UNDATED (AP) — Georgia has taken a big step toward the Southeastern Conference championship game by defeating Alabama 20-17. The Bulldogs' defense sacked Alabama's quarterback four times and held him to a season-low in passing yards. This victory could boost Georgia to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 rankings. Meanwhile, Oklahoma upset top-ranked Texas 27-24, giving coach Brent Venables a much-needed win. South Carolina also pulled off an upset, defeating Florida 38-19, easing pressure on coach Shane Beamer. In other games, Kentucky edged LSU 35-34, UCLA remained undefeated with a win over Oregon, and Indiana narrowly beat Nebraska to stay unbeaten.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Billy Edwards Jr. threw a 75-yard touchdown pass in the second half and North Carolina knocked off No. 25 Pittsburgh 21-17. Pitt had just taken a 17-14 lead when the Tar Heels immediately responded. Edwards hit Shamar Easter for a 75-yard score for the go-ahead touchdown, giving coach Bill Belichick his first win against a ranked opponent at North Carolina. It was North Carolina’s first win against a ranked team since defeating No. 25 Miami in 2023 and the Tar Heels’ first ranked road win since taking down No. 9 Miami in 2020. Holden Geriner completed 27-of-44 passes for 219 yards with two interceptions for Pitt.
IRVING, Texas (AP) — The College Football Playoff says discussions continue with broadcast partner ESPN beyond an exclusive negotiating window over media rights for a potential doubling in size of the playoff field from 12 to 24 teams. The CFP statement came Saturday, a day after at the end of the initial 30-day window. ESPN’s new deal that starts this year is worth $7.8 billion over six seasons. It provides the network the first option of adding the first two games in any expansion of the playoff. The CFP says dialogue throughout the window has been constructive.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Jekail Middlebrook rushed for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and Virginia overcame a 10-point second-half deficit to beat Syracuse 28-25. Middlebrook finished with 95 yards rushing on 17 carries. Beau Pribula was 11-of-19 passing for 119 yards and a touchdown. Pribula found Da’Shawn Martin down the sideline for a 43-yard touchdown late in the third. Middlebrook then capped Virginia’s next two drives with touchdown runs of 3 and 5 yards, respectively, to make it 28-17 with 5:20 left in the game. In his first start for Syracuse, Malachi Nelson was 16-of-29 for 217 yards and a touchdown. Amari Odom, who led the Orange to a 42-41 overtime win over UConn last week, was a game-time decision Saturday and did not play.
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Reserve running back Ashten Emory ran for two touchdowns and his 2-yard touchdown plunge with 18 seconds left capped Cal’s 25-20 comeback win over Virginia Tech on Saturday. After trailing Virginia Tech for nearly the entire game, Cal (3-3, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) went on a six-play, 75-yard drive to take the lead. Emory ran for 46 yards on 19 carries in relief of injured started Adam Mohammed due to a foot injury.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Isaac Brown ran for a career-high 235 yards and two touchdowns on just 17 carries, including a game-changing 97-yard score, for the Louisville Cardinals, who rallied to take down the Florida State Seminoles 44-20 on Friday night. Known for his big-play capabilities, the running back scored on the first play for the Cardinals (3-3, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) after Louisville’s Kaleb Beasley stopped Jasen Lopez at the Cardinals 3 on a fourth-and-goal from the 2 with 9:28 left in the first half. The Seminoles (3-3, 1-2) led 14-0 at the time and appeared to be in total control of the game. Louisville never looked back, outgaining the Seminoles 438-190 after the fourth-down stop.
UNDATED (AP) — The College Sports Commission is investigating possible rules violations at several Power Four conference schools. AP confirmed a CBS Sports report that the inquiries focus on potential breaches of the $21.5 million spending cap per school for player payments. The investigation also looks into third-party payments that might bypass this cap. The CSC has questioned between five and 10 schools, although this doesn't confirm a full investigation. The commission monitors third-party deals to ensure fair value and valid business purposes. Some schools reportedly spend up to $50 million on football rosters. The CSC can impose penalties, including postseason bans and spending restrictions.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — N.C. State’s former director of sports medicine faces a more than $2 million bond on charges of sexually abusing former Wolfpack male athletes. That comes after he was indicted by a grand jury in North Carolina last month and later arrested in Florida. Robert Murphy Jr. faces nine felony counts of sexual contact under pretext of medical treatment and 23 counts of sexual battery, a misdemeanor. Murphy was originally accused of misconduct in civil lawsuits. The first came from a single athlete in August 2022, but the number grew to 31 in a complaint filed earlier this year.
