Arizona overcame a slew of miscues to hold off Kansas State’s punchless offense, earning a 23-17 win in a nonconference meeting in Tucson.
Despite both Wildcats being members of the Big 12, the game will not count in league standings. Kansas State and Arizona scheduled a home-and-home before Arizona moved to the Big 12, and the league opted to keep the game as a non-conference game rather than amalgamate it into the conference schedule. As such, Arizona has not technically played a conference game, and Kansas State remains 0-1 in the league.
The desert Wildcats (3-0) nearly allowed the visitors to steal the game with several errors that led to Kansas State scores. K-State (1-3) scored a field goal off one Arizona punting miscue, then blocked a punt to set up a touchdown drive. The midwestern Wildcats only managed 193 yards of offense, and 75 of that came on Jayce Brown’s touchdown run to open the second half.
Ismail Mahdi ran for 189 yards and Noah Fifita scored two rushing touchdowns for Arizona. Both teams are off this week; the desert Wildcats will travel to Iowa State next Saturday, while K-State will host Central Florida. Read More: Around the Big 12: Wildcats Take Third Loss
Cougars Grind Past Buffaloes
Houston outgained Colorado 209-96 on the ground and scored three rushing touchdowns, emerging with a 36-20 win over the Buffaloes in Houston.
Connor Wiegman rushed for two scores for the Cougars (3-0, 1-0 Big 12), who kept Colorado (1-2, 0-1) on the sidelines by controlling the ground. Houston rushed the ball 53 times, compared to just 23 for Colorado.
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Ryan Staub threw two fourth-quarter interceptions for Colorado, thwarting a comeback attempt. The Buffaloes seemed to get back into the game with a pair of second-quarter touchdowns, but could not carry momentum to the third quarter. Houston is off this week before visiting Oregon State, while Colorado hosts Wyoming on Saturday.
Red Raiders Bury Beavers
Behren Morton tossed four touchdown passes, and Texas Tech again crushed a helpless opponent, routing Oregon State 45-14 in Lubbock.
The Beavers (0-3), operating as an independent this year, clearly didn’t belong on the same field as the Red Raiders (3-0). Texas Tech outgained Oregon State 599-284 and held a shutout until clearing its bench in the fourth quarter.
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The margin could have been even worse, as Texas Tech ended one drive on downs and another with an interception. The Red Raiders begin Big 12 play on Saturday in Salt Lake City against Utah.
Cyclones Edge Red Wolves
Rocco Becht threw for 265 yards and a touchdown, and Iowa State outlasted a gritty Arkansas State, beating the Red Wolves 24-16 in Jonesboro.
Iowa State (4-0) had a chance to seal the game early, but hurt its cause with an ill-timed interception. The Red Wolves turned it into a touchdown, cutting the margin to 17-16. The Cyclones responded with a touchdown and then closed the door on Arkansas State with an interception.
Iowa State is off this week before hosting Arizona.
Utes Handle Cowboys With Strong Second Half
Utah scored on four consecutive touchdown drives in the second half, and the Utes shut down host Wyoming, earning a 31-6 win in Laramie.
Devon Dampier threw for a pair of touchdown passes and 230 yards for Utah (3-0), which outgained Wyoming 541-229. The Utes led by just 3-0 at the break, but the defense gave them a chance to control the contest. Once the offense got going, Utah rolled to a win.
Utah hosts Texas Tech this Saturday.
Sorsby Leads Bearcats to Rout of Demons
Brendan Sorsby threw for five touchdown passes and didn’t have a single incompletion, as Cincinnati destroyed Northwestern State 70-0 at home.
Sorsby tossed all of his touchdown passes in the first quarter, as the Bearcats (2-1) were never threatened. Four of the Demons’ first eight possessions went backwards, and Cincinnati led by 56 points at the break.
The Bearcats are off this week before visiting Kansas on Sept. 27.
Frogs Roll Past Abilene Christian
TCU scored on all four of its first-half possessions, and the Frogs eased to a 42-21 victory over Abilene Christian in Fort Worth. Josh Hoover threw for four touchdowns and 337 yards, and TCU built a 28-0 lead at the break.
Abilene Christian ended up piling up 453 yards of offense. However, much of that either landed in a missed field goal or came in the second half.
TCU will host SMU on Saturday.
Sun Devils Handle Texas State
Sam Leavitt threw for two touchdown passes and 188 yards, and Arizona State scored a 34-15 win over Texas State in Tempe.
Raleek Brown rushed for 144 yards and a score for the Sun Devils (2-1). Arizona State put the game away in the third quarter, scoring on both drives.
The Sun Devils visit Baylor on Saturday.
Bears Force Four Turnovers
Baylor overcame a shaky first quarter by forcing four Samford turnovers, eventually earning a 42-7 victory in Waco.
The Bears (2-1) led 14-7 when they threw an interception, seemingly giving Samford an opening. But a Bulldog fumble led to a Baylor touchdown, and the Bears scored on their next three possessions. Bryson Washington rushed for 135 yards and two scores for Baylor.
The Bears host Arizona State on Saturday.
