SATURDAY, SEPT. 14 • NOON • ESPN
MEMPHIS at FLORIDA STATE
Doak Campbell Stadium (79,560/Natural Grass)
Tallahassee, Florida
Television ESPN Bob Wischusen, Louis Riddick and Kris Budden
Radio WXMX-FM 98.9 (Memphis flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 19th meeting between Memphis and Florida State in a series that dates to 1959 … The Seminoles hold a 10-7-1 series lead, have won the last four meetings and are unbeaten in the last nine against the Tigers … Memphis’ last win in the series was a 21-12 decision Sept. 11, 1976.
MEMPHIS 2-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach Ryan Silverfield (Hamden-Sydney ’03) 33-19, fifth season
Notes
Memphis is off to a 2-0 start for the 11th consecutive season after the Tigers took a 38-17 win against Troy last Saturday … That result followed a 40-0 victory against North Alabama in the season-opener … The Tigers are ranked No. 25 in this week’s coaches’ poll, marking the Tigers’ first national ranking since the Oct. 3, 2020, polls … Memphis is 15-7 as a ranked team since joining the American Athletic Conference … Memphis is one of 11 teams nationally that has not committed a turnover … QB Seth Henigan has thrown for 469 yards and three touchdowns through two games … RB Mario Anderson Jr. has rushed for 171 yards and four TDs, while WR Roc Taylor is the leading receiver with nine catches for 14 yards … TE Brendan Doyle has two touchdown catches … LB Elijah Herring has two sacks and 12 tackles thus far.
FLORIDA STATE 0-2, 0-2 ACC
Head Coach Mike Norvell (Central Arkansas ’05) 31-19, fifth season at Florida State 69-34, ninth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Florida State, which is coached by former Memphis head coach Mike Norvell, looks to bounce back from a surprising 0-2 start to the season after the Seminoles fell 24-21 to Georgia Tech (in Dublin, Ireland) and 28-13 to Boston College … The Seminoles had won 19 straight games from 2022-23, but have dropped their last three, including last year’s Orange Bowl … Florida State entered the season ranked No. 10 in the preseason polls, but are unranked entering Week 3 … Norvell went 38-15 in four years at Memphis … The 38 wins rank fifth among American Athletic Conference coaches… QB DJ Uiagalelei has passed for 465 yards and a touchdown … The Seminoles have been held to 59.5 rushing yards per game … S Shyheim Brown has a team-high 21 tackles.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14 • NOON • FS1
NORTH TEXAS at TEXAS TECH
Jones AT&T Stadium (60,229/FieldTurf)
Lubbock, Texas
Television FS1 Dan Hellie and Petros Papadakis
Radio KEGL-FM 97.1 (North Texas flagship)
THE GAME
aturday’s game will be the fifth meeting between North Texas and Texas Tech … The series is tied at 4-4, though the teams haven’t played since the 2001 season … North Texas’ last win in the series was a 21-14 decision in Lubbock in 1999 … The Raiders have won the last two matchups.
NORTH TEXAS 2-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach Eric Morris (Texas Tech ’08) 7-7, second season at North Texas 31-25, sixth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
North Texas is 2-0 and has won its last four games dating to last season … The Mean Green opened with a 52-38 win at South Alabama before taking a 35-20 decision against Stephen F. Austin in its home-opener last Saturday … North Texas, which leads The American in scoring offense (43.5 ppg), has scored at least 35 points in each of its last four games and in nine of its 14 games under head coach Eric Morris … QB Chandler Morris, a transfer from TCU, ranks second nationally in passing at 368.5 yards per game … Morris has completed 58 of 85 passes for 737 yards and seven touchdowns against three interceptions … WR Damon Ward Jr. has 13 receptions for 246 yards and two touchdowns, while WR DT Sheffield has 148 yards and three TDs on 13 catches.
TEXAS TECH 1-1, 0-0 Big 12
Head Coach Joey McGuire (UT Arlington ’95) 16-12, third season
Notes
Texas Tech fell to 1-1 on the year after the Red Raiders fell 37-16 at Washington State in Week 2 … Texas Tech opened the season with a 52-51 overtime victory against Abilene Christian … The Red Raiders have allowed an average of 44.0 points and 515.5 yards through two games … QB Behren Morton has completed 64 of 100 passes for 701 yards and six touchdowns against two interceptions and is averaging 350.5 yards per game … RB Tahj Brooks rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown in the season-opener against Abilene Christian, but did not play against Washington State due to an arm injury … WR Josh Kelly has 19 receptions for 251 yards and a touchdown, while WR Coy Eakin has 10 catches for 130 yards and two TDs …The game against North Texas is the first of three consecutive road games for the Red Raiders.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14 • NOON • ESPN2
OKLAHOMA STATE at TULSA
H.A. Chapman Stadium (30,000/FieldTurf)
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Television ESPN2 Beth Mowins, Rod Gilmore and Lauren Sisler
Radio KXBL-FM 99.5 (Tulsa flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 78th meeting between Tulsa and Oklahoma State, which are separated by roughly 72 miles … The Cowboys hold a 44-28-5 series lead and have won the last nine meetings … The Golden Hurricane’s last win against the Cowboys was a 35-20 decision in Tulsa in 1998.
13/14 OKLAHOMA STATE 2-0, 0-0 Big 12
Head Coach Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State ’90) 167-79, 20th season
Notes
Oklahoma State is 2-0 for the eighth consecutive season following the Cowboys’ 39-31 double-overtime win against Arkansas last Saturday … The Cowboys trailed 21-7 at halftime and overcame a deficit of at least 14 points for the third time in their last six games … Oklahoma State opened the season with a 44-20 victory against South Dakota State … Oklahoma State was ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press preseason poll and has climbed to No. 13 after the two opening wins … The Cowboys have seen their first two opponents average 518.0 yards per game … QB Alan Bowman has passed for 571 yards and three touchdowns against one interception … RB Ollie Gordon II has rushed for 175 yards and four TDs … WR Rashod Owens has eight receptions for 145 yards and a touchdown, while WR Brennan Presley has two TD catches.
TULSA 1-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach Kevin Wilson (North Carolina ’84) 5-9, second season at Tulsa 31-56, eighth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Tulsa was impressive in its season-opener against Northwestern State, in which it cruised to a 62-28 win, but the Golden Hurricane looks to rebound from a 28-24 setback at Arkansas State last Saturday … Tulsa held a 17-7 halftime lead against the Red Wolves, but Arkansas State reeled off 21 third-quarter points to rally … QB Kirk Francis has completed 39 of 58 passes for 498 yards and five touchdowns against one interception through two games … WR Kamdyn Benjamin has been the leading receiver with 11 catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns … Benjamin is also a standout on special teams, where he has averaged 16.4 yards on five punt returns with a touchdown … RB Lloyd Avant leads the team with 125 rushing yards on 25 carries.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14 • 2 P.M. • ESPN+
COASTAL CAROLINA at TEMPLE
Lincoln Financial Field (69,596/Natural Grass)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Television ESPN+ Richard Cross and Barrett Brooks
Temple Radio OwlSports.com/Listen
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between Temple and Coastal Carolina … The Owls are 2-1 all-time against current members of the Sun Belt Conference with a win against Louisiana and a split against Marshall … Coastal Carolina is 4-3 against The American’s current membership after most recently falling to Army 28-21 last year.
COASTAL CAROLINA 2-0, 0-0 Sun Belt
Head Coach Tim Beck (UCF ’88) 10-5, second season
Notes
Coastal Carolina comes to Philadelphia with a 2-0 record after the Chanticleers stormed to an early lead against William & Mary on their way to a 40-21 decision in Conway, South Carolina … The Chanticleers gained 277 yards on the ground, including a 100-yard, two-touchdown effort from RB Christian Washington … Coastal Carolina opened the season with a 55-27 decision against Jacksonville State … The Chanticleers have averaged 504.0 yards of offense through their first two games … QB Ethan Vasko has completed 20 of 42 passes for 409 yards and two touchdowns and one interception … Washington is the leading rusher with 147 yards and two TDs, while four players average at least 46 yards per game … DT Will Whitson has 11 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss … The Chanticleers will host Virginia in Week 4.
TEMPLE 0-2, 0-1 American
Head Coach Stan Drayton (Allegheny ’93) 6-20, third season
Notes
One of eight teams that has not yet played a home game in 2024, Temple finally gets the chance to play in front of a friendly crowd with Saturday’s game … The Owls opened with a 51-3 loss at No. 16 Oklahoma and fell 38-11 to Navy in their conference opener last weekend … QB Forrest Brock has completed 59.2% of his passes through two games (42 of 71) for 405 yards and a touchdown with four interceptions … Brock completed passes to 12 different players against Navy … The Owls have struggled to establish the run this year with only 52.0 rushing yards per game … WR Dante Wright has been a bright spot with 14 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown … Wright had a career-high 11 catches for 101 yards and the Owls’ lone touchdown against Navy … The defense has registered three sacks and five tackles for loss.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14 • 3:30 P.M. • ESPN
TULANE at OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (80,126/Natural Grass)
Norman, Oklahoma
Television ESPN Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek and Taylor McGregor
Radio WPEN-FM 97.5 (Temple flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the third meeting in Tulane’s scheduled series against Oklahoma … The Sooners have taken the first two matchups with a 56-14 victory in 2017 and a 40-35 victory in 2021 … The first two matchups were played in Norman, though the 2021 meeting was scheduled for New Orleans and moved due to a hurricane.
TULANE 1-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach Jon Sumrall (Kentucky ’05) 1-1, first season at Tulane 24-5, third season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Tulane suffered its first loss of the season last Saturday as the Green Wave dropped a 34-27 heartbreaker to No. 17/16 Kansas State in New Orleans … That result followed an impressive 52-0 win against Southeastern Louisiana … The Green Wave is facing back-to-back nationally ranked opponents for the first time since the end of the 2022 season, when Tulane defeated No. 21 Cincinnati, No. 22 UCF and No. 8 USC in succession … QB Darian Mensah, a redshirt freshman, has looked impressive in his first two collegiate starts … Mensah has completed 29 of 41 passes for 547 yards and four touchdowns against one interception … RB Makhai Hughes has rushed for 187 yards and two TDs … The leading receiver is WR Mario Williams, a transfer from USC who has 10 catches for 252 yards.
15/13 OKLAHOMA 2-0, 0-0 SEC
Head Coach Brent Venables (Kansas State ’92) 12-3, second
Notes
Oklahoma is 2-0 after the Sooners scored a 51-3 win against Temple in their season-opener and held on a for a 16-12 decision against Houston (led by former Tulane head coach Willie Fritz) in Week 2 … The game against Tulane will be the third of four straight home contests to start the 2024 season … The Sooners have won 47 consecutive games against unranked nonconference opponents … Oklahoma’s last loss to an unranked nonconference foe was a 41-24 setback to UCLA Sept. 17, 2005, … Oklahoma has registered eight takeaways through two games, tied for the most nationally … QB Jackson Arnold has passed for 315 yards and six touchdowns against one interception … WR Deion Burks has three TD receptions … The defense is led by LB Danny Stutsman, who has 21 tackles through the first two games.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14 • 4 P.M. • ESPNU
APPALACHIAN STATE at EAST CAROLINA
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (50,000/Natural Grass)
Greenville, North Carolina
Television ESPNU Mike Corey and Rene Ingoglia
Radio WNCT-FM 107.9 (East Carolina flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 34th meeting between East Carolina and Appalachian State dating to 1932 … The Mountaineers hold a 21-12 series lead and have won the last two meetings, including a 43-28 decision in Boone, North Carolina, last year … East Carolina has won the last seven meetings in Greenville, most recently in 2012.
APPALACHIAN STATE 1-1, 0-0 Sun Belt
Head Coach Shawn Clark (Appalachian State ’98) 36-19, fifth season I
Notes
Appalachian State leveled its record at 1-1 after the Mountaineers fell 66-20 at No. 22 Clemson in Week 2 … Clemson scored touchdowns on all eight of its first-half possessions … App State opened with a 38-10 home victory against East Tennessee State … The Mountaineers have won 96 games since their transition to FBS in 2014 … Only Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia and Oklahoma have more wins among FBS programs since then … QB Joey Aguilar has completed 40 of 77 passes for 540 yards and three touchdowns against one interception … RB Anderson Castle has rushed for 108 yards and a TD on 16 carries … WR Kaedin Robinson has 11 receptions for 161 yards, while WR Christian Horn has six catches for 136 yards and a touchdown … The defense is led by LB Derrell Farrar, who has 12 tackles with two tackles for loss.
EAST CAROLINA 2-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach Mike Houston (Mars Hill ’94) 26-34, sixth season at East Carolina 106-59, 14th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
East Carolina is off to a 2-0 start for the first time since the 2016 season after the Pirates opened 2024 with wins against Norfolk State (42-3) and Old Dominion (20- 14) … The game against Appalachian State is the second of back-to-back games against a Sun Belt opponent … The Pirates enter Week 3 ranked 12th nationally in total defense (200.5 ypg) and 30th in total offense (486.0 ypg) … Incredibly, the Pirates are unbeaten despite committing 10 turnovers in two games … QB Jake Garcia, a transfer from Missouri, has been a gunslinger of sorts, passing for 591 yards and four touchdowns with seven interceptions … RB Rahjai Harris has rushed for 155 yards and two TDs on 32 carries … CB Shavon Revel is rated as the No. 4 cornerback on Mel Kiper’s first draft board.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14 • 4:15 P.M. • SEC NETWORK
UAB at ARKANSAS
Razorback Stadium (76,000/Natural Grass)
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Television SEC Network Dave Neal, Aaron Murray and Ashley Shah Ahmadi
Radio WJOX-FM 94.5 (flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be second meeting between UAB and Arkansas … The only previous matchup came in 2014, when the Razorbacks took a 45-17 win in Fayetteville … That game saw Arkansas race to a 38-0 lead early in the third quarter as the Razorbacks limited the Blazers to 12 first downs and 195 total yards.
UAB 1-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach Trent Dilfer (Fresno State) 5-9, second season
Notes
UAB is on the road for the second consecutive week after the Blazers dropped a 32-6 decision at Louisiana-Monroe last Saturday … UAB opened the season impressively, with a 41-3 victory against Alcorn State in Birmingham … The Blazers held Louisiana-Monroe to 296 yards of offense, but a safety and a defensive touchdown were too much for UAB to overcome … QB Jacob Zeno has completed 70.3% of his passes this season (45 of 64) and has thrown for 382 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions … Zeno ranked second nationally with a 73.6% completion rate last season … RB Lee Beebe Jr. is the leading rusher with 144 yards and two TDs on 29 carries … WR Kam Shanks has team highs with 10 receptions for 116 yards … Shanks has 98 yards on punt returns and is averaging 107.0 all-purpose yards per game.
ARKANSAS 1-1, 0-0 SEC
Head Coach Sam Pittman (Pittsburg State ’86) 24-26, fifth season
Notes
Arkansas dropped a 39-31 heartbreaker to Oklahoma State in double-overtime last Saturday to even its record at 1-1 The Razorbacks had started the 2024 season with a 70-0 win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Little Rock … The game against UAB is the final nonconference matchup for Arkansas prior to the nine-game SEC schedule … QB Taylen Green passed for 416 yards against Oklahoma State, good for fourth on the Razorbacks’ single-game chart … Green, a transfer from Boise State, has thrown for 645 yards and three touchdowns in two games and has 149 rushing yards and two TDs on the ground … RB Ja’Quinden Jackson has 250 yards and five TDs in 2024, while WR Andrew Armstrong has 10 catches for 164 yards … LB Xavian Sorey Jr. leads the defense with 15 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14 • 6 P.M. • ESPN+
GARDNER-WEBB at CHARLOTTE
Jerry Richardson Stadium (15,314/Synthetic)
Charlotte, North Carolina
Television ESPN+ James Westling and Reggie Walker
Radio WZGV-AM 730 (Charlotte flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the fifth meeting between Charlotte and Gardner-Webb … The 49ers hold a 3-1 series lead and have won the last two meetings after a 38-10 victory in 2021 … Gardner-Webb’s win in the series came in 2014, when the Bulldogs prevailed 27-24 in Boiling Springs … The home team has won all four previous matchups.
GARDNER-WEBB 0-2, 0-0 Big South-OVC
Head Coach Cris Reisert (Ohio Dominican ’09) 0-2, first season at Gardner-Webb 40-13, sixth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Gardner-Webb stands at 0-2 entering Saturday’s game, but the Bulldogs are not far off from a 2-0 start … Gardner-Webb dropped its season-opener to Wofford 21-20 as the Bulldogs let a 20-11 fourth-quarter lead get away … Last week’s game saw the Bulldogs hold a halftime lead against James Madison before the Dukes rallied for a tough 13-6 victory … RB Edward Saydee is no stranger to the American Athletic Conference after spending the last five years at Temple before joining Gardner-Webb as a graduate transfer … Saydee has 133 rushing yards and a touchdown on 32 carries this season … QB Tyler Ridell has passed for 398 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions … The defense is led by LB Trevor Moffitt, who has 18 tackles with three tackles for loss.
CHARLOTTE 0-2, 0-0 American
Head Coach Biff Poggi (Duke) 3-11, second season
Notes
Charlotte has battled through some early-season injuries, but remains in search of its first win heading into Week 3 … The 49ers fell 30-7 to James Madison in the-season opener and dropped a 38-20 decision to North Carolina in Week 2 … Charlotte, which was without at least eight projected starters for the first two games, saw eight additional players sustain injuries during the game against North Carolina … QB Max Brown, a transfer from Florida who started both games, suffered an injury to his throwing hand and is not expected to play against Gardner-Webb … QB Deshawn Purdie, a true freshman, came off the bench to throw for 134 yards and two touchdowns, completing 9 of 19 passes against the Tar Heels … Charlotte’s defense has been led by LB Reid Williford, who has 14 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14 • 6 P.M. • ESPN+
FIU at FLORIDA ATLANTIC
FAU Stadium (29,945/Natural Grass)
Boca Raton, Florida
Television ESPN+ AJ Ricketts and Leger Douzable
Radio WMEN-AM 640 (flagship)
THE GAME | THE SHULA BOWL
Saturday’s game will be the 22nd meeting between Florida Atlantic and FIU … The series began in 2004 and has been played each year since, with the exception of last season … Florida Atlantic holds a 16-5 series lead and has won the last six matchups … The Owls are 5-1 against the Panthers in Boca Raton.
FIU 1-1, 0-0 Conference USA
Head Coach Mike MacIntyre (Georgia Tech ’89) 9-17, third season at FIU 55-82, 12th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
FIU picked up its first win of the season in convincing fashion last Saturday as the Panthers rolled to a 52-14 win at the newly named Pitbull Stadium … The Panthers opened the season with a 31-7 setback at Indiana … QB Keyone Jenkins was named as the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week after he accounted for three touchdowns and a two-point conversion against Central Michigan … Jenkins has completed 30 of 47 passes for 253 yards and three TDs with one interception in two games … RB Kejon Owens has 96 rushing yards and a touchdown, while WR Josiah Miamen has six catches for 66 yards … FIU competes in the American Athletic Conference as an affiliate member in men’s soccer and women’s swimming and diving.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC 0-2, 0-1 American
Head Coach Tom Herman (Cal Lutheran ’97) 4-10, second season at Florida Atlantic 58-32, eighth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
lorida Atlantic looks to rid itself of a losing streak that spans six games, dating to the end of last season … The Owls opened 2024 with a 16-10 setback at Michigan State and fell 24-7 to Army in their American Athletic Conference opener … The Owls are looking to avoid their first 0-3 start since 2015 … Florida Atlantic has struggled offensively through two games, averaging 241.5 yards per game … QB Cam Fancher, a transfer from Marshall, has thrown for 309 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions, but the Owls have managed just 87.0 rushing yards per game against a pair of stout defenses … LB Jackson Ambush has a team-high 18 tackles … Florida Atlantic has just one sack, but has four takeaways on defense through two games.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14 • 7 P.M. • ESPN
UTSA at TEXAS
Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (100,119/FieldTurf)
Austin, Texas
Television ESPN Mark Jones, Roddy Jones and Quint Kessenich
Radio KTXR-AM 760 (UTSA flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the second meeting between UTSA and Texas … The only previous matchup was Sept. 17, 2022, when the Longhorns were 41-20 winners in Austin … UTSA built a 17-7 lead in that game before the Longhorns rallied behind three touchdown runs by RB Bijan Robinson … UTSA QB Frank Harris threw for 222 yards.
UTSA 1-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach Jeff Traylor (Stephen F. Austin ’90) 40-15, fifth season
Notes
UTSA, which was impressive out of the chute in its 28-16 win against Kennesaw State to start the season, looks to rebound from a 49-10 loss at Texas State last Saturday … The setback was UTSA’s first loss in six meetings against Texas State … Head coach Jeff Traylor is 15-5 against teams from the state of Texas … UTSA has won nine of its last 11 games, dating to last season … The Roadrunners have not dropped back-to-back games since falling to Army and Tennessee in succession last year … QB Owen McCown has completed 38 of 61 passes for 445 yards and three touchdowns without an interception … The top target has been WR Devin McCuin, who has 17 receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns … The Roadrunners are averaging 79.0 rushing yards … LB Jimmori Robinson has a team-high two sacks. 2/3
TEXAS 2-0, 0-0 SEC
Head Coach Steve Sarkisian (BYU ’97) 26-14, fourth season at Texas 72-49, 11th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
exas has been one of the most impressive teams nationally through two games as the Longhorns steamrolled Colorado State 52-0 before taking a comfortable 31-12 win at No. 10/9 Michigan last Saturday … Texas has moved up to No. 2 in the Associated Press poll and is No. 3 in the coaches’ poll … The win at Michigan marked the second consecutive season in which Texas has scored a nonconference win on the road against a top-10 team … The Longhorns defeated then-No. 3 Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 2023 … Texas is led by QB Quinn Ewers, the Heisman Trophy candidate who has thrown for 506 yards and six touchdowns against one interception through two games … RB Jerrick Gibson has 103 rushing yards and two TDs … DB Jaylon Guilbeau has a team-high 13 tackles.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14 • 7 P.M. • ESPN+
SOUTH FLORIDA at SOUTHERN MISS
M.M. Roberts Stadium (36,000/FieldTurf)
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Television ESPN+ Jason Baker and Austin Davis
Radio WHPT-FM 102.5 (South Florida flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the fifth meeting between South Florida and Southern Miss … The four previous meetings took place between 2000 and 2004, including two when both schools competed in Conference USA … The Golden Eagles hold a 3-1 series lead and have won the last two … The Bulls’ lone win came in Tampa in 2002 (16-13).
SOUTH FLORIDA 1-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach Alex Golesh (Ohio State ’06) 8-7, second season
Notes
South Florida fell to 1-1 on the season following a 42-16 loss at No. 4 Alabama in which the final score fails to tell the story of the game … The Bulls trailed 14-13 into the fourth quarter and faced a 21-16 deficit with six minutes left before the Crimson Tide scored three touchdowns in the final 5:50 … The crowd of 100,077 in Tuscaloosa was the largest to see a South Florida game … South Florida opened the season with a 48-3 win against Bethune-Cookman … The loss to Alabama snapped a streak of three straight games with at least 45 points for the Bulls … QB Byrum Brown has thrown for 255 yards and is the Bulls’ leading rusher with 182 yards through two games … WR Sean Atkins has eight receptions for 77 yards … LB Mac Harris has been a stalwart on defense with 14 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack to go with a forced fumble.
SOUTHERN MISS 1-1, 0-0 Sun Belt
Head Coach Will Hall (North Alabama ’03) 14-25, fourth season at Southern Miss 70-45, 10th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Southern Miss broke into the win column last Saturday as the Golden Eagles topped Southeastern Louisiana 35-10 in Hattiesburg … Southern Miss opened the season with a 31-0 setback at Kentucky in Week 1 … Head coach Will Hall knows the American Athletic Conference well from his two years as offensive coordinator at Tulane (2019-20) and a year as associate head coach at Memphis (2018) … QB Tate Rodemaker has completed 31 of 51 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions in 2024 … WR Larry Simmons has a team-high six catches for 109 yards … Simmons had five receptions for exactly 100 yards in the win against Southeastern Louisiana … Southern Miss is in its third season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14 • 8 P.M. • ESPN+
RICE at HOUSTON
TDECU Stadium (40,000/Synthetic)
Houston, Texas
Television ESPN+ Lowell Galindo, Fozzy Whittaker and Tori Petry
Radio Varsity Network
THE GAME | THE BAYOU BUCKET
Saturday’s game will be the 46th meeting between Rice and Houston, and it will be exactly 50 years to the day after the first meeting … Houston holds a 33-12 series lead … Rice broke the Cougars’ seven-game winning streak in the Bayou Bucket series with last year’s 43-41 double-overtime victory at Rice Stadium.
RICE 1-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach Mike Bloomgren (Florida State ’99) 23-47, seventh season
Notes
Rice, which was unable to find its footing in Week 1 in a 34-14 loss to Sam Houston, bounced back in a big way last Saturday to the tune of a 69-7 victory against Texas Southern … The Owls led 38-0 at halftime and were 14 seconds away from completing a shutout … Rice had a 24-9 advantage in first downs and a 533-87 margin in total offense against Texas Southern … QB E.J. Warner, a transfer from Temple, has thrown for 416 yards and three touchdowns … RB Dean Connors has rushed for 165 yards and four TDs and is the leading receiver with 13 catches for 64 yards … The Owls lead the nation with 11 sacks in two games and have allowed only two sacks … Five players have at least 1.5 sacks, led by DE Demone Green, who has two sacks … The Owls play five of their first six games in the city of Houston.
HOUSTON 1-1, 0-0 Big 12
Head Coach Willie Fritz (Pittsburg State ’83) 1-1, first season at Houston 208-117, 28th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Houston is looking for its first win under new head coach Wilie Fritz, the two-time American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year who led Tulane to the 2022 conference title … The Cougars fell 27-7 to UNLV in their season-opener and dropped a 16-12 decision at Oklahoma in Week 2 … Houston has only 21 players on its roster who competed against Rice in last year’s Bayou Bucket matchup … The Cougars have 63 newcomers on their 2024 roster … Houston is 14-5 all-time in nonconference games at TDECU Stadium … DE Keith Cooper has been the top performer thus far, with four tackles for loss, ranking 11th nationally … QB Donavan Smith has passed for 395 yards and a touchdown against three interceptions … The Cougars have averaged only 48.0 rushing yards per game.
