beIN SPORTS By Des Norris

Scholars

Michigan 49-10 Penn State

Keen to avoid a repeat of last week’s near scrape against the Buffaloes, the Wolverines took to the Ann Arbor arena all guns blazing and wasted no time in putting 14 points between them and their shell-shocked visitors in the first quarter. De ‘Veon Smith was like a hot knife through the helpless butter dish that was Penn State’s defense. The senior tailback barged his way through the home team’s backline for 107 yards, 38 of which were gained on one carry alone.

Georgia Bulldogs 14-45 Ole Miss

Even Ole Miss, the perennial big lead thrower awayers, couldn’t blow the 31-0 cushion that accompanied them down the tunnel at halftime against the Bulldogs. A disappointing 1-2 start to the season ensured the Rebels would come out swinging in front of the 65, 843 in attendance at the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, but the question hanging over Mississippi was whether or not they could finally sustain their dominance for the full four quarters. The answer: an unflinching ‘yes’. Chad Kelly stole the limelight in the Southeastern Conference duel, throwing 282 yards and two touchdowns to help lift the Hugh Freeze-led program out of its early season stupor.

Wisconsin 30-6 Michigan State Spartans

Take a bow Alex Hornibrook. The freshman QB was given the unenviable task of making his debut against one of college football’s most resilient defensive programs and still managed to acquit himself like a seasoned veteran. Having already upset a much-hyped LSU on the opening weekend, The Badgers added to their burgeoning reputation as a team to watch this season with a statement on the road against a Top 10 opponent. 

Dropouts

USC 27-31 Utah Utes

The Californians were left high and dry in Salt Lake City by one of their own.

Troy Williams, who once upon a time dreamed of lining up with the Trojans, was in full vengeance mode against the team that ignored him back in his high school-playing days, passing 270 yards, two touchdowns and running a TD of his own to boot.

Despite pulling away 24-10 on the scoreboard at one stage in the third quarter, USC somehow conceived to squander its lead by giving up three late scores to the Utes.

The fourth-quarter capitulation is symptomatic of a wider defensive problem within the Southern California program. And head coach Clay Helton is sure to have a crick in his neck for all the looking over his shoulder he is undoubtedly exposing his upper vertebra to as a result of CSU’s floundering 1-3 start to the season.

Class Clowns

Florida Gators 28-38 Tennessee Volunteers

When it rains it pours, or at least that’s how Geoff Collins, the Gator’s defensive coordinator, might be trying to process Saturday’s no show against Tennessee.

Florida stormed to a 21-0 lead in no time but then proceeded to yield four touchdowns on the Knoxville turf - the first time Jim McElwain’s seemingly impenetrable end zone had been breached in 2016.