Elvis Has Left Team, but Michigan Rolls : Midwest: Collins takes hits, but throws for 265 yards and three touchdowns against Washington State.

Todd Collins made Michigan fans forget about Elvis in a hurry.

Collins, in his first start since Elvis Grbac graduated, threw for 265 yards and three touchdowns as the third-ranked Wolverines rolled over Washington State, 41-14, Saturday.

Collins completed 19 of 29 with no interceptions before sitting down early in the fourth quarter. Two of his scoring tosses were to Mercury Hayes, who had eight catches for 105 yards. He also threw a touchdown pass to Amani Toomer.

“We gave Collins too much time,” Cougar Coach Mike Price said. “They run nice patterns and Collins hit the target.”

The Cougars, who returned nine starters to their defensive unit, took plenty of shots at Collins but never sacked him.

“I always like it when I stand in there and take a hit,” said Collins, who started two games and finished another last year when Grbac was injured.

“As a quarterback, that’s the ultimate feeling, taking a shot on the chin and still completing a pass. I like that. It kind of makes me feel like a football player, not a fairy quarterback.”

Tyrone Wheatley, the most valuable player in the Rose Bowl, ran for 117 yards in 15 carries, including a 59-yard touchdown burst.

Kevin Hicks scored both Washington State touchdowns on a 97-yard kickoff return and a three-yard pass from Mike Pattinson.

Pattinson, taking over for Drew Bledsoe, the top pick in the NFL draft, completed 19 of 33 for 138 yards with one interception.

“Pattinson needs experience,” Price said. “He got a lot of that today. He’ll play better.”