Zach Collaros threw four touchdowns in the first half and Cincinnati rolled to a 72-10 victory over visiting Austin Peay on Saturday in the opener for both teams.

Isaiah Pead ran for 87 yards and a pair of scores for Cincinnati (1-0), which outgained Austin Peay 351-108 in the first half and led 41-0 at halftime.

Cincinnati, which came one win shy of reaching a BCS bowl in 2009, was picked to finish fifth in the Big East. The Bearcats are trying to bounce back after finishing 4-8 and failing to qualify for a bowl game for the first time in three seasons in Butch Jones' first year.

Cincinnati has outscored Austin Peay 239-46 in five meetings, though this was the first matchup since 1993.

Collaros, a preseason second-team All-Big East selection, went 12-of-19 for 134 yards before sitting out in the second half. He hit Anthony McClung for touchdown passes of 8 and 29 yards. D.J. Woods and Kenbrell Thompkins also had touchdown receptions.

Wes Kitts rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown for Austin Peay, which has lost nine straight dating to last season. The Governors, who went 2-9 in 2010, were picked to finish ninth in the Ohio Valley Conference.