Top-ranked Ohio State defeats Virginia Tech, 42-24

Braxton Miller looks very comfortable at wide receiver, and Cardale Jones picked up right where he left off last season.

Miller scored two touchdowns, including an electrifying 53-yard run, and No.1 Ohio State began its national title defense with a 42-24 victory over Virginia Tech on Monday night at Blacksburg, Va.

Jones, whose status as the starter was not known until he came out for the first offensive series, threw for two touchdowns and ran for another score as Ohio State avenged a 35-21 home loss to Virginia Tech last season and earned its 14th straight win overall.

The Hokies, meanwhile, lost more than the game, with quarterback Michael Brewer shelved by a left shoulder injury in the third quarter. Brewer is key to Virginia Tech’s hope for a resurgent season.

Virginia Tech trailed, 21-17, and had driven into Buckeyes territory when Brewer went down, but it had trouble moving the ball after Brenden Motley took over behind center.

Wright sidelined

Arizona All-American linebacker Scooby Wright will miss up to a month after undergoing surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee.

Wright was injured in the first quarter of the 22nd-ranked Wildcats’ 42-32 win over Texas San Antonio on Thursday. Arizona Coach Rich Rodriguez said Monday that Wright had arthroscopic surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear Saturday and will miss three to four weeks.

As a sophomore last season, Wright swept the major defensive player-of-the-year awards and was the Pac-12 defensive player of the year.

With Wright out, Arizona will turn to senior Haden Gregory, who walked on from junior college before the 2013 season. “

Hatfield returns

Utah Coach Kyle Whittingham reinstated suspended Dominique Hatfield on Monday, saying the cornerback served enough punishment.

Hatfield was dismissed from the team in July after he was charged with aggravated robbery and theft. Those charges were dropped, but Hatfield was charged with misdemeanor assault in August in connection with a fight during a party. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge, and a hearing is set for Sept. 21.

“It was our belief, in fairness, that he was deserving of being reinstated,” Whittingham said.

Whittingham said Hatfield, who started 10 games last season, will play again as soon as he’s ready. The junior finished last season with 38 tackles, one interception and nine pass breakups. He was expected to start in 2015.

Pitt loses Conner

Pittsburgh junior running back James Conner, the reigning Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, will miss the rest of the season after tearing the medial collateral ligament in his right knee, a shocking blow for a program in search of good mojo under first-year Coach Pat Narduzzi.

Conner, injured in Pitt’s weekend victory over Youngstown State, will undergo surgery sometime this week