MADISON (AP) The Fresno State Bulldogs pulled off another upset. Or did they?
- Paul Wong
- Fresno State is showing the nation it is for real. Th<br><br>AP PHOTO
“We”re for real! We”re for real!” the team (3-0) hollered after it defeated Wisconsin 32-20 for the school”s first victory over a Big Ten team.
Fresno beat the favored Badgers (0-2) behind wide receiver Bernard Berrian”s 300 all-purpose yards.
Bulldogs” coach Pat Hill”s crusade to move the Western Athletic Conference favorites into consideration for a BCS bowl certainly gained momentum with the victory before 78,506 fans the largest crowd ever to see a Fresno State win.
And, in many people”s eyes, it legitimized earlier upsets of Colorado and Oregon State.
Michigan State 35, Central Michigan 21: James King blocked four Michigan State punts to tie a Division I-A record, but the Spartans survived a scare to beat Central Michigan 35-21 Saturday.
T.J. Duckett rushed for 120 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown run, to lead Michigan State.
The Spartans (1-0) scored three touchdowns in the final 4:23 of the first half and one early in the third quarter to take what appeared to be a comfortable 35-7 lead over the Chippewas (1-1).
No. 16 Northwestern 37, UNLV 28: A preseason of grief and controversy behind them, Northwestern could finally turn their attention to football. The Wildcats (1-0) took advantage of some second-half mistakes by UNLV (0-2) to open a promising season with a win.
It wasn”t always easy, but when it was over Northwestern had a win and had also made another step in the healing process.
Zak Kustok ran for three touchdowns and threw for two scores as Northwestern overcame a shaky first half and a string of penalties to send UNLV to its second straight loss.
No. 21 Ohio State 28, Akron 14: Jim Tressel has said all along that he wanted his Ohio State teams to play their best games at the end of the season and not the beginning.
That shouldn”t be too hard.
Jonathan Wells rushed for 119 yards and scored twice but the Buckeyes (1-0) who were favored by four touchdowns were less than impressive in a 28-14 victory over Akron (1-1) on Saturday.
Ohio State”s Steve Bellisari threw two touchdown passes but fumbled four times and had passes go through the hands of defenders three other times.
Illinois 17, Northern Illinois 12: Walter Young caught a 13-yard touchdown pass, and Brandon Lloyd had 126 yards receiving Saturday as Illinois survived a scare to beat Northern Illinois 17-12.
The Huskies rallied as Darrel Hill caught a 26-yard pass with 1:12 left, but the 2-point conversion failed. Northern Illinois (1-1) also missed two field goals in the first half.
A week after dominating California offensively, Illinois (2-0) looked inept for most of the day. The running game was nonexistent, as the Illini managed 102 yards rushing, 42 in the fourth quarter.
Iowa 44, Miami (Ohio) 19: Kyle McCann threw a career-high four touchdown passes and Chris Smith returned an interception for a score as Iowa beat Miami of Ohio 44-19 Saturday.
Miami had stayed with Michigan into the fourth quarter a week ago but was no match for Iowa and fell to 0-2 for the first time since 1994. Iowa (2-0) held the RedHawks to 26 yards and one first down in the first half and led 44-0 midway through the third quarter.
Minnesota 44, Louisiana-Lafayette 14: Marion Barber III, a surprise starter at tailback, rushed 26 times for 173 yards and his first two college touchdowns Saturday as Minnesota (1-1) rebounded from a lopsided season-opening loss to beat Louisiana-Lafayette 44-14.
Barber, a true freshman whose father starred for the Golden Gophers as a running back from 1977-80, ran for 95 yards in the first 18 minutes to help Minnesota build a 17-0 lead.
The Ragin” Cajuns (1-1) have won seven games since 1996.