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CFB Conference Notes: Mountain West

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Conference Notes: Mountain West

NEXT UP

Friday, September 10 TV/Digital Time
North Dakota at Utah State CBS Sports Network 7 p.m. MT
UTEP at Boise State FS1 7:30 p.m. MT

Saturday, September 11 TV/Digital Time
Wyoming at Northern Illinois ESPN+ 12:30 p.m. CT
Air Force at Navy CBS 3:30 p.m. ET
New Mexico State at New Mexico Stadium 5 p.m. MT
San Diego State at Arizona Pac-12 Network 7 p.m. MT
UNLV at #25/23 Arizona State ESPN2 7:30 p.m. MT
Cal Poly at Fresno State MWN/CW59 7 p.m. PT
Vanderbilt at Colorado State CBS Sports Network 8 p.m. MT
Idaho State at Nevada Stadium 7:30 p.m. PT
Hawai‘i at Oregon State FS1 8 p.m. PT

AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• The Mountain West finished last weekend with a pair of victories over autonomous-5 opponents, more than the ACC, Big 12, MAC, Pac-12 (1) and AAC (0).

• Air Force will honor the B-52 Stratofortress with the 2021 edition of the Air Power Legacy Series uniform, which will debut this Saturday at Navy, the 20-year anniversary of 9/11.

• Fresno State RB Ronnie Rivers is the nation’s active leader with 45 career touchdowns, setting the program career record on Saturday, Aug. 28. Rivers is seven touchdowns shy of tying for fifth-most in Mountain West history, a spot currently held by San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny (2014-17).

• Nevada is coming off a victory at Cal (Sept. 4) and has now won three out of its last five games against autonomous-5 opponents. The Wolf Pack can improve that win figure on Saturday, Sept. 18 at Kansas State.

• Last Saturday, Utah State, which recorded a 12-point fourth-quarter comeback at Washington State, registered its first victory over an autonomous-5 team since 2014 (Wake Forest). The Aggies are looking to open the season 2-0 for the first time since 2012.

• A win on Saturday against in-state rival New Mexico State will give New Mexico four-consecutive victories, dating back to the end of the 2020 season. The Lobos are seeking its first four-game win streak since 2016 (5).

• San José State, the defending Mountain West champions, will enter the 2021 Conference season riding an eight-game win streak, which is the fourth-longest active league win streak nationally. In 2020, the Spartans were 7-0 in MW play and haven’t lost a league contest Nov. 23, 2019.

• Colorado State punter Ryan Stonehouse, who returns for a fifth season, is the NCAA’s career punting average record holder (47.1).

• Against all autonomous 5 competition, the Mountain West has won 13 of its last 27 games, including 11 against the Pac-12.

• In the past 17 years, the Mountain West has been the top non-autonomous 5 conference nine times and second five times.

• The Mountain West has been nationally-ranked in 21 of the last 28 College Football Playoff Rankings.

• The Mountain West produced the first non-automatic-qualifying FBS team into a BCS bowl game (Utah – 2005 Fiesta Bowl) and into the College Football Playoff (Boise State – 2014 Fiesta Bowl).

CFB Week 2 Football Preview: Mid-American Conference

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Week 2 Football Preview: Mid-American Conference

WEEK 2 PREVIEW

Saturday, September 11
VMI (1-0) at Kent State (1-0) | 11:30 am (ESPN3)
The Golden Flashes welcome in the Keydets from the Virignia Military Institute. Kick-off is set for 11:30 a.m. from Dix Stadium. Kent State forced six turnovers for the first time in nine years in a 41-10 setback against the sixth-ranked Texas A and M Aggies at Kyle Field on Saturday night. The Flashes recorded four interceptions and added a muffed punt fumble and a turnover on downs on Saturday night. You’d have to go back to October 2015 against Western Michigan to find the last time the Flashes had four picks. Elvis Hines had two of the picks and was his first game with multiple interceptions.

Miami (0-1) at Minnesota (0-1) | Noon (ESPNU)
After squaring off with No. 8 Cincinnati to open the season, the RedHawks travel to face Minnesota on Saturday, Sept. 11. The contest is scheduled to begin at noon. The RedHawks dropped a 49-14 decision to the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday afternoon inside Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Freshman running back Keyon Mozee led the RedHawks with 80 yards rushing on 15 carries last week at Cincinnati. Kenny Tracy, who saw limited action in 2020, had 37 yards on the ground and Miami’s lone offensive touchdown. Reid Holskey and Sam Vaughan also both made their first career starts at both offensive tackle positions.

Wyoming (1-0) at Northern Illinois (1-0) | 1:30 pm (ESPN+)
After a thrilling, last-minute win over Georgia Tech to claim a #FlyTheFlag victory, NIU welcomes the Wyoming Cowboys to Huskie Stadium to open its 57th season in the facility. Tyrice Richie made a diving catch of Rocky Lombardi’s two-point conversion pass in the back of the end zone with 38 seconds to play, giving the Huskies a 22-21 win in the season opener. Richie’s catch came after Lombardi hit Clint Ratkovich with a three-yard touchdown pass after engineering a near-perfect two-minute drive. Huskies Harrison Waylee (144 yards on 27 carries), Lance Deveaux Jr. (13 tackles) and Matt Ference (41.0 avg. on 7 punts) collected MAC West Division Player of the Week honors Monday as NIU swept the weekly awards.

Duquesne (0-1) at Ohio (0-1) | 2:00 pm (ESPN3)
The Ohio football team returns to Athens on Saturday (Sept. 11) as it entertains Duquesne inside Peden Stadium. The Bobcats lost to the Syracuse in Week 1, 29-9. Jerome Buckner led the offensive effort for the Bobcats en route to setting a career high in both receptions (7) and receiving yards (102) while on the defensive side of the ball, Ohio was led by safeties Alvin Floyd and Jarren Hampton who each recorded 10 total and four solo tackles… Redshirt fifth year wide receiver Cameron Odom is 14 yards away from reaching 1,000 career receiving yards. Odom has played in 43 games at Ohio, collecting 73 receptions for 986 yards and five touchdowns…Redshirt junior running back O’Shaan Allison has gained 993 rushing yards in 167games at Ohio, putting him seven away from 1,000 for his career.

Toledo (1-0) at No. 8 Notre Dame (1-0) | 2:30 pm (Peacock)
Toledo travels to South Bend, Ind. on Saturday, Sept. 11 to take on the No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Rockets are coming off a convincing 49-10 victory over Norfolk State in the Glass Bowl on Sept. 4. Toledo used all three phases of the game to win its season opener. The Rockets’ special teams set the tone with two touchdowns off blocked punts, while the defense held the Spartans in check all night. Norfolk State managed just 272 yards of total offense and was held to 5-of-15 on third down plays. Toledo’s offense was balanced and efficient, racking up 205 rushing yards and 236 passing yards. Sophomore quarterback Carter Bradley was 8-of-11 for 184 yards and one TD. Freshman Maxen Hook made a big impact on special teams, scooping up a blocked punt for a 25-yard score and then blocking a punt that was returned for a TD by Jacquez Stuart.

Robert Morris (0-0) at Central Michigan (0-1) | 3:00 pm (ESPN3)
Central Michigan opens play at Kelly/Shorts Stadium against Robert Morris on Saturday, Sept. 4. This will be CMU’s latest regular-scheduled home opener since a game against Alcorn State on Sept. 19, 2009. CMU stood toe-to-toe with the Tigers, getting a strong performance from quarterback Jacob Sirmon in his first collegiate start. But in the end, Missouri managed to stay a step ahead in handing CMU a 34-24 loss. Sirmon, a transfer from Washington in his first game as a Chippewa, completed 23 of his 45 pass attempts for 295 yards and one touchdown against two interceptions. CMU finished with 475 yards including 174 on the ground. Lew Nichols carried 19 times for 135 yards and a touchdown.

Ball State (1-0) at No. 11 Penn State (1-0) | 3:30 pm (FS1)
The Cardinals will invade Happy Valley to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions in a 3:30 p.m. tilt on Saturday, Sept. 11. The game will be televised live nationally on FS1. Strong defensive play and a second-half offensive surge helped the Ball State football team open the 2021 season with a 31-21 victory over Western Illinois Thursday night under the lights at Scheumann Stadium. In picking up its eighth straight victory, the Cardinals (1-0) rebounded from a slow start to score 24 second-half points. WR Justin Hall, who has caught a pass in every game of his career, extended his FBS-leading receptions streak to 44 straight games and finished the night with 137 yards on 11 receptions. Even more impressive, his 79 total yards after the catch.

Temple (0-1) at Akron (0-1) | 3:30 pm (ESPN+)
Akron is coming off a 60-10 setback to Southeastern Conference powerhouse Auburn. Redshirt sophomore QB DJ Irons sparked Akron to a pair of second-half scoring drives going a perfect 13- for-13 for 129 yards, including a four-yard touchdown to freshman RB Jonzell Norrils in the fourth quarter. Senior QB Kato Nelson, who earned the start for the Zips, concluded the contest hitting on 9-of-14 attempts. Redshirt junior LB Bubba Arslanian and redshirt sophomore LB Jeslord Boateng anchored the Zips defense collecting 15 of tackles.

Buffalo (1-0) at Nebraska (1-1) | 3:30 pm (BTN)
This will not only be Buffalo’s first game vs. Nebraska, but it will be the first time the Bulls will play a game in the state of Nebraska. It was an impressive debut for head coach Maurice Linguist last Thursday night as the Bulls easily disposed of Wagner, 69-7. UB scored on each of its first 11 possessions of the game. The Bulls were in victory formation on their 12th possession. It was the third most points ever scored by a UB team and the most ever in a season opener. The Bulls rolled up 569 yards of offense – 320 yards rushing and 257 yards passing. It was first time since 2014 against Akron that the Bulls rushed for 300 yards and passed for 200 yards in the same game. Defensively, UB only allowed 97 yards of total offense, its fewest allowed since giving up only 84 yards against Hofstra on Oct. 24, 1992.

South Alabama (1-0) at Bowling Green (0-1) | 4:00 pm (ESPN+)
Bowling Green State University welcomes the South Alabama Jaguars in the Falcons’ 2021 home opener on Saturday. Kick is set for 4 p.m… WR Austin Osborne made eight catches in his Bowling Green debut at Tennessee. Osborne, a transfer from Washington, entered the 2021 season with one career reception. He was high school teammates with Bowling Green quarterback Matt McDonald at Mission Viejo High School in Southern California…LB Darren Anders was the only player in the nation the first week of the season to notch at least 10+ tackles (14), force a fumble (1), recover a fumble (1) and record at least one sack (1) when he did so at Tennessee. He is No. 1 in the MAC and No. 4 in the nation with 14 tackles. He was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.

Illinois State (1-0) at Western Michigan (0-1) | 5:00 pm (ESPN3)
Western Michigan dropped its season-opener at the University of Michigan, 47-14, in front of 109,295 fans at Michigan Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Kaleb Eleby finished with 191 yards through the air on 20-fo-37 passing and one touchdown. Sophomore Sean Tyler led the Broncos (0-1) with 55 yards on the ground on 10 carries. La’Darius Jefferson rushed for 38 yards on 10 carries for one touchdown. Senior transfer Bryce Nunnelly had a game-high seven catches for 52 yards. Sophomore Corey Crooms led the Broncos with 58 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. Senior safety A.J. Thomas had a team-best 10 tackles, while linebacker Ryan Selig finished with a career-high eight.

Eastern Michigan (1-0) at No. 18 Wisconsin (0-1) | 7:00 pm (FS1)
The Eastern Michigan University football team will look to take down yet another college football “Blue Blood” when it travels to Madison, Wis. for a game with the No. 12/15 University of Wisconsin Badgers Saturday, Sept. 11. The Eagles began its 130th season of play with an impressive, 35-15 win over Saint Francis (Pa.). The Eastern Michigan offense was able to produce 27 first downs in its week one game vs. the Red Flash. That number is the most in a single game by EMU since it put up the same against Pittsburgh in the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl, Dec. 26. The Green and White was 5-for-5 when reaching the opposition’s 20-yard line, all of which were touchdowns. Eastern’s current 33-for-33 scoring mark in the red zone, which dates back to 2020, is the longest active streak on any team in the nation.

CFB Conference Notes: Mid-American Conference

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Conference Notes: Mid-American Conference

WEEK 2 SCHEDULE

Saturday, September 11
VMI at Kent State 11:30 am (ESPN3)
Miami at Minnesota Noon (ESPNU)
Wyoming at Northern Illinois 1:30 pm (ESPN+)
Duquesne at Ohio 2:00 pm (ESPN3)
Toledo at Notre Dame 2:30 pm (Peacock)
Robert Morris at Central Michigan 3:00 pm (ESPN3)
Ball State at Penn State 3:30 pm (FS1)
Temple at Akron 3:30 pm (ESPN+)
Buffalo at Nebraska 3:30 pm (BTN)
South Alabama at Bowling Green 4:00 pm (ESPN+)
Illinois State at Western Michigan 5:00 pm (ESPN3)
Eastern Michigan at Wisconsin 7:00 pm (FS1)

All times listed ET

MAC NOTES

FLY THE FLAG!
• Northern Illinois is “Flying the Flag” after a thrilling, last-minute \22-21 win over Georgia Tech. With the win, the Huskies improved to 3-8 all-time versus teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The win also marks the 15th-straight year that a team from the MAC has collected a road win over an autonomous five opponent.

• Ohio University Head Football Coach Frank Solich announced that he is stepping down from his position to focus on his health, after an unprecedented successful sixteen seasons leading the Bobcats, which included eleven bowl appearances, four Mid-American Conference East titles and a Top 25 ranking. Following Solich’s announcement, Director of Athletics Julie Cromer announced that Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Tim Albin has agreed to become the new head football coach, agreeing to a four-year contract. Albin joined the Ohio Football coaching staff as offensive coordinator in 2005, reuniting with Frank Solich after four seasons together at Nebraska. The 2021 season will mark Albin’s 17th year in Athens. Since his arrival in Athens, Albin has produced offensive units that have consistently ranked among the top of the Mid-American Conference.

• Maurice Linguist was named the University at Buffalo’s 26th head coach on May 8, 2021. It will be a homecoming of sorts for Linguist who was the Bulls’ defensive backs coach in 2012 and 2013. Linguist is regarded as one of the nation’s top recruiters and has excelled in coaching at both the Power Five level and the NFL. He comes to UB from Michigan where he served a brief stint as defensive backs coach/co-defensive coordinator since January. He joined the U-M coaching staff after spending the 2020 season as cornerbacks coach with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

• Western Michigan graduate student Mike Caliendo, Ball State senior Bryce Cosby and Eastern Michigan senior Mike Van Hoeven were named to the 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-America Division I Football Team. Caliendo was the only first team selection from the MAC, while Cosby and Van Hoeven were named to the second team.

FOUR MAC STUDENT-ATHLETES SELECTED IN 2021 NFL DRAFT
• The MAC had four draft selections in the 2021 NFL Draft. Western Michigan WR/KR/PR D’Wayne Eskridge was selected by Seattle in the second round (56th overall), while Buffalo DE Malcolm Koonce was selected 79th overall in the third round by the Las Vegas Raiders. Western Michigan offensive lineman Jaylon Moore became the second Bronco taken in the 2021 NFL Draft, while Tommy Doyle became the first Miami offensive lineman drafted since Brandon Brooks was taken in the third round of the 2012 Draft by the Houston Texans. Moore was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round (155th overall), while Doyle was taken by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round with the 161st pick.

In recent years the MAC has had student-athletes selected among the top five overall in the NFL Draft. In the last seven years (2013-19), the MAC has had three players selected in the top five in the NFL Drafts. In the 2017 NFL Draft, Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis was selected as the fifth overall selection in the first round by the Tennessee Titans. Davis’ selection was the highest ever for Western Michigan and tied the second-highest in MAC history. In 2014, Buffalo Bulls linebacker Khalil Mack was the fifth overall selection by the Oakland Raiders in the 2014 NFL Draft. Mack’s selection was the highest ever for the Buffalo program and the second-highest ever selection for a MAC student-athlete. In 2013, Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher became the first MAC football player to be selected as the overall No. 1 selection in the NFL Draft. The Kansas City Chiefs selected Fisher as No.1 choice in the 2013 NFL Draft. The previous highest player drafted from the MAC was Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich, who was selected No. 7 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, in the 2003 NFL Draft.

DOUBLE THE MACTION
• For the first time since 2003, the MAC had two teams ranked in the final Associated Press Top 25 Football Poll. Ball State was ranked No. 23, while Buffalo comes in at No. 25. It marks the firsttime in program history for both schools to have a team finish the season ranked within the Top 25. In 2003, Miami (No. 10) and
Bowling Green (No. 23) finished the season in the AP Top 25.

• Ball State finished the season with back-to-back wins over ranked opponents, defeating the Bulls when they were No. 23 and then knocking off No. 19 San Jose State in the Offerpad Arizona Bowl on New Year’s Eve. SJSU is No. 24 in the final poll. Coach Mike Neu’s Cardinals finished 7-1 overall, winning their first-ever bowl game, their first MAC championship since 1996 and their first MAC West Division title since 2008. BSU’s seven-game winning streak at season’s end is tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the FBS.

• Buffalo went 6-1 on the season, won the MAC East Division and won a bowl game for the second straight season. The Bulls defeated Marshall, 17-10, in the 2020 Camellia Bowl. The Bulls were ranked as high as 23 by the AP this year. Buffalo finished the 2020 season ranked fifth in the nation in scoring offense (43.4) and second in the nation in rushing offense (287.4).

MAC 2020 BOWL RESULTS
• Ball State 34, San Jose State 13 — Offerpad Arizona Bowl
• Buffalo 17, Marshall 17 — Camellia Bowl

MAC PROGRAMS IN BOWL GAMES
In the last nine bowl seasons, every MAC football program has received a bowl invitation. Leading is Ohio with bowl invitations in eight of the last nine bowl seasons.

CFB Conference Notes: C-USA

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Conference Notes: C-USA

UPCOMING GAMES (ALL TIMES CT)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
UTEP at Boise State (FS1) 8:30 pm

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
WKU at Army (CBSSN) 10:30 am
Middle Tennessee at Virginia Tech (ACC Net Extra)1 pm
Ga. Southern at Florida Atlantic (Stadium) 2:30 pm
UAB at Georgia (ESPN2) 2:30 pm
Gardner-Webb at Charlotte (ESPN3) 5 pm
Lamar at UTSA (ESPN3) 5 pm
N.C. Central at Marshall (ESPN+) 5:30 pm
Houston at Rice (CBSSN) 5:30 pm
Texas State at FIU (ESPN+) 6 pm
SE Louisiana at LA Tech (ESPN3) 6 pm
North Texas at SMU (ESPN+) 6 pm
Hampton at Old Dominion (ESPN3) 6 pm
Grambling State at Southern Miss (ESPN3) 6 pm

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (WEEK 1)
OFFENSE
QB CHRIS REYNOLDS, CHARLOTTE
Redshirt Senior, Mocksville, North Carolina Reynolds led the 49ers’ dramatic first-ever win over a power conference opponent, 31-28, vs. Duke. The two-time team captain threw for 324 yards and three TDs and ran for a fourth in the victory. Reynolds opened the scoring with a 56-yard touchdown pass on the 49ers’ initial drive. On Charlotte’s final two drives of the seesaw battle, Reynolds was 9-of-10 for 161 yards and threw for two TDs in the final three minutes to secure the historic win. The game-winner came on an 11-yard TD pass to Shadrick Byrd with 33 seconds remaining. Reynolds notched his school-record fourth career 300-yard passing game (324 yards) and figured in all four of the 49ers TDs by passing for three and running for a fourth. He also moved to within 39 yards of the 49ers all-time record with 5,366 career passing yards.

DEFENSE
LB ELI NEAL, MARSHALL
Sophomore, Memphis, Tennessee
Neal recorded 11 tackles and a game-high three sacks in the Thundering Herd’s 49-7 romp at Navy on Saturday. He also had a hand in a big special teams play as he scooped up T.J. Johnson’s blocked field goal and got three more yards on the return. The Memphis native entered Saturday with just 1.5 sacks in his first 23 games. Neal’s effort led a Thundering Herd defense that finished with nine sacks, the second most in a single game in program history (Record: 12, vs. Ohio, 1986).

SPECIAL TEAMS
K HUNTER DUPLESSIS, UTSA
Senior, San Antonio, Texas
Duplessis opened the 2021 season by making all three of his field goal attempts and going 4-for-4 on extra points in UTSA’s 37-30 road win over Illinois on Saturday night. The senior all-conference performer drilled a pair of field goals in the second quarter to help hand the Roadrunners a 20-14 halftime advantage, and his third make of the night late in the third stanza gave the visitors a 23-17 lead. Duplessis, a 2020 Lou Groza Award semifinalist who is on the watch list this year, has now made 29 of 34 field goals (85%) for his career.

QUICK HITTERS

A LOOK AT WEEK TWO
As they were in Week One, all 14 Conference USA teams are in action heading into Week Two. C-USA teams went 9-5 in Week 1, including a pair of wins over Power-5 opponents (Charlotte over Duke and UTSA over Illinois on the road).

UTEP (2-0) heads out on the road to take on Boise State (0-1), who dropped a tough non-conference game at UCF last week. The Miners are seeking their first 3-0 start since 2005 when they take on the Broncos on FS1 at 8:30 p.m. CT.

WKU (1-0) is also on the road, taking on Army (1-0) at 10:30 a.m. CT on CBS Sports Network, looking to build off a 59-21 season-opening win over UT Martin.

Middle Tennessee (1-0) travels to Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech (1-0) at 1 p.m. CT on ACC Network Extra following the Blue Raiders’ 50-15 win at home over Monmouth.

Virginia Tech upset No. 10 North Carolina at home in Week 1.

UAB (1-0) travels to Georgia (1-0) to take on a Bulldogs team who opened the season with a 10-3 win over No. 3 Clemson in Charlotte. The Blazers shut out Jacksonville State in Week 1, and face a much stiffer test in Athens at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2.

Florida Atlantic (0-1) looks to get its first win of 2021 when the Owls host Georgia Southern (1-0) in Boca Raton at 2:30 p.m. CT live on Stadium. The Owls fell 35-14 on the road at No. 13 Florida, while Georgia Southern opened the year by edging Gardner-Webb 30-25.

Charlotte (1-0) looks to build on its first-ever win over a Power-5 opponent in program history when it hosts FCS foe Gardner-Webb (1-0) at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN3.

UTSA (1-0), like Charlotte, opened the 2021 season with a statement win. The Roadrunners host their home opener on Saturday afternoon as they welcome an in-state FCS opponent in Lamar (1-0), on ESPN3 at 5 p.m. CT.

Marshall (1-0) is set for its home opener at 5:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+ against N.C. Central (1-0), The Herd opened the 2021 season with a 49-7 drubbing of Navy on the road in Annapolis.

Rice (0-1) equated itself well in Fayetteville against Arkansas last week, holding a 10-point lead in the second half before ultimately falling to the Razorbacks 38-17. The Owls host city rival Houston (0-1) on Saturday evening on CBS Sports Network at 5:30 p.m. CT.

FIU (1-0) defeated Long Island 48-10 in its opener last week and welcome Sun Belt foe Texas State (0-1), who fell 29-20 to Baylor last week, to Miami at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

Louisiana Tech (0-1) looks to bounce back from a gut-wrenching defeat at Mississippi State, falling 35-34 after leading 34-14 in the fourth quarter in Starkville. The Bulldogs host in-state foe Southeast Louisiana (1-0) on ESPN3 at 6 p.m. CT.

North Texas (1-0) began its 2021 season with a comfortable 44-14 win over Northwestern State and travels to Dallas to take on rival SMU (1-0) on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. CT.

Old Dominion (0-1) played its first game in two years last week, falling 42-10 at Wake Forest. The Monarchs open the home slate at 6 p.m. CT by hosting Hampton (1-0) on ESPN3.

Southern Miss (0-1) fell in head coach Will Hall’s debut on the road at South Alabama and look to bounce back this week when the Golden Eagles host Grambling State (1-0) at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN3.

CHARLOTTE PICKS UP FIRST P5 WIN
The Charlotte 49ers earned their first-ever win over a Power 5 opponent, by defeating Duke 31-28 in a thrilling come-from-behind victory in front of their home crowd Friday night. QB Chris Reynolds led the 49ers on a 75-yard game-winning touchdown drive in the final two minutes. Reynolds completed 19-30 passes for 324 yards and had four total touchdowns with no interceptions. WR Victor Tucker caught eight passes for 133 yards, while WR Grant DuBose hauled in four for 118 yards and a pair of scores.

ZAPPE’S LUCKY NO. 7, WKU’S 8
WKU QB Bailey Zappe had quite the debut for the Hilltoppers in their 59-point barrage in last week’s win over UT Martin. Zappe, a transfer from Houston Baptist, completed 28-35 passes for 424 yards with seven passing touchdowns and one interception. His seven scoring tosses tie for third-most in conference history in a single game.

9 Case Keenum, Houston vs. Rice (10-27-11)
8 Brandon Doughty, WKU at Marshall (11-28-14)
7 Bailey Zappe, WKU vs. UT Martin (9-2-21)
7 Mason Fine, North Texas vs. UTEP (11-2-19)
7 Rakeem Cato, Marshall vs. WKU (11-29-14)

Backup QB Carson Baker relieved Zappe in the fourth quarter and threw a 52-yard touchdown pass, on his first attempt as a Hilltopper. Quinn joined the program after beginning his collegiate career at San Diego State. The eighth touchdown pass of the night was one shy of the Conference USA record for most touchdown passes thrown by a team in a single game.

9 Houston vs. Rice (10-27-11)
8 WKU vs. UT Martin (9-2-21)
8 WKU at Marshall (11-28-14)

(D’VONTE) PRICE IS RIGHT
FIU RB D’Vonte Price had a monster night in his 2021 debut for the Panthers, as FIU rolled in its opener 48- 10 over Long Island. Price carried five times for 165
yards and three touchdowns, averaging 33.0 yards per carry. His night was over pretty early as FIU raced to a 28-0 lead in the first half, but there was no denying his impact, scoring from 8, 68 and 28 yards, respectively.

TOUCHDOWN TORREY LEADS UNT
North Texas RB DeAndre Torrey had a huge night in his 2021 debut for the Mean Green, as UNT was victorious in its opener 44-14 over Northwestern State Saturday night. Torrey carried 25 times for 244 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 9.8 yards per carry. His big game propelled a ground attack that totaled 345 yards on the night.

ZAKHARI SHOWS OUT
UTSA WR Zakhari Franklin had a big game on a big stage, helping lead the Roadrunners to a 37-30 win on the road over Big Ten foe Illinois last week. Franklin caught 10 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown in UTSA’s second win over a Power-5 opponent in program history.

HARRIS, MCCORMICK, BRADY SHINE
UTSA QB Frank Harris completed 20-32 passes for 280 yards with a touchdown pass, and also ran for 32 yards and another score in UTSA’s win at Illinois last week. RB Sincere McCormick ran for 117 yards, while fellow RB Brenden Brady carried 11 times for 67 yards and two scores, the last of which was a 33-yard scoring scamper with 4:57 to go in the fourth quarter.

DO IT FOUR TIMES, ALI
Marshall RB Rasheen Ali made his presence felt in the Herd’s 49-7 demolishing of AAC foe Navy on the road in Annapolis last week. Ali found the end zone on four occasions, carrying 14 times for 59 yards in the season-opening victory for Marshall.

BLAZERS SMOTHER JSU
The UAB Blazers opened the 2021 season by completely shutting down (and shutting out) Jacksonville State, 31-0 in front of a national audience on ESPN. It marked UAB’s first shutout since a 19-0 win at UTEP on 10-27-18.

ALL THE YARDS
WKU QB Bailey Zappe and UAB QB Tyler Johnston III had big statistical nights, throwing for 424 and 319 yards, respectively in their season debuts this past week.

ALL THE (RECEIVING) YARDS
There were eight C-USA receivers who surpassed the 100-yard mark in Week 1.
Zakhari Franklin, UTSA 10 rec., 155 yds, 1 TD
Bryce Singleton, FIU 6 rec., 149 yds, 1 TD
Victor Tucker, Charlotte 8 rec., 133 yds
Trea Shropshire, UAB 5 rec., 128 yds, 1 TD
Grant DuBose, Charlotte 4 rec., 118 yds, 2 TDs
Roderic Burns, North Texas 6 rec., 114 yds, 1 TD
Jerreth Sterns, WKU 7 rec., 107 yds, 2 TDs
Talik Keaton, Marshall 5 rec., 100 yds

This comes after a huge performance by Week Zero Offensive Player of the Week, WR Jacob Cowing of UTEP, who hauled in five catches for 158 yards and a score.

ALL THE (RUSHING) YARDS
There were five C-USA running backs who surpassed the 100-yard mark in Week 1, all of which came in wins and two of which came from UTEP in their win over Bethune-Cookman.
DeAndre Torrey, North Texas 25 att., 244 yds, 3 TDs
D’Vonte Price, FIU 5 att., 165 yds, 3 TDs
Ronald Awatt, UTEP 19 att., 126 yds, 1 TD
Willie Eldridge, UTEP 14 att., 118 yds
Sincere McCormick, UTSA 31 att., 117 yds

CFB Conference Notes: Big12

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Conference Notes: Big12

This Week in the Big 12

Friday, September 10
Kansas at No. 17/19 Coastal Carolina (ESPN2) 6:30 p.m.
Series: CCU 2-0
Last Meeting: CCU 38-23 in Lawrence on Sept. 12, 2020.

Saturday, September 11
Tulsa at RV/No. 23 Oklahoma State (FS1) 11:00 a.m.
Series: OSU 43-28-5
Last Meeting: OSU 16-7 in Stillwater on Sept. 19, 2020.

California at TCU (ESPNU) 2:30 p.m.
Series: TCU 1-0
Last Meeting: TCU 10-7 in the Cheez-it Bowl on Dec. 26, 2018.

No. 10/12 Iowa at No. 9/10 Iowa State (ABC)[ESPN College GameDay] 3:30 p.m.
Series: IU 45-22
Last Meeting: IU 18-17 in Ames on Sept. 14, 2019.

Long Island at West Virginia (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) 4:00 p.m.
Series: First Meeting

Texas Southern at Baylor (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) 6:00 p.m.
Series: First Meeting
Southern Illinois at Kansas State (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) 6:00 p.m.
Series: First Meeting

Western Carolina at No. 4/4 Oklahoma (PPV) 6:00 p.m.
Series: First Meeting

No. 15/15 Texas at Arkansas (ESPN) 6:00 p.m.
Series: UT 56-22
Last Meeting: UA 31-7 in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 29, 2014.

Stephen F. Austin at Texas Tech (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) 6:00 p.m.
Series: TTU 3-0
Last Meeting: TTU 69-17 in Lubbock on Sept. 3, 2016.

All Times are listed as Central. Rankings are listed as AP/USA Today Coaches

Conference News & Notes

The Big 12 opened the season with a 9-1 non-conference record, including a top 25 win. The Big 12’s .900 win percentage tops the FBS leagues. This week’s slate features a top 10 matchup as No. 10/12 Iowa travels to No. 9/10 Iowa State.

In addition to ISU, the Big 12 has No. 4/4 Oklahoma and No. 15/15 Texas rated in both the AP and coaches polls. Oklahoma State is ranked No. 23 in the coaches ledger and received votes in the AP. K-State, TCU and Texas Tech also accumulated points.

ESPN’s College GameDay returns to Ames for the second time in three seasons when it appears Saturday at the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series showdown. ISU is one of five on-campus sites that have hosted the program twice since 2019.

Four Big 12 players recorded the nation’s top single game performances last week. Winston Wright Jr. (West Virginia) racked up a program record 217 kickoff return yards at Maryland while Erik Ezukanma (Texas Tech) compiled 179 receiving yards against Houston. Malcolm Rodriguez (Oklahoma State) made 17 total tackles vs. Missouri State. Gabe Brkic (Oklahoma) tied an FBS record by converting three field goals of over 50 yards in a game, including a nation’s long of 56 yards.

The Walter Camp Football Foundation selected Texas running back Bijan Robinson as the season’s first National Offensive Player of the Week. He rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown and added 73 receiving yards and another touchdown as No. 21 UT beat No. 23 Louisiana, 38-18. Robinson is the 11th UT player to earn Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors since 2004.

Big 12 Players of the Week were awarded to Texas’ Bijan Robinson (offense), Texas Tech’s Riko Jeffers (defense), Oklahoma’s Gabe Brkic (special teams) and TTU’s Reggie Pearson Jr. (newcomer).

Baylor’s Trestan Ebner (120) and Abram Smith (118) each rushed for 100-plus yards at Texas State, marking the first time BU had multiple 100-yard rushers since the 2018 season opener vs. Abilene Christian (John Lovett & Jamycal Hasty).

Iowa State’s Breece Hall has a rushing touchdown in 13-straight games, a school-record and the second-best streak in Big 12 history. Redshirt junior quarterback Jason Bean rushed for 163 yards during his first career game as a Jayhawk in KU’s win over South Dakota. The seven points scored by Stanford is the fewest allowed by K-State in an autonomy league non-conference contest since a 2001 game against USC.

Oklahoma registered three fumble recoveries against Tulane, all in the first half. That’s the same number of recoveries the Sooners had all of last season and one fewer than they had in 2019.

Oklahoma State has won 74 consecutive games when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points, dating back to Sept. 13, 2003. It’s the longest active stretch of time in the FBS, and the longest since at least 1980.

Playing just the first half, Max Duggan’s 207 passing yards vs. Duquesne put him over the 4,000-yard career mark. He’s now at 4,079 which ranks ninth in TCU history.

Texas held Louisiana to 76 rushing yards, the 20th time the Longhorns have held an opponent under 100 yards rushing since the start of the 2017 season.

Texas Tech’s four-interception game vs. Houston is its most in a single game since racking up five versus SMU in 2008. The Red Raiders recorded five INTs total in 2020.

Winston Wright Jr.’s 98-yard kickoff return in the first quarter is longest non-scoring kickoff return in West Virginia history and is tied for the 11th-longest return in program history.

The 2021 Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship is scheduled for Saturday, December 4 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Over the summer, the Big 12 and Dallas Cowboys announced a two-year extension that will keep the Championship game at AT&T Stadium through the 2023 season. Tickets to this year’s contest are on sale through SeatGeek.com.

CFB Conference Notes: Big Ten

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Conference Notes: Big Ten

2021 BIG TEN FOOTBALL

BIG TEN. BIG NEWS.
• All 14 Big Ten schools will be in action this Saturday, highlighted by four teams hosting nonconference opponents in their home openers: Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State. The complete Week 2 schedule appears to the right.

• Four Big Ten teams appear in the AP Poll this week. Ohio State leads the conference at No. 3, followed by No. 10 Iowa, No. 11 Penn State and No. 18 Wisconsin. Michigan and Northwestern are both receiving votes.

• No. 3 Ohio State welcomes No. 12 Oregon to Columbus for a top-15 matchup on Saturday at noon ET on FOX. This marks the first meeting between these teams since the Buckeyes claimed the inaugural CFP National Championship with a 42-20 victory on Jan. 12, 2015, and the 10th meeting overall. Ohio State has won 23 straight home games, which is the longest streak by a Big Ten team since the Buckeyes’ school-record 25-game streak from 1972-76.

• Iowa and Iowa State are meeting as AP ranked opponents for the first time in program history. Iowa has faced a ranked Iowa State team just one time, a 31-0 loss at home in 1978. The Hawkeyes are also playing their second straight AP Top 25 team. It marks the fourth time in program history Iowa has opened a season against consecutive opponents ranked in the AP Top 25 (1960, 1973, 1974). The Hawkeyes started 2-0 in 1960, 1-1 in 1974 and 0-2 in 1973.

• In his first career start, quarterback C.J. Stroud finished 13-of-+22 passing for 294 yards and four touchdowns, leading Ohio State to a 45-31 season-opening win over Minnesota on the road last Thursday. His scoring tosses went for 38, 56, 70 and 61 yards. One of Stroud’s favorite targets on Thursday was senior wide receiver Chris Olave, who caught four passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns. It was the seventh multi-TD game of Olave’s career and moved him into a tie for fifth place in school history in career touchdown receptions with Brian Robiskie (24).

• Iowa’s Riley Moss became just the third player in school history to return two interceptions for touchdowns in a single game in the Hawkeyes’ 34-6 win over Indiana on Saturday. He had a 30-yard interception return to give Iowa a 14-0 advantage in the opening minutes of the game. Moss collected his second touchdown in the final minutes of the second quarter, returning the pick 55 yards for the score. Moss currently leads the country with two interceptions returned for touchdowns.

• Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III rushed for a career-high 264 yards – the seventh-highest total in school history – and scored a career-high four touchdowns to lead the Spartans past Northwestern, 38-21, on Sept. 3 at Ryan Field. It marked the most rushing yards by a Spartan in a debut wearing the Green and White. Walker is also the first Big Ten running back with 250-plus rushing yards and four rushing TDs in a single game since Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin) in 2014. The junior currently leads the nation in rushing and is tied for first in rushing touchdowns.

• All six of the New Year’s Six bowl games have had a chance to host a semifinal game twice with the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl doing so three times. This year, the Cotton and Orange Bowls will serve as semifinal games. Last year, Alabama became the second-straight No. 1 seed to win the playoff. The No. 1 seed did not win a title in the first five years, while the No. 2 seed has won it three times and the No. 4 seed has won it twice. The No. 3 seed has won just three playoff games in seven years, with Ohio State winning one of those last season.

• The 2021 campaign features 120 All-Big Ten honorees (first-, second-, third-team or honorable mention) selected by either the coaches or the media last season. Iowa and Ohio State lead the West and East Divisions, respectively, each welcoming back 14 All-Big Ten honorees this season. The talent is split evenly as 60 of the returning all-conference players hail from both the East and West Divisions. Each team returns at least three All-Big Ten performers.

• Ohio State was crowned 2020 Big Ten Champion after its 22-10 win against Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship Game presented by Discover on Dec. 19 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It was the Buckeyes’ 39th Big Ten title and fourth in as many years.

• Northwestern and Ohio State will look to repeat as division champions this season, as the Buckeyes finished 5-0 to win the East Division and the Wildcats finished atop the West Division standings at 6-1 in conference play.

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, SEPT. 11

ILLINOIS at Virginia 11 a.m. ACC Network

Youngstown State at MICHIGAN STATE Noon Big Ten Network

Miami (OH) at MINNESOTA Noon ESPNU

Indiana State at NORTHWESTERN Noon Big Ten Network

Oregon at OHIO STATE Noon FOX

RUTGERS at Syracuse 2 p.m. ACC Network

PURDUE at UConn 3 p.m. CBS Sports Network

Buffalo at NEBRASKA 3:30 p.m. Big Ten Network

Ball State at PENN STATE 3:30 p.m. FS1

IOWA at Iowa State 4:30 p.m. ABC

Eastern Michigan at WISCONSIN 7 p.m. FS1

Idaho at INDIANA 7:30 p.m. Big Ten Network

Howard at MARYLAND 7:30 p.m. Big Ten Network

Washington at MICHIGAN 8 p.m. ABC

Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL Editor
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Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

THURSDAY, SEPT. 9, 2021 // 8:20 PM ET // RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM // REFEREE: SHAWN HOCHULI

ON THE AIRWAVES
TV: NBC (8:20 PM ET): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya (field reporter)
NATIONAL RADIO: Westwood One: Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner
SIRIUS: 81 (Dal.), 211 (TB) | XM: 226 (Dal.), 225 (TB) | SXM App: 808 (Dal.), 829 (TB)

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES HISTORY

LEADER: Cowboys lead all-time series, 13-4
STREAKS: Cowboys have won past 2
LAST GAME: 12/23/18: Buccaneers 20 at Cowboys 27
LAST GAME AT SITE: 11/15/15: Buccaneers 10, Cowboys 6

DALLAS COWBOYS LEADERS (2020 STATS) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Mike McCarthy: 3-2 COACH VS. OPP. Bruce Arians: 1-1
24.7/29.6 PTS. FOR/AGAINST 30.8/22.2
371.8 OFFENSE 384.1
Dak Prescott: 151-222-1856-9-4-99.6 PASSING Tom Brady: 401-610-4633-40-12-102.2
Ezekiel Elliott: 244-979-4.0-6 RUSHING Ronald Jones: 192-978-5.1-7
Amari Cooper: 92-1114-12.1-5 RECEIVING Mike Evans: 70-1006-14.4-13
386.4 DEFENSE 327.1
DeMarcus Lawrence: 6.5 SACKS Jason Pierre-Paul: 9.5
Trevon Diggs: 3 INTs Carlton Davis: 4
-3 (23/26) TAKE/GIVE +8 (25/17)
Bryan Anger (Hou.): 46.4 (41.8) PUNTING (NET) Bradley Pinion: 45.2 (40.2)
Greg Zuerlein: 135 (33/36/ PAT; 34/41 FG) KICKING Ryan Succop: 136 (52/57 PAT; 28/31 FG)

COWBOYS NOTES
• QB DAK PRESCOTT had 1,856 pass yards & 12 TDs (9 pass, 3 rush) for 99.6 rating in 5 games in 2020. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. TB with rush TD. Has 5 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 98.4 rating in 4 career games on TNF. Aims for his 3rd in row on TNF with 300+ pass yards.

• RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT had 1,317 scrimmage yards (979 rush, 338 rec.) & 8 TDs (6 rush, 2 rec.) in 2020 & became 3rd player with 1,250+ scrimmage yards & 8+ TDs in each of his 1st 5 seasons in NFL history. Has 297 scrimmage yards (148.5 per game) & rush TD in 2 career games vs. TB. Has 333 scrimmage yards (111 per game) & 4 TDs (3 rush, 1 rec.) in 3 career games on TNF.

• WR AMARI COOPER led team with career-high 92 catches & had 1,114 rec. yards in 2020. Had 12 catches for 173 yards & rec. TD in only career game at TB (10/30/16 w/ Oak.). Has 3 rec. TDs in his past 3 on TNF. WR CEEDEE LAMB set rookie franchise records in catches (74) & rec. yards (935) last season. WR MICHAEL GALLUP had 59 catches for 843 yards & 5 TDs in 2020. Had rec. TD in last meeting. TE DALTON SCHULTZ set career highs in catches (63), rec. yards (615) & rec. TDs (4) last season.

• LB JAYLON SMITH had career-high 154 tackles in 2020. Had 10 tackles & 69-yard FR-TD in last meeting. LB KEANU NEAL makes Dal. debut. Had 98 tackles & 9 TFL in 2020 with Atl. LB MICAH PARSONS was selected in 1st round (12th overall) in 2021 NFL Draft. DE DEMARCUS LAWRENCE had sack in last meeting. CB TREVON DIGGS tied for lead among rookies with 3 INTs in 2020.

BUCCANEERS NOTES

• QB TOM BRADY tied-2nd in NFL with 40 TD passes & ranked 3rd in pass yards (4,633) last season. Became 1st player in NFL history with 7 SB titles & 5 SB MVPs. Is NFL all-time leader in TD passes (581) & ranks 2nd in pass yards (79,204). Needs 300+ pass yards to join DREW BREES (123) as only players with 100+ 300-yard games in NFL history.

• RB RONALD JONES set career highs in scrimmage yards (1,143) & scrimmage TDs (8) in 2020. RB LEONARD FOURNETTE had 448 scrimmage yards (112 per game) & 4 TDs (3 rush, 1 rec.) in 2020 postseason.

• WR MIKE EVANS had 1,006 rec. yards in 2020 & became 1st player with 1,000+ rec. yards in each of his 1st 7 seasons. Had rec. TD in last meeting. WR CHRIS GODWIN had 65 catches for 840 yards & 7 TDs in 2020. WR ANTONIO BROWN had 45 receptions for 483 yards & 4 TDs in 8 games last season. Has 9 rec. TDs in 10 career games on TNF. TE ROB GRONKOWSKI ranks 3rd all-time among TEs with 86 rec. TDs.

• LB LAVONTE DAVID had 8th-career season with 100+ tackles (117) in 2020. Has 31 tackles (7.8 per game) in 4 career games vs. Dal. LB DEVIN WHITE had career-high 140 tackles & 9 sacks last season. Had 2 INTs & 2 FRs in 3 postseason games in 2020. LB JASON PIERRE-PAUL had 5th-consecutive season with 7+ sacks (team-high 9.5) last season. LB SHAQUIL BARRETT had 8 sacks in 2020 reg. season & 4 sacks in postseason. CB CARLTON DAVIS led team with 4 INTs & 18 PD in 2020.

CFB Week 2 Football Preview: Atlantic Coast Conference

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Week 2 Football Preview: Atlantic Coast Conference

ACC PREVIEWS

Friday, Sept. 10
NC A&T (0-1, 0-0 Big South) at Duke (0-1, 0-0 ACC)
8 p.m.; ACCN
Duke leads series, 1-0
Last meeting: Duke, 45-13 (2019)
Head Coaches:
Duke – David Cutcliffe (74-89 in 14th season at Duke; 118-118 in 20th season overall)
NC A&T – Sam Washington (19-6 in third season at North Carolina A&T and overall)

Notes: After facing Charlotte in last week’s season opener, the Blue Devils kick off their home schedule versus another in-state non-conference opponent as the Aggies make their second trip to Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium • Duke posted a 45-13 win in the inaugural meeting between the programs in 2019 as QB Quentin Harris passed for a career-high 345 yards and four touchdowns • The Aggies are one of four in-state opponents on the Blue Devils’ 2021 schedule (along with Charlotte and ACC foes Wake Forest and North Carolina), but the only one the Blue Devils will play at home • The Aggies will face an ACC opponent for the fourth time • North Carolina A&T fell 42-3 at Wake Forest on Sept. 18, 2004, in the program’s first-ever game against an NCAA Division I-A opponent • The Aggies came out on the short end of the a 53-14 score when they traveled to North Carolina early in the 2015 season.

Saturday, Sept. 11
Pitt (1-0, 0-0 ACC) at Tennessee (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
Noon; ESPN
Pitt leads series, 2-0
Last meeting: Pitt, 13-3 (1983)
Head Coaches:
Pitt – Pat Narduzzi (42-34 in seventh season at Pitt and overall)
Tennessee – Josh Heupel (1-0 in first season at Tennessee; 29-8 in fourth season overall)

Notes: Pitt visits Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium for the third time, but for the first since winning a pair of games on the Vols’ home turf in 1980 and 1983 • Both of the Panthers’ wins over the Vols came with former Pitt head coach Johnny Majors on the Tennessee sidelines • The first win in 1980 came by a 30-6 score in Majors’ first game with the Vols after leaving Pitt, where he coached his Tony Dorsett-led squad captured the 1976 national championship • Tennessee is slated to make return trip to Pitt’s Heinz Field next season • In honor of Majors’ contributions to both programs, the two-game of games has been designated as ‘The Johnny Majors Classic’ • Majors passed away in Knoxville, Tennessee on June 3, 2020, at the age of 85 • Saturday’s game is the only road contest for Pitt during September • The Panthers return home to face Western Michigan on Sept. 18.

Saturday, Sept. 11
Illinois (1-1, 1-0 Big Ten) at Virginia (1-0, 0-0 ACC)
11 a.m.; ACCN
Illinois leads series, 2-0
Last meeting: Illinois, 63-21 (1999)
Head Coaches:
Virginia – Bronco Mendenhall (31-32 in sixth season at UVA; 130-75 in 17th season overall)
Illinois – Bret Bielema (1-1 in first season at Illinois; 98-59 in 13th season overall)

Notes: Virginia is slated to play four of its first five games under the lights this season, but the Cavaliers get an early start this Saturday when they welcome Illinois for an 11 a.m. kickoff • The game is one of four on Saturday that is scheduled to carried by ACC Network • The Fighting Illini, in their first season under veteran head coach Bret Bielema, will be making their first road trip of the season after a 1-1 start that included a Big Ten win over Nebraska in their season opener • Bielema’s resume includes seven straight bowl teams while head coach at Wisconsin (2006-12) • Illinois’ trip to Virginia is the first of a home-andhome set, with the Cavaliers set to visit Champaign on Sept. 10, 2022 • This year’s game will also mark the first regular-season meeting between the programs • The Illini lead the series 2-0 after winning 31-21 in the 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl and 63-21 in the 1999 MicronPC.com Bowl.

Saturday, Sept. 11
Norfolk State (0-1, 0-0 MEAC) at Wake Forest (1-0, 0-0 ACC)
Noon; ACCNX
First meeting
Head Coaches:
Wake Forest – Dave Clawson (41-45 in eighth season at Wake Forest; 131-125 in 22nd season overall)
Norfolk State – Dawson Odums (0-1 in first season at Norfolk State, 64-45 in 11th season overall)

Notes: After opening against Old Dominion, Wake Forest welcomes its second consecutive opponent from Norfolk, Virginia, to Truist Field • The Deacons will be Norfolk State’s first-ever ACC opponent and are one of seven road contests on the Spartans’ 2021 schedule • Norfolk State saw its 2020 season canceled due to the pandemic and is under the watch of first-year head coach Dawson Odums, who joins the Spartans after guiding Southern to four SWAC Championship Game appearances (and one league title) in nine seasons at the helm • Saturday’s game will be the second of three straight home contests for Wake Forest, which launches its ACC schedule versus Florida State on Sept. 18 • Wake’s remaining non-league games after Saturday will both be on the road – at Army on Oct. 23 and at North Carolina (designated as non-conference) on Nov. 6.

Saturday, Sept. 11
Kennesaw St. (1-0, 0-0 Big South) at Georgia Tech (0-1, 0-0 ACC)
Noon; RSN
First meeting
Head Coaches:
Georgia Tech – Geoff Collins (6-17 in third season at Georgia Tech; 21-27 in fifth season overall)
Kennesaw State – Brian Bohannon (53-16 in sixth season at Kennesaw State and overall)

Notes: Neighboring schools meet for the first time ever on the football field as Kennesaw State sixth-year head coach Brian Bohannon makes a return to Georgia Tech • Bohannon is the only head coach in the Owls’ football history, as he was hired to build the program from the ground up in 2013 after spending the previous five seasons as quarterbacks/B-backs coach with the Yellow Jackets, where he helped engineer one of the country’s most prolific spread option offenses • During Bohannon’s time at Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets finished in the top four nationally in rushing offense every season and led the nation in rushing in 2010 • Georgia Tech continues a stretch in which it will play four of its first five games in the city of Atlanta • After traveling to Clemson on Sept. 18, the Yellow Jackets will face North Carolina on Sept. 25 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and return to Bobby Dodd Stadium versus Pitt on Oct. 2.

Saturday, Sept. 11
Rutgers (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) at Syracuse (1-0, 0-0 ACC)
2 p.m.; ACCN
Syracuse leads series, 30-12-1
Last meeting: Rutgers, 23-15 (2012)
Head Coaches:
Syracuse – Dino Babers (25-36 in sixth season at Syracuse; 62-52 in 10th season overall)
Rutgers – Greg Schiano (72-73 in 13th season at Rutgers and overall)

Notes: Syracuse faces Rutgers for the 43rd time in a series that began in 1914 and was last played in 2012, when both schools were members of the Big East Conference • This year’s game was originally slated to be the second-half of a home-and-home set, but the Orange’s scheduled trip to Rutgers last season was canceled due to the pandemic • Rutgers seeks its third consecutive win in the series and its seventh in the last nine meetings • The teams met every year from 1980 through 2012, with eight of Rutgers’ 12 wins in the series coming since 1999 • Syracuse defeated Rutgers 12 consecutive seasons from 1987-98 • The Scarlet Knights won 19-16 in double overtime on their most recent trip to Carrier Dome in 2011 as San San Te kicked a 47-yard field goal for the go-ahead points and Rutgers recovered a fumble on Syracuse’s ensuing offensive possession.

Saturday, Sept. 11
Middle Tennessee (1-0, 0-0 C-USA) at #19 Virginia Tech (1-0, 1-0 ACC)
2 p.m.; ACCNX
First meeting
Head Coaches:
Virginia Tech – Justin Fuente (39-26 in sixth season at Virginia Tech; 65-49 in 10th season overall)
Middle Tennessee – Rick Stockstill (94-92 in 16th season at Middle Tennessee and overall)

Notes: The Hokies’ first-ever meeting versus Middle Tennessee on the gridiron kicks off a stretch of four consecutive non-conference games for Virginia Tech •
Following a trip to West Virginia on Sept. 18, the Hokies will return to Lane Stadium to face Richmond and Notre Dame (followed by two more ACC games versus Pitt and Syracuse) • This week’s game versus the Blue Raiders was originally scheduled as the second half of a home-and-home, but Virginia Tech’s road trip to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, last season was wiped out due to the pandemic • Middle Tennessee is 4-13 all-time versus current ACC schools, with the most recent meeting a 41-18 homefield loss to Duke early in the 2019 season • The Blue Raiders won road games at Syracuse in 2017 and Georgia Tech in 2012 • Middle Tennessee State is currently scheduled to visit Duke in September of 2024 and play host to the Blue Devils to open the 2025 season.

Saturday, Sept. 11
Eastern Kentucky (1-0, 0-0 AQ7) at Louisville (0-1, 0-0 ACC)
7 p.m.; ACCNX
Louisville leads series, 19-8-1
Last meeting: UL, 42-0 (2019)
Head Coaches:
Louisville – Scott Satterfield (12-13 in second season at Louisville; 63-37 in ninth season overall)
Eastern Kentucky – Walt Wells (4-6 in second season at Eastern Kentucky and overall)

Notes: Louisville renews its in-state rivalry with Eastern Kentucky in a series that was first played in 1927 and has seen the programs meet on 28 prior occasions • The Cardinals prevailed in the most recent matchup by a 42-0 score early in the 2019 season as QB Jawon Pass threw for a career-high four touchdowns and freshman RB Javian Hawkins for 123 yards on 11 carries to help Louisville present first-year head coach Scott Satterfield with his first win since taking the helm • The Cardinals are 12-4-1 all-time versus the Colonels at home, with Eastern Kentucky’s most recent win coming by a 45-21 score at Louisville late in the 1985 season • Eastern Kentucky is scheduled to visit Louisville again in 2025 • Louisville is 35-17-1 all-time versus current OVC teams • The Cardinals will face a second in-state rival to close the 2021 regular season when Kentucky visits Nov. 27.

Saturday, Sept. 11
Boston College (1-0, 0-0 ACC) at UMass (0-1)
3:30 p.m.; RSN
BC leads series, 22-5-1
Last meeting: BC, 55-21 (2018)
Head Coaches:
Boston College – Jeff Hafley (7-5 in second season at Boston College and overall)
UMass – Walt Bell (1-16 in third season at UMass and overall)

Notes: Boston College makes the short trip to face UMass, which will face an ACC opponent for the second consecutive weekend after opening the season at Pitt on Sept. 4 • The Eagles own a 10-game winning streak in their series, which was first played in 1899 • The Minutemen held a 3-1 lead in the series before it went on a 54-yard hiatus following the 1912 season • The Eagles are 21-2 in head to-head meetings since the neighboring schools resumed play in 1966 • QB Anthony Brown threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns while playing just the opening half in his return from a season-ending knee injury to lead the Eagles to a lopsided win in the most recent meeting between the teams at BC’s Alumni Stadium in 2018 • This year’s matchup will be the first game the teams have played on UMass’ Amherst campus since 1982 • UMass played “home” games versus BC at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass in 2014 and 2016.

Saturday, Sept. 11
Appalachian State (1-0, 0-0 SBC) at #22 Miami (0-1, 0-0 ACC)
7 p.m.; TBD
Miami leads series, 1-0
Last meeting: Miami, 45-10 (2016)
Head Coaches:
Miami – Manny Diaz (14-11 in third season at Miami and overall)
Appalachian State – Shawn Clark (11-3 in second season at ASU and overall)

Notes: Miami welcomes Appalachian State for the Hurricanes’ home opener, five years after the teams met in Boone, North Carolina, in the first-ever game between the schools • Miami posted a 45-10 win in that first meeting as QB Brad Kaaya threw for 368 yards and three scores and RB Mark Walton rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns • Saturday night’s contest opens a four-game homestand for the Hurricanes, who also face Michigan State (Sept. 18) and Virginia in their ACC opener (Sept. 30) prior to the end of the month • Appalachian State is 8-27-1 all-time versus ACC teams • The Mountaineers came away with a 34-31 road win over North Carolina in their most recent outing versus an ACC team in 2019 • The 2016 contest versus Miami is one of only two home football games Appalachian State has played against an ACC program.

Saturday, Sept. 11
SC State (0-1, 0-0 MEAC) at #6 Clemson (0-1, 0-0 ACC)
5 p.m.; ACCN
Clemson leads series, 4-0
Last meeting: CU, 59-0 (2016)
Head Coaches:
Clemson – Dabo Swinney (140-34 in 14th season at Clemson and overall)
South Carolina State – Oliver “Buddy” Pough (136-76 in 20th season at SC State and overall)

Notes: Fifth meeting in series between in-state opponents that began in 2008 and was played most recently in 2016 (a 59-0 Clemson win) • It is one of two non-league games versus in-state opponents for the Tigers, who are slated to close the regular season with their traditional rivalry game at South Carolina on Nov. 27 • Due to last year’s pandemic restrictions, Saturday’s game will be the first before a full-capacity crowd at Death Valley since the fall of 2019 • Clemson has outscored South Carolina State 238-20 in four previous meetings, including a pair of shutout victories • The Tigers’ win in 2016 saw QB Deshaun Watson throw three first-half touchdown passes to stake Clemson to a 45-0 lead before the third and fourth quarters were shortened to 12 minutes each by mutual agreement among the teams’ head coaches • The Bulldogs have won seven MEAC titles under veteran head coach Oliver ‘Buddy’ Pough.

Saturday, Sept. 11
NC State (1-0, 0-0 ACC) at Mississippi State (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
7 p.m.; TBD
Series tied, 3-3
Last meeting: MSU, 55-28 (2015)
Head Coaches:
NC State – Dave Doeren (56-46 in ninth season at NC State; 79-50 in 11th season overall)
Mississippi State – Mike Leach (5-7 in second season at Mississippi State; 143-97 in 20th season overall

Notes: NC State visits Mississippi State for only the second time and the first since posting a 6-0 win in Starkville in 1931 • Like many home-and-home series that were scheduled nationally, this one was altered by the COVID-19 pandemic as the Bulldogs’ slated trip to Raleigh last season was canceled • The three most recent meetings between the teams have been in bowl games • The Bulldogs posted a 16-12 win in the 1963 Liberty Bowl in Philadelphia, while NC State won by a 28-24 score when the teams met in Atlanta for the 1995 Peach Bowl • Mississippi State won 51-28 at Charlotte in the 2015 Belk Bowl as QB Dak Prescott threw for a game-record 380 yards and four touchdowns • The Wolfpack will be playing the second of three consecutive non-conference games to open this season after a 45-0 shutout of visiting USF in the Sept. 2 season opener.

Saturday, Sept. 11
Georgia State (0-1, 0-0 SBC) at #24 North Carolina (0-1, 0-1 ACC)
7:30 p.m.; RSN
First meeting
Head Coaches:
North Carolina – Mack Brown (84-57-1 in 13th season at North Carolina; 259-133-1 in 33rd season overall)
Georgia State -Shawn Elliott (22-26 in fifth season at Georgia State; 23-40 in sixth season overall)

Notes: North Carolina’s first-ever meeting against Georgia State begins a stretch in which the Tar Heels will play five of their next six games at home • UNC seeks to win its home opener for the fourth consecutive season and for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons • Saturday night’s game will mark Georgia State’s first against an ACC opponent since a 41-7 loss at NC State in 2018 • UNC is scheduled to face Georgia State in Atlanta in 2022 in a home-and-home series return game • The Panthers are the only non-conference opponent on the Tar Heels’ schedule prior to Oct. 30, when they are scheduled to play at Notre Dame • After opening the 2021 campaign with last week’s trip to Virginia Tech for the ACC season opener, UNC is scheduled to play host to Virginia (Sept. 18) and travel to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech (Sept. 25) before facing Duke, Florida State and Miami at Kenan Stadium the first three weekends in October.

Saturday, Sept. 11
Jacksonville State (0-1, 0-0 AQ7) at Florida State (0-1, 0-0 ACC)
8 p.m.; ACCN
FSU leads series, 2-1
Last meeting: FSU, 41-24 (2020)
Head Coaches:
Florida State – Mike Norvell (3-7 in second season at Florida State; 41-22 in fifth season overall)
Jacksonville State – John Grass (68-22 in eighth season at Jacksonville State and overall)

Notes: Jacksonville State visits Tallahassee for the second consecutive season and the fourth time overall • The Seminoles won last season 41-24 as QB Jordan Travis came off the bench to lead five straight touchdown drives • FSU won in 2009 by a 19-9 score thanks to a pair of touchdowns in the final 35 seconds • Ty Jones’ 1-yard touchdown run with 35 seconds left put the Seminoles ahead, and teammate Kevin McNeil returned a fumble for a score 21 seconds later to seal the win • Jacksonville State won the first meeting between the programs 7-0 in 1947 • After a highly successful run in the Ohio Valley Conference, JSU announced in January that it would return to the ASUN, its first Division I conference affiliation • The ASUN has announced plans to add FCS football to the league’s list of sponsored sports for the first time in the conference’s 43-year history.

CFB Conference Notes: ACC

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Conference Notes: ACC

ACC FOOTBALL QUICK HITS

• The second week of the ACC football schedule is highlighted by four games against Power 5 competition, including two against the Big Ten and two against the SEC. Virginia hosts Illinois at 11 a.m. on ACCN; Pitt travels to Tennessee for a noon kickoff on ESPN; Syracuse hosts Rutgers at 2 p.m. on ACCN; and NC State visits Mississippi State at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

• Five games this weekend will be televised by ACC Network, including Friday night’s game between Duke and North Carolina A&T at 8 p.m. Following the Virginia (11 a.m.) and Syracuse (2 p.m.) games, Clemson will host South Carolina State at 5 p.m. and Florida State welcomes Jacksonville State at 8 p.m.

• Virginia is slated to play four of its first five games under the lights this season, but the Cavaliers get an early start this Saturday when they welcome Illinois of the Big Ten for an 11 a.m. kickoff. It is the first regular-season meeting between the programs. The teams met previously in the 1990 Citrus Bowl and the 1999 MicronPC.com Bowl.

• Pitt faces Tennessee for the first time in 38 years in the “Johnny Majors Classic” in honor of the legendary coach and player. Majors played at Tennessee and later led Pitt to the 1976 national championship before returning to Knoxville to coach. This is Pitt’s third visit to Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium, but the first since winning a pair of games on the Vols’ home turf in 1980 and 1983. Both of the Panthers’ wins over the Vols came with Majors on the Tennessee sidelines. The Panthers are seeking their second straight 2-0 start.

• Syracuse faces Rutgers for the 43rd time in a series that began in 1914 and was last played in 2012, when both schools were members of the Big East Conference. This year’s game was originally slated to be the second-half of a home-and-home set, but the Orange’s scheduled trip to Rutgers last season was canceled due to the pandemic. Rutgers seeks its third consecutive win in the series and its seventh in the last nine meetings. The teams met every year from 1980 through 2012, with eight of Rutgers’ 12 wins in the series coming since 1999.

• NC State visits Mississippi State for only the second time and the first since posting a 6-0 win in Starkville in 1931. Like many home-and-home series that were scheduled nationally, this one was altered by the COVID-19 pandemic as the Bulldogs’ slated trip to Raleigh last season was canceled. The three most recent meetings between the teams have been in bowl games – 1963 Liberty Bowl (Philadelphia), 1995 Peach Bowl (Atlanta) and 2015 Belk Bowl (Charlotte).

• ACC teams play four other games this week against FBS competition. Virginia Tech hosts Middle Tennessee at 2 p.m. on ACC Network Extra; Boston College welcomes
UMass to Chestnut Hill at 3:30 p.m. on RSN; Miami hosts Appalachian State at 7 p.m. on ESPNU; and North Carolina hosts Georgia State at 7:30 p.m. on RSN.

TOP TV RATINGS
• Saturday night’s Clemson-Georgia game on ABC averaged nearly 8M viewers, which is on track to become the second-most viewed game on any network in the last 15
years. The Miami-Alabama game at 3:30 p.m. averaged more than 5M viewers.

• ESPN’s Florida State-Notre Dame game averaged 7.1M viewers and was the second-most viewed opening week Sunday game on record (since 1996).

AROUND THE ACC

• Boston College: In 11 games, QB Phil Jurkovec is already fifth in school history with five 300-yard passing games. BC legends Matt Ryan and Doug Flutie hold the school record with 12, 300-yard passing games.

• Clemson: Former Clemson running back C.J. Spiller will be honored for his College Football Hall of Fame selection in an in-stadium presentation at halftime of Clemson’s home opener against South Carolina State on Sept. 11.

• Duke: RB Mataeo Durant led the way for Duke during its season opener at Charlotte, compiling a game-high 255 yards on 29 carries with three rushing touchdowns to break the program record for rushing yards in a single game. His total eclipsed the previous school record of 245 yards set by Shaun Wilson in 2014 vs. Kansas.

• Florida State: FSU’s defense held Notre Dame to 65 total rushing yards Sunday, the 5th-lowest in head coach Mike Norvell’s career and a 288-yard improvement from last season’s game in South Bend when the Irish rushed for 353 yards.

• Georgia Tech: After entering NIU game in the second quarter, Georgia Tech QB Jordan Yates completed 12-of-18 passes for 135 yards and 1 touchdown, all career highs. He also ran 9 times for 27 yards (both career highs), including a 4-yard touchdown run with 6:32 to go in the game (first career touchdown run) to put the Jackets in the lead.

• Louisville: Against Ole Miss, QB Malik Cunningham was 22-of-37 for 191 yards and a touchdown with 18 carries for 79 yards and two scores on the ground. Cunningham moved into sixth place on Louisville’s all-time passing touchdown list with 44.

• Miami: Miami opens its 14th season at Hard Rock Stadium on Sept. 11 vs. Appalachian State; UM holds a 13-0 all-time mark in home openers at the stadium, having outscored opponents 594-83 for an average margin of victory of 39.3 points.

• North Carolina: Sam Howell became the Tar Heels’ career touchdown pass leader (69 total) when he connected with Josh Downs for a 37-yard touchdown in the third quarter last Saturday.

• NC State: In the 45-0 win over USF last Thursday, the Pack had a pair of 100 yard rushers for the first time since 2015. Zonovan Knight and Ricky Person accounted for 352 total yards.

• Pitt: With 272 yards vs. UMass, Kenny Pickett became just the fifth player in Pitt history to eclipse 8,000 yards passing. Pickett has thrown for 8,256 over his 40-game career.

• Syracuse: RB Sean Tucker ran for 181-yards against Ohio, the second-most by a player under sixth-year head coach Dino Babers and the fourth-most by a Syracuse player in the last-15 years. As a team, the Orange ran for 283 yards, the most since the 2019 season (286 in a win at Duke).

• Virginia: QB Brennan Armstrong’s 339 passing yards vs. W&M were the most ever by a Virginia quarterback in a season-opening game.

• Virginia Tech: DE Amare’ Barno, who made the switch from linebacker to defensive end in 2020, posted a team-high 3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, six tackles and a forced fumble in the win over UNC

• Wake Forest: DB Ja’Sir Taylor had a career night vs. ODU, making his fifth-career interception and returning his first ever kickoff 99 yards to the endzone. He became the first FBS player to return a kickoff for a touchdown this season.

ACC, BIG TEN & PAC-12 ANNOUNCE ALLIANCE
• On Aug. 24, the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 announced an historic alliance that will bring 41 world-class institutions together on a collaborative approach surrounding the future evolution of college athletics and scheduling. The alliance – which was unanimously supported by the presidents, chancellors and athletics directors at all 41 institutions – will be guided in all cases by a commitment to, and prioritization of, supporting student-athlete well-being, academic and athletic opportunities, experiences and diverse educational programming. The three conferences are grounded in their support of broad-based athletic programs, the collegiate model and opportunities for student-athletes as part of the educational missions of the institutions.

• The ACC will play four games this year against the Big Ten
Sept. 11 – Illinois at Virginia
Sept. 11 – Rutgers at Syracuse
Sept. 18 – Michigan State at Miami
Sept. 18 – Northwestern at Duke

• Bowl Games: The ACC will face the Pac-12 in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl on Dec. 28 and the Big Ten in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 29.

CFB Week 2 Football Preview: American Athletic Conference

NCAAFB Editor
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0
CFB Week 2 Football Preview: American Athletic Conference

Week 2 Previews

SATURDAY, SEPT. 11 • 1 P.M. • ESPN+

MORGAN STATE vs. TULANE
Legion Field (71,594/FieldTurf)
Birmingham, Alabama

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between Tulane and Morgan State … The game was originally scheduled to be played at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium, but was relocated to Birmingham as the New Orleans region recovers from the effects of Hurricane Ida … Tulane is 120-34-4 all-time against non-FBS opponents.

MORGAN STATE
0-1, 0-0 MEAC
Head Coach
Tyrone Wheatley (Michigan ‘08)
3-9, second season

Notes
Morgan State looks for its first win of the season after the Bears fell 31-0 to Towson in the Battle for Greater Baltimore last Saturday … The Bears were on the short end of a 412-142 discrepancy in total yards and a 23-7 margin in first downs … Head coach Tyrone Wheatley, the former Michigan All-America running back and 10- year NFL veteran, is in his second year at Morgan State after serving as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ running backs coach … The Bears did not compete in the 2020 season and went 3-9 in the 2019 campaign … Morgan State was picked fifth in the MEAC preseason poll of head coaches and sports information directors … OL Marvin Atuatasi, DL Merinio Dendoe and LB Devan Hebron were chosen to the MEAC’s preseason team … Hebron had five tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack in the opener against Towson.

TULANE
0-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Willie Fritz (Pittsburg State ‘83)
29-34, sixth season at Tulane
183-103, 25th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Tulane was impressive in defeat to start the 2021 season as the Green Wave dropped a 40-35 decision at No. 2 Oklahoma … The game was originally slated for Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, but was moved in the wake of Hurricane Ida … Tulane held leads of 7-0 and 14-6 against the Sooners, but were undone by Oklahoma’s 23-point second quarter … Tulane outscored the Sooners by a 21-3 count in the second half and had the ball near midfield in the final minutes before the Sooners held on … QB Michael Pratt completed 27 of 44 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown … WR Tyrick James had six catches for 93 yards, while RB Cameron Carroll had two touchdown receptions … The Green Wave had two defensive interceptions.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 11 • 3:30 P.M. • ESPN

MURRAY STATE at CINCINNATI
Nippert Stadium (40,000/UBU Speed Series 55-M)
Cincinnati, Ohio

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 125th meeting between Cincinnati and Miami (Ohio) in a series that dates to 1888, marking the oldest current nonconference rivalry in college football … Miami leads holds a 59-58-7 advantage in the rivalry, though Cincinnati has won the last 14 contests and would tie the all-time series with a win this season.

MURRAY STATE
1-0, 0-0 OVC
Head Coach
Dean Hood (Ohio Wesleyan ‘86)
6-2, second season at Murray State
61-40, 10th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Murray State had a relatively easy time in its season-opener as the Racers were 35-0 winners against Mississippi Valley State last  Thursday … Murray State is the first team listed in the ‘receiving votes’ category of this week’s FCS media poll … The Racers had a 464-162 advantage in total yards and a 21-10 cushion in first downs … QB Preston Rice was 10-of-16 for 157 yards and an interception and ran for 81 yards and four touchdowns in the opener … Rice was named the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week … RB Cortezz Jones had a team-high 107 rushing yards with a touchdown … WR LaMartez Brooks had four receptions for 63 yards … The defense is led by CB Marcis Floyd, who was named to the watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in FCS.

CINCINNATI
1-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Luke Fickell (Ohio State ‘97)
36-14, fifth season at Cincinnati
42-21, sixth season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Cincinnati extended some impressive streaks in its 49-14 season-opening win against Miami (Ohio) last Saturday … The Bearcats have won 21 consecutive home games and have not lost at Nippert Stadium since 2017 … The win also marked Cincinnati’s 15th straight  series win against Miami, evening the nation’s oldest nonconference rivalry at 59-59-7 … QB Desmond Ridder was 20-of-25 for 295 yards and four touchdowns to go with a rushing TD against the RedHawks … RB Jerome Ford had 121 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries … CB Ahmad Gardner was an All-America selection on 2020, while he and DE Myjai Sanders are preseason All-America picks in 2021 … The Bearcats’ next two games are road dates at Indiana and Notre Dame.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 11 • 3:30 • CBS

AIR FORCE at NAVY
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (34,000/FieldTurf)
Annapolis, Maryland

THE GAME • THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF’S TROPHY
Saturday’s game will be 54th meeting between Navy and Air Force in a series that dates to 1960 … Air Force holds a 31-22 series lead … The home team has won the last eight meetings, including four straight wins for Navy in Annapolis … Navy has won 11 of the last 18 CommanderIn-Chief’s Trophies.

AIR FORCE
1-0, 0-0 Mountain West
Head Coach
Troy Calhoun (Air Force ’89)
102-72, 15th season

Notes
Air Force is off to a 1-0 start after the Falcons scored a 35-14 win against Lafayette last Saturday in Colorado Springs … Air Force was picked third in the Mountain Division in the Mountain West’s preseason poll, trailing Boise State and Wyoming … The Falcons built a 14-0 lead after the first quarter and led 28-7 at halftime against Lafayette on their way to the win … Air Force had two 100-yard rushers as RB Brad Roberts ran for 111 yards on 25 carries, while RB Michah Davis had 101 yards and two touchdowns on only four attempts … Air Force limited Lafayette to 43 rushing yards on 24 attempts … QB Haaziq Daniels rushed for 257 yards and three touchdowns last
year and had 433 passing yards with three TDs and three interceptions … The Falcons went 11-2 in 2019 and were 3-3 in the abbreviated 2020 season.

NAVY
0-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Ken Niumatalolo (Hawaii ‘89)
101-68, 14th season

Notes
Navy looks to bounce back from a 49-7 setback to Marshall in the season-opener last Saturday … Navy feel behind 28-0 after three quarters before getting on the scoreboard to start the fourth period … Navy finished with 363 rushing yards, but the Midshipmen were undone in part by three turnovers and 47 yards in penalties … FB James Harris II was the leading rusher with 80 yards on 11 carries and was one of six Navy players with at least 22 rushing yards against the Thundering Herd … QB Tai Lavatai got the start behind center, but QB Xavier Arline was the more effective signal-caller against Marshall as he rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries … The Midshipmen had eight players make their first career starts last week against Marshall … Navy will wear a special Marine Corps-themed uniform for Saturday’s game

SATURDAY, SEPT. 11 • 3:30 P.M. • ESPN+

TEMPLE at AKRON
InfoCision Stadium (30,000/ProGrass)
Akron, Ohio

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 22nd meeting between Temple and Akron in a series that dates to 1967 … Temple holds a 14-7 series lead … The schools competed concurrently in the MAC from 2007-11 … Temple has won the last five meetings, including three straight in Akron … The last win for the Zips was a 25-15 decision in 1999.

TEMPLE
0-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Rod Carey (Indiana ‘93)
9-12, third season at Temple
61-42, ninth season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Temple spotted Rutgers a 26-0 lead early in the second quarter, but the Owls reeled off back-to-back touchdowns to make it 26-14 in the third quarter before the Scarlet Knights pulled away for a 61-14 victory … The Owls look to snap a six-game slide … QB D’Wan Mathis made his first start in a Temple uniform in the season-opener and was 8-for-24 for 148 yards and an interception … RB Edward Saydee rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries … Temple averaged 18.5 yards per completion against Rutgers … The Owls registered nine tackles for loss against Rutgers as LB Jordan Magee finished with 2.5 TFL … Temple’s roster includes 11 transfers … The Owls also have eight countries represented on their roster, marking the most internationally diverse roster in FBS.

AKRON
0-1, 0-0 MAC
Head Coach
Tom Arth (John Carroll ’03)
1-18, third season at Akron
50-38, ninth season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Akron is looking for its first win of the season after the Zips fell 60-10 at Auburn in Week 1 … The Zips saw Auburn score the first 53 points of the game as the Tigers finished with a 28-12 advantage in first downs and a 613-188 margin in total offense … Akron went 1-5 in a MAC-only schedule last season, with the lone win coming against Bowling Green … Akron has lost 22 of its last 23 games, dating to the 2018 season … The Zips had won the MAC East Division title as recently as 2017 … Akron has 18 starters returning from last year … The top performer against Auburn was QB DJ Irons, who came off the bench to go 13-for-13 for 129 yards and a touchdown against the Tigers … QB Kato Nelson was 9-of-14 for 62 yards in the starting effort.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 11 • 6:30 P.M. • ESPN+

BETHUNE-COOKMAN at Central Florida

The Bounce House (44,206/Natural Grass)
Orlando, Florida

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 17th meeting between UCF and Bethune-Cookman in a series that dates to 1981 … The only team that UCF has faced more times than Bethune-Cookman is East Carolina (17), though the schools have met only once since 1995 … The Knights are 11-5 all-time against the Wildcats.

BETHUNE-COOKMAN
0-1, 0-0 SWAC
Head Coach
Terry Sims (Knoxville ’94)
34-22, sixth season

Notes
Bethune-Cookman made its return to the gridiron last week against UTEP after the Wildcats did not play in 2020 due to the pandemic … The game against UCF will be the second straight contest against an FBS opponent … Bethune-Cookman was 7-4 in the 2019 season and went 5-3 in the MEAC … The Wildcats are in their first season as members of the SWAC after 42 years in the MEAC … The Wildcats fell 38-28 to UTEP in their opener last Saturday … The Wildcats trailed 17-14 after three quarters, but the
Miners opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back TDs to put the game away … QB Shannon Patrick, a transfer from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, completed 15 of 22 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 98 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries … CB Caleb Sutherland led the defense with 13 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.

UCF
1-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Gus Malzahn (Henderson State ‘90)
1-0, first season at UCF
78-38, 10th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
UCF made a winner of head coach Gus Malzahn in his debut on the Knights’ sideline as the Knights overcame a 21-0 deficit to win 36-31 … The comeback matched the largest deficit overcome by the Knights in a winning effort as well as Malzahn’s largest come-from- behind win as a head coach … QB Dillon Gabriel threw for 318 yards and four touchdowns completing 25 of 37 passes … RB Isaiah Bowser, a transfer from Northwestern, rushed for 172 yards and a touchdown on 33 carries … WR Jaylon Robinson had six catches for 140 yards and a TD … The defense, which limited Boise State to 20 rushing yards and 263 total yards, was led by DT Kalia Davis, who had six tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss against the Broncos … The Knights gained 573 yards of offense against Boise State

SATURDAY, SEPT. 11 • 6:30 P.M. • CBSS

HOUSTON at RICE
Rice Stadium (47,000/AstroTurf Rootzone 3D3)
Houston, Texas

THE GAME • THE HEB BAYOU BUCKET CLASSIC
Saturday’s game will be the 43rd meeting between Houston and Rice in a series that began exactly 50 years prior to this year’s matchup (Sept. 11, 1971) … Houston holds a 31-11 series lead and has won the last five meetings, including a 45-27 decision in 2018, which was the most recent contest.

HOUSTON
0-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Dana Holgorsen (Iowa Wesleyan ‘93)
7-14, third season at Houston
68-55, 11th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Houston looks to bounce back from a 38-21 setback to Texas Tech in the Texas Kickoff at NRG Stadium last Saturday … The Cougars had raced to a 14-0 lead by keeping possession for the first 12:45 of the first quarter, but the Red Raiders closed the game with 31 unanswered points …QB Clayton Tune threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns, but was intercepted four times as he completed 27 of
38 passes … WR Nathaniel Dell had a team-high seven catches (also a career high) for 80 yards and a touchdown … The Cougars were limited to 53 yards of offense in the second half against Texas Tech … CB/WR Marcus Jones saw action on defense and offense against Texas Tech as he had six tackles to go with two rushing attempts and three receptions.

RICE
0-1, 0-0 Conference USA
Head Coach
Mike Bloomgren (Florida State ‘99)
7-24, fourth season

Notes
Rice opened its season with a 38-17 loss at Arkansas as the Owls let a 17-7 third-quarter lead get away … The Razorbacks scored the final 31 points against Rice as the Owls had three costly interceptions in the second half … Rice played an abbreviated schedule last season and went 2-3, scoring road wins against Southern Miss and No. 15 Marshall … Rice is looking for its first winning season since the 2014 Owls finished 8-5 … Head coach Mike Bloomgren went 1-20 in his first 21 games against FBS opponents, but has gone 5-4 in Rice’s last nine games … QB Wiley Green completed 12 of 25 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown with three INTs … WR August Pitre III had four receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown against Arkansas … OG Shea Baker is a returning first-team all-conference performer

SATURDAY, SEPT. 11 • 7 P.M. • ESPN+

MEMPHIS at ARKANSAS STATE
Centenial Bank Stadium (30,406/ProGreen)
Jonesboro, Arkansas

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 60th meeting between Memphis and Arkansas State in a series that dates to 1914 … Memphis holds a 30-24-5 series lead and has won the last two meetings, including a 37-24 decision at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium … The Red Wolves have won the last three matchups in Jonesboro.

MEMPHIS
1-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Ryan Silverfield (Hamden-Sydney ‘03)
9-4, second season at Memphis

Notes
Memphis takes a three-game winning streak into its first road contest of the season as the Tigers earned a 42-17 victory against Nicholls last Saturday … The win extended Memphis’ winning streak at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium to 16 games, the fifth-longest homefield streak nationally … The Tigers went with a true freshman behind center in the season-opener for the first time as QB Shane Henigan got the start against Nicholls … Henigan completed 19 of 32 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown in his collegiate debut … The Tigers also got a boost from K Joe Doyle, a transfer from Tennessee who had never attempted a field goal in college, but scored
18 points against Nicholls (5-5 FG, 3-3 PAT) … RB Brandon Thomas rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries in his first career start.

ARKANSAS STATE
1-0, 0-0 Sun Belt
Head Coach
Butch Jones (Ferris State ’90)
1-0, first season at Arkansas State
85-54, 12th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Arkansas State is off to a 1-0 start for the first time since 2018 after the Red Wolves topped Central Arkansas 40-21 last Saturday … Arkansas State was on the short end of a 7-6 halftime score before pulling away in the second half … The Red Wolves went 4-7 in 2020, ending a streak of nine straight winning seasons, but scored a notable road win against Kansas State … WR Corey Rucker was names as the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week after he had nine receptions for 138 yards and three touchdowns in the win against Central Arkansas … Head coach Butch Jones is in his first year in Jonesboro after spending the last three seasons on the staff at Alabama … Jones was formerly the head coach at Central Michigan, Cincinnati and Tennessee.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 11 • 7 P.M. • ESPN+

NORTH TEXAS at SMU
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000/FieldTurf)
Dallas, Texas

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 40th meeting between SMU and North Texas in a series that dates to 1922 … The Mustangs hold a 33-6-1 series lead and have won the last two meetings, including a 65-35 victory in Denton last season … SMU has won 11 straight home games against North Texas, which has not won in Dallas since 1977.

NORTH TEXAS
1-0, 0-0 Conference USA
Head Coach
Seth Littrell (Oklahoma ’01)
32-31, sixth season

Notes
North Texas won its season-opener in convincing fashion as the Mean Green scored a 44-14 decision against Northwestern State in Denton last Saturday … North Texas went 4-6 last season and fell to Appalachian State in the Myrtle Beach Bowl … The Mean Green has 19 starters returning from last season … RB DeAndre Torrey, a converted wide receiver, led the way against Northwestern State
as he rushed for 244 yards and three touchdowns and finished with 320 all-purpose yards … WR Roderic Burns had six receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown … QB Jace Ruder completed 10 of 21 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions … LB KD Davis led a stout defensive effort with 14 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss … North Texas won two of its last three
road games in 2020.

SMU
1-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Sonny Dykes (Texas Tech ‘93)
23-14, fourth season at SMU
64-59, 11th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
SMU looked to be in midseason form out of the chute in 2021 as the Mustangs rolled to a 56-9 win against Abilene Christian in the season-opener at Ford Stadium … QB Tanner Mordecai, a transfer from Oklahoma, was named as the Opening Day starter and he responded by throwing for 317 yards and a conference-record-tying seven touchdowns … Mordecai, The American’s Offensive
Player of the Week, completed 24 of 30 passes and was not intercepted in his SMU debut … WR Danny Gray, TE Grant Calcaterra and TE Nolan Matthews had two touchdown receptions each … The Mustangs have won 10 of their last 11 home games … SMU, which started the 2019 and 2020 seasons with 5-0 records, has not been 5-0 in three consecutive years since 1981-83.

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