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There’s really no defense for this

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White is a Times staff writer.

Was there a memo for some college football teams to stop playing defense this weekend?

It sure seemed like it Saturday as scoreboards all around the country -- well, except in Columbus, Ohio -- racked up points like a video game.

Texas Tech scored 49 consecutive points in a 63-21 win over Kansas. Oklahoma scored a school-record 55 points in the first half of a 58-35 victory over Kansas State. Florida was never challenged in a 63-5 blowout of Kentucky. Georgia jumped all over Louisiana State, 52-38. And Rutgers, which had been held to 12 points or fewer in five of seven games, dominated No. 17 Pittsburgh, 54-34.

Each high-scoring game featured the same fundamental breakdowns: Defenders were easily blocked and they often missed tackles.

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After Kansas gave up 556 yards of total offense to Texas Tech, Jayhawks safety Darrell Stuckey summed it up this way: “We know that we went out there and didn’t do anything right.

“Any time you go out there and you fall so hard on your face, you really have to see what happens and learn from this. . . . You have to become humble and see that maybe, I’m not as good as I thought I was . . .”

A good idea when you consider that the Jayhawks defense has already allowed 63, 45, 37 and 33 points in games this season. But in today’s world of spread offenses, weak defensive play just blends in.

Overruled

In the first quarter of Michigan State’s 35-21 victory at Michigan, the Wolverines were awarded a touchdown when the replay official overturned a ruling on the field, giving Brandon Minor a score because his foot hit a pylon.

However, the NCAA rule book states: “A player or an airborne player who touches a pylon is out of bounds.”

Referee Dave Witvoet recited the rule verbatim to a pool reporter about the call that was overturned by a replay official, but deferred further comment to the Big Ten.

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“More than that I can’t say anything else,” Witvoet said.

A breakdown of how several highly rated players performed Saturday:

NFL hot list

Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree: The third-year sophomore had a huge game for the Red Raiders in their easy victory over Kansas. Crabtree played only three quarters and finished with nine catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns.

North Carolina safety Trimane Goddard: Turnovers forced by the defense sparked the Tar Heels’ win over Boston College and Goddard did his part when he returned an interception 51 yards.

Louisville wide receiver Scott Long: After missing the first month of the season because of a foot injury, Long has stepped up as a big playmaker for the Cardinals. In Louisville’s upset victory over No. 14 South Florida, Long was a difference maker with five catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns.

NFL cold list

Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter: Before the season began, Painter was billed as a high-ranking pro prospect. Not anymore. In Purdue’s home loss to Minnesota, Painter completed six of 12 passes for 36 yards with one interception before leaving the game because of an injured shoulder.

Injuries

Pittsburgh quarterback Bill Stull was taken off the field on a stretcher after hitting his neck against teammate LeSean McCoy’s back while being hurried on a pass play during the third quarter of the Panthers’ home loss to Rutgers.

After spending nearly 10 minutes motionless, Stull was able to talk and move his arms while leaving Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field, and preliminary tests revealed no serious injuries.

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“It looks like he’s going to be fine,” Pittsburgh Coach Dave Wannstedt said about Stull, who was expected to spend Saturday night at an on-campus hospital, UPMC Presbyterian.

Stull had completed 16 of 22 passes for 279 yards before being injured with Rutgers ahead, 41-31.

Other key injuries from Saturday included: Virginia Tech quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor (ankle) and Sean Glennon (ankle), Pittsburgh center Robb Houser (leg) and Navy quarterback Jarod Bryant (shoulder).

Records and streaks

Missouri’s Chase Coffman set a record for career receptions by a Division I tight end in the Tigers’ win over Colorado, breaking the previous mark of 217 catches by Ibn Green of Louisville from 1996-99. . . . Nevada Las Vegas’ Casey Flair set a school record for career catches with eight receptions for 92 yards in the Rebels’ 42-35 loss to Brigham Young. Flair has 192 catches in his career. . . . LSU’s Colt David became the leading scorer in school history with a 51-yard field goal in the second quarter of the Tigers’ loss to Georgia. David’s kick gave him 320 points in his career, passing former LSU running back Kevin Faulk.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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lonnie.white@latimes.com

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