Cincinnati, Tulane and Arkansas State close late wins in East Coast college football

The East Coast close supplied more than a list of blowouts. Cincinnati recovered from an early 10-point deficit and held off Kansas State 31-26, Tulane used Maurice Turner’s 74-yard run to beat Southern Miss 24-21, and Arkansas State needed a fourth-quarter field goal to edge Kennesaw State. Oklahoma State reversed a third-quarter deficit against West Virginia before closing with 20 unanswered points. Those games earned separate recaps because the final scores alone hide their late turns.

This collection links 12 verified finals from the assigned East-close pass. Each article uses the final event record, team statistics and scoring sequence. FIU–LIU had already been released and counted in the earlier afternoon window; it is not repeated here. Later night kickoffs have their own collection, and games still live at the initial check await the West-close run.

Close finishes and second-half turns

• Tabb runs for three touchdowns as Cincinnati beats Kansas State 31-26 — The Bearcats overcame an early 10-point deficit and held off a late Wildcats touchdown in their Big 12 opener at Nippert Stadium.

• Turner's 74-yard run carries Tulane past Southern Miss 24-21 — Maurice Turner rushed for 200 yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown with 5:26 left in the Battle for the Bell.

• Van Andel’s fourth-quarter kick lifts Arkansas State past Kennesaw State 17-14 — The Red Wolves came back from a 14-7 deficit and won a turnover-free game with a 33-yard field goal.

• Creel leads Jacksonville State past Middle Tennessee 23-13 in CUSA opener — The Gamecocks answered a third-quarter deficit with 13 straight points and finished with 517 yards.

• Oklahoma State surges past West Virginia 41-24 behind Mestemaker and Hawkins — The Cowboys erased a third-quarter deficit, then scored the final 20 points while piling up 609 yards of offense.

Conference and ranked-team statements

• Russell throws four touchdowns as Alabama beats South Carolina 49-18 — The Crimson Tide led 35-10 at halftime after four Russell scoring passes and a Red Morgan interception return.

• James Madison rolls past Old Dominion 46-20 behind Coleman’s four touchdown passes — The Dukes opened Sun Belt play with four first-half touchdown throws and held the Monarchs to minus-14 rushing yards.

• Louisiana holds Charlotte offense without a point in 34-7 road win — The 49ers’ only touchdown came on a fumble return as the Ragin’ Cajuns forced four turnovers and controlled possession.

Larger margins with distinct causes

• Pribula’s five touchdowns drive Virginia past Delaware 42-3 — Virginia amassed 556 yards and held the Blue Hens to 160 in its nonconference finale.

• Miami holds Central Michigan to three points in 52-3 win — The Hurricanes scored 52 unanswered after an early field goal and outgained the Chippewas 572-158.

• Texas State scores 63 against Incarnate Word as Jackson throws five touchdowns — The Bobcats gained 658 yards, including 338 on the ground, and turned a 7-7 opening into a 42-10 halftime lead.

• Tisdale throws four touchdowns as Western Kentucky beats Mercyhurst 52-7 — WKU’s home opener became its first win after the Hilltoppers built a 31-0 halftime lead.

Alabama’s first-half scoring surge, James Madison’s four passing touchdowns before halftime and Louisiana’s defense-driven road win belong beside the close games without being forced into the same story. Virginia, Miami, Texas State and Western Kentucky each reached a large margin by a different route. The recaps give those differences room: when the lead changed, who produced the decisive score, whether turnovers or field position mattered, and what the final box actually supports. Readers can follow a single team or scan the whole window without mistaking an already covered game for a new release.