STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Keelon Russell passed for 285 yards and three touchdowns to go with a rushing score, and No. 7 Alabama routed 16th-ranked Mississippi State 56-23 in a matchup of previously unbeaten teams. Trae’shawn Brown ran for two touchdowns, Rico Scott caught two scoring passes and Dijon Lee Jr. returned an interception 30 yards for a score during a game that saw Alabama reinforce its credentials as contenders. Mississippi State lost its 17th straight game in the series. Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor's early fumble and two interceptions set up Alabama touchdown drives. Taylor's mobility appeared limited by an apparent ankle injury a week earlier and he was sacked five times before being pulled from the game in the fourth quarter.
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — The growth Alabama's Keelon Russell exhibited in a 56-23 victory at Mississippi State has his Crimson Tide teammates encouraged about how far the 19-year-old quarterback can take them. Russell completed six of his seven third-down passes for 146 yards, including connections of 50 and 39 yards to Lotzeir Brooks and 22 yards to Ryan Coleman-Williams. Russell finished with 285 yards and three touchdowns passing and also ran 17 yards for a score. Russell's threw two, third-down TD passes to Rico Scott, who says it's “hard to believe how fast” Russell has grown. Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby says Russell is already playing at an “elite level.”
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Gunner Stockton throws for 295 yards and three touchdowns as No. 2 Georgia defeats Vanderbilt 38-14. The Bulldogs improve to 5-0 with the win on Saturday. Georgia scores an opening drive touchdown for the fourth time this season. Vanderbilt, led by backup quarterback Blaze Berlowitz, ties the game at 7-all with a 60-yard touchdown. Georgia pulls ahead with back-to-back rushing scores before halftime. The Bulldogs extend their lead in the third quarter and hold Vanderbilt scoreless for the rest of the game. Georgia faces No. 10 Alabama next, while Vanderbilt hosts No. 9 Ole Miss.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Kenny Minchey threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Henry Boyer and a 2-point conversion to Willie Rodriguez, leading No. 24 Kentucky to a thrilling 35-34 overtime victory against South Carolina. The Wildcats rallied from a 17-0 deficit on Saturday. Minchey's 32-yard pass to Nic Anderson in the third quarter gave Kentucky its first lead. South Carolina regained the lead with LaNorris Sellers' touchdown pass, but Kentucky tied it with a field goal. Sellers passed for 226 yards and two scores and he also ran for 147 yards. Kentucky celebrated its second major road win under first-year coach Will Stein.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — DeSean Bishop rushed for a career-high 220 yards and three touchdowns, leading No. 17 Tennessee to a 24-14 victory over Auburn. Tennessee overcame a sluggish start with George MacIntyre replacing Faizon Brandon at quarterback late in the second quarter. The Volunteers trailed 7-3 at intermission. MacIntyre completed his first six pass attempts for 80 yards. Auburn, led by quarterback Byrum Brown, struggled with penalties and turnovers. Brown had 159 passing yards and a touchdown as well as 107 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Tigers are flagged 11 times for 94 yards. Both teams muddled through an unproductive first half, with Auburn generating just 86 yards of total offense.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — LSU dominated McNeese State 63-14, with Sam Leavitt throwing for 173 yards and three touchdowns. Harlem Berry ran for 125 yards and a touchdown, while Stacy Gage added 110 yards and two touchdowns. The Tigers racked up 731 yards of total offense, the second-most in school history. LSU's defense set the tone early with an interception, leading to a quick 7-0 lead. By halftime, LSU outgained McNeese State 347-31. Freshman Deuce Geralds scored on a direct snap in the second half. McNeese State managed two late touchdowns but falls short.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — No. 25 Missouri ended a nine-game skid against ranked opponents by blowing out No. 8 Florida 45-17. Austin Simmons threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns and Jamal Roberts ran for 211 yards and three scores. The Tigers gave coach Eli Drinkwitz his first regular-season win over a top-10 team in 11 tries with them. Missouri bounced back from a late collapse at Mississippi State last week and improved to 4-1 and 1-1 in the SEC. Florida was held to 325 yards of total offense, and Heisman Trophy candidate Jadan Baugh ran 12 times for only 13 yards.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — KJ Edwards ran for two touchdowns and Marcel Reed threw for 170 yards and ran for a score to lead Texas A&M to a 34-7 win over Arkansas. Texas A&M (3-2, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) bounced back after consecutive losses to Kentucky and LSU. The Aggies led by 7 late in the first quarter before scoring the next 20 points to roll to the victory. Edwards and Reed ran for 66 yards apiece as the Aggies piled up 231 yards rushing a week after being limited to a season-low 68 in a 35-6 loss at LSU.
