CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — The investigation into conduct within Bill Belichick's football program at North Carolina is complete and now includes his son's exit. The school issued a statement Thursday saying that Belichick's son Steve has resigned as defensive coordinator as the school concludes its probe. That resignation would be effective in late October at the conclusion of a medical leave. The school’s investigation “determined that certain actions demonstrated a disregard for Carolina’s values and standards of conduct." The lead investigator wouldn't discuss specific findings but says investigators examined a range of allegations tied to potential drug use, inappropriate relationships and NCAA rule violations.
UNDATED (AP) — Darian Mensah and Gio Lopez are standout quarterbacks facing off Friday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Mensah, now with Miami, has been impressive, leading the Hurricanes to a 2-0 start with his prolific passing. He's connected well with receiver Malachi Toney, helping Miami lead the nation in total offense. Lopez, now at Wake Forest, has found his rhythm with coordinator Rob Ezell. He played a key role in last weekend's double-overtime win at Purdue. Both quarterbacks rank in the top 10 nationally in total offense with Mensah at eighth at 339.5 yards per game and Lopez is ninth, 336 yards per game.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — No. 10 Alabama hosts Florida State a year after the Seminoles’ 31-17 victory sent the programs in opposite directions. The Crimson Tide recovered to reach the College Football Playoff while Florida State stumbled following a 3-0 start and missed a bowl. Alabama enters the rematch 2-0 after a comeback victory at Kentucky behind quarterback Keelon Russell. The Seminoles are 1-1 and coming off an open date with former Auburn quarterback Ashton Daniels preparing for another shot at the Crimson Tide.
UNDATED (AP) — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney believes quarterback Tait Reynolds has the “it” factor. Swinney is handing the keys of a sagging offense to Reynolds, naming him the team's starting quarterback earlier this week for Saturday's Atlantic Coast Conference opener against North Carolina at Memorial Stadium. It will mark the earliest in the season a freshman quarterback has started for Clemson since Steve Fuller and Willie Jordan more than 50 years ago. Swinney says Reynolds is talented and confident. Reynolds led five field goal drives against Georgia Southern and Clemson won 22-7, although the offense looked far from being a well-oiled machine.
UNDATED (AP) — No. 16 SMU visits No. 23 Louisville to headline the Atlantic Coast Conference's Week 3 schedule. This is a matchup of the teams considered to be the top contenders to preseason ACC favorite Miami. The Mustangs were picked second and the Cardinals were picked third. The schedule includes the fifth-ranked Hurricanes visiting unbeaten Wake Forest. There's also North Carolina's pursuit of a 3-0 start in Bill Belichick's second season when it visits Clemson.
UNDATED (AP) — The big college football game this Saturday is No. 7 LSU at No. 8 Mississippi. On Friday, No. 22 Houston visits No. 13 Texas Tech in the Big 12, and No. 16 SMU faces No. 23 Louisville in the ACC. Most Top 25 teams are heavily favored in their games. AP is picking LSU to win the showdown at Ole Miss.
UNDATED (AP) — The nearly 10-month wait for Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford is almost over. No. 7 LSU at No. 8 Mississippi would be the game of the week under normal circumstances. It's the first top-10 matchup between the teams since 1962. There's been nothing normal about the build-up. It started Nov. 30 when Kiffin left to take the LSU job just as the team he had coached six years was days away from the College Football Playoff. Other Top 25 matchups have No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech and No. 16 SMU at No. 23 Louisville.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi will make history when the Panthers take the field against Syracuse in their ACC opener. The game will be Narduzzi's 144th at Pitt, the most by any coach in the program's 122-year history. Narduzzi has led the Panthers to an ACC title during his tenure, and Pitt's 52 conference wins since he took over are the third-most in the league over that span. The 60-year-old Narduzzi says he remains passionate about his job amid a challenging college sports landscape and his focus remains on the future rather than thinking about his spot in the program's lore.
