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Week 3 Injury Report — Wednesday

NFL Editor
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Week 3 Injury Report — Wednesday
CAROLINA PANTHERS at HOUSTON TEXANS on Thursday night
CAROLINA PANTHERS
 The Panthers did not practice on Monday or Wednesday. The practice reports for those days are estimations.
Status Report
OUT DE Yetur Gross-Matos (ankle)
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Monday G Pat Elflein (hamstring), DE Yetur Gross-Matos (ankle)
Tuesday G Pat Elflein (hamstring), DE Yetur Gross-Matos (ankle)
Wednesday DE Yetur Gross-Matos (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Monday T Cameron Erving (knee), DE Morgan Fox (ankle)
Tuesday DE Morgan Fox (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Monday G Dennis Daley (hip), T Taylor Moton (ankle), RB Giovanni Ricci (knee), TE Tommy Tremble (groin)
Tuesday T Cameron Erving (knee), RB Giovanni Ricci (knee)
Wednesday T Cameron Erving (knee), DE Morgan Fox (ankle), CB Jaycee Horn (back), RB Giovanni Ricci (knee)
HOUSTON TEXANS
The Texans did not practice on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. The practice reports for those days are estimations.
Status Report
OUT WR Danny Amendola (thigh), CB Terrance Mitchell (concussion), QB Deshaun Watson (not injury related – personal matter)
QUESTIONABLE LB Kamu Grugier-Hill (knee), S Justin Reid (knee)
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Monday WR Danny Amendola (thigh), WR Nico Collins (shoulder), CB Terrance Mitchell (concussion), QB Tyrod Taylor (thigh), QB Deshaun Watson (not injury related – personal matter)
Tuesday WR Danny Amendola (thigh), LB Kamu Grugier-Hill (knee), CB Terrance Mitchell (concussion), S Justin Reid (knee), QB Deshaun Watson (not injury related – personal matter)
Wednesday WR Danny Amendola (thigh), LB Kamu Grugier-Hill (knee), CB Terrance Mitchell (concussion), S Justin Reid (knee), QB Deshaun Watson (not injury related – personal matter)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Monday LB Kamu Grugier-Hill (knee), S Justin Reid (knee)
ARIZONA CARDINALS at JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday T Kelvin Beachum (ribs), WR DeAndre Hopkins (ribs), C Rodney Hudson (not injury related – resting player), LB Chandler Jones (not injury related – resting player), DT Corey Peters (not injury related – resting player), G Justin Pugh (shoulder), CB Marco Wilson (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday WR A.J. Green (not injury related – resting player), LB Devon Kennard (hamstring)
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday C Brandon Linder (back), DT Jay Tufele (illness)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday G A.J. Cann (hamstring), CB C.J. Henderson (groin), CB Tre Herndon (knee), DT Roy Robertson-Harris (ankle), DE Jordan Smith (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday DE Lerentee McCray (hamstring), WR Laviska Shenault (shoulder)
ATLANTA FALCONS at NEW YORK GIANTS
ATLANTA FALCONS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday WR Frank Darby (calf), WR Russell Gage (ankle), CB A.J. Terrell (concussion)
NEW YORK GIANTS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday LB Cam Brown (hamstring), S Nate Ebner (quadricep), DT Austin Johnson (illness)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday RB Saquon Barkley (knee), TE Evan Engram (calf), WR Kenny Golladay (hip), S Logan Ryan (hamstring), TE Kaden Smith (knee)
BALTIMORE RAVENS at DETROIT LIONS
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday S DeShon Elliott (concussion), LB Justin Houston (not injury related – resting player), T Ronnie Stanley (ankle), T Alejandro Villanueva (not injury related – resting player), DT Brandon Williams (neck), DE Derek Wolfe (back, hip), CB Tavon Young (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday WR Marquise Brown (ankle), CB Jimmy Smith (ankle)
DETROIT LIONS
 The Lions did not practice Wednesday. The Wednesday practice report is an estimation.
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday LB Jamie Collins (not injury related – personal matter), LB Trey Flowers (shoulder, knee), WR Tyrell Williams (concussion)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday DE Michael Brockers (shoulder), LB Romeo Okwara (shoulder), WR Kalif Raymond (thigh), DE Kevin Strong (concussion), RB D’Andre Swift (groin)
CHICAGO BEARS at CLEVELAND BROWNS
CHICAGO BEARS
Practice Report
Wednesday Practice Not Complete
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday T Christopher Hubbard (triceps), LB Sione Takitaki (hamstring), C J.C. Tretter (knee), T Jedrick Wills (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday G Joel Bitonio (back), DE Jadeveon Clowney (knee), T Jack Conklin (knee), LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday WR Odell Beckham (knee), QB Baker Mayfield (left shoulder), WR Anthony Schwartz (knee), LB Malcolm Smith (knee)
CINCINNATI BENGALS at PITTSBURGH STEELERS
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday WR Tee Higgins (shoulder), G Xavier Su’a-Filo (knee), DT Josh Tupou (not injury related – personal matter), CB Trae Waynes (hamstring)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday DT Larry Ogunjobi (groin), CB Darius Phillips (not injury related – resting player)
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday DT Carlos Davis (knee), TE Eric Ebron (not injury related – resting player), LB Alex Highsmith (groin), WR Diontae Johnson (knee), QB Ben Roethlisberger (pectoral)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday CB Joe Haden (groin), CB Justin Layne (Achilles), LB T.J. Watt (groin)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday LB Devin Bush (groin)
GREEN BAY PACKERS at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS on Sunday night
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Practice Report
Wednesday Practice Not Complete
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Practice Report
Wednesday Practice Not Complete
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS at TENNESSEE TITANS
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday LB Jordan Glasgow (concussion), WR Zach Pascal (illness), CB Xavier Rhodes (calf), T Braden Smith (foot, thumb), QB Carson Wentz (ankles)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday WR Parris Campbell (abdomen)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday S Julian Blackmon (shoulder)
TENNESSEE TITANS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday LB Jayon Brown (hamstring), LB Bud Dupree (knee), CB Caleb Farley (shoulder), TE Anthony Firkser (knee), RB Derrick Henry (not injury related – resting player), C Ben Jones (knee), G Rodger Saffold (shoulder)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday WR A.J. Brown (knee), LB Derick Roberson (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday T Taylor Lewan (knee), T Ty Sambrailo (foot)
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Practice Report
Wednesday Practice Not Complete
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Practice Report
Wednesday Practice Not Complete
MIAMI DOLPHINS at LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday QB Tua Tagovailoa (ribs)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday T Jesse Davis (knee), WR Jakeem Grant (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday DE Emmanuel Ogbah (groin), WR DeVante Parker (shoulder), WR Preston Williams (foot)
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
 The Raiders did not practice Wednesday. The Wednesday practice report is an estimation.
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday G Richie Incognito (calf), RB Josh Jacobs (ankle), S Dallin Leavitt (concussion), CB Roderic Teamer (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday LB Nick Kwiatkoski (concussion), DE Carl Nassib (pectoral, toe), DE Yannick Ngakoue (hamstring), DT Darius Philon (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday QB Derek Carr (ankle), RB Alec Ingold (fibula), DT Quinton Jefferson (knee), T Alex Leatherwood (back)
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday C Erik McCoy (calf)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (knee), CB Marshon Lattimore (hand), T Calvin Throckmorton (knee), DE Payton Turner (elbow), LB Pete Werner (hamstring), CB P.J. Williams (back)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday DE Tanoh Kpassagnon (calf)
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday LB Matt Judon (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday T Trenton Brown (calf), RB Damien Harris (finger)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday LB Kyle Van Noy (throat)
NEW YORK JETS at DENVER BRONCOS
NEW YORK JETS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday WR Jamison Crowder (groin), DE John Franklin-Myers (calf), LB B.J. Goodson (not injury related – personal matter)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday LB Jamien Sherwood (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday QB Zach Wilson (groin)
DENVER BRONCOS
Practice Report
Wednesday Practice Not Complete
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS at MINNESOTA VIKINGS
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Practice Report
Wednesday Practice Not Complete
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday RB Dalvin Cook (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday LB Anthony Barr (knee), CB Bashaud Breeland (back, shoulder), T Christian Darrisaw (groin), DE Everson Griffen (concussion), LB Eric Kendricks (hip), CB Patrick Peterson (toe)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS at LOS ANGELES RAMS
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday WR Jaydon Mickens (abdomen), LB Jason Pierre-Paul (hand, shoulder)
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Practice Report
Wednesday Practice Not Complete
WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM at BUFFALO BILLS
WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday DT Matt Ioannidis (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday RB Antonio Gibson (shoulder)
BUFFALO BILLS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday WR Cole Beasley (not injury related – resting player), DE Jerry Hughes (not injury related – resting player), DT Star Lotulelei (groin)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday WR Gabriel Davis (ankle), S Micah Hyde (neck), CB Dane Jackson (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday LB Tremaine Edmunds (illness), DE Efe Obada (calf), CB Levi Wallace (knee)

Undefeated Carolina Panthers face Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football

NFL Editor
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Undefeated Carolina Panthers face Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football

Panthers-Texans EXCLUSIVELY on NFL Network Thursday at 8:20 PM ET

‘NFL GameDay Kickoff’ at 6:00 PM ET – Steve Smith Sr. 1-on-1 w/ Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey

Pregame Coverage Starts with ‘TNF First Look’ at 3:00 PM ET

The 2021 Thursday Night Football Presented by Bud Light Platinum season continues Thursday, September 23 when running back Christian McCaffrey and the undefeated Carolina Panthers travel to face running back Mark Ingram and the Houston Texans at 8:20 PM ET EXCLUSIVELY on NFL Network.

Panthers-Texans will also be available on local broadcast stations in Charlotte (WSOC) and Houston (KPRC). Fans can also stream the game through NFL digital properties across devices (NFL.com, the NFL app and NFL Network app), NFL Network distributors’ apps and sites, and on phones via Yahoo Sports and the Panthers and Texans mobile properties. Live game audio of Thursday Night Football will be broadcast nationally by Westwood One, and carried on SiriusXM and TuneIn. For a full listing of Thursday Night Football viewing options, fans can visit NFL.com/watch.

FOX Sports’ lead play-by-play announcer Joe Buck, and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and FOX Sports’ lead analyst Troy Aikman, along with sideline reporters Erin Andrews and Kristina Pink call the action from Houston. Additionally, FOX’s NFL Rules expert Mike Pereira joins to give explanations on officiating and rules throughout the game.

NFL Network’s on-location pregame coverage begins at 3:00 PM ET with TNF First Look hosted by Andrew Siciliano from inside NRG Stadium.

At 6:00 PM ET on NFL Network, NFL GameDay Kickoff previews the Panthers-Texans matchup with host Colleen Wolfe and analysts Joe Thomas, Steve Smith Sr. and Michael Irvin.

Among the topics discussed this week on NFL GameDay Kickoff include:

  • Steve Smith Sr. sits down with Carolina Panthers All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey
  • Michael Irvin explains what the Houston Texans need to do to make rookie quarterback Davis Mills comfortable in his first NFL start
  • Joe Thomas on the job head coach Matt Rhule has done in turning around the Carolina Panthers
  • NFL GameDay Kickoff discusses the biggest key behind Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold’s early success this season

At halftime, Wolfe, Thomas, Smith Sr. and Irvin break down the first half. Immediately following the game, the postgame show airs with Wolfe, Thomas, Smith Sr. and Irvin joined by a star of the game. Additional postgame coverage continues at 12 Midnight ET on NFL Network.

Last week, the 2021 Thursday Night Football schedule opened with a strong start as the Washington Football Team’s 30-29 win over the New York Giants averaged 7.9 million viewers (TV+Digital) – making it NFL Network’s most-watched exclusive Thursday Night Football game since 2018 (New York Jets vs. Cleveland Browns, 2018 Week 3).

NFC Players of the Week – Week 2

NFL Editor
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NFC Players of the Week – Week 2

CARDINALS QB KYLER MURRAY, BUCCANEERS S MIKE EDWARDS & 49ERS P MITCH WISHNOWSKY NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 2

Quarterback KYLER MURRAY of the Arizona Cardinals, safety MIKE EDWARDS of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and punter MITCH WISHNOWSKY of the San Francisco 49ers are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 2 (September 16, 19-20).

OFFENSE: QB KYLER MURRAY, ARIZONA CARDINALS

  • In their comeback win over Minnesota, Murray completed 29 of 36 attempts (80.6 pct.) for 400 yards and three touchdowns for a 117.6 rating and added 31 rushing yards with a rushing touchdown. It marked the most passing yards in the league in Week 2.
  • This is the fifth-career Offensive Player of the Week award for Murray:
    • 2019: Week 6
    • 2020: Weeks 5, 7, 15
    • 2021: Week 2
  • Murray ties cornerback Patrick Peterson (five) and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner (five) for the most Player of the Week Awards ever by a Cardinals player.

DEFENSE: S MIKE EDWARDS, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

  • In Tampa Bay’s victory over Atlanta, Edwards recorded four tackles and three passes defensed and became the first player since 1992 to record two interception-returns for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a single game.
  • This is the first-ever Defensive Player of the Week award for Edwards.
  • Edwards becomes the first Tampa Bay defensive back to earn the honor since cornerback Ronde Barber (Week 1, 2012) and is the franchise’s first safety to win since Pro Football Hall of Famer John Lynch (Week 13, 1996).

SPECIAL TEAMS: P MITCH WISHNOWSKY, SAN FRANCISCO

  • In San Francisco’s win in Philadelphia, Wishnowsky averaged 45.2 yards on his five punts (42.6 net), with three punts inside the 20-yard line, including two inside the 10 and one inside the 5.
  • This is the second-career Special Teams Player of the Week award for Wishnowsky (Week 9, 2019).
  • Wishnowsky joins Andy Lee (three-time winner) as the only San Francisco punters to earn the honor multiple times.

2021 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offense Defense Special Teams
Wk 1 QB Matthew Stafford, L.A. Rams LB Chandler Jones, Arizona P Bradley Pinion, Tampa Bay
Wk 2 QB Kyler Murray, Arizona S Mike Edwards, Tampa Bay P Mitch Wishnowsky, San Francisco

AFC Players of the Week – Week 2

NFL Editor
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AFC Players of the Week – Week 2

TITANS RB DERRICK HENRY, RAVENS LB ODAFE OWEH & RAIDERS K DANIEL CARLSON NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 2

Running back DERRICK HENRY of the Tennessee Titans, linebacker ODAFE OWEH of the Baltimore Ravens and kicker DANIEL CARLSON of the Las Vegas Raiders are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 2 (September 16, 19-20).

OFFENSE: RB DERRICK HENRY, TENNESSEE TITANS

  • Henry totaled 237 scrimmage yards (182 rushing on 35 attempts, 55 receiving on six catches) and three rushing touchdowns in Tennessee’s comeback overtime victory at Seattle. It marked the most scrimmage yards by a player in a game this season.
  • This is the fifth-career Offensive Player of the Week award for Henry:
    • 2018: Week 14
    • 2019: Week 17
    • 2020: Weeks 6, 17
    • 2021: Week 2
  • Henry now has the most Player of the Week Awards ever by a Titans player, breaking a tie with running back Chris Johnson and quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Steve McNair, who each won four times.

DEFENSE: LB ODAFE OWEH, BALTIMORE RAVENS

  • Oweh recorded three tackles, including a tackle for loss which forced a fumble that he also recovered in the final minutes of Sunday Night Football to help seal Baltimore’s victory over Kansas City.
  • He becomes the fourth Baltimore rookie to win Defensive Player of the Week, joining linebacker Patrick Queen (Week 5, 2020), safety Chad Williams (Week 13, 2002) and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis (Week 1, 1996).
  • Oweh becomes the sixth former Penn State linebacker to win Defensive Player of the Week and joins Sean Lee (Week 13, 2010) as the only rookies to do so.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K DANIEL CARLSON, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

  • Carlson converted all four of his field goal attempts (46, 33, 41 and 45 yards) and both of his extra points in Las Vegas’ Week 2 victory in Pittsburgh.
  • This is the third-career Special Teams Player of the Week award for Carlson:
    • 2018: Week 11
    • 2020: Week 1
    • 2021: Week 2
  • Carlson becomes the third Raiders kicker to earn the honor three times, joining Jeff Jaeger (three-time winner) and Sebastian Janikowski (seven-time winner).

2021 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offense Defense Special Teams
Wk 1 QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City DE Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas K Evan McPherson, Cincinnati
Wk 2 RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee LB Odafe Oweh, Baltimore K Daniel Carlson, Las Vegas

CFB Week 4 Previews: Atlantic Coast Conference

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Week 4 Previews: Atlantic Coast Conference

Friday, Sept. 24
Wake Forest (3-0, 1-0 ACC) at Virginia (2-1, 0-1 ACC)
7 p.m.; ESPN2
UVA leads series, 34-15
Last meeting: WF, 40-23 (2020)

Head Coaches:
Wake Forest – Dave Clawson (43-45 in eighth season at Wake Forest; 133-125 in 22nd season overall)
Virginia – Bronco Mendenhall (32-33 in sixth season at UVA; 131-76 in 17th season overall)

Notes: Wake Forest has won the last three meetings between the teams, including last year’s 40-23 decision in Winston-Salem • RB Kenneth Walker III had 123 yards rushing and three touchdowns, including a go-ahead 75-yard scoring run, to key the Deacons • Wake Forest won 16-10 on its most recent trip to Charlottesville nine years ago as RB Josh Harris ran for a touchdown, PK Chad Hedlund kicked three field goals and CB Kevin Johnson made a key interception • Prior to Wake Forest’s win at home in 2008 that kicked off its current four-game series winning streak, Virginia had won the previous three games against the Deacons and 20 of the previous 21 • The series was first played in 1889 at the Demon Deacons’ original Wake Forest, N.C., campus (a 46-4 Virginia win) • Friday night’s game will be the first road test of this season for Wake Forest and Virginia’s third home contest in four games.

Friday, Sept. 24
Liberty (3-0) at Syracuse (2-1, 0-0 ACC)
8 p.m.; ACCN
Series tied, 1-1
Last meeting: Liberty, 38-21 (2020)

Head Coaches:
Syracuse – Dino Babers (26-37 in sixth season at Syracuse; 63-53 in 10th season overall)
Liberty – Hugh Freeze (21-6 in third season at Liberty; 63-38 in 11th season overall)

Notes: Syracuse seeks to avenge last season’s home-field loss to Liberty as the Flames visit the Carrier Dome for the second consecutive year • The rematch will wrap up a three-game series between the schools that opened in 2019 with a 24-0 Syracuse win in Lynchburg, Va. • The Orange, ranked No. 22 nationally entering the contest, accumulated eight quarterback sacks and held Liberty to minus-4 rushing yards while pitching the shutout • Liberty turned the tables in last year’s game, rushing for 338 yards while registering its first-ever win over an ACC opponent • RB Shedro Louis had a breakout game for Liberty, rushing for 170 yards on 10 carries, scoring touchdown on runs of 75 and 52 yards • Liberty, now in its fifth season as an FBS member, posted an 8-5 record in 2019 under then first-year head coach Hugh Freeze, followed by last season’s 10-1 showing that included second consecutive Cure Bowl victory.

Saturday, Sept. 25
Missouri (2-1, 0-1 SEC) at Boston College (3-0, 0-0 ACC)
Noon; ESPN2
First meeting

Head Coaches:
Boston College – Jeff Hafley (9-5 in second season at Boston College and overall)
Missouri – Eliah Drinkwitz (6-6 in second season at Missouri; 18-7 in third season overall)

Notes: First-ever meeting between the Eagles and Tigers kicks off a home-and-home series, with Boston College set to visit Missouri on Sept. 2, 2024 (Labor Day) • The game wraps up a month of September that has seen Boston College opened its season with four consecutive non-conference games • The Eagles’ road trip to Clemson on Oct. 2 will begin a stretch of eight consecutive ACC games to close out the regular season • Missouri is under the watch of second-year head coach Eliah Drinkwitz, who came to the Tigers following a 12-1 season at Appalachian State in 2019 • Prior to his one-year stint as head coach of the Mountaineers, Drinkwitz spent three seasons (2016-18) as NC State’s offensive coordinator • BC will be facing an SEC opponent for the first time since a 16-14 loss to Vanderbilt in the 2008 Music City Bowl • The Eagles seek to improve on a 13-19-1 all-time record against SEC opponents.

Saturday, Sept. 25
New Hampshire (3-0, 2-0) at Pitt (2-1, 0-0 ACC)
Noon; ACCNX/ESPN+
Pitt leads series, 1-0
Last meeting: Pitt, 38-16 (2010)

Head Coaches:
Pitt – Pat Narduzzi (43-35 in seventh season at Pitt and overall)
New Hampshire – Sean McDonnell (157-96 in 22nd season at New Hampshire and overall)

Notes: Pitt faces New Hampshire for the second time and the first since the Panthers’ 38-16 victory at Heinz Field on Sept. 11, 2010 • Pitt QB Tino Sunseri threw for two touchdowns in a span of five minutes, and backup RB Ray Graham ran for 115 yards and two scores to lead the Panthers • The head coach Pitt faced in that game remains at the New Hampshire helm, as Sean McDonnell is in his 22nd season leading the team at his alma mater • McDonnell is the winningest active head coach in the CAA with 100 league victories and ranks No. 3 all-time • Saturday’s game closes out the regular-season non-conference schedule for Pitt, which will launch its ACC slate with back-to-back road trips to Coastal Division opponents Georgia Tech (Oct. 2) and Virginia Tech (Oct. 16) • The Panthers seek to clinch a winning record in nonconference platy for the third consecutive season.

Saturday, Sept. 25
Richmond (2-1, 0-1 CAA) at Virginia Tech (2-1, 1-0 ACC)
Noon; ACCN
VT leads series, 37-10-4
Last meeting: VT, 17-10 (1986)

Head Coaches:
Virginia Tech – Justin Fuente (40-27 in sixth season at Virginia Tech; 66-50 in 10th season overall
Richmond – Russ Huesman (20-21 in fifth season at Richmond, 79-58 in 13th season overall)

Notes: Virginia Tech and Richmond renew an in-state series that saw the programs meet 51 times between 1897 and 1986 before taking a 35-year hiatus • Virginia Tech’s 17-10 victory in the most recent game gave the Hokies a 22-3-1 all-time record versus Richmond in Blacksburg • The Spiders won 24-14 in Richmond in 1985 to snap a four-game Virginia Tech winning streak in the series • The Hokies won the first 10 meetings between the teams from 1897 through 1936, but held a modest 6-4 edge in the final 10 games before the series went on hold • Saturday’s game continues a stretch in which Virginia Tech plays six of its first seven games this season at home • Following an open date the first weekend of October, the Hokies welcome Notre Dame on Oct. 9 before playing back-to-back home ACC games versus Pitt (Oct. 16) and Syracuse (Oct. 23).

Saturday, Sept. 25
Central Connecticut (1-2, 1-0 NEC) at Miami (1-2, 0-0 ACC)
12:30 p.m.; RSN
First meeting

Head Coaches:
Miami – Manny Diaz (15-12 in third season at Miami and overall)
Central Connecticut- Ryan McCarthy (13-4 in second season at Central Connecticut and overall)

Notes: Central Connecticut takes on an ACC opponent for the first time since 2017, when the Blue Devils dropped a 51-17 decision at Syracuse • In addition to the Orange, recent FBS opponents for Central Connecticut have included Ball State (2018) and Eastern Michigan (2019) • The Blue Devils led Eastern Michigan late in the 2019 game until an EMU blocked punt led to the winning touchdown in the fading seconds • Prior to seeing the 2020 season canceled due to the pandemic, Central Connecticut posted an 11-2 season in 2019 under first-year head coach Ryan McCarthy that included an FCS playoff berth • Saturday’s game will be the third of a four-game homestand for Miami, which opens ACC play Thursday night, Sept. 30, versus visiting Virginia • The game will be the first of eight consecutive conference games to close out the Hurricanes’ regular season.

Saturday, Sept. 25
#9 Clemson (2-1, 1-0 ACC) at NC State (2-1, 0-0 ACC)
3:30 p.m.; ESPN
Clemson leads, 59-28-1
Last meeting: Clemson, 55-10 (2019)

Head Coaches:
Clemson – Dabo Swinney (142-34 in 14th season at Clemson and overall)
NC State – Dave Doeren (57-47 in ninth season at NC State; 80-51 in 11th season overall)

Notes: Clemson has won the last eight matchups against NC State in the annual “Textile Bowl,” including the last four games between the teams played in Raleigh • The visiting Tigers rolled to a 45-point win two years ago as QB Trevor Lawrence set the tone by accounting for three first-quarter touchdowns • The Wolfpack’s last win in the series came in 2011, when it stunned the seventh-ranked Tigers by a 37-13 score at Carter-Finley Stadium • The teams will be meeting for the 89th time in a series that was first played in 1899 at Rock Hill, S.C. • Clemson owns a 22-16 edge over the Wolfpack in games played in Raleigh and is 39-22 versus NC State in ACC play • In addition to Rock Hill, the earlier days of the series featured games in Charlotte, N.C. and Columbia, S.C., as well as the South Carolina town of Florence • Following a run of six straight years in Charlotte, all games since 1945 have been played in Raleigh or Clemson.

Saturday, Sept. 25
Louisville (2-1, 0-0 ACC) at Florida State (0-3, 0-1 ACC)
3:30 p.m.; ESPN
FSU leads series, 16-5
Last meeting: UL, 48-16 (2020)

Head Coaches:
Louisville – Scott Satterfield (14-13 in second season at Louisville; 64-37 in ninth season overall)
Florida State – Mike Norvell (3-9 in second season at Florida State; 41-24 in fi fth season overall)

Notes: Louisville’s decisive win at home last season snapped Florida State’s two game-winning steak in the series • RB Javian Hawkins ran for a season-best 174 yards and a career-high three touchdowns for the Cardinals • FSU won the most recent meeting in Tallahassee by a 35-24 score in 2019 as RB Cam Akers scored three touchdowns and QB Alex Hornibrook came off the bench to throw a 60-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to rally the home team • Last season’s outcome halted a trend that had seen Florida State win six of the previous eight meetings between the programs in Louisville • FSU is 10-2 versus Louisville at home and stands 4-2 versus the Cardinals in ACC games • Louisville won the series opener in Tallahassee in 1952 by a score of 41-14 • The Seminoles then won the next 12 meetings before the Cardinals broke through with a 26-20 overtime win at home in 2002.

Saturday, Sept. 25
Kansas (1-1, 0-0 Big 12) at Duke (2-1, 0-0 ACC)
4 p.m.; ACCN
Series tied, 1-1
Last meeting: Duke, 41-3 (2014)

Head Coaches:
Duke – David Cutcliffe (76-89 in 14th season at Duke; 120-118 in 20th season overall)
Kansas – Lance Leipold (1-2 in first season at Kansas; 147-41 in 15th season overall)

Notes: Duke and Kansas play the third game in a series that has seen each side win at home in the previous two meetings • The teams first met at Kansas in 2009, where the 22nd-ranked Jayhawks bagged a 44-16 victory by breaking the game open with 27 unanswered points • Duke starting QB Thaddeus Lewis finished the day 16-of-27 for 184 yards, while Sean Renfree came off the bench to hit on 14-of-23 pass attempts for 115 yards • Duke won 41-3 at Durham in 2014 as freshman running back Shaun Wilson broke the then-school single-game rushing record with 245 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead the Blue Devils • Duke is 7-4 all-time against current Big 12 teams and had won the last three games under head coach David Cutcliffe – sweeping Baylor in a home-and-home series in 2017and 2018 following the win
over Kansas in 2014.

Saturday, Sept. 25
#21 North Carolina (2-1, 1-1 ACC) at Georgia Tech (1-2, 0-1 ACC)
7:30 p.m.; ACCN
GT leads series, 30-22-3
Last meeting: UNC, 38-22 (2019)

Head Coaches:
North Carolina – Mack Brown (86-57-1 in 13th season at North Carolina; 261-133-1 in 33rd season overall)
Georgia Tech – Geoff Collins (7-18 in third season at Georgia Tech; 22-28 in fifth season overall)

Notes: Georgia Tech makes the short trip off campus to welcome the visiting Tar Heels to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Saturday night’s ACC game • The contest will be the third of this month at the NFL venue involving at least one conference team following the Miami/Alabama and Louisville-Ole Miss matchups over Labor Day Weekend • QB Sam Howell threw for four touchdowns and RB Javonte Williams rushed for 144 yards and a score as the Tar Heels scored on three straight drives in the second half to win their most recent game versus the Yellow Jackets two years ago at Bobby Dodd Stadium • Georgia Tech holds a 20-16-1 edge in ACC play, with the tie representing the only non-win by the Yellow Jackets’ 1990 National Championship squad (a 13-13 deadlock at Kenan Stadium on Oct. 20 of that year) • The Yellow Jackets are 19-9 all-time versus the Tar Heels in Atlanta.

CFB Week 4 Conference Notes: SEC

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Week 4 Conference Notes: SEC

SEC PLAY DOMINATES WEEK 4 SLATE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
LSU (2-1, 0-0 SEC) at Mississippi State (2-1, 0-0 SEC) Series: LSU leads, 75-36-3
11 a.m. CT • ESPN Last: MSU, 44-34 (2020 at Baton Rouge)
Starkville, Miss. • Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (61,337) Sirius: 99/136• XM: 192/191

Missouri (2-1, 0-1 SEC) at Boston College (3-0) Series: First Meeting
11 a.m. CT • ESPN2
Chestnut Hill, Mass. • Alumni Stadium (44,500) Sirius: 133 • XM: 207

Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC) at Vanderbilt (1-2, 0-0 SEC) Series: UGA leads, 58-20-2
11 a.m. CT • SEC Network Last: UGA, 30-6 (2019 in Nashville)
Nashville, Tenn. • Vanderbilt Stadium (40,350) Sirius: 81/135 • XM: 81/190

Texas A&M (3-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Arkansas (3-0, 0-0 SEC) Series: ARK leads, 41-33-3
2:30 p.m. ET • CBS Last: TAMU, 42-31 (2020 at College Station)
Arlington, Texas • AT&T Stadium (86,798) Sirius: 136/135 • XM: 191/190

Georgia State (2-2) at Auburn (2-1, 0-0 SEC) Series: First Meeting
3 p.m. CT • SEC Network
Auburn, Ala. • Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451) Sirius: 81 • XM: 81

Tennessee (2-1, 0-0 SEC) at Florida (2-1, 0-1 SEC) Series: UF leads, 30-20
7 p.m. ET • ESPN Last: UF, 31-19 (2020 at Knoxville)
Gainesville, Fla. • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Spurrier-Florida Field (88,548) Sirius: 99/84 • XM: 192/84

Kentucky (3-0, 1-0 SEC) at South Carolina (2-1, 0-1 SEC) Series: SC leads, 18-13-1
7 p.m. ET • ESPN2 Last: UK, 41-18 (2020 at Kentucky)
Columbia, S.C. • Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559) Sirius: 136/135 • XM: 191/190

Southern Miss (1-2) at Alabama (3-0, 1-0 SEC) Series: UA leads, 35-6-2
6:30 p.m. CT • SEC Network
Tuscaloosa Ala. • Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821) Sirius: 81 • XM: 81

OPEN: Ole Miss (3-0, 0-0 SEC)

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

Thursday Night Capsule – Carolina Panthers at Houston Texans

NFL Editor
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Thursday Night Capsule – Carolina Panthers at Houston Texans

Week 3 of the 2021 NFL season gets underway on Thursday, September 23 (8:20 PM ET, NFL Network) as the Houston Texans (1-1) host the Carolina Panthers (2-0) in an interconference matchup. This marks only the sixth all-time meeting between the two franchises, with the Panthers holding a 3-2 series advantage. Carolina has won each of the past three meetings, including a 16-10 victory in Houston in Week 4 of the 2019 season. Running back CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY led the way in the win, totaling 10 receptions, 179 scrimmage yards (93 rushing, 86 receiving) and a rushing touchdown.

Carolina enters this game with its first 2-0 record since 2017 and will look to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2015, when the Panthers started the season by winning their first 14 games and advanced to Super Bowl 50. Last week in their win over New Orleans, quarterback SAM DARNOLD passed for 305 yards, his fifth-career game with at least 300 passing yards, and two touchdowns for a 99.1 rating. Darnold will be looking to surpass 275 passing yards in three consecutive games for the first time in his career. His top target last week was wide receiver DJ MOORE, who had a team-high eight receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown. He has at least 90 receiving yards in two of his past three against the AFC South. Wide receiver ROBBY ANDERSON, who had a touchdown catch in Week 1, had seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown in his only career game against Houston (December 15, 2018 with the Jets).

McCaffrey enters Week 3 with a league-best 324 scrimmage yards (170 rushing, 154 receiving) and leads all running backs with 14 catches. In three career games on Thursday Night Football, he has 255 scrimmage yards (85 per game) and four touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing). Linebacker HAASON REDDICK has recorded 1.5 sacks in each of his first two career games as a Panther this season. Defensive end BRIAN BURNS also had a sack last week and aims for his fifth in a row with a sack, tied for the longest active streak in the league. Rookie cornerback JAYCEE HORN, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, recorded his first-career interception in Week 2.

Houston rookie quarterback DAVIS MILLS is expected to make his first-career start on Thursday. Mills, who was selected in the third round (67th overall) out of Stanford in the 2021 NFL Draft, passed for 102 yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut last week. Wide receiver BRANDIN COOKS led the team with nine catches for 78 yards and a touchdown in Week 2 and is aiming for his fourth consecutive game with at least 75 receiving yards. He also has a touchdown reception in three of his past four games. Running back MARK INGRAM had two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) in his last game on Thursday Night Football (December 12, 2019 with Baltimore) and he leads all active running backs in career rushing yards (7,450) and rushing touchdowns (63). Running back DAVID JOHNSON has 487 scrimmage yards (121.8 per game) and three rushing touchdowns in four career games on Thursday Night Football. Running back PHILLIP LINDSAY had a touchdown catch in Week 2 and is one of two players in the league with both a rushing and receiving touchdown this season.

Linebacker ZACH CUNNINGHAM leads the Houston defense, as his 176 tackles since the start of the 2020 season are the most in the NFL. Fellow linebacker CHRISTIAN KIRKSEY recorded a fumble recovery last week and is one of three players in the league with both an interception and fumble recovery this season. Safety JUSTIN REID had an interception and forced fumble in Week 2 and is one of two players with an interception in each of the first two weeks of the season.

Thursday’s contest marks the second of eight games exclusively televised on NFL Network this season and will be produced by FOX. The game will feature Joe Buck, Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews and Kristina Pink on the call.

CFB Week 4 Conference Notes: Mountain West Conference

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Week 4 Conference Notes: Mountain West Conference

NEXT UP

Friday, September 24 TV/Digital Time
UNLV at #25/22 Fresno State* CBS Sports Network 7 p.m. PT

Saturday, September 25 TV/Digital Time
Boise State at Utah State* CBS 10 a.m. MT

San José State at Western Michigan ESPN+ 2 p.m. ET

Towson at San Diego State Stadium 12:30 p.m. PT

Colorado State at #6/5 Iowa FS1 2:30 p.m. CT

Wyoming at UConn CBS Sports Network 3:30 p.m. ET

Hawai‘i at New Mexico State FloFootball 6 p.m. MT

Florida Atlantic at Air Force FS2 6 p.m. MT

New Mexico at UTEP ESPN+ 7 p.m. MT

*Mountain West game

AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WEST

• Fresno State are ranked No. 22 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 25 in the USA TODAY AFCA Coaches Poll. The Bulldogs are ranked for the first time since 2018. At least one Mountain West program has been nationally ranked each year since the league’s inception in 1999.

• Fresno State is coming off a victory at No. 13/13 UCLA, the Conference’s first victory over a top-15 nationally-ranked nonconference opponent since 2014 (Boise State def. No. 10 Arizona in Fiesta Bowl).

• Through Week 3, the Mountain West has five victories over autonomous-5 opponents, the most of any non-autonomous-5 conference in 2021. The league has a .500 record against opponents from the Pac-12.

• San Diego State has opened the 2021 season with a 3-0 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.

• Utah State is 3-0 for first time since 1978, when the Aggies opened the season 5-0. The Aggies are receiving votes in the USA TODAY AFCA Coaches Poll.

• Wyoming is off to a 3-0 start and a victory on Saturday at UConn would put the Cowboys at 4-0 for the first time since 1996 (9-0).

• San José State is riding a nine-game win streak in Mountain West play, which is tied for the fourth-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 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 4 Conference Notes: Conference-USA

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Week 4 Conference Notes: Conference-USA

UPCOMING GAMES (ALL TIMES CT)
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Marshall at Appalachian State (ESPN) 6:30 pm

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Middle Tennessee at Charlotte (CBSSN)5:30 pm

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
FIU at Central Michigan (ESPN+) 11 am

UTSA at Memphis (ESPNU) 2:30 pm

Buffalo at Old Dominion (ESPN+) 5 pm

Texas Southern at Rice (ESPN3) 5:30 pm

North Texas at LA Tech (Stadium) 6 pm

Southern Miss at No. 1 Alabama (SEC Network)6:30 pm

Florida Atlantic at Air Force (FS2) 7 pm

UAB at Tulane (ESPN+) 7 pm

Indiana at WKU (CBSSN) 7 pm

New Mexico at UTEP (ESPN+) 8 pm

QUICK HITTERS

A LOOK AT WEEK FOUR
All 14 Conference USA teams are in action in Week 4, with two more conference games. Middle Tennessee travels to Charlotte to take on the 49ers on Friday night, while North Texas makes the trip to Ruston to battle Louisiana Tech. The other 10 C-USA teams are in non-conference battles.

Marshall (2-1) makes the trip to Boone, North Carolina, to face off against Sun Belt foe Appalachian State (2-1) on Thursday night on ESPN at 6:30 p.m. CT on Thursday. Marshall dropped its first game of the season last week in a 42-38 loss at home to East Carolina. Appalachian State defeated Elon 44-10 last week.

A Friday night C-USA battle between Middle Tennessee (1-2, 0-1 C-USA) and Charlotte (2-1) takes place at Jerry Richardson Stadium at 5:30 p.m. CT live on CBS Sports Network. Middle Tennessee dropped its league opener last week at UTSA, 27-13. Charlotte also fell, suffering its first loss of 2021 on the road at Georgia State, 20-9.

The Saturday slate kicks off at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN+, as FIU (1-2) travels to take on Central Michigan. FIU was beaten on the road at Texas Tech, 54-21 last week, while the Chippewas fell 49-21 at LSU.

The lone undefeated team remaining in C-USA, UTSA (3-0, 1-0 C-USA) travels to the Liberty Bowl to face Memphis (3-0) at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPNU. UTSA opened conference play with a 27-13 win over Middle Tennessee, while Memphis won a wild game over SEC foe, Mississippi State, 31-29.

Old Dominion (1-2) hosts Buffalo (1-2) at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN+ at S.B. Ballard Stadium in Norfolk. ODU fell 45-17 on the road at Liberty, while Buffalo kept it close against No. 16 Coastal Carolina, dropping a tough one, 28-25 at home.

Rice (0-3) looks to bounce back from a slow start, and a very difficult non-conference schedule (losses at Arkansas, Houston and at Texas). The Owls host Texas Southern (0-2) at 5:30 p.m. CT on ESPN3. Rice was beaten 58-0 at Texas in Austin, while Texas Southern is coming off a bye. The Tigers fell 66-7 at Baylor its last time out.

North Texas (1-2, 0-1 C-USA) dropped its league opener 40-6 at home to UAB last week, and hits the road to take on Louisiana Tech (1-2) on Saturday night at 6 p.m. CT on Stadium. The Bulldogs lost a heartbreaker at home to SMU, 39-37, on the final play, a 33-yard touchdown on a deflection as time expired.

Southern Miss (1-2) makes the trip to Tuscaloosa to play No. 1 Alabama at 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network. Southern Miss fell 21-9 at home against Troy, while the Crimson Tide escaped the Swamp with a 31-29 win over No. 11 Florida in Gainesville last week.

Florida Atlantic (2-1) travels to take on Air Force (2-1) at 7 p.m. CT on FS2. FAU has won its last two games after knocking off Fordham 45-14 in Boca Raton last week. Air Force fell at home to Utah State, 49-45, in Colorado Springs.

UAB (2-1, 1-0 C-USA) is on the road in New Orleans to take on Tulane (1-2) at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+. UAB went on the road and beat North Texas comfortably, 40-6 in Denton last week, while Tulane was beaten 61-21 on the road at Ole Miss.

WKU (1-1) is back in action this week following a bye, and the Hilltoppers host a Big Ten foe in Indiana (1-2) at 7 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network. WKU dropped a tough decision at Army back on Sept. 11, 38-35, while Indiana fell at home to No. 8 Cincinnati, 38-24, last week.

UTEP (1-2) rounds out the Week 4 action for C-USA, as the Miners host New Mexico (2-1) at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN+. UTEP last played on Sept. 10, when they fell at Boise State 54-13, while New Mexico was shut out at No. 7 Texas A&M, 34-0.

C-USA PLAY UNDERWAY
UAB and UTSA opened league play on Saturday with a pair of impressive wins, as the Blazers knocked off North Texas 40-6 on the road to improve to 2-1, and the Roadrunners defeated Middle Tennessee 27-13 in the Alamodome to improve to 3-0. There are two more C-USA games this coming weekend, as Middle Tennessee travels to Charlotte to take on the 49ers, and North Texas hits the road to face off against Louisiana Tech.

UTSA TRIO SHOWS OUT
UTSA stayed undefeated with its 27-13 win over Middle Tennessee to open league play, and that’s thanks in large part to the trio of QB Frank Harris, RB Sincere McCormick and WR Zakhari Franklin. Harris finished 24-39 for 264 yards and two touchdowns and 56 yards rushing. McCormick carried 23 times for 105 yards and Franklin hauled in eight catches for 114 yards and a touchdown.

PRINCE BREAKS OUT FOR BLAZERS
UAB TE Gerrit Prince had a breakout performance for UAB in its win at North Texas. He caught three passes for 136 yards and two scores. Prince leads the Blazers in receiving with seven catches for 204 yards and three touchdowns through the team’s first three games.

ALI KEEPS ROLLING
Marshall RB Rasheen Ali kept his strong start to the season for the Thundering Herd, as he found the end zone three more times on the ground, bringing his season total to seven and is now tied for the national lead in rushing scores. Ali carried 24 times for 189 yards (7.88 yards per carry) and three scores in Marshall’s 42-38 loss at home to East Carolina.

PERRY LEADS FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Florida Atlantic QB N’Kosi Perry, who earned co-Offensive Player of the Week honors last week, helped lead the Owls to their second straight win, as FAU knocked off visiting Fordham 45-14. Perry was 27-43 for 278 yards and three total scores (two passing). The win for the Owls maintains head coach Willie Taggart’s perfect home record since taking over the helm in Boca Raton (6-0). Perry has yet to throw an interception in 2021, and Florida Atlantic is one of just 19 teams in the country who haven’t thrown an interception.

CFB Week 4 Conference Notes: Big 12 Conference

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB Week 4 Conference Notes: Big 12 Conference

This Week in the Big 12

Saturday, September 25
Texas Tech at Texas (ABC) 11:00 a.m.
Series: UT 53-17
Last Meeting: UT 63-56 on Sept. 26, 2020 in Lubbock.

SMU at TCU (FS1) 11:00 a.m.
Series: TCU 51-41-7
Last Meeting: SMU 41-38 on Sept. 21, 2019 in Fort Worth.

No. 14/14 Iowa State at Baylor (FOX) 2:30 p.m.
Series: BU 10-9
Last Meeting: ISU 38-31 on Nov. 7, 2020 in Ames.

Kansas at Duke (ACCN) 3:00 p.m.
Series: Tied 1-1
Last Meeting: Duke 41-3 on Sept. 13, 2014 in Durham.

No. 25/RV Kansas State at RV/No. 22 Oklahoma State (Big 12 Now) 6:00 p.m.
Series: OSU 41-26
Last Meeting: OSU 20-18 on Nov. 7, 2020 in Manhattan.

West Virginia at No. 4/3 Oklahoma (ABC) 6:30 p.m.
Series: OU 10-2
Last Meeting: OU 52-14 on Oct. 19, 2019 in Norman.

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

Conference News & Notes

Baylor hosts Iowa State in its second conference game while ISU is among the seven other teams that begin the league slate. Kansas and TCU wrap up their non-conference season.

After going 7-0 in last Saturday’s games, the Big 12 has an FBS-leading .852 (23-4) win percentage in non-conference outings. Three of the losses were to other autonomy leagues and two were to ranked opponents.

Ninety percent of Big 12 teams are ranked or receiving votes in at least one of the national polls. No. 4/3 Oklahoma and No. 14/14 Iowa State are ranked in both. K-State entered the rankings for the first time this season at No. 25 in the AP. Oklahoma State remains at No. 22 in the coaches ledger. Baylor, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech and West Virginia received votes.

Based on a cumulation of past and future opposition, the Big 12 has eight of the top 10 toughest schedules – 1. Kansas, 2. K-State, 4. TCU, T5. Texas Tech, Iowa State, Texas and West Virginia, and 10. Baylor.

Eighty percent of Big 12 teams are in the top 50 nationally in scoring defense, allowing less than 20 points a game. No. 9 BU (11.3) leads the Conference squads followed by No. 14 ISU (13.3), No. 21 K-State (15.7), No. 31 OU and WVU (17.0), No. 37 TCU (17.5), No. 46 UT (19.3) and No. 50 OSU (19.7).

Among FBS leagues, the Big 12 is second in scoring (34.6) and in fewest yards allowed to opponents (304.4), as well as third in scoring defense (18.9), just 0.2 points off the leaders.

Big 12 players of the week were awarded to OSU’s Jaylen Warren (offensive and newcomer), WVU’s Jared Bartlett (defensive) and OSU’s Jason Taylor II (special teams).

Baylor’s defense gave up 166 total yards last Saturday, the fewest allowed by the Bears since Sept. 2, 2016, against Northwestern State (78). It was also the fewest allowed by BU in a Big 12 game since Oct. 15, 2016.

Brock Purdy became Iowa State’s career leader in total offense (10, 638), passing Brett Meyer (2004-07), as well as the career leader in passing yards (9, 607). He is just the fifth ISU QB to gain over 1,000 career rushing yards (No. 4 with 1,031).

Kansas junior quarterback Jason Bean rushed for 62 yards against Baylor to lead the team. It marked the third straight game that Bean has led the team in rushing and passing yards.

K-State running back Deuce Vaughn rushed for a career-high 127 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries against Nevada. It was Vaughn’s fifth-straight game with 100 rushing yards, the longest streak since Darren Sproles also did so in five-straight games in 2003.

The Sooners registered season-highs of five sacks and 10 tackles for loss in the win over Nebraska. Over its last 11 games, OU has totaled 44 sacks and 88 tackles for loss.

Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez has recorded at least eight tackles in eight straight games for Oklahoma State.

After a bye last week, TCU hosts SMU in The Battle for the Iron Skillet. TCU has won 17 of the last 20 matchups.

Texas rushed for 427 yards against Rice and had three players with carries of at least 62 yards.

With Marquez Waters’ 72 yard pick-six last week, the Red Raiders have five interceptions through the first three games which match its total from 2020.

West Virginia senior running back Leddie Brown eclipsed 2,000 career rushing yards with his 161 yards against Virginia Tech.

Big 12 coaching staff s will wear special arm patches in this week’s games in honor of the AFCA’s Coach to Cure MD program, sponsored by Werner Ladder. The goal of CTCMD is to raise awareness and funding for Duchenne muscular dystrophy while demonstrating coaches’ commitment to the betterment of young men and the core academic research missions of their universities. Help coaches tackle Duchenne by texting CURE to 501501.

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