Nordin gives Michigan a leg up on Florida
ARLINGTON, TEXAS >> Quinn Nordin became the first Michigan kicker to make two 50yard field goals in the same game, one of them in a goahead spurt after halftime, and the No. 11 Wolverines beat No. 17 Florida 33-17 on Saturday to hand the Gators their first season-opening loss in nearly three decades.
The Gators had won 27 consecutive 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.
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. MARYLAND 51, NO. 23 TEXAS 41» Tyrrell Pigrome threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score before leaving with an injury and Maryland spoiled Texas 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 thirdlongest streak among Power Five teams.
NO. 5 CLEMSON 56, KENT STATE 3 » 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.
The Golden Flashes were without coach Paul Haynes, who missed the game for medical reasons. They gained just 119 yards.
NO. 6 PENN STATE 52, AKRON 0» 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.
Tight end Mike Gesicki added six catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns for Penn State, DeAndre Thompkins scored on a 61yard punt return and backup quarterback Tommy Stevens ran for a touchdown.
NO. 7 OKLAHOMA 56, UTEP 7» 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. NO. 18 MIAMI 41, BETHUNECOOKMAN 13 » 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.