Associated Press
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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — True freshman Rob Bolden threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns, Chaz Powell had a 100-yard kickoff return for a score and No. 19 Penn State brushed off a sluggish start Saturday to beat Youngstown State 44-14.
Coach Joe Paterno got his 395th career victory by starting a true freshman at quarterback in a season opener for the first time in his 45 years as head coach.
Brett Brackett caught two touchdowns for the Nittany Lions (1-0).
Youngstown State (0-1) took a 7-6 lead in the first half on Dominique Barnes’ 80-yard TD reception, but the Nittany Lions’ defense stiffened from there while Bolden took control on offense.
Bolden hit Brackett for touchdown passes in the second and third quarters, the latter giving Penn State a 30-7 lead.
No. 4 Florida 34
Miami (Ohio) 12
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Jeff Demps had a long scoring run, John Brantley added a fluky touchdown pass late and No. 4 Florida overcame an error-filled game to beat Miami (Ohio).
The Gators (1-0) used four interceptions, several red-zone stops and two late touchdowns to avoid a meltdown. The bigger story was Florida’s anemic offense — the one quarterback John Brantley had hoped to “keep rolling” after waiting three years behind Tim Tebow.
Brantley completed 17 of 25 passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns. He had a 10-yarder to Omarius Hines that was the offense’s longest play of the day until Demps’ got loose for a 72-yard run in the fourth.
No. 5 Texas 34, Rice 17
HOUSTON — Tre’ Newton ran for three touchdowns, while quarterback Garrett Gilbert was up and down in his first college start for Texas.
Texas (1-0) was stopped on fourth down at the 1-yard line on its first drive and settled for a 51-yard field goal on the second after another stalled drive. The Longhorns finally got going on their first full drive of the second quarter taking a 10-3 lead on a 1-yard TD run by Newton.
No. 16 Georgia Tech 41
South Carolina State 10
ATLANTA — Quarterback Joshua Nesbitt ran for 130 yards and three touchdowns and Roddy Jones added two scoring runs for Georgia Tech.
Tevin Washington, who replaced Nesbitt late in the third quarter, added an 11-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter as Georgia Tech (1-0) had 372 yards rushing with six touchdowns.
No. 20 Florida St. 59
Samford 6
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Christian Ponder threw four first-half touchdown passes and Greg Reid returned a punt 74 yards for another score as No. 20 Florida State celebrated Jimbo Fisher’s coaching debut with a rout.
The Seminoles (1-0) exploded for 35 points during an 11-minute span of the second quarter to build a 42-0 lead in the season opener for both schools.
Notre Dame 23
Purdue 12
SOUTH BEND, Ind.— Dayne Crist threw for 205 yards and a touchdown in his first start, Armando Allen ran for a score and Notre Dame’s defense was solid in a win over Purdue that gave coach Brian Kelly a victory in his Fighting Irish debut.
Notre Dame led 20-3 after three quarters before Purdue rallied behind transfer quarterback Robert Marve, who got the Boilermakers back in the game with a 23-yard TD run early in the final period but was penalized for celebrating with a somersault.
Michigan 30
Connecticut 10
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Denard Robinson accounted for 383 yards and two touchdowns in his first game as Michigan’s starting quarterback, leading the Wolverines over Connecticut.
Robinson ran for 197 yards — setting a school record for a quarterback — and a TD. He was 19 of 22 for 186 yards and a score.
The Wolverines and embattled coach Rich Rodriguez desperately needed the victory. They got it in front of a record attendance of 113,090 at the new-look Big House.
