Wisconsin opens on high note
Jonathan Taylor had touchdown runs of 30 and 48 yards, Alex Hornibrook threw for 257 yards and two scores and No. 4 Wisconsin opened the season with a 34-3 victory over visiting Western Kentucky on Friday in Madison.
A young defense working in seven new starters forced two turnovers inside Wisconsin’s 5. A.J. Taylor paced the short-handed receiving corps with five catches for 85 yards, while Garrett Groshek turned a screen pass into a 43-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter for a 31-point lead.
The Badgers scored on five of six drives after punting on three of their first four possessions. Jonathan Taylor finished with 145 yards on 18 carries and watched most of the fourth quarter from the sideline.
MSU avoids upset against Utah State
Connor Heyward scored his second touchdown with two minutes left and No. 11 Michigan State held on to beat visiting Utah State 38-31.
The Spartans trailed until the second quarter, built a 13-point lead late in the third and fell behind late in the opener for both teams.
Darwin Thompson put the Aggies ahead with a one-yard run, his second go-ahead score of the game, with 5:05 remaining. Their defense couldn’t make one more stop that would have given them a win against the highest-ranked team in school history.
Utah State did have one more chance to send the game to overtime — or possibly pull off the upset — but Joe Bachie tipped and intercepted a pass at midfield with 1:15 left.
Meyer tries to clarify suspension
Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said that he was not suspended by the university because he condoned alleged domestic abuse and that he did not lie to reporters at Big Ten Media Days last month.
Meyer tweeted a statement Friday that he says intends to clarify what he calls incorrect media reports about his suspension.
“My fault was in not taking action sooner against a troubled employee about his workrelated issues,” Meyer said.
This and that
Coach Nick Saban said he intends to play both of his star quarterbacks, Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts, when top-ranked Alabama opens its season Saturday against Louisville.
◆ Georgia and Clemson, which have played each other only four times since 1995, will renew their rivalry in the 2024 opener at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta.