LAWRENCE, Kan. — North Dakota State, picked to finish sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference, turned some heads Saturday night by knocking off Kansas 6-3 for its first win over a team in the Big 12.
Ryan Jastram kicked field goals of 44 and 32 yards, and the Bison’s defense smothered Kansas.
“We felt like we could beat them when we hopped on the plane,” said North Dakota State coach Craig Bohl. “We came in feeling like we had a heck of a shot to win, and that’s not being arrogant.”
The longer North Dakota State hung around, the more confidence it seemed to gain. Jastram’s second field goal was the only scoring of the second half and gave the Bison a 6-3 lead with 8:04 left in the third quarter.
Kansas had a golden opportunity to take the lead when it faced a third-and-goal situation from the North Dakota State 7 late in the third quarter. But Matt Anderson intercepted a pass in the end zone.
The loss spoiled Turner Gill’s coaching debut with Kansas. And it was the eighth consecutive loss for the Jayhawks dating to last season.
“It’s one game, and that’s how you have to take it,” Gill said.
Missouri 23, Illinois 13
ST. LOUIS — Blaine Gabbert rallied the Tigers from a 10-point deficit with two touchdown passes.
Missouri finished the neutral-site Arch Rivalry series with six straight victories and has won 18 straight against nonconference teams.
No. 5 Texas 34, Rice 17
HOUSTON — Tre Newton ran for three touchdowns as Texas opened away from home for the first time since 1995. But this could hardly be called an away game, with the majority of the crowd of 70,445 at Reliant Stadium rooting for the Longhorns.
Kansas State 31, UCLA 22
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Daniel Thomas rushed for 235 yards and two touchdowns and the Wildcats rallied to beat the Bruins before a crowd of 51,059, the biggest for a home opener in Kansas State history.
Oklahoma St. 65, Wash. St. 17
STILLWATER, Okla. — The Cowboys have won 15 consecutive home openers, and their point total was their highest since a 66-24 win over Baylor on Nov. 11, 2006.
Texas A&M 48, Stephen F. Austin 7
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Christine Michael rushed for 105 yards and Texas A&M’s defense showed obvious improvement from last season in the Aggies’ victory.
Texas A&M senior quarterback Jerrod Johnson, who set eight school records in 2009, completed 23-of-35 passes for 278 yards and two TDs.
Baylor 34, Sam Houston State 3
WACO, Texas — Robert Griffin looked as good as ever on his surgically repaired right knee, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another to lead the Bears to an impressive victory in their opener.
Griffin was a freshman sensation in 2008, but his 2009 season ended with a torn knee ligament in the third game.
