Reserve quarterback lifts Oklahoma State

STILLWATER, Okla. — It wasn’t the most impressive performance by No. 11 Oklahoma State, but a third-stringer, true freshman quarterback and Chuba Hubbard rallied the Cowboys to prevent an upset bid on Saturday.

Hubbard, who led the nation in rushing last year, was limited to 35 yards in the first half but scored on a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter to lift Oklahoma State to a 16-7 victory over Tulsa in the season opener for both teams.

Trailing 7-3 late in the third quarter, Oklahoma State (1-0) received a big offensive spark when the Cowboys’ third QB, Shane Illingworth, entered the game and immediately connected on his first three passes — including the two longest plays of the day — hitting Tylan Wallace for receptions of 36 and 29 yards.

Illingworth completed 4 of 5 passes for 74 yards in just over a quarter of work, helping Wallace finish with 4 receptions for 94 yards. Freshman Alex Hale made three field goals, two in the fourth quarter, from 27, 40 and 29 yards.

“I was proud of our team,” Oklahoma State Coach Mike Gundy said. “We got put in a unique situation there for a while, had to regroup, particularly on offense. Defense was fabulous. I’m thrilled with the guys for fighting through all the adversity and finding a way to win at the end.”

For Tulsa, Zach Smith completed 18 of 28 passes for 164 yards and 1 touchdown, a 16yard toss to Josh Johnson with 1:38 left in the first half that put the Golden Hurricane up 7-3.

Tulsa (0-1) will play at Arkansas State University on Saturday.

The Golden Hurricane had trouble capitalizing on their opportunities against the Cowboys, going 0 for 12 on third downs, while numerous poorly timed penalties also set them back. They ended up being flagged for 15 penalties totaling 120 yards, including a touchdown taken off the board in the fourth quarter because of a false start on third and goal.

The Cowboys lost starting quarterback Spencer Sanders with an apparent right ankle injury late in the first half after he completed 2 of 2 passes for 23 yards and gained 9 yards on 5 rushes. Ethan Bullock, a junior college transfer from the City College of San Francisco, stepped in and was 8 of 13 for 41 yards but had trouble moving the ball.

NO. 1 CLEMSON 49, THE CITADEL 0

CLEMSON, S.C. — Trevor Lawrence threw for three touchdowns in just nine passing attempts, and Clemson beat The Citadel.

Lawrence also rushed for his third TD this season, leading the way as the Tigers (2-0) improved to 35-0 against teams from the Football Championship Subdivision.

NO. 7 NOTRE DAME 52, SOUTH FLORIDA 0

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Ian Book had three first-half touchdown runs and Notre Dame won its 20th consecutive home game.

The Fighting Irish (2-0) led 35-0 at halftime.

Book capped the opening drive with 4-yard touchdown run and freshman Chris Tyree scored from a yard out about five minutes later.

NO. 13 CINCINNATI 55, AUSTIN PEAY 20

CINCINNATI — Gerrid Doaks scored four touchdowns, including a career-high three on the ground, as Cincinnati opened with a victory over Austin Peay.

NO. 14 CENTRAL FLORIDA 49, GEORGIA TECH 21

ATLANTA — Dillon Gabriel threw for a career-best 417 yards and four touchdowns

to get Central Florida past Georgia Tech (1-1) in the Knights’ season opener.

Tre Nixon and Marlon Williams each hauled in a pair of TD passes as Gabriel eclipsed his previous career-high of 365 yards in a game last season at East Carolina.

NO. 19 LA.-LAFAYETTE 34, GEORGIA STATE 31, OT

ATLANTA — Elijah Mitchell rushed for 164 yards, including the winning touchdown in overtime, as Louisiana-Lafayette beat Georgia State.

The Ragin’ Cajuns (2-0, 1-0 Sun Belt) trailed 14-7 at intermission.

MARSHALL 17, NO. 23 APPALACHIAN ST. 7

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Brenden Knox rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown, quarterback Grant Wells came up with back-to-back big plays when Marshall needed them and the Thundering Herd beat Appalachian State.

Marshall (2-0) beat a ranked opponent for the first time since winning at No. 6 Kansas State in 2003.

Appalachian State (1-1) was held scoreless in the second half.

Wells, a redshirt freshman, threw a 67-yard pass to a wide open Xavier Gaines to set up Wells’ 12-yard scoring run on the next play for a 17-7 lead late in the third quarter.

NO. 25 PITTSBURGH 21, SYRACUSE 10

PITTSBURGH — Kenny Pickett threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, and Pittsburgh’s defense did the rest against Syracuse.

Pitt (2-0, 1-0 ACC) limited the Orange (0-2, 0-2) to 171 total yards, 69 of them coming on backup quarterback Rex Culpepper’s second-quarter touchdown strike to a streaking Taj Harris.

The Panthers sacked Culpepper and starter Tommy DeVito seven times.

TROY 47, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 14

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Gunnar Watson threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns as Troy opened its season with a victory over Middle Tennessee.

Watson threw both of his touchdown passes to Khalil McClain in the first half, including a 5-yarder with three seconds left before the break to lead 26-7.

LIBERTY 30, WESTERN KENTUCKY 24

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Malik Willis rushed for 168 yards and three touchdowns in his Liberty debut as the Flames opened their season with a victory over Western Kentucky.

Willis, a backup quarterback at Auburn for two seasons before transferring and sitting out last year, ran for two short touchdowns in the first half and added an 18-yard run early in the fourth quarter for a 30-17 lead. He had 21 carries and threw for 133 yards on 13-of-21 passing.

BOSTON COLLEGE 26, DUKE 6

DURHAM, N.C. — Phil Jurkovec threw for 300 yards and 2 touchdowns, Zay Flowers had 162 receiving yards, and Boston College beat Duke.

Jurkovec, the former four-star quarterback who transferred to Boston College from Notre Dame in the offseason, led the Eagles (1-0, 1-0 ACC) to a touchdown on their first drive, only to see the offense sputter.

In the third quarter, Jurkovec completed 6 of 7 passes for 151 yards and both of his touchdowns. The second, a 61-yard strike to Flowers, pushed the Eagles’ lead to 23-6.

NAVY 27, TULANE 24

NEW ORLEANS — Jamale Carothers rushed for 125 yards, Daniel Davies kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired, and Navy rallied from a 24-0 third-quarter deficit to beat Tulane.

Tulane (1-1, 0-1) was threatening to build on its 24-point lead before Cameron Kinley intercepted Tulane quarterback Keon Howard at the Navy 3. Navy (1-1, 1-0 American) seized control of the game in the second half, when the Midshipmen outgained the Green Wave 291-82.