MIAMI (AP) — Graig Cooper had a 66-yard punt return for a touchdown and rushed for another score, quarterback Jacory Harris accounted for two touchdowns and Miami moved into its new home with a 52-7 season-opening win Thursday night over Charleston Southern.

Javarris James rushed 12 times for 73 yards and a touchdown for the Hurricanes (1-0), who took full control with a 21-point first quarter, their highest-scoring period since Sept. 9, 2006 against Florida A&M. Derron Thomas and Shawnbrey McNeal also had touchdown runs for Miami, which outgained its outmatched opponents from the Football Championship Subdivision 416-126.

Staff photo by Chuck Liddy

COLUMBIA, S.C. — N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson suffered a concussion in the second quarter of N.C. State's season-opener against South Carolina but avoided further serious injury.

The freshman quarterback was knocked out after getting accidentally kneed in the back of the head by South Carolina defensive end Cliff Matthews with 4:09 left in the second quarter.

Three North Carolina defensive backs — Charles Brown, Johnny White and LeCount Fantroy — are all questionable to play against McNeese State on Saturday, according to the team injury report.

Brown, who started nine games last season, has been slowed most of training camp with a sprained ankle. White, a converted running back, has an injured thigh, and Fantroy has a hurt hand. The Tar Heels' secondary faces an early test against the Cowboys, who use a spread offense and have two speedy receivers.

Football season starts tonight. Finally.

(Programming note: We'll be in Columbia tonight, check ACC Now during and after the game for full coverage.)

To kick off the new season we'll start a new feature. Columnist Caulton Tudor picks selected games in the print edition every week. In addition, Tudor and J.P. Giglio will pick six games each week on ACC Now.

Four questions with N.C. State redshirt freshman quarterback Russell Wilson, who will make his first college start Thursday night at South Carolina: 

Q: Are you nervous?
A: I’m not nervous. I’m more excited than anything. I’m trying to make some plays and help my team. South Carolina is a great team and it’s going to be a challenge. I’m definitely ready.

Russell Wilson fiddled with his baseball cap Monday afternoon as he talked about N.C. State's season opener in 2004.

Wilson was in Raleigh to see his brother, Harrison Wilson IV, play wide receiver for Richmond. Russell was a high school sophomore at that time with no idea he would play for N.C. State one day. 

Staff video: Travis Long, J.P. Giglio and Caulton Tudor

Today's topic: Tudor predicts the win totals for UNC and N.C. State.

The last Wednesday in August can only mean one thing — the Conference Call.

Ah, two hours with 12 ACC coaches and 700 cliches. It gives you a tingle just thinking about it, doesn't it?

Any way, here are some highlights, and of course, a Moment of Al Groh Zen.

• Composite schedule
• UNC analysis
• Duke analysis
• ACC highlights

Home: High Point, Winthrop, UNC-Greensboro, Winston-Salem State, ECU, Lipscomb, Marquette, Loyola (Md.), Towson, N.C. Central

Road: New Orleans, Florida

Neutral site: Davidson @ Charlotte

Analysis: You never want to go into a season thinking NIT (certainly not when your neighbor is blocking off hotel rooms in August for the Final Four) but N.C. State needs to reach the postseason in Sidney Lowe's third season.