Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
With nod to coach, Michigan rolls
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — J.J. Mccarthy threw three touchdown passes to wide receiver Roman Wilson, helping No. 2 Michigan rout East Carolina 30-3 on Saturday.
The Wolverines (1-0) were without coach Jim Harbaugh, who began serving a school-imposed, three-game suspension for breaking NCAA rules. They host UNLV this week.
Mccarthy showed up at Michigan Stadium wearing a blue shirt backward, writing “FREE” in black on white athletic tape and placing it on his chest above Harbaugh’s name.
The Wolverines appeared to pay homage to Harbaugh in the first quarter with a single-file formation on offense as each player raised an arm over his head.
“That was definitely a tribute to Coach Harbaugh,” Mccarthy said. “That was pretty cool to do that.”
Mccarthy probably made his coach proud, completing 26 of 30 passes for 280 yards and throwing a a TD pass to Wilson in each of the first three quarters.
All-america running back Blake Corum, coming off knee surgery, ran for 73 yards on 10 carries, including a 2-yard TD that put Michigan up 14-0 early in the second quarter.
The Pirates (0-1) were overmatched against a team with national title aspirations that’s coming off two straight Big Ten titles and trips to the College Football Playoff.
East Carolina quarterback Mason Garcia was 11 of 18 for 80 yards and had a deflected pass picked off by cornerback Mike Sainristil. Garcia shared time with Alex Flinn, who was 6 of 11 for 52 yards.
The Pirates avoided a shutout with Andrew Conrad’s 33-yard field goal as time expired.
■ No. 1 Georgia 48, Tennessee-martin 7: At Athens, Ga., Carson Beck overcame a sluggish first half to throw a 54yard TD pass to Mekhi Mews for the Bulldogs (1-0) in their 18th straight win. The Skyhawks (0-1) held a 63-59 edge in first-quarter yards of offense.
■ No. 3 Ohio State 23, Indiana 3: At Bloomington, Ind., Miyan Williams ran for two TDS as the Buckeyes (1-0, 1-0 Big Ten) won their 23rd straight opener. The Hoosiers (0-1, 0-1) totaled 153 yards of offense.
■ No. 4 Alabama 56, Middle Tennessee State 7: At Tuscaloosa, Ala., Jalen Milroe threw TD passes of 47, 48 and 29 yards and ran for two scores in his second start for the Crimson Tide (1-0). The Blue Raiders (0-1) received a reported $1.6 million from the game.
■ No. 7 Penn State 38, West Virginia 15: At State College, Pa., Drew Allar threw for 325 yards and three TDS in his first start for the Nittany Lions (1-0). The Mountaineers (0-1) were outgained 405-198 in yards of offense through three quarters.
■ No. 11 Texas 37, Rice 10:
At Austin, Texas, Quinn Ewers passed for three TDS and ran for another. The Longhorns (10) yielded 172 yards of offense and let the Owls (0-1) cross midfield once in the first half.
■ No. 12 Tennessee 49, Virginia 13: At Nashville, Tenn., Joe Milton III threw two TD passes and ran for two scores. The Volunteers (1-0) didn’t trail. The Cavaliers (0-1) were outgained 499-202 in yards of offense.
■ No. 13 Notre Dame 56, Tennessee State 3: At South Bend, Ind., Sam Hartman was 14 of 17 passing for 194 yards and two TDS. The Tigers (0-1) are the first HBCU and FCS team the Fighting Irish (2-0) have played.
■ No. 15 Oregon 81, Portland State 7: At Eugene, Ore., Bo Nix threw for 287 yards and three TDS in two-plus quarters as the Ducks (1-0) set an Autzen Stadium scoring record. The Vikings (0-1) trailed 50-7 at halftime.
■ No. 16 Kansas State 45, Southeast Missouri State 0: At Manhattan, Kan., Will Howard threw for 297 yards and two TDS, ran for a TD and caught an 8-yard TD pass for the Wildcats (1-0), who led 35-0 at halftime. The Redhawks (0-1) totaled 227 yards of offense.
■ No. 19 Wisconsin 38, Buffalo 17: At Madison, Wis., Chez Mellusi ran for 157 yards and two TDS on 13 carries for the Badgers (1-0). The Bulls (0-1) yielded 150 third-quarter rushing yards.
■ No. 20 Oklahoma 73, Arkansas State 0: At Norman, Okla., Dillon Gabriel was 19 of 22 passing for 308 yards and two TDS, all in the first half. The Sooners (1-0) held the Red Wolves (0-1) to 208 yards of offense.
■ No. 21 North Carolina 31, South Carolina 17: At Charlotte, N.C., Heisman Trophy hopeful Drake Maye threw for 269 yards and two TDS for the Tar Heels (1-0), who notched nine sacks after totaling 17 in 2022. The Gamecocks (0-1) yielded scores on five of UNC’S first six possessions.
■ No. 22 Mississippi 73, Mercer 7: At Oxford, Miss., Louisiana Tech transfer Tre Harris had TD catches for 38, 28 and 20 yards in the opening four minutes, and the Rebels (1-0) led 38-7 at halftime. QB Carter Peevy ran for a 75-yard TD on the first snap for the Bears (1-1).
■ No. 24 Tulane 37, South Alabama 17: At New Orleans, Michael Pratt was 14 of 15 passing for 294 yards — including TDS of 48, 47 and 47 yards — for the Green Wave (1-0). Carter Bradley passed for a TD and ran for another for the Jaguars (0-1) but threw two interceptions and lost a fumble.