Another week and another rout for the No. 3-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, who continue to look the part as a national championship contender. Middle Tennessee was the victim in Saturday’s early start, falling to Georgia 49-7.

Everyone got to play in the blowout, and everyone had fun. Quarterbacks Jake Fromm and Justin Fields were both effective, and they had plenty of weapons to choose from to make something special happen.

The Bulldogs scored touchdowns on six of their eight first-half possessions, and big plays were a part of each drive.

Wide receiver Mecole Hardman had the first touchdown on a 5-yard pass from Jake Fromm, but Elijah Holyfield set it up with a 66-yard run. The second score, an 11-yard pass to Jeremiah Holloman from Fromm, was keyed by a 21-yard run by Brian Herrien.

Fields, the freshman quarterback, saw some early playing time, coming in late in the first quarter on the Bulldogs’ fourth possession. He joined the party too, hitting tight end Isaac Nauta for a 20-yard gain and then watching Tyler Simmons bust loose for a 56-yard scoring run on a jet sweep. Fields added his first career rushing TD and second TD pass.

We asked for the special teams to step up this week, and Hardman did just that, returning a punt 70 yards for a touchdown to make it 28-0. There were big plays on the last two first-half scores as well, as Fromm found Holloman on a pass play that went 65 yards. Riley Ridley scored the TD on a 12-yard pass from Fromm. Fields ran twice on the final drive or the half, the second a 15-yard scoring run that made it 42-7 at the half.

The game was originally scheduled to be played Saturday night but was moved up to Noon ET because of concerns with Hurricane Florence. The early start didn’t effect the Bulldogs one bit.

Middle Tennessee is a better-than-most Group of 5 team, and they have a fifth-year starter at quarterback in Brett Stockstill, which is always scary when you have to face a veteran quarterback with experience.

But Georgia never let him feel comfortable. He had a first-half touchdown pass, but also threw an interception right to Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker. It was his second interception in two weeks. Stockstill, the son of Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill, finished the day 19-of-29 passing for 138 yards.

Holyfield had a career rushing day, gaining 100 yards — in the first half. as Georgia rushed for 217 as a team in the first half. They topped 260 for the third consecutive week.

Freshman Cade Mays got his first career start at left tackle. The 6-6, 318-pounder from Knoxville, Tenn., played well, though he was called for an obvious holding penalty that ended an early drive.

The Bulldogs got a second-half touchdown from Jayson Stanley on a 9-yard pass from Fields midway through the third quarter.

Next up for the Bulldogs is another road conference test, this time at Missouri. The Tigers have won eight consecutive regular season games heading into Saturday’s game with Purdue. The last loss game against Georgia last Oct. 14, when the Bulldogs won 53-28 in Athens.