Gurley has missed two straight games, including the Bulldogs' 41-26 loss to Missouri on Saturday that dropped Georgia eight spots to No. 15 in The Associated Press Top 25.

The loss left Georgia (4-2, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) needing a quick recovery when it plays at Vanderbilt this week. Gurley could help Georgia stay close to the top of the SEC East race, but Richt said he'll make sure the sophomore is fully recovered from the injury.

"I think what we want is a really healthy Todd Gurley," Richt said. "We want him to be at his best. We don't want him to go in there without being full speed because if you do it's not really safe for him. It also can cause another setback that might set him down even longer."

Gurley leads Georgia with 450 yards rushing and four touchdowns in four games. He had 1,385 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns as a freshman.

Richt wouldn't say if Gurley's injury is a high ankle sprain. "I'll say this: He's close. He's real close," Richt said.

The Bulldogs have lost their other top tailback, Keith Marshall, and wide receivers Malcolm Mitchell and Justin Scott-Wesley to season-ending knee injuries. Another top receiver, Michael Bennett, missed the Missouri game following arthroscopic knee surgery and isn't expected to play this week.

Freshmen J.J. Green and Brendan Douglas combined to run for 157 yards against Missouri. Douglas led the Bulldogs with six receptions for 43 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown catch.


BAMA SEES IMPROVEMENTS


Top-ranked Alabama's latest blowout win included enough mistakes to concern coach Nick Saban and his players.

The Crimson Tide (6-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) steamrolled Kentucky 48-7 on Saturday night, but only after an error-prone start featuring turnovers and dropped passes for the two-time defending champions.

What gnawed at defensive players more than allowing their first touchdown in four games was letting the Wildcats drive 75 yards for the score. Even though the Crimson Tide had a commanding 31-0 lead in the middle of the third quarter, Alabama players were disappointed in their efforts.

"We made a lot of plays; we made a lot of explosive plays," Saban said after the Crimson Tide outgained Kentucky 668-170. "Everybody has to be accountable to do their role so we can be the best team we can be. I think we're a better team now than we were (before the game). We're making improvements, but I still think there are things we need to continue to work on."

The coach was pleased to see his team close strong by scoring on its last eight possessions and make program history by having a 300-yard passer and two 100-yard rushers in the same game.

T.J. Yeldon and Kenyan Drake ran for 124 and 106 yards, respectively, and two TDs each. Senior QB AJ McCarron completed 21 of 35 passes for a career-high 359 yards and a 20-yard TD to Kevin Norwood.


MARTINEZ BACK FOR KEY STRETCH?


Nebraska is entering its second bye week in a month, and no one in the Cornhuskers' camp is complaining about the extra time off.

The Huskers did what they were supposed to do Saturday against the Big Ten's weakest team, winning 44-7 at Purdue. If nothing else, the game showed they really could use injured quarterback Taylor Martinez healthy for the challenging November stretch that will determine whether they return to the Big Ten championship game.

Nebraska (5-1, 2-0) is tied with Michigan State for first in the Legends Division after Michigan's loss at Penn State. The Huskers, who are ranked 21st in the USA Today Coaches Top 25 Poll, visit the Wolverines on Nov. 9 and play Michigan State at home the following week. A trip to Penn State comes after that.

Redshirt freshman Tommy Armstrong Jr., who drew praise for his first two starts against South Dakota State and Illinois, threw three interceptions and completed only 6 of 18 passes in the Huskers' first road game.

Third-stringer Ron Kellogg III was 10 of 13 for 141 yards against the Boilermakers, but the fifth-year senior has appeared in only eight games in his career and has never taken a meaningful snap against a high-quality opponent.

Martinez continues to wear a walking boot on his left foot to protect his turf-toe injury. He hasn't played or practiced since Sept. 14. Pelini said Martinez's injury is improving, but he couldn't say if the quarterback would be ready for the Oct. 26 game at Minnesota.

Contributors: Carl Moritz, The Associated Press