Crimson Tide roll to another victory
TUSCALOOSA, ALA.— Jalen Hurts ran for 154 yards and two touchdowns and passed for a third score in No. 1 Alabama’s 41-10 victory over Fresno State on Saturday.
The Crimson Tide (2-0) polished off the 44-point underdog Bulldogs (1-1) with a workmanlike performance on the heels of an opening victory over No. 10 Florida State in Atlanta.
Hurts completed 14 of 18 passes for 128 yards, but his biggest play came in the opening minute. He faked a handoff and sprinted 55 yards for a touchdown on the second offensive play, stepping out of a last-gasp tackle attempt at the 15.
Hurts also hit a wide-open Hale Hentges for a 23-yarder in the first quarter. It was the tight end’s first career touchdown.
The Tide led 28-3 at halftime against Fresno State, which had opened coach Jeff Tedford’s first season with a 66-0 win over FCS Incarnate Word.
Fresno State scored on Chason Virgil’s 26-yard pass to Derrion Grim with just over six minutes left.
Alabama outgained the Bulldogs 305-58 on the ground.
No. 3 Clemson 14, No. 13 Auburn 6
Kelly Bryant ran for two touchdowns after getting knocked hard to the ground and defensive end Austin Bryant had four of Clemson’s 11 sacks in the Tigers’ victory over Auburn.
This was billed as an early showcase between elite teams with dreams of the College Football Playoffs. Instead, Clemson never gave Auburn (1-1) much of a chance.
Bryant, making his second career start at quarterback for the defending national champions, appeared to be seriously hurt after he remained on the ground on a hit by Dontavius Russell. But after a few moments in the medical tent, Bryant returned to direct a pair of touchdown drives that gave Clemson (2-0) the lead for good.
His three-yard run right before halftime put Clemson ahead 7-6.
No. 4 Penn State 33, Pitt 14
Trace McSorley threw for three touchdowns, including Saquon Barkley’s 46-yard catch-and-run, and Penn State pulled away.
McSorley completed15 of 28 passes for 164 yards, helping the Nittany Lions (2-0) avenge a loss to their in-state rivals a year ago. Tight end Mike Gesicki had two touchdown receptions and Barkley ran for 88 yards to help Penn State ended a two-game skid against the Panthers.
No. 8 Michicgan 36, Cincinnati 14
Ty Isaac ran for a career-high 133 yards and Wilton Speight threw two touchdown passes to help Michigan pull away.
The Wolverines (2-0) led by just three points early in the second half before scoring 19 straight points to turn a closely contested game into a lopsided one.
The Bearcats (1-1) failed to take advantage of Michigan’s many mistakes and made some miscues of their own to spoil an upset bid.