Gabbert powers Missouri, 31-21

Blaine Gabbert passed for 414 yards and three touchdowns, including scoring tosses of 74 and 31 yards to Danario Alexander, to help Missouri beat Nevada, 31-21, on Friday night at Reno.

Alexander finished with nine catches for a career-high 170 yards, and Grant Resel made all four of his field-goal attempts to run his streak to 10 for 10 this season for the Tigers (4-0), who have won a school-record 14 consecutive nonconference games.

Luke Lippincott ran for 114 yards for the Wolf Pack (0-3), who took a 13-7 lead on the first series of the second half on Colin Kaepernick’s 11-yard touchdown run and had a chance to regain the lead early in the fourth quarter before Lippincott fumbled on Missouri’s four-yard line.

Wes Kemp caught three passes for 99 yards, and Jared Perry had eight receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers, whose last nonconference loss was in the 2006 Sun Bowl against Oregon State.

Missouri has an off week before opening Big 12 play at home against Nebraska on Oct. 8.

Best remembers

California tailback Jahvid Best isn’t one to get intimidated, but two years ago when he last visited Autzen Stadium, he was struck by the noise.

“From my memory it feels like it was like 10 feet between the sideline and the crowd. No crowd usually gets to me,” he said. “Oregon’s the only one that stands out in my mind that got to me.”

Best and the No. 6 Golden Bears visit Autzen and the Oregon Ducks today, the Pacific 10 Conference opener for both.

Patterson focused

Texas Christian Coach Gary Patterson isn’t worried about busting the BCS or raising the national profile of his No. 15 Horned Frogs.

He is aware TCU (2-0) will do both -- if it gets past Clemson (2-1) today.

“We understand we’re ranked, and to stay in the [Bowl Championship Series] hunt you’ve got to win it,” Patterson said. “But more importantly for me is I want my team to get better.”

Spurrier cautious

South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier sat with a smile, hair sweaty and mussed, discussing his latest landmark victory.

Though Spurrier was obviously pleased with the win, he said the Gamecocks’ 16-10 win over No. 4 Mississippi on Thursday night was even the close to the signature victory he has longed for since arriving after the 2004 season.

“I can’t say that,” Spurrier said. “Who knows how good everybody is. This isn’t the No. 1 or 2 team from last year or this, that and the other. Ole Miss is a good team, but it’s early in the year.”

South Carolina is 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the Southeastern Conference.