Sunday, September 2, 2012

NCAA: No. 1 USC trounces Hawaii

(AP) Braxton Miller helped make Urban Meyer's first game as Ohio State coach a record-breaking romp for the Buckeyes.

Meanwhile, the new era at Penn State got off to a disappointing start thanks to another team from the state of Ohio.

In Columbus, Miller rushed for 161 yards, a record for an Ohio State quarterback, and threw for two scores and 207 yards as the 18th-ranked Buckeyes beat Miami (Ohio) 56-10.

Meyer, who won two national titles at Florida, is unbeaten in 11 openers. He had worked as a TV analyst a year ago after stepping down from the Gators job due to health and family considerations.

He was hired last November to revive the beleaguered Buckeyes.

Bill O'Brien was hired by Penn State to lead the Nittany Lions in a new direction and replace the late Joe Paterno.

Penn State had an 11-point lead at the half, but Ohio quarterback Tyler Tettleton accounted for three second-half touchdowns to hand O'Brien a 24-14 loss at State College, Pa.

Matt McGloin threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns guiding Penn State's new-look offense.

There were some other changes, too: players' names on the backs of the uniforms, and blue ribbons on the back of the helmets to show support for victims of child sexual abuse.

Penn State fans show pride as Lions fall

No. 1 USC 49, HAWAII 10

LOS ANGELES - Marqise Lee caught a 75-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage and returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score, and No. 1 Southern California rolled.

Matt Barkley kicked off his Heisman Trophy campaign with 377 yards passing and four touchdowns, and Lee caught 10 passes for 197 yards for the Trojans (1-0), whose offensive stars were every bit as impressive as expected in their first game since their two-year NCAA bowl ban ended.

Silas Redd rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown on a team-leading nine carries in the Penn State transfer's debut at USC, which led 35-0 at halftime and coasted to its 15th consecutive season-opening victory.

Robert Woods caught six passes for 42 yards and two TDs, and tight end Xavier Grimble caught Barkley's final scoring throw in the fourth quarter.

No. 2 ALABAMA 41, No. 8 MICHIGAN 14

ARLINGTON, Texas - AJ McCarron threw two touchdown passes and Alabama's retooled defense showed it could still dominate.

Even after sending three starting defenders from last year's national championship team to the NFL as first-round draft picks, the Crimson Tide threw around the Wolverines while stifling and pounding dual-threat quarterback Denard Robinson.

C.J. Mosley returned an interception 16 yards for a touchdown. Dee Milliner had four pass breakups and an interception in the first half that set up a score after he shoved the intended receiver to the ground on the sideline.

This certainly wasn't what Michigan expected coming off an 11-win season under first-year coach Brady Hoke that ended with the Wolverines' first BCS victory since the 1999 season.

McCarron no longer has Trent Richardson to hand off to, but T.J. Yeldon and Eddie Lacy both ran for scores.

No. 2 Ala. wins 41-14 over No. 8 Mich.

NO. 3 LSU 41, NORTH TEXAS 14

BATON ROUGE, La. - Kenny Hilliard rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns, and LSU opened its season with an easy victory.

While the heavily favored Tigers were never threatened, their performance did not always thrill a Death Valley crowd that eagerly anticipated the debut of Zach Mettenberger as starting quarterback.

Mettenberger, who was briefly sidelined by a vicious sack, was 19 of 26 for 192 yards, an interception and a touchdown. But LSU didn't really need to throw in a game decided by its overwhelming defense and a running game that accounted for 316 yards, including 123 by Alfred Blue.

Derek Thompson completed only 8 of 21 passes, but two passes were scoring strikes of 80 and 15 yards to Brelan Chancellor.

NO. 4 OKLAHOMA 24, UTEP 7

EL PASO, Texas - Landry Jones threw two touchdown passes and Damien Williams ran 65 yards for another score in the fourth quarter, helping Oklahoma slog out a win.

Oklahoma labored in its opener, unable to generate much of a running game or get anything downfield.

Up just 10-7 in the fourth quarter, the Sooners stuffed UTEP on a fake punt to set up an 18-yard touchdown pass from Jones to Brannon Green and Williams sealed it late with his long run.

Nathan Jeffrey ran for 177 yards and returned a blocked punt 24 yards for a touchdown for UTEP.

NO. 5 OREGON 57, ARKANSAS ST. 34

EUGENE, Ore. - Marcus Mariota made his first start, passing for 200 yards and three touchdowns in Oregon's season-opening victory over Arkansas State.

De'Anthony Thomas caught two touchdowns and ran for another while collecting 119 yards in total offense as the Ducks built a 50-10 lead by halftime.

Kenjon Barner, taking over as starter after the departure of running back LaMichael James, ran for 66 yards and two scores.

The Ducks sat most of their starters after the break.

The loss spoiled coach Gus Malzahn's first game as coach of the Red Wolves, who went 10-3 last season and won the Sun Belt Conference title.

Arkansas State senior quarterback Ryan Aplin threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns, including a 72-yard scoring pass to Julian Jones just before the half.