Six scores that jumped off the ticker during the first month of the college football season

Pick Six: Startling college football scores

Even during a relatively routine first month of the football season, there have been a few scores that have jumped off the ticker.

It’s not always the huge upsets that draw attention. Sometimes a score is so surprisingly lopsided it makes a statement on its own.

OREGON 72, NEW MEXICO 0. After an unsettled offseason, the Ducks showed they would be able to function just fine without quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who was kicked off the team. And right off the bat, we got to find out just how bad the Lobos would be this season.

OKLAHOMA 47, FLORIDA STATE 17. The first big game of the Jimbo Fisher era showed that changing a few coaches wasn’t quite enough to fix what had been ailing Florida State during its final few seasons under Bobby Bowden.

JAMES MADISON 21, VIRGINIA TECH 16. Any time a team from what used to be I-AA, such as James Madison, pulls off an Appalachian State-style upset it causes a stir. But this one was especially significant because of the long-term effect it could have on Boise State’s BCS run. The Broncos are hoping to hold up their victory against Virginia Tech in Week 1 as proof they belong in the national championship game.

MIAMI 31, PITTSBURGH 3. The low point of a forgettable September for both the Big East and the Panthers. Is the gap really this wide between what was supposed to be the favorite in the Big East and one of the ACC’s best?

UCLA 34, TEXAS 12. The Longhorns were more than a two-touchdown favorite at home, but the upset and the decisiveness of it was shocking. The Bruins exposed Texas’ offensive problems and pushed around a defense that was considered the Longhorns’ strength. And two weeks after getting shutout at home by Stanford, UCLA looks like it’s on the rise under Rick Neuheisel.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 24, GEORGIA 12. Lose to Arkansas and South Carolina and it’s a rough start to the season, but not quite reason to panic. Lose at Mississippi State to start 0-3 in the SEC, and Mark Richt really does have to worry about his job security. On the other side, Dan Mullen’s rebuilding job in Starkville takes a big step forward.