KNOXVILLE, TENN. ? When it rained, it poured points for 10th-ranked Florida.

The Gators thrived in Swamp-like conditions Saturday, scoring 24 second-quarter points during a downpour for a 30-13 victory over No. 4 Tennessee on Saturday.

Florida tight end Ben Troupe (84) celebrates Florida's first touchdown against Tennessee. The No. 10 Gators shocked the No. 4 Volunteers, 30-13, Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn. Also pictured, from left, are Tennessee's Demetrin Veal (95), and Florida's Mike Degory (68), Jonathan Colon (78) and David Jorgensen (54).

It stopped raining for the second half, but by then it was too late for the Volunteers, who matched a school record with eight fumbles seven in the first half and four in a row at one point. The Vols lost three of them.

The win was exactly what the Gators (3-1, 1-0 SEC) needed in their quest to prove they can win big games under new coach Ron Zook, just as they did under former coach Steve Spurrier.

“Every win is big, but obviously this is a big one and I’m going to enjoy it a lot,” Zook said. “At the same time, we’re still not where we need to be, but we’re getting better and better.”

In a splish-splashing five-minute span to close the first half, the Gators made their statement before a disbelieving crowd of 108,722 at Neyland Stadium. While the Vols (2-1, 0-1) had trouble tackling and holding the football, Florida thrived in the rain.

“The conditions were not real conducive to hanging onto the ball,” Zook said, “but we were fortunate to hold onto it more than they did. We’ve practiced in the rain, and played in it last week.”

The Gators now have taken control of the SEC East and also remain in national championship contention despite a 41-16 loss two weeks ago to No. 1 Miami that had fans worried about the team’s direction under Zook. The doubts increased after last week’s unimpressive victory over Ohio in the Gainesville rain.

Saturday’s turnaround was a bitter disappointment for the Vols, who had expected to win.

“That second quarter was an embarrassment. I apologize to the fans and to the people who follow Tennessee football,” Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said.

Fulmer said he runs his team through a wet-ball drill every Tuesday, “but I didn’t do a very good job.”

Grossman revived his Heisman Trophy chances by completing 20 of 34 passes for 324 yards. He had two interceptions one on a tipped pass and the other in the fourth quarter with the game all but decided. Jacobs, who also caught a 7-yard TD pass in the second quarter, finished with nine catches for 141 yards.

“Grossman, in my opinion, probably won the Heisman tonight,” Fulmer said.

Clausen, who fumbled four times and lost one, was 30-of-44 for 285 yards.

“If I can’t get the snap, we can’t run the play, so it’s something we have to work on,” Clausen said. “To play in big games, you can’t make mistakes.”

No. 1 Miami 38, Boston College 6

Miami Willis McGahee had 221 total yards and top-ranked Miami scored three touchdowns during a three-minute span of the fourth quarter to beat Boston College, extending the Hurricanes’ winning streak to 26 games.

McGahee ran 17 times for 135 yards and caught three passes for 86 yards. He had three huge plays that led to three of Miami’s five touchdowns. McGahee, who ran for 204 yards at Florida two weeks ago, now has 533 yards rushing in four games.

Ken Dorsey finished 13-of-26 for 202 yards and two touchdowns as Miami (4-0, 2-0 Big East) won its 19th straight conference win and 13th straight victory over Boston College (2-1, 0-1).

No. 5 Florida State 48, Duke 17

Tallahassee, Fla. Chris Rix threw two touchdown passes during Florida State’s 21-point burst in the second quarter. Florida State (4-0, 3-0 ACC) ignored its running game to work on its passing attack, throwing for 404 of its 510 yards. The Seminoles led 45-3 at one point. Duke (1-3, 0-1 ACC ) outgained the ‘Noles in the opening quarter and tied the game at 3-all two minutes into the second period, on a 23-yard field goal by Brent Garber. But that was it for the Blue Devils, who have lost 18 straight conference games.

No. 6 Ohio State 23, Cincinnati 19

Cincinnati Cincinnati receivers dropped two touchdown passes in the final minute, and quarterback Craig Krenzel ran for a late touchdown to rally the Buckeyes past Cincinnati.

Krenzel scored on a twisting scramble with 3:44 left to give Ohio State (4-0) the lead.

Before a Paul Brown Stadium-record of 66,319, the Bearcats (1-2) got one last chance when quarterback Gino Guidugli led the Bearcats from his own 20 to the Ohio State 15 with 1:01 left. But Jon Olinger dropped a pass in the end zone, and George Murray came up empty on a diving try. On fourth down, Guidugli’s pass was knocked away by Buckeyes linebacker Matt Wilhelm.

No. 8 Georgia 45, Northwestern State 7

Athens, Ga. David Greene tied a school record with four touchdown passes, and the Bulldogs finally showed some offense in routing Division I-AA Northwestern State.

Georgia (3-0) raced to a 31-0 halftime lead against outmanned Northwestern State (3-1), which bused in from Louisiana to save money and held out its best player, safety Terrence McGee, to save him for the conference schedule.

No. 9 Oregon 41, Portland State 0

Eugene, Ore. Onterrio Smith ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns and Jason Fife threw for two more as the Ducks defeated Division I-AA Portland State.

Oregon (4-0) got its first shutout since November 1992, when it beat Oregon State 7-0. Portland State (2-1) filled in for Michigan, which rescheduled its game for 2007. Smith scored became the first Oregon player to gain at least 100 yards in the first four games of the season.

No. 14 Michigan 10, Utah 7

Ann Arbor, Mich. Julius Curry had two interceptions, including the game-clincher with a minute left, as the Wolverines struggled to beat Utah. Braylon Edwards had 109 receiving yards and scored Michigan’s only touchdown. Utah (2-2) trailed 10-0 with about six minutes left, but the Utes pulled within a field goal on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Lance Rice to Travis LaTendresse. After Michigan’s Philip Brabbs missed a 42-yard field goal he was 1-of-3 for the day the Utes drove again before Curry ended the threat at the Utah 45.

No. 15 Penn State 49, Louisiana Tech 17

State College, Pa. Larry Johnson and Michael Robinson each scored three touchdowns, and the Nittany Lions’ defense helped with three interceptions. It was the most points for Penn State (3-0) since Sept. 9, 2000, when it beat Louisiana Tech 67-7. Luke McCown completed 36 of 56 passes for 406 yards and two touchdowns for Louisiana Tech (2-2) the first time in nine years a quarterback threw for more than 400 yards against Penn State. But McCown also threw three interceptions.

No. 16 Wash. State 45, Montana State 28

Pullman, Wash. Jermaine Green ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns and caught a TD pass in Washington State’s victory over I-AA Montana State, but the Cougars’ lost star quarterback Jason Gesser. Gesser left in the third quarter after injuring his upper ribs and the shoulder of his right, throwing, arm. X-rays revealed dislocated rib cartilage but no shoulder damage. Washington State (3-1) brought in Matt Kegel in the third quarter, and Kegel led his team on a 75-yard scoring drive before he had to leave with a right knee injury.

No. 22 Wisconsin 31, Arizona 10

Madison, Wis. Anthony Davis ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns as the Badgers re-established their running game. Brooks Bollinger threw for one touchdown and ran for another before he and the rest of the Badgers (5-0) gave way to their backups. Bollinger improved to 27-7 as a starter, tying a school record for wins as a quarterback. The only bright spot on offense for Arizona (2-1) was Clarence Farmer, who ran for 131 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown.

Air Force 23, No. 23 California 21

Berkeley, Calif. Air Force quarterback Chance Harridge ran for a career-high 124 yards and three touchdowns, and Jeff Overstreet tipped away Kyle Boller’s 2-point conversion pass attempt with 31 seconds left as the Falcons cooled off California. Air Force improved to 3-0 for the seventh time under coach Fisher DeBerry by running for 295 yards. Cal (3-1) got an inconsistent performance from Boller, who was 13-of-37 for 216 yards. But he was victimized by a several drops at least 12, according to most unofficial counts which awakened memories of last season’s 1-10 team.