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The university issued a statement saying it had agreed to pay ''certain of the Paterno family's expenses'' and wished to move forward.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) Penn State and the family of the late head football coach Joe Paterno announced Friday they have resolved their differences eight years after he was fired following Jerry Sandusky's child molestation arrest, although the statue of the revered coach will not return to its place outside the football stadium.

The university issued a statement, read at a meeting by the chairman of the board, that it had settled ''outstanding issues'' with the family, had agreed to pay ''certain of the Paterno family's expenses'' and wished to move forward. The amount was not disclosed.

''It is time to come together and devote our energies solely to education, research and the advancement of one of America's great institutions of higher learning,'' Paterno's widow, Sue Paterno, said in a separate statement.

The deal ends a lawsuit against the university by the Paternos' son Jay, who is currently a member of the Penn State board. Jay Paterno had claimed the university-commissioned report into the scandal had unfairly tarnished him and made him unable to find work as a football coach.

In a phone interview, Jay Paterno called the agreement ''a relief'' and ''a long time coming.''

Joe Paterno was a Hall of Fame coach nearing the end of his career when a state grand jury summoned him to testify about Sandusky in early 2011.

A key witness against Sandusky was Mike McQueary, a graduate assistant who recalled seeing Sandusky with a young boy naked in a team shower on a Friday night a decade earlier. McQueary, highly disturbed, reported it to Paterno, and Paterno alerted administrators.

But police were not called - even though Sandusky had been criminally investigated in 1998, but not charged, based on a mother's complaint he had showered with her son.

After Sandusky's arrest, Paterno announced he would not coach after the season's end, but the board of trustees pushed him out days later, along with then-President Graham Spanier. The two administers who fielded McQueary's report through Paterno, Athletic Director Tim Curley and Vice President Gary Schultz, also were charged over how they responded.

Paterno's once-sterling reputation took a severe hit from the Sandusky scandal, including a decision by the NCAA to void 111 of Paterno's wins, effectively ending his status as major college football's all-time winningest coach. That decision was later reversed, and Paterno again holds that record.

The university also removed a statue of Paterno outside its football stadium.

Penn State spokesman Lawrence Lokman said there are no plans to reinstall it, something Joe Paterno's supporters have sought.

''If we're ever to revisit that, we've agreed that that would require the mutual approval of the Paterno family,'' Lokman said.

Joe Paterno was 85 when he died of cancer-related complications in January 2012.

Curley and Schultz later pleaded guilty to a single count of child endangerment and served brief jail terms. Spanier was convicted of child endangerment, but that was reversed by a federal judge.

Sandusky is serving a 30- to 60-year prison sentence.

Penn State settled with more than 35 people who said they were abused by Sandusky as children, making payouts that totaled more than $109 million. The school has spent many millions more in costs and fines associated with the scandal.

SI's Bill Enright is joined by John Garcia of SI-All American who helps us relive Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs' journeys from top recruits to top NFL Draft prospects.

SI's Bill Enright is joined by John Garcia of SI-All American who helps us relive Derrick Brown's journey from top recruit to top NFL Draft prospect.

SI's Bill Enright is joined by John Garcia of SI-All American who helps us relive D'Andre Swift's journey from top recruit to top NFL Draft prospect.

SI's Bill Enright is joined by John Garcia of SI-All American who helps us relive Tua Tagovailoa's journey from top recruit to top NFL Draft prospect.

SI's Bill Enright is joined by John Garcia of SI-All American who helps us relive Chase Young's journey from top recruit to top NFL Draft prospect. 

Former LSU passing game coordinator Joe Brady left the program in January to become the Panthers' offensive coordinator.

Mike Leach has added former Stanford QB K.J. Costello.

New Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach might have just gotten his 2020 starting quarterback.

For the second year in a row, the Bulldogs have acquired a transfer QB, getting former Stanford QB K.J. Costello to leave Palo Alto and head to Starkville for his final year of eligibility. 

Costello took to Twitter on Monday to announce his decision, writing, "Dreams do become reality. Excited for what is next."

(STATS) - The FCS Kickoff had always matched two nationally ranked teams, but Saturday's sixth annual season-opening showcase didn't have any.

Youngstown State apparently wants back in the rankings.

The Penguins took the first step toward what they hope will be a bounce-back season by roaring past Samford 45-22 at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama.

YSU (1-0) dominated time of possession, using a 277-yard ground game and forcing four turnovers to hold the ball for 41 minutes, 27 seconds.

The Penguin last beat Samford to open a 2016 FCS playoff run that ended with them finishing as the national runner-up, but coach Bo Pelini's program was a combined 10-11 over the last two seasons, including 4-7 a year ago while facing injuries to key players.

One of the injured, quarterback Nathan Mays returned to open his fifth-year senior season with 214 yards of total offense (124 passing and 90 rushing) and first-half touchdown passes to Samuel St. Surin (16 yards) and Josh Burgett (4).

The Penguins didn't trail after Cash Mitchell returned a fumble by Samford starting quarterback Liam Welch 26 yards for a touchdown late in the first quarter, providing a 14-7 lead as part of 31 unanswered points.

Braxton Chapman had two 1-yard touchdown runs and Christian Turner (89 yards) added a 3-yarder.

In addition to Mitchell's takeaway, the Penguins intercepted Welch three times - Vanderbilt transfer Zaire Jones with a pair and John Harper. Defensive end Justus Reed, who was a medical redshirt last season, had 1½ sacks for the Missouri Valley Football Conference squad.

The Penguins improved to 5-0 all-time against Southern Conference power Samford (0-1), which has posted eight straight winning seasons - the longest streak in program history - but was playing for the first time in four years without all-time FCS passing yardage leader, Devlin Hodges, the 2018 STATS FCS Walter Payton Award recipient. In his first career start, Welch had the four miscues, but he also completed 13 of 22 pass for 142 yards, highlighted by a 55-yard touchdown pass to Robert Adams to open the scoring.

South Florida transfer Chris Oladokun relieved Welch in the fourth quarter and made a case for the starting job. He threw a 64-yard touchdown pass to Montrell Washington and scored on a 10-yard run as part of his 139 total yards, adding a two-point conversion.

With the Samford defense on the field so much, linebackers John Staton and Jaleel Laguins reached double figures in tackles with 12 and 10, respectively.

Samford jumps right back into action next Saturday with a trip to Tennessee Tech. Youngstown State next hosts Howard on Sept. 7 in the first of a three-game homestand.

SAN DIEGO (AP) Tariq Thompson had an interception and a pass breakup in the closing minutes to help San Diego State beat Weber State 6-0 on Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.

Redshirt freshman Matt Araiza made a 34-yard field goal late in the second quarter and a 29-yarder early in the fourth. It was SDSU's first shutout since beating Hawaii 55-0 on Nov. 5, 2016.

The Aztecs defense allowed 154 total yards, including 35 rushing, and just five first downs. Weber State, which came in ranked No. 8 in the STATS FCS poll, went three-and-out six times, crossed midfield only once and punted 10 times. Jake Constantine completed 21 of 31 passes for 119 yards.

Jordan Byrd, who finished with five carries for 50 yards, had back-to-back runs of 13 and 15 yards before Araiza's first field goal. Ryan Agnew ran for 14 yards on third-and-9, hit Daniel Bellinger for a 12-yard gain on third-and-8 and then scrambled for a first on third-and-6 to set up the second.

Dwayne Johnson had 12 tackles, including 1 1/2 for losses, for San Diego State.

LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) Cody Orgeron threw two scores and McNeese held off a late Southern comeback to beat the Jaguars 34-28 on Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.

Elijah Mack's 3-yard touchdown run put McNeese up 34-14 with 5:25 left to play. Southern responded with a 4-play, 75-yard drive to make it 34-21.

McNeese recovered the on-side kick, and the Jaguars defense forced a three-and-out. Bailey Raborn's 37-yard punt went out of bounds at the Southern 1-yard line with 2:36 left. Undeterred, Southern put together a 10-play, 99-yard scoring drive in just under two minutes that ended when Glendon McDaniel plunged in from a yard out. Southern's pooch-kick attempt went out of bounds and the Cowboys escaped with the win.

Orgeron threw for 147 yards in the win.

McDaniel threw for 135 yards and a touchdown and Ladarius Skelton came on in relief and threw two scores.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) Tyler Johnston III accounted for two touchdowns, Myron Mitchell scored on a 98-yard kickoff return and UAB held off Alabama State 24-19 in a season opener on Thursday night.

Alabama State had its final possession with about six minutes left. KHA'Darris Davis led an eight-play, 37-yard drive to the UAB 46-yard line, but the drive stalled when he threw an interception to Will Boler with 2:54 remaining.

Johnston was 8-of-19 passing and threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Kendall Parham. Johnston added another 64 yards on the ground and a 1-yard touchdown.

Davis was 18 of 31 for 112 yards passing and connected with Joshua Knight from 7-yards out that capped the scoring with 5:31 remaining in the third quarter. Duran Bell added for 112 yards rushing on just 10 carries and a score for Alabama State.

Mitchell's 98-yard kickoff return into the end zone helped the Dragons build a 14-13 halftime lead.

NEWARK, Del. (AP) - Pat Kehoe ran for one touchdown and threw for two more as No. 22 Delaware won its ninth straight over in-state rival Delaware State, 32-13 Thursday night.

The Blue Hens now have won 19 of their last 26 home openers.

Jose Romo-Martinez connected on field goals of 25 and 30 yards to give the Hornets a 6-3 lead midway through the second quarter, but Kehoe brought Delaware back, running 21 yards for a touchdown before hitting Owen Tyler out of the backfield for a 24-yard score to take a 16-6 lead at intermission.

Kehoe found Thyrick Pitts with a back-shoulder throw from 14 yards out to make it 25-6 and Brian Dennis blocked a Fidel Romo-Martinez punt, scooped up the loose ball and ran 14 yards for the touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Tylik Bethea threw a 10-yard strike to Bizzet Woodley for the Hornets with 3:30 left to create the final score.

Jake Roth had field goals of 38- and 33-yards, but was 1-for-4 on PATs, missing once and having two more blocked.

Kehoe finished 18 of 28 for 186 yards. Pitts finished with six catches for 81 yards and his first career touchdown.

BOSTON (AP) No cupcakes, no local rivals to open this season. Boston College jumped right into it with a victory over an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent.

Anthony Brown threw two touchdown passes and ran for another to lead the Eagles to a 35-28 victory over Virginia Tech Saturday in the schools' opener.

AJ Dillon and David Bailey each had a scoring run for BC, which posted a win over the Hokies for the second straight year. Kobay White (17 yards) and true freshman Zay Flowers (33-yarder) each had a TD catch.

''Winning the opener is extremely important. It validates your offseason work and it gives you positive momentum. But winning your opener against a highly-quality football team, I think you get better from that,'' BC coach Steve Addazio said. ''You can go out, win an opener against a team that maybe you're stronger than, but I don't think that it sometimes helps you because two weeks in, three weeks in you can get shocked at the speed of the game.''

Eagles defensive back Brandon Sebastian knew the importance of the victory.

''It means a lot, especially to the whole team,'' he said. ''They're a tough ACC opponent every year.''

Brown was 15 of 26 for 275 yards and didn't throw an interception. Dillon was held to 81 yards on 23 carries, but sealed it with an 11-yard run on a third-and-9 with just over 2 minutes left.

''Today we started off great, started off fast,'' Brown said.

Ryan Willis competed 29 of 47 passes for 344 yards with four TDs, but also was picked off three times for Virginia Tech, which finished last season with a losing record for the first time since 1992.

''It's tough for our guys to battle back, fight, scratch and claw all the way through and come up short,'' Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente said. ''Lord knows we made plenty of mistakes out there today.''

Willis, who won the job in preseason camp, knows he's got to be better.

''I need to take care of the ball better,'' he said. ''There's a couple reads I can make better.''

Clinging to a one possession lead, the Eagles marched 56 yards in 10 plays with Bailey capping it with a 1-yard TD to make it 35-21. But the Hokies cut it to 35-28 when Willis hit Kaleb Smith with an 11-yard score with 2:13 to play.

It was tied 14-all before BC capitalized on a pair of turnovers, scoring two TDs in the final 6:02 of the first half.

Cornerback Tate Haynes forced Willis' fumble on a blitz and defensive end Marcus Valdez recovered at Virginia Tech's 17. Two plays later, Brown lofted a TD pass to White, who made an acrobatic catch along the left sideline for a score.

With just under 2 1/2 minutes left in the half, Hezekiah Grimsley fumbled a punt that was recovered by BC's Nolan Borgersen at the Hokies' 28. Brown took off through the left side on an option play and went untouched for a score.

Willis hit tight end James Mitchell on slant pattern for a score, slicing it to 28-21 late in the third quarter.

THE TAKEAWAY

Virginia Tech: The Hokies' defense was 106th in the nation against the run last season, allowing 210 yards per game on the ground. BC exploited them through the air with a handful of deep passes and unless the Hokies get the D shored up it will be a long final season - the 33rd - for defensive coordinator Bud Foster, who announced this will be his last year. They did hold BC to zero yards in the third quarter after 356 in the opening half.

''For whatever reason, we just played extremely tight as a defense,'' Foster said. ''That wasn't the same group that practiced and how they performed. You saw how we played in the second half, it's how I was kind of hoping we'd play the entire game.''

Boston College: Brown, a red-shirt junior, looked like the QB the Eagles have been hoping for, at times. His reads seemed better and his touch improved. But when the Hokies were making their comeback, he made a few bad decisions. If he becomes more consistent it would add a tough one-two punch with quality RB Dillon.

''It was a good day today,'' Brown said. ''But there were still some inconsistencies here and there, I missed some throws. I got complacent a little bit.''

RESPECT

Addazio made sure he had a chance to chat with Foster after the game.

''I just told him how much respect I have for him and that he's had a fabulous career,'' Addazio said.

UP NEXT

Virginia Tech: Faces Old Dominion in its home opener next Saturday.

Boston College: Hosts Richmond next Saturday.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) Isaiah Green threw for a career-high four touchdowns and Talik Keaton returned a punt 67 yards for a score as Marshall opened the season with a dominating 56-17 victory over VMI on Saturday.

Marshall took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter after Keaton's return and pushed that to 21-0 after Green nailed Artie Henry with a 51-yard scoring toss early in the second. Green hit Xavier Gaines on a 4-yard TD pass late in the second quarter and Brenden Knox capped a 14-play, 83-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard plunge for a score to go up 35-7 at the break.

Marshall amassed 620 yards of total offense, while limiting VMI to 257. The Herd had a balanced attack of 340 yards passing and 280 rushing with 35 first downs.

Alex Thomson, who relieved Green, threw for 102 yards and a score. Corey Gammage caught five passes for 82 yards and a score as 11 Marshall receivers recorded catches.

VMI's Reece Udinski threw for 192 yards and one touchdown.

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) Boise State has long carried the banner for the Mountain West Conference in head-to-head battles against the mighty Power Five teams. On Saturday night, fellow Mountain West member Wyoming made a statement of its own, upsetting Missouri of the Southeastern Conference 37-31.

Quarterback Sean Chambers rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown, Xazavian Valladay had 118 yards rushing and a score to lead Wyoming (1-0).

Earlier Saturday, Boise State beat Florida State 36-31 in Tallahassee, Florida.

Chambers averaged 10 yards on each of his 12 rushing attempts. He also completed 6 of 16 passes for 92 yards for a Wyoming team that took advantage of three Missouri turnovers while giving up 537 yards to the Tigers.

''Anytime I see space, I just think to myself, I'm better than them,'' Chambers said. ''No disrespect to those guys, but that's just my mentality. I gotta think it's gotta take more than one guy to bring me down.''

Valladay averaged 7.9 yards on 15 carries as Wyoming ground out 297 yards on 42 carries as a team.

Missouri was led by Clemson transfer quarterback Kelly Bryant, who completed 31 of 48 passes for 423 yards and two touchdowns. However, Bryant threw a costly interception in the end zone and lost a fumble that was returned by Wyoming for another score. Missouri lost another fumble at Wyoming's 1-yard line.

''We were driving the ball down the field,'' Bryant said. ''We just couldn't punch it in. We just kept shooting ourselves in the foot.''

Missouri entered the game favored by more than two touchdowns. The game began that way with the Tigers scoring on their first two possessions - a 3-yard TD pass from Bryant to Jonathan Nance and a 2-yard scoring run by Larry Rountree III - and dominating the Cowboys in total offensive yardage, 144-28 in the first quarter.

But Wyoming reversed its fortunes in the second quarter, outscoring the Tigers 27-3 in a scoring spree that included a 30-yard fumble return by cornerback C.J. Coldon, a 61-yard scoring run by Valladay and a 75-yard TD run by Chambers. The runs by Chambers and Valladay were the longest of their young college careers.

The Cowboys extended their lead to 34-17 entering the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run by Trey Smith.

Missouri closed the Wyoming lead to 37-31 in the final period on a 1-yard TD run by Tyler Badie and a 53-yard TD pass from Bryant to Nance. But Missouri turned the ball over on downs at the Wyoming 24-yard line with 29 seconds left on an incomplete pass from Bryant to Johnathon Johnson.

Missouri had 32 more offensive plays than Wyoming, but the Cowboys had no turnovers in the game.

THE TAKEAWAY

Missouri: A major setback for the Tigers who were on the cusp of the Associated Press Top 25 poll entering the game.

''The challenge of looking in the mirror and realizing the reality of what took place, making corrections, quit talking about it and it starts with me,'' Missouri coach Barry Odom said.

Wyoming: A signature win under sixth year coach Craig Bohl and a major statement for the Mountain West Conference on the whole.

''We beat an SEC team, I think a good SEC team, and we didn't play our best football,'' Bohl said.

SEC IN LARAMIE

Missouri's visit to Laramie was only the second time in history that Wyoming hosted an SEC opponent. In 2004, Wyoming hosted Ole Miss and defeated the Rebels 37-32. The Cowboys played at Missouri last year and lost 40-13. Overall, Wyoming has a 4-10 record against SEC teams.

MISSOURI ROAD WOES

The Tigers have started the season on the road only 27 times in their history. The trip to Laramie was only the fifth overall for Missouri since 1980. The Tigers are 6-18-1 (26 games) in those road games.

UP NEXT

Missouri heads home for a nonconference showdown with West Virginia on Saturday.

Wyoming hits the road for a game next Saturday at Texas State.

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CINCINNATI (AP) Thursday night lights. National television. Power Five opponent.

Cincinnati was more than ready for prime time - even sophomore safety Ja'von Hicks.

Hicks led an opportunistic Bearcats defense with an interception and fumble recovery, junior running back Michael Warren II scored one touchdown on the ground and caught one of sophomore quarterback Desmond Ridder's two scoring passes, and Cincinnati beat the UCLA Bruins 24-14 on Thursday in the teams' season-opener before a raucous crowd of 38,032 at venerable Nippert Stadium.

''Big stage, great atmosphere,'' said Warren, who finished with 92 yards on 26 carries while Ridder was 18-for-26 for 242 yards.

Despite losing his voice in the first half, forcing the offense to use silent counts, Ridder also connected with graduate-transfer tight end Josiah Deguara for a touchdown. Senior kicker Sam Crosa added a 44-yard field goal.

''Desmond did a good job of managing the game,'' said third-year coach Luke Fickell, who led Cincinnati to an 11-2 record last season. ''He was slinging and the throwing the ball well early.''

Hicks came up with a fumble recovery and an interception for the Bearcats, earning a game ball while starting in place of injured junior James Wiggins.

''Everybody was very proud of Ja'von,'' said senior linebacker Perry Young, who also had an interception. ''He got a little emotional when he got the game ball in the locker room.''

Hicks didn't have a perfect night. The local product whiffed on an open-field tackle in the middle of the field on junior wide receiver Demeric Felton's 75-yard touchdown catch-and-run in the second quarter and was whistled for a facemask penalty in the third quarter, but Fickell liked the way Hicks responded to the mistakes.

''Overcoming mistakes is huge,'' said Fickell, pointing out that Hicks symbolized the whole Bearcats team. ''They have the confidence that comes from winning. They learned last year how to work through it. There wasn't a panic.''

UCLA sophomore quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson was 8-for-26 for 156 yards and two TDS, the 75-yarder to Felton and a seven-yard scoring toss to sophomore wide receiver Chase Cota. Thompson-Robinson also lost his grip on the football twice and threw two interceptions, personally accounting for all four UCLA turnovers.

''I was horrible,'' Thompson-Robinson said. ''We have to look at the film It was very disappointing, not only because we didn't get the win but looking at these guys faces.''

''Fumbles and interceptions aren't always the quarterback's fault,'' UCLA coach Chip Kelly said. ''We will look at the film and reassess what happened. Dorian has a confident way about him. You could tell it hurt, but I don't worry about him.''

Cincinnati knocked off UCLA in the opener for the second straight season. The Bearcats beat the Bruins 26-17 at the Rose Bowl last season.

Displaying first-game rust, the two teams combined for 19 penalties, costing them a total of 123 yards. Fickell admitted it ''wasn't the prettiest thing in the world.''

''It wasn't very clean,'' Fickell said. ''To get this under our belt is huge.''

''We have 87 freshmen and sophomores,'' Kelly said. ''We have 48 players that weren't here last year. It was their first game, their first time on a plane. We have to pack Similac instead of Gatorade.''

The Bearcats never trailed after Ridder and Deguara teamed up on a 16-yard scoring pass following Hicks' recovery of a Thompson-Robinson fumble at Cincinnati's 17-yard line on UCLA's first possession of the season.

Warren scored on a bruising 12-yard run on Cincinnati's fifth play after senior linebacker Perry Young intercepted Thompson-Robinson at UCLA's 30-yard line on the Bruins' first possession of the second half. The junior running back celebrated by dancing across the end zone and tugging his right fist up-and-down as if he was tooting a train whistle.

GOING NOWHERE

Bruins' sophomore cornerback Elijah Gates pried the ball out of Bearcats' junior running back Gerrid Doaks's grasp and senior linebacker Jason Harris recovered for UCLA, but the Bruins went nowhere but backward on the ensuing possession in the second quarter.

OUT OF CONTROL

Bruins sophomore CB Jay Shaw intercepted Ridder at the goal line and returned it to the Cincinnati 34-yard line before being flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Senior center Boss Tagaloa was called for the same penalty on the next play.

HALFTIME ADJUSTMENTS

UCLA's first four offensive plays of the second half went penalty, two-yard run, incompletion, interception.

SIGH OF RELIEF

UCLA senior linebacker Krys Barnes thought he had a touchdown after recovering a Warren fumble late in the game, but officials ruled that Warren was down before the ball came loose, a ruling confirmed by replay. Warren was shaken up on the play but walked off.

THE TAKEAWAY

UCLA: Kelly will have to wait another week to log the 50th win of his college career. He is 3-10 in his second season with Bruins, more losses than the seven he incurred in four seasons with Oregon.

UC: Despite losing three starters from a line that anchored the American Athletic Conference's best defense last season, the Bearcats limited UCLA to 62 rushing yards.

UP NEXT

UCLA: The Bruins are scheduled to play their home opener on September 7 against San Diego State.

UC: The Bearcats are scheduled to travel to Columbus, Ohio, to face No. 5 Ohio State on September 7.

JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) Xavier Jones ran for three touchdowns as SMU held on late for a 37-30 win over Arkansas State on Saturday in a season opener.

SMU led by seven when Arkansas State began its final drive with just over two minutes left. The Red Wolves were threatening when, with seven seconds remaining, the Mustang's Delontae Scott sacked ASU quarterback Logan Bonner, forcing a fumble which was recovered by teammate Nelson Paul, sealing the win for SMU.

SMU trailed early but took a 16-9 edge at halftime with the help of field goals by Kevin Robledo of 29 and 25 yards.

Bonner opened the second half with a pair of touchdowns to Omar Bayless to give the Red Wolves a 23-16 lead with 7:36 to go in the third. C.J. Sanders answered for the Mustangs with a 98-yard punt return for a score and Jones ran for a touchdown, lifting SMU to a 30-23 lead at the end of the third. Jones ran for another TD midway through the fourth to stretch it to 37-23.

Shane Buechele threw for 360 yards for the Mustangs. Ke'Mon Freeman ran for 86 yards and Jones finished with 56 yards.

Bonner threw for 324 yards and four touchdowns for the Red Wolves.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Coach Kirby Smart thinks his third-ranked Georgia Bulldogs showed him a glimpse of just how good they might be this season in a rare season opener inside the Southeastern Conference on the road.

And Smart also sees plenty of room for improvement.

Jake Fromm threw for 156 yards and a touchdown, and third-ranked Georgia routed Vanderbilt 30-6 Saturday night.

The Bulldogs won their 20th opener in 23 seasons and stayed perfect to kick off coach Kirby Smart's fourth season. They also easily won their 14th straight against the SEC's Eastern Division in their first league game to open a season since 1995.

It sure didn't feel like a road trip with fans taking advantage of a holiday weekend to paint the stadium Georgia red. The Bulldogs rewarded them by scoring a touchdown on their first three possessions, giving the fans plenty to start celebrating early.

''I think it's pretty obvious, it seemed like they took over a majority of that stadium,'' Smart said. ''It sure felt like a home game with the people there, the fourth-quarter lights. Pretty special. I think they travel well, and I think Nashville's a great place to go and our fans all came to be a part of it.''

D'Andre Swift ran 16 times for 149 yards, and Brian Herrien added 65 and a TD run as the Bulldogs rolled up 326 yards rushing. Georgia finished with a 481-225 edge in total offense, and the Bulldogs also had two sacks and recovered a fumble.

''We have a chance to be explosive offensively, and we're going to try to be aggressive defensively,'' Smart said. ''The backs I kind of knew about. The wide-outs got some chances to make some plays, a couple balls.''

Vanderbilt debuted a new starting quarterback in Riley Neal, a graduate transfer from Ball State, along with new offensive coordinator Gerry Gdowski. The Commodores also had Ke'Shawn Vaughn, the SEC's top returning rusher who ran for 1,244 yards last season, and the league's top returning receiver in Kalija Lipscomb.

But the Commodores were without three starters, including two on the offensive line with both left tackle Devin Cochran and left guard Saige Young out with injuries. That left Neal with little time to throw against a Georgia defense that returned seven starters on a unit that was 15th nationally giving up just 19.2 points a game last season.

Neal finished 15 of 25 for 85 yards before being replaced by Deuce Wallace for the final possession. Vaughn was held to 74 yards on 15 carries.

''We were never able to really get the pass game started and going,'' Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason said. ''Don't know what that is. We'll get back and look at it and figure out where we need to go. I thought at times we ran the ball effectively. We've got to have more balance to what we do.''

Vanderbilt managed only a pair of field goals by Ryley Guay of 26 and 46 yards.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Beating a league opponent, on the road no loss, to open the season should be more than enough to keep Georgia at No. 3.

THE TAKEAWAY

Georgia: The Bulldogs came into this season needing to replace their top six pass catchers from 2018 with four of those going to the NFL. Fromm showed he had no issues finding someone else to throw to, going 7 of 8 for 97 yards to open the game. Fromm completed passes to eight different receivers. But they struggled to pad their lead in the second half, settling for a trio of field goals by Rodrigo Blankenship. Kearis Jackson also fumbled at the Vandy 5 in the fourth quarter after a 32-yard reception.

''First game sometimes you get a little bit of focus, not playing as clean as you wanted to,'' Fromm said.

Vanderbilt: The Commodores now have lost three straight to Georgia since pulling off a 17-16 win in Athens in 2016. They also gave up more yards rushing than in any game last season.

TOO MANY PENALTIES

Smart wasn't happy with the Bulldogs being flagged 10 times for 117 yards, penalties that included a late hit and a grabbed face mask that kept Vanderbilt drives alive. ''We basically gave them 45 yards and two field goals on undisciplined penalties,'' Smart said.

NO DAWG WALK

Georgia fans expecting the Bulldogs to make the regular Dawg Walk into a stadium before the game missed out when the team wound up taking a much shorter route to their locker room. Smart said it was unplanned, but the Bulldogs lost their lead trooper to an altercation on the sidewalk. The replacement took a different route.

''Ironically, it was closer to the place we come in,'' Smart said. ''We typically have to walk across the field.''

UP NEXT

Georgia: Hosts Murray State on Saturday.

Vanderbilt: Visits Purdue on Saturday.

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

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