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Top 25 roundup: No. 1 Georgia crushes No. 14 Clemson

Syndication: Online AthensGeorgia running back Nate Frazier (3) scores a touchdown during the second half of the NCAA Aflac Kickoff Game against Clemson in Atlanta, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024.

Carson Beck completed 23 of 33 passes for 278 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs steamrolled the No. 14 Clemson Tigers 34-3 in Atlanta.

Georgia outscored Clemson 28-3 in the second half, extending its regular-season winning streak to 40 games. Nate Frazier added 83 rushing yards and a score for the Bulldogs, who won their third straight in the series.

Clemson was outgained 447-188, as junior quarterback Cade Klubnik was 18-for-29 for 142 yards. He also threw an interception to Malaki Starks.

Georgia outgained Clemson 160-76 in the first half, with the Bulldogs gaining 126 through the air and the Tigers 54. The Clemson offense managed just two first downs in the opening half to Georgia’s eight.

The 31-point loss was the Tigers’ largest defeat since a 51-14 loss to Florida State in 2013. Georgia now leads the all-time series 44-18-4.

No. 8 Penn State 34, West Virginia 12

Drew Allar threw for three second-quarter touchdowns and 216 yards as the Nittany Lions drilled the host Mountaineers.

Harrison Wallace caught two scores in the second period, while Kaytron Allen caught one. Allar was 11 of 17 for Penn State, which outgained West Virginia 457-246. Nicholas Singleton ran for a 40-yard score and finished with 114 yards on the ground for the Nittany Lions.

Garrett Greene hit on 15 of 28 attempts for 161 yards for the Mountaineers, who gained only 85 yards on 37 rushes and made just 4 of 14 third downs.

No. 15 Tennessee 69, Chattanooga 3

Redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava threw for three first-half touchdowns and running back Dylan Sampson reached the end zone three times before halftime as the Volunteers crushed the visiting Mocs.

Dont’e Thornton Jr. made two of the early touchdown catches, with Tennessee scoring on its first seven possessions.

Iamaleava finished 22-for-28 for 314 passing yards — all in the first half. For the game, 14 different Volunteers made at least one reception.

No. 17 Oklahoma State 44, South Dakota State 20

Ollie Gordon II ran for two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass as the host Cowboys ended the Jackrabbits’ 29-game winning streak.

Gordon, last season’s Doak Walker Award winner, totaled 104 rushing yards on 27 carries and added four receptions for 42 yards. Alan Bowman threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 25 of 34 passes, including 13 consecutive at one point.

Mark Gronowski, last season’s Walter Payton Award winner as the top player in the FCS, threw for 264 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for South Dakota State, which has won back-to-back FCS championships.

No. 25 Iowa 40, Illinois State 0

Leading 6-0 at halftime, the Hawkeyes opened the second half with a score and dominated the rest of the way in Iowa City, Iowa.

Hawkeyes QB Cade McNamara completed 13 of 14 passes for 177 yards and three scores in the second half and was 21-of-31 passing for 251 yards in his first appearance since tearing the ACL in his left knee against Michigan State on Sept. 30, 2023.

The Redbirds were outgained 492 total yards to 189 as Iowa assistant head coach Seth Wallace served as Iowa’s interim coach in place of suspended Kirk Ferentz.

–Field Level Media

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