LSU outlasts Oregon State in OT

The Tigers benefited from their opponent's inaccuracies.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU can thank an Oregon State kicker who could not make extra points for its season-opening victory.
Alexis Serna missed three extra points Saturday night, including one that would have forced a second overtime, and No. 4 LSU to escape with a 22-21 victory over the Beavers.
The Tigers trailed throughout the game, were shut out in the first half, and behind 15-7 with 1:38 left.
The Tigers seemed sure to lose when they drove to the Oregon State 2-yard line and failed to score with 3:39 left.
But the their defense gave them another shot.
The Tigers got the ball back for its final possession of regulation with 1:38 left. After JaMarcus Russell threw two incompletions, he hooked up with Dwayne Bowe for completions of 26 and 38 yards for a touchdown to cut Oregon State's lead to 15-13.
On the conversion, Russell ran to the left, stretched out the football and leaped into the end zone for two points to tie it at 15-15 and force overtime.
No. 3 Georgia 48, Ga. Southern 28
ATHENS, Ga. -- Danny Ware rushed for 135 yards and three touchdown in his college debut for the Bulldogs.
Ware was the first freshman running back to start his first game at Georgia since 1943. He opened the scoring for Georgia with a 10-yard touchdown run. He added a 3-yard scoring run early in the third quarter, helping the Bulldogs pull away from a close game at halftime.
No. 7 Texas 65, North Texas 0
AUSTIN, Texas -- Cedric Benson ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns, and Texas revved up its punishing rushing attack and overwhelmed North Texas.
Benson, who ranks third in career yards at Texas behind Heisman Trophy winners Ricky Williams and Earl Campbell, had 141 yards as Texas cruised to a 44-0 halftime lead.
No. 13 California 56, Air Force 14
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- J.J. Arrington ran for 181 yards and three touchdowns, and Aaron Rodgers threw for 208 yards and a touchdown to help California pull away from Air Force in the second half.
Air Force knocked off Cal the last time the Bears were ranked in 2002 and another upset appeared to be brewing when the Falcons were within seven points at halftime.
No. 15 Clemson 37, Wake Forest 30, 2OT
CLEMSON, S.C. -- Charlie Whitehurst threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Browning in the second overtime that lifted No. 15 Clemson to victory over Wake Forest.
The Tigers (1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) led 19-3 early in the second quarter and looked intent on beating the Demon Deacons as thoroughly as Clemson got beat in a 45-17 defeat at Wake Forest a season ago.
No. 16 Virginia 44, Temple 14
PHILADELPHIA -- Once Wali Lundy calmed down, he took over.
Lundy ran for 104 yards and three touchdowns, and Alvin Pearman returned a punt 70 yards for a score to lead Virginia to a win over Temple.
Lundy, from nearby Willingboro, N.J., acknowledged some pregame jitters with dozens of friends and family in the stands, including the grandmother that raised him. He didn't receive nearly enough tickets to accommodate all the requests.
No. 17 Auburn 31, Louisiana-Monroe 0
AUBURN, Ala. -- Jason Campbell passed for two touchdowns and Carnell Williams ran for 103 yards as the Tigers unveiled a new West Coast offense.
Auburn's new system sputtered at times but still fared better than in last year's opening shutout defeat to Southern California that set the stage for a disappointing season.