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Games Recap: Redblacks down Elks for second win of the season

CFL Editor
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Games Recap: Redblacks down Elks for second win of the season

OTTAWA — Led by rookie quarterback Caleb Evans, the Ottawa REDBLACKS notched their second win of the season with a victory over the Edmonton Elks.

With injuries at the quarterback position heading into the contest, Evans was thrust into his first CFL start on Tuesday night and helped Ottawa to a 34-24 win. The REDBLACKS pivot threw three touchdown passes in the game to Kenny Stafford, Ryan Davis and Timothy Flanders. Evans completed 15 of his 22 passes for 191 yards and rushed for 59 yards on seven carries.

R.J. Harris led all REDBLACKS receivers with 80 yards on four catches while Ryan Davis had five catches for 67 yards.

Ottawa’s special teams got in on the action as well with electrifying returner DeVonte Dedmon scoring on a punt return. The team’s defensive effort included four sacks on Elks’ quarterback Taylor Cornelius and two timely interceptions from Antoine Pruneau and Brandin Dandridge. SAM linebacker Don Unamba led the way for the home team on defence as well, tallying one of the aforementioned sacks along with a forced fumble and a game-high nine tackles.

Elks quarterback Taylor Cornelius completed 22 of 31 passes for 334 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in his team’s loss. Greg Ellingson scored a touchdown, his first of the season, and caught 126 yards on seven catches for the Elks while Shai Ross hauled in two major scores.

Caleb Evans started the game for the home team, leading his REDBLACKS down the field and scoring a touchdown on the first drive of the evening. It was Ryan Davis who hauled in the 20-yard touchdown pass from Evans but not before the receiver threw a 37-yard pass to Kenny Stafford on the previous play, as Ottawa dug into their bag of tricks early. With the point after, the REDBLACKS took an early 7-0 lead.

Taylor Cornelius then hit the turf for the Elks looking to respond but Don Unamba stripped the ball from Greg Ellingson on the first play of the drive. Ottawa recovered and brought their offence right back onto the field.

And the scoring didn’t stop there for Ottawa. Evans connected with Timothy Flanders (after Evans scampered 17 yards himself on the drive) and the running back rumbled his way into the end zone for the 15-yard score. With Lewis Ward’s point after, the REDBLACKS took a 14-0 lead just five minutes into the contest.

The big plays kept coming for the REDBLACKS from their rookie QB as the game was progressing. Ottawa was pinned in their own zone and Evans decided to stretch the field with a 44-yard pass to R.J. Harris as the first quarter was coming to a close. However, the Elks defence held strong on the drive and Ottawa had to punt the ball away to finish out the first frame.

To start the second quarter, Dakota Prukop was under centre for Edmonton. Once Prukop helped the team get a first down, Cornelius was back into the game but Ottawa’s defence got the stop and forced the Elks to punt the ball away for the third time on the night.

DeVonte Dedmon‘s ensuing return, along with a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Edmonton, moved Evans and co. deep into Elks territory. After missing Anthony Coombs in the end zone and completing an eight-yard pass to Harris, the REDBLACKS settled for a field goal on third down, as Ward connected on his 15-yard attempt. That increased Ottawa’s lead to 17-0 midway through the second frame.

Ottawa’s defence continued to flex their muscles when Edmonton hit the field on their ensuing drive. Cleyon Laing stopped James Wilder Jr. on the first play of the drive, holding him to a two-yard gain, and that was followed by a Davon Coleman sack on Cornelius for a loss of seven yards, forcing the visitors to punt once again.

The Elks defence responded with a sack of their own, with Nyles Morgan getting to the REDBLACKS QB to end Ottawa’s drive. Ward missed his 50-yard field goal attempt, as the three minute warning was approaching.

Edmonton got on the scoreboard with under three minutes left in the half. Cornelius aired things out, finding Shai Ross down field for the 77-yard touchdown score. With the completed convert, the Elks cut the REDBLACKS lead to 17-7.

That would be the final scoring play as the first half came to a close.

To start the second half, the Elks went two-and-out as their first drive ended with Unamba getting the sack on Cornelius. On the ensuing punt, Dedmon did what Dedmon does best and took it all the way to the house for the 73-yard return touchdown. That score, along with the convert, extended Ottawa’s lead to 24-7.

Edmonton responded with a score of their own when they got the ball back, as Cornelius moved the Elks offence down the field 77 yards on seven plays to set up Ellingson’s first touchdown of 2021. The 18-yard touchdown and the completed convert cut Ottawa’s lead to 24-14.

Momentum continued to swing the Elks way late in the third frame, as Cornelius moved the chains into field goal range. Sean Whyte booted a 48-yarder with four minutes left in the quarter, cutting the REDBLACKS lead to 24-17.

On Ottawa’s next possession, they responded with a field goal, as Ward connected on his 32-yard attempt to cap the six-play, 30-yard drive that was highlighted by a 17-yard catch-and-run from Davis. That score increased the REDBLACKS lead to 27-17 as the third quarter came to a close.

Just as Edmonton was moving down the field and into scoring range to start the final frame, Cornelius was looking for Mike Jones in the end zone but the REDBLACKS defence was right there for the timely interception. Brandin Dandridge picked off the Elks pivot, bringing Evans and co. back into the game.

Edmonton’s defence did their part, however, not allowing the REDBLACKS to capitalize on the turnover as Richie Leone had to punt the ball away.

The REDBLACKS defence continued their strong play late in the contest as they tallied their third sack of the night, with Avery Ellis getting to the Elks QB. That sack forced Edmonton to punt the ball away with 10 minutes left in the game.

When Evans got back on the field on the next drive, he called his own number twice (a 14-yard gain followed by a one-yard pick up) and then tossed an 18-yard pass to Davis. That moved the REDBLACKS deep into Edmonton’s zone. Following a two-yard gain from Davis, Stafford hauled in his first touchdown as a REDBLACK. The five-play, 42-yard drive, along with the convert, extended Ottawa’s lead to 34-17.

Edmonton wasn’t done scoring, however. With five minutes left in the game, Cornelius moved his team’s offence down the field to set up Ross’ second touchdown of the evening. That score, along with the point after, cut the REDBLACKS lead to 34-24.

With under two minutes left on the clock, the Elks were hoping to move down the field to try for a comeback but Antoine Pruneau intercepted Edmonton’s pivot to seal the deal for the home team.

Up next for the REDBLACKS is a trip to Toronto to take on the Argonauts next Wednesday while the Elks head to Winnipeg to play the Blue Bombers next Friday.

CFB Week 5 Conference Notes: Mountain West Conference

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Week 5 Conference Notes: Mountain West Conference

NEXT UP

Friday, October 1 TV/Digital Time
#15/13 BYU at Utah State CBS Sports Network 7 p.m. MT

Saturday, October 2 TV/Digital Time

Nevada at Boise State* FS1 1:30 p.m. MT

UNLV at UTSA ESPN+ 5 p.m. CT

Air Force at New Mexico* FS2 4:30 p.m. MT

New Mexico State at San José State MWN/NBC Sports California 7:30 p.m. PT

#21/18 Fresno State at Hawai‘i* CBS Sports Network 5 p.m. HT

*Mountain West game

AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WEST

• Fresno State is ranked No. 18 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 21 in the USA TODAY AFCA Coaches Poll. At least one Mountain West program has been nationally ranked each year since the league’s inception in 1999. Furthermore, the MW has had a team ranked in the top-20 in six consecutive seasons.

• Fresno State junior WR Jalen Cropper tied a Mountain West single-game record with four receiving touchdowns against UNLV on Sept. 24. The last Bulldog to haul in four touchdown passes in a game was Davante Adams (2013).

• Through Week 4, the Mountain West has five victories over autonomous-5 opponents, the most of any non-autonomous-5 conference in 2021. Including all 10 FBS conferences, the MW is tied for the third-most A5 victories with the ACC, and trails only the Big Ten and SEC.

• The league has a .500 record against opponents from the Pac-12 in 2021.

• In nonconference play, the Mountain West has compiled a 25-16 (.610) record, the fifth-best win percentage nationally and best among the non-autonomous-5 conferences.

• San Diego State has opened the 2021 season with a 4-0 record, which includes a pair of victories over autonomous-5 opponents (Arizona and Utah). The Aztecs are the only non-autonomous-5 team with multiples wins over autonomous-5 opponents this season.

• Wyoming is off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 1996 (9-0). The Cowboys and San Diego State are two of 26 undefeated teams nationally.

• San José State is riding a nine-game win streak in Mountain West play, which is tied for the third-longest active league win streak nationally. In 2020, the
Spartans were 7-0 in MW play, and they haven’t lost a league contest Nov. 23, 2019.

• Fresno State RB Ronnie Rivers is the nation’s active FBS leader with 48 career touchdowns, setting the program career record on Saturday, Aug. 28. Rivers is four touchdowns shy of tying for fifth-most in Mountain West history, a spot currently held by San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny (2014-17).

• Dating back to the 2019 season, the Mountain West has won 16 games against autonomous-5 opponents, including 14 against the Pac-12.

• In the past 17 years, the Mountain West has been the top nonautonomous 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 5 Conference Notes: SEC Conference

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Week 5 Conference Notes: SEC Conference

SEC OPENS OCTOBER WITH SIX CONFERENCE GAMES

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2

Arkansas (4-0, 1-0 SEC) at Georgia (4-0, 2-0 SEC) Series: UGA leads, 11-4
Noon ET • ESPN Last: UGA, 37-10 (2020 at Fayetteville)
Athens, Ga. • Sanford Stadium (92,746) Sirius: 121/81 • XM: 191/81

Tennessee (2-2, 0-1 SEC) at Missouri (2-2, 0-1 SEC) Series: MIZ leads, 5-4
11 a.m. CT • SEC Network Last: UT, 35-12 (2020 at Knoxville)
Columbia, Mo. • Faurot Field (62,621) Sirius: 103/132 • XM: 192/190

Ole Miss (3-0, 0-0 SEC) at Alabama (4-0, 1-0 SEC) Series: UA leads, 52-10-2
2:30 p.m. CT • CBS Last: UA, 63-48 (2020 in Oxford)
Tuscaloosa Ala. • Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821) Sirius: 121/81 • XM: 191/81

Troy (2-2) at South Carolina (2-2, 0-2 SEC) Series: SC leads, 3-0
3:30 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Columbia, S.C. • Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559) Sirius: 132 • XM: 190

Florida (3-1, 1-1 SEC) at Kentucky (4-0, 2-0 SEC) Series: UF leads, 53-18
6 p.m. ET • ESPN Last: UF, 34-10 (2020 at Gainesville)
Lexington, Ky. • Kroger Field (61,000) Sirius: 106/103 • XM: 235/182

Mississippi State (2-2, 0-1 SEC) at Texas A&M (3-1, 0-1 SEC) Series: Tied 7-7
6 p.m. CT • SEC Network Last: TAMU, 28-14 (2020 at Starkville)
College Station, Texas • Kyle Field (102,733) Sirius: 81 • XM: 388/81

UConn (0-5) at Vanderbilt (1-3, 0-1 SEC) Series: VU leads, 2-1
6:30 p.m. CT • ESPNU
Nashville, Tenn. • Vanderbilt Stadium (40,350) Sirius: 121 • XM: 191

Auburn (3-1, 0-0 SEC at LSU (3-1, 1-0 SEC) Series: LSU leads, 31-23-1
8 p.m. CT • ESPN Last: AU, 48-11 (2020 at Auburn)
Baton Rouge, La. • Tiger Stadium (102,321) Sirius: 138/132 • XM: 202/190

 

THIS IS SEC FOOTBALL
• Fourteen times in the last 15 seasons, a team from the SEC has advanced to the national championship game. The SEC has won 11 of those contests, with two of the losses coming in the game’s final seconds. The winner of the SEC Championship Game has advanced to the National Championship Game all but once since 2006.

• The SEC finished 7-2 in the postseason in 2020 to lead the nation in bowl wins, with all seven wins coming against Top-25 competition – the most in history for the conference. In the four bowl games where an unranked SEC team played a Top-25 opponent, the SEC went 3-1.

• Since Florida in January 2009, five different teams from the SEC have played for the national championship. Four of those five have multiple appearances and at least one victory since 2007.

• Not counting games versus each other, the SEC is 10-3 all-time in College Football Playoff games, playing in six of the seven CFP Championship Games (winning four of those six). Since 2006, the SEC has posted a 27-14 (.659) record in BCS/CFP games, more wins, appearances and winning percentage than any other A5 conference.

• More than 350 players from Southeastern Conference schools were listed on the initial 53-man NFL rosters to begin the 2020 season. Seven SEC schools were represented by at least 25 former players on active rosters, including Alabama with a league-high 57. In addition to the 53-man active rosters, more than 100 former SEC players are listed on reserve lists or practice squads for NFL teams. A total of 25 former SEC players were on active rosters of the Super Bowl between the Chiefs and Bucs.

• The SEC is 97-55 (.638) in bowl games since 2006, the only FBS league with a .600 or better winning percentage and 30 wins more than the next closest conference.

• The SEC has now won 47 games in the last seven postseasons and has sent no less than eight teams to post-season bowls in each of the last 14 seasons.

• In the seven seasons of the College Football Playoff era, only six programs nationally have been ranked No. 1 in the weekly CFP Top-25 Poll (which begins in late October each year) – four of those six programs (Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State) are from the SEC.

• Nine different SEC teams, including all seven from the SEC Western Division, have made BCS/New Year’s Six bowl game appearances since 2006: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Texas A&M. Since the formation of the College Football Playoff in 2014, six of the seven schools in the Western Division have advanced to a New Year’s Six bowl.

• With Georgia and Alabama both earning victories in the CFP Semifinals in 2017, the national championship game featured two SEC teams for the second time in the last nine seasons.

CFB Week 5 Conference Notes: Big 12 Conference

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Week 5 Conference Notes: Big 12 Conference

THIS WEEK IN THE BG 12

Saturday, October 2
Texas at TCU (ABC) 11:00 a.m.
Series: UT 63-27-1
Last Meeting: TCU 33-31 in Austin on Oct. 3, 2020.

No. 6/4 Oklahoma at Kansas State (FOX) 2:30 p.m.
Series: OU 76-21-4
Last Meeting: K-State 38-35 in Norman on Sept. 26, 2020.

Texas Tech at West Virginia (ESPN2) 2:30 p.m.
Series: WVU 6-4
Last Meeting: TTU 34-27 in Lubbock on Oct. 24, 2020.

No. 21/24 Baylor at No. 19/18 Oklahoma State (ESPN2) 6:00 p.m.
Series: OSU 21-18
Last Meeting: OSU 42-3 in Waco on Dec. 12, 2020.

Kansas at Iowa State (FS1) 6:00 p.m.
Series: KU 50-44-6
Last Meeting: ISU 52-22 in Lawrence on Oct. 31, 2020.

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

 

CONFERENCE NEWS AND NOTES

For the first time this season, the Big 12 has a full slate of conference games on Saturday to welcome in the month of October.

The Big 12 has a .793 (23-6) win percentage in non-conference outings, good for second among FBS leagues. One game remains with Baylor hosting future Big 12 member BYU on Oct. 16. Four of the six losses were to other autonomy leagues and two were to ranked opponents.

No. 21/24 Baylor jumped into the national rankings for the first time this season, joining No. 6/4 Oklahoma and No. 19/18 Oklahoma State. While they have been ranked in the coaches’ poll each week, the Cowboys entered the AP ledger for the first time. Texas is the top vote-getter outside the top 25 with Iowa State and K-State also
receiving points.

Among FBS leagues, the Big 12 is second in scoring (33.7) and rushing yards per game (182.87), as well as third in fewest yards allowed (339.2).

Fifty percent of Big 12 teams are in the top 23 nationally for rushing defense, allowing less than 100 yards a game on the ground: 7. Iowa State (68.8), 9. Oklahoma (74.2), 11. K-State (75.2), 19. Oklahoma State (87.0) and 23. West Virginia (90.5).

Fifty percent of offenses are in the top 29 in scoring: 3. Texas (46.8), 10. Baylor (42.8), 20. Oklahoma and Texas Tech (38.8) along with 29. TCU (37.7).

Big 12 players of the week were awarded to Texas’ Casey Thompson (offensive) and Xavier Worthy (newcomer), Baylor’s Trestan Ebner (special teams) and Garmon Randolph (co-defensive), as well as Oklahoma State’s Malcolm Rodriguez (co-defensive).

Baylor is 4-0 for the sixth time in the last nine seasons and collected its first win over a ranked opponent since Dec. 29, 2015, when the Bears beat No. 10 North Carolina in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

Iowa State running back Breece Hall broke a pair of records last Saturday, taking over the top spot in the Big 12 with 16 consecutive games with a rushing touchdown. Missouri’s Corby Jones (1997-98) previously held the record with 15. Hall also set a Cyclone school record with 40 career TDs.

Kansas’ Ra’Mello Dotson intercepted a Duke pass and returned it 65 yards. The interception marked the first of his career and the first by a Jayhawk this season.

The nation’s leader in non-offensive touchdowns since 1999 with 123, K-State got its first one of the year on a 99-yard kickoff return by Malik Knowles in the first quarter at Oklahoma State.

Oklahoma kicker Gabe Brkic’s game-winning 30-yard field goal as time expired is believed to be OU’s first game-winning field goal with no time left on the clock. Brkic converted all three of his field goal attempts and his lone extra point attempt. He has scored at least 10 points in 15 of his 25 career games.

Oklahoma State won its sixth straight game, its longest winning streak since 2016. Since the beginning of the 2016 season, the Cowboys are 9-3 when unranked in the AP Top 25 and facing a ranked opponent.

TCU running back Zach Evans had 113 yards rushing on 15 carries last week, topping 100 yards for the fourth time in the last five games. He added a 46-yard touchdown catch for the first receiving score of his career.

Josh Thompson’s 27-yard interception return for a touchdown was the first defensive touchdown for Texas since 2017. The Longhorns scored 70 points for the first time since the 2005 Big 12 Championship Game.

Texas Tech QB Henry Colombi threw a single-game and career-high three touchdown passes last week. He matched a career-long 75- yard pass to Kaylon Geiger for a touchdown.

With Jackie Matthews’ interception in the second quarter, the Mountaineers have now forced a turnover in 67 of the last 87 games. West Virginia’s opening drive of the first quarter was its longest of the season in both plays (17) and time (9:07).

CFB Week 5 Conference Notes: Big Ten Conference

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Week 5 Conference Notes: Big Ten Conference

WEEK 5 SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, OCT. 1
IOWA at MARYLAND
8 p.m. | FS1

SATURDAY, OCT. 2
Charlotte at ILLINOIS
Noon | Big Ten Network

MINNESOTA at PURDUE (HC)
Noon | Big Ten Network

MICHIGAN at WISCONSIN
Noon | FOX

OHIO STATE at RUTGERS
3:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network

Western Kentucky at MICHIGAN STATE (HC)
7:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network

NORTHWESTERN at NEBRASKA (HC)
7:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network

INDIANA at PENN STATE
7:30 p.m. | ABC
All times Eastern

BIG TEN. BIG NEWS.
• Six Big Ten conference games are on the docket this weekend, including four divisional matchups. The action kicks off on Friday night as Iowa travels to Maryland (8 p.m. on FS1). The complete schedule appears to the right.

• Five Big Ten teams remain undefeated on the season, as Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State are all 4-0.

• Five Big Ten teams appear in the AP Poll this week. Penn State leads the conference at No. 4, followed by No. 5 Iowa, No. 11 Ohio State, No. 14 Michigan, and No. 17 Michigan State, while Maryland, Rutgers and Wisconsin all received votes.

• Michigan currently ranks among the top 20 nationally in both scoring offense and scoring defense. The Wolverines rank No. 4 nationally in scoring defense (11.8 points per game), while ranking 16th in scoring offense (40.2 ppg). Through Week 4, the Wolverines are the only team in the nation that has yet to turn the ball over in 2021.

• Iowa improved to 4-0 on the season with a 24-14 win over Colorado State. The Hawkeyes have now won their last 10 games, including seven Big Ten wins, and have outscored their opponents, 329-117, during that stretch. Iowa currently ranks third in the country in scoring defense, surrendering just 11.0 points per game. According to Big Ten Network research, the Hawkeyes have gone 26 straight games in which they have allowed 24 points or fewer, which is the longest active streak in the FBS and is tied for the second-longest streak by an FBS team since 1990.

• Ohio State ranks No. 2 in the country in total offense (559.2 ypg) and No. 7 in scoring offense (43.2 ppg).

• The Big Ten boasts four top 10 FBS running backs in terms of rushing yards per game: Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III (1st, 138.5), Northwestern’s Evan Hull (8th, 119.5), Michigan’s Blake Corum (9th, 118.8) and Minnesota’s Trey Potts (10th, 118.5). Corum leads the nation with 180.75 all-purpose yards per game.

• Ohio State freshman running back TreVeyon Henderson recorded the most rushing yards by an FBS player in a single game this season in Week 3 vs. Tulsa (277), while Walker’s 264 rushing yards in Week 1 vs. Northwestern rank second in the FBS.

• Five Big Ten teams rank in the top 10 in terms of scoring defense: Iowa (3rd, 11.0 ppg), Michigan (4th, 11.8 ppg), Rutgers (7th, 13.5 ppg), Maryland (t-8th, 14.2 ppg) and Purdue (t-8th, 14.2 ppg).

• Michigan State wide receiver Jayden Reed was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after he returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter vs. Nebraska to tie the game at 20-20. Reed also returned a kick 41 yards to set up a field goal and hauled in a 32-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. Reed has now scored multiple touchdowns in three straight games and is one of just two players in the country to log a rushing, receiving and punt return touchdown this season.

• Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford was named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 401 yards and four touchdowns in the Nittany Lions’ 38-17 win over Villanova. Clifford became just the second quarterback in Penn State history to throw for more than 400 yards in a game. Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson hauled in a 52-yard touchdown pass from Clifford on Penn State’s first play from scrimmage, marking the fifth straight game in which he has caught a touchdown.

• After a 37-16 win over Kent State, Maryland is 4-0 for the first time since 2016. Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 384 yards and three touchdowns in the win and is averaging 335 passing yards per game (8th in the country). According to Big Ten Network research, Tagovailoa’s 1,340 passing yards this season are the most by a Terrapin through four games since 1993. Wide receiver Dontay Demus Jr. hauled in four catches for 108 yards and a touchdown in the win. Demus has now recorded seven career 100-yard games and is tied for the second-most 100- yard receiving games in Maryland history with Torrey Smith, Derrick Fenner and Jo Jo Walker.

• 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 didn’t win a title in the first five years. 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.

CFB Week 5 Conference Notes: Atlantic Coast Conference

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Week 5 Conference Notes: Atlantic Coast Conference

2021 SCHEDULE (SEPT. 30-OCT. 2)

Thursday, Sept. 30 Time, TV Sirius XM App/Web
Virginia (2-2, 0-2) at Miami (2-2, 0-0) 7:30 p.m., ESPN 84 84 84
Series: Miami leads series, 11-7; Last meeting: Miami,19-14 (2020)
ESPN: Matt Barrie (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), Harry Lyles Jr. (sideline)

Saturday, Oct. 2 Time, TV Sirius XM App/Web
Duke (3-1, 0-0) at North Carolina (2-2, 1-2) Noon, ESPN2 85 85 85
Series: North Carolina leads series, 62-40-4; Last meeting: North Carolina, 56-24 (2020)
ESPN2: Mike Morgan (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), Dawn Davenport (sideline)

Pitt (3-1, 0-0) at Georgia Tech (2-2, 1-1) Noon, ACCN 111 193 955
Series: Pitt leads series, 10-5; Last meeting: Pitt, 34-20 (2020)
ACCN: Wes Durham (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), Lericia Harris (sideline)

Louisville (3-1, 1-0) at No. 24 Wake Forest (4-0, 2-0) 12:30 p.m., RSN 138 202 965
Series: Louisville leads series, 6-2; Last meeting: Louisville, 45-21 (2020)
RSN: Tom Werme (play-by-play), Charles Arbuckle (analyst), Lauren Jbara (sideline)

Syracuse (3-1, 0-0) at Florida State (0-4, 0-2) 3:30 p.m., ACCN 111 193 955
Series: Florida State leads series, 11-2; Last meeting: Florida State, 35-17 (2019)
ACCN: Chris Cotter (play-by-play), Mark Herzlich (analyst), Jalyn Johnson (sideline)

Louisiana Tech (2-2) at No. 23 NC State (3-1) 6 p.m., ACCNX & ESPN+ 133 203 966
Series: NC State leads series, 1-0; Last meeting: NC State, 40-14 (2013)
ACCNX/ESPN+: John Schriffen (play-by-play), Rene Ingoglia (analyst)

Boston College (4-0, 0-0) at No. 25 Clemson (2-2, 1-1) 7:30 p.m., ACCN 111 193 955
Series: Clemson leads, 19-9-2; Last meeting: Clemson, 34-28 (2020)
ACCN: Dave O’Brien (play-by-play), Tim Hasselbeck (analyst), Kelsey Riggs (sideline)

ACC FOOTBALL QUICK HITS

• A wide-open race for the Subway ACC Football Championship Game begins in earnest this week as five of the six games are league matchups. Boston College, Duke, Miami, Pitt and Syracuse are playing their first conference games of the season. The action begins Thursday when Virginia (2-2, 0-2) travels to Miami (2-2, 0-0) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN. Miami has won six of the last seven games in the series, with Virginia’s win coming in 2018 by a 16-13 score in Charlottesville. The Cavaliers last won at Miami in 2011.

• Saturday’s slate kicks off at noon with North Carolina (2-2, 1-2) hosting Duke (3-1, 0-0) in the 107th meeting between the two rivals on ESPN2. North Carolina seeks three consecutive wins over the Blue Devils for the first time since winning eight straight from 2004-11. Duke won three straight in the series from 2016-18 and holds a 5-4 edge over the Tar Heels in games played since 2012. In the most recent meeting at Kenan Stadium in 2019, UNC held on for a 20-17 victory in dramatic fashion as LB Chazz Surratt picked off RB Deon Jackson’s trick-play pass at the goal line with 14 seconds left to preserve the Tar Heels’ win.

• Also at noon on ACC Network, Georgia Tech hosts Pitt for the third consecutive season. Pitt holds a 5-3 edge in ACC games between the programs following last year’s 34-20 win. Both teams are coming off impressive victories. The Yellow Jackets defeated No. 21 UNC, 45-22, last Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta,
while Pitt set several school records in a 77-7 win over New Hampshire.

• No. 24 Wake Forest (4-0, 2-0) welcomes Louisville (3-1, 1-0) to Winston-Salem for a key Atlantic Division matchup at 12:30 p.m. on RSN. The Demon Deacons are 4-0 for the fourth time under head coach Dave Clawson, while Louisville enters the game on a three-game win streak. This is just the ninth meeting between the two programs. Last year’s 45-21 Cardinals’ victory in Louisville marked the fifth consecutive year in which the winning team scored at least 42 points.

• Syracuse (3-1, 0-0) is coming off a 24-21 win over Liberty and travels to Tallahassee to face Florida State (0-4, 0-2) at 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network. The Seminoles won the most recent meeting in 2019 by a 35-17 score and have won 11 of the last 12 meetings. FSU is 6-0 all-time versus the Orange in Tallahassee.

• No. 23 NC State (3-1), fresh off a win over No. 9 Clemson, plays its final non-conference game of the season against Louisiana Tech (2-2) at 6 p.m. on ACCNX/ESPN+. The Wolfpack has the nation’s sixth-ranked scoring defense, surrendering just 13.0 points per game.

• Saturday’s schedule concludes with unbeaten Boston College (4-0, 0-0) traveling to Clemson (2-2, 1-1) for a primetime 7:30 p.m. matchup on ACC Network. Clemson posted a 34-28 win in Death Valley last season as freshman QB DJ Uiagalelei threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns in his first start as No. 1 Clemson rallied
from 18 points down in the first half. Boston College is 4-0 for the first time since starting with eight straight wins in 2007.

AROUND THE ACC
• Boston College: The Eagles moved to 4-0 for the first time since 2007 with a 41-34 overtime victory against Missouri. Missouri was the first SEC team to play at Alumni Stadium since BC defeated Tennessee 20-18 on Oct. 31, 1987.

• Clemson: Clemson surrendered its first offensive touchdown of the season with five seconds remaining in the first quarter against NC State. It ended a streak of 194:55 to open the season in which Clemson did not allow an offensive touchdown. It was Clemson’s longest season-opening streak without allowing an offensive touchdown since 1950

• Duke: QB Gunnar Holmberg rushed for four touchdowns to help lift Duke past Kansas, 52-33. His four rushing scores tied the program record for rushing touchdowns in a game, last achieved in 2013.

• Florida State: RB Jashaun Corbin rushed for a career-high 159 yards and one touchdown against Louisville. The rushing effort marked Corbin’s fourth career 100-yard game.

• Georgia Tech: Playing for the first time since he was injured in a season-opening loss to Northern Illinois, Jeff Sims ran for 128 yards on 10 carries and completed 10 of 13 passes for 112 yards for Georgia Tech in a win over UNC.

• Louisville: QB Malik Cunningham completed 25-of39 pass attempts for 264 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to 56 rushing yards and two more scores on
the ground in Louisville’s 31-23 over FSU.

• Miami: Rookie QB Tyler Van Dyke delivered an impressive first start against Central Connecticut State, finishing 10-for-11 for 270 yards and three touchdowns in a near-perfect effort. Van Dyke had an 83- yard touchdown pass and finished with the third-most passing yards of any quarterback at Miami making his first career start since 1999.

• North Carolina: WR Josh Downs has 32 receptions on the year, 20 more than the next player on UNC’s roster. Downs is second in the ACC in receptions per game and receiving yards per game.

• NC State: The Wolfpack’s 27-21 double overtime victory over No. 9 Clemson is their first win over a top-10 team since defeating then-No. 3 Florida State 17-16 in 2012.

• Pitt: QB Kenny Pickett has thrown 11 TDs in his last two contests. Per ESPN Stats & Info, Pickett is just the third quarterback in ACC history to throw five TD passes in consecutive games, joining Clemson’s Tajh Boyd (2012) and Maryland’s Scott Milanovich (1993).

• Syracuse: RB Sean Tucker has 100-yard rushing totals in three of four games this season. He finished with 32 attempts for 169 yards in the win over Liberty. It was the first time a Syracuse player had 30 rushing attempts since 2016.

• Virginia: QB Brennan Armstrong joins Tajh Boyd (Clemson), Jerod Evans (Virginia Tech), Lamar Jackson (Louisville) and Philip Rivers (NC State) as the only ACC quarterbacks since 2000 to throw for 13 touchdowns in the first four games of the season. t Virginia Tech: The Hokies’ defense ranks 15th nationally, holding opponents to just 15.3 points per game.

• Wake Forest: PK Nick Sciba, who has converted on an FBS best 19-straight field goal attempts, now holds the NCAA record for field goal percentage with a career mark of 64-of-71 (90.1 percent)

CFB Week 5 Game Previews: American Athletic Conference

NCAAFB Editor
-
0
CFB Week 5 Game Previews: American Athletic Conference

FRIDAY, OCT. 1 • 7:30 P.M. • ESPN

HOUSTON at TULSA
H.A. Chapman Stadium (30,000/FieldTurf)
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Television
ESPN
Roy Philpott, Andre Ware and Paul Carcaterra
Houston Radio Tulsa Radio
KPRC-AM 950 KXBL-FM 99.5
SiriusXM 381/971 SiriusXM 380/970

THE GAME
Friday’s game will be the 45th meeting between Houston and Tulsa in a series that dates to 1950 … Houston holds a 25-19 series lead and has won five of the six meetings as American Athletic Conference members … The Cougars have won the last two meetings, including a 24-14 decision in Tulsa in 2019.

HOUSTON
3-1, 1-0 American
Head Coach
Dana Holgorsen (Iowa Wesleyan ’93)
10-14, third season at Houston
71-55, 11th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Houston improved to 3-1 with a 28-20 win against Navy in the Cougars’ American Athletic Conference opener last Saturday … The Cougars opened 2021 with a 38-21 loss to Texas Tech, but have won their last three games … Houston has limited its opponents to 16.2 points and 244.8 yards per game … Houston is fifth nationally in total defense and fourth in pass defense (116.0 ypg) … QB Clayton Tune has thrown for 729 yards and five touchdowns and has completed 75 of 105 passes (71.4%) … WR
Nathaniel Dell has 25 receptions for 342 yards and three touchdowns … Freshman RB Alton McCaskill is the leading rusher with 242 yards and four TDs … LB Derek Parish has team highs with 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss … CB Marcus Jones has two punt returns for touchdowns.

TULSA
1-3, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Philip Montgomery (Tarleton State ’95)
32-43, seventh season

Notes
Tulsa picked up its first win of the 2021 season with a 41-34 decision against Arkansas State last week at Chapman Stadium … The Golden Hurricane was stunned by FCS UC Davis 19-17 in the season-opener and were within striking distance in road games against Oklahoma State and Ohio State before getting the win against the Red Wolves … QB Davis Brin has started all four games and has completed 82 of 134 passes for 1,209 yards and five touchdowns and is second in The American in passing with 302.3 yards per game … Tulsa has three running backs with at least 175 rushing yards this season, led by RB Shamari Brooks, who has 292 yards and a TD on 52 carries … WR Josh Johnson has 23 catches for 317 yards and a touchdown to lead a talented group of receivers … DE Cullen Wick has 2.0 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss to lead the defense.

SATURDAY, OCT. 2 • NOON • ESPNU

MEMPHIS at TEMPLE
Lincoln Financial Field (69,596/Natural Grass)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Television
ESPNU
Kevin Brown and Hutson Mason
Radio
WKIM-FM 98.9 WPEN-FM 97.5
SiriusXM 381/971 SiriusXM 380/970

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the seventh meeting between Memphis and Temple in a series that dates to the formation of the American Athletic Conference in 2013 … Each team has won three games in the series, while the home team has won the last four matchups … Memphis was a 41-29 winner at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium last year.

MEMPHIS
3-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Ryan Silverfield (Hamden-Sydney ’03)
11-5, second season

Notes
Memphis suffered its first loss of the season last week as the Tigers let an early 21-0 lead slip away and fell 31-28 to UTSA when the Roadrunners got the game-winning field goal as time expired … Memphis had reeled off wins against Nicholls (42-17), Arkansas State (55-50) and Mississippi State (31-29) to start the year … The loss to UTSA snapped a 17-game winning streak at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium … The top player has been WR Calvin Austin III, who has 27 receptions for 533 yards and seven touchdowns and also has a 94-yard punt return for a touchdown on his ledger … QB Seth Henigan has thrown for 1,170 yards and nine touchdowns as a true freshman … RB Brandon Thomas leads The American in rushing at 123.5 yards per game … LB JJ Russell is the national leader in tackles, averaging 11.8 per game.

TEMPLE
2-2, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Rod Carey (Indiana ’93)
11-13, third season at Temple
63-43, ninth season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Temple is looking to string together back-to-back wins for the first time this season after the Owls scored to a 41-7 win against Wagner last Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field … Temple fell behind 7-0, but closed the game with 41 unanswered points … The Owls’ other victory was a 45-24 decision at Akron, while Temple has fallen to Rutgers and Boston College … Temple has been outscored 47-7 in the first quarter, but has outscored its opponents by a 79-38 margin in the second and third periods … QB D’Wan Mathis, who had missed the previous two games due to injury, returned to the starting lineup against Wagner … Mathis has thrown for 440 yards and two touchdowns in two starts … WR Randle Jones has 14 catches for 240 yards and two touchdowns.

SATURDAY, OCT. 2 • 2:30 P.M. • NBC

CINCINNATI at NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame Stadium (77,622/FieldTurf)
Notre Dame, Indiana
Television
NBC
Mike Tirico, Drew Brees and Kathryn Tappen
Radio
WLW-AM 700 (Cincinnati flagship)
SiriusXM 211

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the second meeting between Cincinnati and Notre Dame and the schools’ first meeting since the Fighting Irish took a 58-0 win Oct. 20, 1900 …
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly served as Cincinnati’s head coach from 2006-09 and led the Bearcats to a pair of Big East championships and a No. 3 national ranking.

7/8 CINCINNATI
3-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Luke Fickell (Ohio State ’97)
38-14, fifth season at Cincinnati
44-21, sixth season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Cincinnati returns from an open week that followed a solid 38-24 win against Indiana in Week 3 … The Bearcats opened the 2021 season with a 49-14 victory against
Miami (Ohio) and a 42-7 win against Murray State … Cincinnati has been ranked in the top 10 of both national polls all season and 17 consecutive polls dating to last season … QB Desmond Ridder has thrown for 748 yards and seven touchdowns against two interceptions this season … RB Jerome Ford has averaged 100 rushing yards per game and has a team-high six rushing TDs … WR Alec Pierce has nine catches for 150 yards and a TD … The defense is led by All-America CB Ahmad Gardner, who leads a secondary that allowed only 160.7 passing yards per game … LB Deshawn Pace has 25 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss..

9/7 NOTRE DAME
4-0
Head Coach
Brian Kelly (Assumption ’83)
106-96, 12th season at Notre Dame
277-96-2, 31st season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Notre Dame brings an unbeaten record into Saturday’s game after the Irish scored a 41-13 win against No. 15 Wisconsin Saturday in Chicago … Notre Dame opened with
an overtime win at Florida State and has followed with victories against Toledo and Purdue … The 4-0 start is the sixth in 12 seasons for head coach Brian Kelly in South Bend … The strength of the Irish has been a defense that has registered nine interceptions through four games, tying for first nationally, and has 14 sacks … Kelly surpassed Knute Rockne for the most wins in program history when he picked up his 106th win against Wisconsin … QB Jack Coan has thrown for 986 yards and nine touchdowns … RB Kyren Williams has a team-high 244 rushing yards with two TDs … FS Kyle Hamilton has three interceptions.

SATURDAY, OCT. 2 • 3:30 P.M. • CBSSN

CENTRAL FLORIDA at NAVY
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (34,000/FieldTurf)
Annapolis, Maryland
Television
CBS Sports Network
Chick Hernandez, Randy Cross and Sheehan Burch
UCF Radio Navy Radio
WYGM-FM 96.9 WBAL-AM 1090
SiriusXM 134/207/967

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the third meeting between UCF and Navy … The only two previous meetings were in 2017 and 2018, when the Knights scored a pair of wins as part of their 25-game winning streak that spanned both seasons … The 2017 meeting in Annapolis saw UCF RB Adrian Killins rush for 122 yards and two TDs.

-/rv UCF
2-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Gus Malzahn (Henderson State ‘90)
2-1, first season at UCF
79-39, 10th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
UCF suffered its first loss of the season in Week 3 when Louisville rallied for a 42-35 victory … The Knights had opened with wins against Boise State (36-31) and
Bethune-Cookman (63-14) and did not play in Week 4 … QB Dillon Gabriel has been sidelined indefinitely with a clavicle injury on the final play of the game at Louisville … True freshman QB Mikey Keene is expected to make his first career start in the game at Navy … RB Isaiah Bowser has rushed for 268 yards and five touchdowns, while RB Johnny Richardson averages 8.9 yards per carry and has 134 rushing yards … WR Brandon Johnson leads the team with 15 receptions for 151 yards and three touchdowns … WR Ryan O’Keefe also has 15 catches to go with 229 yards, while WR Jaylon Robinson averages 19.5 yards per catch.

NAVY
0-3, 0-1 American
Head Coach
Ken Niumatalolo (Hawaii ‘89)
101-70, 14th season

Notes
Navy looks for its first win of the season as the Midshipmen dropped a 28-20 decision to Houston in their American Athletic Conference opener last week … Navy is looking to snap an eight-game losing streak that dates to last year … The Midshipmen are in a stretch in which they face the top five teams in The American’s preseason media poll followed by a road game against No. 7 Notre Dame … Navy has gone 30-18 all-time in conference games since joining The American in 2015, but is 0-1 in conference play for the first time … Navy has averaged 187.7 rushing yards per game, led by QB Xavier Arline, who has a team-leading 171 yards with two touchdowns on 51 carries … Navy’s quarterbacks have completed 12 of 34 passes (35.3%) … WR Mychal Cooper has six receptions for 128 yards and is averaging 21.3 yards per catch.

SATURDAY, OCT. 2 • 3:30 P.M. • ESPN+

TULANE at EAST CAROLINA
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (50,000/Natural Grass)
Greenville, North Carolina
Television
ESPN+
Mark Neely and Barrett Brooks
Tulane Radio East Carolina Radio
KVDU-FM 104.1 WNCT-FM 107.9
SiriusXM 381/971 SiriusXM 380/970

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 17th meeting between East Carolina and Tulane in a series that dates to 1991 … The Pirates hold an 11-5 series lead, though the Green Wave has won the last three meetings … Tulane took a 38-21 win last season in Greenville as QB Michael Pratt threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns.

TULANE
1-3, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Willie Fritz (Pittsburg State ’83)
30-36, sixth season at Tulane
184-105, 25th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Tulane is looking for its first win of the 2021 season after the Green Wave dropped a 28-21 decision to UAB in what turned out to be the school’s home opener …
Tulane battled No. 2 Oklahoma to the wire in a 40-35 loss in Week 1 and cruised past Morgan State 69-20 in Week 2 before dropping games to Ole Miss (61-21) and UAB … Pratt has thrown for 882 yards and 10 touchdowns against two interceptions in four games … The leading rusher is RB Cameron Carroll, who has 14 rushing yards and a touchdown on 33 carries … WR Tyrick James has 15 catches for 246 yards and two touchdowns … The defense is paced by DE Noah Seiden, who has 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss, whle LB Darius Hodges leads the team with 6.0 tackles for loss.

EAST CAROLINA
2-2, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Mike Houston (Mars Hill ’94)
9-16, third season at East Carolina
89-41, 11th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
East Carolina has won its last two games after the Pirates held off upset-minded Charleston Southern for a 31-28 victory last Saturday … That result followed a 42-38 win at Marshall in which the Pirates trailed by 17 points in the fourth quarter … East Carolina opened the season with losses to Appalachian State (33-19) and South Carolina (20-17) … QB Holton Ahlers has thrown for 978 yards and five touchdowns in 80-of-138 passing … The top target has been WR Tyler Snead, who has 18 catches for 202 yards and a TD … RB Keaton Mitchell has averaged 7.8 yards per carry, has 352 rushing yards with two touchdowns and is the second-leading receiver with 14 catches … The defense is led by CB Ja’Quan McMillian, who has a league-leading three interceptions and a team-high 27 tackles.

SATURDAY, OCT. 2 • 4 P.M. • ESPNU

SOUTH FLORIDA at SMU
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000/FieldTurf)
Dallas, Texas
Television
ESPNU
Mike Couzens and Dustin Fox
South Florida Radio SMU Radio
WHNZ-AM 1250 KTCK-FM 96.7
Sirius 382/972

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the sixth meeting between South Florida and SMU in a series that started with the formation of The American in 2013 … The Bulls hold a 3-2 series lead, but the Mustangs were 48-21 winners in Tampa in the last meeting in 2019 … SMU QB Shane Buechele threw for 226 yards and three TDs in that game.

SOUTH FLORIDA
1-3, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Jeff Scott (Clemson ’03)
2-11, second season

Notes
South Florida dropped a 35-27 decision at No. 15 BYU last Saturday, but the Bulls were able to close within one score of the Cougars after falling behind 21-0 to start the game … South Florida has played a challenging schedule that has included three teams ranked in this week’s Associated Press top 25 (No. 10 Florida, No. 13 BYU, No. 23 NC State) … QB Timmy McClain has started the last two games as a true freshman and has passed for 558 yards and a touchdown to go with 132 rushing yards … RB Jaren Mangham leads the team with 168 rushing yards and has a league-leading seven rushing touchdowns … WR Xavier Weaver has 14 receptions for 294 yards and a TD and is averaging 21.0 yards per catch … The defense has been led by LB Andrew Mims and LB Daquan Evans, who have 25 tackles each, while LB Dwayne Boyles has 24 stops.

rv/rv SMU
4-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Sonny Dykes (Texas Tech ‘93)
26-14, fourth season at SMU
67-59, 11th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
SMU is off to a 4-0 start for the third consecutive season after the Mustangs won a 42-34 decision at TCU in the 100th battle for the Iron Skillet … SMU started the
season with wins against Abilene Christian (56-9), North Texas (35-12) and Louisiana Tech (39-37) … The Mustangs have averaged 43.0 points and 549.8 yards through their first four games … QB Tanner Mordecai has led the way with 1,268 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes … Mordecai has five more TD passes than any other NCAA
FBS player … RB Ulysses Bentley IV is averaging 7.6 yards per carry and has 403 rushing yards on 53 attempts … WR Danny Gray and WR Rahsee Rice have five touchdowns
each … Gray has 20 catches for 358 yards … LB Delano Robinson has a team-high 23 tackles.

CFB Week 5 Conference Notes: American Athletic Conference

NCAAFB Editor
-
0
CFB Week 5 Conference Notes: American Athletic Conference

THIS WEEK

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1
Houston at Tulsa *
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series: Houston leads, 25-19
Last Meeting: Nov. 23, 2019 (Houston, 24-14)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2
Memphis at Temple *
Time: Noon
Series: Tied, 3-3
Last Meeting: Oct. 24, 2020 (Memphis, 41-29)

Cincinnati at Notre Dame
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Series: Notre Dame leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 20, 1900 (Notre Dame, 58-0)

Central Florida at Navy *
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: UCF leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Nov. 10, 2018 (UCF, 35-24)

Tulane at East Carolina *
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: East Carolina leads, 11-5
Last Meeting: Nov. 7, 2020 (Tulane, 38-21)

South Florida at SMU *
Time: 4 p.m.
Series: South Florida leads, 3-2
Last Meeting: Sept. 28, 2019 (SMU, 48-21)

All times Eastern
* American Athletic Conference game

TALKING POINTS

CENTRAL FLORIDA
2-1, 0-0 American
@UCF_Football
Last: Lost at Louisville, 42-35
Next: Oct. 2 at Navy (CBSSN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..554.7 ……………………1st
Total Defense………………………… 354.3 …………………..4th
Scoring Offense ………………………..44.7 ……………………1st
Scoring Defense ………………………29.0 …………………..4th
• QB Dillon Gabriel figured in five UCF touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough for the Knights to get the road win against Louisville.
• Gabriel threw for 188 yards and three touchdowns and had one rushing TD and one touchdown catch against the Cardinals. • UCF has scored a rushing touchdown and a
passing touchdown in 52 consecutive games, the longest streak in the nation.
• The Knights are 43-9 in their last 52 games.
• RB Johnny Richardson rushed for a career-high 101 yards on only nine carries against Louisville.
• Gabriel suffered a fractured clavicle on the final play of the game against Louisville and will be sidelined indefinitely

CINCINNATI
3-0, 0-0 American
@BearcatsFB
Last: Won at Indiana, 38-24
Next: Oct. 2 at Notre Dame (NBC))
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 420.3 …………………..6th
Total Defense………………………….298.7 …………………..3rd
Scoring Offense ……………………….43.0 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Defense ……………………….15.0 …………………. 2nd
• Cincinnati’s defense forced four turnovers to lead the Bearcats past Indiana.
• The Bearcats trailed the Hoosiers 14-0 after the first quarter, but outscored Indiana 38-10 the rest of the way.
• Cincinnati is 34-5 since the start of the 2018 season. The Bearcats are 16-1 all-time as a top-10 team.
• Cincinnati has won its last 22 home games.
• The Bearcats have nine takeaways in their last two games.
• RB Jerome Ford has scored a touchdown in five consecutive games, dating to last season.

EAST CAROLINA
2-2, 0-0 American
@ECUPiratesFB
Last: Beat Charleston Southern, 31-28
Next: Oct. 2 vs. Tulane (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….400.0 ………………….. 7th
Total Defense…………………………498.0 …………………10th
Scoring Offense ………………………..27.3 …………………..6th
Scoring Defense ………………………29.8 …………………..5th
• East Carolina trailed Charleston Southern 14-0 after the first quarter, but the Pirates reeled off 31 consecutive points to take the win.
• RB Keaton Mitchell rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown against Charleston Southern, turning in his second consecutive 100-yard game.
• CB Ja’Quan McMillian matched his career high with 10 tackles to go with his third interception of the season against Charleston Southern. McMillian has an INT in three of the Pirates’ four games.
• The Pirates have forced at least one turnover in 12 consecutive games and in 23 of their last 24.
• WR Tyler Snead had 159 all-purpose yards against Charleston Southern and has at least one reception in 25 consecutive games.

HOUSTON
3-1, 1-0 American
@UHCougarFB
Last: Beat Navy, 28-20
Next: Oct. 1 at Tulsa (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….353.0 …………………..9th
Total Defense…………………………. 255.7 ……………………1st
Scoring Offense ………………………..31.3 …………………..5th
Scoring Defense ……………………….19.3 …………………. 2nd
• CB Marcus Jones scored on a 73-yard punt return and a 47-yard reception to spark the come-from-behind win against Navy.
• The Cougars trailed Navy 17-7 at halftime, but limited the Midshipmen to 64 total yards in the second half. Houston did not allow Navy to convert a third down in the final two quarters (0-for-6).
• QB Clayton Tune was 22-of-30 for 257 yards and a touchdown against the Midshipmen.
• Houston improved to 7-2 all-time in American Athletic Conference openers.
• Jones became the first Houston player with a punt return touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the same game since Patrick Edwards at Tulane in the 2011 season.

MEMPHIS
3-1, 0-0 American
@TigersAthletics
Last: Lost to UTSA, 31-28
Next: Oct. 2 at Temple (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….. 477.8 …………………..4th
Total Defense………………………….461.8 …………………..9th
Scoring Offense ……………………….39.0 …………………..5th
Scoring Defense ……………………….31.8 …………………..8th
• Memphis saw a 17-game winning streak at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium come to an end as UTSA got the game-winning field goal as time expired.
• The Tigers also saw a streak of 22 consecutive wins in nonconference home games come to an end.
• WR Calvin Austin III had six receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown against UTSA, giving him five touchdowns of at least 50 yards this season (four receiving, one punt return).
• QB Seth Henigan passed for 329 yards and a touchdown, giving him two 300-yard games in four career starts.
• TE Sean Dykes had six catches for 167 yards against UTSA, giving him four career 100-yard games.

NAVY
0-3, 0-1 American
@NavyAthletics
Last: Lost to Air Force, 23-3
Next: Sept. 25 at Houston (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..255.3 ………………….11th
Total Defense…………………………..357.7 …………………..5th
Scoring Offense ………………………..10.0 ………………….11th
Scoring Defense ………………………33.3 …………………..9th
• Navy built a 17-7 lead at halftime, but the Midshipmen were outscored 21-3 in the second half of their conference opener at Houston.
• Navy had 190 rushing yards and finished with 288 total yards against the Cougars, but the Midshipmen managed only 64 total yards in the second half.
• QB Xavier Arline led Navy with 64 rushing yards and a touchdown.
• Navy is 0-1 in The American for the first time. Navy had won its American Athletic Conference opener in each of its first six seasons in the league.
• LB Diego Fagot had nine tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack against the Cougars.

SOUTH FLORIDA
1-3, 0-0 American
@USFFootball
Last: Lost at BYU, 35-27
Next: Oct. 2 at SMU (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..331.3 …………………..6th
Total Defense………………………… 503.5 …………………10th
Scoring Offense ………………………..21.3 …………………10th
Scoring Defense ………………………34.8 …………………10th
• South Florida trailed BYU 21-0 after the first quarter, but the Bulls were able to close within a touchdown before falling in Provo.
• RB Jaren Mangham rushed for 86 yards and two touchdowns against BYU.
• QB Timmy McClain was 17-of-24 for 186 yards and had 55 rushing yards against the Cougars.
• The Bulls had 214 of their 367 yards in the second half agianst BYU. USF held BYU to seven points and 164 total yards in the final 30 minutes.
• WR Xavier Weaver had five receptions for 76 yards and added a 3-yard rushing touchdown against BYU.

SMU
4-0, 0-0 American
@SMU_Football
Last: Won at TCU, 42-34
Next: Oct. 2 vs. South Florida (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….549.8 …………………. 2nd
Total Defense………………………….441.8 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Offense ……………………….43.0 …………………..3rd
Scoring Defense ………………………23.0 …………………..3rd
• QB Tanner Mordecai had four more touchdown passes in SMU’s win against TCU in the 100th battle for the Iron Skillet
• Mordecai has 20 touchdown passes through four games, by far the most among FBS players.
• SMU is off to a 4-0 start for the third consecutive season. The Mustangs were 8-0 to start the 2019 season and won their first five games last year.
• The Mustangs have won 12 consecutive regular-season nonconference games.
• The win at TCU marked the first time since 1992 and 1993 that the Mustangs have won two straight in the Iron Skillet series.
• RB Ulysses Bentley had 20 carries for 153 yards and a touchdown against TCU.

TEMPLE
2-2, 0-0 American
@Temple_FB
Last: Beat Wagner, 41-7
Next: Oct. 2 vs. Memphis (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….336.3 …………………..9th
Total Defense………………………….281.0 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Offense ………………………. 25.8 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Defense ………………………30.0 …………………..6th
• QB D’Wan Mathis was 22-of-32 for a career-high 292 yards and two touchdowns to lead Temple past Wagner.
• Mathis had missed the Owls’ last two games due to injury.
• WR Jose Barbon had eight receptions for a career-high 130 yards against the Seahawks. It was Borbon’s first career 100-yard game.
• The Owls limited Wagner to eight first downs, 159 total yards and 2-of-15 efficiency on third down.
• RB Kyle Dobbins scored three rushing rouchdowns against Wagner, becoming the first Temple player with three TDs since Ryquell Armstead against Houston in 2018.

TULANE
1-3, 0-0 American
@GreenWaveFB
Last: Lost to UAB, 28-21
Next: Oct. 2 at East Carolina (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..420.2 …………………..6th
Total Defense………………………… 449.5 …………………..8th
Scoring Offense ……………………….38.0 …………………..5th
Scoring Defense ……………………….37.2 ………………….11th
• Tulane fell behind 21-0 in the first half before its comeback bid came up short in the Green Wave’s home opener against UAB.
• QB Michael Pratt threw for 296 yards and matched his career high with three touchdown passes, but was intercepted twice against UAB.
• Pratt has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 14 consecutive games. He has 30 career touchdown passes, ranking ninth in program history only four games into his sophomore season.
• Tulane, which had played its first three games away from Yulman Stadium, is back on the road for its conference opener against East Carolina Saturday.

TULSA
1-3, 0-0 American
@TulsaFootball
Last: Beat Arkansas State, 41-34
Next: Oct. 1 vs. Houston (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….489.8 …………………..3rd
Total Defense…………………………394.8 …………………..6th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 25.3 …………………..8th
Scoring Defense ………………………30.5 ………………….. 7th
• Tulsa had a season-high 663 yards of offense in the win against Arkansas State.
• QB Davis Brin threw for a career-high 355 yards and three touchdowns against the Red Wolves.
• The Golden Hurricane had two 100-yard rushers and two 100-yard receivers against Arkansas State.
• WR Sam Crawford Jr. had two receptions — both for touchdowns —totaling 105 yards against Arkansas State.
• Tulsa had three one-play scoring drives against Arkansas State. The three plays totaled 197 yards.
• The win against Arkansas State snapped a five-game losing streak.

RHP Keegan Thompson placed on the 10-day IL; RHP Jason Adam recalled from Triple-A Iowa

MLB Editor
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0
RHP Keegan Thompson placed on the 10-day IL; RHP Jason Adam recalled from Triple-A Iowa

PITTSBURGH – The Chicago Cubs today placed righthanded pitcher Keegan Thompson on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to September 27) with right shoulder inflammation and recalled righthanded pitcher Jason Adam from Triple-A Iowa.

 

Adam, 30, has no record and a 7.27 ERA (7 ER/8.2 IP) in 10 outings for Chicago this season, walking six and striking out 16. He was selected from Iowa, September 24, and served as the team’s “29th man” for that day’s split doubleheader vs. the St. Louis Cardinals, tossing a perfect inning with three strikeouts in the first game, before he was optioned back to Iowa following the twin bill.

 

The right-handed pitching Adam had been designated for assignment, May 25, and joined Iowa after clearing waivers. Adam suffered an open dislocation of his left ankle and was placed on Iowa’s seven-day disabled list, May 23. Upon his return to action, he posted a 1.80 ERA (1 ER/5.0 IP) with one walk and seven strikeouts in five outings from September 7-22 between the ACL Cubs and Iowa.

 

Adam owns a 5-4 record with eight holds and a 4.83 ERA (41 ER/76.1 IP) in 77 career relief appearances with the Royals (2018), Blue Jays (2019) and Cubs (2020-21). He has struck out 92 batters, good for an average of 10.9 strikeouts per 9.0 innings, with 39 walks and a 1.34 WHIP.

 

Thompson, 26, is 3-3 with a 3.38 ERA (20 ER/53.1 IP) in 32 games (six starts) during his first major league season.

Orioles roster moves

MLB Editor
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0
Orioles roster moves

This afternoon, the Orioles made the following roster moves:

 

Reinstated LHP Bruce Zimmermann from the 60-day Injured List (right ankle sprain).

 

Recalled INF Tyler Nevin from Triple-A Norfolk.

 

Placed RHP Chris Ellis on the 10-day Injured List (right shoulder inflammation).

 

Placed OF Anthony Santander on the 10-day Injured List (right knee sprain).

 

Transferred LHP Keegan Akin to the 60-day Injured List (left adductor strain).

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