The Gators (4-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) also recorded their first shutout in conference play since a 52-0 victory against Mississippi State in 2001.
Florida struggled early in the game, not a great sign with No. 2 LSU up next in two weeks. The slow start also was a rarity against the Wildcats (1-3, 0-1). The Gators had outscored Kentucky 94-3 in the first quarter in the last four meetings, sealing games before some fans settled into their seats.
It took a little longer Saturday.
The Gators scored three times in the second quarter, enough to put Kentucky away and extend the nation’s longest winning streak in a current series between two teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
NO. 1 ALABAMA 40, FLORIDA ATLANTIC 7
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — AJ McCarron threw three touchdown passes, including an early 85-yarder to Kenny Bell, and No. 1 Alabama routed Florida Atlantic 40-7 on Saturday.
Eddie Lacy rushed for 106 yards in the first half for the Crimson Tide (4-0), which rolled to 134 consecutive points and two shutouts before allowing a late touchdown.
The Owls (1-3) managed only one first down through three quarters and were outgained 503-110 in total yards. They were coming off a 56-20 loss to another Southeastern Conference power, No. 5 Georgia.
This one was even more one-sided.
NO. 23 MISSISSIPPI STATE 30,
SOUTH ALABAMA 10
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State started its season with four straight wins for the first time since 1999, beating South Alabama 30-10 on Saturday night.
Tyler Russell completed 13 of 27 passes for 171 yards for the Bulldogs (4-0) while LaDarius Perkins rushed for a team-high 69 yards — including a 44-yard touchdown run.
Nickoe Whitley and Johnthan Banks both had long interception returns that stopped South Alabama drives.
It was the 15th career interception for Banks and third this season. The Bulldogs led 20-0 at halftime, giving up just 104 yards at that point.
TEXAS A&M 70, SOUTH CAROLINA ST. 14
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Johnny Manziel threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more by halftime as Texas A&M built a big lead and coasted to a 70-14 win over South Carolina St. on Saturday night.
Two of Manziel’s touchdown passes went to Uzoma Nwachukwu. All four of Nwachukwu’s receptions this season have been for touchdowns.
The Aggies (2-1) were up 14-7 after the first quarter before Manziel scored on runs of 39 and 20 yards to give A&M a commanding lead.
TENNESSEE 47, AKRON 26
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tyler Bray threw for 401 yards and four touchdowns and Rajion Neal rushed for a career-high 151 yards Saturday night as Tennessee pulled away in the second half for a 47-26 victory over Akron.
Bray’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Neal with 6:47 left in the third quarter broke a 23-23 tie and put the Volunteers (3-1) ahead for good. After giving up the game’s final 24 points last week in a 37-20 loss to Florida, Tennessee ended Saturday’s game on a 17-0 run.
MISSISSIPPI 39, TULANE 0
NEW ORLEANS — Jeff Scott ran for two touchdowns and Mississippi piled up 304 yards rushing in a 39-0 victory over winless Tulane on Saturday.
The Ole Miss defense, seeking redemption after yielding 66 points in a loss to Texas a week earlier, limitedTulane to 159 yards of total offense.
The Rebels (3-1) constantly pressured Green Wave freshman quarterback Devin Powell. Making his first start, Powell was sacked three times and threw three interceptions. Tulane (0-3) also struggled to run, finishing with 14 net yards.
Playing for the first time since safety Devon Walker fractured his spine at Tulsa on Sept. 8, Tulane wore Walker’s No. 18 on one side of its helmets. The similarly supportive Rebels had small “DW” stickers on their helmets.
RUTGERS 35, ARKANSAS 26
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Gary Nova was 25 of 35 passing for a career-best 397 yards and five touchdowns to lead Rutgers to a 35-26 win over Arkansas on Saturday night.
The win secures the Scarlet Knights’ first 4-0 start since the 2006 season, and first-year coach Kyle Flood becomes the third coach in school history to start his career with that mark. The last was John Bateman in 1960.
Nova threw two touchdown passes to Brandon Coleman, who finished with six catches for 89 yards. Jawan Jamison had 33 carries for 118 yards for Rutgers.
NO. 7 SOUTH CAROLINA 31, MISSOURI 10
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Connor Shaw completed 20 straight passes and threw for two touchdowns, Marcus Lattimore ran for two scores and No. 7 South Carolina manhandled Missouri 31-10 and the Tigers first Southeastern Conference road game Saturday.
Shaw missed his first pass to Lattimore on the game’s first series, then hit his final 20 and finished with 252 yards passing as the Gamecocks (2-0 SEC) improved to 4-0 for just the ninth time in 119 seasons of football.
Missouri (2-2, 0-2) struggled against a Gamecocks defense that has given up three touchdowns all year.
The Tigers had a season-low 254 yards.
Lattimore rushed for 85 yards. His touchdowns gave him South Carolina’s career mark with 33 rushing scores, a record Lattimore shared with Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers and Harold Green.
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