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.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation to broadly regulate college sports has cleared a first major hurdle in the Senate. The Senate voted Tuesday to consider the bill, a significant step forward as senators from both parties have made the legislation a priority. The bill aims to put guardrails around escalating spending in college sports as the industry struggles to adapt to a new model in which schools can pay players. Major conferences, Senate leadership and President Donald Trump have backed the bipartisan bill. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz of Texas said the bill aims to quell “the chaos we have in college sports.”
UNDATED (AP) — The Senate is moving closer to passing a bill that could transform college sports. This week, senators voted 74-24 to advance The Protect College Sports Act, which would change how colleges pay athletes and limit legal battles. The bill proposes revenue sharing, allowing schools to share up to 22% of certain revenue with athletes. It also includes a $27.5 million retention pool to keep players on rosters. The bill aims to preempt conflicting state laws and limit athletes to one free transfer. Additionally, it would ban coaches from switching schools mid-season and restrict conference expansions.
LONDON (AP) — Kansas coach Lance Leipold has shrugged off the suggestion that his team gained a logistical advantage for Saturday’s game against Arizona State by having played one day earlier than the Sun Devils last week. Leipold spoke Wednesday after the Jayhawks arrived in London for their Big 12 Conference matchup at Wembley Stadium. Kansas lost at home on Friday night to Missouri. The Sun Devils lost on the road Saturday to Texas A&M. ASU coach Kenny Dillingham says it’s “common sense” that teams in an international game should play on the same day in the prior week. Leipold says there's no advantage because ASU arrived days earlier in London.
UNDATED (AP) — Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker is The Associated Press national college football player of the week for his performance in a 39-31 upset of Oregon. Mestemaker set the tone with a 75-yard run on the first play from scrimmage and provided the game's highlight with a high-flying dive into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. He finished with a career-high 109 rushing yards, passed for 317 and had a hand in three touchdowns as the Cowboys won as 24 1/2-point underdogs. Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 164 yards against Texas and is runner-up.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham decided the Sun Devils should head to London immediately after their loss to Texas A&M for Saturday's game against Kansas. Jayhawks coach Lance Leipold chose to leave on Tuesday for the Union Jack Classic. The approaches mirror those of the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams, who had contrasting results in Australia. The 49ers ran roughshod over the Rams in the NFL opener for each team. Dillingham wants his players to acclimate and enjoy the city before focusing on the game, while Leipold emphasized preparation at home before squeezing in some sightseeing in London. Both coaches, though, were quick to say they want their teams to balance business with a memorable experience.
LONDON (AP) — Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham doesn’t love that Kansas got some extra time to rest and prepare for their historic game at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. The Jayhawks played a home game last Friday night and lost to Missouri while the Sun Devils lost to Texas A&M the next day at College Station. Dillingham says there's an “unwritten rule” that teams playing internationally should play on the same day in the week before the trip. This is the first time Wembley is hosting bigtime college football and organizers of the Union Jack Classic plan to make it an annual event.
