NCAA roundup: Ala., Florida State post huge shutouts

Kenyan Drake of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs the ball against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium, September 15, 2012 in Fayetteville, Ark. The Crimson Tide defeated the Razorbacks 52-0. / Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

(AP) FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Without Tyler Wilson, Arkansas never had a chance against Alabama.

Florida State dispatched Wake Forest just as easily.

The top-ranked Crimson Tide demolished the beleaguered Razorbacks 52-0 on Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark., and the No. 5 Seminoles won by the same lopsided score.

Arkansas' much-anticipated season has crumbled three weeks into the season. The Razorbacks lost 34-31 in overtime last week to Louisiana-Monroe, and Wilson suffered a head injury in that game.

Wilson was in uniform, but did not play against the Tide and his backups, Brandon Allen and Brandon Mitchell, were tormented by the Alabama defense.

Arkansas managed only 137 yards.

Florida State's Chris Thompson had more than that on nine carries against Wake Forest. The speedy running back broke touchdown runs of 74 and 80 yards in the first half.

The Seminoles looked ready to go for their Atlantic Coast Conference showdown at home against Clemson next week.

No. 1 ALABAMA 52, ARKANSAS 0

Eddie Lacy ran for three touchdowns and the Crimson Tide forced five turnovers to win its 21st straight to SEC opener.

Vinnie Sunseri and Haha Clinton-Dix had interceptions against the Razorbacks, who played without quarterback Tyler Wilson because he had a head injury in last week's loss to Louisiana-Monroe.

The shutout was the second straight for the Crimson Tide (3-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference). The last time Alabama, which has forced 12 turnovers this season, had back-to-back shutouts was against Vanderbilt and Kentucky in 1980.

AJ McCarron was 11 of 16 passing for 189 yards and a touchdown.

Arkansas (1-2, 0-1) had just 44 yards of total offense at halftime and 137 for the game. The Razorbacks were held scoreless in Razorback Stadium for the first time since a 7-0 loss to Baylor in 1966.

No. 21 Stanford 21, No. 2 USC 14

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford still had every answer for Matt Barkley and Southern California.

Josh Nunes threw a go-ahead 37-yard touchdown to Zach Ertz, Stepfan Taylor ran for 153 yards and scored two touchdowns, and No. 21 Stanford upset second-ranked USC for its fourth straight win in this series.

Heisman Trophy hopeful Matt Barkley threw for 254 yards and two interceptions while completing only 20 of 41 passes. He was sacked twice on the final drive for the Trojans (2-1, 0-1 Pac-12) and threw out of bounds on a final, desperate heave on fourth-and-39 from USC's 25-yard line.

Coming out of a two-year bowl ban, USC had national title hopes. Now the Trojans will have to climb out of a hole to get there.

A sold-out crowd at Stanford Stadium rushed the field, tossing streamers and jumping in a wild celebration at midfield with Stanford coach David Shaw and players caught in the middle of the mess.

No. 21 Stanford upsets No. 2 USC, 21-14

No. 3 LSU 63, IDAHO 14

BATON ROUGE, La. - Tigers safety Ronald Martin and defensive end Lavar Edwards each snagged deflected passes and returned them for scores.

The victory gave LSU (3-0) an NCAA FBS record 40th-straight non-conference regular season victory. LSU also set a Tiger Stadium mark with 20 straight home wins, while extending its nation-long regular-season winning streak to 16 games.

Kansas State had 39 straight non-conference regular-season wins from 1993-2003.

LSU intercepted Idaho's Dominique Blackman four times. Martin, a sophomore making his first start with Craig Loston getting the night off, had two, both off deflections by cornerback Jalen Collins. Both also resulted in touchdowns.

No. 4 OREGON 63, TENNESSEE TECH 14

EUGENE, Ore. - Marcus Mariota threw for 308 yards and four touchdowns before Oregon pulled its starters.

Multitalented De'Anthony Thomas had 222 all-purpose yards on 10 touches. He ran for a 59-yard touchdown and caught a 16-yard scoring pass from Mariota.

The Ducks (3-0) were playing their final nonconference game before hosting Arizona next Saturday. They had 652 yards in total offense, compared to 177 yards for Tennessee Tech. Oregon did have its issues, however, with 12 penalties for 105 yards.

The Golden Eagles (2-1) have never defeated an FBS-level team in 28 tries. The game against the Ducks was the Ohio Valley Conference team's first against a Pac-12 opponent.

No. 5 FLORIDA STATE 52, WAKE FOREST 0

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Chris Thompson scored on runs of 74 and 80 yards on consecutive carries in the first half to lead the Seminoles.

Thompson, who suffered a broken back at Wake Forest a year ago that nearly ended his career, already had a career-high 197 yards following his 80-yard touchdown run that put the Seminoles into a 28-0 lead with 9:42 remaining in the first half.

His 74-yard touchdown followed a 60-yard punt return TD by Rashad Greene as the Seminoles (3-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) led 38-0 at the half.

Florida State's defense, which has allowed just three points this season and plays Clemson at home next week, held Wake Forest (2-1, 1-1 ACC) to 126 yards. Tanner Price managed only 82 passing yards.

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[KansasCity-2012]

Alabama's victory over Arkansas showed viewers that two types of football were being played on the field - one that scores and defends and one that didn't score or defend. Bad weather didn't level the playing field. Alabama kicking was impressive.