Callahan’s Debut a Successful One

All the flash that was expected from Nebraska’s new West Coast offense was on display early Saturday night at Lincoln, Neb.

The Cornhuskers looked very much like their old plodding selves in the second half against Western Illinois, attempting only seven passes in the final 30 minutes of a 56-17 victory.

The Cornhuskers scored three touchdowns in five minutes in the second quarter and were never threatened by their Division I-AA opponent.

Joe Dailey threw for four touchdowns and ran for two others, and Cory Ross and Tierre Green each rushed for more than 100 yards to highlight Bill Callahan’s first game as coach.

“All in all, a good way to start, but I’m very realistic with where we’re at and that we have greater challenges ahead of us,” Callahan said.

Dailey completed 15 of 30 passes for 218 yards, but four interceptions blemished his first start.

“I played two games today,” he said. “I played a great first half and not even a mediocre second half.”

All of Dailey’s scoring passes and his first scoring run came in the opening 20 minutes as Nebraska broke to a 35-0 lead that stretched to 42-3 at halftime.

His six total-offense touchdowns tied the school record.

“We couldn’t slow Nebraska down,” Western Illinois Coach Don Patterson said.

Colorado 27, Colorado State 24 -- Bobby Purify ran for 189 yards and a touchdown and J.J. Billingsley made a game-saving tackle as time expired, helping the Buffaloes hold off the Rams at Boulder, Colo.

Colorado State rallied from a 17-0 deficit to tie it in the fourth quarter, only to see Colorado take the lead back on Mason Crosby’s 55-yard field goal.

Colorado went up, 27-17, on the next play, when Brian Iwuh scored on a 37-yard interception return.

But Colorado State moved quickly on its next drive, going 80 yards in six plays for John Walker’s leaping 31-yard touchdown over Gerett Burl.

The Rams forced a punt and reached Colorado’s one with 30 seconds left, but Marcus Houston was stuffed at the line and Billingsley hit Tristian Walker on a sweep left to end it.

No. 2 Oklahoma 40, Bowling Green 24 -- Jason White was 21 of 31 for 238 yards and three touchdowns and the Sooners ended their first two-game losing streak since 1999 with a victory at Norman, Okla.

No. 7 Texas 65, North Texas 0 -- Cedric Benson ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns as the Longhorns overwhelmed the Mean Green at Austin, Texas.

No. 12 Kansas State 27, Western Kentucky 13 -- Darren Sproles ran for 221 yards and a score in 42 carries, leading the Wildcats past the Division I-AA Hilltoppers at Manhattan, Kan.

No. 18 Missouri 52, Arkansas State 20 -- Brad Smith threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 63 yards and another score to lead the Tigers to victory at Columbia, Mo.

Alabama Birmingham 56, Baylor 14 -- Darrell Hackney threw three touchdown passes and ran for one score to lead the Blazers past the Bears at Birmingham, Ala.

Kansas 21, Tulsa 3 -- Adam Barmann threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score to help ignite a sluggish offense and lead the Jayhawks to victory at Lawrence, Kan.

Iowa State 23, Northern Iowa 0 -- Bret Meyer threw a touchdown pass in his first start, Stevie Hicks ran for 111 yards and the Cyclones ended a 10-game losing streak at Ames, Iowa.