Oklahoma Feels at Home Again

Oklahoma’s special teams and its most special player helped lead the Sooners to a 36-34 victory over Syracuse on Saturday at Norman, Okla., ending a home losing streak that had lasted eight games and nearly two years.

The Sooners (1-1) used two blocked punts by Travian Smith to set up or score touchdowns, including the eventual game-winner, and De’Mond Parker ran for 239 yards in 31 carries.

Oklahoma also blocked a 44-yard field goal try by Nathan Trout on the game’s final play, setting off a celebration by fans and players on the field.

Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb threw for 223 yards and ran for another 61, but got sacked by linebacker Corey Ivy on a two-point conversion with 5:08 left after Syracuse (1-2) had pulled within 36-34.

The victory was Oklahoma’s first at home since defeating North Texas on Sept. 23, 1995.

No. 8 Colorado 31, No. 24 Colorado State 21--Rashidi Barnes and Marcus Washington made momentum-turning interceptions early in the third quarter, rallying the Buffaloes to victory over their in-state rival at Boulder, Colo.

Colorado (1-0) was trailing, 14-7, when Barnes returned his interception 26 yards for a tying touchdown with 13:58 left in the quarter. Washington’s interception and 10-yard return two minutes later set up the first of two touchdown passes from John Hessler to Phil Savoy.

Colorado has won the last seven games in the series. Colorado State is 1-1.

No. 21 Kansas State 47, Northern Illinois 7--Michael Bishop threw four touchdown passes and ran for one--all in the first half--as the Wildcats won at Manhattan, Kan.

Bishop, a transfer from Blinn (Texas) Community College who was named the Wildcats’ starter last week, rushed for 98 yards and passed for 172 as Kansas State jumped to a 42-7 halftime lead and won its eighth straight opener.

Missouri 44, Eastern Michigan 24--Devin West and Brock Olivo each scored two touchdowns at Columbia, Mo., and the Tigers ran for 379 yards. Missouri scored on all five of its second-half possessions to pull away after leading only 13-10 at halftime.

The Tigers have won three in a row for the first time since 1993, topping 40 points in each.

Kansas 17, Texas Christian 10--Zac Wegner connected with a wide-open Termaine Fulton for a 60-yard touchdown with 6:15 left, lifting the Jayhawks to a mistake-filled victory at Lawrence, Kan.

TCU (0-1) lost two of three fumbles and Kansas (2-0) lost four of five during the ragged game.

Texas A&M; 59, Sam Houston State 6--Sirr Parker scored three touchdowns and Dante Hall had two more and 169 yards rushing as the Aggies rolled to an easy victory at College Station, Texas.

Sam Houston of the Division I-AA Southland Conference is 0-2.

Oklahoma State 31, Southwest Louisiana 7--Jamaal Fobbs set a Cowboy freshman rushing record with 217 yards, scoring once and setting up a touchdown in a victory over the Cajuns at Lafayette, La.

The Cowboys are 2-0 and Southwest Louisiana fell to 0-2.