CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Marcus Mariota and No. 2 Oregon wasted no time showing Virginia all that speed the Ducks bring is more than just talk.
Mariota ran 71 yards for a touchdown on the Ducks’ sixth play from scrimmage, turning a third-and-5 that had the crowd jacked up for a defensive stop into a demoralizing introduction into what Oregon football is all about.
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“They came out in a man-free look and they all kind of ran with their guy and I just kind of hit it up the middle,” Mariota said of the play, on which he flared five receivers out, then ran a draw. He was virtually untouched on the play.
“The guys did a good job blocking and the receivers did a good job blocking downfield,” he said.
Mariota finished with 122 yards on four carries, and threw two touchdown passes. De’Anthony Thomas added three scores, and the Ducks piled up 557 yards of offense in their first trip to Charlottesville.
(3) OHIO STATE 42, SAN DIEGO STATE 7: Backup quarterback Kenny Guiton took over when Braxton Miller left with a sprained left knee, running for one touchdown and passing for two while keeping the host Buckeyes right on task to extend the nation’s longest winning streak to 14.
(4) CLEMSON 52, SOUTH CAROLINA ST. 13: Tajh Boyd ran for a touchdown and Clemson returned two interceptions for scores for the first time in program history.
Boyd played only a half but that was more than enough, though, for the Tigers to move to 27-0 all-time against FCS teams. Cornerbacks Martin Jenkins and Darius Robinson each had pick-6 scores.
(9) LSU 56, UAB 17: Zach Mettenberger passed for an LSU single-game record five touchdowns, receiver Odell Beckham Jr. scored one of his four touchdowns on a 100-yard field goal return, and the Tigers overwhelmed UAB.
(11) GEORGIA 41, (6) SOUTH CAROLINA 30: Aaron Murray threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns, Georgia’s beleaguered defense finally came up with a stop, and the Bulldogs gained an early edge in the Southeastern Conference East.
Coming off a 38-35 loss at Clemson, Georgia could not afford another defeat if it wanted to remain a serious contender for a national title.
(7) TEXAS A&M 65, SAM HOUSTON ST. 28: Johnny Manziel threw for 426 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another in less than three quarters as the Aggies won a laugher.
(8) LOUISVILLE 44, E. KENTUCKY 7: Teddy Bridgewater threw for 397 yards and four touchdowns, and the Cardinals’ defense just missed its second straight shutout.
Linebacker Preston Brown had two sacks for host Louisville.
MIAMI 21, (12) FLORIDA 16: Stephen Morris threw two first-quarter touchdown passes, and Miami took advantage of Florida giving the ball away on four red-zone opportunities on the way to knocking off the Gators.
(13) OKLAHOMA STATE 56, UTSA 35: New starter J.W. Walsh completed his first 10 passes and finished 24 of 27 for 326 yards with four touchdowns to lead the Cowboys.
(17) MICHIGAN 41, (14) NOTRE DAME 30: Devin Gardner threw four touchdown passes, including a victory-sealing connection to Drew Dileo with 4:18 left, and the dual-threat quarterback wearing No. 98 to honor Tom Harmon ran for a score to lead the host Wolverines to a victory in front of an NCAA-record crowd of 115,109.
(16) OKLAHOMA 16, WEST VIRGINIA 7: Brennan Clay had a career-high 170 yards rushing as the Sooners overcame a second-half quarterback switch to defeat the Mountaineers.
(19) NORTHWESTERN 48, SYRACUSE 27: Trevor Siemian threw for 259 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, Kain Colter passed for a touchdown and ran for one, and the Wildcats won easily.
Tony Jones added a personal-best 185 yards receiving and a 47-yard TD.
(21) WISCONSIN 48, TENNESSEE TECH 0: Melvin Gordon ran for 140 yards and a score, and Wisconsin’s overpowering defense got its second straight shutout.
(22) NEBRASKA 56, SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI 13: Stanley Jean-Baptiste and Ciante Evans returned first-quarter interceptions for touchdowns and the Cornhuskers won easily.
(23) BAYLOR 70, BUFFALO 13: Bryce Petty threw for 338 yards and two touchdowns, and Lache Seastrunk ran for 150 yards with three scores.
(24) TCU 38, SE LOUISIANA 17: Backup quarterback Trevone Boykin led three straight scoring drives after starter Casey Pachall left the game with an injury.
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