Trojans shake off slow start to trample the Spartans

LOS ANGELES — Matt Barkley passed for 233 yards after a slow start to his Southern California debut, and the fourth-ranked Trojans' fleet of tailbacks ran for six touchdowns in a 56-3 rout of San Jose State on Saturday.

Barkley, the first non-redshirt freshman to start a season opener at USC, shook off a rocky first quarter to go 15-for-19 with no interceptions. He was at his best handing off to his fellow Trojans, who pounded the Spartans with six consecutive TD drives after trailing 3-0 early in the second quarter.

USC's formidable offensive line cleared the way for 343 yards rushing, along with two scores apiece by Stafon Johnson and Joe McKnight. Barkley's only TD pass put USC up 42-3 midway through the third quarter.

IDAHO 21, NEW MEXICO STATE 6: At Las Cruces, N.M., Nathan Enderle threw two touchdown passes and Princeton McCarty got most of his 96 yards rushing on one play as Idaho spoiled DeWayne Walker's coaching debut with the Aggies. McCarty had the highlight of the game late in the first quarter, but he probably won't advertise it. With the Vandals (1-0, 1-0 Western Athletic Conference) at their own 32, McCarty broke free up the middle, burst past the linebackers into open field with no defenders anywhere nearby. As he sprinted untouched toward the end zone, he tripped at the 5 and put his face mask into the turf at the 1. New Mexico State (0-1, 0-1) has been one of the nation's worst programs for decades and Walker got off to a rough start in his bid to turn things around.

NO. 23 NOTRE DAME 35, NEVADA 0: At South Bend, Ind., Jimmy Clausen threw for four touchdowns, including passes of 70 and 88 yards to Michael Floyd, to lead Notre Dame. Clausen started the game by completing 10 of 11 passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns, highlighted by the 70-yard pass to Floyd. He later bettered that with the 88-yard score. The junior quarterback finished 15 of 18 passing for 315 yards. It was the first easy season-opening win for the Irish since coach Charlie Weis' first game in 2005, and a good way for Notre Dame to prep for a trip to Michigan next week.

AUBURN 37, LOUISIANA TECH 13: At Auburn, Ala., Chris Todd and Terrell Zachery hooked up on a school-record 93-yard touchdown pass to help Auburn beat Louisiana Tech in Gene Chizik's debut as Auburn's head coach. Todd passed for 255 yards and two touchdowns, including the long one early in the third quarter. He had shoulder surgery in December and won the starting job despite missing spring practice in Gus Malzahn's newly installed offense. Onterio McCalebb rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown to become the first Auburn freshman to run for 100 yards or more in an opener since Bo Jackson in 1982. Ben Tate also rushed for 117 yards.