UNDATED (AP) — Quarterback Dante Moore returned to practice with No. 13 Oregon this week, but he remains in the concussion protocol and won’t play on Saturday when the Ducks host UCLA. Moore sustained the concussion in a late hit by linebacker Desman Stephens during the second quarter of the Ducks’ 41-27 victory over Southern California on Sept. 26. Moore was placed on a stretcher and left the game in an ambulance. Moore was listed as out of Saturday's game against the Bruins on the Big Ten's availability report.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A hurricane is menacing the Gulf Coast, but President Donald Trump remains eager to attend a big college football game in Alabama on Saturday night. Trump hopes to visit Bryant-Denny Stadium for the Top 10 Alabama-Georgia matchup. Officials are still discussing how the storm might affect the game. Trump said on Wednesday that he doesn't want to do anything to strain resources. His love of sports and large crowds are often key factors in his travel plans, even close to the Nov. 3 midterm elections. The White House sees the games as a way to energize Republicans, but others say mixing sports and politics can be risky.
UNDATED (AP) — This week's Big Ten schedule features a couple of surprising unbeaten teams testing themselves against conference heavyweights. No. 21 UCLA visits No. 13 Oregon while Nebraska hosts No. 7 Indiana. UCLA coach Bob Chesney faced Oregon in last year's College Football Playoff when he was coaching James Madison. Nebraska will try to snap a 30-game skid against AP Top 25 teams by upsetting the defending national champion Hoosiers. Other interesting games this week include No. 20 Iowa visiting Washington and Penn State hosting No. 19 Southern California. Washington and Penn State are both winless in conference play.
UNDATED (AP) — Indiana coach Curt Cignetti hasn’t had to get creative to find a way to keep his players locked in on the task at hand with a home game against Ohio State on deck with a visit to Nebraska up next on Saturday. He says his players should stay focused going against an undefeated opponent in one of the traditional venues of college football. The defending national champion Hoosiers will carry a 21-game win streak into Memorial Stadium. The Hoosiers are 7.5-point favorites against a team that has lost 30 straight against Top 25 opponents.
UNDATED (AP) — Ohio State coach Ryan Day emphasizes urgency as the Buckeyes prepare to face Maryland on Saturday. Despite being nearly five-touchdown favorites, Day stresses the need for improvement. Fifth-ranked Ohio State has tough games ahead against Indiana, Southern California and Oregon. Maryland, struggling with three straight losses, faces speculation about coach Mike Locksley’s future. Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith and Maryland's Chris Durr Jr. are top receivers, making for an exciting matchup. Day seeks more explosive runs from his team, while Maryland quarterback Malik Washington aims to overcome recent interceptions. Saturday marks Day's 100th game as Ohio State coach.
ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti says he’s “optimistic” the College Football Playoff will expand to 24 teams during ESPN’s exclusive negotiating window. That window was scheduled to end Friday but Petitti indicated during his remarks at Big Ten men’s basketball media day that the deadline had been extended. Petitti says “ESPN has got some more time in the window, and then if we get out of that window for some reason, then we will make a decision about what comes next.” The key hurdle to doubling the size of the CPF from 12 to 24 teams is making up the revenue lost by the elimination of conference championship games.
UNDATED (AP) — Longtime Oregon men's basketball coach Dana Altman has announced his retirement. Altman decided to end his 37-year coaching career less than a month before the start of the new season. He spent the last 16 seasons at Oregon, leading the Ducks to a Final Four among nine NCAA Tournament appearances. The 68-year-old Altman says he no longer has the energy to perform to his standard. He fought back tears on Wednesday as he spoke at a news conference about his decision. Assistant coach Tony Stubblefield will lead the Ducks for the 2026-27 season, which begins on Nov. 2 against Montana.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — P.J. Fleck’s self-professed best day in football was highlighted by Minnesota’s first home win over Michigan since 1977 and included a crowd-surfing session in the morning and the afternoon. Fleck declared his feelings that day as behind only the births of his children and his wedding on the list of his best life experiences. Fleck’s unique brand and ubiquitous intensity have been as prominent as ever with the Gophers off to their first 2-0 start in Big Ten play since winning their first six conference games in 2019 and finishing 11-2. Minnesota plays at Purdue this week.
