Longhorns flop in Herman’s debut, 51-41
AUSTIN, Texas — Tyrrell Pigrome threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score before leaving with an injury and Maryland beat No. 23 Texas 51-41 on Saturday, spoiling Longhorns coach Tom Herman’s debut.
Pigrome had to be helped off late in the third quarter after twisting his knee, but freshman Kasim Hill came in and led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives in the opener for both teams.
Maryland led 27-7 in the second quarter, and then held off a Texas rally to snap a 17-game losing streak to ranked opponents, the third-longest streak among Power Five teams.
Maryland’s D.J. Moore had 133 yards receiving and a touchdown.
The Longhorns scored three non-offensive touchdowns — an interception return and blocked kick return by Holton Hill and a 91-yard punt return by Reggie Hemphill-Mapps. But those highlights couldn’t deliver a win for Herman, who was brought from Houston to replace Charlie Strong after three straight losing seasons. Texas had its same old problems, giving up a special-teams touchdown, missed field goals and a defense that was physically battered all game and give up big plays.
11-Michigan 33, 17-Florida 17
ARLINGTON, Texas — Quinn Nordin became the first Michigan kicker to make two 50-yard field goals in the same game, one of them in a quick goahead spurt after halftime, and the 11thranked Wolverines handed 17th-ranked Florida its first season-opening loss in nearly three decades.
The Gators had won 27 consecutive season openers, the nation’s longest such streak, since a home loss to Mississippi in 1989.
Michigan trailed 17-13 at halftime before scoring three times in the first
6 minutes of the second half. After Karan Higdon’s 3-yard TD run capped a half-opening 75-yard,
10-yard drive, Ambry Thomas forced and recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. That set up a 30-yard field goal by Quinn, who then made a 50-yarder after Michigan recovered another fumble.
Nordin made four field goals, including a 55-yarder in the first half. He missed two attempts wide right in the fourth quarter, one of those from 52 yards.
Florida’s only touchdowns came when Duke Dawson and CJ Henderson returned interceptions for touchdowns. Those came on consecutive throws by Michigan starting quarterback Wilton Speight in the second quarter.
Shane Buechele passed for 375 yards for Texas.
5-Clemson 56, Kent St. 3
CLEMSON, S.C. — Kelly Bryant passed for 236 yards and a touchdown and ran for 77 more yards in his first game as Clemson’s starting quarterback.
Bryant has the hefty responsibility of replacing Deshaun Watson behind center for the defending national champions. The junior, who had thrown just 22 passes in his career for Clemson in mop up duty, showed he could both run and pass.
Bryant had a perfectly placed 61yard touchdown pass to Deon Cain on his second drive. He mirrored Watson’s running ability, taking off for a 47-yard run after all his receivers were covered. And he showed the “swag” that coach Dabo Swinney promised to fans skittish about Watson’s departure.
6-Penn State 52, Akron 0
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Saquon Barkley had 226 total yards and two touchdowns to lead Penn State.
Trace McSorley was 18 for 25 passing for 280 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score.
Although it rained heavily early at Beaver Stadium, a soggy field and leaky Akron defense couldn’t slow Penn State’s pair of Heisman Trophy candidates. They combined for 371 total yards and four scores in the first half to put the game out of reach.
7-Oklahoma 56, UTEP 7
NORMAN, Okla. — Baker Mayfield passed for 329 yards and three touchdowns in one half of action to help Oklahoma rout UTEP.
Mayfield completed 16 straight passes to start the game. He didn’t miss until just under four minutes remained in the second quarter and completed 19 of 20 overall.
The Sooners rolled up 676 yards of offense in their first game under head coach Lincoln Riley. The 33-year-old was promoted from offensive coordinator after Bob Stoops stepped down in June.
Mark Andrews had career highs of seven catches and 134 yards, all in the first half. Jeff Badet, a transfer from Kentucky, added 91 yards on four catches as the Sooners warmed up for a showdown next weekend at No. 2 Ohio State.
Walter Dawn Jr. ran for 56 yards and UTEP’s only touchdown.
18-Miami 41, B-Cookman 13
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Malik Rosier passed for 217 yards and three touchdowns in his debut as Miami’s full-time starting quarterback, Mark Walton ran for 148 yards and two touchdowns.
Rosier completed 17 of 28 passes, and Miami which scored on five of its first six possessions. He spread the ball to nine receivers and went 12 for 14 in one stretch in his first start since Oct. 31, 2015. Braxton Berrios, Lawrence Cager and Darrell Langham had touchdown catches for Miami.
Missouri 72, Missouri State 43
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Drew Lock had a record-setting day for Missouri, throwing for 521 yards and seven touchdowns as the Tigers beat Missouri State.
The previous passing touchdown record was five, shared by Chase Daniel, Maty Mauk and Lock. The previous yardage record was 480, set by Jeff Handy against Oklahoma State in 1992.
While Lock’s exploits were a nice bonus for Missouri, the fact he was still piling up statistics in the fourth quarter was a troubling sign that the MU defense couldn’t get enough stops to turn a game against an FCS opponent into a blowout.
South Carolina 35 North Carolina St. 28
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Deebo Samuel returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a score and caught two touchdown passes from Jake Bentley.
Bentley threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns, including strikes of 39 and 6 yards to Samuel as the Gamecocks won their 17th season opener in the last 18 years.
Gamecocks safety D.J. Smith broke up a pass from Ryan Finley in the end zone on fourth and goal with six seconds left to preserve the win.