter.
But little came very easy Saturday night against the Roadrunners (2-1). Manning was just 16-of-32 passing for 161 yards, took several hard hits, and left the game with about six minutes to play with the game finally under control.
Texas next heads to No. 15 Tennessee to start SEC play.
Georgia tight end Jaden Reddell (23) blocks Arkansas defensive lineman Donovan Whitten (52) to clear the way for Georgia running back Chauncey Bowens (5) to score a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
NO. 2 GEORGIA 45, ARKANSAS 17
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Chauncey Bowens ran for three touchdowns and No. 2 Georgia held Arkansas to just 17 yards on the ground.
Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC) led 21-3 at halftime and never truly needed to pass the football. Quarterback Gunner Stockton finished the game 10-of-13 passing for 147 yards with a touchdown. He added a team-high 97 yards on the ground, including a 62-yard run on third down that set up Georgia’s third touchdown, Bowens’ second.
Arkansas passed most of the game, rarely with much success. KJ Jackson played two drives before being replaced by AJ Hill. Jackson reentered on the final drive of the first half and led the Razorbacks (1-2, 0-1) into the Georgia red zone for the first time. An intentional grounding penalty moved them back and Max Gilbert kicked a 41-yard field goal just before the break.
Things were worse on the ground for Arkansas. Seven players combined for 20 carries and 17 total yards rushing. It was the Razorbacks’ worst rushing performance since 2018.
Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams (22) reaches the ball out in an attempt to cross the goal line in what was ruled a touchdown during the first half of a college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Paul Barnick)
NO. 3 NOTRE DAME 27, MICHIGAN ST. 10
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- C.J. Carr threw for 234 yards and ran for a touchdown, Nolan James Jr. rushed for 121 yards and a score, and Notre Dame took control in the second half to beat Michigan State.
It was the 13th straight victory dating to last season for the Fighting Irish -- all by double digits. Coach Marcus Freeman broke the Notre Dame record for consecutive double-digit victories, exceeding the 12 by Knute Rockne from 1921-22.
Micah Gilbert had eight catches for 170 yards for Notre Dame (3-0). Carr’s streak of 12 games with a passing touchdown ended, with the Fighting Irish scoring all three TDs on short rushes.
Notre Dame outscored Michigan State 10-0 in the second half, limiting the Spartans (2-1) to 40 yards of offense over the final two quarters.
Western Kentucky quarterback Brock Glenn (11) is hit by Indiana linebacker Kaiden Turner (14) as he runs out of the backfield during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
NO. 4 INDIANA 38, W. KENTUCKY 0
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Josh Hoover threw two touchdown passes, Lee Beebe Jr. added two TD runs and Indiana overcame a sluggish first half to blow out Western Kentucky.
Hoover was 18 of 24 for 273 yards with no turnovers as Indiana (3-0) extended FBS’s longest active winning streak to 19 games, and the longest active home winning streak to 18. Turbo Richard rushed 15 times for 149 yards and one score, and Charlie Becker added five catches for 127 yards and another touchdown.
The Hoosiers’ defense has posted back-to-back shutouts and has not been scored upon since late in the third quarter of their season opener against North Texas.
The defending national champs sure didn’t look like themselves in the first half, though. The Hilltoppers (0-3) had a nearly nine-minute advantage in possession time and limited Indiana’s offense to just seven points through the first 29 1/2 minutes.
Ohio State defensive lineman Jamir Perez, left, scores a touchdown after recovering a fumble against Kent State during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
NO. 6 OHIO ST. 59, KENT ST. 3
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Jeremiah Smith became Ohio State’s career receiving yardage leader, Ja’Kobi Jackson scored twice and the Buckeyes rolled to a victory over Kent State.
Ohio State (2-1) took immediate control, scoring on its first four drives as it rebounded after last week’s 24-23 loss at No. 1 Texas.
Smith had five receptions for 85 yards. The junior needed 26 yards to surpass Michael Jenkins’ 2,898 yards from 2000-03 and become OSU’s record holder and got it on his second catch of the game, when he hauled in a 23-yard pass from Julian Sayin midway through the first quarter.
Sayin completed 18 of 22 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns.
Kentucky running back CJ Baxter Jr. (1) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown against Texas A&M during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
KENTUCKY 31, NO. 9 TEXAS A&M 21
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Kenny Minchey threw two touchdown passes and CJ Baxter added two scoring runs as Kentucky used a huge third quarter to stun Texas A&M.
Led by rookie coach Will Stein in his first road game, Kentucky beat a ranked opponent for the first time since downing No. 6 Mississippi 20-17 on Sept. 28, 2024.
Stein had vowed to do better after Kentucky (2-1, 1-1 SEC) led then-No. 12 Alabama 17-13 at halftime last week before being outscored 32-0 in the second half of a 45-17 loss.
The game pitted Texas A&M’s offense against Kentucky defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, who spent the last two years in the same position with the Aggies. He seemed to have Texas A&M’s number, keeping the Aggies off-balance all day and limiting Marcel Reed to 26 of 49 passing for 236 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
Alabama wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks (3) recovers a fumble as Florida State defensive back Ma’khi Jones (14) pursues the play during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
NO. 10 ALABAMA 50, FLORIDA ST. 36
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Keelon Russell threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score as Alabama overcame a 15-point deficit to beat Florida State.
The Crimson Tide (3-0) struggled to run the ball early and had few answers for Florida State’s explosive plays. Once Alabama settled in, the Seminoles (1-2) struggled to slow it down.
Russell completed 23 of 30 passes without an interception, and Alabama finished with 615 yards. Lotzeir Brooks caught eight passes for 101 yards.
Lightning delayed kickoff and interrupted the second quarter, and the teams agreed to skip halftime after the second delay.
Alabama scored touchdowns on five consecutive possessions across the second and third quarters to turn a 21-6 deficit into a 40-28 lead.
BYU wide receiver Legend Glasker, front, pulls in a pass as Colorado State defensive back Elijah Brown covers in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
NO. 11 BYU 41, COLORADO ST. 23
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- LJ Martin rushed for 176 yards and three touchdowns, including a 56-yard run on the second play of the game, and BYU beat Colorado to move to 3-0 for a fourth straight season.
The Cougars now have 20 seasons where they’ve started 3-0, with six under coach Kalani Sitake.
Martin had 173 of his yards rushing in the first half. The reigning Big 12 offensive player of the year carried the ball once in the second half with BYU up big.
Martin and the BYU offense had to wait an extra 37 minutes to get started after a thunderstorm pushed back the kickoff time. The Cougars finished with 559 total yards.
Bear Bachmeier had 227 yards passing and an interception. Freshman receiver Legend Glasker caught five passes for 131 yards and had a rushing TD.
Rutgers running back Clay Thevenin (9) is tackled by Southern California defense during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
NO. 12 SOUTHERN CAL 42, RUTGERS 35
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Jayden Maiava threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns and King Miller ran for 102 yards and a TD to help Southern California beat Rutgers in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
The Trojans (4-0) never trailed, building a 35-21 cushion with 5:52 left in the third quarter. Rutgers (0-3) closed to 35-28 in the quarter before the teams traded touchdowns in the fourth.
Trojans star freshman receiver Trent Mosley sat out with a knee injury. Fellow freshman Kayden Dixon-Wyatt had five catches for 77 yards.
Dylan Lonergan passed for 272 yards and three TDs for Rutgers.
Tennessee defensive lineman Tyree Weathersby (18) tries to gain possession of the ball after Kennesaw State quarterback Rickie Collins (1) fumbled it during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Camden Hall)
NO. 15 TENNESSEE 42, KENNESAW ST. 9
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Faizon Brandon threw for 178 yards and one touchdown and ran for another to lead Tennessee to a win over Kennesaw State.
Daune Morris, who picked up the slack for an injured running back position, rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown for the Volunteers (3-0). DeSean Bishop was slowed with an injury in the second quarter and Javin Gordon and Justin Baker were unavailable with injuries. Morris had the game’s most explosive play, a 42-yard touchdown run.
Louisville running back Keyjuan Brown (5) runs through an opening in the SMU defensive line during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
NO. 23 LOUISVILLE 41, NO. 16 SMU 31
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Keyjuan Brown ran for a career-high 163 yards and a pair of long touchdowns to guide Louisville to a victory over SMU.
The teams preseason media picks to finish second (SMU) and third (Louisville) in the Atlantic Coast Conference put on a back-and-forth affair, trading the lead eight times before the Cardinals sealed it on Isaac Brown’s 27-yard touchdown with 5:32 remaining to finish the scoring.
The Cardinals (2-1, 1-0 ACC) then stripped SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings of the ball just before the goal line on the Mustangs’ ensuing drive, turning what would have been a 19-yard touchdown into a touchback as the ball rolled out of the end zone with 2:43 remaining.
Louisville’s Lincoln Kienholz threw for 177 yards on 14-for-23 passing. He threw for two scores and added another on the ground as Louisville amassed 442 yards of offense.
Trailing 17-14 at halftime, Louisville regained the lead in the opening minute of the third quarter on Keyjuan Brown’s 58-yard run. His 53-yarder with 10:02 left put the Cardinals ahead for good, 35-31.
NO. 17 UTAH 33, UTAH ST. 0
SALT LAKE CITY -- Devon Dampier threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns, leading Utah to a victory over Utah State.
Braden Pegan had a season-high 122 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches, and Daniel Bray added 82 yards and a score on the ground, helping the Utes (3-0) pile up 480 yards against their rival. Utah averaged 6.5 yards per play. Utah State has dropped 16 of 17 to the Utes dating back to the 1998 season.
NO. 18 IOWA 55, N. IOWA 0
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Iowa had three running backs in Xavier Williams, Nathan McNeil and Braeden Jackson run for more than 100 yards apiece, and the Hawkeyes rolled to a victory over Northern Iowa even without their top running back, Kamari Moulton.
Williams had 151 yards and three touchdowns on just six carries, Jackson had 125 yards and a rushing touchdown to go with a 24-yard TD catch, and McNeill had 111 yards and two scores. It was the first time Iowa had three go over 100 yards in a game since Owen Gill, Norm Granger and Eddie Phillips did it in a 61-10 win over Minnesota in 1983.
Moulton, their leading rusher, was hurt in the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s 16-13 win over Iowa State. But the Hawkeyes (3-0) still piled up 422 yards on the ground and finished with 640 yards of total offense.
NO. 19 MICHIGAN 52, UTEP 17
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Bryce Underwood threw two touchdown passes and Savion Hiter had two rushing scores to help Michigan pull away and beat UTEP.
The Wolverines (3-0) were behind twice in the first half before scoring 38 straight points to turn a potential scare into a rout.
The Miners (1-2) forced two turnovers in the first half and took advantage with two touchdown passes by E.J. Colston: 45 yards to Carver Cheeks and 18 yards to Lamar Sperling.
Underwood’s 21-yard touchdown pass to JJ Buchanan and Trey Butkowski’s 49-yard field goal over the last 1:31 of the first half put Michigan ahead for the first time.
NO. 20 MISSOURI 27, TROY 17
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Jamal Roberts ran for 122 yards and a touchdown, DaMarion Folkes returned a punt 68 yards for another score, and Missouri shook off a slow start before holding on to beat Troy.
Former Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons struggled most of the way for Missouri (3-0), completing 10 of 19 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. But the Tigers did enough on defense to win their 16th straight regular-season non-conference game.
Ethan Head missed a 54-yard field goal attempt with 2:46 left in the fourth quarter, which would have pulled the Trojans to within a touchdown of the Tigers. Missouri nearly ran out the clock from there on the victory.
Oklahoma defensive lineman Adepoju Adebawore (34) and defensive back Peyton Bowen (22) sack New Mexico quarterback Toa Fa’avae (13) for a loss during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
NO. 24 OKLAHOMA 14, NEW MEXICO 6
NORMAN, Okla. -- John Mateer overcame a shaky start with two touchdown passes, and Oklahoma leaned on its defense to hold off New Mexico and avoid consecutive non-conference losses.
The Sooners (2-1), who were coming off a loss to Michigan and open SEC play at No. 2 Georgia next week, were able to limit the high-scoring Lobos to 69 yards rushing and 185 yards of total offense -- and just two field goals.
Oklahoma defensive tackle David Stone stuffed New Mexico running back Scottre Humphrey on fourth-and-1 at the Oklahoma 17 with 2:58 left, and the Sooners were able to convert on third down moments later to help them run out the clock.
West Virginia wide receiver Jaden Bray (5) make the catch against Virginia cornerback Jacobie Henderson (10) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
WEST VIRGINIA 38, NO. 25 VIRGINIA 27
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Michael Hawkins accounted for 313 yards of total offense and five touchdowns and West Virginia beat Virginia 38-27 in the Duke’s Mayo Classic at the Carolina Panthers’ Bank of America Stadium.
Hawkins, who started five games at Oklahoma the previous two years before transferring to West Virginia in January, has guided the Mountaineers to a 3-0 start for second-year coach Rich Rodriguez.
Elsewhere across the country:
Clemson running back Gideon Davidson (8) runs past North Carolina linebacker Peyton Seelmann (10) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
CLEMSON 28, NORTH CAROLINA 20
CLEMSON, S.C. -- Gideon Davidson ran for 105 yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown with five minutes remaining as Clemson rallied from a 14-point first-half deficit to beat North Carolina in a game that lasted nearly six hours.
Freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds completed 20 of 29 passes for 215 yards with a touchdown and one interception for Clemson in his first career start. Billy Edwards was 13 of 30 for 135 yards with one touchdown and one interception for UNC.
Clemson trailed 17-15 early in the fourth and UNC had a second and goal at the Tigers 7 when lightning was detected in the area and the game was delayed 2 1/2 hours.
Officials signal touchdown after Vanderbilt cornerback Cayden Daniels (26) recovered a North Carolina State fumble in the end zone during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
VANDERBILT 35, N.C. STATE 31
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- With three seconds left in the game and a Vanderbilt win seemingly out of reach, Miles Capers forced the fumble and Cayden Daniels recovered for the touchdown that gave Vanderbilt a victory over N.C. State.
N.C. State quarterback CJ Bailey was attempting to run out the clock or take a safety on what could have been the final play of the game, but he fumbled as he was being tackled. After a touchback on the ensuing kickoff there was enough time for one play but the Wolfpack were stopped on their side of the 50-yard line.
Jared Curtis went 20-of-34 for 277 yards and three touchdowns, leading Vanderbilt’s rally after twice trailing by 17 points.
Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jaren Hamilton (16) 100-yard kickoff return TD, during the NCAA college football game between Arizona State Sun Devils and Kansas Jayhawks in London, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
ARIZONA STATE 24, KANSAS 17
LONDON -- Arizona State has beaten Kansas in the inaugural Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium.
Jaren Hamilton returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score, Reed Harris caught a touchdown pass and defensive lineman Hyrum Vaeono rumbled 77 yards on a fumble recovery to set up another TD.
Tate Nagy returned a punt 72 yards for a Kansas touchdown and 7-3 lead early in the game. Nagy also caught a TD pass in the fourth quarter.
FLORIDA 44, AUBURN 39
AUBURN, Ala. -- Jadan Baugh ran for 162 yards and three touchdowns, and Florida beat Auburn in the SEC opener for both teams and both new head coaches.
Aaron Philo threw for 202 yards and a score for the Gators, who improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2019.
Vernell Brown III caught five passes for 86 yards, and Dallas Wilson added four catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. Byrum Brown threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns for Auburn.
BOSTON COLLEGE 22, MAINE 16
BOSTON -- Evan Dickens ran for a 39-yard score, Mason McKenzie added a 31-yard scoring pass and Boston College slogged its way to a non-conference victory over Maine.
McKenzie, a redshirt junior that transferred from Saginaw Valley State, completed 14-of-21 passes for 173 yards but was picked off twice. Eddie Buehler went 22 for 32 with 201 yards, two TDs and a pair of inceptions for the Black Bears (1-3).
Coming off an emotional victory over Rutgers in their annual Red Bandanna Game, the Eagles (2-1) led 19-10 at halftime despite their uninspiring performance.
Kansas State safety VJ Payne (19) grabs an interception against Tulane wide receiver Yulkeith Brown (5) next to Kansas State safety Marques Sigle (21) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in New Orleans, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
KANSAS STATE 31, TULANE 20
MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Avery Johnson threw for 227 yards on 21-of-28 passing and rushed for 152 yards and two scores as Kansas State defeated Tulane.
Kansas State allowed its first offensive touchdown of the season with 7:55 remaining in the first quarter. It marked the first time this season the Wildcats have trailed. K-State then reeled off the next 17 points.
Following a Luis Rodriguez field goal, the Wildcats pulled ahead on a 1-yard run by Jay Harris. Johnson then scored from the 7-yard line, set up by his career-long, 66-yard run. Tulane closed the first-half scoring with a 58-yard field goal by Cooper Helmke. The Wildcats took the second-half kickoff 75 yards over eight minutes to grab a 24-10 lead on a 1-yard run by Harris.
CINCINNATI 35, MIAMI (OH) 31
CINCINNATI -- Cole Tabb’s 53-yard touchdown run with 1:29 remaining rallied Cincinnati to a victory over Miami (Ohio) in the 129th meeting of the “Battle for the Victory Bell” after the Bearcats trailed by 21 points at halftime.
Cincinnati has won 18 of the last 19 meetings in the oldest non-conference rivalry in the nation and the fifth-most played in the FBS. The two schools aren’t scheduled to play each other for the immediate future.
Miami’s David McComb passed for 334 yards and a touchdown along with a rushing score. McComb, who completed 17 of 28 passes, connected with Maleek Huggins for a 36-yard touchdown to the right corner of the end zone to make it 28-7 with 21 seconds left in the second quarter.
TOLEDO 49, TEMPLE 48 OT
TOLEDO, Ohio -- John Alan Richter threw for 429 yards and four touchdowns as Toledo erased a 14-point deficit late in regulation to beat Temple in overtime.
Connor Walendzak scored on a 1-yard run to open overtime before Temple answered with Ajani Sheppard’s 22-yard touchdown run. Sheppard’s two-point conversion pass failed, though, and the Rockets (2-1) took the win.
Temple (1-2) led 42-28 with 6:40 left in regulation before Richter threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to CJ Miller with 1:05 remaining. Toledo recovered its onside kick, and Richter connected with Daryl Barnett Jr. for a 23-yard score with 54 seconds left to tie the game.
Elsewhere in the Big Ten:
WISCONSIN 54, EASTERN MICHIGAN 10
MADISON, Wis. -- Tyrell Henry caught 14 passes to set a Wisconsin single-game record and Colton Joseph threw for 362 yards and accounted for four touchdowns as the Badgers trounced Eastern Michigan.
Henry’s 14 catches included a 13-yard touchdown and totaled a career-high 160 yards. Matt Nyquist previously owned the single-game record with 13 receptions in a 33-20 loss to Iowa in 1995. The Badgers erased an early 7-0 deficit by scoring 41 straight points. Wisconsin opens Big Ten play next week at Penn State.
UCLA 52, PURDUE 38
PASADENA, Calif. -- Wayne Knight ran for 177 yards and two touchdowns, Nico Iamaleava threw two of his three touchdown passes to Semaj Morgan, and UCLA defeated Purdue in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
UCLA ran for 369 yards, and Iamaleava was 19-of-31 passing for 276 yards with his first scoring throws of the season. The Boilermakers dropped their 19th consecutive conference game.
VIRGINIA TECH 35, MARYLAND 6
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns, and Virginia Tech held off Maryland, snapping the Terrapins’ 20-game nonconference winning streak.
It was the first test against a Power Four opponent for the Hokies under new coach James Franklin, and they led from the start. Virginia Tech scored touchdowns on five of its first six possessions, taking a 35-14 advantage into the fourth quarter.
Maryland’s Malik Washington threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns, but a pair of missed 2-point conversions in the fourth kept the Terrapins from pulling within one score.
NORTHWESTERN 41, COLORADO 7
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Aidan Chiles passed to Joseph Himon II for three touchdowns and ran in two himself to lead Northwestern to a rout of Colorado.
Himon finished with 241 yards on a 17 for 22 passing and upped his season total to seven TDs -- four passing and three rushing -- in his first two games with the Wildcats. Chiles, a senior, made 20 starts for Michigan State before joining Northwestern during the offseason.
Himon caught an 18-yard pass for his first TD, then a 25-yarder and a 3-yard toss as Northwestern pulled away on a rainy evening two days after it announced an extension of coach David Braun’s contract through the 2031 season.
ILLINOIS 48, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 10
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Katin Houser threw two second-quarter touchdown passes to Collin Dixon to lead Illinois past Southern Illinois.
Dixon caught eight passes for 131 yards for the Illini (2-1), who opened the season with three home games. Dixon has seven TD catches, already the single-season record at Gies Memorial Stadium with four home games remaining. Hudson Clement had five catches for 69 yards for Illinois. He’s caught a pass in 30 straight games. Houser was 23-of-29 passing for 305 yards.
NEBRASKA 34, NORTH DAKOTA 7
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Jamal Rule ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns and Nebraska finished unbeaten in nonconference play for the third straight year with its win over North Dakota.
The Cornhuskers scored on their first two series to take control and the Fighting Hawks went three-and-out four times and turned the ball over on downs once before putting together their lone scoring drive in the third quarter.
Nebraska held the sixth-ranked team in FCS to 205 yards and sacked Jerry Kaminski five times.
WASHINGTON 48, EASTERN WASHINGTON 16
SEATTLE -- Demond Williams Jr. racked up 373 yards and four touchdowns on 27-of-33 passing and Washington put together its best offensive showing of the season in a win over FCS' Eastern Washington.
Dezmen Roebuck led the Huskies (3-0) with a career-high nine catches for 121 yards.