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Twins Push Towards Wild Card

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – After gaining a cushion in the American League wild-card race with their series-opening win, the Minnesota Twins will look for another victory over the host Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

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Minnesota (81-73), which broke through for a three-run 12th inning in its 4-2 triumph on Friday, will now turn to ace right-hander Pablo Lopez with a chance to win the series.

A day after being held to three hits in a 3-2, 10-inning loss at Cleveland, the Twins struck for 13 hits against the Red Sox. The top five batters in the Minnesota order produced two-hit efforts in a result that gave the Twins a one-game lead over the Detroit Tigers for the final AL playoff spot.

“It’s a really important eight games that we have left, so it was a huge (win) for sure,” Twins shortstop Carlos Correa said. “The way everyone came together to make it happen was really special. … The message is simple: Never give up.”

Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner had RBI singles in the 12th inning, while the eight pitchers who followed Twins starter David Festa to the mound allowed a total of five hits and one unearned run in seven innings.

The Twins have the utmost confidence in Lopez, who is 5-0 with a 1.35 ERA over seven straight quality starts since his Aug. 6 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

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Lopez (15-8, 3.84 ERA) had won four straight starts prior to Monday at Cleveland. He pitched 6 1/3 innings in an eventual 4-3 Twins loss, striking out four while allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks.

“He pitched so well until (the seventh),” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said of Lopez. “A leadoff walk, that’s not … like him.”

Lopez is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two career starts against the Red Sox, including a win on May 4, when he fanned eight while tossing six innings of one-run ball.

“I didn’t make pitches when I needed to,” Crawford said. “Obviously, you can’t throw Judge a 92-mile-per-hour fastball right down the middle. I just didn’t do my job (on Sunday).”

The home run ball has been a backbreaker for Crawford. He has allowed five in his past three starts and a major-league-leading 33 on the season.

–Field Level Media

 

Twins Beat Sox in Extra Innings

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Minnesota’s Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner each had RBI singles during a three-run top of the 12th inning, helping to propel the Minnesota Twins to a 4-2 win over the host Boston Red Sox in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.

The Twins (81-73) moved to a game ahead of the Detroit Tigers for the final American League wild-card spot. Detroit lost 7-1 to the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. Each of the top five hitters in Minnesota’s lineup had multiple hits, including leadoff hitter Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis, who doubled.
With Kyle Farmer placed as the designated runner on second to start the top of the 12th, Buxton and Larnach singled to help bring home the go-ahead run. After Carlos Correa walked, Wallner added an insurance run with another single. Two batters later, Willi Castro hit a sacrifice fly to right to push the lead to 4-1.
Griffin Jax allowed only Connor Wong’s RBI groundout in Boston’s half of the inning to save a victory for Scott Blewitt (1-0).
A two-out hit allowed Boston to take the lead in the fourth. Tyler O’Neill drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on Wilyer Abreu’s single two batters later. O’Neill scored the opening run as Story ripped an RBI single into center.
The Twins tied the score in the seventh. Correa beat out a potential double play, allowing Buxton to score.
After Ceddanne Rafaela’s leadoff double in the Boston seventh, Twins relievers Cole Sands and Jhoan Duran struck out five straight Red Sox before the latter stranded the bases loaded with two outs in the eighth.
Minnesota rookie starter David Festa allowed one run and four hits in six innings, walking three and striking out six.
After the game, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said third baseman Rafael Devers is going to have an MRI exam Saturday on his right shoulder and is likely done for the season.
–Field Level Media

J-E-T-S Dominate P-A-T-S

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EAST RUTHERFORD –  (Staff and Wire Service Report) – NY Jets QB Aaron Rodgers threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns as the New York Jets beat the New England Patriots 24-3 on Thursday night in New Jersey. Rodgers was playing at MetLife Stadium for the first time since tearing his left Achilles tendon in New York’s 2023 season opener. He was injured on the fourth snap in that contest before missing the rest of the campaign.
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     Jets fans had to be pleased with what they saw on Thursday, though, as the 40-year-old completed 27 of 35 passes and was constantly escaping pressure from New England’s front seven. Rodgers was sacked just twice.
     Tyler Conklin thrived in New York’s passing game, hauling in five catches for 93 yards. Breece Hall had 54 yards and a TD on 16 carries for the Jets (2-1), who outgained the Patriots 400-139 and controlled the ball for 40 minutes, four seconds. Hall added four receptions for 29 yards.
     The Patriots (1-2) struggled to get anything going offensively. Jacoby Brissett had 98 yards on 12-of-18 passing and got no help from the running game. New England did not have a rusher break the 30-yard mark.
    No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye made his NFL debut, taking over for Brissett late in the fourth quarter. Maye hit on 4 of 8 passes for 22 yards.
    New York virtually put the game away on its first possession of the second half.  After their defense forced a three-and-out to begin the half, the Jets ate 7:10 of clock during a drive that ended with a 2-yard scoring strike from Rodgers to Garrett Wilson.
    That provided the Jets with a commanding 21-3 lead and prompted the home crowd to get “Aaron Rodgers” chants going later in the third quarter.

Rodgers on Display vs Pats at Met Life

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EAST RUTHERFORD – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Jets fans are hoping to get a longer look at quarterback Aaron Rodgers when New York faces the New England Patriots tonight in New Jersey.

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The last time Rodgers stepped onto the turf at MetLife Stadium, he lasted just four plays, tearing his left Achillies tendon in the Jets’ 2023 season opener against the Buffalo Bills.

That injury put Rodgers on the shelf for the entirety of the campaign. He was still credited with the win against Buffalo, but it wasn’t until Sunday that Rodgers led the Jets (1-1) to victory while playing for a full game. The 40-year-old completed 18 of 30 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns as New York beat the Tennessee Titans 24-17.

Now that the Jets have their first real taste of success with Rodgers under center, New York coach Robert Saleh is banking on the home crowd giving his team a significant advantage on Thursday.

“I hope it’s off the chain,” Saleh said, referring to the type of atmosphere he expects. “I mean, shoot, it’s our home opener coming on a Thursday. I know our fans are some of the most passionate fans in all of football. … You want to play in the spotlight.”

The Jets will need all the help they can get as they try to crack a New England defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest points per game (16.5) through the first two weeks of the season.

After picking up a clean 16-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1, the Patriots (1-1) faltered late to drop a 23-20 overtime decision against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Rhamondre Stevenson found the end zone from 1 yard out to put New England up 20-17 with 12:43 left in regulation, but the Patriots let Seattle march its way to Jason Myers’ 38-yard field goal that tied the game with 55 seconds to go.

Myers nailed a game-winning 31-yarder in overtime. New England got the ball to open the extra session but went three-and-out.

It marked the first career loss for Patriots first-year coach Jerod Mayo, who is now trying to effectively navigate a short week.

“I think the first thing is to recover. That’s the first thing,” Mayo said. “So in saying that, we’re going to bring the guys in late every day this week. … I think it’s important that those guys rest up. It also gives the coaches an opportunity to get the game plan put together. That’s the first thing.

“Secondly, it comes back to executing. When you’re sore, when you’re tired, that’s what it really comes back to.”

And leaning on the defense might not be an option for New England come Thursday.

Multiple media outlets reported Monday that Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley sustained a season-ending pectoral injury against the Seahawks, and fellow linebacker Anfernee Jennings (knee), defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. (shoulder), safety Jabrill Peppers (shoulder) and cornerback Marcus Jones (knee) were all limited in practice on Tuesday.

New York turned in an estimated injury report, simply holding a walkthrough on Tuesday, but linebacker C.J. Mosley (toe) would not have participated in practice. Linebacker Jermaine Johnson announced on Monday that he has a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Scratch-out Win vs Rays

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ST PETERSBURG – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Jarren Duran drove in the winning run in a small-ball eighth inning as the Red Sox evened their three-game series with Tampa Bay on Wednesday, edging the Rays 2-1 in Florida.

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After Trevor Story (2-for-3, homer, two runs) opened the eighth with a weak single past Drew Rasmussen (0-2), the Boston shortstop stole second and third. With one out, Duran slapped the winning hit to right for the Red Sox (76-76).

Boston starter Tanner Houck yielded one run and four hits in four innings. He struck out four without issuing a walk.

Justin Slaten (6-2) pitched out of trouble in the seventh. Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen worked around two walks in the ninth to notch his 27th save.

Josh Lowe (double, run), Jonny DeLuca (hit by pitch) and Taylor Walls (RBI, walk, stolen base) had two hits apiece for Tampa Bay (74-78).

Rays starter Ryan Pepiot dominated Boston for six innings, allowing just one run on two hits and no walks while fanning a career-high 12 batters. He crafted an immaculate inning (struck out all three batters on a total of nine pitches) in the fifth.

One night after tying their season high by going deep four times in an 8-3 win, the Rays produced a second-inning run. Lowe doubled with one out and DeLuca was hit by a pitch. After a strikeout, Taylor Walls slapped a liner that scored Lowe for a 1-0 lead.

In the fifth, Pepiot blew away the Red Sox lineup, whiffing Connor Wong looking and Wilyer Abreu and Triston Casas swinging.

The first-year Rays hurler set down 15 of the first 16 Boston batters he faced — 10 by strikeouts, nine swinging.

However, Story was ready to swing right away in the sixth and belted a first-pitch 93 mph fastball to left-center, making it 1-all with his second homer of the year.

Not known for his defense, Rays left fielder Christopher Morel prevented two runs in the seventh by ending the inning with a leaping catch above the fence’s pads on Casas’ drive with two runners on base.

–Field Level Media

NFL’s Better Birds: Falcons Stun Eagles

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PHILADELPHIA – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Atlanta QB Kirk Cousins threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Drake London with 34 seconds left and the Falcons rallied for a 22-21 win against the host Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.

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The Falcons (1-1) trailed by six with no timeouts and 1:39 remaining and drove 70 yards in six plays in just 65 seconds on the game-winning possession.

The Eagles (1-1) had squandered a chance to run out the clock when Saquon Barkley dropped a pass on third-and-3, and Philadelphia settled for Jake Elliott’s 28-yard field goal and a 21-15 lead.

Following a touchback, Cousins completed passes of 11 yards to Kyle Pitts, 21 yards to Darnell Mooney, 26 yards to Mooney and 5 yards to London to get to the Philadelphia 7-yard line with 43 seconds left.

After an incompletion, Cousins found a wide-open London in the end zone for a 21-21 tie with 34 seconds to go. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on London forced Younghoe Koo to convert the go-ahead extra point from 48 yards out.

Cousins passed for 241 yards and two TDs and Bijan Robinson rushed for 97 yards for the Falcons. It’s the first win for Cousins since signing a four-year, $180 million deal with Atlanta in March and the first since he tore his Achilles tendon last October.

Jalen Hurts passed for 183 yards with a touchdown and a late interception while also rushing for 85 yards and a TD for Philadelphia. Barkley rushed for 95 yards in his home debut as an Eagle.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Falcons struck first on Koo’s 39-yard field goal early in the second.

The Eagles responded with Hurts’ 7-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith for a 7-3 lead with 5:15 left in the first half.

Atlanta answered with Koo’s 22-yarder to make it 7-6 just before halftime.

The third quarter began with an exchange of field goals, with Koo’s third of the game — from 34 yards out — followed by a 29-yarder by Elliott that put the Eagles up 10-9.

One play after converting a fourth-and-4, Cousins connected with Mooney for a 41-yard TD and a 15-10 lead with 1:21 left in the third quarter.

Hurts’ 1-yard TD run and Barkley’s two-point conversion scamper with 6:47 left in the game put the Eagles up 18-15.

–Field Level Media

New England Patriots: Where’s Malcolm Butler When You Need Him?

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FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Seattle kicker Jason Myers converted a 31-yard field goal with 4:37 remaining in overtime to give the Seahawks a 23-20 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon in Massachusetts. New England (1-1) got the ball to begin the extra session but went three-and-out. The Seahawks capitalized, using eight plays to move 71 yards to Myers’ game-winner.

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Myers also came through in the clutch in regulation, putting home a 38-yard field goal that tied the game at 20-all with 55 seconds left.

The Patriots went up 20-17 with 12:43 left in the fourth quarter when Rhamondre Stevenson polished off an 11-play, 66-yard march by taking a direct snap and bursting into the end zone from 1 yard out. Stevenson finished with 81 yards and the score on 21 carries.

Seattle (2-0) mustered just one first down on the ensuing possession before punting the ball away. A 45-yard run from Antonio Gibson helped the Patriots work down to the Seahawks 21, but New England ended up having to bring the field-goal unit out.

Joey Slye had his 48-yard field-goal attempt blocked by Julian Love, allowing Seattle to take over at its own 38.

Geno Smith completed 33 of 44 passes for 327 yards and a touchdown for the Seahawks. His favorite targets were Jaxon Smith-Njigba (12 catches, 117 yards) and DK Metcalf (10 catches, 129 yards, TD).

Gibson went for 96 yards on the ground for the Patriots, who got 149 yards and a TD on 15-of-27 passing from quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

Rookie Ja’Lynn Polk capped an eight-play, 60-yard drive with his first career touchdown reception, hauling in a 5-yard pass from Brissett to give New England a 7-0 lead with 4:56 left in the first quarter.

Four plays later, Smith connected with Metcalf for a 56-yard scoring strike that drew the Seahawks even.

Slye booted a 29-yard field goal early in the second quarter, but Seattle went back in front when Zach Charbonnet rushed for a 1-yard TD with 5:47 to go in the frame.

New England pulled within 14-13 when Slye made good on a 28-yard field goal with 2:31 remaining in the first half.

However, Myers drilled a 44-yarder as time expired in the half to provide the Seahawks with a 17-13 advantage at the break.

Joe Castiglione to Retire

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame broadcaster Joe Castiglione, the voice of the Boston Red Sox radio for over four decades, announced his retirement from the WEEI broadcast booth. His 42-season tenure (1983-2024) stands as the longest of any play-by-play announcer in franchise history. Castiglione will remain part of the Red Sox family in an honorary ambassador role. The club will pay tribute to his storied career prior to its final regular season game on September 29 at Fenway Park.

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“After 42 seasons with the Red Sox and more than 6,500 games, I have decided it’s time to retire from a regular broadcast schedule,” said Castiglione. “While I feel I am at the pinnacle of my career, have been blessed to call four World Championships, and received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Hall of Fame in July while working for the greatest franchise in sports, it’s time to spend more time with Jan, my bride of almost 53 years, my kids, and grandkids. The Red Sox and Audacy have been wonderful to me and have let me call my own shots, which is so rare in broadcasting. They will keep me in the family as a club representative making appearances with clients and fans, working special events, and filling in on game broadcasts when the need arises. While I will miss the daily interactions with baseball people and talking to the fans of Red Sox Nation, I think this is the right decision for my family and myself.”

“Joe is one of the greatest in baseball broadcasting,” said Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry. “His recognition by the Hall of Fame in July punctuated a career of vivid storytelling that has brought the game to life for generations of listeners. His brilliance in the booth is matched only by his exceptional character. Though his role has placed him squarely in the spotlight, he has aways let the action on the field take center stage, a trait he has shown even behind the mic with an uncanny ability to put others first. His kindness and genuine spirit have touched everyone around him and as he steps into a well-deserved retirement, he leaves behind a legacy of humility and warmth that will continue to inspire us all. We are grateful for his more than four decades of dedication and for sharing his love for baseball and the Red Sox with all of us night after night.”

“Joe calls games with an authenticity that makes every listener feel like an insider,” said Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner. “He turns every play into a shared experience, perfectly capturing our joy and disbelief with his unforgettable call ‘Can you believe it?’ after the final out of the 2004 World Series. He has carried us through loss and disappointment with compassion and sincerity and has been a nightly companion to millions for generations, earning his place as one of New England’s most beloved voices. So many of us at the Red Sox have been lucky to have him as a friend and witness the incredible relationships he built with the many broadcasters he’s mentored over the years. His legacy will last well beyond his final call, and we are profoundly thankful for his service and the immeasurable impact he’s had on our organization and the game of baseball.”

“You’d be hard-pressed to find someone more friendly and dependable than Joe,” said Red Sox President & CEO Sam Kennedy. “Like countless New Englanders, I grew up listening to him call Red Sox games every season and his broadcasts always felt like a conversation with a trusted friend, a rare gift that made him a fixture in homes across the region. After working with him for over two decades, I have come to appreciate that Joe’s talent in the broadcast booth is an attribute equaled only by his unfailing kindness. He is down-to-earth and one of the most authentic individuals I’ve ever had the privilege of working with. It’s difficult to have imagined a better voice or a finer person to serve as the narrator of Red Sox baseball these past four decades and he has certainly earned a very well-deserved retirement.”

“Joe Castiglione has provided the soundtrack of summer to Sox fans throughout New England on the WEEI Red Sox Radio Network for 42 seasons,” said Mike Thomas, SVP/Market Manager, Audacy Boston. “To work any job for 42 years is a colossal accomplishment, but to do play-by-play for one team for that long is legendary. As great as Joe is in the booth, he’s an even better person and teammate. It has been a privilege to listen to Joe and an honor to work with him. Congratulations Joe and thank you for bringing the sights and sounds of the Sox through our radio for so many memorable moments.”

Born March 2, 1947, in Hamden, Connecticut, Castiglione graduated from Colgate University and earned his master’s degree from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication. He began his broadcasting career at WFMJ-TV in Youngstown, Ohio, before calling MLB games for Cleveland (1979, 1982) and Milwaukee (1981). He joined the Red Sox broadcast team in 1983, first airing games for WPLM and later for WRKO/WEEI beginning in 1989. Over the years, Castiglione’s voice has become synonymous with iconic Red Sox moments, including the final outs of each of the club’s four World Series victories from 2004 to 2018.

In July 2024, Castiglione received the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum for excellence in broadcasting. He was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2014 in a class that included Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, and Nomar Garciaparra. In 2022, Fenway Park’s home radio booth was officially named the “Joe Castiglione Booth” to honor his storied career.

Green Bay: All You Need is Love

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GREEN BAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Green Bay Packers downgraded quarterback Jordan Love from questionable to doubtful on Saturday for their home opener Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.

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Love suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee in Green Bay’s Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil and did not practice this week. Yet on Friday, he was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game despite not being medically cleared to play, according to coach Matt LaFleur.

The Packers haven’t ruled Love out nor have they placed him onthe team’s injured reserve, which would require he miss at least four games.

LaFleur had previously said the Packers would not place Love on injured reserve as they went “day to day” with his evaluation.

Love, 25, was helped off the field with six seconds left in the 34-29 loss to the Eagles Sept. 6. He went 17-for-34 passing for 260 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Malik Willis was elevated to the starting role until Love’s return. Willis, 25, was acquired from the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 26 for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick and was the No. 2 quarterback behind Love entering Week 1.

Green Bay elevated quarterback Sean Clifford from the practice squad on Saturday to be Willis’ backup if Love is ruled out.

–Field Level Media

College Football: Top 25 Roundup

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LEXINGTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Georgia’s RB Trevor Etienne ran for a team-high 79 yards on 19 carries, helping No. 1 Georgia eke out a 13-12 win over Kentucky on Saturday in Kentucky.

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Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC) won its 42nd straight regular-season game as Carson Beck completed 15 of 24 passes for 160 yards, while Dominic Lovett caught six passes for 89 yards in the Bulldogs’ SEC opener.

Former Georgia quarterback Brock Vandagriff was 14 of 27 for 114 yards, while Demie Sumo-Karngbaye ran for a game-high 98 yards as Kentucky (1-2, 0-2) dropped its second straight game and its 15th consecutive game to Georgia. Alex Raynor was 4-for-4 on field-goal attempts, accounting for all of Kentucky’s scoring.

After a Kentucky punt late in the third, Etienne accounted for 51 of Georgia’s 68 yards on the next drive, setting up Branson Robinson’s 3-yard rushing score, giving Georgia a 13-9 lead with 12:20 remaining in the game.

No. 2 Texas 56, UTSA 7

Arch Manning passed for four touchdowns and ran 67 yards for another in relief of the injured Quinn Ewers as the Longhorns flew past the Roadrunners in Austin, Texas.

Manning went 9 of 12 for 223 yards in about two quarters of play in the most extensive action of the highly touted redshirt freshman’s career as the Longhorns (3-0) dominated from start to finish. Ewers was 14 of 16 passing for 185 yards, two TDs and an interception in just over a quarter of play before sustaining a strained abdomen.

Owen McCown led UTSA (1-2) with 132 yards passing while Robert Henry Jr. had 65 yards rushing and a touchdown on six carries.

No. 4 Alabama 42, Wisconsin 10

Jalen Milroe passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more in Madison, Wis., to pace the Crimson Tide to a nonconference rout of the Badgers, who lost starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke on their opening possession.

Milroe completed 12 of 17 passes for 196 yards with touchdowns of 31, 26 and 37 yards. He also ran for a team-high 75 yards on 14 carries. Alabama (3-0) outgained Wisconsin 407-290 and averaged 7.3 yards per play to 4.0 for the Badgers (2-1).

Van Dyke was replaced by redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke, who completed 13 of 26 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. Chez Mellusi ran for 66 yards on 11 carries.

No. 5 Ole Miss 40, Wake Forest 6

Jaxson Dart had two scoring passes and a touchdown run and Henry Parrish Jr. ran for two touchdowns as the Rebels rode a strong start against the Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Ole Miss (3-0) scored 20 first-quarter points and that set the tone for another comfortable victory. Dart completed 26 of 34 passes for 377 yards with an interception. Parrish gained 148 yards on the ground on 23 carries.

Hank Bachmeier was 22-of-39 passing for 239 yards but couldn’t direct Wake Forest to the end zone. The Demon Deacons (1-2) only scored on a pair of Matthew Dennis field goals.

No. 6 Missouri 27, No. 24 Boston College 21

Missouri’s QB Brady Cook completed 21 of 30 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown as the Tigers outlasted the Eagles in Columbia, Mo.

Cook also rushed for a touchdown for the Tigers (3-0), who erased a 14-3 second-quarter deficit. Blake Craig kicked four field goals for Missouri: two from 38 yards out, one from 31 yards out and one from 56 yards out.

Missouri overcame eight penalties for 78 yards and outgained the Eagles (2-1) 440-295. Thomas Castellanos completed 16 of 28 passes for 249 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for Boston College.

It was the only game of the day featuring two Top 25 teams.

No. 7 Tennessee 71, Kent State 0

Dylan Sampson rushed for four touchdowns and DeSean Bishop added two during a program-record 65-point first half as the Volunteers steamrolled the Golden Flashes in nonconference play at Knoxville, Tenn.

Bishop rushed for 120 yards on seven carries and Sampson had 101 on 13 attempts as the Volunteers (3-0) annihilated the Golden Flashes over the first 30 minutes. Tennessee’s 37-point first quarter was a program record for any period and the Volunteers followed it with 28 points in the second quarter. Tennessee also set a school mark with 740 yards of total offense.

Nico Iamaleava completed 10 of 16 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown before leaving with Tennessee leading by 51 midway through the second quarter. Devin Kargman completed 9 of 15 passes for 58 yards for Kent State (0-3). Rocco Nicholl had 10 tackles.

No. 9 Oregon 49, Oregon State 14

Visiting Oregon (3-0) scored on eight possessions and turned an eight-point lead into a blowout for its first win at Oregon State since 2018. Dillon Gabriel finished 20-of-24 passing for 291 yards with two touchdown passes and added another touchdown on the ground.

Jordan James had 86 yards on 12 carries, including a touchdown in each half, and Noah Whittington added 64 rushing yards, including a 27-yard touchdown run in the fourth. Tysheem Johnson reeled in seven catches for 110 yards as the Ducks gained 546 yards of total offense against a defense that had allowed 15 points combined in its first two games.

Oregon won for the 14th time in the last 17 meetings.

No. 10 Miami 62, Ball State 0

Cam Ward passed for 346 yards and a career-high five touchdowns as the Hurricanes blasted the Cardinals in Miami Gardens.

Lightning in the area on Saturday delayed the start of the game by 2 1/2 hours, but that didn’t stop Miami (3-0), which set a school record with 750 yards of total offense. Miami’s stars included Jacolby George (six catches 109 yards, one TD), Xavier Restrepo (three catches, 47 yards, two TDs) and Ajay Allen (104 rushing yards, one TD).

Ball State (1-1) was led by Kadin Semonza, who finished 16-of-26 passing for 111 yards. He was intercepted once.

No. 12 Utah 38, Utah State 21

Isaac Wilson threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start to lead the Utes over host Utah State in Logan, Utah.

Wilson, who was picked off once, filled in for Cameron Rising, who sat out after suffering an injury to his right (throwing) hand against Baylor last week. Wilson had his first career 200-yard game and helped Utah (3-0) beat Utah State for the 12th time in 13 games in the teams’ rivalry series.

Utah State’s Bryson Barnes threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns in his first game against his former team. Barnes also tossed a pair of interceptions. The Aggies (1-2) got 115 rushing yards on 19 touches from Rahsul Faison.

No. 13 Oklahoma State 45, Tulsa 10

Alan Bowman threw for 396 yards and five touchdowns as the Cowboys roared out to a 28-point halftime lead on their way to a road rout of the Golden Hurricane.

Bowman completed 24 of 31 passes with an interception as the Cowboys improved to 3-0. Oklahoma State outgained the Golden Hurricane 560-352 in its final nonconference tune-up before opening Big 12 play next week at home against Utah.

Kirk Francis hit 14 of 31 passes for 153 yards with an interception for Tulsa (1-2), which came into the contest averaging 43 points per game. The aggressive Cowboys notched seven tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks, and permitted just 5 of 16 third-down conversions.

No. 15 Oklahoma 34, Tulane 19

Jackson Arnold threw for 169 yards and a touchdown and ran for 97 yards and two scores for the Sooners in Norman, Okla.

Oklahoma was in a precarious position in the fourth after Tulane pulled within five. But then Billy Bowman Jr. pulled down a redirected Darian Mensah pass for an interception, giving Oklahoma the ball in Tulane territory.

Then the Sooners (3-0), who had come up empty on four consecutive drives, finally showed some life. Arnold broke off a 24-yard touchdown run to give Oklahoma some breathing room. Darian Mensah was 14-of-32 passing for 166 yards, a touchdown and an interception for the Green Wave (1-2).

No. 17 Michigan 28, Arkansas State 18

Kalel Mullings rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries as the Wolverines defeated the Red Wolves at Ann Arbor, Mich.

Donovan Edwards ran for 82 yards and a score on 17 carries for Michigan (2-1), which outgained Arkansas State 301-58 on the ground. Davis Warren completed 11 of 14 passes for 122 yards but was intercepted three times. Alex Orji tossed a touchdown pass after replacing Warren.

Jaylen Raynor completed 19 of 33 passes for 140 yards with an interception for the Red Wolves (2-1). Timmy McClain threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Reginald Harden Jr. after the Wolverines led by 25 points.

No. 16 LSU 36, South Carolina 33

Caden Durham rushed for two touchdowns and Josh Williams ran 2 yards for a winning touchdown with 1:12 remaining as the Tigers rallied to edge the Gamecocks in Columbia, S.C.

Garrett Nussmeier passed for 285 yards and two touchdowns and drove the Tigers (2-1, 1-0 SEC) 55 yards to the winning score. Backup QB Robby Ashford drove South Carolina to the LSU 31, but Alex Herrera missed a 49-yard field goal as time expired.

The Gamecocks (2-1, 1-1) passed for just 155 yards as starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers (9-for-16 passing, 113 yards) injured his right ankle on the second-to-last play of the first half and played just one possession in the second half.

No. 18 Notre Dame 66, Purdue 7

Riley Leonard rushed for 100 yards and three touchdowns, Jeremiyah Love rushed for 109 yards and another score, and the Fighting Irish crushed the Boilermakers in West Lafayette, Ind.

Jadarian Price and Kenny Minchey also rushed for a touchdown for Notre Dame (2-1), which bounced back from a stunning loss against Northern Illinois one week earlier. Leonard completed 11 of 16 passes for 112 yards before he gave way to backup Steve Angeli, who completed 6 of 9 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Hudson Card completed 11 of 24 passes for 124 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Purdue (1-1). Notre Dame ran for 362 yards and posted its highest point total since Sept. 14, 2019, when it tallied a 66-14 home win against New Mexico.

No. 23 Nebraska 34, Northern Iowa 3

Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns to guide the Cornhuskers to a victory over the Panthers in Lincoln, Neb.

The Cornhuskers (3-0) scored touchdowns on their first three possessions to win their first game as a ranked team since 2019. Dante Dowdell rushed six times for 55 yards as Nebraska finished with 423 total yards to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2016.

For Northern Iowa (2-1), which entered the night ranked 21st in the FCS poll, quarterback Aidan Dunne completed 13 of 25 passes for 117 yards and rushed for a team-high 49 yards before getting knocked out of the game with 10 minutes to go.

–Field Level Media