Houston • Kyle Allen threw for a score early and sealed the game by running for a touchdown and throwing for another in the fourth quarter after being benched in favor of freshman Kyler Murray, and Texas A&M beat No. 15 Arizona State 38-17 on Saturday night.
Allen won the starting job in camp, but coach Kevin Sumlin replaced him with Murray in the second quarter and alternated quarterbacks for much of the second half. Allen spent most of the third quarter on the bench before returning early in the fourth and capping a long drive with a 12-yard touchdown run that made it 24-14.
Arizona State kicked a field goal before Allen connected with freshman Christian Kirk — like Allen, from Scottsdale, Ariz., — on a short pass and he dashed 66 yards for a touchdown to make it 31-17. Kirk also returned a punt 79 yards for a TD in the second quarter.
Mike Bercovici threw for 199 yards and a touchdown for the Sun Devils
No. 7 Oregon 61, Eastern Washington 42 • In Eugene, Ore., Vernon Adams threw for two touchdowns but left his much-anticipated debut after a scary fourth-quarter hit, and Oregon defeated his former team, Eastern Washington, 61-42 to open the season.
Royce Freeman ran for a career-high 180 yards and three scores for the Ducks, who didn't appear to have slipped much offensively without Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota.
Adams, who transferred to the Ducks for his final year of eligibility, was ushered to the locker room after he staggered getting up from a late hit by Eastern Washington's John Kreifels, who was ejected.
Adams, a repeat Big Sky Conference offensive player of the year, was replaced by Mariota's backup last season, Jeff Lockie. Adams' condition was not immediately known.
Jordan West, who took over as Eastern Washington's quarterback after Adams' departure, threw for 293 yards and three touchdowns. But West also left the game in the third quarter and was seen limping on the sideline.
Northwestern 16, No. 21 Stanford 6 • Northwestern wanted to prove a point against Stanford, and drove it home with a strong running game and solid defense that produced a season-opening surprise.
Freshman Clayton Thorson ran for a 42-yard touchdown while playing turnover-free ball at quarterback, Justin Jackson added 134 yards rushing, and the Wildcats beat the Cardinal in Evanson Ill.
Anthony Walker broke up two passes and had a fumble recovery, and Kyle Queiro intercepted Kevin Hogan in the end zone with about a minute left to seal the win.
Thorson scored the game's only TD in the second quarter. He also threw for 105 yards, completing 12 of 24 passes.
No. 13 UCLA 34, Virginia 16 • In Pasadena, Calif., heralded freshman Josh Rosen passed for 351 yards and three touchdowns in a stellar debut for UCLA, leading the Bruins to a victory over Virginia.
Thomas Duarte, Devin Fuller and defensive tackle Kenny Clark caught scoring passes from the 18-year-old Rosen, who went 28 for 35 with several stunning throws and no turnovers in an auspicious first game at the Rose Bowl.
The nation's top quarterback recruit stepped in for three-year starter Brett Hundley with remarkable poise, and the Bruins racked up 503 total yards to beat Virginia easily.
Matt Johns passed for 238 yards for the Cavaliers, who didn't reach the end zone until Taquan Mizzell's TD catch with 3:29 left in an ugly opener for embattled coach Mike London.
Portland State 24, Washington State 17 • In Pullman, Wash., Steven Long scored on a 1-yard run with just over 2 minutes left in the game to lift Portland State to an upset of Washington State in a steady rain storm that hampered theCougars' passing offense.
California 73, Grambling 14 • In Berkeley, Calif., Jared Goff threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns in one half and California returned two interceptions for scores to beat Grambling State in their season opener.
Goff connected with Kenny Lawler three times for scores as the Golden Bears broke out to a 52-0 halftime lead with the highest-scoring half in modern school history.
