Coaching from bed
No. 22 Syracuse spoiled a most unusual debut for Hugh Freeze as Liberty coach with a 24-0 victory in Lynchburg, Va. Still recovering from back surgery for a herniated disk on Aug. 16 and a staph infection, Freeze coached from a hospital bed in the coaching box. The school said he was in communication with coaches and players during the game and that the bed was used to support his healing back. Freeze addressed the team before the game via video hook-up, again at halftime and after the game as well.
Tide takes a while
Tua Tagovailoa threw for 336 yards and four touchdowns as No. 2 Alabama overcame a sluggish start to blow out Duke 42-3 in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta. Returning to the stadium where they won the Southeastern Conference title last December and the national championship two seasons ago, the Crimson Tide was held scoreless in the first quarter — which happened only one time in 2018.
Boise State rallies vs. FSU
Hank Bachmeier tossed a third-quarter touchdown pass and Robert Mahone had a 1-yard TD run in the fourth as Boise State rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat host Florida State 36-31 in a game moved from Jacksonville to Tallahassee with an earlier start time because of Hurricane Dorian. Bachmeier threw for 407 yards as Boise State defeated a Power 5 team for the sixth time since the 2014 season.
UNC wins Carolina battle
Sam Howell threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns, Myles Wolfork had two late interceptions and North Carolina battled back to beat South Carolina 24-20 in Charlotte, N.C., in coach Mack Brown's return to the Tar Heels sideline following a five-year hiatus.
