PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Butch Davis has North Carolina back on the road to respectability.

T.J. Yates threw three touchdown passes and the Tar Heels won for the first time outside North Carolina since 2002, beating error-prone Rutgers, 44-12, in a nationally televised game that pitted Davis against his former pupil, Greg Schiano.

Yates found a wide-open Hakeem Nicks on touchdown passes of 9 and 11 yards and connected on a 69-yard scoring play with speedster Brandon Tate, who also scored on a 12-yard end around.

"You're going to see a whole lot that's changed," said Tate, who caught four passes for a career-best 138 yards. "We could go anywhere and win any game now, so everybody just has to stay focused, stay humble after the win. This win was big, nobody can take us as a joke anymore because we're gonna come in and play hard."

The Tar Heels intercepted four passes, including three by Mike Teel. Linebacker Bruce Carter returned a bobbled pass 66 yards for a touchdown as the Tar Heels (2-0) handed Rutgers (0-2) its worst defeat since a 56-5 loss to Louisville on Nov. 11, 2005. Freshman Jay Wooten added field goals of 43, 29 and 27 yards.

The victory was the Tar Heels' biggest since a 52-17 win over Duke in 2001.

The start is the best since 2000 for North Carolina, which is looking for its first winning season since 2001. The Tar Heels were 4-8 a year ago in Davis' first season.

"For us, it's nice to win this game," Davis said. "But for us it's 12 one-week seasons. We got an unbelievable monumental task next week against Virginia Tech. I think what it does, what you hope all victories do, is validate the sacrifices you are asking your players to make because we are asking them to do an awful lot to try to become good."

TENNESSEE TECH EDGES SE MISSOURI, 29-27

Derrian Waters ran for two touchdowns and Justin Kraemer kicked three field goals, including one of 51 yards, to lead Tennessee Tech over Southeast Missouri, 29-27, last night at Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Waters scored on a 23-yard run in the first quarter and on a 2-yard run in the fourth that provided the winning margin for the Golden Eagles (2-1, 1-0 Ohio Valley). Henry Sailes also rushed for a Tennessee Tech touchdown and finished with a game-high 113 yards rushing.

Henry Harris rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown and Houston Lillard threw for 187 yards and two touchdowns for Southeast Missouri (1-2, 0-1).

TENNESSEE MARTIN ROUTS CONCORDIA 87-21

Roren Thomas ran 65 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the game and later caught two scoring passes to help Tennessee-Martin rout Concordia College, 87-21, last night at Martin, Tenn.

Thomas' scoring receptions covered 60 and 72 yards and were part of a Skyhawk offense that produced 699 total yards against the outmanned Hornets (3-1). Thomas had four catches in all for 180 yards.

Cade Thompson threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns — all in the first half — while freshman Daryl Bourne (111) had his second straight 100-yard rushing game for Tennessee-Martin (2-1), including a 57-yard touchdown. Thompson's other TD passes went to Jamaal Akbar (14 yards) and Mike Hicks (12 yards).

OHIO STATE

RUNNING BACK WELLS 'DOUBTFUL' AGAINST USC

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said yesterday it is doubtful that starting tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells will play tomorrow night against No. 1 Southern California.

Tressel said there was lingering soreness for Wells in his right foot after he worked out Wednesday night. Wells didn't practice with the team yesterday morning just before it departed for Los Angeles.

"We were hoping he'd wake up this morning and feel even better than yesterday," Tressel said shortly before boarding the team bus to the airport. "But it didn't happen. We'll see from here."

Wells injured his right foot in the fifth-ranked Buckeyes' opener against Youngstown State, didn't play last week against Ohio and hasn't had contact in partial practices this week. He flew with the team to Los Angeles.

Tressel didn't rule out the possibility of the junior seeing action, but didn't sound optimistic.

"Beanie practiced about 20 carries yesterday, and maybe 20 percent of the practice," Tressel said. "We didn't have him work today. He had more soreness this morning than we had hoped for. So we'll just have to play it by ear."

Ohio State is a 10 1/2-point underdog against the Trojans in the first meeting between the teams in 18 years. USC has won its last seven meetings with Big Ten teams, by an average margin of 27.8 points.

VIRGINIA

QB LALICH TO MISS GAME DUE TO LEGAL PROBLEMS

Virginia quarterback Peter Lalich won't accompany the Cavaliers to Connecticut for tomorrow's game, coach Al Groh said last night, so that he can concentrate on legal problems and not be a distraction to the team.

Lalich, who has started the first two games, is due in Charlottesville General District Court on Sept. 26 for a hearing. The 20-year-old was arrested on an underage drinking charge July 13 and was given a deferred judgment provided he completes supervised probation.

The sophomore said in a release distributed by the school that he does not want his troubles to be a distraction to the Cavaliers (1-1).

"I love my team and my teammates and the way they have let me know that they trust me and have my back," Lalich said in the release. "Because I care so much about our team, it is best for me to step back temporarily from my starting position so that my teammates can focus 100 percent on getting ready for the game. Coach Groh and I have frequent conversations and we agree on this. I appreciate that Coach sees me first as a person, then as a quarterback.

"I make mistakes like everyone, but I have followed the terms of my probation and I am committed to our team and the University of Virginia."