Welcome back, college football! Week 1 of the 2018 season continued Friday night, and while there were no upsets, Michigan State came awfully close against Utah State. Syracuse also got into a high-scoring affair with Western Michigan, who made at tremendous come-from-behind run at the Orange in the second half of their game.
With a busy Saturday arriving in earnest, here's everything that's been happening on Friday night. To manually refresh the page for the latest updates, just click here.
For scores and updates from Saturday's college football games, click here.
Friday college football schedule, scores
All times Eastern
Syracuse 55, Western Michigan 42 -- Box score
Duke 34, Army 14 -- Box score
No. 11 Michigan State 38, Utah State 31 -- Box score
No. 13 Stanford 31, San Diego State 10 -- Box score
No. 4 Wisconsin 34, Western Kentucky 3 -- Box score
Colorado 45, Colorado State 13 -- Box Score
Check these out ...
- Storylines: What is moving the college football needle in Week 1
- Fornelli's Pick Six: It's time to #TrustTheProcess with these best bets
Michigan State survives scare from Utah State
Michigan State defeated Utah State in their opener at home in East Lansing on Friday night, but the victory wasn't easy by any means. The Aggies gave everything that had, putting a scare into the Spartans well into the fourth quarter. With 2 minutes left in regulation and Utah State up 31-30, Spartans running back Connor Heyward took an option pitch to the end zone from 13 yards out. Brian Lewerke connected with Felton Davis III for the 2-point conversion and the eventual 38-31 victory.
First Team All-Hands: We nominate @TheFreak_18! 👐
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 1, 2018
Felton Davis comes up with the huge snag for @MSU_Football, and it's a #BTNStandout presented by @AutoOwnersIns: pic.twitter.com/EtvZnAESY2
Stanford finds its groove, even without Bryce Love
The Cardinal were upset early last season by San Diego State, and throughout one half, it looked like they could suffer a similar fate in this season's opening game. But a strong second half gave the defending Pac-12 North champs a 31-10 win. The big story was the notable absence of top Heisman Trophy candidate Bryce Love, who had just 29 yards on the ground. However, the Cardinal found a new breakout star in receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside, who had six catches for 226 yards and three touchdowns. Love can still bounce back for a big season with Heisman consideration, but Whiteside is officially a problem for defenses. Go back to the Alamo Bowl, and he has an 11-to-6 catch-to-touchdown ratio.
Oops they did it again.@kj_costello finds @jjarcega_22 for another @StanfordFBall touchdown.
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 1, 2018
📺: FS1
#SDSUvsSTAN | #Pac12FB pic.twitter.com/yAdv04far5
Jonathan Taylor starts hot for Wisconsin
It didn't take long for Taylor's Heisman campaign to get revved up this season. Taylor led the way for the Badgers, who dispatched Western Kentucky 34-3 in their season-opening game. The sophomore racked up 145 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns. This won't be his most impressive game this season, but it doesn't need to be. His first score of the year has already shown why he's a Heisman favorite.
Oh how we missed touchdown runs from Jonathan Taylor...#JT23 #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/SVbPV3KOfs
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) September 1, 2018
11 carries
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) September 1, 2018
100 yards
2 touchdowns
Jonathan Taylor is back and he's already doing Jonathan Taylor things. #JT23 pic.twitter.com/iMFl9nXkKp
Colorado takes care of business against its rival
Colorado had no problem whatsoever with its in-state rival on Friday night in the opener, thrashing Colorado State 45-13 in Fort Collins. The Buffaloes offense lit up the field, led by quarterback Steven Montez who finished 22 of 25 passing with 338 yards, while adding in 34 yards on the ground. Colorado, early on, seems to be in good hands under center.
Daniel Jones shines for Duke
Don't call it a comeback. Jones had a bit of a regressive year in 2017 but he battled some injuries. Now he's back and appears to be better than ever. Jones has been a machine in Duke's 34-14 win against Army. In addition to being an effective runner (43 yards and a touchdown), Jones has been tossing some dimes downfield in the passing game (198 yards on 13-of-17 passing, one touchdown). He entered the season a bit under the radar, but with more games like this, his stock will be rising quickly.
Syracuse holds on against Western Michigan
The 55-42 win at Western Michigan didn't look hard at first glance, but Syracuse had to hold on for dear life for a minute. The Orange had completely dispatched the Broncos by halftime with a 34-7 lead led by quarterback Eric Dungey, who already had 164 yards on the ground, a single-game school rushing record for a quarterback. But with the start of the third quarter, Western Michigan went on a 21-0 run to bring the game back within a touchdown. The run was highlighted by a pair of back-to-back big-time touchdowns. Syracuse responded with a touchdown of its own -- a beautiful one-handed grab by Jamal Custis -- but this one has suddenly become interesting.
Jamal Custis, ARE YOU SERIOUS? pic.twitter.com/xHDLdpCPKU
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 1, 2018
On the brighter side for Syracuse, quarterback Rex Culpepper is coming back for the first time since a cancer scare. Culpepper announced in March that he had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and it had spread to lymph nodes in his abdomen. However, the good news was that he was cancer-free by June. His journey back to the field can be watched in the CBS Sports Network video below.
Rex Culpepper, son of former NFL player and @survivorcbs contestant Brad Culpepper, returns to @CuseFootball tonight for the first time after his battle with cancer.
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) August 31, 2018
Here is more of his remarkable story along the road back. pic.twitter.com/xqkbLqzBS8