End runs

Gators sluggish

No. 4 Florida opened the post-Tim Tebow era with a resounding thud. The Gators got four interceptions, several red-zone stops and two late touchdowns to pull away from heavy underdog Miami of Ohio, 34-12, Saturday.

But Florida had eight fumbles (three lost) and 187 of its 212 yards in the final 13 minutes.

"I didn't imagine the offense's incompetence that we experienced today," coach Urban Meyer said.

LSU escapes

Patrick Peterson had 257 yards on kickoff and punt returns, leading No. 21 LSU to a 30-10 halftime lead over No. 18 North Carolina, which was without 13 players because of NCAA investigations. But the Tar Heels scored two second-half touchdowns, then got two shots at the win after recovering an onside kick and a fumble. T.J. Yates drove the Heels to the LSU 2, but two passes into the end zone slipped through the hands of Zack Pianalto, leaving LSU with a 30-24 win in Atlanta.

Orange in win column

Mike Holmes returned a blocked field goal 57 yards for one touchdown and Ryan Nassib passed for 229 yards and two more as Syracuse topped host Akron, 29-3, to win its season opener for the first time since 2003.

Good start for RichRod

Embattled Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez got out of port with no hitches as Denard Robinson ran for 197 yards and a TD, and he was 19-for-22 for 186 yards and a TD, leading the host Wolverines to a 30-10 win over Connecticut before a record 113,090 at renovated Michigan Stadium.

- AP