It was no classic, regardless of the enthusiasm of the fans, who did the wave even as both sides sent in substitutes in fourth-quarter garbage time.
The Fighting Irish dominated the game, running the ball at will against Navy's undersized defense and showing no signs of missing starter Cierre Wood. Riddick gained 107 yards on 19 carries, Atkinson 99 on just nine carries, leaving the Midshipmen and their outnumbered fans crestfallen at the end.
Youngstown State 31, Pittsburgh 17 - Kurt Hess passed for 154 yards and two touchdowns as the Penguins of the Football Championship Subdivision spoiled Paul Chryst's debut as the Panthers coach in an upset in Pittsburgh.
It was Youngstown State's first win over a Bowl Championship Series opponent in history. This wasn't a last-second stunner. The Penguins never trailed, controlling the ball and the tempo with a spread offense that kept the Panthers off balance during a soggy night at Heinz Field.
Northwestern 42, Syracuse 41 - Backup quarterback Trevor Siemian hit Demetrius Fields for a 9-yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds left and the Wildcats held on to beat the Orange in Syracuse, N.Y.
The decisive score in the sweltering Carrier Dome came after Ryan Nassib (Malvern Prep) had engineered a stunning comeback for the Orange, throwing for four second-half touchdowns. Nassib finished 44 of 65 for 470 yards.
Miami 41, Boston College 32 - Freshman Duke Johnson broke two long touchdown runs, rushing for 135 yards to lead the Hurricanes over the host Golden Eagles.
Purdue 48, Eastern Kentucky 6 - Robert Marve passed for a career-high 295 yards and matched a career best with three touchdowns to help the Boilermakers defeat Eastern Kentucky in both teams' season opener in West Lafayette, Ind.
Iowa 18, Northern Illinois 17 - Damon Bullock ran for 150 yards and scored on a late 23-yard touchdown run to lead the Hawkeyes over the Huskies in the season opener in Chicago.
Illinois 24, Western Michigan 7 - With quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase injured, Ashante Williams returned an interception 60 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown to help the Illini and new coach Tim Beckman hang on to beat the Broncos in Champaign, Ill.
