Illinois and Nebraska couldn’t wait until next week to kick off,
Big Ten begins with Nebraska losing to Illinois
College football fans headed back into stadiums Saturday, some of them for the first time in two years. Along with binoculars, sunscreen and other essentials, some packed face masks and proof of vaccination.
With the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, the pomp and pageantry of fall Saturdays are expected to return in all their glory nearly everywhere across the country.
Nebraska and Illinois were among the handful of teams kicking off their seasons Saturday, with the host Illini winning 30-22 in front of 41,064.
“I appreciate everybody that came out and made this happen today,” new Illini coachBret Bielema said.
The win could be costly, though.Starting quarterback BrandonPeters left late in the first quarter with an injury to hisnon-throwing shoulder.
UCLA
Zach Charbonnet rushed for 106 yards and three touchdowns in his UCLA debut as the Bruins rolled to a 44-10 season-opening victory against visiting Hawaii at the Rose Bowl. UCLA scored on its first five possessions as it snappedan eight-game losing streak to teams outside the Pac-12.
Fresno State
Jake Haener threw for three touchdowns and 331 yards and Fresno State started its 100th year of football with a 45-0 win against Connecticut. Haener left the contest on the Bulldogs’ first drive of the second half due to apparent leg cramps as temperatures on the field reached120 degrees.
LSU
With Hurricane Ida approaching the Louisiana coast and expected to make landfall on Sunday, LSU announced that the football team would be moving to Houstonfor next week’s practice. The Tigers play at UCLA on Sept. 4.
Tulane
The Green Wave will relocate to Birmingham, Ala., to prepare for its season opener at Oklahoma.
Elsewhere
If a team in the Mountain West is unable to play in a game because of COVID-19 issues,it will have to forfeit and the game will not be rescheduled. If both opponents in a game can’t play because of COVID-19, the game will be declared a no-contest. Any forfeited games will be considered a loss for the team thatcan’t compete.