Trevor Etienne ran for two touchdowns as No. 5 Georgia bounced back from its first regular-season loss in almost four years with a workmanlike 31-13 victory over struggling Auburn on Saturday.

The Bulldogs (4-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) made it eight straight wins in the Deep South’s oldest rivalry, but it was more of a struggle than expected for the team that began the season ranked No. 1 and favored to win its third national championship in four years.

That goal is still within reach, but Georgia didn’t wrack up a lot of style points against the offensively challenged Tigers (2-4, 0-3), who have dropped six consecutive games against Power Four opponents.

Etienne scored on a 2-yard run to cap Georgia’s opening possession, and he added a 1-yard scoring plunge late in the third quarter that led to conflicting calls. One official ruled him down, another said he crossed the goal line — if only by an inch or two. The TD call was upheld after a lengthy video review.

Etienne finished with 88 yards on 16 carries.

The Bulldogs put the game away with Carson’s Beck second touchdown pass of the game, a 3-yard strike to Dillon Bell early in the fourth quarter.

Jarquez Hunter scored Auburn’s lone touchdown, breaking a tackle near the line and sprinting 38 yards to the end zone to slice Georgia’s lead to 14-10. But the Tigers didn’t have enough firepower to seriously challenge the Bulldogs.

Georgia was coming off a gut-wrenching 41-34 loss at No. 1 Alabama. The Bulldogs fell behind 30-7 at halftime, rallied to take the lead late in the game, only to give up a 75-yard touchdown pass that won it for the Crimson Tide.

Georgia’s final shot in Tuscaloosa ended with Beck throwing an interception in the end zone, one of four turnovers — three picks and a fumble — by the Bulldogs’ fifth-year quarterback. He also surrendered a safety when he was called for intentional grounding throwing from the end zone. Beck didn’t have any major miscues against Auburn, completing 23 of 29 for 240 yards that included an 11-yard touchdown pass to Dominic Lovett.

Allar throws TD, runs for another as Penn State beats UCLA: Drew Allar threw for 237 yards with a touchdown and ran for another score to lead No. 7 Penn State to a 27-11 win over UCLA on Saturday.

Playing without star running back Nick Singleton, Tyler Warren caught a touchdown pass in the last minute of the first half and Kaytron Allen ran one in from 1-yard out in the third quarter. Allar opened the scoring with a 1-yard run of his own in the second quarter. Ryan Barker made two field goals and the Penn State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) defense turned in another dominant second half to cap a four-game home stand.

“I think our third-quarter defense all year has been ridiculous,” coach James Franklin said — in a good way.

Jennings has best game of career as SMU holds on to beat Louisville: Kevin Jennings made bold declarations about himself and for SMU, neither of which could be debated after his arm and feet helped the Mustangs make a statement about their conference prospects.

Jennings passed and rushed for career highs, Isaiah Nwokobia intercepted an end-zone pass with 2:23 left to seal it, and SMU overcame blowing a double-digit lead to beat No. 22 Louisville 34-27 on Saturday. The Mustangs (5-1, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) never trailed and rang up another significant win as an ACC newcomer, but only after its 24-13 halftime lead dissolved into a 27-all tie entering the fourth quarter.

“We showed today this is what we can do in the ACC,” said Jennings, who passed for 281 yards and rushed for 113. “Hopefully, we can continue and get a championship.”

325-pound Pegues runs for 2 TDs, Ole Miss posts win over South Carolina: JJ Pegues, a 325-pound nose tackle, ran for two short touchdowns as No. 12 Mississippi bounced back from its first loss of the season to beat South Carolina 27-3 on Saturday and give coach Lane Kiffin his 100th career victory.

The Rebels (5-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) took advantage of a pair of early gambles by the Gamecocks (3-2, 1-2) to build a quick lead and take control.

Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer — son of Frank Beamer, a coach known for special teams prowess at Virginia Tech — faked a punt on fourth-and-1 at his own 36 and Ole Miss linebacker Chris Paul Jr. stuffed Maurice Brown II short.

Five plays later, Henry Parrish Jr. ran for a 3-yard touchdown to give the Rebels a 7-0 lead.

On South Carolina’s next series, it lined up with quarterbacks LaNorris Sellers and Robby Ashford in the formation. After Ashford slid in, he fumbled the ball and defensive tackle Walter Nolen recovered. The Rebels’ subsequent drive ended with the first of Pegues’ two 1-yard rushing scores. The fifth-year senior took the direct snap and pushed through the line for the TD.