After trash talking Penn State all week, challenging the Nittany Lions to put nine defensive players near the line of scrimmage, Portis ran past the defensive line and at times past the Penn State secondary.

Although the speedster didn't score a touchdown all night, he averaged over nine yards per carry and finished Saturday night's blowout with 164 yards.

Portis did get into the end zone once, but it was called back because of a holding penalty on Miami's offensive line. After he crossed the goal line, Portis ran to the Miami crowd and tossed the ball to his biggest fan.

"I gave the ball to my mom," he said. "It wasn't as bad as it would have been if I just threw the ball away."

Portis credits his performance on his huge offensive line as he followed 6-foot-9, 335-pound Bryant McKinnie off the left side all night. Penn State had no answer for the Miami running game and the Hurricanes offense exploited the Nittany Lions defensive line.

Miami accumulated 258 yards on the ground and loosened up the Penn State defense for quarterback Ken Dorsey to hit his receivers for touchdowns. With Portis and redshirt freshman Willis McGahee carrying the ball and an offensive line that couldn't be moved, the Penn State defense was in for a long night.

"Sometimes it gets a little difficult because he bounces around so many different places you don't know where he's going to go," offensive lineman Joaquin Gonzalez said of Portis. "He's got excellent vision on the field. It's exciting to block for him because he challenges us to get him more yards."

Portis gained most of his yards in the first half, too. Because of the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty he received when he tossed the ball to his mother, first year Miami coach Larry Coker pulled Portis from the game.

Coker said he wanted to set an example that the Hurricanes weren't going to embarrass Penn State and that he wanted Portis to act like he's been in the end zone before.

With an offensive line as brutal as Miami's and fullback Najeh Davenport getting whoever the line misses, Portis plans on scoring many touchdowns this season.

Davenport said that teams shouldn't key on Portis only running off McKinnie, either. With a cutback in place for every running play, Davenport said the Hurricanes are pretty solid when running the ball, especially when the offensive line can control the line of scrimmage.

He just wants Portis to give him his due respect.

"They (offensive line) have a shirt that says steamrollers. They work hard, I have to give them props," Davenport said. "But if he's (Portis) not going to say thank you, don't worry about me blocking."