Murray State Vs. Florida State: Seminoles Took Advantage Of New Kick Rules

Florida State took advantage of the new NCAA rule on kickoffs Saturday and one of the more athletic coverage units that the team has had in the last several seasons. The new rules moved up the kickoff line five yards this season but also gave offenses five more yards on touchbacks. So instead of beginning at the 20-yard line, teams will start at the 25 on kicks into the end zone.

Florida State kicker Dustin Hopkins skyed 12 kickoffs with only five going into the endzone for touchbacks. The other nine resulted in Murray State starting well shy of the 25-yard line. SB Nation FSU blog Tomahawk Nation discusses the rule change and the results from Saturday.

The other seven were stopped at MS 9, MS 15, MS 20, FSU 46 (though 15 yards of this was from a facemask), MS 21, MS 8 and MS 18.

By doing so, Florida State netted 34 yards of field position compared to what it would have yielded had it simply booted the ball through the end zone and given the Racers the ball at the 25 via the touchback. In other words, the average start for Murray State on those kickoffs was about the 20 yard line. That's a big difference.

The new rules are going to force teams to focus much more on sound coverage instead of simply booting the ball through the back of the end zone.

For more on the Seminoles, please be sure to check out our blog Tomahawk Nation and our College Football Hub for all the latest news and updates.

Murray State Vs. Florida State: Seminoles Offensive Line Impressive In Win

Florida State overwhelmed Murray State by a score of 69-3 on Saturday and lost in all of the offensive numbers was a very solid performance by the Seminoles' offensive line. Florida State racked up 606 yards of total offense with 285 coming on the ground. Perhaps most impressive was that Florida State did not have a single run go for negative yards.

SB Nation Florida State blog Tomahawk Nation talks about the offensive line and points out that it was lacking in cohesiveness during the 2011 season.

Yes, it was Murray State. But assignments are assignments. Mental mistakes are mental mistakes. And Florida State's offensive line, at least on opening night, didn't have many. It looked much closer to the 2009-2010 groups that helped produce some of the better offenses in the country, than the 2011 unit that was the primary factor in the offense's plummet to 32nd nationally. Knowing who to block on each play is obviously an important part of playing offensive line, and for a very inexperienced group, the smoothness with which it went about its business was impressive.

Florida State's running backs had to be happy with the room to run as James Wilder rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries.

For more on the Seminoles, please be sure to check out our blog Tomahawk Nation and our College Football Hub for all the latest news and updates.

USF Limits Running Game In Season Opener

South Florida didn't really run into much trouble against FCS opponent Chattanooga in Saturday's season opener, defeating them 34-13. But fans could still tell they weren't seeing their team play at full potential, even for a season opener.

Maybe USF was bored, or maybe it's what Voodoo Five picked up from Todd Fitch's post-game comments.

From Voodoo Five's Jame DeVriend:

Fitch said they limited the running game "to see where they were," and it was noticeable. B.J. Daniels did very little running, and there weren't a whole lot of wrinkles, just a lot of Demetris Murray and Marcus Shaw between the tackles. That's probably why the Bulls only ran for a total of 85 yards.

USF had to deal with Chattanooga's relentless blitz all night, so it makes sense for the Bulls to hold back a bit if they can still win comfortably.

Read more on the USF football season at Voodoo Five and SB Nation Tampa Bay,

Florida Vs. Bowling Green: Will Muschamp Vs. Brent Pease

Florida meddled through much of its season opener Saturday against Bowling Green but eventually won 27-14. It was a 50-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Driskel to Frankie Hammond in the fourth quarter that helped the Gators seal the win, their 23rd consecutive season-opening victory.

After the game, SB Nation blog Alligator Army picked apart head coach Will Muschamp's offensive strategy and the perceived ideological differences between Muschamp and offensive coordinator Brent Pease. Particularly on third-and-short plays, Alligator Army could tell that more conservative plays were Muschamp's, and more aggressive calls seemed to be Pease's.

And those third-and-short calls that did work looked like Pease's ideas: Mike Gillislee's long run in the fourth quarter came on a fake to a sweep that didn't look like a Muschamp call, and the third and three pass to Latroy Pittman for a first down in the second quarter came in the rhythm of a hurry-up that definitely seems more like Pease than Muschamp.

Pease won't be using trick plays on every down, of course, because that's not something any offensive coordinator does, not even the ones from places like Boise State with reputations for wackiness, but his variety worked better than Muschamp's preferred pounding on Saturday. He's got to be trusted to run his offense, which requires trusting his quarterback(s) to throw the ball and take pressure off the running game and trusting his team to deviate from things that don't work when they fail.

Muschamp is priding himself on a more physical Florida team than 2011, but it seemed they couldn't out-physical Bowling Green at times Saturday. Pease's strategy seemed to reflect back on his time at Boise State: Use what you have as your identity; don't identify and then figure out what you have.

For Florida coverage, insight, and analysis, visit Florida Gators blog Alligator Army as well as SEC blog Team Speed Kills. And for more news and notes from around NCAA football, check out SB Nation's college football hub.

Miami Vs. Boston College: Duke Johnson Shines In Debut

Miami powered its way to 208 rushing yards in Saturday's 41-32 win over Boston College. The focal point of that rushing attack came from freshman Duke Johnson who rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries.

SB Nation Hurricanes blog The 7th Floor saw some good and bad things in Saturday's win but Johnson's performance was one of the highlights.

Welcome to Duke Johnson, America. Yeah, I meant to write it like that, because it's hard to remember a young player having such an incredible impact in his first game. Or a player that makes you giggle like a school girl when you think about having him for at least the next 3 seasons (at least I did on my bar stool next to a group of Gator fans....and the Gator fans even were outwardly impressed with the performance). Duke went for 135 of Miami's 208 rushing yards on only 7 stinking carries with a pair of long touchdowns. He even gave those allegedly superior BC linebackers a head start on his first TD run, stumbling out of the backfield, but finding his legs and using them to fly past everyone to the end zone.

Johnson is listed at 5-foot-9, 183 pounds and had touchdown runs of 54 and 56-yards against the Eagles. Senior Mike James received the bulk of Miami's carries on the ground but with performances like Saturday, Johnson will get more looks as the season progresses.

For more on the Miami Hurricanes, visit The 7th Floor. To talk with Boston College fans, check out BC Interruption.

FIU Vs. Duke 2012 Final Score: Golden Panthers Lose To Blue Devils, 46-26

Florida International dropped its first game of the season to Duke on Saturday night by a score of 46-26. The game was all even after the first quarter, with both teams scoring a touchdown. Actually, the Golden Panthers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as it took just two plays and 43 seconds to score the first touchdown of the game on a Jake Medlock pass to Kedrick Rhodes.

The second quarter wasn't nearly as fun for FIU. Duke scored 30 points in the second to gain separation from FIU. Then, in the third quarter, Duke outscored the Golden Panthers again, this time 7-0.

FIU scored more late in the game, but it wasn't enough to threaten Duke's lead. Had it not been for that explosive second quarter when the Golden Panthers just couldn't stop the Blue Devils, this one could have been a bit more competitive.

Read more on FIU at SB Nation Tampa Bay.

JU Vs. Georgia Southern 2012: Final Score And Game Recap

Georgia Southern jumped out to a 27-0 lead after one quarter Saturday night en route to a 58-0 rout of Jacksonville. The Eagles racked up a whopping 557 yards on the ground.

Amazingly, GSU did not complete any of their eight pass attempts. Quarterback Ezayi Youyoute totaled 164 yards rushing, including a 79-yard touchdown run to open the scoring. Dominique Swope ran for 104 yards on 13 carries, and quarterback Jerick McKinnon picked up 71 yards and one touchdown.

The 557 yards rushing marked the seventh-highest total in school history. Southern, which reached the FCS quarterfinals in 2011 and finished with an 11-3 record, started this season ranked No. 3 in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Jacksonville threw four interceptions and turned the ball over five times as the offense struggled to just 178 total yards. The Dolphins held the ball for just over 24 minutes thanks to GSU's ball-control offense.

For more coverage of the Jacksonville University Dolphins, stick with SBNation Tampa Bay, or head over to SBNation's college football hub.

Florida A&M Vs. Tennessee State 2012: Rattlers Drop Season Opener, 17-14

Florida A&M lost to Tennessee State in the 2012 season opener on Saturday, 17-14. The Rattlers went scoreless in the first half before making a rally in the third and fourth quarters, scoring a touchdown in each period. Tennessee State was able to hold on, thanks to a 10-point third quarter of their own.

FAMU had a slight advantage in the ground game, going for 140 yards on 32 carries, compared to Tennessee State's 138 yards on 42 carries. It was the passing game where the Rattlers couldn't quite hang in there. FAMU's defense gave up 263 passing yards and 401 yards of total offense.

Tyler Bass hooked up with Travis Harvey for a 13-yard touchdown toss in the third quarter to cut Tennessee State's lead to 17-7. Damian Fleming and Michael Ethridge connected on an 8-yard touchdown pass that threatened TSU's lead, but the Rattlers weren't able to complete the comeback.

Read more on Florida A&M at SB Nation Tampa Bay. Head over to our NCAA football hub page for additional news and notes around college football.

Chattanooga-South Florida Final Score: Bulls Win Big, 34-13

The South Florida Bulls got their season going in the right direction on Saturday night when they took care of the Chattanooga Mocs 34-13 at Raymond James Stadium.

South Florida was able to move the ball at will via the aerial attack. B.J. Daniels threw for 265 yards and three touchdowns en route to the rout. On the other side of things, the Bulls pass defense was extremely stingy, allowing just 102 yards between both Hocs quarterbacks, Jacob Huesman and Terrell Robinson.

The game was blown wide open in the second quarter on a pair of touchdown tosses courtesy of Daniels. The first was an 18-yard beauty to Derrick Hopkins before a long 38-yard hookup with Terrence Mitchell to make it 21-3 South Florida.

The two big differences (outside of the passing attacks) were penalties and 3rd down conversions. The Bulls were only flagged twice compared to 10 times for Chattanooga. Both teams faced 15 3rd downs with the Hocs converting just two while South Florida was dominant, getting a fresh set of downs nine times.

For more on South Florida, please be sure to check out our blog Voodoo Five along with our College Football Hub and SB Nation Tampa Bay for all the latest news and updates.

Murray State Vs. Florida State Final Score: Seminoles Pound The Racers, 69-3

The Florida State Seminoles didn't mess around with a team of perceived lesser ability, hammering the Murray State Racers 69-3 at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday night.

Jimbo Fisher's team was in control from the National Anthem on, amassing an inconceivable 606 total yards while allowing just 154 by the Racers.

James Wilder Jr. had a nice 2012 debut, gaining 106 yards on 12 carries and scoring a pair of touchdowns. E.J. Manuel had an equally impressive day throwing the ball. The senior from Virginia Beach, Va. completed 16-of-22 for 188 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Fisher's squad was clicking on all cylinders, picking up 28 first downs compared to Murray State's nine.

Maybe most impressively, the Seminoles defense was brilliant against the run. The Racers attempted to run the ball 32 times and gained just 37 yards.

Casey Brockman was also throttled by the Florida State defenders, throwing for a mere 117 yards on 36 passes and being picked off once as well.

For more on the Seminoles, please be sure to check out our blog Tomahawk Nation and our College Football Hub for all the latest news and updates.

Miami Vs. Boston College Final: Duke Johnson Shines In Debut, Propelling Hurricanes To 41-32 Win

Freshman running back Duke Johnson made a name for himself Saturday against Boston College, busting off two long touchdown scampers to lead the Miami Hurricanes to a 41-32 victory over the Eagles on the road.

On the day, Johnson had 135 yards on just seven carries including the touchdowns from 54 and 56 yards out. Quarterback Stephen Morris did a solid job managing the game, completing 28-of-45 passes for 207 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Boston College quarterback Chase Rettig had himself quite the game against Miami's inexperienced secondary, compiling 441 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 32-of-51 passing but ultimately the Hurricanes defense would hold strong with an impressive goal line stand late.

After Miami scored 20 unanswered points in the second half, Rettig lead his team on 84-yard scoring drive that was capped off by a 17-yard touchdown pass to Tahj Kimble. Boston College would continue that momentum on their following drive, moving 81-yards before the Hurricanes decided to stand tall and stuff a fourth down quarterback sneak from the one-yard line.

Miami head coach Al Golden would then run all but four seconds off the clock before taking an intentional safety that would effectively ice the game.

The Hurricanes (1-0) remain on the road next week as they head to Kansas State Saturday to take on the Wildcats

Murray State Vs. Florida State Halftime Update: 'Noles Rolling 28-3

Florida State is handling its season opener against the Murray State Racers, as the Seminoles lead at the half 28-3.

Florida State shown balance on offense, with 254 total yards almost evenly distributed between passing and rushing. The Noles have also been consistent on defense, holding Murray State to 92 total yards. Seminoles quarterback EJ Manuel has been accurate on the night, going 13-for-17 and 149 yards and a touchdown through the air, but does have an interception so far as well.

Chris Thompson and Devonta Freeman have split many of the carries out of the Seminole backfield, combining for 58 yards on ten carries. Senior Fullback Lonnie Pryor has showed his value in the red zone so far tonight, rushing for two touchdowns and 25 yards on just three carries.

The passes have been very well distributed on the night, with five Seminoles having at least two receptions just through one half. Leading the way among that bunch is Rashad Greene with four receptions for 42 yards.

For more on FSU football, visit Florida State blog Tomahawk Nation and SB Nation Tampa Bay. Also, check out SB Nation's College Football Hub for any and all of your college football needs.

Bowling Green Vs. Florida Final Score: The Gators Hang On Late To Win Ugly, 27-14

After a slow start and a close contest well into the third quarter, the Florida Gators pulled ahead late to defeat the Bowling Green Falcons by a score of 27-14.

Mike Gillislee set the pace for Florida offensively, as the speedy back rushed for two touchdowns on 24 carries for 148 yards. Frankie Hammond had a big day for the Gators receiving, hauling in three passes for 62 yards and a touchdown.

Bowling Green scored on a pair of rushing touchdowns. The first came off of a 1-yard John Pettigrew rush in the first quarter. The second came off of an Anthon Samuel 12-yard rush in the third. Still, the Falcons had trouble rushing the ball, gaining only 101 yards on the day, and committed a pair of turnovers that limited their offensive output.

Bowling Green Kicker Stephen Stein also missed a pair of field goals.

Box Score Hero: Heading into the game, Florida was in the midst of a bit of a quarterback controversy, with Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett both earning playing time early. It was Driskel though would would impress late and give the gators enough offense to pull ahead, going 10-for-16 with 114 yards and a touchdown.

Rankings Ramifications: This performance could mean that the Gators, ranked No. 23 going into this week of football, could fall into the "others receiving votes" category come next week. But, most likely, they're not going anywhere.

But Did They Cover?: Florida was a 23-point favorite in this game, so they did not cover. The game hit the under mark of the over/under, which was set at 50.

For More On This Game: For Florida coverage, insight, and analysis, visit Florida Gators blog Alligator Army as well as SEC blog Team Speed Kills. For insight on Bowling Green, check out MAC blog Hustle Belt. And for more news and notes from around NCAA football, check out SB Nation's college football hub.

Next Week's Schedule: Florida's next contest is against the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station. Bowling Green plays the Idaho Vandals next week.

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Miami Vs. Boston College Halftime Update: Duke Johnson Carries Miami To 21-20 Lead

It hasn't been exactly pretty but the Miami Hurricanes have done just enough to give them a 21-20 lead over Boston College Eagles on the road.

Running back Duke Johnson has compiled 65 yards and a touchdown on just three carries but Stephen Morris hasn't been able to get the vertical passing game going, averaging just 4.4 yards a completion on 14-of-21 passing for 92 yards and an interception.

Boston College jumped out to an early lead in the first when quarterback Chase Rettig (14-of-22, 231 yards) followed up Andre Williams' 4-yard touchdown scamper with a 15-yard scoring strike to fullback Jake Sinkovec.

But it would be Rettig who would allow Miami to get back into the game as well. Following Eduardo Clements' 1-yard touchdown run, Hurricanes linebacker Denzel Perryman would take advantage of a poor decision by Rettig, picking off the junior signal caller and returning it 41 yards to tie the game at 14.

In the second quarter, Miami's Johnson would counter two Nate Freese field goals with a powerful 54-yard touchdown run in which he plowed through a handful of Boston College defenders. Stephen Morris would try to extend Miami's slight lead with a drive at the end of the half, but a few incompletions stalled the Hurricanes' two-minute drill.

The Hurricanes will receive the ball out of the half and look to build on their first-half rushing average of 7.4 yards per attempt.

Bowling Green Falcons Vs. Florida Gators: UF Leads At Halftime

The Florida Gators offense had a difficult going against the Bowling Green Falcons early, but scored two unanswered touchdowns to allow Will Muschamp's squad to head into halftime against Bowling Green with a 14-7 lead.

Florida's offense totaled 203 yards at the half, with only 58 of those coming through the air. The Gators' two touchdowns came off of a pair of runs from Mike Gillislee. The 15- and 38-yard scores have been the bright spots in an otherwise lackluster Gators offensive performance.

Both Gator quarterbacks Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett saw playing time in the first half, with Driskel going 4-of-5 for 27 yards and Brissett going 3-of-5 for 31 yards. We have no word yet on who will start the second half at quarterback for the Gators.

Bowling Green's touchdown came off of a 1-yard John Pettigrew rush in the first quarter. The Falcons will be kicking off the ball to start the second half.

Be sure to stick with this story stream for any further developments on the opening weekend of Florida Gators football.

For more in-depth coverage, visit Florida Gators blog Alligator Army as well as SEC blog Team Speed Kills. For insight on the Falcons, check out MAC blog Hustle Belt. And for more news and notes from around NCAA football, check out SB Nation's college football hub.

FIU Vs. Duke 2012: TV Schedule, Game Time, Odds And More

The Duke Blue Devils are coming off a 3-9 football season in 2011, and the 2012 season opener is no walk in the park with the Florida International Golden Panthers coming to Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C., at 7 p.m. ET Saturday night.

FIU has been to bowl games in back-to-back seasons under head coach Mario Cristobal. Duke is 2-2 in season openers under coach David Cutcliffe. The Panthers have an opportunity to steal a win over a major-conference opponent on the road.

The Panthers' offense will be key. FIU will also seek revenge after losing 31-27 to the Blue Devils at home last season, and is led by quarterback Jake Medlock, running back Kedrick Rhodes and wide receiver Wayne Times. The FIU defense returns almost all of its starters from a team that went 8-5 last season.

Blue Devils quarterback Sean Renfree is back as a senior, and will look for top target Conner Vernon.

Duke is a slight favorite by 3.5 points.

For more news and notes from around NCAA football, check out SB Nation's college football hub.

JU Vs. Georgia Southern 2012: TV Schedule, Game Time, Odds And More

Georgia Southern has established itself as one of the top powers in FCS football, and the Eagles hope to return to the playoffs again this season. It starts with the season opener against Jacksonville on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET, at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Ga.

Georgia Southern, an FCS semifinalist a year ago, had a good quarterback battle between sophomore Ezayi Youyoute and junior Jerick McKinnon leading up to the opener. Both should see action against the Dolphins.

Running back Dominique Swope is back after winning Freshman of the Year honors in the Southern Conference with more than 1,000 rushing yards. The Eagles are ranked No. 3 in the nation to open the season.

Jacksonville was 6-2 in the Pioneer Football League a year ago, 7-4 overall. Senior running back Keith Dawson is the leading returning rusher for the Dolphins. Dawson also scored four touchdowns in 2011.

There is no local TV broadcast for this game.

For all your college football coverage, be sure to visit SB Nation's NCAA football hub.

Murray State Vs. Florida State 2012: Game Time, TV Schedule, Spread And More

The Florida State Seminoles take on the Murray State Racers on Saturday in their season-opening game. The Seminoles were ranked No. 23 in the 2011 season, where they posted a 5-3 ACC record and were 9-4 overall.

E.J. Manuel will return as starting quarterback for the Seminoles. Last year was his first as the full-time starter, and Manuel posted a 66.1% completion rate, throwing for 2,666 yards with 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Sophomore wide receiver Rashad Greene is likely to be a favorite target. He led the team with 38 catches for 596 yards in his rookie season, despite sitting out four games due to injury.

FSU's defense is also likely to play a big role in the team's success. Christian Jones has switched from strong-side to weak-side linebacker for his junior year, filling a hole left by the departure of Nigel Bradham. Karlos Williams returns at safety, joined by junior Terrence Brooks, who had a pick-six in the spring game.

The Seminoles have high expectations for their 2012 season, and they'll look to get things started in a big way against Murray State.

Game time, TV channel: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN3

Point spread: No Spread Given

For news, discussion and more:

For more on FSU football, visit Florida State blog Tomahawk Nation and SB Nation Tampa Bay.

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Chattanooga Vs. USF 2012: Game Time, TV Schedule, Odds And More

The South Florida Bulls' 2012 football season begins on Saturday when they host the Chattanooga Mocs. Senior quarterback B.J. Daniels will lead the offense as USF hopes to begin a year that will see improvement from a 5-7 2011 season.

Daniels, a redshirt senior, posted a 58.9% completion rate in the 2011 season, collecting 2,585 yards while throwing 13 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He also had 601 yards rushing and six rushing touchdowns. Wide receiver Sterling Griffin is likely to be one of his main targets. The junior receiver has managed 795 yards and five touchdowns in his 17 career starts. Tight end Evan Landi is another major contributor on offense; the senior has 62 receptions for 726 yards with three touchdowns in 37 carrerr games.

Daniels and Griffin should have a strong night, but they'll have to contend with Chattanooga defensive end Josh Williams while they do it. The FCS preseason All-American has good instincts for the ball and could easily take a few off Daniels if he isn't careful.

Game time, TV channel: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3

Point spread: No Odds Given

For news, discussion and more:

For more on USF football, visit South Florida blog Voodoo Five, plus Big East blog Big East Coast Bias and SB Nation Tampa Bay.

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Miami Vs. Boston College 2012: Game Time, TV Schedule, Odds And More

The Miami Hurricanes and Boston College Eagles open the season with an ACC game Saturday, with the 'Canes visiting BC at Chestnut Hill in a major test for both teams right from the start.

These are two middle-of-the-road ACC teams, at least as it appears now, and Stephen Morris gets his chance to lead Miami at quarterback. He could be the player to watch in this game.

BC hopes to get some improved play from its defense, which lost its best player to the NFL Draft, and score enough points at home to pick up the win.

Miami will have revenge on its mind after losing to BC at home last November, 24-17. Chase Rettig, who was at the helm for the Eagles in that game, is back as a junior for Boston College. He has thrown 18 TDs and 18 interceptions in his college career.

The game is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN2 regionally. Miami is a 2.5-point favorite.

For more on the Miami Hurricanes, visit The 7th Floor. To talk with Boston College fans, check out BC Interruption.

Bowling Green Vs. Florida 2012: Game Time, TV Schedule, Odds And More

The Florida Gators are 15-11 since Tim Tebow left Gainesville, and that just doesn't sit well at The Swamp. But Florida can go to 16-11 in that time and win its season opener, assuming it doesn't look past big underdog Bowling Green on Saturday.

All eyes will be on quarterbacks Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett, who continue to battle for the No. 1 quarterback spot. The two sophomores will get looks from coach Will Muschamp, as will new featured running back Mike Gillislee, a senior.

It's a work in progress for the Gators on offense, but fortunately for them, the Falcons don't have the athletes and talent to hang with Florida for an entire game. On paper anyway.

Quarterback Matt Schilz and running back Anthon Samuel are players to watch for Bowling Green of the MAC. The Gators have won 22 straight season openers and are 63-6 overall in openers at home. Florida is a 29-point favorite.

The game can be seen at 3:30 ET on ESPN.

For more in-depth coverage, visit Florida Gators blog Alligator Army as well as SEC blog Team Speed Kills. For insight on the Falcons, check out MAC blog Hustle Belt. And for more news and notes from around NCAA football, check out SB Nation's college football hub.

Florida A&M Vs. Tennessee State 2012: TV Schedule, Game Time, Spread And More

The Florida A&M University Rattlers kick off their 2012 season on the road, taking on the Tennessee State Tigers. The team is looking for a hot start on their way to a repeat of their 2010 season, when they won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship. The team posted a record of 7-4 in the 2011 season.

Returning sophomore Damien Fleming is expected to lead the Rattler offense. He played in nine games in the 2011 season, posting a completion percentage of 60.1%, collecting 1622 yards and 11 touchdowns. Eddie Rocker returns to the team and will be the starting running back. The senior played in all 11 games of the 2011 season, picking up 555 yards on 104 carries for a 5.0 yards per carry average.

Senior linebacker Brandon Hepburn, cornerback Terry Johnson and safety John Ojo are expected to lead the defense, which looked good in early practices. They collected seven sacks and two interceptions in one of the Rattlers' early scrimmages.

Tennessee State's 2011 record was 5-6.

Game time, TV channel: 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT), Local Coverage Only

Point spread: No Odds Given

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FAU Vs. Wagner: Florida Atlantic Wins With Late Touchdown In Low-Scoring Game

The Florida Atlantic Owls pulled off a late victory in their season-opening game against the Wagner Seahawks, winning 7-3 after being unable to score for the first 48 minutes of the game. With 11:36 remaining, Graham Wilbert connected with Byron Hankerson with a 39-yard pass play, and Vinny Zaccario added the extra point to give the Owls the win.

Neither team could muster much offense for most of the game. Wagner hit a field goal late in the third quarter and then gave up a fumble, an interception, turned it over on downs and punted three times. Florida Atlantic was doing no better, fumbling on their second possession before punting three times, missing a field goal and fumbling before finding the endzone for the win. For good measure, they fumbled once more before the end of the game.

Wilbert ended the night 10-for-13 for 126 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Martese Jackson led the Owls on the ground, picking up 98 yards on 20 touches. Hankerson had the only receiving score and led the team with 89 yards on five receptions.

The Owls' next game is on the road against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. It is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. ET.

Stick with SB Nation Tampa Bay for more coverage of local college football, or head to SB Nation's college football hub for coverage from across the NCAA.

Wagner Vs. FAU 2012: TV Schedule, Game Time And More

The Florida Atlantic Owls open the 2012 season on Friday night at home against the Wagner Seahawks at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton. The Owls finished a disappointing 1-11 in 2011, their lone win coming against the UAB Blazers on Nov. 26, 2011. The Owls have a new coach this year in Carl Pelini, older brother of Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Bo Pelini, who previously worked as the defensive coordinator for Nebraska.

The Seahawks, a Championship Subdivision team based out of Staten Island, N.Y., finished 2011 with a 4-7 record, 4-4 in the Northeast Conference. They finished 2011 on a three game winning streak. Walt Hameline is entering his 32nd year coaching the Seahawks. He has a career head coaching record of 204-123-2 (.623 winning percentage).

Game time/date: 8 p.m. ET, Friday

Location: FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, Fla.

TV Schedule/Streaming: ESPN3/WatchESPN

For more on Florida Atlantic football, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay

UCF Vs. Akron Final Score: Knights Pound Akron In Season Opener, 56-14

Central Florida was never threatened by Akron on Thursday night in the 2012 season opener. The Knights won 56-14.

It was bad enough for Akron that UCF went into the half with a 35-0 lead, which didn't mean good things for Akron's chances of getting off to an undefeated start to the season. But Dalton Williams and L.T. Smith connected on a 13-yard touchdown early in the third quarter and there was a little life for the Zips.

Not so much, though, when the Knights responded with back-to-back touchdowns, separating themselves with a 49-7 advantage. Akron went for an 11-play, 61 yard touchdown drive, but it was too little too late and UCF came back with yet another score of their own.

With the win, the Knights are 1-0 to start the 2012 season.

For more on Central Florida football stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay and for more on Akron head on over to the Hustle Belt.

UCF Vs. Akron Score Update: Knights Lead Big At Halftime, 35-0

Central Florida is off to a menacing start in its season-opening matchup against Akron. The Knights went into halftime with a convincing 35-0 lead, taking a one-touchdown lead after the first quarter, then scoring three more touchdowns in the second.

Blake Bortles threw a five-yard touchdown toss to Chris Martin for the Knights' first score. The next two touchdowns were short yard gains by Latavius Murray and Storm Johnson, respectively. Bortles got with Rannell Hall for an 18-yard touchdown pass with just over three minutes to go in the half. Johnson just scored another touchdown right before the first half ended.

UCF have a total of 249 yards, compared to Akron's 128. The Knights have also converted on three out of six third down attempts, but Akron just three of nine. UCF has the clear advantage going into the final half.

Especially if Bortles keeps dealing it like he has been -- 9-for-11 in the first half -- Akron can expect it to be a long night.

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UCF Vs. Akron 2012: Game Time, TV Schedule, Spread And More

The Central Florida Knights open up their 2012 season on the road against the Akron Zips on Thursday night. The Knights are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 5-7 season in 2011, and the odds makers think there is a good chance they get off to a good start, as they're favored by more than three touchdowns over Akron.

The Zips did not beat a single Football Bowl Subdivision team in 2011 -- their lone win came against VMI. They ranked 115th in total offense and 94th in total defense last season, so there is a lot of room for improvement on both sides of the ball as the Zips head into 2012.

Game time/date: 7 p.m. ET, Thursday

Location: InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field, Akron, Ohio

TV Schedule/Streaming: ESPN3/WatchESPN

Odds: Central Florida is favored by 24 points

For more on Central Florida football stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay and for more on Akron head on over to the Hustle Belt.