Michigan ground attack humbles Penn State

De’Veon Smith led an overwhelming ground game with 107 yards rushing and a touchdown, Karan Higdon ran for two scores and No. 4 Michigan crushed Penn State 49- 10 on Saturday in the Big Ten opener for both teams in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The Wolverines ( 4- 0, 1- 0) scored six of their seven touchdowns on the ground and finished with 326 yards rushing en route to defeating the Nittany Lions ( 2- 2, 1- 0) for the third consecutive time.

Jabrill Peppers gave the fans at Michigan Stadium an early thrill by returning Penn State’s first punt to the Nittany Lions’ 9, although a bench- interference penalty moved the ball back 15 yards to the 24. Seven plays later, Khalid Hill dived in on fourth- and- goal from the 1.

Michigan also scored touchdowns on its next two drives. Penn State finally got a couple of stops, but the Wolverines took a 28- 0 halftime lead on a two- yard run by Higdon.

The Nittany Lions got on the board with a field goal in the third quarter, but Chris Evans made it 35- 3 with a three- yard scoring run, and Michigan coasted the rest of the way.

Iowa 14, Rutgers 7

Akrum Wadley scored on a 26- yard run one play after the Hawkeyes ( 3- 1, 1- 0) forced and recovered a fumble, and Iowa rebounded from its stunning loss to North Dakota State with a victory against the Scarlet Knights ( 2- 2, 0- 1) in the Big Ten opener for both teams in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Safety Brandon Snyder set up Wadley’s touchdown by stripping the ball from receiver Andre Patton with about nine minutes left to help the Hawkeyes win their ninth Big Ten regular- season game in a row.

Wake Forest 33, Indiana 28

John Wolford ran for two touchdowns and threw for another, and Jessie Bates returned an interception for a score to carry the Demon Deacons ( 4- 0) past the Hoosiers ( 2- 1) in Bloomington, Indiana.

Richard Lagow passed for 496 yards and three touchdowns for Indiana, but he also threw five interceptions.

Minnesota 31, Colorado State 24

Rodney Smith rushed 17 times for 99 yards and two touchdowns, Shannon Brooks returned from a broken foot that kept him out of the first two games to run 13 times for 85 yards and another score and the Golden Gophers ( 3- 0) wore down the Rams ( 2- 2) in Minneapolis.

Purdue 24, Nevada 14

David Blough threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns, Markell Jones scored the go- ahead touchdown on a five- yard run in the third quarter and the Boilermakers ( 2- 1) overcame four turnovers to defeat the Wolf Pack ( 2- 2) in West Lafayette, Indiana.