VIRGINIA WATER, England - Jon Rahm endured a wild end to his third round at the BMW PGA Championship to drop back into a share of the lead with Danny Willett at the flagship European Tour event on Saturday.

Holding a two-stroke lead after playing the first 16 holes in 5 under, Rahm hit a spectator with his second shot at No. 17 - though it did stop his ball going out of bounds. The world No. 6 pitched to 10 feet and three-putted for bogey.

Rahm was also close to driving out of bounds at the 18th hole, too, and needed to take a drop. He holed from 20 feet for an unlikely par while Willett got up and down from a greenside bunker for a birdie to match his playing partner's 4-under 68.

''Man, those last two holes made it feel a lot worse than it really was,'' Rahm said. ''I was really in control of my game and playing good. It was not the finish I was looking for - I might have lost a bit of focus, looking into the future instead of staying in the present.''

Rahm and Willett, who also shared the second-round lead at 15 under with a three-shot lead over Justin Rose (69), Shubhankar Sharma (66) and Christiaan Bezuidenhout (69). Richie Ramsay and Rafa Cabrera Bello (both 67) were two shots further back.

Rahm was among the players who waited beside the 18th green on Friday as Spanish compatriot Jose Maria Olazabal completed his 25th and final appearance in the event. The 24-year-old Rahm can join Olazabal, Seve Ballesteros, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Ignacio Garrido and Manuel Pinero as a Spanish winner at Wentworth.

Willett recovered from a bogey on the first, making six birdies to remain on track for a seventh European Tour title - and a first on home soil.

''This is our biggest tournament of the year for us British guys. It's a massive event,'' Willett said. ''I've been here 10 straight years and I love the place. The crowds are amazing.

''I've won all around the world and it would be amazing to polish one off in front of a home crowd. It's going to be a pretty tough battle out there.''

Rory McIlroy, who made the cut on the number, shot 65 to equal his lowest score at Wentworth. It left him nine shots off the lead.

''I will give it a go, for sure, and you never know,'' said McIlroy, the 2014 champion. ''But at the same time, I'm a realist. I know I won from seven back five years ago and I feel like that's something that happens maybe once in your career.''

Another rare event was Ross Fisher making an albatross after holing a 4-iron with his second shot to the 18th from 225 yards. Not only did it complete a remarkable back nine of 29 for a third-round 66, the English player won a BMW i8 Roadster worth 130,000 pounds ($160,000).

''I thought I'd pulled it so I looked away and the crowd's reaction told the rest of the story,'' Fisher said. ''To win the car is still a bit shocking.''

American Nelly Korda will have to hold off a pair of French women on their own turf to win her first LET title.

Korda’s six-shot lead shrunk to a single stroke Saturday at the Lacoste Ladies French Open outside Bordeaux.

With a 1-under-par 70, Korda moved to 11 under overall, with France’s Joanna Klatten (65) climbing to 10 under and Celine Boutier (67) getting to 7 under at Golf du Medoc.

Korda is the highest ranked player in the field at No. 10 in the Rolex world rankings. Klatten is No. 956 and Boutier is No. 56.

Korda, 21, will be paired with both French women in Sunday’s final round.

“I am so happy to be playing with Nelly tomorrow,” Klatten said. “It can only make you better to play with someone like that. She has been so consistent, so it’s a great thing. And, hopefully, playing with Celine as well. It’s nice to have a little French connection in there. I am excited about it!”

Korda is a two-time LPGA winner.

Promoted Granada moved into first place in La Liga after a convincing 2-0 win over Barcelona on Saturday took them to 10 points and into a tie with Sevilla in top spot.

The result marks the worst start to a La Liga season in 25 years for the Catalan giants.

The hosts, who had only beaten Barca once in their last 20 meetings, took an early lead when Ramon Azeez headed home from close range to make it 1-0 in just the second minute.

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Lionel Messi, still working his way back to full fitness and playing in his first La Liga game of the season so far, was brought on at half-time for Carles Perez to help Barca find their way back into the game.

However, it was Granada that would score again when a handball in the penalty area was called on Arturo Vidal and Alvaro Vadillo converted from the spot after a consultation with VAR confirmed the ruling.

"This defeat hurts us and makes us very worried and we need to really take a hard look at ourselves if we are to improve," Barca's Luis Suarez said after a second defeat in five league games confirmed the club's worst start since the 1994-95 season.

"It was very hard for us after going behind in the first few minutes, we didn't manage to dominate the game in any way. We need to analyse what has gone wrong in these away games; we are obviously concerned about the lack of chances we are creating."

Barca also have the joint-worst defensive record in the league along with Real Betis, having conceded nine times in five matches.

"It's clearly not a very good statistic for us and not in line with what we have been doing in the last few years," said Barca coach Ernesto Valverde.

"I'm worried because away from home we're not getting good results. No wins from four away games this season is a clear symptom that we are not in a very good situation."

The Catalans, who have failed to win any of their last seven away games in all competitions, are seventh in the La Liga standings with seven points after five matches, while Granada sit on the summit with 10 points.

Second-placed Sevilla also have 10 points and can go clear at the top when they face Real Madrid on Sunday, while Atletico Madrid are third on 10 points after drawing 0-0 with Celta Vigo

Barca have enjoyed mixed fortunes at Granada's Nuevo Los Carmenes stadium in recent years and travelled there after an uninspiring 0-0 draw in Dortmund in their Champions League group, having lost away to Athletic Bilbao and drawn at promoted Osasuna.

The Catalans clinched the title in Granada on the final day of the 2016 season but lost 1-0 there in 2014, a defeat which played a huge role in Atletico Madrid winning the league at their expense.

Granada spent the last two seasons outside Spain's top flight and despite tickets being priced at €110 the stadium was full to capacity and rocking from kick-off to the final whistle, the atmosphere boosted by Azeez's early goal.

As Granada celebrated an unlikely victory and their even more unlikely status as league leaders, Barca were left to contemplate the fact that they have failed to win any of their last seven competitive games away from the Camp Nou.

Atlanta United leading scorer Josef Martinez was stretchered off with a leg injury in a 3-1 defeat of the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday.

Emerson Hyndman scored in the 90th-minute and Pity Martinez added an insurance goal in stoppage time for United.

The two late goals helped Atlanta (54 points) move into second place in the Eastern Conference above Philadelphia, which plays Sunday. And it helps soften the potential blow of losing Josef Martinez, who leads United with 26 goals and had his MLS record streak of games with a goal halted at 15 when he exited in the 79th minute.

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Martinez appeared to suffer the injury several minutes before leaving the game. His foot got stuck in the turf after colliding with a teammate, causing his right knee and ankle to buckle awkwardly. He tried to play through it but eventually couldn't, and he departed the sideline on a stretcher, grimacing before putting a towel over his face.

Justin Meram also scored early for the defending MLS Cup champions, who have won eight of their last 11 matches in league play while also capturing the U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup.

San Jose (44 points) had tied it in the first half on an attack involving Cristian Espinoza. But Espinoza was then sent off in the 34th minute for receiving his second yellow card. Earthquakes goalkeeper Daniel Vega made nine saves, yet ultimately couldn't prevent his side from closing a three-game road swing without earning a point.

Hyndman scored his first goal in league play since arriving during the secondary transfer window on a counter-attack set up by Darlington Nagbe. After San Jose's defense finally closed on the midfielder, Nagbe spotted Hyndman, whose finish left Vega little chance.

Short-handed San Jose tried to press forward after the restart and were caught on the counter to seal the game, with Brandon Vazquez and Hector Villalba combining to find Pity Martinez wide open in front of goal.

Espinoza helped San Jose tie the game in the 27th minute when he raced onto Vega's punt, rounded his defender and sent a shot that deflected off goalkeeper Brad Guzan and across the goal line. It was officially credited as an own goal from Guzan.

But Espinoza's day ended seven minutes later when referee Chris Penso showed him a second yellow card for stepping on the back of Franco Escobar's leg while trying to win the ball. His previous caution came 18 minutes earlier for not retreating from an Atlanta restart.

MANCHESTER, England -- It became a goal chase in the end and, but for a late miss by Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City would have written another piece of history under Pep Guardiola by equalling Manchester United's Premier League record victory margin of 9-0.

United's record dates back to their 9-0 defeat of Ipswich Town at Old Trafford in March 1995, when Andy Cole scored five times that day for Sir Alex Ferguson's team. And when City went 7-0 ahead against Watford with 30 minutes still to play, the smart money was on Guardiola's all-stars erasing their neighbours from the record books rather than merely matching their achievement.

But as the final whistle blew on an 8-0 win at the Etihad on Saturday -- City's biggest-ever top-flight victory -- United's record survived for another day. Yet it would be foolish to believe that it will not be threatened again this season by Guardiola's team.

This was an emphatic dismantling of a Watford side still haunted by the memories of last season's 6-0 FA Cup final mauling at the hands of City, yet it was by no means an exceptional performance by the reigning champions. That is the scary thing about this City team: What would be exceptional for everyone else is now becoming the norm at the Etihad.

Since Ferguson retired as United manager at the end of the 2012-13 season, the Old Trafford outfit have scored five in a Premier League game on just one occasion: in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first game in caretaker charge, against Cardiff City, last December. Under Guardiola alone, since the Catalan's arrival as coach in the summer of 2016, this was the 15th time they have scored five or more in a Premier League game.

Liverpool have managed five or more goals in a game 10 times under Jurgen Klopp, but when it comes to scoring six or more, City have done it 11 times in the post-Ferguson era compared to Liverpool's three. United? They have still to score six in a game since Ferguson retired.

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And just to underscore the regularity of City hitting opponents for big scores, this win against Watford means that, in 2019, they have scored seven or more in a game in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

And the painful truth for Watford is that, in the end, they got off lightly with an 8-0 defeat. City's winning margin could, and should, have been well into double figures. De Bruyne's late miss was the one that cost them a 9-0 win, but the reality is that Sergio Aguero and Riyad Mahrez both spurned several clear chances between them.

By opening the scoring after just 53 seconds through David Silva, City ensured that Watford's cup final flashbacks were triggered quicker than they could possibly have feared.

Who knows how the game would have shaped up had City goalkeeper Ederson not kept out Gerard Deulofeu's goalbound effort on four minutes? It was a crucial save because, by the 15-minute mark, City had rattled in three more, through Aguero, a Tom Cleverley own goal and the first goal of Bernardo Silva's hat trick.

When United put nine past Ipswich, it took 15 minutes to open the scoring. City were already four up by that stage.

Watford didn't help themselves at times, naively chasing the game rather than putting up the shutters. They clearly hadn't learned the lessons of the FA Cup final. So City -- with Raheem Sterling rested on the substitutes' bench -- poured forward, picking holes in Watford's midfield and defence and it was 5-0 on 18 minutes after Nicolas Otamendi slid in to convert Aguero's cross at the far post.

Despite the scoreline at that point, Guardiola claimed after the game that his team rode their luck.

"It was weird, not normal, five shots and five goals," he said. "At the same time, they had two chances, so we were lucky."

City were not lucky. They were simply unstoppable, and it looked as though they would go on to become the first team to hit double figures in a Premier League fixture.

The sixth arrived four minutes into the second half when Bernardo scored his second, and the Portuguese midfielder sealed his hat trick on the hour, making it 7-0 with a scuffed shot that beat Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster from close range. So with more than 30 minutes left to play, United's 9-0 record appeared to be well within City's grasp.

Watford continued to struggle to contain their opponents, but City began to misfire in front of goal.

Still, when De Bruyne made it 8-0 on 83 minutes, the whole stadium was waiting for the ninth. Even the Watford fans stayed on, seemingly wanting to witness a piece of history, despite their team being on the wrong side of it.

The ninth goal did not come, but there is a sense of inevitability about City. It didn't happen on Saturday, but it will probably happen sooner rather than later.

As for Watford, "sorry" wasn't the hardest word for coach Quique Sanchez Flores.

"I can only say sorry to our fans," he said. "They came to the stadium waiting for a performance, but it was very difficult on the pitch today.

"After 30 seconds it was difficult, but after, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, it was impossible to play. It is impossible to play against Manchester City when you make so many mistakes."

Essex 148 for 6 (Westley 36, Bopara 36*) beat Worcestershire 145 for 9 (Harmer 3-16) by four wickets

Eight hours earlier, Wayne Parnell had successfully defended Notts' requirement of a single off the final ball to take Worcestershire into the final of the Vitality Blast. Now, at the end of English cricket's longest day, with Edgbaston once again a sea of delirium, he had to do it again. This time Simon Harmer beat the off-side field and Essex had seen off the defending champions to win the tournament for the first time.

It was fitting that Harmer had the last word. In Essex's semi-final stroll against Derbyshire and this narrowest of victories, he returned the combined figures of 7 for 35, the best ever recorded on T20 Finals Day. He was perfectly served by a surface that turned substantially throughout the day and perhaps, just perhaps, gave Essex a little added zip with a hint of dew in the closing overs.

"It's a lottery," decry the critics of Twenty20. Don't tell that to Worcestershire. In successive seasons, their nerveless, intelligent cricket under the brilliant stewardship of Moeen Ali (is there a better captain in the country?) had made them the most resilient side in the land. They had defended 147 against Notts; now it was 145. But this time they had to reckon with Ravi Bopara.

For much of the climax to this riveting final, it had felt like Bopara versus Worcestershire, and for his most zealous admirers (and there are many) Bopara versus The World. County cricket's most reluctant finisher, who has gently carped all summer long about batting at No 6, fashioned a super-cool 36 from 22 balls to hold together an Essex chase that, when they lost their fifth wicket at 82, needing 64 from 41, was so patently down to him.

This was Essex's fifth Finals Day appearance and the first time they had won a semi-final. With two wins from their first 10 in the South Group it has been win-or-bust ever since and Bopara has been at the heart of it. "It's the one trophy I don't have in my cabinet and we finally have it," he said. He has been trying since a T20 debut, batting at No 9, against Surrey at East Molesey in 2003. His international career ended in 2015 just as England adopted a new approach to limited-overs cricket and that his reputation was tarnished by association with their previous failings is his misfortune.

Bopara's six over long off from Moeen's penultimate ball was a key moment, leaving Essex 39 short with four overs left. He then clattered Pat Brown's slower ball over midwicket as that rate fell to 23 from two.

When Brown bowled Paul Walter, Essex were still 17 short with eight balls left. Harmer drove Brown down the ground to cut the last-over requirement to 12 - but 11 for the tie, and victory by virtue of losing fewer wickets, was likely to be enough. Harmer drilled Parnell down the ground to reduce the trophy-winning requirement to one off the final ball. Parnell looked distraught and close to exhaustion. Moeen offered calming words. Harmer whistled the final shot to the cover boundary.

Essex's Powerplay had yielded only 36 for the loss of Cameron Delport, who was strangely subdued in making a single off seven balls in an innings that came to grief when he clipped Parnell to backward square. Adam Wheater, a No 5 all season, came in at three, and no doubt to orders provided a decorous run-a-ball 15 until he was bowled attempting a reverse lap at Daryl Mitchell. Essex appeared composed enough at 63 for 2 at midway, with 83 needed from the second half of the innings, but Moeen had retained nine overs from himself, Parnell and Brown for the second half of the innings.

The strength of Worcestershire's batting line-up, one that seems full of bit parts from as high as No 4, is that it finds a way. And, in making 145 for 8, it appeared to have found a way again. But Worcestershire could not subdue Harmer. He followed his 4 for 19 against Derbyshire in the semi-final with 3 for 16, a comparable return despite the sense that Worcestershire were playing him with rather more nous.

Moeen and Riki Wessels provided the substance with a second-wicket stand of 56 in 48 balls. Moeen's presence was enough to persuade Harmer not to bowl in the Powerplay, as he had in the semi-final, Sam Cook's pace was as unthreatening as that of Jamie Porter, who had been preferred to him in the semi.

Harmer intervened with wickets in successive balls at the start of his second over. Moeen's first boundary had been an uppish slice against Lawrence through backward point, but he smoothed his way to 32 in 26 balls with another exercise in cricketing meditation.

But Harmer's turn defeated his work to leg whereupon the bowler, one of the best slippers in the country, plunged forward to hold an excellent low catch. Ben Cox, who had guided Worcestershire to the trophy a year ago, was lbw next ball as he tried to sweep, but even the president of the Respect for Umpires Association would have deemed this a terrible decision, because Cox was well outside the line and got a big inside-edge on the ball too.

Parnell fell to Harmer's penultimate ball, bowled by a faster arm-ball, and at 90 for 4 with the 14th over about to begin, Worcestershire promoted Mitchell above Whiteley. In Western terms, the peace-loving sheriff had been preferred to the local gunslinger, and Mitchell duly provided a cautious 19 from 15 balls to edge Worcestershire to a realistic total.

Wessels was a figure of realism, too, with 31 from 34 balls;. Once a square-of-the-wicket adventurer, he still has those qualities but increasingly in this Worcestershire side, a successful side at that, he finds himself pushing singles to hold the innings together. It might have been enough. Instead, he became a support act in a wonderfully entertaining day.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Fullback Jakob Johnson became the first player to enter the NFL through the International Pathway Program to make a 53-man roster when he was promoted from the New England Patriots practice squad on Saturday.

The International Player Pathway Program was instituted in 2017 and aims to provide international athletes the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills, and ultimately earn a spot on an NFL roster.

Johnson was born in Stuttgart, Germany and played in 47 games at the University of Tennessee, initially as a linebacker before switching to tight end. In 2018, he appeared in 12 games for the Stuttgart Scorpions of the German Football League.

The Patriots were assigned Johnson as part of the International Pathway Program on April 8. The three other teams in the AFC East were also assigned players as part of a random draw, and none of them counted against the 90-man roster limit.

In 2018, Efe Obada became the first player from the International Pathway Program to make a 53-man roster with the Carolina Panthers, but he didn't initially enter the NFL through the program. He had signed as a free agent with the Cowboys in 2015 after playing only five games of amateur football with the London Warriors, then was on the Cowboys practice squad before spending time in the 2016 offseason with the Chiefs and Falcons. In 2017, Obada was part of the first class of players in the International Pathway Program, which gave him additional time to develop with the Panthers.

During the season, teams can carry an International Pathway Program player as an extra 11th member of the practice squad, but because of the roster exemption, the clubs could not promote the player to the active roster during the season. In the case of Johnson, the Patriots elected to forgo that option and make him a regular member of their 10-man practice squad, which gave them the option of promoting him.

"Jak came in with a great attitude this offseason," offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said a few weeks ago. "He really put his head down and worked hard through our offseason program, and then continued to do that in OTAs and into training camp -- good attitude. He's been out there every day, toughness, willing to do the things that you need to do to play that position on offense, smart kid, studies hard, prepares well, knows what to do and is ready to go. And he's competitive, so I think there's nothing more you can ask of each player than to give your best and be ready to go when your number's called."

The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Johnson steps in for injured starter James Develin, who has already been ruled out for Sunday's game against the New York Jets with a neck injury.

The Patriots are one of the few teams in the NFL that still features the fullback, as Develin has played 41.5% of the offensive snaps through the first two weeks of the season. Develin also has an important role on the team's punt coverage unit, which Johnson could also fill.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- LSU always has played stingy defense. Now the Tigers have a high-octane offense and no plans at all to slow down anytime soon.

"Score, be aggressive," LSU coach Ed Orgeron said. "That's our mentality. We're going to be aggressive. We're going to go get it. We're not slowing down for anything."

The Tigers' aggressive approach paid off Saturday as Joe Burrow tossed four of his school-record six touchdown passes to Ja'Marr Chase and threw for 398 yards, leading No. 4 LSU to a 66-38 romp over Vanderbilt.

"They told me when it happened," Burrow said of his TD record. "I was more focused on going to get another one."

LSU (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) beat Vanderbilt (0-3, 0-2) for the eighth consecutive time. This marked the first meeting between these SEC charter members since 2010.

The Tigers scored their most points this season and most ever in regulation against an SEC opponent. The 104 combined points tied South Carolina's 65-39 victory over Mississippi State in 1995 for the fourth-highest scoring total in an SEC game that didn't go into overtime.

They needed 2 minutes, 11 seconds, or less on each of their first seven scoring drives. LSU also scored 4 seconds after Micah Baskerville returned an onside kick 46 yards to open the third quarter on Burrow's fifth TD pass.

Baskerville later blocked a punt he recovered for a score.

Burrow had a game for the record books.

He became both the first LSU quarterback to throw for 350 yards or more in three consecutive games. His 357 yards passing by halftime also was the most in school history.

Burrow hit 13 of his first 14 passes for 244 yards before throwing his second incompletion at 9:19 in the second quarter. He finished 25-of-34 and left the game early in the fourth quarter.

"It's good," Orgeron said. "I think that there's more to come. I really do. I think Joe is a fantastic player. He has a fantastic coach in [offensive coordinator] Steve Ensminger. We have a great plan, and as long as we protect the quarterback we're going to make big plays here at LSU."

And Burrow kept throwing to Chase. The sophomore caught TDs of 64, 25 and 51 yards in the first quarter and adding a 16-yarder in the third. He finished with 10 receptions for 229 yards, most by an LSU receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. had 204 against Furman in 2013.

"I'm just happy I played today," Chase said after not seeing the field against Northwestern State last week in a coach's decision.

Vanderbilt had never before played two of the nation's top five teams within the first three weeks of a season. At least the Commodores scored on their first drive, which they didn't manage in an opening defeat to No. 3 Georgia or a loss at Purdue. They scored their most points yet this season but had two turnovers.

"We were playing with house money, man," Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason said. "We had a chance to really take some chances, try to force some things to happen. Those things didn't necessarily go our way. But what I can tell you is the early part of the season, man, has been a difficult stretch."

LSU led 28-7 after the first quarter, 38-17 at halftime and 59-31 after the third.

THE TAKEAWAY

LSU: The Tigers entered the day second in the SEC defending the run, giving up just 80.3 yards a game. They gave up a 41-yarder to Ke'Shawn Vaughn on Vandy's first offensive play. Vaughn also broke loose for a 52-yard TD run in the third quarter -- the longest run this season for the SEC's top returning rusher. Vaughn finished with 20 carries for 130 yards.

Vanderbilt: The Commodores came in as the only FBS team without a sack this season, and the closest they came to hitting Burrow early was on a roughing-the-passer penalty in the first quarter. Then Jaylen Mahoney sacked the LSU quarterback early in the second quarter, a play after Burrow had plenty of time to roll to his right before finding Stephen Sullivan on a 30-yard completion. Kenny Hebert also got a sack, and Elijah McAllister recovered an Edwards-Helaire fumble for a touchdown in the final minute of the first half.

INJURIES

LSU receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., who came into the game with six touchdown catches to tie for the FBS lead, was on crutches after four receptions for 75 yards. Orgeron said it didn't look good. LSU middle linebacker Michael Divinity Jr. hurt an ankle and was seen in a walking boot. Orgeron said it "looked pretty significant."

UP NEXT

LSU: Open date before hosting Utah State on Oct. 5.

Vanderbilt: Hosts Northern Illinois on Sept. 28.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Kyle Trask never once wavered in his belief that one day he would get his chance to start at Florida.

When that day came on Saturday against Tennessee, he put together a career day that showed major promise for a Gators team that has its toughest stretch of games to come. Trask threw for 293 yards in the 34-3 win, the highest single-game total for a Florida player since Austin Appleby had 296 yards at Tennessee on Sept. 24, 2016.

Trask went 20-of-28 with two touchdowns and two interceptions, becoming the first Florida quarterback to throw for more than 290 yards in less than 30 attempts since John Brantley in 2011.

What made his performance all the more remarkable? It was his first start since his freshman year in high school, nearly seven years ago.

Trask didn't lose the starting job at Manvel (Texas) for a lack of talent. He just happened to be in the same class as D'Eriq King, who now starts at Houston. Manvel ran an offensive system more suited for a dual-threat quarterback like King. But former Manvel coach Kirk Martin made sure to get Trask into games whenever possible. Even though Trask wasn't a starter, he still got his opportunity to make plays and build a highlight tape. Florida was the first Power 5 school to offer him, and he never wavered in his commitment, signing in 2016 -- the same class as Feleipe Franks.

"I've been waiting for my number to get called, and I knew I was going to be ready when my number was called," Trask said.

Florida coach Dan Mullen said he was not surprised with the way Trask led the Gators to a comeback win last week against Kentucky in relief of the injured Franks, out for the season with a dislocated ankle. And he was not surprised with Trask this week, either.

"I thought he was relaxed," Mullen said. "You never know. He hasn't been in that situation in a long time. I was always joking with him, make sure you're having fun. You prepared for this. If you're really nervous, we can fix the nervous problem. Go out there, throw a bunch of picks and play terrible and you won't be nervous because you won't play anymore. He prepared the right way. He's been preparing the right way. And so he got his opportunity, and it's what I would have expected."

Trask, wearing the No. 11 that Steve Spurrier wore en route to his Heisman Trophy winning season in 1966, led a nearly perfect opening touchdown drive -- with Spurrier and the 1994 Florida SEC championship team watching from the sideline.

He was not perfect -- he lost a fumble and threw two interceptions -- but Mullen believes the mistakes are correctable. On both interceptions, Trask told Mullen he saw what the defense was doing, but he thought he could squeeze the ball into the tight windows.

In the huddle, teammates said Trask was no different than the player they watched come ready to practice day after day, week after week, waiting for his chance.

"It's like a movie," said receiver Trevon Grimes. "He's been through so much and had to overcome so much adversity, but he's still strong and shows why he is who he is today."

Trask has said repeatedly he never once considered entering the transfer portal. He came closest to starting last season after playing well in relief of Franks against Missouri, but a foot injury after the game ended that chance. Franks took command of the job, but even then, Trask never thought about leaving.

"I get asked that question a lot because the transfer portal is a huge thing, and is still a huge thing but this is a top 10 academic university, and I have great friends, great teammates here. I never wanted to leave one time," Trask said.

That decision is paying off for both Trask and the Gators. Florida plays Towson next week before entering the most crucial stretch of the season in October, with games against Auburn, LSU, South Carolina and Georgia.

"He's played a bunch, came in and made big plays," Mullen said. "When his number was called, he was ready to go. He's done that since the day I got here."

MADISON, Wis. -- Michigan suffered one of its worst losses under Jim Harbaugh on Saturday after Wisconsin beat the Wolverines 35-14 in Camp Randall Stadium.

In what was supposed to be a game that would help answer questions about Michigan's struggling offense and thrust Michigan toward the conversation of Big Ten-championship contention, more questions were posed as Harbaugh and his team are left searching for a solution.

"We were outplayed. Out-prepared, out-coached, the whole thing," Harbaugh said. "Both offensively and defensively, it was thorough. You know, we knew it about their team, and they have the ability.

"They're good enough, if they play good enough, they are good enough to beat you thoroughly, and that's what happened today."

The Wisconsin defense shut out Michigan's offense in the first half and took a 28-0 lead, which was the first time the Wolverines trailed by 28 or more at halftime since Oct. 18, 1958, when they trailed Northwestern 43-0. The Wolverines only had nine yards rushing, and quarterback Shea Patterson couldn't find the time to make an accurate throw, with pass-rushers in pursuit all game.

Patterson was replaced by backup Dylan McCaffrey after the first half, but McCaffrey left the game in the third quarter with what Harbaugh said was a concussion, after taking a hit to the helmet that was called a targeting penalty.

"I won't comment on it," Harbaugh said. "But it seemed like it was clearing up for him [after the game]."

The offense had a bye week to prepare itself for this game after struggling with turnovers and issues moving the ball in Week 2 against Army. The bye week was supposed to help iron out those problems, but it was evident they are long-term issues rather than easy fixes.

So much so that tight end Nick Eubanks believes the team, including the offense, has yet to find its identity.

Four weeks into the season and two poor performances, the offense that lacks an identity finished this game against Wisconsin with 40 rushing yards and 259 passing yards. The Wolverines ran the ball only 19 times, with nine yards as the longest run of the game.

"I believe our offense is not as consistent as we hoped it would be," Eubanks said. "But through the next few practices, we'll find that identity and find that rhythm."

It isn't just the offense the needs to find that identity, though, as the defense allowed Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor to run all over the field, racking up 143 rush yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter alone.

Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was visibly upset in the postgame news conference after the defense's performance and vowed the team would improve.

"Right now, we're at the point in the season, we had our first Big Ten game, we lose it, so now we got our backs against the wall," Hutchinson said. "We just gotta fight to get out of this position we're in, and we'll do it. I'm confident."

Michigan has a tough slate ahead with Iowa, Michigan State, Penn State, Notre Dame and Ohio State still on the schedule and will have to put up more than a fight to get through that gauntlet.

The Wolverines are now 4-11 against top-15 teams under Harbaugh after this loss, including 0-8 in road and neutral site games. To finish the way this team is hoping, Michigan is going to have to find the answer and find it quickly.

"It's up to us to find our identity, even though we have a game coming up next Saturday," Eubanks said. "We have to find it quick. We know the type of season, it's a long season. It's a gut check, but we have to be able to capitalize on it."