THURSDAY, SEPT. 14 • 7:30 P.M. • ESPN
NAVY at MEMPHIS
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (58,325/AstroTurf)
THE GAME
Thursday’s game will be the ninth meeting between Navy and Memphis … The schools had not played until both were part of the American Athletic Conference … The Tigers hold a 5-3 series lead and have won the last four matchups, including a 37-13 decision in Annapolis last year … Navy’s last win in the series was a 22-21 victory Sept. 8, 2018.
NAVY
1-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach: Brian Newberry (Baylor ’98)
1-1, first season
Notes
Navy picked up its first win of the year last Saturday after the Midshipmen scored a 24-0 victory against FCS opponent Wagner … The win came two weeks after a season-opening 42-3 setback to Notre Dame in Dublin, Ireland … The win against Wagner was the first career victory for first-year head coach Brian Newberry … It was
the first shutout for the Midshipmen since a 34-0 victory against Army in 2008 and the first in Annapolis since a 7-0 decision against Lafayette in 1994 … Navy has averaged 185.5 rushing yards and 288.5 total yards through its first two games … QB Tai Lavatai has completed 11 of 19 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown … FB Daba Fofana is the rushing leader with 90 yards on 23 carries … The defense is led by LB Will Harbour, who has a team-high 13 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
-/rv MEMPHIS
2-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach: Ryan Silverfield (Hamden-Sydney ’03)
23-16, fourth season
Notes
Memphis has looked impressive in both games of its 2-0 start to the season … The Tigers opened with a 56- 14 win against Bethune-Cookman at Simmons Liberty Bank Stadium and took to the road to beat Arkansas State 37-3 in Week 2 … The Tigers have limited their first two opponents to 152.5 yards per game and have not allowed an opposing offense to score a touchdown … The two touchdowns scored by Bethune-Cookman came on turnovers … QB Seth Henigan has completed 73.8% of his passes (48 of 65) for 573 yards and four touchdowns against two interceptions … RB Blake Watson has 126 rushing yards and three touchdowns through two games, while RB Sutton Smith has 120 yards and two TDs … LB Chandler Martin has 11 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumbles to lead the defense.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 15 • 7 P.M. • ESPN
ARMY at UTSA
Alamodome (36,582/FusionH XP2 Synthetic)
San Antonio, Texas
THE GAME
Friday’s game will be the fourth meeting between UTSA and Army … Army holds a 2-1 series lead, but UTSA took the most recent matchup with a 41-38 win at West Point last season … Friday’s game will be the third to be played in San Antonio, which boasts a strong military presence, including Fort Sam Houston and Brooke Army Medical Center.
ARMY
1-1
Head Coach – Jeff Monken (Milliken ’89)
65-50, 10th season at Army 103-65, 14th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Army opened the 2023 season with a disappointing 17-13 loss at Louisiana-Monroe, but the Black Knights responded with a 57-0 victory against Delaware State last Saturday … It was the first shutout for Army since a 15-0 win against Navy to close the 2020 season … Army went 6-6 last season, closing the season with three consecutive wins … The Black Knights were a combined 21-5 in the 2017 and 2018 seasons under veteran coach Jeff Monken … Army has averaged 172.5 passing yards per game under a retooled offense … QB Bryson Daily has completed 13 of 22 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions … Daily is the leading rusher with 132 yards and two TDs on the ground … WR Isaiah Alson has six catches for 182 yards and two TDs.
-/rv UTSA
1-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach – Jeff Traylor (Stephen F. Austin ’90)
31-11, fourth season
Notes
UTSA turned in a solid 20-13 win against Texas State last Saturday in front of 49,342 spectators at the Alamodome … The home crowd was the second-largest in program history, behind only the 56,743 on-hand for the Roadrunners’ first game against Northeastern State in 2011 … UTSA bounced back from a 17-14 Opening Day loss at Houston … The Roadrunners have averaged only 17.0 points through two games, but have leaned on a defense that has yeield only 15.0 points per game and 288.0 yards per game … QB Frank Harris has completed 44 of 73 passes for 423 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions … RB Kevorian Barns has averaged 103.0 rushing yards with totals of 206 yards and a TD … WR Joshua Cephus has 16 catches for 163 yards and a touchdown … The Roadrunners have registered 10 sacks through two games.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 16 • 2 P.M. • ESPN+
NORFOLK STATE at TEMPLE
Lincoln Financial Field (67,594/Natural Grass)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between Temple and Norfolk State … Temple has won seven of its last eight meeting against FCS opponents, including a 30-14 victory against Lafayette last season … Norfolk State faced two FBS teams last season as the Spartans fell to Marshall (55-3) and James Madison (63-7).
NORFOLK STATE
1-1, 0-0 MEAC
Head Coach – Dawson Odums (North Carolina Central ’97)
9-15, third season at Norfolk State, 73-59, 13th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Norfolk State evened its record at 1-1 after the Spartans took a 31-23 win at Hampton last Saturday in the Battle of the Bay matchup … The Spartans opened with a 33-24 setback to Virginia State … Norfolk State has 15 starters back from last year’s team, which went 2-9 … The Spartans have averaged 322.0 yards and allowed 461.0 yards per game in 2023 … QB Otto Kuhns has completed 25 of 47 passes for 365 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions … RB Xzavion Evans is coming off an 82-yard effort on 10 carries against Hampton … WR Andre Pegues, has six catches for 137 yards and a touchdown, while WR Aaron Moore, who has eight receptions for 130 yards and a TD … Five different players have accounted for the Spartans’ five touchdown receptions.
TEMPLE
1-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach – Stan Drayton (Allegheny ’93)
4-10, second season
Notes
Temple followed its season-opening win against Akron with a 36-7 setback at Rutgers last Saturday … The Ows were within six points of the Scarlet Knights at 13-7 early in the fourth quarter, but Rutgers closed the game with 23 unanswered points … Temple has averaged 325.5 yards and allowed 365.5 yards per game thus far … QB E.J. Warner, the 2022 American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, has thrown for 522 yards and three touchdowns through two games … WR Dante Wright has been the leading receiver with 13 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown … The strength of the Owls is their defense, which is led by LB Yvandy Rigby … Rigby has 19 a team-high 19 tackles, while S Tywan Francis has 16 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception … LB Jordan Magee has 15 stops with a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 16 • 3:30 P.M. • ESPN+
EAST CAROLINA at APPALACHIAN STATE
Kidd Brewer Stadium (30,000/FieldTurf)
Boone, North Carolina
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 33rd meeting between East Carolina and Appalachian State … The in-state rivalry traces its roots to 1932 … The schools played annual from 1948-62, but have met only three times in the 21st century … The Mountaineers hold a 20-12 series lead and took the most recent matchup, 33-19, in 2021.
EAST CAROLINA
0-2, 0-0 American
Head Coach: Mike Houston (Mars Hill ‘94)
22-26, fifth season at East Carolina; 102-51, 13th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
East Carolina plays a second consecutive opponent from the Sun Belt Conference … The Pirates fell 31-13 against Marshall last week and look for their first win of the season Saturday … ECU looks to avoid its first three-game slide since the 2020 season … East Carolina held a 13-10 lead against Marshall after three quarters, but the Pirates were outscored 21-0 in the final period … East Carolina has struggled offensively with an average of 8.0 points and 252.0 yards per game … QB Mason Garcia has completed 21 of 42 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions … Garcia is the leading rusher with 154 yards … The defense is led by S Julius Wood, who has 15 tackles, while LB Mike Edwards III has 14 stops with 2.5 tackles for loss.
APPALACHIAN STATE
1-1, 0-0 Sun Belt
Head Coach: Shawn Clark (Appalachian State ’98)
27-14, fourth full season
Notes
Appalachian State dropped a 40-34 heartbreaker to No. 17 North Carolina in two overtimes last Saturday to even its record at 1-1 … The Mountaineers opened the season with a 45-24 win against Gardner-Webb … App State held five leads against North Carolina … The Mountaineers held the Tar Heels, who had nine sacks against South Carolina, without a sack last Saturday … App State is 6-1 in its last seven games that follow a top-25 opponent … QB Joey Aguilar has completed 33 of 56 passes for 449 yards and six touchdowns against one interception … RB Nate Noel is averaging 121.0 rushing yards per game on 242 yards and three touchdowns … WR Dashaun Davis has a team-high 10 receptions for 153 yards and two TDs … S Nick Ross had nine tackles against North Carolina and made 13 stops in the opener against Gardner-Webb.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 16 • 3:30 P.M. • ABC
ALABAMA at SOUTH FLORIDA
Raymond James Stadium (65,000/Natural Grass)
Tampa, Florida
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the second meeting between South Florida and Alabama … The only previous game was a 40-17 Crimson Tide win in 2003 at Legion Field in Birmingham … The Bulls held a 17-7 lead in that game before Alabama closed with 33 unanswered points … The teams are scheduled to play in Tuscaloosa in 2024 and 2026.
10/10 ALABAMA
1-1, 0-0 SEC
Head Coach: Nick Saban (Kent State ’73)
195-28, 17th season at Alabama; 286-70-1, 28th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Alabama looks to bounce back from a 34-24 loss to No. 10 Texas last Saturday, evening the Crimson Tide’s record at 1-1 … Alabama has had only 15 regular-season losses since 2008 and is 13-1 following a loss in the regular-season play … Head coach Nick Saban is 73-8 against nonconference opponents at Alabama … The Crimson Tide opened the season with a 56-7 win against Middle Tennessee … QB Jalen Milroe has completed 27 of 45 passes for 449 yards and five touchdowns against two interceptions and is Alabama’s leading rusher with 92 yards and two TDs on the ground … WR Jermaine Burton has five receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns … S Caleb Downs has a team-high 18 tackles … CB Kool-Aid McKinstry was a preseason All-SEC pick on both defense and special teams.
SOUTH FLORIDA
1-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach: Alex Golesh (Ohio State ’06)
1-1, first season
Notes
South Florida ended an 11-game losing streak with its 38-24 win against Florida A&M last Saturday in Tampa … It was the first career victory for first-year head coach Alex Golesh and it also ended the Rattlers’ 10-game winning streak … The Bulls opened the 2023 season with a 41-24 loss at Western Kentucky … South Florida has averaged 441 yards through two games, while the Bulls have limited opponents to an average of 429 yards … QB Byrum Brown has been the catalyst on offense with 363 passing yards and four touchdowns to go with a team-high 183 rushing yards and four TDs on the ground … RB Nay’Quan Wright has 148 rushing yards … TE Sean Atkins is the leading receiver with 10 catches for 100 yards, while WR Khafre Brown has six catches for 109 yards and two TDs … LB DJ Gordon IV has 12 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 16 • 4 P.M. • ESPN2
OKLAHOMA at TULSA
H.A. Chapman Stadium (30,000/FieldTurf)
Tulsa, Oklahoma
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 29th meeting between Tulsa and Oklahoma in an in-state rivalry that dates to 1914 … The Sooners hold a 20-7-1 series lead and have won the last nine meetings, including a 52-38 decision in Norman the last time the teams played in 2015 … Tulsa’s last win was a 31-24 decision in 1996.
19/16 OKLAHOMA
2-0, 0-0 Big 12
Head Coach: Brent Venables (Kansas State ’92)
8-7, second season
Notes
Oklahoma pulled away for a 28-11 win against SMU last Saturday to improve to 2-0 on the season … The Sooners held a 14-11 lead midway through the fourth quarter before closing with 14 unanswered points … The Sooners had opened with a 73-0 win against Arkansas State … The game at Tulsa is the first road date of the year for Oklahoma … The Sooners were on the short end of a 367-365 margin in total offense against SMU … QB Dillon Gabriel, who played in The American at UCF before transferring, has completed 38 of 49 passes for 484 yards and six touchdowns without an interception … The defense is led by Danny Stutsman, who has 21 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery … Stutsman was named Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week after his 17-tackle performance against SMU.
TULSA
1-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach: Kevin Wilson (North Carolina ’84)
1-1, first season at Tulsa; 27-48, seventh season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Tulsa plays a second consecutive top-25 opponent as the Golden Hurricane looks to bounce back from a 43-10 setback at No. 8 Washington last Saturday … Tulsa opened
the season with a 42-7 victory against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, giving Kevin Wilson his first win as the Golden Hurricane head coach … Injuries have already played a role in Tulsa’s season as third-string QB Roman Fuller took most of the work against Washington … QB Braylon Braxton, the Opening Day starter, was injured against UABP, while QB Cardell Williams, who got the start against Washington, had to leave the game due to injury … RB Jordan Ford has a team-high 177 rushing yards through two games … WR Marquis Shoulders is the leading receiver with eight catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 16 • 4 P.M. • ESPNU
TULANE at SOUTHERN MISS
M.M. Roberts Stadium (36,000/Matrix)
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 34th meeting between Tulane and Southern Miss in a series that dates to 1979 … The schools met annually between 1979 and 2006 … The Golden Eagles hold a 24-9 series lead after a 27-24 win last season in New Orleans … Tulane was a winner in the last meeting in Hattiesburg, 66-24, in 2020.
rv/rv TULANE
1-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach: Willie Fritz (Pittsburg State ‘83)
44-46, eighth season at Tulane; 215-115, 26th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Tulane saw a five-game winning streak snapped as the Green Wave fell 37-20 to No. 20 Ole Miss in a matchup of top-25 teams … The Green Wave led 17-7 in the second
quarter and was tied headed into the fourth quarter, before the Rebels scored twice in the final two minutes to clinch it … Tulane’s Willie Fritz is the only coach to be named as Coach of the Year in The American (2022) and the Sun Belt (2014 with Georgia Southern) … The Green Wave was without QB Michael Pratt and LB Corey Platt, the team’s leading tackler, for the game against Ole Miss … QB Kai Horton completed 15 of 37 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown in place of Pratt … Tulane opened the season with a 37-17 win against South Alabama … WR Jha’Quan Jackson has seven catches for 189 yards and three TDs.
SOUTHERN MISS
1-1, 0-0 Sun Belt
Head Coach: Will Hall (North Alabama ’03)
11-16, third season at Southern Miss; 67-36, ninth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Southern Miss fell to 1-1 after the Golden Eagles dropped a 66-13 decision at Florida State last Saturday … Southern Miss opened the year with a 40-14 win against Alcorn State in Hattiesburg … Third-year head coach Will Hall served as Tulane’s offensive coordinator from 2019-20 before taking his current position … QB Billy Wiles has completed 32 of 62 passes for 421 yards and three touchdowns against two interceptions … RB Rodrigues Clark, a transfer from Memphis, is the leading rusher with 140 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, while RB Frank Gore Jr. has 60 yards on 17 attempts with a touchdown … WR Jakarius Caston has seven receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown … S Jay Stanley leads the team with 10 tackles and two interceptions.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 16 • 6 P.M. • ESPN+
GEORGIA STATE at CHARLOTTE
Jerry Richardson Stadium (15,314/Synthetic)
Charlotte, North Carolina
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the fifth meeting between Charlotte and Georgia State and will break a 2-2 tie in the series … The 49ers evened the series with a 42-41 victory in 2022 in Atlanta when WR Grant DuBose caught a 2-yard TD pass with 17 seconds left … The only previous meeting in Charlotte saw the Panthers prevail 28-0 in 2017.
GEORGIA STATE
2-0, 0-0 Sun Belt
Head Coach: Shawn Elliott (Appalachian State ’96)
36-38, seventh season at Georgia State; 37-43, eighth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Georgia State is off to a 2-0 start after the Panthers scored wins against a pair of New England-based opponents … The Panthers opened with a 42-35 victory against Rhode Island before taking a 35-14 decision against UConn … The game at Charlotte will be the first of back-to-back road games for Georgia State, which begins Sun Belt play next Thursday at Coastal Carolina … Georgia State … QB Darren Grainger has completed 31 of 46 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns without an interception … RB Marcus Campbell has had the bulk of the carries with 291 yards and six touchdowns on 47 attempts … Campbell’s 145.5 yards per game ranks second nationally … WR Robert Lewis has 11 catches for 127 yards and two TDs.
CHARLOTTE
1-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach: Biff Poggi (Duke)
1-1, first season
Notes
Charlotte raced to an early 14-0 lead in the 49ers’ matchup at Maryland last Saturday, but the Terrapins were able to chip away to score a 38-20 decision, evening Charlotte’s record at 1-1 … The 49ers opened with a 24-3 victory against South Carolina State … Charlotte held its first two opponents without a touchdown for the first six quarters of the 2023 season … QB Jalon Jones has completed 21 of 34 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions and is the 49ers’ leading rusher with 116 yards and a TD … RB Durell Robinson has 103 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries … WR Jarius Mack has five receptions for 109 yards and a TD … Freshman DB Cameron Howard has a team-high two interceptions … LB Demetrius Knight has 14 tackles with an interception and a tackle for loss.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 16 • 7 P.M. • ESPN+
LOUISIANA at UAB
Protective Stadium (47,100/FieldTurf)
Birmingham, Alabama
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the eighth meeting between UAB and Louisiana in a series that began in 1995 … The Blazers hold a 4-3 series lead, but the Ragin’ Cajuns have won the last two meetings, most recently a 24-20 decision in Birmingham in 2020 … UAB is 3-1 all-time in Birmingham, with the first four meetings at Legion Field.
LOUISIANA
1-1, 0-1 Sun Belt
Head Coach: Michael Desormeaux (Louisiana ’08)
8-8, second full season
Notes
Louisiana started the season with a solid 38-13 win against Northwestern State in Week 1, but the Ragin’ Cajuns fell 38-31 at Old Dominion last week in their Sun Belt Conference opener … Louisiana is averaging 34.5 points and 443.5 yards of offense through two games … Conversely, the Ragin’ Cajuns have held their opponents to 289.5 yards and 25.5 points … QB Ben Woolridge has passed for 508 yards and five touchdowns against one interception and is averaging 254.0 yards per game … RB WR Robert Williams has a team-high eight receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown … DE Jordan Lawson leads the defense with 3.5 sacks … Louisiana was 6-7 last season and fell to Houston in the Independence Bowl in Michael Desormeaux’s first season as head coach … The Ragin’ Cajuns have 10 starters back from that team.
UAB
1-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach: Trent Dilfer (Fresno State)
1-1, first season
Notes
UAB fell to 1-1 after the Blazers dropped a wild 49-35 decision at Georgia Southern last Saturday … UAB opened the season with a 35-6 win against North Carolina A&T for the first career victory for Trent Dilfer as a collegiate head coach … UAB has averaged 467.5 yards and allowed 312.5 yards per game … QB Jacob Zeno has completed 84.5% of his passes through two games … Zeno has connected on 71 of 84 passes for 676 yards and five touchdowns … WR Tejhaun Palmer has 10 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown, while WR Iverson Hooks has nine receptions for 94 yards and two TDs … The leading rusher is RB Isaiah Jacobs, who has 89 yards and a TD on 18 carries … LB Jackson Bratton leads the defense with 17 tackles to go with two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery … The offensive line has allowed only one sack
SATURDAY, SEPT. 16 • 7 P.M. • ESPN+
NORTH TEXAS at LOUISIANA TECH
Joe Aillet Stadium (28,562/FieldTurf)
Ruston, Louisiana
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 22nd meeting between North Texas and Louisiana Tech in a series that dates to 1976 … The Mean Green took a 47-27 win last year in Denton, ending a streak of four straight wins in the series by the Bulldogs … North Texas’ last win in Ruston was a 24-23 decision in 2017.
NORTH TEXAS
0-2, 0-0 American
Head Coach: Eric Morris (Texas Tech ’08)
0-2, first season at North Texas; 24-20, fifth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
North Texas looks for its first win of the season after the Mean Green fell at FIU 46-39 in a wild game in Miami … North Texas opened the season with a 58-21 setback to California … The game against FIU featured seven lead changes, the last of which gave the Panthers the lead midway through the fourth quarter … QB Stone Earle started the first two games, but QB Chandler Rogers came on at halftime against FIU to complete 11 of 15 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns … Earle has gone 22 for 39 for 274 yards and four TDs with four interceptions in two games … WR Ja’Mori Maclin is the top receiver with seven receptions for 183 yards and three touchdowns … RB Oscar Adaway III has 73 rushing yards on 17 carries with a touchdown.
LOUISIANA TECH
2-1, 1-0 Conference USA
Head Coach: Sonny Cumbie (Texas Tech ’04)
5-10, second season at Louisiana Tech; 7-13, third season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Louisiana Tech improved to 2-1 with a 51-21 win against Northwestern State last Saturday … The Bulldogs opened in Week 0 with a conference win against FIU (22-17)
before falling to SMU (38-14) in their first of two matchups against American Athletic Conference opponents … Louisiana Tech is averaging 398.0 yards of offense and
has allowed 321.0 yards defensively … QB Hank Bachmeier, the former Boise State signal-caller, has completed 64 of 95 passes for 684 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions … RB Keith Willis Jr. has 226 rushing yards and three touchdowns and is averaging 75.3 yards per game … WR Smoke Harris has 20 receptions for 211 yards and a touchdown … LB Myles Heard has a team-leading 30 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 16 • 7 P.M. • ESPN+
TEXAS SOUTHERN at RICE
Rice Stadium (47,000/FieldTurf)
Houston, Texas
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be just the second meeting between Rice and Texas Southern, which are located about four miles apart in Houston … Rice is 1-0 against the Tigers … The only previous meeting was Sept. 25, 2021, when Rice took a 48-34 win behind four rushing touchdowns by RB Jordan Myers.
TEXAS SOUTHERN
0-2, 0-1 SWAC
Head Coach: Clarence McKinney (University of Mary ’94)
8-28, fourth season
Notes
Texas Southern is looking for its first win of the season as the Tigers regroup from a 71-3 loss at Toledo last Saturday … The season-opener was a a closer affair as the Tigers were edged 37-34 by Prairie View A&M in Houston … The game against Rice will be the second against an FBS opponent for Texas Southern this season … QB Andrew Body has completed 18 of 38 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions … The leading rusher is RB LaDarius Owens, who has 141 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and is averaging 70.5 yards per game … WR Jyrin Johnson has 10 receptions for 87 yards through two games … WR AJ Bennett has two of the Tigers’ three touchdown receptions this season … The defense is led by LB Jacob Williams, who has team highs with 25 tackles, three sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss.
RICE
1-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach: Mike Bloomgren (Florida State ’99)
17-40, sixth season
Notes
Rice plays its second consecutive home game against a local opponent with Saturday’s game against Texas Southern … The Owls are coming off a thrilling 43-41 double-overtime win against Houston that delivered the Bayou Bucket trophy to the Rice campus for the first time since 2010 … Rice opened the season with a 37-10 loss to Texas, which is ranked No. 4 in this week’s Associated Press poll … QB JT Daniels matched his career-high with 401 yards against Houston and has thrown for 550 yards and four touchdowns against three interceptions … WR Luke McCaffrey has nine receptions for 121 yards and three TDs … RB Dean Connors has a team-high 71 rushing yards … RB Daelen Alexander scored the final 14 points of the win against Houston with two touchdowns and a two-point conversion in overtime.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 16 • 7 P.M. • ESPN+
PRAIRIE VIEW A&M at SMU
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000/FieldTurf)
Dallas, Texas
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between SMU and Prairie View A&M … The Mustangs have won six of their last seven games against FCS opponents, including a 45-16 decision against Lamar last season … Prairie View A&M is playing an FBS opponent for the first time since 2021 season.
PRAIRIE VIEW A&M
1-1, 1-0 SWAC
Head Coach: Bubba McDowell (Miami (Fla.) ’89)
7-6, second season
Notes
Prairie View A&M opened its season with a solid 37-34 win against Texas Southern in Houston, but the Panthers look to bounce back from a 45-16 setback to Abilene Christian last Saturday … The Panthers rushed for 301 yards against Abilene Christian and finished with a 535-393 advantage in total offense, but was undone by touchdowns on defense and special teams by ACU … The Panthers are averaging 495.0 yards of offense through two games … RB Ahmad Antoine leads the potent ground game with 192 yards on 34 carries, while RB Caleb Johnson has 151 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries … QB Trazon Connley has completed 33 of 57 passes for 465 yards and two touchdowns and two interceptions … WR Brian Jenkins Jr. has eight receptions for 143 yards … The defense has not registered a sack through two games.
SMU
1-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach: Rhett Lashlee (Arkansas ’08)
8-7, second season
Notes
SMU suffered its first loss of the season after the Mustangs saw No. 18 Oklahoma pull away from what had been a three-point game in the fourth quarter and take a 28-11 victory … SMU opened the season with a 38-14 win against Louisiana Tech in Dallas in Week 1 … SMU is averaging 412.0 yards and has allowed an average of 317.0 yards per game … QB Preston Stone has enjoyed two solid outings to start the year …Stone has completed 49 of 82 passes for 498 yards and four touchdowns against one interception … The backfield tandem of RB LJ Johnson Jr. and RB Jaylan Knighton have combined for 289 yards through two games as Johson has 149 yards and Knighton has 140 … WR Jake Bailey has a team-high 10 receptions for 82 yards … Thirteen players have at least one reception … SMU has outscored its opponents 34-14 in the first half
SATURDAY, SEPT. 16 • 8 P.M. • ACC NETWORK
FLORIDA ATLANTIC at CLEMSON
Memorial Stadium (81,500/Natural Grass)
Clemson, South Carolina
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the second meeting between Florida Atlantic and Clemson … The first meeting, also played in Clemson, South Carolina, saw the Tigers take a
54-6 victory in 2006 behind three touchdown passes by QB Will Proctor … Clemson scored touchdowns on a punt return and a fumble return in that game.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
1-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach: Tom Herman (Cal Lutheran ’97)
1-1, first season at Florida Atlantic; 55-22, seventh season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Florida Atlantic opened the season with a solid 42-20 win against Monmouth, but the Owls stumbled in a 17-10 setback to Ohio last Saturday … The Owls managed only 185 yards of offense and committed two turnovers, but held the lead until late in the third quarter … QB Casey Thompson has completed 43 of 67 passes for 460 yards and five touchdowns and three interceptions … RB Larry McCammon is the leading rusher with 148 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries … WR LaJohntay Wester has 18 receptions for 156 yards and a touchdown … The defense suffered a setback as CB Armani-Eli Adams suffered a leg injury that will sideline him indefinitely … The game at Clemson is the first of back-to-back road games for the Owls, who visit Illinois next week.
25/21 CLEMSON
1-1, 0-0 ACC
Head Coach: Dabo Swinney (Alabama ’93)
162-40, 15th season
Notes
Clemson was stunned by Duke in its season-opener as the Blue Devils took a 28-7 victory, but the Tigers bounced back with a 66-17 win against Charleston Southern last week … The game against Charleston Southern was tied at 14-14 after the first quarter and had Clemson ahead 24-17 at halftime before the Tigers exploded for a 42-0 second half … QB Cade Klubnik has completed 55 of 80 passes for 524 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions … RB Will Shipley has a team-high 187 rushing yards, while RB Phil Mafah has 124 yards and two touchdowns … WR Beaux Collins and WR Antonio Williams both have 12 receptions … Collins has a team-high 187 yards and a touchdown, while Williams has 120 yards and two TDs … LB Jeremiah Trotter leads the defense with 13 tackles to go with 2.5 tackles for loss.
