No. 1 Florida didn’t embarrass Tennessee and its new coach, just beat them behind Tim Tebow and a stingy defense.
Tebow ran for 76 yards and a touchdown, Caleb Sturgis kicked three field goals, and the Gators opened Southeastern Conference play with a 23-13 victory over the Volunteers yesterday in Gainesville, Fla.
“It wasn’t how we envisioned or hoped,’’ said Tebow, whose streak of games with a TD pass ended at 30. “But it’s a win and it’s good enough for all of us.’’
The Gators (3-0) won their fifth straight in the series and set a school record with their 13th consecutive victory.
Florida started counting down the days for this one more than nine months ago, right after Lane Kiffin vowed to sing “Rocky Top’’ all night long after beating the Gators. Kiffin also riled up Florida with his false allegations of NCAA violations by Florida coach Urban Meyer.
The Gators downplayed Kiffin’s comments publicly, but privately vowed to make him pay on the field. Meyer and Kiffin exchanged a quick handshake when it ended. Meyer then spent more time with several Tennessee players, offering them congratulations on a game well played.
Kiffin said afterward that his plan from Day 1 was to take the focus off his players and put it on him.
“It worked perfectly,’’ Kiffin said. “It took all the pressure off the players. We played the No. 1 team in the nation with no pressure on them . . . It was all on me. We were 30-point underdogs in this place and it really helped them go out and play ball.’’
Tebow completed 14 of 19 passes for 115 yards, but also had two turnovers that Tennessee (1-2) turned into 10 points.
Texas 34, Texas Tech 24 - Colt McCoy threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Dan Buckner in the fourth quarter and the No. 2 Longhorns (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) shook off the visiting Red Raiders to gain a measure of revenge against the team that cost them a shot to play for the national title last season.
Taylor Potts passed for 420 yards and three touchdowns for Texas Tech (2-1, 0-1), but fumbled on sack by Sergio Kindle to set up McCoy’s TD pass.
Oregon 31, Utah 24 - LaMichael James rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown and John Boyett’s interception with two minutes left allowed the host Ducks (2-1) to hold off the No. 14 Utes, snapping the nation’s longest winning streak at 16 games.
Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli ran for two touchdowns, but had two fumbles and an interception in the second half to help Utah (2-1) rally from a 21-7 deficit to within 28-24 by the end of the third quarter.
Georgia 52, Arkansas 41 - Joe Cox threw for 375 yards and five touchdowns, and the No. 23 Bulldogs (2-1, 2-0 SEC) pulled away for a wild win over the host Razorbacks.
Arkansas led, 35-34, in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs’ struggling defense held Arkansas to two short field goals the rest of the way. Ryan Mallett set two school records for Arkansas (1-1, 0-1), throwing for 408 yards and five touchdowns. The teams fell short of the Southeastern Conference record of 104 points in a non-overtime game.
Alabama 53, North Texas 7 - Greg McElroy passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another before sitting out most of the second half in the No. 4 Crimson Tide’s victory in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Mark Ingram ran for 91 yards and a TD on eight carries, and scored on a 29-yard reception for Alabama (3-0). Freshman Trent Richardson added 87 yards and a touchdown, and Terry Grant scored twice and gained 79 yards. It was the highest-scoring game for Alabama since a 56-3 win over Louisiana Tech in 1993, six head coaches ago. North Texas (1-2) was outgained, 523-187.
Mississippi 52, SE Louisiana 6 - Jevan Snead threw three touchdowns, Brandon Bolden rushed for 105 yards, and the No. 5 Rebels (2-0) won their eighth straight game - their longest winning streak since they won 10 in 1971-72.
Penn St. 31, Temple 6 - Evan Royster ran for 134 yards and a touchdown, and the fifth-ranked Nittany Lions revived their rushing attack in a rout of the visiting Owls. Daryll Clark threw for 167 yards and two scores as Penn State beat its in-state rival for the 27th straight time.
California 35, Minnesota 21 - Jahvid Best rushed for 131 yards and a school-record five touchdowns to lift the eighth-ranked Golden Bears (3-0) past the host Gophers.
LSU 31, La.-Lafayette 3 - Chad Jones had two interceptions to lead a dominant defensive performance by the No. 9 Tigers (3-0) in a rout of the visiting Ragin’ Cajuns.
Ohio St. 38, Toledo 0 - Terrelle Pryor hooked up with Dane Sanzenbacher on two early touchdown passes and rushed for 110 yards and a TD as the No. 11 Buckeyes (2-1) defused the Rockets’ high-scoring spread attack at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Oklahoma 45, Tulsa 0 - In just his second career start, Landry Jones threw for 336 yards and set a school record with six touchdown passes as the No. 12 Sooners recorded their second straight shutout since Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford went out with an injury.
The win gave Oklahoma (2-1) a school-record 26 straight at home, and the Sooners did it by holding their opponent scoreless in back-to-back games for the first time since 1987.
TCU 56, Texas St. 21 - Joseph Turner ran for 129 yards and three touchdowns, Jerry Hughes had three sacks, and the No. 15 Horned Frogs (2-0) won their eighth consecutive home opener.
Oklahoma St. 41, Rice 24 - Zac Robinson rushed for one touchdown and threw for two more - both to Dez Bryant - as the No. 16 Cowboys (2-1) rebounded from their upset loss to Houston by routing the visiting Owls.
Cincinnati 28, Oregon St. 18 - Tony Pike threw for 332 yards and hit Mardy Gilyard with a late 18-yard TD pass as the No. 17 Bearcats (3-0) broke the Beavers’ streak of 26 straight nonconference victories at Reser Stadium.
Michigan 45, E. Michigan 17 - Carlos Brown had a 90-yard touchdown run and a career-high 187 yards rushing to help the No. 25 Wolverines (3-0) roll past the visiting Eagles.
