Auburn 23, Kansas State 13
Auburn won, but it wasn't pretty or easy. Brandon Cox threw a touchdown pass to Gabe McKenzie with 2:01 remaining and Antonio Coleman returned a fumble for a score moments later to give No. 18 Auburn a 23-13 win at home. Auburn's offense struggled all night and the K-State defense came with pressure time and again. Auburn's defense was dominating as well. The Tigers forced three KSU turnovers and the Wildcats also committed 16 penalties for 144 yards. Josh Freeman was 32 for 57 for 268 yards with 0 TDs and 2 INTs. James Johnson only gained 14 yards as the leading Wildcat rusher and Jordy Nelson led KSU receivers with 90 yards on 9 receptions. For Auburn, Brandon Cox was 17 of 30 for 229 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs. Ben Tate had 82 yards rushing and Prechae Rodriguez had 73 yards receiving. Kansas State outgained Auburn in total offense 316 yards to 291.
Colorado 31, Colorado State 28 (OT)
Colorado place kicker Kevin Eberhart nailed a 22 yard field goal with 13 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime, and then hit a 35 yarder in the extra period to give the Buffaloes their first win of 2007. Colorado State's Caleb Haine threw an interception on the Rams' possession in overtime. The last five games between these rivals have been decided by a total of 25 points, and none of those games were won by more than a touchdown. Freshman Cody Hawkins, son of head coach Dan, was 18 of 31 for 201 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. Cody Hawkins has not lost a game in the last 60 starts, dating back to youth and high school leagues. Demetrius Sumler was the leading Buff rusher with 84 yards on 16 carries and one TD. Scotty McKnight had 8 catches for 105 yards and another score for CU. Colorado State's Caleb Haine finished the day going 20-for-27 for 229 yards with 3 TDs and 1 INT. Kyle Bell had 40 carries for 137 yards and a score and Kory Sperry led Ram receivers with 8 grabs for 103 yards and three touchdowns. Colorado State outgained Colorado in total offense, 385 yards to 332.
Georgia 35, Oklahoma State 14
Georgia's talent more than made up for its inexperience. The Bulldogs used 12 first-time starters, but still overwhelmed Oklahoma State on Saturday. Matthew Stafford was 18 of 24 for 234 yards and two TDs for the Bulldogs. The Bulldog defense was even better, getting five sacks on OSU QB Bobby Reid and making 11 tackles for loss (-62 yards). OSU was the No. 7 scoring offense a year ago, averaging nearly 35 points per game, against Georgia the Cowboys could only muster two TDs and 266 yards of offense. Knowshon Moreno led the Bulldogs with 70 yards rushing on 20 carries and Sean Bailey had 87 yards receiving. For Oklahoma State, Bobby Reid was 16 of 30 for 191 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. Dantrell Savage had 10 carries for 55 yards and a score and TE Brandon Pettigrew had 7 receptions for 85 yards. Adarius Bowman had 4 catches for 65 yards and one TD. Georgia totaled 376 yards of total offense and held Oklahoma State to 266.
Kansas 52, Central Michigan 7
Todd Reesing threw four touchdown passes in his debut as the Jayhawks quarterback and six different KU players scored in a rout of the defending Mid-American Conference champions. Reesing was 20 of 29 for 261 yards, with the four TDs and no INTs as the Jayhawks rolled up 538 total yards. Brandon McAnderson had 16 carries for 110 yards and Jake Sharp added another 106 yards rushing. Marcus Henry had 103 yards receiving for KU. For CMU, Dan LeFevour was 16 of 34 for 165 yards and 1 TD in the lone bright spot for the Chippewas. Central Michigan gained 287 yards of total offense in Lawrence.
Kent State 23, Iowa State 14
Iowa State coach Gene Chizik has a bigger rebuilding job than he probably imagined after a setback at home to the Golden Flashes. Julian Edelman threw for 161 yards and a touchdwon and also rushed for 75 yards to lead Kent State to the win and Eugene Jarvis added 113 yards rushing. This was the first win for Kent State over a team from a BCS conference in 20 years despite committing three turnovers in the red zone. Kent State beat Kansas 31-17 in 1987. However, the Cyclones had three turnovers of their own, including two interceptions thrown by Bret Meyer. JUCO transfer J.J. Bass had 133 yards on 22 carries for Iowa State to lead the Cyclone rushing attack. Meyer finished going 14 of 23 for 148 yards with one score to go along with his two picks. Todd Blythe had 65 yards receiving off of 5 catches and one score. Kent State ended the game with 363 yards of total offense, ISU ended with 306 yards.
Missouri 40, Illinois 34
Missouri's Cornelius Brown intercepted an Illinois pass at the 1-yard line with 51 seconds remaining in the game to preserve the win for the Tigers to start the season. Missouri scored on a 100-yard fumble return and a 66-yard punt return to go up 37-13 late in the third quarter. For Illinois, Eddie McGee was 17 of 31 for 258 yards with 1 TD and 2 INT playing in place of injured starter Juice Williams. Daniel Dufrene had 58 yards on 6 carries and Arrelious Benn had 5 catches for 75 yards to lead the Illini receivers. For Mizzou, Chase Daniel was 37 of 54 for 358 yards and 3 TDs. Tony Temple had 16 carries for 33 yards and Martin Rucker was the leading receiver with 10 catches for 87 yards. Missouri totaled 443 yards of offense and allowed 429 yards to Illinois.
Nebraska 52, Nevada 10
Nebraska looked like Nebraska of old as the Huskers ran all over Nevada. Marlon Lucky ran for a career high 233 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead Nebraska, who amassed 413 yards rushing in the game and 625 yards of total offense. With the win, Nebraska won a nation-leading 22 consecutive season openers. Sam Keller's debut with Nebraska was steady and solid. The senior finished 14 of 25 for 193 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT and was 7 of 9 in the second half. Terrence Nunn was the leading Husker receiver with 36 yards on 2 catches. Nick Grazniano led Nevada, going 8 of 24 for 109 yards with 1 INT. He was also the team's leading rusher with 6 carries for 29 yards. Mike McCoy was the top receiver with 2 grabs for 37 yards. Nevada totaled 185 yards of offense in the game.
Oklahoma 79, North Texas 10
Sam Bradford's first start as OU quarterback went extremely well. He ended up throwing for 363 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Sooners in a blowout win. Another newcomer, DeMarco Murray scored five touchdowns on 87 yards rushing. Bradford broke Josh Heupel's school-record for passing yards in a half when he was 20-for-22 for 350 yards in the first half. He also tied a record of Jason White's by throwing 18 consecutive passes. Bradford finished the day 21 of 23. This game was the second-highest point total ever for Oklahoma and the most lopsided season-opener in Sooner history. Juaquin Iglesias had 7 catches for 128 yards and Malcolm Kelly had 4 grabs for another 118 yards and two scores for OU. For North Texas, Daniel Meager was 15 of 27 for 108 yards. Jamario Thomas, the 2004 NCAA rushing champion, had four carries for five yards. Casey Fitzgerald was a bright spot for the Mean Green, gaining 126 yards receiving on 7 catches. OU totaled 668 yards of total offense on the day, North Texas ended with 247.
Texas 21, Arkansas State 13
Texas almost suffered the same sick feeling as Michigan in their opening game. Colt McCoy threw two first-quarter touchdown passes to help the Longhorns survive a sloppy game. Texas didn't have this game wrapped up until Brandon Foster recovered an onside kick with less than a minute left. Arkansas State was able to grind out long drives on a Longhorn defense that looked lost all night long. Texas also struggled on short-yardage running plays. UT failed to punch the ball into the endzone on four running plays from the Arkansas State three yard line in the third quarter. McCoy ended up going 22 of 33 for 223 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INTs. Jamaal Charles had 27 carries for 112 yards and a score and Limas Sweed led Texas receivers with 93 yards on 5 catches. ASU quarterback Corey Leonard was 23 of 36 for 259 yards with 1 INT. Reggie Arnold had 68 yards and a score on 11 carries and Levi Dejohnette had 92 yards receiving for the Indians. ASU outgained Texas 397 yards to 340 in total offense.
Texas A&M 38, Montana State 7
Texas A&M wasn't spectacular in its win to open the season, but they'll take the win. Last year, Montana State, a Division I-AA school, walked into Colorado and won. That coupled with Saturday's loss by Michigan to I-AA Appalachian State, and Dennis Franchione is glad to take the win by any means. Stephen McGee had 112 yards passing and added 121 yards rushing and two touchdowns to lead the way for the Aggies. A&M improved to 5-0 in home openers under Franchione. Mike Goodson and Jorvorskie Lane had 65 and 40 yards rushing, respectively. For Montana State, Jack Rolovich was 21 of 39 for 267 yards and a score. The Bobcats outgained the Aggies in total offense 403 yards to 390. Montana State also controled the time of possession but couldn't finish drives. They missed three field goals and a fumble deep in A&M territory.
Texas Christian 27, Baylor 0
TCU students were heard to be chanting "We Want Texas!" as the Horned Frogs wrapped up a season-opening shutout of another former Southwest Conference rival Baylor. Top defensive player Tommy Blake did not play due to injury but will likely suit up next week against the Longhorns. This was the first shutout for Baylor since consecutive shutout losses to Texas and Texas Tech in 2005, yet the Bears haven't had a winning season since the Southwest Conference disbanded in 1995. With the win, TCU has won its last five games against Big 12 teams, a streak that started with a season-opening victory at Oklahoma in 2005. Baylor did not help matters any with four turnovers. Blake Szymanski was 23 of 47 for 216 yards with 3 INTs for Baylor. Brandon Whitaker had 12 carries for 27 yards as the dismal rushing attack from a year ago has resurfaced in 2007. Brad Taylor was the top Bear receiver with 3 catches for 51 yards. For TCU, Andy Dalton was 18 of 30 for 205 yards and one score, and Joseph Turner had 9 carries for 56 yards for the Frogs. TCU ended with 386 yards of offense, while Baylor was limited to 282.
Texas Tech 49, Southern Methodist 9
Texas Tech has shown in the past that its offense can keep on chugging when changing quarterbacks. Apparently it can also plug away when replacing offensive lienmen and receivers. Graham Harrell threw a career high 44 passes for 419 yards and four touchdowns in a blowout win over the Mustangs. Redshirt freshman Michael Crabtree caught 12 passes for 106 yards and three TDs while senior Danny Amendola finished with 10 catches for 149 yards. Shannon Woods gained 49 yards and 2 TDs on 10 carries. For SMU, Justin Willis was 15 of 33 for 139 yards with 2 INTs. Zack Sledge had 4 catches for 64 yards also for the Mustangs. Texas Tech ended with 554 yards of total offense, and allowed 266 yards to SMU.
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Big 12 Players of the Week
Offensive Player of the Week – Marlon Lucky, Nebraska (RB)
Marlon Lucky rushed for a career-best 233 yards and there touchdowns in Nebraska’s 52-10 win over Nevada. Lucky averaged 7.8 yards per carry in addition to scoring on runs of 1, 17, and 3 yards. He also totaled 33 receiving yards, including a 16-yard TD catch to open the game’s scoring. Lucky garnered Walter Camp National Player of the Week accolades for his effort.
Defensive Player of the Week – Cornelius “Pig” Brown, Missouri (SS)
Pig Brown was a difference-maker in Missouri’s 40-34 victory against Illinois. Brown recovered a pair of fumbles and a victory-clinching interception in the game’s final minute at the Mizzou 1-yard line. Both of his fumble recoveries led to Tiger touchdowns. Brown returned his first recovery an NCAA-record tying 100 yards for a 13-6 second-quarter Mizzou lead. On Illinois’ next possession, Brown thwarted a potential Illini scoring drive with his second fumble recovery, this time at the Mizzou 29-yard line. In addition to his 102 fumble return yards, Brown registered five tackles in the game, including a tackle for a loss.
Special Teams Player of the Week – Kevin Eberhart, Colorado (PK)
In his first game as Colorado’s first-team place kicker following the graduation of two-time All-American Mason Crosby, Kevin Eberhart connected on 3-of-4 field goal attempts for the Buffaloes in their 31-28 overtime triumph over Colorado State. Eberhart forced the extra session with a 22-yard conversion with 0:13 left and then hit the game-winner from 35 yards out in the first overtime.
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Big 12 Standings
North Division
Colorado (1-0, 0-0)
Kansas (1-0, 0-0)
Missouri (1-0, 0-0)
Nebraska (1-0, 0-0)
Iowa State (0-1, 0-0)
Kansas State (0-1, 0-0)
South Division
Oklahoma (1-0, 0-0)
Texas (1-0, 0-0)
Texas A&M (1-0, 0-0)
Texas Tech (1-0, 0-0)
Baylor (0-1, 0-0)
Oklahoma State (0-1, 0-0)
Games for Week of Sept. 8
Miami at Oklahoma (ABC - 11:00)
Nebraska at Wake Forest (ESPN - 11:00)
Fresno State at Texas A&M (FSN - 2:30)
Texas Christian at Texas (FSN - 6:00)
UTEP at Texas Tech (6:00)
Colorado at Arizona State (FSN - 9:15)
Florida Atlantic at Oklahoma State (TBA)
Missouri at Mississippi (TBA)
Northern Iowa at Iowa State (TBA)
Rice at Baylor (TBA)
San Jose State at Kansas State (TBA)
Southeastern Louisiana at Kansas (TBA)
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