Home Blog Page 4381

CFB Week 1 Football Preview: PAC-12 Conference

NCAAFB Editor
-
0
CFB Week 1 Football Preview: PAC-12 Conference

AROUND THE PAC-12

WEBER STATE (0-0) at #24 UTAH (0-0)
Thurs., Sept. 2 • 5:30 pm MT • P12N

UTAH: 5-0 all-time vs Weber State (3-0 under Kyle Whittingham). 26-1 in regular season non-conference games since joining the Pac-12, with only loss coming in 2012 at Utah State Charlie Brewer named starting QB after transferring from Baylor. Brewer has 12 career 300-yard passing games, tied with Iowa State’s Brock Purdy and Florida State’s McKenzie Milton for the most among active FBS players. The Utes have had 11 games with a 300-yard passer in last 10 seasons.

WEBER STATE: Head Coach Jay Hill is a former Utah player (1998-99) and assistant coach (2001-13). Wildcats have made the FCS playoffs in each of the last 5 seasons.

SOUTHERN UTAH (0-1) at #25 ARIZONA STATE (0-0)
Thurs., Sept. 2 • 7:30 pm PT • P12N

ARIZONA STATE: 17-1 in non-conference home games over the last 10 seasons, only loss coming to San Diego St. in 2017. 19 of the Sun Devils 30 games under Herm Edwards have been decided by 7 points or less. Finished the 2020 season with 2 straight wins, with 116 points and 1000 total yards combined. Scored 45+ points in consecutive games for the first time since 2015. QB Jayden Daniels has 22 career pass TD and 3 INT, the 2nd highest ratio among active FBS QB.

SOUTHERN UTAH: First ever meeting against Arizona State and facing a Pac-12 opponent for the first time since 2018 (lost at Arizona 62-31). Lost 2021 season opener, 45-14 at San Jose State on Saturday,

NORTHERN COLORADO (0-0) at COLORADO (0-0)
Fri., Sept. 3 • 7:00 pm MT • P12N

COLORADO: 11-1 in non-conference home games since the start of the 2013 season. RB Jarek Broussard is first Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year to return the following season since Bryce Love returned to Stanford after winning in 2017. LB Carson Wells led FBS with 2.7 tackles for loss per game last season

NORTHERN COLORADO: 2-10 all-time vs. Colorado but their last win was in 1934. Lost at Colorado 41-21 in 2017. Ed McCaffrey, a Stanford alum, will be making his head coaching debut.

STANFORD (0-0) vs KANSAS STATE (0-0)
in Arlington, TX
Sat., Sept. 4 • 11:00 am CT • P12N

STANFORD: 8-4 under David Shaw in games played on neutral fields (including bowl games). 3rd season opener on a neutral field since WWII (1992- Anaheim, CA, 2017- Sydney, Australia). Only Power 5 school to start 2021 season with 3 straight road/neutral gams and only school with 12 Power 5 teams on their schedule. Finished the 2020 season with a 4-game win streak, all 4 wins coming by 5 points or less. 287.3 pass YPG last season was their most since 1999.

KANSAS STATE: Lost their only previous meeting with Stanford, 26-13, in 2016. Have lost 4 of their last 5 regular season non-conference games vs Power 5 opponents. Finished 2020, with a 5-game losing streak, started season 4-1.

FRESNO STATE (1-0) at #11 OREGON (0-0)
Sat., Sept. 4 • 11:00 am PT • P12N

OREGON: 12 straight home wins is the 6th longest active streak in FBS, having not lost at Autzen Stadium since Sept 2018 vs Stanford. Have not lost a nonconference home game since 2008 vs Boise State. Anthony Brown will be making his first start at QB with Oregon, but started all 28 games he played for Boston College from 2017-19. RB CJ Verdell needs 23 rush yds to pass Ricky Whittle for 8th on Oregon’s career rushing list.

FRESNO STATE: Beat UConn 45-0 in their 2021 season opener. Washington transfer QB Jake Haener threw for 331 pass yards and 3 TD against UConn, including one touchdown to fellow UW transfer WR Ty Jones.

SAN JOSE STATE (1-0) at #15 USC (0-0)
Sat., Sept. 4 • 2:00 pm PT • P12N

USC: 12-1 in non-conference home games since the start of the 2013 season and have won 13 straight season openers at home. 19 straight wins vs Mountain West Conference opponents. QB Kedon Slovis, in his career in the 4th quarter, has 14 pass TD and 1 INT. 319.3 pass YPG last season, just the 4th time in school history with 300+ pass YPG.

SAN JOSE STATE: Have lost 14 straight games against Pac-12 opponents with last win coming in 2006, and last road win over Pac-12 team in 2000. Won season opener 45-14 over Southern Utah on Saturday. 0-4 all-time vs USC.

OREGON STATE (0-0) at PURDUE (0-0)
Sat., Sept. 4 • 7:00 pm ET • FS1

OREGON STATE: First road game at a Big Ten school since 2018 season opener at Ohio State. Have averaged over 400 yards of total offense in each of the last 3 seasons, the first time in school history they’ve done that. Transfer Sam Noyer was named starting QB for this game after being 2nd team All-Pac-12 with Colorado last season.

PURDUE: Lost their only previous meeting with Oregon State in 1967, also in Wetst Lafayette. Finished the 2020 seaon with a 4-game losing streak after starting the season 2-0. QB Jack Plummer is the older brother of Arizona QB Will Plummer.

MONTANA (0-0) at #20 WASHINGTON (0-0)
Sat., Sept. 4 • 5:00 pm PT • P12N

WASHINGTON: Have won 20 straight non-conference games at home with the last loss coming in 2010 vs then #8 Nebraska. Played all 4 games last season at home, the only FBS team to play only home games. 1 of 2 FBS teams last season that did not lose a fumble (San Jose State). LB Edefuan Ulofoshio has 10+ tackles in 5 of his last 7 games dating back to 2019.

MONTANA: Has beaten Washington only once in 19 matchups (1-17-1), with the win coming in 1920. Last meeting was in 2017 with the Huskies winning 63-7. Have lost their last 6 vs FBS opponents with their last win coming in 2003.

#16 LSU (0-0) at UCLA (1-0)
Sat., Sept. 4 • 5:30 pm PT • FOX

UCLA: Won season opener vs Hawai’i 44-10 on Saturday. Michigan transfer Zach Charbonnet ran for 106 yards and 3 rush TD on just 6 carries in his UCLA debut. Charbonnet is the 4th Pac-12 player since 1996 to have 100+ rush yds and 3 rush TD in their fist game with the team. Dorian Thompson-Robinson had 1 pass TD vs Hawai’i to tie him with Troy Aikman for 7th on the school’s all-time passing TD list with 41. The defense held Hawai’i to 26 yards rushing, their fewest allowed since allowing 23 at BYU in 2016. Looking to start 2-0 for the first time since 2017.

LSU: Won 7 straight true road games vs non-conference opponents and has not lost a true road non-conference game since 2002 at Virginia Tech. 5-5 last season, the first time they have finished .500 or worse since 1999. Allowed 5 opponents last season to score 40+ points after allowing 4 opponents to score 40+ points the previous 10 seasons combined. CB Derek Stingley is a 2-time first team All-American.

NEVADA (0-0) at CALIFORNIA (0-0)
Sat., Sept. 4 • 7:30 pm PT • FS1

CALIFORNIA: 10-1 in non-conference games under Justin Wilcox, 9-0 in the regular season. 14-5 in games in which QB Chase Garbers has started and played more than half the game. Defense has held opponents to under 400 yards a game in each of the last 3 seasons, prior to that had not done it in a single season since 2011.

NEVADA: 3-22-1 all-time vs Cal but has won the last 2 matchups (2010, 2012). 3-7 vs Pac-12 schools in the last 10 years. Head Coach Jay Norvell is a former assistant at both Arizona State and UCLA. QB Carson Strong was the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year in 2020.

BYU (0-0) vs ARIZONA (0-0)
in Las Vegas, NV
Sat., Sept. 4 • 7:30 pm PT • ESPN

ARIZONA: Jedd Fisch’s first game as head coach at Arizona, Fisch was 1-1 as the interim head coach at UCLA to end the 2017 season. 2-1 all-time in season openers
at neutral sites. Added 17 transfers from FBS schools in the offseason. First nonconference game since beating Texas Tech 28-14 in September 2019.

BYU: WIll play 5 games against Pac-12 opponents this season, including their first 3 games of the season. 3-10 against Pac-12 schools since the start of the 2015 season but have won their last 2 matchups with Arizona.

UTAH STATE (0-0) at WASHINGTON STATE (O-0)
Sat., Sept. 4 • 8:00 pm PT • P12N

WASHINGTON STATE: 18-3 at home since the start of the 2017 season and have won their last 8 home games vs non-conference opponents. RB Max Borghi is the only player listed on the watch list for both the Doak Walker (Top RB) and Biletnikoff (top receiver) awards.

UTAH STATE: First meeting with Washington State since 1961 and first in Pullman since 1949. First game at Utah State for head coach Blake Anderson after 7 seasons at Arkansas State . Added 15 players in the transfer portal this offseason, including former Oregon State RB Calvin Tyler, Jr.

CFB Week 1 Football Preview: Mid-American Conference

NCAAFB Editor
-
0
CFB Week 1 Football Preview: Mid-American Conference

Thursday, September 2

Western Illinois at Ball State | 7 pm (ESPN+)

The defending Mid-American Conference Champion Cardinals return 16 “super seniors,” 20 starters, and three key specialists from the 2020 team which won the program’s first MAC title since 1996 and earned the first bowl victory in school history. Ball State finished 7-1 to earn a year-end ranking of No. 23 in both the AP and Amway Coaches polls. The Cardinals are currently riding a seven-game winning streak, which is tied for the eighth-longest streak in program history and is the tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the FBS. Matched with Louisiana, Ball State trails only Alabama (14), Oklahoma (eight) and Texas A&M (eight) for the longest-active winning streak in the country.

Wagner at Buffalo | 7 pm (ESPN3)

The University at Buffalo football team will kick off the 2021 season against Wagner on Thursday night at UB Stadium. Under new head coach Maurice Linguist, the Bulls are coming off a season in which they went 6-1, won the MAC East Division and defeated Marshall in the Camellia Bowl for their second straight bowl win. Buffalo returns 12 players who started two or more games in 2020. The Bulls have five players on the roster who took advantage of their extra year of eligibility due to Covid and are playing their sixth year. Offensive linemen Jake Fuzak and Jack Klenk, tight end Jake Molinich, wide receiver Dominic Johnson and linebacker Kadofi Wright are all in their sixth year.

Bowling Green at Tennessee | 8 pm (SEC Network)

Bowling Green opens with an SEC opponent for the first time since facing the same Tennessee program to open the 2015 season. BGSU is 4-8 all-time against current members of the SEC. Three of the four wins have come against Missouri, while the other one was against Kentucky in 1985. The Falcons have 71 combined student-athletes on its roster from the classes of 2020 and 2021, which means that 67.6 percent of its current roster was in high school the last time the Falcons played a non-conference game.

Friday, September 3

St. Francis at Eastern Michigan | 7 pm (ESPN3)

The 2021 Eastern Michigan University football season is set to begin Friday, Sept. 3, when EMU welcomes Saint Francis University to town for a 7 p.m. matchup at The Factory inside Rynearson Stadium. Friday’s game will mark the sixth time in eight years under Head Coach Chris Creighton that his team has opened its season in Ypsilanti. Starting the year in front of a home crowd has worked well for the Eagles in that span, as the team is 4-1 in season-debuting home games since 2014. Overall, Creighton-led EMU teams are 5-2 in its season openers, with the two losses coming to Old Dominion in 2015 and Kent State in 2020. Those two contests were lost by a combined eight points.

Saturday, September 4

Western Michigan at Michigan | Noon (ESPN)

Michigan and Western Michigan will meet for the eighth time on Saturday, with the Wolverines having won all seven previous meetings. Bronco QB Kaleb Eleby owns the top passer rating among returning FBS signal callers entering 2021. His rating of 195.08 last season trailed only Alabama Heisman finalist Mac Jones and BYU’s Zach Wilson. Pro Football Focus rates Western Michigan’s offensive line the best in the MAC entering 2020. The Bronco front returns four of five starters from a season ago when WMU had the second-rated line in the conference according to PFF.

Miami at No. 8 Cincinnati | 3:30 pm (ESPN+)

The “Battle for the Victory Bell” between Miami and Cincinnati is the longest-lasting collegiate football rivalry west of the Allegheny Mountains, first being played in 1888. It is also the fifth-most played rivalry in Division I (FBS only) with 124 all-time meetings and is the oldest non-conference rivalry in the nation. The “Battle for the Victory Bell” between Miami and Cincinnati is the longest-lasting collegiate football rivalry west of the Allegheny Mountains, first being played in 1888. It is also the fifth-most played rivalry in Division I (FBS only) with 124 all-time meetings and is the oldest non-conference rivalry in the nation.

Central Michigan at Missouri | 4 pm (SEC Network)

Central Michigan returns 22 starters this season – 10 on offense, nine on defense and three specialists. Overall, CMU returns 47 letterwinners while losing just six off last year’s team. Central Michigan features one of the best receiving duos in the nation in junior Kalil Pimpleton and senior JaCorey Sullivan. Both earned First Team All-MAC honors in 2019 while Pimpleton was also named a firstteam all-leaguer as a punt returner. Pimpleton earned second team honors last season at wide receiver. CMU has won seven of its last 10 seasonopening games with all three loses coming to Power 5 opponents.

Norfolk State at Toledo | 7 pm (ESPN3)

With a 4-2 record in 2020, Toledo kept its streak alive for seasons without a losing record. The Rockets have not had a losing season since 2009, a streak of 11 years. The Rockets are 85-41 in that span. Toledo returns every starter and 57 letterwinners from last year’s team. Among the starters returning from last season’s squad are a total of nine players who have made All-MAC at some point in their career. Six returners made All-MAC in 2020, and three others were honored in 2019. Thee Rockets had the No. 2 ranked defense in the MAC in 2020 after finishing dead last in 2019. The offense is packed with veterans at every position, including junior running back Bryant Koback, who has run for 2,626 yards and 30 TDs over the past three seasons.

Syracuse at Ohio | 7 pm (CBSSN)

Ohio opens the 2021 season on Saturday (Sept. 4) as it entertains ACC opponent Syracuse for the first time in 100 years inside Peden Stadium. Tim Albin enters his first season as head coach in 2021 after serving as Ohio’s offensive coordinator for the past 16 years under Frank Solich. Ohio’s offense has thrived under Albin’s watch while he served as the Bobcats associate head coach and offensive coordinator, with the Bobcats setting a total of 17 team records and 70 individual records. Nine of the top-10 seasons in terms of points scored and nine off the top-10 seasons in terms of yards gained in program history have occurred under Albin’s watch. Ohio’s offense has taken it to another level the last three seasons.

Akron at Auburn | 7 pm (SEC Network)

The game between the Zips and Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium will mark the second-ever encounter between the two schools. Last season, the Zips rated second in the NCAA in fewest penalties per game (31.67), fourth in fewest penalties per game (4.00), seventh in fewest penalty yards (190), eighth in fewest penalties (24), 13th in blocked punts (1), 22nd in first-down defense (124), 33rd in red-zone defense (.778), 34th in blocked kicks (1), 43rd in red-zone offense (.857) and 51st in time of possession (30.35). QB Kato Nelson is Akron’s active career leader in rushing attempts (335), pass attempts (762), pass completions (399), passing yards (5,138) and passing TD’s (34) and is responsible for 36 career offensive TD’s.

CFB Week 1 Football Preview: Atlantic Coast Conference

NCAAFB Editor
-
0
CFB Week 1 Football Preview: Atlantic Coast Conference

ACC PREVIEWS

Thursday, Sept. 2
USF (0-0, 0-0 AAC) at NC State (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
7:30 p.m.; ACCN
NCSU leads series, 2-1
Last meeting: NCSU, 49-17 (2014)
Head Coaches:
USF – Jeff Scott (1-8 in second season at USF and overall)
NC State – Dave Doeren (55-46 in ninth season at NC State; 78-50 in 11th season overall)

Notes:
Head coach Dave Doeren’s NC State squad becomes the first ACC football team to hit the playing field for the 2021 season when it welcomes USF, led by former Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott • The Wolfpack won two of three previous games versus the Bulls, beginning with a 14-0 victory in the 2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. • NC State also claimed the most recent meeting between the teams in 2014 in Tampa as WR Bra’Lon Cherry rushed for two touchdowns and caught a third to account for the Wolfpack’s first three scores in the 49-17 road win • USF won the only previous meeting in Raleigh by a 41-10 score on Sept. 27, 2008 • The Bulls entered that contest as the nation’s 13th-ranked team • This year’s game is the first of a home-andhome series between the programs, with the Wolfpack slated to visit Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium again in September 2024.

Friday, Sept. 3
#10 North Carolina (0-0, 0-0 ACC) at Virginia Tech (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
6 p.m.; ESPN
VT leads series, 24-13-6
Last meeting: UNC, 56-45 (2020)
Head Coaches:
North Carolina – Mack Brown (84-56-1 in 13th season at North Carolina; 259-132-1 in 33rd season overall)
Virginia Tech – Justin Fuente (38-26 in sixth season at Virginia Tech; 64-49 in 10th season overall)

Notes:
North Carolina’s win in Chapel Hill last October snapped a four-game Virginia Tech winning streak in the series, which was first played in 1895 • RB Michael Carter ran for a career-high 214 yards and two touchdowns, and QB Sam Howell threw three touchdown passes to lead the Tar Heels • The most recent meeting in Blacksburg between the teams in 2019 saw the Hokies claim a 43-41 decision in a six-overtime marathon that stands as the longest game in ACC history • QB Quincy Patterson’s two-point conversion run in the sixth OT provided the game-winning points for the home team • Virginia Tech is 13-3 versus the Tar Heels in ACC play • Nineteen games in the series have been played at neutral sites, including the 1997 Gator Bowl (a 42-3 UNC win) • North Carolina cities Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem have played host to the game • Virginia sites have included Danville, Richmond, Roanoke and Norfolk.

Friday, Sept. 3
Duke (0-0, 0-0 ACC) at Charlotte (0-0, 0-0 C-USA)
7 p.m.; CBSSN
Duke leads series, 1-0
Last meeting: DU, 53-19 (2020)
Head Coaches:
Duke – David Cutcliffe (74-88 in 14th season at Duke; 118-117 in 20th season overall)
Charlotte – Will Healey (9-10 in third season at Charlotte; 22-31 in sixth season overall)

Notes:
This will be the second meeting between the programs on the gridiron and will mark Duke’s first-ever game versus the 49ers in Charlotte • The Blue Devils posted a 53-19 win in last year’s inaugural matchup in Durham as RBs Mataeo Durant and Deon Jackson both delivered a pair of touchdown runs • The game, played on Oct. 31, wound up being the next-to-last of the season for the 49ers, who did not play again until Dec. 6 due to pandemic-related cancelations and finished the year 2-4 • This year’s game will be the first of two in-state non-conference games to open the season for Duke, which is set to play host to North Carolina A&T on Sept. 10 • Charlotte is 0-3 in previous meetings versus ACC teams, losing 70-14 at Louisville in the 2016 season opener and dropping a 52-10 decision at Clemson in 2019 before falling to the Blue Devils last year • The 49ers are kicking off their ninth college football season.

Friday, Sept. 3
ODU (0-0, 0-0 C-USA) at Wake Forest (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
7 p.m.; ACCN
First meeting
Head Coaches:
Old Dominion – Ricky Rahne (0-0 in first season at Old Dominion and overall)
Wake Forest – Dave Clawson (40-45 in eighth season at Wake Forest; 130-125 in 22nd season overall)

Notes:
Wake Forest, seeking its sixth consecutive bowl-game season under head coach Dave Clawson, faces Old Dominion for the first time • Clawson coowns the school record for bowl victories (3), is tied for third-most wins in school history (40), and has led Wake Forest to a five-year period (2016-20) of success that had been unmatched since the 1940s • Old Dominion will be making its debut under head coach Ricky Rahne, former offensive coordinator at Penn State • Rahne has been at the helm of the program for almost two years, but the Monarchs’ entire 2020 season was wiped out due to the pandemic • The game versus the Demon Deacons will be ODU’s first since a loss to Charlotte on Nov. 30, 2019 • One of the games wiped from last season’s slate was a scheduled Wake Forest road trip to face the Monarchs • That contest has been rescheduled for 2023.

Saturday, Sept. 4
Colgate (0-0, 0-0 Patriot) at Boston College (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
Noon; ACC Network
First meeting
Head Coaches:
Colgate – Stan Dakosty (0-0 in first season at Colgate and overall)
Boston College – Jeff Hafley (6-5 in second season at Boston College and overall)

Notes:
Boston College’s first-ever meeting against Colgate kicks off a run of four consecutive nonconference games for the Eagles to open the 2021 season • BC’s six victories under Jeff Hafley last season were the most for any first-year head coach in college football in 2020 • Colgate, a member of the Patriot League, is coming off an 0-2 spring season that was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic • This fall’s opener will mark the head coaching debut of Stan Dakosty, a Colgate alum and long-time Raiders assistant who has been on the sidelines for seven of Colgate’s 10 Patriot League championships • Boston College has won four consecutive season openers since dropping a 17-14 decision to Georgia Tech in Ireland to open the 2016 campaign • This will be the first year since 2018 (at home vs. UMass) that the Eagles have opened with a non-ACC game.

Saturday, Sept. 4
#14 Miami (0-0, 0-0 ACC) vs. #1 Alabama (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
3:30 p.m.; ABC
Alabama leads series, 14-3
Last meeting: Alabama, 34-13 (1993)
Head Coaches:
Miami – Manny Diaz (14-10 in third season at Miami and overall)
Alabama – Nick Saban (165-23 in 16th season at Alabama; 256-65-1 in 27th season overall)

Notes:
Miami takes on defending national champion Alabama in a matchup of preseason top-15 teams in the weekend’s first Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium • The teams will be meeting for the 18th time on the gridiron but for the first time since Alabama’s 34-13 win in the 1993 Sugar Bowl that decided the national championship • Miami and Alabama both entered that game unbeaten and ranked 1-2 nationally • This year’s game will mark the eighth straight in which at least one of the teams has been ranked among the nation’s top four, and third consecutive game in which both have been nationally ranked • Two of Miami’s three wins came in back-to-back years (1954 and 1955, both at home), and the third came by a 33-25 score in the 1990 Sugar Bowl • Alabama owns the longest active winning streak in college football (14 straight).

Saturday, Sept. 4
UMass (0-0) at Pitt (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
4 p.m.; ACCN
First meeting
Head Coaches:
UMass – Walt Bell (1-15 in third season at UMass and overall)
Pitt – Pat Narduzzi (42-34 in seventh season at Pitt and overall)

Notes:
The Panthers face the Minutemen in football for the first time, but the programs have one strong connection • Current Pitt offensive coordinator Mark Whipple was the head coach at UMass from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2014 to 2018 • Whipple guided the Minutemen to the FCS national title in 1998 • UMass has competed for the last six years as an FBS independent after leaving the MAC following the 2015 season • Pitt is opening its football season at home for the 11th consecutive year • In his first six seasons at Pitt (2015-20), head coach Pat Narduzzi has directed the Panthers to 29 victories in ACC play, the conference’s third-highest win total during that span • Pitt trailed only Clemson (46) and Miami (32) during that span • The Panthers open with four consecutive non-conference games, with a road trip to Tennessee on Sept. 11 followed by home games versus Western Michigan and New Hampshire.

Saturday, Sept. 4
Syracuse (0-0, 0-0 ACC) at Ohio (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
7 p.m.; CBSSN
Syracuse leads series, 2-0
Last meeting: SU, 38-0 (1921)
Head Coaches:
Syracuse – Dino Babers (24-36 in sixth season at Syracuse; 61-52 in 10th season overall)
Ohio – Tim Albin (0-0 in first season at Ohio; 25-8 in fourth season overall)

Notes:
The 2021 opener marks the first meeting between the programs in exactly 100 years • The Orange won the previous two matchups by a combined 111-0 • The Orange shut out Ohio 73-0 in 1916 and blanked the Bobcats again 38-0 in 1921 • Both of those games were played in Syracuse • This year’s game is the first of a home-and-home set, with Ohio scheduled to visit Syracuse in 2014 • Syracuse sixth-year head coach Dino Babers will face the Bobcats for the first time since his two-year stint in the MAC at Bowling Green (2014-15) • Meanwhile, the Bobcats will be under the watch of first-year head coach Tim Albin, the program’s long-term offensive coordinator who was promoted following veteran Frank Solich’s retirement in July • In his only previous head coaching stint, Albin posted a 25-8 record at Northwestern Oklahoma State (1997-99) and led the program to the NAIA national title his final year.

Saturday, Sept. 4
#3 Clemson (0-0, 0-0 ACC) vs. #5 Georgia (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
7:30 p.m.; ABC
Georgia leads series, 42-18-4
Last meeting: UGA, 45-21 (2014)
Head Coaches:
Clemson – Dabo Swinney (140-33 in 14th season at Clemson and overall)
Georgia – Kirby Smart (52-14 in sixth season at Georgia and overall)

Notes:
Georgia and Clemson make the short trip to Charlotte for the Duke’s Mayo Classic and one of college football’s premier Labor Day weekend matchups • The third-ranked Tigers hope to improve on a 7-1 record at Bank of America Stadium that includes wins in the 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 ACC Football Championship Games • Georgia defeated Louisville in the 2014 Belk Bowl in its lone previous appearance in the venue • The most recent meeting between the Tigers and Bulldogs came at the outset of that 2014 season • RB Todd Gurley ran for 198 yards and three touchdowns and returned a kickoff 100 yards for another score to lead No. 12 Georgia to a 45-21 win over No. 14 Clemson in Athens • The schools first met in 1897 (a 24-0 Georgia win in Athens) • That game marked the first time Clemson played a game outside the state of South Carolina • The teams have met eight previous times at neutral sites.

Saturday, Sept. 4
N Illinois (0-0, 0-0 MAC) at Georgia Tech (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
7:30 p.m.; ACCN
First meeting
Head Coaches:
Northern Illinois – Thomas Hammock (5-13 in third season at Northern Illinois and overall)
Georgia Tech – Geoff Collins (6-16 in third season at Georgia Tech; 21-26 in fifth season overall)

Notes:
Georgia Tech opens at home for the first time in three seasons under head coach Geoff Collins • The Yellow Jackets meet Northern Illinois for the first time,
and the game will be the first for the Huskies against a FBS opponent from the state of Georgia • NIU is 2-8 all-time against teams from the ACC • Georgia Tech will face a MAC opponent for only the second time and the first since a 63-17 win over Bowling Green in September of 2018 • The Yellow Jackets will be playing their first Saturday night home opener in nine years • Georgia Tech is slated to play four of its first five games in Atlanta • Georgia Tech should be young but talented as it seeks to improve on last year’s 3-7 campaign • Collins has compiled back-to-back nationally lauded recruiting classes, including 13 of the 45 highest-rated recruits in school history, according to 247Sports.

Saturday, Sept. 4
William & Mary (0-0, 0-0 CAA) at Virginia (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
7:30 p.m.; RSN
UVA leads series, 30-6-1
Last meeting: UVA, 52-17 (2019)
Head Coaches:
William & Mary – Mike London (6-9 in third season at W&M; 68-70 in 13th season overall)
Virginia – Bronco Mendenhall (30-32 in sixth season at UVA; 129-75 in 17th season overall)

Notes:
The Commonwealth schools resume a series that was first played in 1908 • This will be the 16th consecutive meeting between the teams in Charlottesville since they last met in Williamsburg in 1969 • Virginia has captured the last four meetings, most recently a 52-17 victory in the 2019 season opener • QB Bryce Perkins threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third, and Joe Reed returned a kickoff 100 yards to lead the Cavaliers • As was the case two years ago, Virginia fans will see a familiar face on the opposing sidelines • William & Mary third-year head coach Mike London again returns to Charlottesville, where he served as head coach from 2010-15 • Virginia posted a combined 27-46 record under London’s watch, but he was named the ACC Coach of the Year in 2011, when he guided the Cavaliers to an 8-5 record and a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl appearance.

Sunday, Sept. 5
No. 9 Notre Dame (0-0) at Florida State (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
7:30 p.m.; ABC
FSU leads series, 6-4
Last meeting: UND, 42-26 (2020)
Head Coaches:
Notre Dame – Brian Kelly (81-38 in 12th season at Notre Dame; 252-95-2 in 31st season overall)
Florida State – Mike Norvell (3-6 in second season at Florida State; 41-21 in sixth season overall

Notes:
The Fighting Irish have won their last two games versus the Seminoles – a 42-13 victory on Nov. 10, 2018, and last season’s 42-26 win • Kyren Williams ran for 185 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 5 Notre Dame to victory last October • Both of the recent meetings in the series were played in South Bend • Florida State owns a 2-1 edge in previous meetings at Doak Campbell Stadium, including a 31-27 victory in a 2014 showdown of top-five teams • After competing as an ACC member last season and placing atop the regular-season conference standings, Notre Dame reverts to independent status this season and will play five games against ACC teams this fall • The Fighting Irish will face Virginia Tech (Oct. 9) and Virginia (Nov. 13) on the road in addition to home games versus North Carolina (Oct. 30) and Georgia Tech (Nov. 20).

Monday, Sept. 6
Louisville (0-0, 0-0 ACC) vs. Ole Miss (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
8 p.m.; ESPN
First meeting
Head Coaches:
Louisville – Scott Satterfield (12-12 in second season at Louisville; 63-36 in ninth season overall)
Ole Miss – Lane Kiffin (5-5 in second season at Ole Miss; 66-39 in 10th season overall)

Notes:
The ACC’s five days of football to open the 2021 season concludes with Louisville facing Ole Miss in the second Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game of Labor Day weekend • The prime time matchup at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be carried nationally by ESPN and is the only FBS game scheduled for Monday • The Cardinals are making their second appearance in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game after falling to No. 5 Auburn 31-24 to open the 2015 season • The Rebels are also playing in the game for the second time after defeating Boise State 35-13 to open the 2014 campaign • Louisville owns a 56-40-6 all-time record in season openers, including a 1-2 mark at neutral sites • The Cardinals, who will face Ole Miss on the football field for the first time, are 21-39-1 all-time versus SEC opponents • Louisville is 1-1 all-time versus the SEC under current head coach Scott Satterfield, losing to rival Kentucky to close the 2019 regular season before defeating Mississippi State in the Music City Bowl.

CFB Week 1 Football Preview: American Athletic Conference

NCAAFB Editor
-
0
CFB Week 1 Football Preview: American Athletic Conference

WEEK 1 PREVIEWS

THURSDAY, SEPT. 2 • 6:30 P.M. • BIG TEN NETWORK
TEMPLE at RUTGERS
SHI Stadium (52,484/FieldTurf)
Piscataway, New Jersey

THE GAME
Thursday’s game will be the 37th meeting between Temple and Rutgers in a series that dates to 1948 … Rutgers holds a 20-16 series lead and has won the last four matchups, most recently a 23-20 decision in 2013, when the Scarlet Knights were members of the American Athletic Conference … Temple’s last win in the series was in 2002 (20-17).

TEMPLE
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Rod Carey (Indiana ‘93)
9-11, third season at Temple
61-41, ninth season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Temple struggled through a 1-6 season in 2020 as the Owls were beset with an untimely confluence of injuries and opt-outs due to the pandemic … The Owls were 8-5 in 2019, Rod Carey’s first season in Philadelphia … Temple had 22 players make their first career starts during the 2020 season … The Owls expect to field a more experienced squad in 2021, thanks in large part to the addition of several key transfers … QB D’Wan Mathis was the Opening Day starter for Georgia last season and is expected to get the start against the Scarlet Knights … WR Jadan Blue had 41 catches for 371 yards and five touchdowns in the Owls’ six games last season and became Temple’s first 1,000-yard receiver in 2019 (1,067 yards) … WR Randle Jones had 31 catches for 270 yards and two TDs last year.

RUTGERS
0-0, 0-0 Big Ten
Head Coach
Greg Schiano (Bucknell ‘88)
71-73, 13th season

Notes
Rutgers went 3-6 last year in the first season of Greg Schiano’s second head coaching tenure in Piscataway, and the Scarlet Knights return 21 starters for 2021 … Rutgers is looking for its first winning season since the Scarlet Knights went 805 in 2014 … Schiano had taken Rutgers to bowl games in six of his last seven years in his first go-around with the Scarlet Knights, including the 2006 season, when Rutgers finished the year ranked No. 12 … QB Noah Verdal threw for 1,253 yards and nine touchdowns against eight interceptions in 2020 … RB Isaih Pacheco had a team-high 515 rushing yards with three touchdowns, while WR Bo Melton had team highs with 47 receptions, 638 receiving yards and six touchdown catches … The defense is led by All-Big Ten LB Olakunle Fatukasi, who had 101 tackles with 11.0 tackles for loss.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 2 • 7 P.M. • ESPN

BOISE STATE at UCF
The Bounce House (44,206/Natural Grass)
Orlando, Florida

THE GAME
Thursday’s game will be the first meeting between UCF and Boise State … This year’s game is the first in a homeand-home series that ends with a 2023 game in Boise … The Knights’ lone victory against a current Mountain West team was a 38-6 win against New Mexico in 1998, while the Broncos are 10-1 against current American schools.

BOISE STATE
0-0, 0-0 Mountain West
Head Coach
Andy Avalos (Boise State ‘05)
0-0, first season

Notes
Boise State has been one of the most consistent teams in college football as the Broncos have registered 23 consecutive winning seasons … Andy Avalos, a standout linebacker as an undergraduate at Boise State, makes his head coaching debut after serving as defensive coordinator at Oregon from 2019-20 … Avalos has 17 returning starters from last year’s squad that went 5-2 in an abbreviated season … The only losses were to then-No. 9 BYU and to then-No. 25 San Jose State in the Mountain West championship game … QB Hank Bachmeier threw for 1,150 yards and six touchdowns in five games as a freshman … RB Andrew Van Buren led the Mountain West with eight rushing touchdowns in 2020 … WR Khalil Shakir earned All-Mountain West honors after he had 52 catches for 719 yards and six TDs.

UCF
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Gus Malzahn (Henderson State ‘90)
0-0, first season at UCF
77-38, 10th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
UCF saw a streak of three consecutive seasons with double-digit wins come to an end last year as the Knights went 6-4 … The three regular-season losses were by a combined 12 points … Head coach Gus Malzahn begins his first season with the Knights after spending eight years at Auburn, where he reached the 2013 BCS National
Championship Game … QB Dillon Gabriel led FBS in passing last season (357.0 ypg) … Gabriel had 3,570 passing yards and 32 touchdown passes as he completed 248 of 413 attempts with only four interceptions … WR Jaylon Robinson had 55 receptions for 979 yards and six TDs … The Knights will be without their top three rushing leaders from last season … The defense expects a boost from the arrival of DE Big Kat Bryant, an All-SEC pick at Auburn last year.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 2 • 7:30 P.M. • ESPNU

EAST CAROLINA vs. APPALACHIAN STATE
Bank of America Stadium (75,412/FieldTurf)
Charlotte, North Carolina

THE GAME • DUKE’S MAYO CLASSIC
Thursday’s game will be the 32nd meeting between East Carolina and Appalachian State in a series that dates to 1932 … The Mountaineers hold a 19-12 series lead, though the Pirates have taken the last six … This year’s game is the first in a four-game series that sees the teams play in Boone in 2023 and in Greenville in 2024 and 2026.

EAST CAROLINA
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Mike Houston (Mars Hill ‘94)
7-14, third season at ECU
87-39, 11th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
East Carolina went 3-6 last year, but the Pirates finished 2020 with back-to-back victories by an average of 19.5 points … The return of 20 starters has made the Pirates a trendy sleeper pick in The American this season … After the neutral-site season-opener against Appalachian State, East Carolina plays three of its next four games at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium … QB Holton Ahlers is a veteran who threw for 1,921 yards and 18 touchdowns in eight games last season … RB Rahjai Harris shared American Rookie of the Year honors after he rushed for 624 yards and four touchdowns … WR Tyler Snead led the squad with 53 receptions to go with 524 yards and five touchdowns … CB Ja’Quan McMillian earned all-conference honors thanks to a league-leading four interceptions.

APPALACHIAN STATE
0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt
Head Coach
Shawn Clark (Appalachian State ‘98)
9-3, second season

Notes
Appalachian State has been tabbed as one of the favorites in the Sun Belt Conference as the Mountaineers tied with Coastal Carolina for first in the league’s preseason coaches’ poll … The Mountaineers have won at least nine games in six consecutive seasons, spanning three head coaches … App State was 9-3 last year, falling to Marshall, Coastal Carolina and Louisiana … The Mountaineers topped North Texas 56-28 to win the 2020 Myrtle Beach Bowl … Head coach Shawn Clark was the only first-year head coach in FBS to win at least nine games last season … RB Cameron Peoples ranked 10th nationally in rushing last season with 1,124 yards, giving the Mountaineers a 1,000-yard rusher for the ninth consecutive season … QB Chase Brice, who was Duke’s starter last season, is expected to take over behind center in 2021.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 2 • 7:30 P.M. • ACC NETWORK

SOUTH FLORIDA at NC STATE
Carter-Finley Stadium (57,600/Natural Grass)
Raleigh, North Carolina

THE GAME
Thursday’s game will be the fourth meeting between South Florida and NC State in a series that dates to the 2005 season … The Bulls are 1-2 against the Wolfpack, having scored a 41-10 win in Raleigh in 2008 … NC State won in 2005 (14-0 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl) and 2014 (49-17 in Tampa).

SOUTH FLORIDA
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Jeff Scott (Clemson ‘03)
1-8, second season

Notes
South Florida won its season-opener last season, but the Bulls dropped their last eight games of the 2020 campaign in Jeff Scott’s first season in Tampa … Scott looks for a turnaround in his second season thanks to the return of 18 starters and 54 letterwinners from last year … QB Cade Fortin, who was limited by injuries to only two appearances last year, has been named as the starter for the season-opener … A transfer from North Carolina, Fortin made two starts for the Tar Heels as a freshman in 2018, including a 276-yard showing with a passing touchdown and a rushing TD against NC State in a 34-28 loss … WR Bryce Miller had 33 receptions for 327 yards and three touchdowns in 2020 … The defense is led by LB Antonio Grier, who earned second-team all-conference honors last year and led the Bulls with 59 tackles and 3.0 sacks.

NC STATE
0-0, 0-0 ACC
Head Coach
Dave Doeren (Drake ‘94)
55-46, ninth season at NC State
78-50, 11th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
NC State closed the 2020 regular season with four straight wins before the Wolfpack fell to Kentucky in the Gator Bowl … NC State has won at least eight games three times in the last four seasons … The Wolfpack has 19 starters returning from last year’s squad and was picked behind only Clemson in the Atlantic Division in the ACC’s preseason media poll … NC State plays four of its first five games at home, where the Wolfpack went 5-1 last season … QB Devin Leary played in four games last season and threw for 890 yards and eight touchdowns with two interceptions … RB Zonovan Knight had 10 rushing touchdowns and 788 rushing yards as a true freshman … LB Payton Wilson, who earned first-team All-ACC honors, had an ACC-high 108 tackles last season.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 2 • 7:30 P.M. • ESPN+

UC DAVIS at TULSA
H.A. Chapman Stadium (30,000/FieldTurf)
Tulsa, Oklahoma

THE GAME
Thursday’s season-opener will be the first meeting on the gridiron between Tulsa and UC Davis … The game will be Tulsa’s first against an FCS opponent since a 38-27 win against Central Arkansas to start the 2018 season … The Golden Hurricane has won its last 11 contests against FCS opponents.

UC DAVIS
0-0, 0-0 Big Sky
Head Coach
Dan Hawkins (UC Davis ‘84)
23-18, fifth season at UC Davis
139-79-1, 20th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
UC Davis returns to the gridiron for the second time in 2021 as the Aggies played a five-game spring season through March and April, going 3-2 … Head coach Dan Hawkins is in his third year as head coach at his alma mater after previous stops as head coach at Willamette (1993-97), Boise State (2001-05) and Colorado (2006-10) … UC Davis was picked sixth in the Big Sky preseason coaches and media polls … The Aggies had three players named to the preseason All-Big Sky team as C Connor Pettek, DT Bryce Rodgers and P Daniel Whelan were so chosen … QB Hunter Rodrigues threw for 931 yards and eight touchdowns against four interceptions in the abbreviated spring season … Whelan is one of the top punters in FCS with an average of 47.9 yards per punt last spring.

TULSA
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Philip Montgomery (Tarleton State ‘95)
31-40, seventh season

Notes
Tulsa enjoyed an outstanding season in 2020 as the Golden Hurricane went 6-1 in the regular season and was ranked as high as No. 20 in the Associated Press poll on its way to an appearance in The American Championship Game … Tulsa finished the year 6-3 and has 18 returning starters from last year … Tulsa will look to replace the production of LB Zaven Collins, who won the Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award as the national defensive player of the year … DT Jaxon Player is a returning all-conference first team pick … QB Davis Brin s expected to take over as the Opening Day starter … RB Shamari Brooks, who rushed for 1,081 yards in 2019, returns after missing all of last season with a knee injury … WR Keylon Stokes led a deep group of receivers with 46 receptions for 644 yards and three touchdowns last year.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 4 • NOON • ABC

OKLAHOMA at TULANE
Yulman Stadium (30,000/UBU Speed Series 55-M)
New Orleans, Louisiana

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the second meeting between Tulane and Oklahoma … The Sooners were 56-14 winners in Norman in the first matchup during the 2017 season as QB Baker Mayfield (four) and QB Kyler Murray (one) combined for five touchdown passes … The schools will return to Norman for a 2024 matchup.

OKLAHOMA
0-0, 0-0 Big 12
Head Coach
Lincoln Riley (Texas Tech ‘06)
45-8, fifth season

Notes
Oklahoma enters the 2021 season as a projected national championship contender as the Sooners are ranked No. 2 in the preseason Associated Press poll and No. 3 in the USA Today coaches’ poll … The Sooners have been ranked in the preseason top 10 19 times in the last 21 seasons … Oklahoma went 9-2 last season, rebounding from early losses to Kansas State and Iowa State to close the season with eight straight wins … QB Spencer Rattler is the preseason Heisman Trophy favorite after he threw for 3,031 yards and 28 touchdowns with seven interceptions last year … Well know for its offense under coach Lincoln Riley, the Sooner defense allowed only 21.7 points per game in 2020 and was ninth nationally in rushing defense (105.1 ypg) … LB Nik Bonitto was an AP second-team AllAmerica pick who had 10.5 TFL and 8.0 sacks.

TULANE
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Willie Fritz (Pittsburg State ‘83)
29-33, sixth season at Tulane
183-102, 25th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Tulane has played in a bowl game in each of the last three seasons after the Green Wave went 6-6 during the 2020 campaign … Tulane started last season at 2-4, but closed with four wins in its final five regular-season games … Head coach Willie Fritz enters his sixth year in New Orleans with 16 returning starters from last season, including 10 on offense … The offense is led by QB Michael Pratt, who threw for 1,806 yards and 20 touchdowns as a true freshman … RB Cameron Carroll led The American with 12 rushing touchdowns last season … RB Tyjae Spears averaged 7.4 yards per carry in three games before suffering a season-ending injury … WR Duece Watts tied for the team lead with 31 catches for 512 yards and six TDs … LB Dorian Williams had 97 tackles and 15.5 TFL in 2020.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 4 • 3:30 • CBSSN

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

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between Navy and Marshall … The Midshipmen have gone 14-10 all-time against current members of Conference USA, while the Thundering Herd is 30-39-1 all-time against current members of The American … The schools will play in Huntington, West Virginia, to start the 2023 season.

MARSHALL
0-0, 0-0 Conference USA
Head Coach
Charles Huff (Hampton ‘05)
0-0, first season

Notes
Marshall played in a bowl game for the fourth straight season after the Thundering Herd went 7-3 overall, was ranked as high as No. 15 nationally and reached the Conference USA Championship Game … Charles Huff, most recently an assistant at Alabama, begins his first season in Huntington … Marshall has 15 returning starters from last year, including QB Grant Wells, who earned first-team all-conference honors and was the Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 2020 … Wells threw for 2,091 yards and 18 touchdowns in his rookie season … WR Corey Gammage had 35 catches for 409 yards and four touchdowns, while WR Xavier Gaines had 28 receptions for 404 yards and four TDs as well … LB Eli Neal had 75 tackles to lead all returning players, while DT Jamare Edwards earned second-team all-conference honors.

NAVY
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Ken Niumatalolo (Hawaii ‘89)
101-67, 14th season

Notes
Navy dropped its last five games of the 2020 season to finish 3-7 on the year … The Midshipmen started 3-0 in American Athletic Conference play, but fell in its last four conference games … Navy tied a school record with 11 wins in the 2019 season … The Midshipmen struggled to find consistency at the quarterback position last year and the position was considered wide open at the start of fall camp … QB Xavier Arline, who made three starts last year, and QB Tai Lavatai, who did not play in 2020, are considered the leading candidates … WR Mychal Cooper had a team-high 199 receiving yards and two touchdown catches … The defense is led by stalwart LB Diego Fagot, a two-time all-conference selection who had 72 tackles with 11.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in 2020 … S Kevin Brennan had 68 stops and five pass breakups.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 4 • 3:30 P.M. • ESPN+

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

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

MIAMI (OHIO)
0-0, 0-0 MAC
Head Coach
Chuck Martin (Millikin ‘90)
32-46, eighth season at Miami
106-53, 14th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Miami was scheduled to play seven games last season, but the RedHawks saw four games canceled due to the pandemic, leaving the squad with only three games … The RedHawks opened their season with a 38-31 win against Ball State, handing the Cardinals their only loss of the year … The RedHawks return 19 starters from last season … Miami was picked third in the East Division in the MAC preseason poll, trailing Kent State and Ohio … The RedHawks have won 25 of their last 34 conference games and claimed the league title in 2019 … QB Brett Gabbert threw for 384 yards and four touchdowns without an interception in the three games last year … WR Jack Sorenson had 18 receptions for 354 yards and four touchdowns.

CINCINNATI
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Luke Fickell (Ohio State ‘97)
35-14, fifth season at Cincinnati
41-21, sixth season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Cincinnati enters the 2021 season ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press preseason poll, the highest preseason ranking by an American Athletic Conference team in the league’s first nine seasons … The Bearcats return 14 starters from last year’s team, which went 9-1, won The American Championship Game and saw its only loss come on a late field goal against Georgia in the Chick-filA Peach Bowl … The Bearcats have won 20 consecutive home games and have not lost at Nippert Stadium since
2017 … QB Desmond Ridder is a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate after he accounted for 31 touchdowns (19 passing, 12 rushing) last season … The defense is led by
All-America CB Ahmad Gardner, who had three interceptions and nine passes defended in 2020.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 4 • 7 P.M. • ESPN

TEXAS TECH vs. HOUSTON
NRG Stadium (72,220/Hellas Matrix Helix)
Houston, Texas

THE GAME • THE TEXAS KICKOFF
Saturday’s game will be the 33rd meeting between Houston and Texas Tech in a series that dates to the 1951 season … Houston holds an 18-13-1 series lead, but looks to snap a three-game slide against the Red Raiders … Houston’s last win in the series was a 29-28 decision in 2009.

TEXAS TECH
0-0, 0-0 Big 12
Head Coach
Matt Wells (Utah State ‘96)
8-14, third season at Texas Tech
52-48, ninth season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Texas Tech looks to break a stretch of five consecutive sub-.500 seasons as the Red Raiders went 4-6 last season, though four of the losses came to nationally ranked opponents … The Red Raiders will play nine of their 12 games in the state of Texas this season … QB Tyler Shough, who made seven starts for Oregon last year to help the Ducks to the Pac-12 title, has been named the Week 1 starter … Shough threw for 1,559 yards and 13 touchdowns last season … RB SaRodorick Thompson rushed for 653 yards and eight touchdowns last year … The top receiver is WR Erik Ezukanma, an All-Big 12 pick who had 46 catches for 748 yards and six touchdowns … The defense is paced by LB Krishon Merriweather, who had 75 tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks in 2020.

HOUSTON
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Dana Holgorsen (Iowa Wesleyan ‘93)
7-13, third season at Houston
68-54, 11th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Houston battled through an unconventional season to go 3-5 last year as the Cougars look to return to the form that produced winning seasons from 2013-18 … Houston returns 18 starters from last year and expects to see a number of impact transfers in the lineup in 2021 … The Cougars do not face Cincinnati or UCF — the top two teams in The American’s preseason media poll … The top player is CB Marcus Jones, who earned All-America status as a return specialist last season and had four interceptions … QB Clayton Tune enters his third year as a starter and completed 170 of 285 passes for 2,048 yards and 15 touchdowns last season … Tune added five rushing TDs as well … WR Nathaniel Dell led the team with 29 catches for 428 yards and three touchdowns.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 4 • 7 P.M. • ESPN+

NICHOLLS at MEMPHIS
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (58,318/AstroTurf)
Memphis, Tennessee

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the second meeting between Memphis and Nicholls … The only previous matchup was the Tigers’ 31-10 win in 2008 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium as QB Arkelon Hall passed for 173 yards and a touchdown and had a rushing TD … Memphis limited Nicholls to 164 total yards and 29 yards in the second half

NICHOLLS
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Tim Rebowe (LSU ‘87)
38-30, seventh season

Notes
Nicholls went 4-3 in its spring season as the Colonels won their first three games before dropping three of the last four … This year’s season-opener against Memphis is the first of back-to-back games against FBS opponents for Nicholls, which faces Louisiana in Week 2 … The Colonels, who are ranked No. 23 in the AFCA FCS preseason coaches’ poll, have 22 starters returning, including all 11 players on offense … QB Lindsey Scott threw for 1,684 yards and 18 touchdowns with seven interceptions in the abbreviated spring season … Scott was the leading rusher with 557 yards and six touchdowns on the ground as well … WR Dai’Jean Dixon had team highs with 35 receptions, 514 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches … Dixon joins OG P.J. Burkhalter as FCS preseason All-America selections.

MEMPHIS
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Ryan Silverfield (Hamden-Sydney ‘03)
8-6, second season at Memphis

Notes
Memphis continued its most successful stretch in program history as the Tigers went 8-3 last season … The Tigers capped Ryan Silverfield’s first season as head coach with a 25-10 win against Florida Atlantic in the Montgomery Bowl … Memphis returns 16 starters from last year, but will need to replace veteran QB Brady White, who had a school-record 10,690 passing yards in his career … QB Grant Gunnell, a transfer from Arizona who started seven games with the Wildcats is expected to take over … The top four leading rushers from last year return, as does WR Calvin Austin III, an all-conference receiver who had 1,053 yards and 11 touchdowns in 11 games … The defensive leader is S Quindell Johnson, who earned second-team all-conference honors and led the Tigers with 81 tackles and three interceptions.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 4 • 7 P.M. • ESPN+

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

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the second meeting between SMU and Abilene Christian, but only the first meeting in the last 96 years … The only previous matchup was Oct.
3, 1925, when the Mustangs scored a 52-7 victory at Fair Park Stadium in Dallas … SMU holds a 70-28-7 all-time record against teams that are not current FBS members.

ABILENE CHRISTIAN
0-0, 0-0 WAC
Head Coach
Adam Dorrel (Northwest Missouri State ‘98)
14-26, fifth season at Abilene Christian
90-34, 11th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Abilene Christian was limited to six games in the 2020 season as the Wildcats went 1-5 against a schedule that included three FBS opponents … ACU was one of only 15 FCS schools to play a fall schedule in 2020 … Abilene Christian begins its first season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, which resumes operation as an FCS league this year … ACU was projected to finish fifth in the WAC preseason poll … QB Payton Mansell, a transfer from Iowa, completed 104 of 167 passes for 1,237 yards and five touchdowns against four interceptions last season … The top receivers are WR Lionell McConnell, who had 36 catches for 366 yards, and WR Kobe Clark, who had 26 catches for 362 yards and a team-high four touchdowns … RB Jeremiah Dobbins had 227 yards and five rushing TDs.

SMU
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Sonny Dykes (Texas Tech ‘93)
22-14, fourth season at SMU
63-59, 11th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
SMU has gone a combined 17-6 in the last two seasons after the Mustangs finished 7-3 in 2020 … SMU was ranked as high as No. 16 in the Associated Press poll last year … SMU was 7-1 to start last season, but looks to snap a two-game slide entering 2021 … The Mustangs will have a new signal-caller this season as either QB Tanner Mordecai, a transfer from Oklahoma, or freshman QB Preston Stone gets the Opening Day start … RB Ulysses Bentley IV was The American’s offensive rookie of the year in 2020 after he rushed for 913 yards and 11 touchdowns on 170 carries … WR Reggie Roberson Jr. was limited to four games, but still had 22 catches for 474 yards and five touchdowns … K Blake Mazza was a Lou Groza Award finalist at Washington State in 2019.

Diego Rossi to move to Turkish Club Fenerbahçe

MLS Editor
-
0
Diego Rossi to move to Turkish Club Fenerbahçe

Rossi To Immediately Join Club To Play In Europa League & Turkish First Division

The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) announced today that the Club has agreed to send Diego Rossi to Turkish Süper Lig side Fenerbahçe S.K for an initial loan period that will begin immediately.

“This is the first step in a long career in Europe for Diego,” LAFC Co-President & General Manager John Thorrington said. “We are forever grateful to Diego for the way he helped build this Club both on and off the field from day one. To see him grow into a world class player who will perform in the Europa League with Fenerbahçe is exciting and shows that our vision of developing talent is working.”

Rossi, 23, became the second Designated Player in LAFC history when he signed with the Club in January, 2018 from Peñarol of Uruguay’s Primera División. At 19-years old, he became the second youngest Designated Player in league history and immediately became a major LAFC contributor. He scored the first-ever goal in LAFC history in the 11th minute of the Club’s first match against Seattle, the fastest goal by an expansion team in MLS history.

The electrifying forward earned MLS “22 Under 22” honors in his first MLS season en-route to the Club’s first playoff berth and became an MLS All-Star in 2019 as he helped lead LAFC to a record-breaking 2019 Supporter’s Shield winning season. Rossi became the youngest Golden Boot winner in MLS history in 2020, and was honored last season as the MLS Young Player of the Year, MLS Best XI, MLS Is Back Tournament Golden Boot, MLS Is Back Young Player of the Tournament and MLS Is Back Tournament Best XI.

A Uruguayan international, Rossi started six matches for the Under 23 squad in the 2020 Olympic qualifiers, adding a goal and an assist and was called into the senior national team for the 2020 World Cup qualifiers.

Rossi leaves LAFC as one of its most decorated players, appearing in 103 career regular season MLS matches for the Black & Gold, ranking first in Club history (tied with Latif Blessing), and making a team-high 99 starts. He also leads LAFC with 8,766 career MLS minutes played since 2018 and 144 shots on goal. He ranks second in the Club record books in goals (44) and assists (21).

TRANSACTION: The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) loans Diego Rossi to Turkish Süper Lig side Fenerbahçe S.K.

Two Earthquakes Matches to Air on Telemundo 48

MLS Editor
-
0
Two Earthquakes Matches to Air on Telemundo 48

Matches on Sept. 25 and Oct. 2 to be broadcast on Spanish-language station

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club has partnered with Telemundo 48 Area de la Bahia/KSTS to air two Spanish-language television broadcasts during the 2021 season. The regular season matches that will air on Telemundo 48 are Sept. 25 vs. LAFC at PayPal Park (7:00 p.m.), presented by Valley Health Plan, and Oct. 2 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place (7:00 p.m.).

Telemundo 48, the official Spanish-language local television partner of the San Jose Earthquakes, has partnered with the team for more than a decade, providing in-depth coverage of the club including weekly interview segments with head coach Matias Almeyda and Quakes players.

“The San Jose Earthquakes have one the most passionate and loyal fanbases in MLS and we are excited to once again partner with the organization to bring these matches to fans on Telemundo 48,” said Stacy Owen, President and General Manager of Telemundo 48. “We are looking forward to another great season of Quakes coverage, adding to the excitement of soccer on Telemundo 48 as we kick off the road to Qatar 2022.”

The broadcasts will be led by Carlos Cesar Rivera (play-by-play), Ramiro Corrales (analyst) and Telemundo 48 sports anchor Carlos Ramirez (sideline), with English audio also available via SAP.

Rivera is the Spanish radio voice of the Earthquakes, providing play-by-play commentary for home and away matches every year since 2008. He hosts 1370 KZSF’s sports talk show from 5-7 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, which covers MLS and Liga MX, as well as many other sports teams in the Bay Area.

Corrales is a member of the Earthquakes Hall of Fame, ranking second in minutes played (20,188) and games started (228), third in appearances (250), and sixth in assists (32) among all players in club history. He currently serves as the Spanish radio color analyst for Quakes home matches.

Ramirez joined Telemundo 48 Area de la Bahia as a sports anchor in 2019. He previously worked at the Telemundo affiliate in San Diego from 2017-19, following an award-winning news career in his native Venezuela.

Orlando City SC Recalls Jordan Bender from Loan Stint

MLS Editor
-
0
Orlando City SC Recalls Jordan Bender from Loan Stint

Lions’ midfielder returns to Orlando following loan with USL Championship side Charlotte Independence

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando City SC Homegrown midfielder Jordan Bender has been recalled from his loan with USL Championship side Charlotte Independence and will rejoin the Lions immediately, it was announced today. Bender appeared in 15 matches while on loan with the Independence, based in Charlotte, N.C.

Orlando City returns to Exploria Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 4, hosting defending MLS Cup Champions Columbus Crew SC. The match is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET, with tickets available here or by calling (855) ORL-CITY.

TRANSACTION: Orlando City SC Homegrown midfielder Jordan Bender recalled from loan with Charlotte Independence.

Alouettes Wednesday Injury report

CFL Editor
-
0
Alouettes Wednesday Injury report

Montreal, – The following is the Montreal Alouettes injury report for Wednesday, September 1, 2021:

 

Dante Absher, (WR), healthy scratch, full participation

Cameron Artis-Payne, (RB), healthy scratch, full participation

Ty Cranston (DB), knee, limited

Cameron Lawson, (DL), healthy scratch, full participation

Najee Murray, (DB), knee, did not participate

Chris Schleuger, (OL), healthy scratch, full participation

Antonio Simmons, (DL), elbow, limited participation

Ahmad Thomas, (LB), knee, did not participate

Tony Washington (OL), knee, did not participate

Split-T Management’s Stephan Shaw and Omar Rosario Remain Undefeated with Stoppage Victories in Plant City, Florida

Fight Editor
-
0
Split-T Management’s Stephan Shaw and Omar Rosario Remain Undefeated with Stoppage Victories in Plant City, Florida

NEW YORK – Heavyweight Stephan Shaw and junior welterweight Omar Rosario kept their undefeated records intact with knockout victories at Whitesands Event Center in Plant City, Florida.

 

Shaw and Rosario are managed by Split-T Management.

 

Shaw of Saint Louis, Missouri, upped his record to 15-0 with 11 knockouts as he dispatched Nick Davis at 1:42 of the opening round of their scheduled eight-round bout.

 

Shaw dropped Davis with a huge barrage of power punches that put Davis out on his back.

 

Shaw is promoted by DiBella Entertainment

 

Rosario pitched a shutout in his four round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Marc Misiura.

 

Rosario was able to showcase his boxing skills that made him an amateur star in his native Puerto Rico. The 23 year-old Rosario won every round and came home with the victory by scores on all three judges’ scorecards to raise his record to 5-0. Misiura is now 2-1.

 

Rosario is promoted by Top Rank.

 

Sunday night in Cleveland, junior middleweight Charles Conwell stopped previously undefeated Juan Carlos Rubio at 2:39 of round three of their scheduled 10-round bout.

 

Conwell of Cleveland is now 16-0 with 12 knockouts.

 

Conwell is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Holden Productions.

Blue Bombers transactions

CFL Editor
-
0
Blue Bombers transactions

WINNIPEG, MB., – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the following roster transactions:

 

Released from the practice roster:

 

American receiver ArDarius Stewart

1...4,3804,3814,382...4,480Page 4,381 of 4,480