Washington pulls away from Boise State

SEATTLE — Michael Penix Jr. threw for 450 yards and matched his career high with five touchdown passes, and No. 10 Washington overwhelmed Boise State in a 56-19 win in the teams’ season opener Saturday.

Penix kicked off his final college season and a Heisman Trophy campaign with a terrific passing performance following a couple shaky drives in the opening moments. Penix was 29 of 40 passing and threw touchdowns to four receivers.

After posting the second-most yards passing in the country last year, Penix picked up right where he left off.

Penix threw four of his five touchdowns in the second quarter when the Huskies scored 28 points. He connected with Jalen McMillan on two of his TD passes, and McMillan added a 19-yard touchdown run off a direct snap on the first play of the fourth quarter to give Washington a 42-19 lead.

McMillan finished with eight receptions for 95 yards and touchdowns of 7 and 38 yards. And he completed one pass for 9 yards on a double pass trick play.

NO. 6 SOUTHERN CAL 66, NEVADA 14: Caleb Williams threw for 319 yards and hit Tahj Washington with two of his five touchdown passes, leading Southern California to a home victory over Nevada.

Zachariah Branch, Michael Jackson III and Brenden Rice also caught TD passes from their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback for the Trojans (2-0), who followed up their blowout of San Jose State with another rout of a Mountain West opponent at the Coliseum.

USC’s 668 yards were its most under coach Lincoln Riley, and its 66 points matched the highest-scoring game of his tenure.

NO. 15 OREGON 81, PORTLAND STATE 7: Bo Nix threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns before heading for the bench early in the third quarter and host Oregon built a 43-point halftime lead en route to blowing out Portland State.

It was the most points for the Ducks in a game in the modern scoring era, and a scoring record at Autzen Stadium.

It was also Oregon’s 19th straight win in a home opener. The Ducks have won 30 straight non-conference games at Autzen Stadium, dating back to 2008.

COLORADO 45, NO. 17 TCU 42: Deion Sanders already has a big win for Colorado as Shedeur Sanders, the coach’s son, threw for 510 yards with four touchdowns as the Buffaloes pulled off an opening shocker with a road victory over 17th-ranked TCU, last year’s national runner-up, in Forth Worth. The game-winner was a 46-yard catch-and-run by freshman running back Dylan Edwards on a fourth-down play with 4:25 left.

Shedeur Sanders, the coach’s son, threw for 510 yards with four touchdowns, the game-winner a 46-yard catch-and-run by freshman Dylan Edwards with 4:25 left, and the Buffaloes pulled off an opening shocker with a 45-42 win Saturday over 17th-ranked TCU, last year’s national runner-up.

Edwards caught three touchdowns, including a 75-yarder in the opening minute of the second half when he turned another short pass into a big play. He also ran for another score.

WASHINGTON ST. 50, COLORADO ST. 24: Cameron Ward threw for three touchdowns and ran for another and Jaden Hicks returned an interception 37-yards for a touchdown as Washington State beat host Colorado State. Ward was 37 of 49 for 451 yards passing, including touchdowns of 3 yards to Kyle Williams, 12 yards to Nakia Watson and 25 yards to Josh Kelly. Ward also rushed for 40 yards, including a 1-yard score.

CAL 58, NORTH TEXAS 21: Jaydn Ott rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns, Isaiah Ifanse scored three times and California won at North Texas a day after the Golden Bears agreed to join the Atlantic Coast Conference. Stone Earle had three TD passes but was intercepted twice in the debut of North Texas coach Eric Morris.