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College Football Scores and Recaps: Miami, Oklahoma and USC Dominate Friday’s FBS Action

No. 7 Miami shattered records at Stanford, No. 10 Oklahoma and No. 14 USC posted shutouts, and San José State completed Friday night’s biggest comeback.

Friday, September 4, delivered eight games involving FBS programs as the first full weekend of the 2026 college football season began. The schedule featured three ranked teams, three shutouts and one tightly contested FBS matchup that remained undecided until the fourth quarter.

No. 7 Miami produced the night’s most impressive offensive performance in a 45-6 rout of Stanford. Oklahoma and USC overwhelmed their opponents by a combined score of 90-0, while San José State rallied past Eastern Michigan for its first victory of the season.

Here is a complete recap of Friday’s FBS college football games.

No. 7 Miami 45, Stanford 6

Miami quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Malachi Toney opened the Hurricanes’ season with a record-breaking performance at Stanford Stadium.

Mensah completed 27 of 30 passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns without an interception. Toney caught 12 passes for a Miami single-game record 234 yards and three touchdowns, surpassing Eddie Brown’s previous mark of 220 yards set against Boston College in 1984. 

The Hurricanes scored touchdowns on their first two possessions and carried a 28-6 lead into halftime. Two more third-quarter touchdowns extended the margin to 42-6 and removed any possibility of a Stanford comeback.

Miami’s offense displayed outstanding efficiency, but the defensive performance may have been equally encouraging. The Hurricanes held the Cardinal without a touchdown and kept Stanford scoreless throughout the second half.

For Stanford, the lopsided loss followed a season-opening 37-27 victory over Hawaii. The Cardinal fell to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in ACC play.

Turning point: Miami’s second touchdown gave the Hurricanes a 14-3 first-quarter lead and established a pace Stanford could not match.

Star of the Game: Malachi Toney, Miami — 12 receptions, a school-record 234 yards and three touchdowns.

Gamble Guy picked the OVER 47.5 – Watch here: https://youtu.be/xyhtXEXk-NA

No. 10 Oklahoma 51, UTEP 0

Oklahoma began its 2026 season by dismantling UTEP in Norman, scoring three first-quarter touchdowns and never allowing the Miners to threaten.

Quarterback John Mateer completed 11 of 17 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns. Running back London Avant added 79 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, while Isaiah Sategna III led the Sooners with four catches for 76 yards and a score.

Oklahoma led 21-0 after the opening quarter, added six points in the second and then put the game away with a 17-point third period. The Sooners’ defense completed the shutout by preventing UTEP from reaching the end zone on every possession. 

The victory gave Oklahoma exactly the kind of controlled opening performance expected from a top-10 team. The Sooners generated explosive plays, protected Mateer and avoided allowing an overmatched opponent to remain competitive.

UTEP, meanwhile, struggled to establish any offensive rhythm and was shut out in its season opener.

Turning point: Oklahoma’s 21 unanswered points in the first quarter turned the remainder of the game into a formality.

Star of the Game: John Mateer, Oklahoma — 225 passing yards and three touchdowns.

No. 14 USC 39, Fresno State 0

USC followed its high-scoring victory over San José State with a far more complete performance, blanking Fresno State 39-0 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Jayden Maiava completed 23 of 25 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns. Freshman receiver Trent Mosley continued his outstanding start to the season with four catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Waymond Jordan led the ground game with 67 yards and a score on 11 carries.

The Trojans held only a 7-0 lead after the first quarter before erupting for 23 points in the second. USC entered halftime ahead 30-0 and added a safety during a dominant defensive performance. 

Maiava has now completed 48 of 54 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns through USC’s first two games. The Trojans are 2-0 after scoring 81 points, although Friday’s shutout represented a major defensive improvement from their 42-26 opening victory.

Fresno State could not create consistent separation against USC’s secondary or generate the explosive plays necessary to challenge the Trojans.

Turning point: USC’s 23-point second quarter transformed a competitive opening period into a rout.

Star of the Game: Jayden Maiava, USC — 23-of-25 passing for 349 yards and three touchdowns.

San José State 27, Eastern Michigan 21

San José State scored the final 10 points and shut out Eastern Michigan in the fourth quarter to earn a hard-fought road victory.

The Spartans trailed 21-17 entering the final period after Eastern Michigan scored two third-quarter touchdowns. San José State quarterback Luke Weaver then threw his third touchdown pass of the game, giving the Spartans a lead they would not surrender.

Weaver finished with 316 passing yards and three touchdowns. Running back Jabari Bates contributed 119 rushing yards on 20 carries, while Carson Hoch caught five passes for 115 yards and two scores. 

Eastern Michigan entered the game after beating Sacramento State in its opener and appeared positioned to improve to 2-0. Instead, the Eagles’ offense stalled during the decisive fourth quarter.

San José State improved to 1-1 after losing 42-26 at USC. The Spartans demonstrated resilience by responding to Eastern Michigan’s third-quarter surge and producing the night’s most notable comeback.

Turning point: Weaver’s third touchdown pass erased Eastern Michigan’s 21-17 advantage in the fourth quarter.

Star of the Game: Luke Weaver, San José State — 316 passing yards and three touchdowns.

Gamble Guy picked San Jose St +3 – Watch here: https://youtu.be/xyhtXEXk-NA

Michigan State 30, Toledo 20

Michigan State gave head coach Pat Fitzgerald a victory in his Spartans debut, but Toledo forced the Big Ten program to work deep into the fourth quarter.

The Spartans built a 19-7 halftime lead before Toledo scored two touchdowns and closed the gap. Michigan State responded with 11 fourth-quarter points to secure the 30-20 victory.

Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic completed 26 of 34 passes for 247 yards and one touchdown. Running back Calil Edwards carried 27 times for 98 yards and a score, giving Michigan State a reliable option during critical late possessions.

Toledo receiver Autren Dabbs delivered the Rockets’ most dangerous offensive performance, catching four passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns. 

The Spartans did not overwhelm Toledo, but they maintained their composure after surrendering the momentum in the middle of the game. That response allowed Fitzgerald to begin his Michigan State tenure with a victory.

Turning point: Michigan State outscored Toledo 11-6 in the fourth quarter after the Rockets had reduced the deficit.

Star of the Game: Alessio Milivojevic, Michigan State — 247 passing yards and one touchdown.

Purdue 44, Indiana State 19

Boiler quarterback Ryan Browne threw for a career-high 317 yards and three touchdowns as the Boilermakers pulled away from Indiana State.

Purdue led only 16-6 at halftime, but a 21-point third quarter ended any realistic upset threat. Browne completed 23 of 29 attempts, Ahmad Waseem caught six passes for 107 yards and a touchdown, and Favour Ijeboi rushed for 87 yards and a score on 11 carries.

Indiana State scored 13 points during the fourth quarter, allowing the Sycamores to produce a more competitive result than in their two previous meetings with Purdue. The Boilermakers had won those games 56-0 in 2022 and 49-0 in 2024. 

Purdue still controlled the second half and opened its season with a comfortable victory. Browne’s accuracy and ability to stretch the field provided the clearest positive for the Boilermakers.

Turning point: Purdue’s 21-point third quarter extended a 10-point halftime advantage to 37-6.

Star of the Game: Ryan Browne, Purdue — 23-of-29 passing for a career-high 317 yards and three touchdowns.

Georgia State 59, North Carolina A&T 10

Georgia State scored touchdowns on its first two possessions and accumulated 59 points during the opening three quarters of a dominant season-opening victory.

Quarterback Cameran Brown completed 15 of 20 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Lee McCrary Jr. gained 75 yards and scored once on only nine carries as Georgia State repeatedly created favorable field position and explosive opportunities.

The Panthers led 14-0 after one quarter and 35-7 at halftime. A 24-point third quarter expanded the advantage to 59-7 before Georgia State emptied much of its bench.

North Carolina A&T’s only touchdown came during the second quarter. Tight end Andrew Rucker led the Aggies with four receptions for 80 yards and a score. 

Georgia State could hardly have asked for a more emphatic start. The Panthers displayed balance, efficiency and the ability to convert scoring opportunities without allowing the FCS opponent to remain close.

Turning point: Georgia State’s 21-point second quarter created a 35-7 halftime lead.

Star of the Game: Cameran Brown, Georgia State — 15-of-20 passing for 190 yards and two touchdowns.

Kansas 51, Long Island 6

Kansas controlled its season opener from beginning to end, scoring 45 unanswered points before Long Island finally reached the end zone in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Isaiah Marshall completed 14 of 19 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Nae’Qwan McMillan caught six passes for 130 yards and a score, while running back Youngstown Willis rushed for 72 yards and two touchdowns.

Kansas held a modest 6-0 advantage after the first quarter before breaking the game open with 24 points in the second. The Jayhawks led 30-0 at halftime and continued building the margin after the break.

Long Island avoided the shutout with a fourth-quarter touchdown but never seriously threatened Kansas. The meeting was the first between the two programs. 

Kansas handled its FCS opponent as expected while giving Marshall and several young offensive contributors valuable early-season work.

Turning point: The Jayhawks scored 24 second-quarter points to take complete control before halftime.

Star of the Game: Isaiah Marshall, Kansas — 246 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Friday’s Complete FBS College Football Scores

• No. 7 Miami 45, Stanford 6
• No. 10 Oklahoma 51, UTEP 0
• No. 14 USC 39, Fresno State 0
• San José State 27, Eastern Michigan 21
• Michigan State 30, Toledo 20
• Purdue 44, Indiana State 19
• Georgia State 59, North Carolina A&T 10
• Kansas 51, Long Island 6

What Friday’s Results Mean

Miami produced the clearest statement of the night. Mensah’s near-perfect debut and Toney’s school record immediately established the Hurricanes as one of the most explosive teams in the country.

Oklahoma and USC also looked like legitimate playoff contenders, although both will encounter much stronger opposition as the season progresses. Their shutouts were important because neither team allowed an inferior opponent to manufacture early-season drama.

Michigan State survived a meaningful test from Toledo, while San José State recorded the night’s most valuable Group of Five result. Purdue, Kansas and Georgia State took care of their FCS opponents, although each team will need to prove far more once conference competition begins.

Friday’s eight-game schedule served as the opening act for a much larger Saturday slate, but the performances by Miami, Oklahoma and USC already gave the first full weekend of the 2026 college football season several national storylines.

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