Nebraska Wins but Offense Is Still a Concern

Nebraska’s new-look offense is getting better, but is still a work in progress according to Coach Frank Solich.

Jammal Lord ran for 72 yards and a touchdown as the No. 23 Cornhuskers (2-0) overcame a slow start and defeated Utah State, 31-7, Saturday at Lincoln, Neb.

Nebraska, which scored one offensive touchdown in an opening victory over Oklahoma State, had 405 total yards and scored three touchdowns against Utah State (0-2) but that didn’t satisfy Solich.

“There were enough things that weren’t crisp and sharp that it was a little frustrating,” said Solich, whose team had to settle for four short David Dyches’ field goals.

Lord completed eight of 12 passes for 85 yards before giving way to Joe Dailey late in the third quarter.

Jason Cox completed 13 of 15 passes for 132 yards in the first quarter as Utah State led, 7-6. But Cox completed only four of 18 the rest of the game and the Nebraska defense limited the Aggies to only 93 total yards after the first quarter.

“We had to see what they came out and did,” defensive coordinator Bo Pelini said. “Once we saw that, we made our adjustments..”

Nebraska plays host to Penn State on Saturday. The Nittany Lions defeated the Cornhuskers, 40-7, last season in State College, Pa.

No. 7 Kansas State 55, McNeese State 14 -- Rashad Washington had two interceptions, returning one 45 yards for a touchdown, and blocked a punt to set up another score at Manhattan, Kan., as the Wildcats (3-0) brushed aside the Cowboys (1-1), the top-ranked team in Division I-AA.

Darren Sproles made a strong return to form a week after being injured, running for 101 yards and a touchdown in 14 carries for the Wildcats.

Ell Roberson threw his fifth touchdown pass of the season for Kansas State but left holding the wrist on his left, non-throwing hand after being knocked down midway through the second quarter. Roberson did not return and was off-limits to the media afterward.

Missouri 35, Ball State 7 -- Quarterback Brad Smith had 229 yards of offense in the first half before leaving with a concussion as the Tigers defeated the Cardinals at Muncie, Ind.

Missouri (2-0) answered an early Ball State (1-1) score with 21 consecutive points before halftime. Smith, who scored on a 35-yard touchdown run to give Missouri the lead, rushed for 117 yards in 13 carries and completed 11 of 17 passes for 112 yards.

Oklahoma State 48, Wyoming 24 -- Tatum Bell ran for a career-high 215 yards and three touchdowns in 21 carries at Stillwater, Okla., as the Cowboys (1-1) rebounded from a opening loss at Nebraska.

Bell had a game-turning fumble that was returned for a touchdown in a 17-7 loss to the Cornhuskers but he helped Oklahoma State put together consecutive scoring drives of 92, 98, 48, 86 and 76 yards. Wyoming is 1-1.

Texas A&M; 28, Utah 26 -- Jonte Buhl knocked quarterback Brett Elliott out of bounds on a two-point conversion attempt with six seconds to play at College Station, Texas, to preserve the victory by the Aggies.

The Aggies (2-0) led, 21-0, at halftime, but Utah (1-1) rallied behind Brandon Warfield, who ran for three touchdowns and finished with 181 yards rushing in 36 carries.

Kansas 46, Nevada Las Vegas 24 -- Bill Whittemore threw for three touchdowns and ran for another and Johnny Beck kicked four field goals for the Jayhawks (1-1), who scored 33 points in row to defeat the Rebels (1-1) at Lawrence, Kan.

Texas Tech 42, New Mexico 28 -- B.J. Symons threw for five touchdowns and ran for another as the Red Raiders (2-0) defeated the Lobos (1-1) at Lubbock, Texas.

North Texas 52, Baylor 14 -- The Mean Green (1-1) turned six first-half turnovers by the Bears (0-2) into 17 points, then scored on its first five possessions of the second half in a rout at Denton, Texas.

Iowa State 48, Ohio 20 -- Austin Flynn threw for two touchdowns and Michael Wagner rushed for 115 yards and two scores at Ames, Iowa, to lead the Cyclones (2-0) past the Bobcats (1-1).