Cooper, Sims torch Gators as No. 3 Tide roll
Blake Sims threw for 445 yards, the second-best passing performance in Alabama history, and the third-ranked Crimson Tide overcame a sloppy performance to beat Florida 42-21 Saturday.
The Tide (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) committed 11 penalties for 80 yards and four turnovers that turned into 21 points for the Gators (2-1, 1-1), who still couldn’t handle the Sims-to-Amari Cooper connection.
Sims threw touchdown passes of 87 yards to Kenyan Drake on the opening play and 79 to Cooper later in the first quarter. Cooper, who came in leading the nation in receptions, caught 10 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns.
The Tide’s turnovers and miscues kept the game close into the fourth quarter. Alabama’s 645 total yards was the most the Gators have allowed.
The previous high was Nebraska’s 629 yards in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl. Sims was 23-of-33 passing with four touchdowns, and was already up to 335 by halftime. That placed him a yard shy of the Tide’s Top 10 passing games.
Derrick Henry gained 111 yards on 20 rushes.
The Gators’ offense wasn’t much more successful than its defense.
Florida’s Jeff Driskel was harassed and ineffective passing. He was 9-of-28 passing for 93 yards and was intercepted twice while the offense produced just 200 yards.
Driskel did run for 59 yards, but it got so bad that Florida legend Emmitt Smith called for the quarterback’s benching on Twitter.
No. 6 Texas A&M 58, SMU 6: Kenny Hill had 322 yards of total offense playing only the first half, Jeremy Tabuyo turned two short passes into touchdowns and sixth-ranked Texas A&M rolled to a 58-6 victory at SMU.
Trey Williams ran for two touchdowns for the Aggies, who last started 4-0 in 2006.
The Mustangs (0-3) played for the first time since coach June Jones resigned only two games into his seventh season.
Hill, the thrilling sophomore who succeeded 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel as the starting quarterback, completed 16 of 22 passes for 265 yards with two touchdowns and his first interception at Texas A&M. His 58-yard run set up another touchdown as the Aggies built a 38-3 halftime lead in SMU’s home opener.
No. 13 Georgia 66, Troy 0: Sony Michel ran for 155 yards and three touchdowns to highlight a big day for freshmen in No. 13 Georgia’s 66-0 win over Troy.
Michel, playing behind Todd Gurley, had a 75-yard gain to set up his second touchdown.
Among other standout freshmen for Georgia (2-1) were receiver Isaiah McKenzie, who scored on a 52-yard punt return, and Bryce Ramsey, who threw his first career touchdown pass.
Indiana 31, No. 18 Missouri 27: D’Angelo Roberts scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 22 seconds remaining and Nate Sudfeld passed for 252 yards and a touchdown to help Indiana upset No. 18 Missouri 31-27.
After giving up 10 consecutive points to Missouri in the fourth quarter, the Hoosiers (2-1) traveled 75 yards on six plays to reclaim the lead. Tevin Coleman ran 44 yards to the Missouri 15-yard line to setup the game-winning score.
Coleman finished with 132 yards on 19 carries.
No. 19 Wisconsin 68, Bowling Green 17: Melvin Gordon rushed for career highs of 253 yards and five touchdowns, and No. 19 Wisconsin ran for a Big Ten-record 644 yards to trample Bowling Green for a 68-17 victory.
Gordon had 179 yards and four scores by halftime alone before dashing for a 69-yard touchdown on his first carry of the second half. He silenced any doubters worried about his 38-yard outing the previous game.
The Badgers (2-1) forced two turnovers on back-to-back possessions by the Falcons (2-2) in the first half to break open a close game.
No. 21 BYU 41, Virginia 33: Taysom Hill threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another to lead No. 21 Brigham Young to a 41-33 comeback win over Virginia.
The Cougars (4-0) trailed 16-13 at the half and lagged behind the Cavaliers in almost every statistical category but turned the game around with two third-quarter touchdowns.
Adam Hine sealed the victory for BYU with a 99-yard kickoff return midway through the final quarter.