UNDATED (AP) — LSU did not place one-time pros Dae’Quan Wright, Zxavian Harris on its roster in advance of its season opener. A person familiar with the situation confirmed it to The Associated Press on Friday. The move appears to avoid an immediate confrontation with the Southeastern Conference, which had passed a rule forbidding former pros on rosters, only to see that rule put on hold by a court in Louisiana. It means LSU will open its season against Clemson on Saturday without Wright and Harris on the roster, according to the person who spoke to AP. The person did not want to be named because the school had not released the details publicly.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Isaiah Marshall threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns, leading Kansas to a 51-6 victory over Long Island in its season opener. Syracuse transfer Yasin Willis added 72 rushing yards and two scores in his Jayhawks debut. Nik McMillan, a transfer from Buffalo, had six catches for 130 yards and a touchdown to help the Jayhawks overcome a sluggish start. In the end, it was a solid offensive showing by the Jayhawks in the return of Andy Kotelnicki, their former offensive coordinator. It also gave Kansas some momentum headed into the latest edition of the Border War against longtime rival Missouri next week.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Isaiah Marshall threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns, leading Kansas to a 51-6 victory over Long Island in its season opener. Syracuse transfer Yasin Willis added 72 rushing yards and two scores in his Jayhawks debut. Nik McMillan, a transfer from Buffalo, had six catches for 130 yards and a touchdown to help the Jayhawks overcome a sluggish start. In the end, it was a solid offensive showing by the Jayhawks in the return of Andy Kotelnicki, their former offensive coordinator. It also gave Kansas some momentum headed into the latest edition of the Border War against longtime rival Missouri next week.
UNDATED (AP) — Baylor opens a make-or-break season for seventh-year coach Dave Aranda when it faces Auburn at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Bears are coming off their third losing in four years since winning the Big 12 in 2021. Florida transfer quarterback DJ Lagway takes over for Sawyer Robertson and will be throwing to a receiving corps that had a major makeover. First-year defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman is rebuilding a unit that ranked among the worst in the Big 12. The Bears face a big test against quarterback Byrum Brown, who followed coach Alex Golesh from USF to Auburn.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Noah Fifita is the exception to an era. At a time when players readily swap schools in the transfer portal age, Fifita has remained loyal to Arizona. He turned down potential millions in NIL money at other schools and even remained at the school when former coach Jedd Fisch left for Washington. Fifita's loyalty has allowed him to become of the greatest quarterbacks in school history. Fifita already holds the Arizona record for career touchdown passes and is within reach of the all-time passing yards record. The Wildcats have touted Fifita as a Heisman Trophy candidate and he kicks off his final season against Northern Arizona on Saturday.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Offensive linemen rarely receive much promotion or have preseason marketing campaigns built around them. However, with three NFL draft candidates, the University of Cincinnati is trying to change that. Left guard Evan Tengesdahl, left tackle Joe Cotton and center Taran Tyo aim to turn Nippert Stadium into the Football House of Pancakes. The trio anchors an offensive line that was among the best in the nation last season. The linemen have been featured on billboards throughout Cincinnati, along with television and radio advertisements, ahead of Saturday’s game against Boston College.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — The eligibility fights taking place in courts across the country are taking place with college basketball weeks away from starting preseason practices. Much of the focus has been on college football with that season starting last week. But basketball is roughly two months from opening night with preseason practices officially starting later this month. Most of the questions deal with lawsuits tied to the NCAA's move to a new five-year, age-based eligibility model. That has hundreds of players who completed four-year careers in the spring seeking to play a fifth season.
