ATLANTA --- Parris Lee scored the first touchdown in Georgia State history, Drew Little threw a pair of scoring passes and the Panthers won their inaugural game Thursday night, beating Shorter 41-7 before a surprisingly large crowd of 30,237 at the Georgia Dome.
The game marked the return to coaching for 67-year-old Bill Curry, who had not been on the sideline since being forced out by Kentucky in 1996.
Even playing their first game as an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision independent, the Panthers had no trouble against Shorter (0-2), a tiny NAIA school from northwest Georgia that had lost its opener to Division II West Alabama 37-7.
Lee scored on a 4-yard run with 9:07 left in the first quarter for the historic first TD in school history. He added a 10-yard scoring run in the third quarter.
NO. 2 OHIO STATE 45, MARSHALL 7
In Columbus, Ohio, Terrelle Pryor tossed three touchdown passes, Brandon Saine rushed for 103 yards and two scores and Ohio State rolled over error-prone Marshall in a tuneup for a big date with Miami.
Pryor completed 17 of 25 passes for 247 yards and TDs covering 6 and 11 yards to DeVier Posey and 65 yards to Dane Sanzenbacher before 105,040 at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes, who haven't lost a home opener since 1978, next play on Sept. 11 against No. 13 Miami, which coasted past Florida A&M 45-0.
It was a bleak debut for new Marshall coach Doc Holliday. The Thundering Herd fumbled the opening kickoff and were down 14-0 before running their first play in Ohio State territory.
NO. 13 MIAMI 45, FLORIDA A&M 0
In Miami, Jacory Harris threw for 210 yards and three touchdowns before sitting out the second half, Leonard Hankerson caught six passes for 115 yards and two scores, and Miami rolled past Florida A&M in the season-opener for both teams.
It was Miami's first shutout since Oct. 14, 2006.
Damien Berry had a 32-yard touchdown reception for the Hurricanes (1-0). Lamar Miller and Mike James had touchdown runs for Miami, and Ray-Ray Armstrong returned an interception 22 yards for another score.
UTAH 27, NO. 15 PITTSBURGH 24 (OT)
In Salt Lake City, Utah, Utah freshman Brian Blechen intercepted a pass on the first play of overtime, setting Joe Phillips for a 21-yard field goal that gave the Utes a victory against Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh had rallied with 14 points in the fourth quarter, forcing overtime on Dan Hutchins' 30-yard field goal on the final play of regulation.
MINNESOTA 24, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 17
In Murfreesboro, Tenn., Duane Bennett rushed for a career-high 187 yards and Jon Hoese scored three touchdowns to lead Minnesota to the win.
WAKE FOREST 53, PRESBYTERIAN 13
In Winston-Salem, N.C., Ted Stachitas had 160 total yards in his first college start and Wake Forest had six rushing touchdowns in the rout.
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