College Football Scores 2012: Best Top-25 Performances of Saturday Afternoon

College Football’s early Saturday afternoon games provided a lot of excitement and upset scares during the first and second waves of action.

While 14th-ranked Ohio State escaped California’s attempted upset, Virginia Tech could not hold off the unranked angry Pittsburgh Panthers.

Arkansas and Alabama squared off in a lopsided Week 3 SEC battle that was sure to excite. But the conclusion, if you don’t already know, was anything but exciting for Razorback fans.

Alabama Crimson Tide steamroll Arkansas Razorbacks 52-0

The Razorbacks were without starting quarterback Tyler Wilson in this embarrassing intra-conference bloodbath. After losing to the University of Louisiana-Monroe in overtime a week ago, the once eighth-ranked Razorbacks packed it in and were completely outclassed at home by Alabama.

It is the first time the Razorbacks were held without a point in Fayetteville for since a 1966 loss to Baylor.

Alabama didn’t seem to care that Wilson was inactive and took it to the hapless Razorbacks offense. This was a statement game for the Crimson Tide, but would it have been the same if Wilson were playing?

It’s unlikely one player would have made a huge difference after the complete clinic the Crimson Tide put on for the Razorbacks.

Pittsburgh shocks No. 13 Virginia Tech with convincing 35-17 upset

After starting a miserable 0-2 in the 2012 season, the Pittsburgh Panthers shocked the world and the Virginia Tech Hokies with a huge win

The Panthers didn’t just lose on their way to a 0-2 start. They lost badly to Cincinnati and to the FCS Youngstown State.

But all of that was forgotten as they hosted Virginia Tech at home on Saturday afternoon. They burst out over 500 yards of total offense and completely denied Virginia Tech the ability to run the football, surrendering only 59 yards on 26 carries.

Florida State continues annihilating the competition with 52-0 win over Wake Forest

Wake Forest is in a different league than their ACC counterparts. That much is certain after the Florida State Seminoles blanked them 52-0 like the FCS competition they have dominated thus far this year.

Dominating is putting it lightly. Florida State has only allowed three points this season, while scoring 176 of their own.

The Deamon Deacons may not be world beaters, but as ACC competition they certainly aren’t the doormat that the Seminoles made them out to be on Saturday.

Follow @BigHoagowski

Mike Hoag is a Trends and Traffic writer for Bleacher Report and also covers the Cleveland Browns and the NFL for the site.