COLUMBIA, Mo.-In a team meeting Monday, Missouri coach Barry Odom set ablaze scouting reports, game plans and other remnants of a disappointing first half of the season. Five days later, the Tigers started the second half of the season by torching Idaho.
Missouri ended a five-game losing streak with a 68-21 victory on Faurot Field.
Drew Lock completed 23 of 33 passes for 467 yards and six touchdowns. He fell one touchdown pass short of the school record he set in the season opener. J'Mon
Moore caught 11 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown.
Missouri (2-5) dominated in all phases. In addition to piling up 660 total yards, the Tigers scored on Richaud Floyd's 85-yard punt return and were set up for another TD when Ronnell Perkins recovered a muffed kickoff in the first quarter.
The game began ominously for the Tigers. Armond Hawkins intercepted Lock on the first play, and the Vandals (2-5) proceeded to score on a 7-yard pass from Matt Linehan to Kaden Elliss, a linebacker who moonlights on offense.
"There was a very pointed discussion between our offensive coordinator and him," Odom said, referring to Josh Heupel and Lock. "It would not be G-rated. Drew is a tough kid, a good competitor."
Missouri responded with five first-quarter touchdowns, including three TD passes from Lock to tight end Albert Okwuegbunam. By halftime, Missouri led 51-14 and had accumulated 465 yards.
Missouri entered Saturday ranked 122nd nationally in total defense after giving up an average of 499 yards per game. Idaho managed just 278 yards. Linehan completed 19 of 32 passes for 139 yards and two
touchdowns.
"They just played way better than we did," Idaho coach Paul Petrino said. "Offensively, they got after us. Defensively, they won one-on-one matchups. You've just got to give them credit."
Alabama 45, Tennessee 7
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.-Bo Scarbrough had two fourth-down touchdown runs and No. 1 Alabama continued its domination of rival Tennessee with a 45-7 victory on Saturday.
The Crimson Tide (8-0, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) improved to 11-0 in the traditional Third Saturday in October game under coach Nick Saban while dealing another blow to the slumping Volunteers (3-4, 0-4) and embattled coach Butch Jones.
Alabama outgained Tennessee 604-108 in total yards even with reserves manning the offensive backfield most of the second half.
Scarbrough's two 1-yard scores came with defensive linemen Da'Ron Payne and Quinnen Williams as lead blockers.
"When the ball's inside the 1-yard line, I don't know that there's ever been a time when we didn't go for it," Saban said.
Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts capped the opening second half drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Irv Smith and then watched from the sidelines the rest of the way.
The Vols did snap a streak of 12-plus quarters without a touchdown after that move. Linebacker Daniel Bituli intercepted Tua Tagovailoa's pass and raced 97 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown.
Tagovailoa added big plays after his mistake. He scored on a 23-yard run and then hit fellow freshman Henry Ruggs III for a 60-yard touchdown with 4:49 left. Ruggs has five catches this season, all going for scores.
"We stuck with (Tagovailoa) so he could see that we had confidence in him and he continued to play well," Saban said.
Alabama made a goal-line stand in the fourth quarter with the stands mostly still packed and fans celebrating almost like it was a game-saver.
Mississippi St. 45, Kentucky 7
STARKVILLE, Miss.-Nick Fitzgerald had 270 total yards and three touchdowns to lead Mississippi State to 45-7 victory over Kentucky on Saturday.
Mississippi State (5-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) dominated the game from the opening quarter and never trailed. The Bulldogs finished with 441 total yards of offense and averaged 5.9 per play.
"We still got it," wide receiver Donald Grey said. "We've still got some growing to do, but we haven't fallen all the way off."
Fitzgerald, a junior, led all rushers with 115 yards and became just the sixth SEC quarterback to rush for over 2,000 career yards. He was also 18 of 26 passing for 155 yards and a touchdown to Jordan Thomas.
Kentucky (5-2, 2-2 SEC) managed just 260 total yards of offense and 14 first downs against one of the nation's toughest defensive units. They trailed 17-7 at the half and crossed midfield on only three drives the entire game.
"We were able to take them out of what they wanted to do early," head coach Dan Mullen said. "I challenged our defense to really get after the quarterback in the second half, and they really stepped up."
Stephen Johnson was 13 of 28 for 117 yards but threw two interceptions, including an 84-yard pick-six by Gerri Green.
Kentucky's defense was even less successful. The nation's No. 10 rushing defense allowed a season high 282 yards on the ground.
"We knew with their rush defense they were going to want to stop the run," Mullen said. "So we tried to come out balanced so they couldn't load up the line. Then we could wear them down."
Mississippi State dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 34:49.
"Even on the first series you could see, we're moving these guys," Fitzgerald said. "If we're going to keep getting 3 or 4 yards a pop, we're going to be fine."