TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin, considered among the frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy, amassed 338 total yards in a 23-17 win over Minnesota on Thursday night. The senior completed 26 of 42 passes for 246 yards, though for only one touchdown, and added 92 yards and a touchdown on the ground to lead the Horned Frogs.
Minnesota didn't make it easy. TCU took a 10-3 lead into halftime and Golden Gophers defensive back Eric Murray helped keep things close in the second half with an interception of Boykin that led to Minnesota points.
"We've got to play better in the red zone," TCU coach Gary Patterson told ESPN.
The Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins were among the 13 NFL teams credentialed for the TCU-Minnesota game, and for any scout who was concerned about Boykin's passing ability, the QB's Thursday performance probably wasn't reassuring.
Here are five other things we learned on the opening night of college football:
2. Not Wright. Arizona LB Scooby Wright III, arguably the nation's top defensive player, left the Wildcats' opening game against Texas-San Antonio on Thursday with a left knee injury. Although there is no word on whether Wright will be out of action for Arizona's second game against Nevada next week, he was in street clothes for the second half Thursday night. Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez said Wright would undergo an MRI on Thursday night.
3. Ann Arbor angst. New Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh lost a 24-17 game to Utah in his Wolverines debut that wasn't as close as the score indicated. The primary issue? No different than Michigan's biggest problem last year -- an inability to pass the ball consistently.
4. Oakman sits. Baylor DE Shawn Oakman, a top prospect for the 2016 NFL Draft, got his 2015 campaign off to the worst of starts. Oakman has been suspended for the Bears' opener against SMU, postponing what will be a heavily scouted senior season.
5. Gamecocks get by. It wasn't pretty, but a 17-13 win over North Carolina was a far better season-opening look for South Carolina on Thursday than the blowout loss to Texas A&M to open 2014. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier had to try all sorts of things just to score 17 on a defense that was one of college football's worst last year, including some direct snaps to his best athletes (Pharoh CooperandBrandon Wilds) and even a brief appearance by backup Perry Orth. Perhaps new UNC defensive coordinator Gene Chizik will be a Year 1 difference-maker in Chapel Hill, but it's more likely that the Gamecocks' offense is going to need every bit of Spurrier genius it can muster this season.
6. Bad bounce for Buffaloes. Colorado can't blame the officials for the three turnovers and blocked punt that contributed to its loss to Hawaii, but this bungled spot by officials in the final seconds cost the team a chance to run one more play.
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