Penix throws 4 TDs in Huskies' big win over Spartans

SEATTLE (AP) – Michael Penix Jr. threw for 397 yards and four touchdowns, and Washington emphatically stated its case as a contender in the Pac-12 with a 39-28 win over No. 11 Michigan State on Saturday night. Penix was spectacular for three quarters in a primetime national showcase that showed Kalen DeBoer’s rebuild of the Huskies (3-0) is progressing faster than expected. Washington led 29-8 at halftime and 36-14 after three quarters. Having a star quarterback certainly helps. Penix completed 24 of 40 passes and just missed posting the eighth 400-yard passing game in Washington history. He was at his best in the first half, making 18 of 24 attempts for 278 yards and leading Washington to touchdowns on four of its five possessions. Ja’Lynn Polk had six catches for a career-high 153 yards and three TDs. Payton Thorne threw for 323 yards and three TDs, and led a pair of quick fourth-quarter scoring drives for Michigan State (2-1) that caused some nerves for the Huskies. But the rally was too late for the Spartans, who were stymied in the run game and saw their pass defense get exposed. It was Washington’s first win over a ranked Power Five nonconference opponent at home since beating Michigan to open the 2001 season. NO. 1 GEORGIA 48, SOUTH CAROLINA 7 COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Stetson Bennett went 16 for 23 for 284 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score as No. 1 Georgia routed South Carolina 48-7 on Saturday. The Bulldogs (3-0) nearly had a second shutout of the season in their Southeastern Conference opener, but the backups allowed a touchdown pass with 53 seconds to go. Georgia has allowed just 10 points this season and the garbage-time score was the first offensive touchdown it gave up in its past five regular-season games. South Carolina (1-2) started 0-2 in the SEC for the fourth straight year. NO. 2 ALABAMA 63, LOUSIANA-MONROE 7 TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) – Bryce Young passed for three touchdowns and rushed for a fourth, Will Anderson Jr. scored on an interception return and Alabama easily beat Louisiana-Monroe. The Crimson Tide (3-0) scored on offense, defense and special teams in the first six minutes and raced to a 28-0 first-quarter lead. It was a whirlwind start against the 49 1/2-point underdog Warhawks (1-2) a week after a much closer-than-expected victory over Texas cost Alabama the No. 1 ranking. Young completed 13 of 18 passes for 236 yards but also threw his first two interceptions of the season. He did run for a 7-yard score, where he spun near the goal line and dove across. Chandler Rogers completed 11 of 21 passes 96 yards for Louisiana-Monroe and was intercepted once. The Tide outgained Louisiana-Monroe 509-169. NO. 3 OHIO STATE 77, TOLEDO 21 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – C.J. Stroud threw five touchdown passes and Ohio State rolled up 762 yards on the way to a runaway victory over Toledo. The Buckeyes (3-0) scored on all six of their first-half possessions, with Stroud completing 18 of 20 passes for 297 yards and a pair of touchdown passes each to Marvin Harrison Jr. and Julian Fleming on the way to a 42-14 lead. Stroud completed 22 of 27 passes for 367 yards before yielding to backups late in the third quarter. The Buckeyes’ offensive output was the most since they gained 776 yards in a 77-10 win over another Mid-American Conference team, Bowling Green, in 2016. NO. 4 MICHIGAN 59, CONNECTICUT 0 ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) – Blake Corum rushed for a career-high four touchdowns in the first half and added a fifth score in the third quarter to match a school record, helping Michigan rout Connecticut.