Vols welcome Toppers to FBS with a rout

Associated Press

Wade Payne / AP

Tennessee tailback Montario Hardesty, left, outran Western Kentucky's Taurean Smith during the first quarter Saturday. Hardesty had 160 yards rushing and one touchdown on 18 carries.

Tennessee Coach Lane Kiffin's tenure on Rocky Top is off to a smooth start.

Jonathan Crompton threw five touchdown passes Saturday, leading the Volunteers to a 63-7 rout of Football Bowl Subdivision newcomers Western Kentucky.

"This is the way that we expect to play," Kiffin said. "We have high expectations here. I just talked to them about understanding that was one game and it's over. We've got to find a way to play better next week."

In its first two drives, Tennessee looked as if it hadn't learned much under Kiffin. Crompton threw a pass over the middle that was intercepted by Jamal Forrest, and Montario Hardesty fumbled after a hard hit.

The Vols settled down after the first quarter, and Hardesty carried for 18 and 22 yards to help set up a 2-yard touchdown run by freshman Bryce Brown early in the second quarter.

Bobby Rainey fumbled on the Hilltoppers' next play, and LaMarcus Thompson recovered for Tennessee. Crompton connected with Luke Stocker on his first of two TD catches to make it 14-0 only 7 seconds later.

"We played one quarter of decent football, and then I think for the next three quarters were physically dominated," Western Kentucky Coach Dave Elson said.

The Hilltoppers couldn't capitalize on the early turnovers and had minus-21 yards after their first 19 plays. Tennessee finished with 657 yards compared to Western Kentucky's 83.

Rainey had the Hilltoppers' only score on a 19-yard run with 2:41 in the third quarter that made it 35-7.

No. 9 Oklahoma St. 24, No. 13 Georgia 10. Zac Robinson threw two touchdown passes to star receiver Dez Bryant and also scored on a quarterback sneak as Oklahoma State beat visiting Georgia.

"It's huge. It's a great feeling. Starting off 1-0 against such a great team in Georgia, we knew it was a big game coming in and obviously it feels great to get this win," Robinson said. "It kind of jump starts the season."

It was the Bulldogs' first season opener outside the southeast in 51 years.

No. 1 Florida 62, Charleston Southern 3: Tim Tebow accounted for two touchdowns and Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps had scoring runs for the host Gators.

Tebow completed 10 of 15 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown, a 28-yard strike to Aaron Hernandez. Tebow also ran for a score, the 44th of his career. It tied him with former LSU star Dalton Hilliard for fourth place on the Southeastern Conference list.

Auburn 37, Louisiana Tech 13: Former Elizabethtown High star Chris Todd and Terrell Zachery hooked up on a school-record 93-yard touchdown pass to help Auburn beat visiting Louisiana Tech in Gene Chizik's debut as head coach.

Todd passed for 255 yards and two touchdowns, including the long one early in the third quarter.

Onterio McCalebb rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown to become the first Auburn freshman to run for 100 yards or more in an opener since Bo Jackson in 1982.

Arkansas 48, Missouri St. 10: Dennis Johnson returned the season's opening kickoff for a touchdown, and Arkansas set a school record with 447 yards passing in a home victory.

Ryan Mallett, who sat out last season after transferring from Michigan, went 17-for-22 for 309 yards and a touchdown for the Razorbacks.-

Mississippi St. 45, Jackson St. 7: Chris Relf threw three touchdowns and ran for another as Mississippi State overcame a slow start in Dan Mullen's caching debut to beat visiting Jackson State.

The Bulldogs shrugged off a half-hour lightning delay, 12 penalties and two turnovers to win in the first matchup between the teams from the Southwestern Athletic Conference and the Southeastern Conference.