No. 7 Kansas State Defeats Cal, 42-28

Kansas State’s offense wasn’t the problem. The defense is what worries Coach Bill Snyder.

No. 7 Kansas State won its 14th consecutive season opener with a 42-28 victory over California in the Black Coaches Assn. Classic on Saturday night in Kansas City, Mo.

The Wildcats relied on the one-two punch of quarterback Ell Roberson and running back Darren Sproles.

Roberson threw for 205 yards and a career-high three touchdowns and ran for 145 yards and another score. Sproles ran for a career-high 175 yards and one touchdown.

But the Wildcats gave up 440 yards, including 378 yards passing.

“They’ll be tested in practice on Monday,” Snyder said.

California Coach Jeff Tedford was quick to praise Roberson and Sproles.

“[The Wildcats] made a lot of big plays, but the credit goes to their two guys,” Tedford said. “I’m not sure they don’t do that against anyone.”

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Scott Rislov threw for 321 yards and a touchdown as San Jose State defeated Grambling State, 29-0, in the inaugural Literacy Classic at San Jose.

The Spartans played in front of 31,681, their first sellout in 13 years.

Bruce Eugene threw for 210 yards for Grambling State, ranked seventh among Division I-AA schools.

It was the Tigers’ first appearance in California since 1972. San Jose State recorded its first shutout since beating Nevada Las Vegas, 42-0, on Nov. 19, 1988.

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Ohio State tailback Maurice Clarett’s suspension is likely for six games, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.

The paper, citing an unidentified source at Ohio State, said Clarett would be penalized three games for violating NCAA rules and three games for giving false statements to campus police after a vehicle he had borrowed was burglarized.

The car, equipped with two TV monitors, was burglarized in April and Clarett originally told police that there was a theft of $9,500 in merchandise and $800 in cash.

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Marlin Jackson, the preseason Big Ten defensive player of the year, was suspended for Michigan’s opener against Central Michigan by Coach Lloyd Carr. Jackson, a safety, pleaded guilty last week to aggravated assault in a plea agreement. Aggravated assault is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Sentencing is set for Sept. 11.

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Florida freshmen linebackers Channing Crowder and Taurean Charles were suspended for the season opener for their involvement in off-field fights. Crowder and Charles pleaded no contest to separate misdemeanor battery charges in June. The Gators open Saturday against San Jose State and Coach Ron Zook said the players would be back for the team’s game at Miami on Sept. 6.