STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Keelon Russell passed for 285 yards and three touchdowns to go with another TD rushing, and No. 7 Alabama routed 16th-ranked Mississippi State 56-23 on Saturday in a matchup of previously unbeaten teams.
Trae'shawn Brown ran for two touchdowns, Rico Scott caught two scoring passes and Dijon Lee Jr. returned an interception 30 yards for a score during a game that saw Alabama (5-0, 3-0 SEC) reinforce its credentials as contenders.
Alabama outgained Mississippi State (4-1, 2-1) 179-18 in yards rushing in its 17th straight victory in the series — the last seven by 23 or more points.
The game featured two of college football's most dynamic quarterbacks this season, but the mobility of the Bulldogs' Kamario Taylor appeared limited by an ankle injury last week and he struggled Saturday. His early fumble and two interceptions set up Alabama touchdown drives.
Taylor was sacked five times and pulled from the game with the Bulldogs down by 26 early in the fourth quarter.
Leading Bulldogs receiver Anthony Evans III had 12 catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns, one of his team's few bright spots.
What was widely seen as the biggest game at Davis Wade Stadium since Dak Prescott starred at QB for the Bulldogs more than a decade ago started poorly for Mississippi State.
Taylor's first two turnovers put the Bulldogs in a 14-0 hole less than seven minutes into the first quarter.
He fumbled five plays into the opening possession when the ball slipped from his throwing hand on an apparent pump fake near midfield and Alabama's London Simmons recovered.
That led to Ryan Coleman-Williams' 15-yard touchdown on Russell's short pass to the right flat. Taylor's next pass resulted in Lee's pick-6.
Taylor finished with 258 yards and three TDs passing, including an 11-yard score to Zion Riggins that pulled the Bulldogs to 21-14 in the second quarter.
But Alabama responded again with Brown's 7-yard scoring run, capping an 88-yard drive highlighted by Russell's third-down completions of 50 yards to Lotzeir Brooks and 22 yards to Coleman-Williams.
Brooks finished with four catches for 96 yards.
Alabama: Russell continued to improve his Heisman Trophy credentials by playing with composure amid the usual din of ringing cowbells at Mississippi State. He avoided turnovers and had several clutch completions on third down — including connections of 39 and 50 yards, and his touchdown pass to Scott.
Mississippi State: Top running back Fluff Bothwell, who entered the game nursing a lower-body injury, carried the ball only once for 1 yard on the Bulldogs' opening series and watched the second half with a boot on his left foot. Bothwell had entered the game with 402 yards and three TDs rushing.
Alabama: Hosts No. 2 Georgia next Saturday.
Mississippi State: Has a bye before visiting No. 11 LSU on Oct. 17.
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Alabama wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams (1) reacts to his touchdown with Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell (12) against Mississippi State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/James Pugh)
Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor is sacked by Alabama linebacker Xavier Griffin (11) and Alabama defensive lineman London Simmons (90) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/James Pugh)
Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell (12) runs for a touchdown against Mississippi State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/James Pugh)
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — CJ Carr threw for four touchdowns and ran for another and third-ranked Notre Dame leaned on its ground game in regaining control after halftime to beat North Carolina 37-26 on Saturday.
The Fighting Irish (5-0) were on the verge of going up 28-7 before the Tar Heels (2-2) came up with a goal-line stand and turned it into a long touchdown drive right before halftime. Then UNC came out of the break with Jaden Jefferson sprinting through the rain for a 98-yard kickoff return that brought the Tar Heels to within 21-20.
That's when Carr and the Irish offense went to work with a series of methodical and physical drives, leaning on the run in wet conditions to carry the ball right into the heart of the defensive front and consistently move the chains. That ultimately helped Notre Dame restore its multiple-possession lead while finishing with a season-high 241 yards on the ground.
“When they know you're going to try to run the ball — and you're still able to run the ball — because of the weather conditions, that's a reflection of your team, and the toughness and the physicality,” coach Marcus Freeman said.
Notre Dame responded to Jefferson's big play with a 17-play, 75-yard drive lasting more than nine minutes by the time Carr got around the right side for a fourth-down TD keeper.
Then, after forcing a three-and-out, Notre Dame went to work again in pummeling fashion. Nolan James Jr. did most of the work on the ground, then caught Carr's short pass in the left flat and juked a would-be tackler off his feet to go in for a 6-yard TD and a 34-20 lead to open the fourth quarter.
Freshman Jonaz Walton posted a team-high 120 yards to lead Notre Dame's ground effort, while James added 65. The Irish's rushing output included 122 yards in the third quarter alone in stymieing UNC's momentum, a welcome sign for a new ground game that lost running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price as first-round NFL draft picks.
“Super impressive with the way the offensive line kind of just drove the ball down the field,” Carr said. “They couldn't really stop us. It felt like we were imposing our will on them whenever we wanted to.”
Carr threw for 234 yards, with Jordan Faison making eight catches for 132 yards and two scores.
Billy Edwards Jr. threw for three touchdowns for the Tar Heels but was picked off twice. North Carolina also struggled to get anything going on the ground (77 yards on 23 carries).
Notre Dame: The defense had its hiccups in the Fighting Irish's 15th straight win. The Irish entered Saturday ranked No. 1 nationally by surrendering 199.3 yards per game and second in scoring (8.3), yet the Tar Heels came within seven points of matching the total the Irish had allowed through four games.
UNC: The Tar Heels started 2-0 before blowing a two-touchdown lead in a loss at Clemson on Sept. 19, then had an open week to prepare for this one. Finding ways to generate more downfield passing gains was a focus, and Edwards found more success. The primary targets were wideout Jordan Shipp (seven catches for 109 yards) and Jelani Thurman (five catches for 50 yards and two TDs) as the Tar Heels flirted with a marquee win under Bill Belichick in the NFL coaching great’s second college season.
Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish host Stanford next Saturday.
UNC: The Tar Heels visit Pittsburgh next Saturday, the first of back-to-back road games against teams that are a combined 9-0.
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North Carolina quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. (9) throws a touchdown pass to tight end Shamar Easter (84) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Notre Dame, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman discusses a call with an official during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Notre Dame linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, right, runs back an interception against North Carolina running back Jaylen McGill, left, during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, right, looks to pass against North Carolina behind the block of offensive lineman Sullivan Absher (75) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
