Kansas 31, South Dakota State 17: Tony Pierson and Taylor Cox each rushed for more than 100 yards as host Kansas overcame a sluggish first half to hold off South Dakota State in Charlie Weis' debut as the Jayhawks' coach.

Kansas led by just three at the half but opened up some some breathing room in the third quarter, opening a 24-7 lead on Pierson's 47-yard TD run and Dayne Crist's 2-yard TD toss to Mike Ragone. Pierson ran for 124 yards on 20 carries and Cox added 121 on 16 attempts.

Crist, a Notre Dame transfer, completed 17 of 36 passes for 169 yards in a lackluster first start for the Jayhawks.

After South Dakota State's Zach Zenner stunned Kansas (1-0) with a 99-yard TD run midway through the first quarter to open the scoring, the Jayhawks answered on Pierson's 3-yard TD scamper with six seconds left in the first.

Zenner finished with 183 yards on 23 carries for the Jackrabbits (0-1), who closed within 24-17 on Justin Syrovatka's 25-yard field goal with 8:39 left. Kansas sealed the win on Cox's 3-yard TD run with 5:36 to play.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Kansas ranked last in the FBS in total defense last season, surrendering 516 yards per game. The Jayhawks allowed more than 400 yards against the Jackrabbits, an FCS opponent. ... Kansas improved to 69-47-7 in season openers and is now 2-0 all-time against South Dakota State. The only other meeting was an 86-6 victory in 1947 ... Weis posted a 35-27 record in five seasons at Notre Dame from 2005-09.