
London special teams, record books and shootouts shape Saturday's college football noon window
Arizona State won at Wembley, Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith set a receiving record, and a group of high-scoring games supplied the window's clearest turning points.
By Beat Chuck Desk / 3 sources / Published September 19, 2026
Arizona State won the first Union Jack Classic 24-17 over Kansas at Wembley Stadium, and the result turned on two special-teams touchdowns. Kansas gained 414 yards to Arizona State's 228, but Tabor Nagy opened the scoring with a 72-yard punt return and Jaren Hamilton answered with a 100-yard kickoff return in the third quarter. Arizona State also won the turnover battle 3-0 and stopped Kansas on all three fourth-down tries. Cutter Boley's one-yard run made it 24-7 before Isaiah Marshall found Nagy for a 38-yard score, but Kansas could not close the gap.
A highlight of the Wembley game captures both return touchdowns. Kansas produced more conventional offense, while Arizona State owned the field-position swings.
Ohio State's 59-3 win over Kent State was a rout, but Jeremiah Smith supplied the lasting development. Smith caught five passes for 85 yards, moving past Michael Jenkins for Ohio State's career receiving-yards record. The Buckeyes led 35-0 at halftime, gained 527 yards and forced three turnovers; Kent State managed 134 yards and six first downs. Julian Sayin threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns, while Jamir Perez returned a fumble 11 yards for a score. Smith's record was the lasting news from a game Ohio State controlled throughout.
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Ohio State entered the game with Smith 26 yards short of Jenkins' 2,898-yard school mark. His 85-yard afternoon cleared it with room to spare.
Kansas State improved to 3-0 with a 31-20 win over Tulane, powered by quarterback Avery Johnson's two-way performance. Johnson completed 21 of 28 passes for 227 yards and ran 12 times for 152 yards and two touchdowns. K-State converted 10 of 16 third downs and gained 428 yards, while Tulane finished with 260 yards and three turnovers. Tulane led 7-0, then closed within 24-20 before the Wildcats reasserted control. Johnson's running altered the shape of the game whenever Tulane narrowed the margin.
No. 2 Georgia opened SEC play with a 45-17 win at Arkansas after taking a 21-3 halftime lead. The Bulldogs ran for 254 yards, converted seven of 11 third downs and repeatedly ended Arkansas possessions with pressure and a fourth-down stop. Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens supplied the early rushing scores; Gunner Stockton added 147 passing yards and 97 rushing yards. Freshman Craig Dandridge Jr.'s 61-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter was the late exclamation point. Georgia's official notes documented the first-half defensive stops and the 164 rushing yards it had at halftime.
Georgia's rushing advantage and defensive stops carried its first SEC road test.
- YouTube
Georgia Bulldogs vs Arkansas Razorbacks full game highlights
Read source ↗ Penn State beat Buffalo 55-13 by scoring 17 points in each of the first two quarters and leading 34-6 at halftime. Rocco Becht completed 11 of 19 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns, including a 70-yard strike to Koby Howard. Penn State held Buffalo to 173 total yards and a 1-for-14 third-down rate. Kaytron Allen and C.J. Wallace helped keep the run game productive, with Wallace adding a 59-yard fourth-quarter touchdown.
The Big Ten's game highlights show the early separation and Becht's long touchdown throw.
- YouTube
Buffalo at Penn State highlights | Big Ten Football
Read source ↗ Delaware held off Coastal Carolina 22-14 behind Sean Wilson's nine catches for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Coastal led 14-7 after a 62-yard Deuce Bailey-to-Goldie Lawrence touchdown, but Delaware answered and then kept the Chanticleers scoreless after halftime. Nick Minicucci went 24 of 32 for 302 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson's 36-yard fourth-quarter score restored Delaware's lead, while the Blue Hens defense protected it. Delaware's official recap identifies Wilson and the defense as the decisive factors.
A condensed-game video includes Wilson's fourth-quarter touchdown and Delaware's closing defensive possessions.
- YouTube
Coastal Carolina vs Delaware condensed game highlights
Read source ↗ Texas State beat North Texas 49-35 in a shootout in which North Texas quarterback Tayven Jackson threw for 483 yards and three touchdowns. Texas State answered with Brad Jackson's 268 passing yards and four touchdowns plus Torrance Burgess Jr.'s 214 rushing yards. The Bobcats scored twice in the final 8:14, including a 57-yard D. Jackson run.
Central Michigan beat Wyoming 24-10 behind quarterback Angel Flores, who carried 28 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Wyoming's Tyler Hughes threw two interceptions, and the Cowboys' only touchdown came in the fourth quarter.
Routine scoreboard: Iowa State 55, Bowling Green 7; Minnesota 41, Akron 7; Georgia Tech 44, Mercer 11; Wisconsin 54, Eastern Michigan 10. Aiden Flora ran for 194 yards and two touchdowns for Iowa State, Drake Lindsey threw three touchdowns for Minnesota, Justice Haynes ran for 141 yards and two scores for Georgia Tech, and Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph threw for 362 yards and three touchdowns.
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