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Rutgers comes up short

Giovani Bernard rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns, on runs of 60 and 6 yards, and host North Carolina committed five turnovers in its 24-22 victory over Rutgers yesterday. Mohamed Sanu set career highs with 13 catches for 119 yards for Rutgers (1-1).

Chas Dodd was 25-for-47 for 243 yards and two touchdowns for the Scarlet Knights.

"We had opportunities to win, and we just didn't take them," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "That's why you play games."

Syracuse escapes

Ryan Nassib threw for a career-high 318 yards and three touchdowns, including the deciding one to walk-on Michael Acchione midway through the fourth quarter, as host Syracuse (2-0) held off Rhode Island, 21-14.

So does Pitt

Ray Graham ran for 121 yards and scored three touchdowns, but quarterback Tino Sunseri was intercepted twice as host Pittsburgh escaped with a 35-29 victory over Maine.

. . . and the Hokies

Josh Oglesby ran for two touchdowns, including the go-ahead 10-yard score with 7:30 left, as No. 11 Virginia Tech (2-0) outlasted host East Carolina, 17-10.

. . . Ohio State, too

Toledo led 15-7 after a quarter and were on top 22-21 before Carlos Hyde went 3 yards for the winning points late in the third quarter for host Ohio State in a 27-22 victory. The Rockets were penalized 14 times for 102 yards -- while the Buckeyes were hit with just two for 13.

-- AP