PITTSBURGH — Dion Lewis scored three touchdowns by halftime while running for 129 yards in his first college start, and Pittsburgh showed off a balanced offense while cruising to a season-opening 38-3 victory over Youngstown State on Saturday.

Pitt made certain there was no repeat of last season's 27-17 opening day loss to Bowling Green that ranks among the biggest upsets in school history, taking a 21-3 lead at halftime. Not that the opponent was as good — Youngstown State lost eight of its first 10 while going 4-8 last season and hasn't scored a touchdown in its last five games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents.

One of Pitt's unanswered questions going into the season was whether it could quickly replace running back LeSean McCoy, who left for the NFL after rushing for 2,816 yards and scoring 35 touchdowns in two seasons.

STATE COLLEGE — Daryll Clark threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns, and No. 9 Penn State celebrated coach Joe Paterno's return to the sideline with a 31-7 win Saturday over Akron in the season opener.A tenacious defense overwhelmed the Zips' spread attack, holding Akron to 186 yards of total offense. Akron didn't record a first down until the third quarter, with Penn State leading by 31.The Nittany Lions scored on their opening drive on a 5 yard run by Evan Royster and never looked back. Graham Zug's leaping 19-yard touchdown catch gave Penn State a 31-point cushion just before halftime. Clark threw for 254 yards in the first half alone, a school record.It was a happy return for Paterno in his first game on the sideline since hip replacement surgery last November.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Jarrett Brown threw a touchdown pass and Tyler Bitancurt kicked four field goals to lead West Virginia past Liberty 33-20 Saturday.West Virginia won its sixth straight season opener and improved to 10-0 against Football Championship Subdivision opponents since 2000.Brown completed 19 of 26 passes for 243 yards in the first game of the post-Pat White era but also struggled at times to move the Mountaineers down the field.The win wasn't secured until Robert Sands intercepted Liberty's Tommy Beecher midway through the fourth quarter and West Virginia's Noel Devine scored two plays later on a 24-yard run for a 33-13 lead.Devine rushed 17 times for 112 yards. Liberty's Mike Brown caught 11 passes for 157 yards and a score.