Iowa 16, Northern Illinois 3

Iowa 16, Northern Illinois 3

CHICAGO — Albert Young gave Iowa some good news.

The senior ran for 144 yards and a touchdown to lead the Hawkeyes over Northern Iowa in the season opener at Soldier Field. The Hawkeyes’ eighth all-time rusher, Young gave Iowa a 6-0 lead on a 7-yard run early in the second quarter after Andy Brodell returned a punt 56 yards. Brandon Myers caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Jake Christensen that made it 13-0 midway through the quarter.

Michigan State 55, UAB 18

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Jehuu Caulcrick ran for 93 yards and a career-high four touchdowns Saturday as Michigan State rolled past Alabama-Birmingham, giving Mark Dantonio a win in his debut as Spartan coach. The lopsided score ruined the debut of new UAB coach Neil Callaway, a former Georgia assistant. Michigan State (1-0) and Dantonio, a former Cincinnati head coach, wasted no time unveiling an offense that is more run-oriented and physical than the system used under former coach John L. Smith. The Spartans rolled up more than 500 yards of offense.

Northwestern 27, Northeastern 0

EVANSTON, Ill. — Quarterback C.J. Bacher threw for one touchdown and rushed for another for Northwestern. Bacher, a junior who missed six games last fall with a stress fracture in his left leg, was 23-of-28 for 243 yards and capped the Wildcats’ opening drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. Northwestern (1-0) claimed its first shutout since 1997 in the non-conference game and first meeting between the schools. Wildcat junior running back Tyrell Sutton scored on a 1-yard run in the third quarter. He carried 24 times for 108 yards and moved into fifth place on NU’s rushing list with 2,566 yards. Bacher completed seven straight passes in the Wildcats’ opening drive and hit wide receiver Ross Lane on a 2-yard TD pass in the second quarter. Northeastern quarterback Anthony Orio was 10-of-18 for 69 yards in part-time duty while running back Maurice Murray rushed for 48 yards on 16 attempts.

Northwestern’s defense held Northeastern to 260 yards while cornerback Sherri McManis led the Wildcats with nine tackles. The Huskies (0-1) are 2-4 against Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I) foes. The Wildcats are 2-1 against Football Championship Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-AA) opponents.

Missouri 40, Illinois 34.

ST. LOUIS — Chase Daniel threw three touchdown passes, Cornelius Brown intercepted a pass at the 1 with 51 seconds to play, and Missouri held off Illinois. The Tigers (1-0) scored on a 100-yard fumble return and a 66-yard punt return and were up 37-13 late in the third quarter. Illinois redshirt freshman quarterback Eddie McGee — in the game after starter Juice Williams left after a blow to the head in the second quarter — scored from 16 yards with 4:08 to play in the third quarter to cut the margin to 17. After Missouri’s Dana Alexander fumbled on a double-reverse, McGee hit Kyle Hudson on a 41-yard scoring pass on the next play. The Illini got within three early in the fourth quarter after Daniel fumbled deep in his own territory. Rashard Mendenhall scored from the 4 two plays later to make it 37-34. Missouri went ahead 40-34 on Jeff Wolfert’s 32-yard field goal with 8:32 to play, then held on. The Illini had one final shot, taking over at their 30 with 2:51 to play and driving to the Missouri 22. But Brown leaped high to intercept Brown’s pass, and Missouri ran out the clock. McGee was 17-for-31 for 257 yards and a touchdown, but lost two fumbles and was intercepted twice. One of the fumbles came when McGee was inches from scoring on a quarterback draw in the second quarter.

Associated Press