UA vs. NAU: UA W 35-0
The Wildcats didn’t have All-American running back Ka’Deem Carey, who was serving a one-game suspension for his exploits during the offseason. UA really didn’t need him. Senior running back Daniel Jenkins filled in nicely for Carey, gaining 139 rushing yards and one touchdown on only 12 carries. Senior quarterback B.J. Denker got the start and was efficient, going 9-13 for 87 yards and one touchdown.
The UA defense didn’t allow any points, forced three interceptions, held the Lumberjacks to 273 total yards and held three-time 1,000-yard rusher senior Zach Bauman to 3.4 yards per carry.
No. 24 USC vs. Hawaii: USC W 30-13
The Trojans still don’t have a solidified starter at quarterback, and redshirt sophomores Cody Kessler and Max Wittek failed to distance themselves from each other. Kessler went 10-19 for 95 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Wittek wasn’t any better, going 5-10 for 77 yards.
The Trojans’ defense snagged four interceptions from Hawaii’s Taylor Graham. Senior cornerback Josh Shaw took one interception back 35 yards for a touchdown. USC only allowed 23 rushing yards but gave up 208 passing yards on 16 completions.
Utah vs. Utah State : Utah W 30-26
New offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson seems to have injected some life into a Utah passing attack that averaged only 190 yards per game in 2012. Sophomore Travis Wilson completed 17 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns.
The Utes had no answer for Utah State junior quarterback Chuckie Keeton. Keeton passed for 314 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another 85 yards and one touchdown. Utah’s defense gave up 487 total yards.
No. 3 Oregon vs. Nichols State: UO W 66-3
Surprise, surprise … not. Oregon had 235 yards of offense in the first quarter alone and 772 total yards for the entire game. The Ducks had three players break 100 yards rushing: Marcus Mariota, De’Anthony Thomas and Byron Marshall. Mariota also added 234 passing yards and one touchdown through the air.
The Ducks did have their first player ejected under the NCAA’s new targeting rule. Junior cornerback Terrance Mitchell was ejected after targeting the head of NSU’s quarterback Beaux Hebert as Hebert slid on a scramble.
No. 25 Oregon State vs. Eastern Washington: OSU L 49-46
For the second time in three years, the Beavers lost to an FCS team. Junior quarterback Sean Mannion was impressive, passing for 422 yards on 37 completions and three touchdowns. But it wasn’t the offense’s fault.
OSU’s defense, the No. 2 scoring defense in the Pac-12 last year, gave up 625 total yards including 448 through the air.
Washington State vs. Auburn: WSU L 31-24
Big plays hurt the Cougars, as they gave up a 75-yard rushing touchdown and a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown. WSU redshirt junior quarterback Connor Halliday struggled, throwing three interceptions.
Washington vs. No. 19 Boise State: Washington W 38-6
The Huskies opened up the newly renovated Husky Stadium in style, whooping on the No. 19 Broncos.
Washington senior quarterback Keith Price passed for 324 yards and two scores. The Huskies got it done on the ground as well, with junior running back Bishop Sankey racking up 161 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries.
The Huskies defense also came to play, holding BSU to a pair of field goals and 346 total yards.
Cal vs. No. 22 Northwestern: Cal L 44-30
Usually starting a true freshman at quarterback is a risky proposition, especially when he is the first true freshman to start at quarterback in school history. But freshman Jared Goff made the most of his opportunity.
Goff passed for 445 yards and two touchdowns, but he did throw three interceptions. Two of those picks ended up being returned by Northwestern junior linebacker Collin Ellis for touchdowns.
Take away the two pick-sixes and Cal may have upset the No. 22 Wildcats.
UCLA vs. Nevada: UCLA W 58-20
The game was close at half with UCLA leading 17-13. Then the second half happened, and the Bruins exploded for 41 points in the game’s final 30 minutes.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley is justifying why he could get some Heisman consideration. Hundley shredded Nevada for 274 passing yards and two touchdowns and then ran for 63 rushing yards another two touchdowns.
The Bruins did struggle to stop Nevada junior quarterback Cody Fajardo from running, as he racked up 106 and two touchdowns but that was about the only struggle UCLA had.
Colorado vs. Colorado State: CU W 41- 27
Colorado junior wideout Paul Richardson torched Colorado State for 208 receiving yards and two touchdowns as the Buffaloes blew past the Rams.Junior quarterback Connor Wood looked impressive as well, throwing for 400 yards and three touchdowns on the day.
The Buffaloes looked like a totally different team from last year’s 1-11 squad, amassing 509 yards of offense. The defense, one of the Pac-12’s worst last year, held CSU to only 295 yards.
Reach the reporter at ejsmith7@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @EricSmith_SP
