AP TOP 25 REALITY CHECK: SEC TAKEOVER COULD LAST A WHILE WITH FEW NONCONFERENCE CHALLENGES LEFT
The Southeastern Conference has taken over The Associated Press college football poll, grabbing six of the first seven spots.
The 16-team SEC set a new standard for hoarding high AP Top 25 rankings, with Georgia at No. 1, No. 2 Texas, No. 4 Alabama, No. 5 Mississippi, No. 6 Missouri and No. 7 Tennessee. Half of the top 16 comes from the SEC.
How long will this last? Could be a while.
This week, Alabama takes a road trip to Wisconsin. The Crimson Tide is an early 15 1/2-point favorite, according to BetMGM. In the only matchup of ranked teams next Saturday, No. 24 Boston College is at Missouri and the Tigers are favored by 16 1/2.
Those look like the toughest non-conference games left for any of those six teams.
SEC conference play doesn’t crank up for three weeks, though Week 4 does send Tennessee to new conference rival and No. 15 Oklahoma. The first matchup of those top six teams comes Week 5 and it’s a biggie: Georgia at Alabama.
Some head-to-heads could could whittle that dandy half-dozen down, but more likely it will be up to the second- and third-tier SEC teams to provide a couple of upsets. That means Oklahoma, No. 16 LSU and others will need to step it up. Texas A&M and Auburn have already lost nonconference games at home. Mississippi State and Arkansas lost on the road this past weekend.
South Carolina beat up Kentucky, but that might have said more about the Wildcats than the Gamecocks. Vanderbilt is off to a good start.
For now, the upper tier of college football is the SEC’s world and there is barely room for anybody else, at least according to AP poll voters. Reality Check has some thoughts.
No. 1 Georgia (2-0)
Next: at Kentucky, Saturday.
Reality check: The Bulldogs dusted off RB Trevor Etienne against Tennessee Tech after he was benched in the opener for an offseason traffic violation. The Florida transfer averaged a cool 15.6 yards on five carries.
Ranking: Just right.
No. 2 Texas (2-0)
Next: vs. UTSA, Saturday.
Reality check: You can see the progress in QB Quinn Ewers, especially when he throws on the move. The lack of tailback depth might force the Longhorns to lean a little harder on their star quarterback. He seems up for it.
Ranking: Just right.
No. 3 Ohio State (2-0)
Next: vs. Marshall, Sept. 21.
Reality check: The Buckeyes were locked on against Western Michigan, which was almost not fair to the Broncos.
Ranking: This is fine.
No. 4 Alabama (2-0)
Next: at Wisconsin, Saturday.
Reality check: Injuries along the offensive line had the Crimson Tide out of sorts for much of the game against USF before Alabama just had too many dudes for the Bulls. We’ll see if that’s a problem or one that goes away with better health.
Ranking: Little high.
No. 5 Mississippi (2-0)
Next: at Wake Forest, Saturday.
Reality check: You can only play who’s on your schedule and so far the Rebels have done exactly what an elite team should do to that level of opponent.
Ranking: Little high.
No. 6 Missouri (2-0)
Next: vs. No. 24 Boston College, Saturday.
Reality check: Competition has been very light, but considering defense was the question mark coming into the season allowing a total of 254 yards in two games is an encouraging sign.
Ranking: Too high.
No. 7 Tennessee (2-0)
Next: vs. Kent State, Saturday.
Reality check: The Volunteers look like the undervalued stock among the SEC’s best-ranked teams. The offensive and defensive lines are good enough to allow QB Nico Iamaleava (two interceptions against NC State) some growing pains.
Ranking: Too low.
No. 8 Penn State (2-0)
Next: vs. Kent State, Sept. 21.
Reality check: That’s not a typo. Kent State, which opened the season at Pitt, plays Tennessee and Penn State back-to-back. This is the same team that just lost to FCS team St. Francis (Pa.) on Saturday. Kent State is getting $4 million from the three power conference schools. If any college football players deserve to be paid, it’s the Golden Flashes.
Ranking: Touch low.
No. 9 Oregon (2-0)
Next: at Oregon State, Saturday.
Reality check: The interior of the Ducks’ offensive line has been a problem, contributing to seven sacks allowed. Oregon allowed only five sacks all of last season. They are hoping the return of Indiana transfer OG Matthew Bedford from injury — whenever that happens — settles things down.
Ranking: Feels a little high, but Boise State is a handful.
No. 10 Miami (2-0)
Next: vs. Ball State, Saturday.
Reality check: USF looms in two weeks, a potential sneaky tricky nonconference game as Alabama has found out the past two years.
Ranking: Little low.
No. 11 Southern California (2-0)
Next: at Michigan, Sept. 21.
Reality check: The Trojans’ shutout of Utah State was the first by a Lincoln Riley-coached team against an FBS opponent.
Ranking: About right.
No. 12 Utah (2-0)
Next: at Utah State, Saturday.
Reality check: The Utes pulled QB Cam Rising after he injured his hand with a big lead against Baylor. They say it’s not serious and it better not be because Utah didn’t score a point without him.
Ranking: Little high.
No. 13 Oklahoma State (2-0)
Next: at Tulsa, Saturday.
Reality check: There are no bad wins, especially against Power Four opponents, but the Cowboys’ defense has not played well and now appear to be in danger of losing their best pass rusher, Collin Oliver (lower right leg injury), for a long period.
Ranking: Good for now.
No. 14 Kansas State (2-0)
Next: vs. No. 20 Arizona, Friday.
Reality check: The Wildcats’ experienced secondary got lit up by Tulane. Now here comes Arizona All-American Tetairoa McMillan.
Ranking: Touch low.
No. 15 Oklahoma (2-0)
Next: vs. Tulane, Saturday.
Reality check: The Sooners are struggling to block and it’s making life hard on former five-star QB Jackson Arnold. That performance against a rebuilding Houston team was worrisome.
Ranking: Too high.
No. 16 LSU (1-1)
Next: at South Carolina, Saturday.
Reality check: The running game is a problem and losing RB John Emery to another knee injury isn’t helping the situation.
Ranking: This seems too high, but everybody in this group seems to be ranked too high.
No. 17 Michigan (1-1)
Next: vs. Arkansas State, Saturday.
Reality check: Quarterback issues will dominate headlines, but offensive line issues are what’s really shocking for the Wolverines. Coach Sherrone Moore probably has a better chance of fixing the line.
Ranking: Too high.
No. 18 Notre Dame (1-1)
Next: at Purdue, Saturday.
Reality check: The NIU loss was certainly not all on QB Riley Leonard, but he really needs to be better.
Ranking: Too high.
No. 19 Louisville (2-0)
Next: vs. Georgia Tech, Saturday.
Reality check: The Cardinals have outscored two outmanned opponents by a combined 111-14. They’re the ACC’s Ole Miss.
Ranking: Maybe a little low.
No. 20 Arizona (2-0)
Next: at No. 14 Kansas State, Friday.
Reality check: The Wildcats have been called for 19 penalties in two games. They were especially problematic as Arizona slogged to a victory against Northern Arizona.
Ranking: Little high.
No. 21 Iowa State (2-0)
Next: vs. Arkansas State, Sept. 21.
Reality check: The Cyclones live in close games. Having a kicker like redshirt freshman Kyle Konrady, who can crush 54-yard field goals with the game on the line seems massive for coach Matt Campbell’s team.
Ranking: Little low.
No. 22 Clemson (2-0)
Next: vs. NC State, Sept. 21.
Reality check: Maybe we overreacted about Clemson’s offense after the Georgia game? Or maybe we’re overreacting after a near-flawless performance against Appalachian State that included a 35-point first quarter? Guess we’ll find out soon enough.
Ranking: Just right.
No. 23 Nebraska (2-0)
Next: vs. Northern Iowa, Saturday.
Reality check: The Cornhuskers still have details to clean up. Most notably 12 penalties against Colorado. But the offensive and defensive line improvement is encouraging and might be sustainable.
Ranking: The Huskers might be ranked prematurely, but somebody has to fill these spots.
No. 24 Boston College (2-0)
Next: at No. 6 Missouri, Saturday.
Reality check: The next test is a big step up, but new coach Bill O’Brien’s Eagles have a solid offensive line and a dynamic quarterback. Is that enough to stay ranked?
Ranking: See Nebraska above.
No. 25 Northern Illinois (2-0)
Next: vs. Buffalo, Sept. 21.
Reality check: Coach Thomas Hammock has a tough team of mostly homegrown, developed and retained players. With an off week and a rebuilding Buffalo team after that, the Huskies could be in line for at least a three-week stay in the rankings.
Ranking: Maybe too low. How about that?
FORMER CLEMSON RECEIVER OVERTON SHOT AND KILLED AT A PARTY IN GREENSBORO, SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT SAYS
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Former Clemson receiver Diondre Overton was shot and killed at a party in Greensboro, North Carolina, according to the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department.
A release from the agency said the 26-year-old Overton was found by deputies responding to a loud noise disturbance from a party.
Despite medical aid, the department said Overton was pronounced dead at the scene.
The sheriff’s department said an open homicide investigation is ongoing.
Overton was a Greensboro native who played at Clemson from 2016-19 and was part of two national championship teams. He played in 51 games, making 52 catches for 777 yards and seven touchdowns.
“So senseless and just a beautiful, young life cut short at 26,” coach Dabo Swinney said Saturday night after the Tigers beat Appalachian State. “But man, I love DeAndre Overton.”
AP PLAYER OF THE WEEK: ARIZONA ST. WORKHORSE CAM SKATTEBO RUNS FOR CAREER-HIGH 262 AGAINST BULLDOGS
The Associated Press national player of the week in football for Week 2 of the season:
Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
The Sun Devils’ fourth-year running back rushed for a career-high 262 yards and finished with 297 all-purpose yards in a 30-23 win over Mississippi State.
Skattebo’s 33 carries are the FBS single-game high so far this season. His final run was his longest, going for 39 yards to the Mississippi State 12 and allowing the Sun Devils to run out the clock.
He averaged 7.9 yards per carry while amassing the second-highest rushing total in program history behind Eno Benjamin’s 312 yards against Oregon State in 2018. His 12 runs of at least 10 yards, all against Mississippi State, lead the nation.
Skattebo, a native of Rio Linda, California, who transferred from Sacramento State for the 2023 season, also caught three passes for a team-high 35 yards.
Runner-up
Xavier Scott, Illinois. The third-year defensive back from Riviera Beach, Florida, had his fingerprints all over the Illini’s 23-17 win over then-No. 19 Kansas.
He was in on three takeaways, including an interception return for a touchdown, and he recorded a sack and finished with a team-leading eight solo tackles.
His interception on Kansas’ first series set up a field goal, and his 30-yard pick-6 put the Illini up 13-10 late in the first half. With the Jayhawks at the Illinois 46, Scott knocked the ball loose from Jalen Daniels and teammate Alec Bryant recovered to end the game.
Honorable mention
Northern Illinois DT Cade Haberman blocked a 48-yard field-goal attempt to end the first half and a 62-yarder at the end of the game to preserve the 16-14 upset of then-No. 5 Notre Dame; Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty ran for 192 yards and three touchdowns in 27-24 loss to then-No. 7 Oregon. Syracuse QB Kyle McCord passed for 381 yards and four touchdowns as the Orange held on to beat then-No. 23 Georgia Tech 31-28.
Six stats
— Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai has never fumbled on 459 rushing attempts since 2021.
— Penn State’s Drew Allar has an interception rate of 0.6% on 486 career attempts, best among FBS players with a minimum of 200, according to SportRadar. He threw an interception against Bowling Green on Saturday for his first of the season but just the third in 15 career games.
— North Carolina’s Jahvaree Ritzie leads the nation with five sacks in two games. He had a total of 2.5 sacks over his 40 previous games.
— Georgia heads to Kentucky with 15 straight road wins, the FBS’ longest active streak.
— Missouri has scored on 66 of 68 trips into the red zone since the start of the last season, according to SportRadar. That’s a 97.1% success rate that leads the nation among teams with at least 10 drives inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.
— SMU’s Collin Rogers set a school record with five goals and accounted for all his team’s scoring in an 18-15 loss to BYU. He had kicks of 53, 52, 45, 38 and 28 yards.
PITT FIRES ATHLETIC DIRECTOR HEATHER LYKE MONTHS BEFORE HER CONTRACT WAS SET TO EXPIRE
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The University of Pittsburgh has fired athletic director Heather Lyke, a somewhat surprising move that came a few months before Lyke’s contract was set to expire.
Pitt chancellor Joan Gabel made the announcement Monday.
While Gabel thanked Lyke for her leadership, Gabel also noted that with the landscape of college athletics changing rapidly, she felt it was time for a fresh start.
“We need a new vision and a new leader of our athletics department,” Gabel said in a statement.
Lyke arrived at Pitt in 2017 and helped the Panthers start to find their footing in the Atlantic Coast Conference after treading water in their initial years after leaving the Big East.
The football program won its first ACC title in 2021 and her decision to hire Jeff Capel as the men’s basketball coach in 2018 helped bring that program back to life. The women’s volleyball team has become a national power and the men’s soccer team reached the College Cup twice, 2020 and 2022.
Lyke’s most ambitious project was “Victory Heights,” a $240 million facility currently under construction next to the Petersen Events Center. When completed, Victory Heights will serve as the home for 16 of Pitt’s 19 intercollegiate programs and will accommodate seating for up to 3,000 for volleyball, wrestling and gymnastics.
The building, launched in 2020 just before the COVID-19 pandemic, is scheduled to open in the fall of 2025.
Lyke, however, will not be around to see her vision come to fruition. She was in the final months of a contract that ran through 2024 but had explored other options lately, most recently when she was a finalist for the athletic director job at Northwestern.
The Wildcats ended up hiring Villanova athletic director Mark Jackson for the job.
Gabel said the school will launch a “comprehensive search” for Lyke’s replacement. Jennifer Tuscano will serve as interim athletic director until the search is complete.
BIG 10 FOOTBALL
BIG TEN ANNOUNCES WEEK 4 KICKOFF TIMES AND NETWORK DESIGNATIONS
ROSEMONT, Ill. – In collaboration with its rightsholders, the Big Ten Conference on Monday announced the kickoff times and broadcast designations for Week 4 home football games (Sept. 20-21).
The 2024 campaign is the first to feature a full Big Ten lineup on CBS, FOX and NBC, supported by exclusive cable and direct-to-consumer broadcasts on Big Ten Network, FS1 and Peacock. The complete Week 4 schedule can be found below.
The weekend begins on Friday, September 20, when No. 24 Nebraska visits Illinois in a game broadcast on FOX. The FOX Big Noon Kickoff matchup on Saturday, September 21, will be No. 3 Ohio State hosting Marshall in their final non-conference tilt. At 3:30pm ET, CBS will broadcast USC’s Big Ten debut when the Trojans visit Ann Arbor to take on the defending College Football Playoff champion Michigan Wolverines. Washington’s first conference game will be broadcast on FS1 when Northwestern visits Montlake at 7pm ET. In primetime on NBC (7:30pm ET), the Floyd of Rosedale rivalry is renewed as Minnesota hosts Iowa.
Game times and network designations for non-conference road games will be announced by the home conference.
Friday, September 20
8pm ET/7pm CT/5pm PT
- Illinois at Nebraska – FOX
Saturday, September 21
12pm ET/11am CT/9am PT
- Marshall at Ohio State – FOX
- Charlotte at Indiana – Big Ten Network
- Villanova at Maryland – Big Ten Network
3:30pm ET/2:30pm CT/12:30pm PT
- USC at Michigan – CBS
- Kent State at Penn State – Big Ten Network
7pm ET/6pm CT/4pm PT
- Northwestern at Washington – FS1
7:30pm ET/6:30pm CT/4:30pm PT
- Iowa at Minnesota – NBC
BIG 10 FOOTBALL THIS WEEK
- The Week 3 slate features 14 Big Ten teams in action, including one conference contest. The Big Ten will get its first taste of a pair of in-state, west coast rivalries on Saturday, as Oregon visits Oregon State, while Washington and Washington State meet in the Apple Cup, with both games slated to kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET. UCLA will also play in its first Big Ten Conference game, as the Bruins welcome Indiana to the Rose Bowl on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET.
- Twelve of the Big Ten’s 18 teams are mentioned in this week’s AP and US LBM Coaches Polls, announced on Sunday. The AP poll includes No. 3 Ohio State, No. 8 Penn State, No. 9 Oregon, No. 11 USC, No. 17 Michigan, and No. 23 Nebraska, with Illinois, Washington, Iowa, and Wisconsin receiving votes. At No. 2, Ohio State leads seven Big Ten teams in the coaches’ poll (No. 6 Oregon, No. 7 Penn State, No. 11 USC, No. 16 Michigan, No. 22 Washington, and No. 24 Nebraska), while Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, and Indiana also received recognition.
- The Big Ten announced its first Big Ten Football Players of the Week, presented by IFS.ai, on Monday. Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai was named Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for a career high 208 yards and three touchdowns in the Scarlet Knights’ 49-17 win over Rutgers. Monangai became the first Scarlet Knight to rush for 200 yards since Josh Hicks did so in the 2014 Quick Lane Bowl.
- Illinois’ Xavier Scott claimed Defensive Player of the Week honors after totaling eight solo tackles in the Illini’s 23-17 win over Kansas, the team’s highest ranked nonconference win since 1995. Scott also collected two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, recorded a sack, and sealed the win with a strip sack forced fumble on the game’s final play.
- Oregon’s Tez Johnson returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown in the Ducks’ 37-34 win over Boise State to earn Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Johnson’s touchdown return marked the program’s first punt return for touchdown since 2018 and Oregon’s longest punt return since 2008.
- Michigan’s State’s Nick Marsh was named Freshman of the Week after posting 194 receiving yards on eight catches and a touchdown in the Spartans’ 27-24 win at Maryland. Marsh enters the program record book with the 10th most receiving yards in a single game and second most by a true freshman. After recording just one catch for 11 yards in last week’s collegiate debut, Marsh recorded a pair of 50+ yard receptions, a 77-yard touchdown catch and a 57-yard reception, both coming in the fourth quarter.
- Indiana rewrote its record books in Friday’s 77-3 win over Western Illinois. The 77 points marked the most in program history with a program-record 10 Hoosiers finding the end zone. Indiana also rushed for 335 yards and passed for 378 yards to mark the first time since 2015 the team topped 300 yards rushing and passing in the same game.
- Three Big Ten teams posted shutouts on Saturday, with Minnesota, Ohio State, and USC winning a combined 152-0. The Gophers surrendered just 135 total yard, including 18 rushing yards in a 48-0 win over Rhode Island, while the Buckeyes’ defensive effort held Western Michigan to 91 total yards in the 56-0 win. The Trojans held Utah State to just 10 first downs, as they rolled to a 48-0 triumph.
- The top two teams in the regular season standings will meet in the 2024 Discover Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis, Ind. The game, which will be broadcast on CBS for the first time ever, will be the first in conference history to match the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the overall conference standings.
RUTGERS, ILLINOIS, OREGON AND MICHIGAN STATE EARN WEEKLY FOOTBALL HONORS
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Following Week 2 contests, the Big Ten Conference Football Players of the Week Presented by IFS.ai were announced Monday. Below are this week’s honorees:
Offensive Player of the Week
Kyle Monangai, Rutgers
RB – Sr. – Roseland, N.J. – Don Bosco Prep
- Rushed for a career-high 208 yards in the win over Akron, tying for the 10th-best mark in a game in school history
- Became the first Scarlet Knight to reach 200 rushing yards in a game since 2014
- Marked his fourth straight 100-yard game dating back to 2023, the best Rutgers streak since Jawan Jamison had six consecutive games from 2011-12
- Rushed for three touchdowns for the second time in his career
- Ranks ninth among Rutgers’ career rushing leaders with 2,315 yards
- Last Rutgers Offensive Player of the Week: Kyle Monangai (Sept. 18, 2023)
Defensive Player of the Week
Xavier Scott, Illinois
DB – Jr. – Riviera Beach, Fla. – Dwyer
- Forced three turnovers in Illinois’ 23-17 win over #19 Kansas
- Only player in the nation to force three turnovers in a single game this season
- Collected two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, one forced fumble, 1.0 sack and eight solo tackles to lead Illinois to its highest ranked nonconference win since 1995
- Had a game-changing pick-six with :36 seconds left in the first half to give Illinois a 13-10 lead entering halftime
- Recorded the game-ending strip-sack forced fumble on the final play to secure the win
- Last Illinois Defensive Player of the Week: Seth Coleman (Oct. 16, 2023)
Special Teams Player of the Week
Tez Johnson, Oregon
WR – Sr. – Pinson, Ala. – Pinson Valley HS
- Returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter of Oregon’s 37-34 win over Boise State
- First Duck to return a punt for a touchdown since Ugo Amadi in 2018
- Recorded the fifth-longest punt return in program history and longest since the 2008 season
- Finished with 109 punt-return yards, becoming the first Oregon player to go over 100 punt-return yards in a game since 2019
- It was his first career punt return for a touchdown
Freshman of the Week
Nick Marsh, Michigan State
WR – Detroit, Mich. – River Rouge
- Snared eight catches for 194 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, to help Michigan State beat Maryland on the road in its Big Ten opener
- His 194 receiving yards was the best MSU single-game receiving total against Maryland and only the second 100-yard receiving outing against the Terps, topping the previous mark set in 2021
- It was the 10th-most receiving yards in a single game by a Spartan and the second-most by a true freshman
- Last Michigan State Freshman of the Week: Katin Houser (Nov. 20, 2023)
NIU NAMED CHEEZ-IT NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK
DALLAS (FWAA) – The NIU Huskies knocked off a team ranked in the top five of the polls for the first time in school history Saturday, toppling fifth-ranked Notre Dame in South Bend with a final-minute field goal, 16-14. The Huskies outgained the Irish, didn’t commit a turnover and made decisive plays on defense and special teams to earn the upset and become the Cheez-It National Team of the Week for games the weekend of Sept. 7, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.
This is only the second time for NIU (2-0) to earn the national team of the week honor from the FWAA and its first since the week of Sept. 16, 2017, following a 21-17 win at Nebraska. Since the 2002 season, the FWAA has named a National Team of the Week. Each honored team receives a custom Cheez-It “care package” along with a hand-crafted game ball made in America by Dallas-based Big Game USA, the nation’s leading manufacturer of custom footballs.
Kanon Woodill’s 35-yard field goal with 31 seconds left was the winning play, but it wasn’t until Cade Haberman blocked a 62-yard field goal attempt at time expired that the Huskies could begin their on-field celebration. It was Haberman’s second blocked kick of the game.
Antario Brown gained 225 total yards from scrimmage (126 receiving, 99 rushing) with a touchdown and Ethan Hampton was 10-of-19 passing for 198 yards and a touchdown as NIU notched the first win by any Mid-American Conference team over a team ranked in the Associated Press Top Five. NIU head coach Thomas Hammock now has three wins over so-called Power 4 programs in the past four seasons.
“We were bigger than they thought. We’re not a normal MAC team in my opinion. We’re big on the offensive and defensive line and we’re physical,” Hammock said. “I didn’t look at it as a mismatch. Our kids went out there and played hard, tough and physical. I told them all week ‘you can make a mistake, but you can’t lack physicality.’ We won the battle up front.”
Trailing 14-13, Huskies safety Amariyun Knighten picked off Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard, returning the turnover to midfield with 5:55 left in the fourth quarter. NIU converted a third down and a fourth down to get to the Notre Dame 19 in 10 plays to set up the winning kick. Woodill then split the uprights with a 35-yard game winner with 31 seconds left.
Notre Dame drove to the NIU 44 on its final drive before lining up a 62-yard field goal attempt with five seconds remaining, a kick Haberman blocked. Haberman also blocked an Irish 48-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half.
The Huskies outgained the Fighting Irish 388-286 with a balanced attack of 190 rushing yards and 198 through the air. Antario Brown recorded the first 100-yard receiving game of his career after entering the game with only 59 career receiving yards on 13 catches. Brown had 199 total yards in the first half alone and finished with 225.
“We put a lot of emphasis on special teams. I told our coaches that I had a dream last night that the game would come down to a field goal,” Hammock said. “Kanon nailed that game-winner. He’s going to have that moment engraved in his mind for the rest of his life.”
NIU’s previous best win against a ranked opponent was a 20-13 overtime win against No. 15 Maryland in 2003. It defeated a ranked non-conference opponent for the first time since a win at No. 21 Alabama on Sept. 20, 2003, and earned its first win over any ranked team since 2015.
The Huskies are idle this weekend prior to hosting their MAC opener against Buffalo on Sept. 21.
The other National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Sept. 7 were:
Iowa State (2-0): Cyclones kicker Kyle Konrady made a 54-yard field goal with six seconds left to give Iowa State a 20-19 victory over No. 21 Iowa on Saturday. Taking the ball at his own 22 with 34 seconds left, Rocco Becht connected on three passes to drive 42 yards and set up the kick. Iowa State rallied from a 19-7 deficit with 4:47 left in the third quarter, started by a 75-yard touchdown pass from Becht to Jaylin Noel. The Cyclones have won back-to-back games in Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium for the first time since 2012 and 2014.
Texas (2-0): The No. 3 Longhorns quickly silenced most of the 111,170 fans inside Michigan Stadium by rolling to a 24-3 halftime lead, and later finished off the No. 10 Wolverines 31-12 to earn another September win over a top 10 team on the road. Texas won at No. 3 Alabama in the season’s second week last year. Texas outgained Michigan 389-284 with 246 passing yards from Quinn Ewers. It was the Longhorns’ first win on the road against a reigning national champion since 1998 when they beat Nebraska, 20-16, to end the Cornhuskers’ 47-game home winning streak.
MAC ANNOUNCES WEEK 2 FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
MAC Football Offensive Players of the Week
Antario Brown, NIU, RB
Senior, Savannah, Ga. (Beach HS)
Running back Antario Brown accounted for 225 all-purpose yards and the Huskies’ only touchdown in NIU’s 16-14 win over fifth-ranked Notre Dame. Brown’s career long 83-yard touchdown catch and run tied the game 7-7 in the first quarter. He recorded the first 100-yard receiving game of his career and the first by a Huskie running back since 2006 (Garrett Wolfe, 114 yards at Ohio State) with two catches for 126 yards and was just one yard shy of a 100-yard rushing game when he left the game at the end of the third quarter.
MAC Football Defensive Players of the Week
Devonte O’Malley, NIU, DT
Senior, Midlothian, Illinois (Bremen)
NIU defensive tackle Devonte O’Malley recorded a pair of sacks and a tackle for loss with four solo tackles and a forced fumble to lead NIU’s defensive effort in its historic win over No. 5 Notre Dame on Saturday. The Huskies held Notre Dame to 123 rushing yards on 28 carries and 163 passing yards while pressuring ND QB Riley Leonard all day. Notre Dame amassed only 286 yards and were outgained by more than 100 yards at home for only the fourth time in the last 15 years.
MAC Football Special Teams Co-Players of the Week
Cade Haberman, NIU, DT
Senior, Blair, Nebraska (Westside HS)
Senior Cade Haberman made two of the biggest plays of the Huskies’ upset win over Notre Dame Saturday with two blocked field goals. His field goal block at the end of the first half on a 48-yard attempt preserved the Huskies’ 13-7 halftime lead. He also blocked ND’s 62-yard attempt on the last play of the game to give NIU the historic win. Haberman is the only player in the country this year with two blocked field goals in the same game.
Jesus Gomez, Eastern Michigan, PK
Senior, Puebla, Mexico (Prepa Tec Puebla)
Gomez was sensational for the Eagles as he was a perfect 3-of-3 in field goal attempts, including makes of 57 yards, 50 yards, and 29 yards. It marked the second time in his career he was 3-of-3 in a single game and the first time EMU history a placekicker converted multiple field goal attempts of 50+ yards in the same game. His 57-yard kick in the first quarter not only gave EMU an early lead, it changed the record book as he took over the top spot in EMU history after being tied with two others for the then-record of 55 yards. Additionally, the 57-yard make ranks tied for the fourth-longest in MAC history. Overall, his 57-yard kick is the second-longest in the FBS this year. He is one of three kickers nationally to have made a pair of 50+ yard field goals in 2024, but the only one to make two in the same game.
ASU, ISU AND OSU EARN WEEK TWO FOOTBALL ACCOLADES
IRVING, Texas – Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo (offensive), Iowa State’s Kyle Konrardy (special teams) and the Oklahoma State tandem of Nick Martin (defensive) and Obi Ezeigbo (newcomer) claimed the Big 12 Conference’s weekly awards on Monday.
Skattebo (pronounced Skatte-boo) led the nation in yards from scrimmage with 297 in week two, with 262 yards coming on the ground, in ASU’s win over Mississippi State. His 262 rushing yards were the second most ever by a Sun Devil behind Eno Benjamin’s 312-yard effort against Oregon State in 2018. The senior rushed for 93 yards in the fourth quarter alone to seal the victory over the Bulldogs. Skattebo also gives the Big 12 the national yardage leader in back-to-back weeks with Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan earning the distinction in week one.
Martin was instrumental in OSU’s double overtime win over Arkansas with 16 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and a trio of quarterback hurries while playing in 91 of the Cowboys’ 93 snaps on defense. His 4.5 tackles for a loss were the most by an FBS player in a game this season and the most by a Cowboy since 2018. Martin gave Oklahoma State a second 15+ tackle performance this season and secured the second consecutive defensive weekly honor for OSU after teammate Trey Rucker took home the award in week one.
Oklahoma State’s second honoree of the week also came from the defensive side of the ball as Ezeigbo amassed nine total tackles and a pair of sacks in the victory over the Razorbacks. The defensive end transferred to OSU this season from NCAA Division II Gannon University and was at his best in the second half on Saturday with seven of his nine tackles. His second sack of the day came on a crucial third down in overtime that backed up the Razorbacks before they missed a 46-yard field goal.
Redshirt freshman Kyle Konrardy propelled the Cyclones to a 20-19 victory over No. 21 Iowa in Saturday’s rivalry game with a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter. His first make came from 46 yards and marked the first made field goal of his career. Konrardy later connected on the game-winning kick from 54 yards with six seconds remaining. He also connected on both extra points in Saturday’s win.
WEEK 2 ACC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference Football Players of the Week have been recognized following their standout performances in Week 2 of the 2024 college football season. The selections are determined by a vote of a select media panel. The following are this week’s honorees:
CO-QUARTERBACK – Kyle McCord, Syracuse, QB, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey
McCord notched new career highs for the second week in a row in multiple statistical categories to lead Syracuse to a victory over No. 23 Georgia Tech. McCord completed 32-of-46 passing attempts for 381 yards and four touchdowns. His completions, attempts and yards were all career highs, and the four touchdown throws matched his career high, set in Week 1 versus Ohio. McCord currently leads the nation with eight touchdown passes through two weeks of the season and has 735 yards passing, which leads the ACC and is third in the FBS. McCord was named one of the eight Manning Award Stars of the Week.
CO-QUARTERBACK – Cade Klubnik, Clemson, QB, Austin, Texas
Klubnik completed 24-of-26 passes for a career-high 378 yards and five touchdowns, while only playing in the first half against Appalachian State. He also added a pair of rushing touchdowns to finish as the only FBS quarterback in the last 25 years with five passing touchdowns, multiple rushing touchdowns, and a completion percentage of 90.0-percent or better in a game. Despite playing only one half, his 378 passing yards were tied for the 19th-most in a game in school history. It was the most by a Clemson quarterback since Trevor Lawrence’s 400 passing yards against Ohio State to end the 2020 season. He became the first ACC quarterback to record at least four passing touchdowns and multiple rushing touchdowns in a single half since Louisville’s Lamar Jackson in 2016, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Alongside McCord, Klubnik was also named a Manning Award Star of the Week.
RUNNING BACK – Desmond Reid, Pitt, RB, Miami Gardens, Florida
Reid became the first player in Pitt history to compile 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in the same game, sparking Pitt’s dramatic comeback win at Cincinnati. Reid ran for 148 yards on 19 carries, while hauling in six passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. It was Reid’s second consecutive 100-yard rushing game since his offseason transfer to Pitt from Western Carolina, becoming the first Pitt player to log two consecutive 100-yard rushing games to start a Pitt career since Dion Lewis in 2009. Reid helped Pitt complete its largest comeback since October 9, 1971, when the Panthers rallied from a 25-point deficit to defeat Navy, 36-35.
RECEIVER – Konata Mumpfield, Pitt, WR, Hoschton, Georgia
Mumpfield played a crucial role in Pitt’s 28-27 comeback victory at Cincinnati, logging five catches for a game-high 123 receiving yards. While the Panthers were trailing 27-6 in the third quarter, Mumpfield hauled in touchdown catches of 11 and 38 yards on consecutive drives to bring Pitt within eight points. On Pitt’s final possession, the Hoschton, Georgia, product caught a 34-yard pass to set up the Panthers’ game-winning field goal. His performance lifted Pitt to its largest comeback win since October 9, 1971, when the Panthers rallied from a 25-point deficit to defeat Navy, 36-35.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Da’Metrius Weatherspoon, Syracuse, LT, Clairton, Pennsylvania
Weatherspoon was the Orange’s highest-graded offensive lineman in Syracuse’s conference win over No. 23 Georgia Tech. He helped keep a clean pocket and pave the way for the ‘Cuse offense to put up 515 yards of offense, including 381 through the air. The left tackle had one knockdown, did not allow a sack and graded at 85-percent overall during his 76-play effort.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – Tyler Baron, Miami, DL, Knoxville, Tennessee
Baron delivered another impressive performance in Miami’s win over Florida A&M. In just 27 snaps, Baron became the eighth Hurricane to mount three sacks in a game over the last 20 years. The sixth-year defensive linemen finished with a co-team-best five tackles, including a 3.5 tackles-for-loss. The Knoxville, Tennessee, product helped the Miami defense limit Florida A&M to just 194 yards of total offense, including just 52 rushing yards.
LINEBACKER – Teddye Buchanan, Cal, ILB, San Francisco, California
Buchanan recorded a team-high 11 tackles – including three tackles-for-loss with two sacks – while also forcing a fumble in Cal’s 21-14 road win at Auburn. Buchanan stripped running back Jarquez Hunter which led to a Golden Bear fumble recovery. The San Francisco, California, native also recorded two quarterback hurries in the win.
DEFENSIVE BACK – Nohl Williams, Cal, DB, Oxnard, California
Williams picked off two passes that he returned for 14 yards in Cal’s 21-14 road win over Auburn. The pair of interceptions gives Williams three on the season – tied for the most throughout FBS football. Williams’ second pick of the day came with 2:15 left in the game while Auburn was looking for a potential game-tying drive. The Oxnard, California, native added two tackles in the victory.
SPECIALIST – Ben Sauls, Pitt, K, Tipp City, Ohio
Sauls kicked three field goals, including the game-winning 35-yard try with 17 seconds left, to help Pitt complete its largest comeback win in 53 years. Sauls connected on field goals of 47, 53, and 35 yards, while adding a PAT. The Tipp City, Ohio, native has yet to miss this season, going 5-for-5 on field goals and 8-for-8 on PATs for a team-leading 23 points.
ROOKIE – Eli Holstein, Pitt, QB, Zachary, Louisiana
Holstein earned his second consecutive ACC Rookie of the Week honor after orchestrating Pitt’s dramatic 28-27 comeback at Cincinnati. Holstein completed 20-of-35 passes for 302 yards with three touchdowns, adding 36 rushing yards. Showing no signs of being phased by pressure, Holstein directed Pitt’s game-winning drive, completing two passes for 42 yards and adding a key seven-yard run to set up the clinching 35-yard field goal with 17 seconds left. Holstein became the first Pitt freshman, true or redshirt, to pass for 300 yards in consecutive games since Alex Van Pelt in 1989.
ACC Football Notes
Through Week 2 of the 2024 season:
Week 0 – Florida State versus Georgia Tech saw 5.0 million viewers and was the most-watched Week 0 game on any network since 2019.
College GameDay from Ireland was the most-watched Week 0 episode ever – 41 percent over the previous most-watched Week 0 show (2022) and averaged 1.6 million viewers, including 2.0 million in the final hour.
Week 1 – ACC was part of a historical day on Saturday, August 31, as it was ABC’s second-most-watched Kickoff Saturday on record
7.9 million viewers – The Clemson versus Georgia Aflac Kickoff Game in Atlanta was the most-watched Week 1 Noon Game on record, peaking at 9.5 million viewers.
6.6 million viewers – The in-state rivalry contest between Miami and Florida in Gainesville, Florida, was the most-watched Week 1 Late Afternoon Game since 2017.
The ACC has four teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll this week – Miami (No. 10), Louisville (No. 19), Clemson (No. 22) and Boston College (No. 24).
Three other teams received votes in the poll – Syracuse (63), North Carolina (7) and California (3).
The ACC has three teams ranked in the US LBM Coaches Poll this week – Miami (No. 12), Clemson (No. 20) and Louisville (No. 21).
Six other ACC teams received votes in the coaches poll – Boston College (36), Syracuse (33), NC State (10), California (5), North Carolina (5) and Pitt (2).
The ACC is 23-5 overall in non-conference play and has posted the second-best winning percentage in non-conference action among all Power 4 conferences at 82.1 percent.
The ACC has five non-conference road wins versus fellow Power 4 conference foes (5-5), which is tied for the most among all four leagues.
All five of the ACC’s non-conference Power 4 wins have come on the road.
Week 3 features 12 non-conference games – including five against P4 opponents.
The ACC is the Conference of Quarterbacks once again this season:
Seven quarterbacks are ranked in the top 25 of FBS in passing touchdowns – the most of any conference.
Six quarterbacks are ranked in the top 15 of FBS in total passing yards – the most of any conference.
Five quarterbacks are ranked in the top 15 of FBS in passing yards per game – the most of any conference.
Five quarterbacks are ranked in the top 15 of FBS in total yards per game – the most of any conference.
Five quarterbacks are ranked in the top 15 of ESPN’s Total QBR – the most of any conference.
ACC had the most of any conferences on the following QB preseason watch lists: Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (13); Maxwell Award preseason watch list (10); and Davey O’Brien Award (8).
The ACC has the top-ranked group of quarterback transfers in 2024 by CBS Sports.
13 QBs in the league enter the 2024 season with over 20 career touchdown passes and 3,500 career passing yards.
Since 2018, the ACC has had at least one quarterback drafted in the first round in five different drafts — the only conference to do that.
The ACC’s non-conference schedule continues to be the most challenging in the country:
26 games against Power 4 opponents, including Notre Dame, the most of any conference.
Nine non-conference games against teams ranked in the final 2023 Associated Press Top 25 Poll, the most of any conference.
10 non-conference games against teams in ESPN’s 2024 Way-Too-Early Top 25, the most of any conference.
ACC Features Elite Coaching Leadership:
Six ACC head coaches named to the 2024 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List – no conference has more.
Two of the three active coaches in the country to win a national title reside in the ACC (Mack Brown and Dabo Swinney).
Four current ACC head coaches have recorded over 100 career wins at the collegiate level (only 26 active FBS coaches have reached this mark).
Proven veterans and dynamic young coaches.
The 2024 ACC Football Championship Game will kick off in primetime at 8 p.m. ET on ABC on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tickets for the 2024 Atlantic Coast Conference Football Championship Game are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and through the ACC’s official website at theACC.com.
C-USA: SEPTEMBER 9 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
DALLAS – FIU’s Keyone Jenkins, along with Liberty’s CJ Bazile Jr and Colin Karhu, earned CUSA Player of the Week honors for week two. The weekly awards are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.
Offensive Player of the Week – Keyone Jenkins, FIU – Sophomore – QB – Miami, Fla.
Jenkins led the Panthers (1-1) to a 52-point scoring effort – the program’s highest total since 2018 – with three total touchdowns and a two-point conversion in FIU’s 52-16 win over Central Michigan. The victory was the inaugural game at newly branded Pitbull Stadium and marked the Panthers’ fourth consecutive win in a home opener. The hometown hero completed 10-18 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns while rushing five times for 42 yards and another score. In the second quarter, Jenkins scrambled for a career-long 34-yard run and followed two plays later with a 36-yard strike – his longest of the day – to Eric Rivers to double the FIU lead.
Defensive Player of the Week – CJ Bazile Jr., Liberty – Junior – Defensive End – Miami, Fla.
Bazile jumpstarted the Flames’ fourth-quarter rally with a 22-yard fumble return for a touchdown as Liberty (2-0, 1-0 CUSA) went on to down NM State (1-1, 0-1 CUSA), 30-24, in each team’s CUSA opener. After Quinton Reese knocked the ball loose on a crucial sack on third down, Bazile scooped the ball up and rumbled in for the Flames’ first touchdown of the night. The CUSA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year finished second on the team with six tackles and assisted on one of Liberty’s four sacks. After the Aggies jumped out to a 17-3 lead midway through the second quarter, Bazile and the Flames limited NM State to 130 total yards the rest of the way.
Special Teams Player of the Week – Colin Karhu, Liberty – Senior – Kicker – Rock Hill, S.C.
Karhu kept Liberty in the game while the Flames’ offense was struggling during the first three quarters of the game, providing the only points in the first 45 minutes on a trio of field goals. He put Liberty on the board with a season-long 39-yard make and connected on tries from 31 and 29 yards to cut the deficit to 17-9 at the half. Karhu improves to 5-7 on field goals this season and 6-6 on PATs, while ranking fifth nationally in field goals per game (2.5) and 28th in scoring (10.5).
AAC FOOTBALL: NAVY, MEMPHIS, ARMY PLAYERS TAKE WEEKLY FOOTBALL HONORS
IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors from Week 2 of the 2024 season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Blake Horvath • Jr. • QB • Navy
Horvath led Navy to a 38-11 win against Temple, accounting for four touchdowns, as the Midshipmen amassed 409 yards of total offense and averaged 6.8 yards per play. Horvath rushed for a career-high 122 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries, while he completed 5 of 9 passes for 112 yards and a TD. Horvath leads a Navy offense that has averaged a conference-leading 43.5 points through two games as Navy stands at 2-0 for the first time since 2019.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Elijah Herring • Jr. • LB • Memphis
A transfer from Tennessee, Herring led Memphis defensively in the Tigers’ 38-17 win against Troy, staking the Tigers to a 2-0 start for the 11th consecutive season. Herring had a team-high eight tackles with a sack, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery as the Tigers limited the back-to-back Sun Belt champions to 17 points and 251 total yards.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Matthew Rhodes • Sr. • P/H • Army
Rhodes made a key fourth-quarter play to help secure Army’s 24-7 win at Florida Atlantic as the Black Knights extended their winning streak to six games and took their first conference game as a member of The American. Serving as the holder on Army’s field goal unit, Rhodes raced down the left sideline for a 23-yard touchdown, giving the Black Knights a 17-point lead.
HONORABLE MENTION
Noah Short • Jr. • RB • Army
Rushed for a career-high 160 yards on 11 carries in a 24-7 win at Florida Atlantic.
Rahjai Harris • Gr. • RB • East Carolina
Rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns, both of which gave East Carolina a lead, in a 20-14 win at Old Dominion.
Mario Anderson Jr. • Sr. • RB • Memphis
Rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries and had four receptions for 23 yards in a 38-17 win against Troy.
Colin Ramos • Sr. • LB • Navy
Had 15 tackles with 0.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup in a 38-11 win against Temple.
Darian Mensah • RFr. • QB • Tulane
Completed 19 of 29 passes for a career-high 342 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-27 loss to No. 16/17 Kansas State.
SEC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: SEPT. 9
OFFENSIVE
QUINN EWERS
QB • JR.
Quinn Ewers delivered an impressive performance in Texas’ 31-12 road win over No. 10/9 Michigan, completing 24-of-36 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns. This victory marked Texas’ second consecutive top-10 road win, following their triumph over No. 3 Alabama last season. Ewers has now won eight straight true road games since 2022, throwing 15 touchdowns with just one interception. Notably, three of these wins were against top-15 opponents, where he completed 63% of his passes for 792 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions. Against Michigan, Ewers guided the Longhorns to scoring on all five first-half possessions—three touchdowns and a field goal—with the only miss being a field goal attempt after a penalty nullified a touchdown. He led Texas to 8-of-10 third-down conversions in the first half, going 6-of-7 passing with a touchdown and rushing for another on a 3rd-and-7. Ewers has thrown at least one touchdown pass in each of his last 15 starts, dating back to 2022. The win snapped Michigan’s notable win streaks, including 16 overall victories, a Big Ten-record 29 regular-season wins, and 23 home wins. Texas’ 19-point win was its largest margin of victory against a top-10 team on the road since 1979 and the biggest against a top-10 team overall since 2005.
DEFENSIVE
NICK EMMANWORI
FS • JR.
Nick Emmanwori played a crucial role in South Carolina’s dominant 31-6 win over Kentucky, where the Gamecock defense limited the Wildcats to just 183 total yards of offense, including only 44 passing yards. Emmanwori, a junior safety from Irmo, S.C., was everywhere on the field, recording a game-high seven tackles. He also sealed the victory with a 24-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, marking his third interception in the last four games.
SPECIAL TEAMS
KAI KROEGER
P • 5Y
Kai Kroeger showcased his punting prowess in South Carolina’s 31-6 victory over Kentucky. The fifth-year senior punted five times, averaging 51.6 yards per punt. Four of his five punts traveled more than 50 yards (54, 57, 53, 58 yards), including a season-best 58-yarder. Kroeger’s performance included placing two punts inside the 20-yard line, helping the Gamecocks control field position throughout the game.
OFFENSIVE LINE
JAKE MAJORS
C • SR.
Jake Majors was Texas’ highest-graded offensive lineman in their 31-12 road victory over No. 10/9 Michigan, which was the Longhorns’ second top-10 road win in as many seasons after defeating No. 3 Alabama the previous year. Majors faced two of the best defensive tackles in college football, All-American Mason Graham and All-Big 12 honoree Kenneth Grant, and did not allow a sack, while the pair managed only four tackles and no quarterback pressures. Majors was instrumental in Texas rushing for 143 yards (4.5 yards per carry) against a Michigan defense that ranked fifth nationally in rush defense last season, allowing only 90.0 yards per game. Under his leadership, the Texas offense accumulated 389 total yards and 31 points. The victory snapped several Michigan win streaks, including 16 overall victories, a Big Ten-record 29 regular-season wins, and 23 home wins. Texas’ 19-point win was its largest road margin against a top-10 team since 1979 and the biggest against any top-10 team overall since 2005.
OFFENSIVE LINE
COOPER MAYS
C • SR.
Cooper Mays, a preseason All-American and first-team All-SEC selection, anchored the offensive line for Tennessee in their 51-10 win over No. 24 NC State in Charlotte. Mays did not allow a sack, penalty, or quarterback hit, extending his streak of not allowing a sack to 16 straight games dating back to 2022. His blocking helped Tennessee rush for 249 yards, the most allowed by NC State in a regular-season game since North Carolina’s 300 yards in November 2021. The Volunteers’ 460 total yards were also the most NC State had allowed since Louisiana Tech’s 480 yards in October 2021.
DEFENSIVE LINE
GRACEN HALTON
DT • JR.
Gracen Halton was a defensive standout in Oklahoma’s narrow 16-12 victory over Houston. Halton registered two tackles for loss, including a sack for an 11-yard loss and a five-yard stop that resulted in a safety with 1:42 left in the game, preserving Oklahoma’s slim lead. The safety was Oklahoma’s only scoring play of the second half. Halton’s efforts helped limit Houston to just 58 rushing yards and 1.7 yards per carry. Entering the season with only 3.5 career tackles for loss and no sacks, Halton now ranks second among SEC defensive linemen with 3.5 tackles for loss this season and has 2.5 sacks totaling 20 yards..
DEFENSIVE LINE
TIM KEENAN III
DL • RS-JR.
Tim Keenan III had a career-defining performance in Alabama’s game against USF, recording a career-high nine tackles, including 2.5 for loss (12 yards) and 1.5 sacks (10 yards)—both career highs. Keenan led Alabama in tackles for loss and sacks while finishing third in total tackles for the game. His impact also included one quarterback hurry, contributing to the Crimson Tide’s total of ten for the game.
FRESHMAN
NICO IAMALEAVA
QB • FR.
Nico Iamaleava, in his third career start, led Tennessee to a 51-10 win over No. 24 NC State by accounting for 276 total yards of offense and three touchdowns. He completed 16-of-23 passes for 211 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and added 65 rushing yards on eight carries, including a 31-yard touchdown run. This was Iamaleava’s second win over a ranked opponent in three starts and the second time in his career that he both rushed for and passed for a touchdown in the same game.
HCAC FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK WEEK 1
Athletes of the Week:
Offensive Player of the Week:
Eli Aston (Cincinnati, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Wide Receiver | First Year – Lions newcomer Eli Aston as unbelievable in his Lions debut. The freshman hauled in 9 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown.
Defensive Player of the Week:
DeMarion Newell (Gary, Ind.) Franklin College | Defensive Back | Senior – Newell set a new career-high with 14 tackles and led Franklin’s defense with two stops for loss in Saturday’s season opener at Ohio Northern.
Special Teams Player of the Week:
Clint Hearne (Madison, Ind.) Hanover College | Kicker | Sophomore – Clint showed off his range as part of the Panther season opener with Centre. The sophomore drilled two field goals, his first from 36-yards and his second from 25-yards to help keep the contest within reach.
Notable Performances:
- Jacob Simpson (Hobart, Ind.) Anderson University | Linebacker | Junior – Jake Simpson led the Ravens with 10 tackles and also added 2 tackles for loss against Alfred State.
- Justin Beeler (Pendleton, Ind) Anderson University | Punter | First Year – Justin Beeler totaled 254 punt yards on 6 punts for an average of 42.3 yards per punt.
- Jamey Deckard (Bedford, Ind.) Hanover College | Linebacker | Fifth Year – Deckard led the defensive effort for the Panthers as the fifth year recorded five tackles, four solo stops in the teams contest with Centre. He also added an interception late in the fourth quarter as well as a 0.5 tackle for loss.
- Je’Kwan Williams (Marion, Ind.) Manchester University | Linebacker | Senior – Williams totaled six tackles in the Spartans season opener against Westminster, including 2 TFLS for 9 yards as well as 1 sack for 6 yards.
- Jack Tucker (Cincinnati, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Defensive Tackle | Senior – Lions senior defensive lineman Jack Tucker had a fantastic game on Saturday. He finished second on the team with 9 total tackles (2 solo), with 2.5 TFLs and a sack.
- Antonio Barnes (Highland, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Defensive Back | Sophomore – Barnes led Rose-Hulman with a career-high 10 tackles in the loss.
- Kolton Nanko (Yorktown, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Wide Receiver | Sophomore – Nanko had a career-receiving day for the Fightin’ Engineers through the air. He grabbed a team-high 7 catches with 112 yards and a touchdown which all set career-highs for the standout sophomore. Nanko also gave the Fightin’ Engineers their two longest plays of the game with a 30-yard catch and a 38-yard catch on his touchdown.
- Andrew Toler (Bidwell, Ohio) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Punter | Fifth Year – The 2023 All-American punter had an exceptional opening weekend with 5 punts for 223 yards, an average of 44.6 yards per punt which ranks 8th in all of NCAA Division III. Toler also booted two punts over 50 years including his long on the day of 57 yards.