College football top plays: Penn State, Pitt, OK State pick up wins

Week 1 of the college football season kicked off with a particular Thursday evening slate of video games.

Penn State went on the highway and took down Big Ten foe Purdue, 35-31, and Minnesota shut out visiting New Mexico State, 38-0.

Earlier, No. 17 Pittsburgh narrowly escaped West Virginia, 38-31, and No. 12 Oklahoma State held off Central Michigan, 58-44, after the Chippewas got here again from a 26-point deficit.

Here are the top performs from Thursday evening’s motion as Week 1 kicks off.

Penn State 35, Purdue 31

First!

Penn State QB Sean Clifford made a clutch third-down play within the second quarter, connecting with wideout Mitchell Tinsley for a 12-yard landing to offer the Nittany Lions the lead and their first TD of the season.

Sean Clifford exhibits composure on Penn State’s opening TD

Sean Clifford prevented the stress and threw a formidable landing to Mitchell Tinsley to assist Penn State seize an early 7-3 lead towards Purdue.

Too powerful

Purdue’s King Doerue ran straight by means of the Penn State protection — stiff arm and all — on his strategy to the top zone, giving the Boilermakers again the lead 10-7 early within the second quarter.

Back-to-back

The Nittany Lions got here up with back-to-back TDs forward of halftime. 

First, Clifford fought his way into the end zone for six factors. Then, they capitalized on a turnover with a 67-yard TD courtesy of Brenton Strange.

King of the bottom recreation

Purdue’s Doerue helped shut the hole to 21-17 within the third quarter with a easy 2-yard TD run.

Pick-six!

The groups have been neck and neck after buying and selling TDs, however Purdue took the lead within the fourth, 31-28, after Clifford’s go was intercepted by security Chris Jefferson and returned 72 yards to the home.

Chris Jefferson’s pick-six provides Purdue lead

Chris Jefferson helped Purdue acquire the lead once more halfway by means of the fourth quarter, due to his pick-six towards Penn State.

Late-quarter surge

Clifford tossed a TD to Keyvone Lee with just below a minute left, and that was sufficient as Penn State held on for the win.

Minnesota 38, New Mexico State 0

Hot begin

Minnesota was first on the board due to star operating again Mohamed Ibrahim, who returned this 12 months for a sixth season with the Golden Gophers.

Meanwhile, in Minneapolis …

Double bother

Ibrahim began the second quarter the identical means he began the primary — with a rating. Then, Minnesota snuck another one in because the clock expired within the first half.

Just like that, the Golden Gophers jumped out to a 24-0 lead on the break.

More of the identical

Minnesota continued to dominate the bottom recreation, cashing in for his or her fifth speeding rating of the evening to seal the deal.

No. 17 Pittsburgh 38, West Virginia 31

Just how he drew it up

WVU had a scare when quarterback JT Daniels, a switch from Georgia, bobbled the snap, however issues turned out simply high quality for the Mountaineers on this drive.

Coming by means of!

WVU took the lead within the second quarter when Bryce Ford-Wheaton turned on the jets for a 10-yard TD.

All-out effort

WVU got here up large on particular groups early within the third quarter, blocking Pitt’s punt, which resulted in a brief area and a fast rating for the Mountaineers.

Fighting again

Pitt answered with back-to-back scores to shut out the third quarter. First, Daniel Carter discovered the top zone with ease after a massive gain from Jared Wayne. Then, Pitt regained the lead due to Rodney Hammond.

Rising to the event

Daniels related with Ford-Wheaton as soon as once more, this time for a 16-yard TD, adopted by taking it in himself on a QB sneak on the Panthers’ subsequent drive, good for a 31-24 lead early within the fourth quarter.

Down to the wire

Pitt fired again with two consecutive scores to take lead late within the fourth quarter. QB Kedon Slovis discovered Israel Abanikanda for a 24-yard catch-and-run rating. Then, the Panthers picked off Daniels for the monster pick-six to win it.

M.J. Devonshire intercepts JT Daniels within the Backyard Brawl

M.J. Devonshire intercepts West Virginia’s JT Daniels and takes it in for the landing to offer the Pitt Panthers the wild victory within the Backyard Brawl.

No. 12 Oklahoma State 58, Central Michigan 44

House name!

Oklahoma State was first on the board when John Paul Richardson broke off for a monster 45-yard landing off a fast go from QB Spencer Sanders.

John Paul Richardson exhibits off his athleticism in 45-yard TD

John Paul Richardson helped the Oklahoma State Cowboys rating their first landing of the season, due to spectacular reception within the first quarter.

Tie recreation

Central Michigan was fast to reply with a rating of its personal, night issues up early within the first quarter.

Too straightforward

The Oklahoma State protection confirmed up in a giant means, forcing a safety to place the Cowboys up 9-7 with lower than a minute remaining within the opening body.

With momentum on its facet, Oklahoma State prolonged its result in 16-7 as the primary quarter got here to a detailed.

Spencer Sanders extends Oklahoma State’s lead

Spencer Sanders’ electrical 17-yard speeding landing gave the Oklahoma State Cowboys a 16-7 lead towards Central Michigan.

When it rains, it pours

Sanders & Co. continued to pour it on the Chippewas because the second quarter obtained underway.

Sanders connects with Braydon Johnson for 13-yard TD

QB Spencer Sanders connects with Braydon Johnson for a 13-yard landing to place Oklahoma State up 23-7.

More of the identical

Midway by means of the second body, Sanders discovered operating again Jaden Nixon, who took off for a 17-yard score due to some fancy footwork. 

On the next drive, Sanders got here up together with his second speeding TD of the day. Just like that, it was a 30-point recreation, 37-7.

Déjà vu

Central Michigan confirmed up on the following drive, due to RB Lew Nichols‘ quick 4-yard scamper into the end zone. The Chippewas adopted that up with a profitable two-point conversion for good measure.

It did not take lengthy for Oklahoma State to return the favor, nonetheless, as Dominic Richardson punched it in to make it 44-15 headed into the break.

No slowing down

The Cowboys picked up within the second half proper the place they left off. Sanders discovered Bryson Green within the nook of the top zone for a fast rating.

Spencer Sanders finds Bryson Green for 7-yard TD

Oklahoma State Cowboys’ QB Spencer Sanders took half in his sixth landing of the sport, connecting with Bryson Green on a 7-yard TD go.

Hot fingers

CMU was fast to reply, as Jalen McGaughy reeled in a troublesome go below stress for the Chippewas’ TD.

Finding its footing

Then, Central Michigan capped off a three-play, 39-yard drive with one other TD to shut the hole, 51-28.

Back and forth

Both groups traded off TDs late within the fourth quarter. OSU’s Zach Middleton punched one in for the Cowboys — their seventh TD of the night — adopted by CMU’s Nichols popping off for a 15-yard TD.

Too little, too late

Despite the loss, CMU had the final phrase on this one, as McGaughy ended issues with a 54-yard TD catch.

CMU’s Daniel Richardson connects with Jalen McGaughy for 54-yard TD

QB Daniel Richardson connects with Jalen McGaughy for a 54-yard landing.