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.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Miami's football team is off to a strong start, with quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Malachi Toney making impressive plays. The Hurricanes have won their first two games decisively, but they aim to spread the ball around more. Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson emphasizes not relying solely on Toney. Miami plays Wake Forest on Friday, a tougher challenge after wins over Stanford and Florida A&M. The team leads the nation in several offensive categories, with Mensah achieving a 91% completion rate. Coach Mario Cristobal credits repetition and team chemistry for the Hurricanes' success. Miami's depth is evident, with 18 players catching passes this season.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Clemson will be the lone Atlantic Coast Conference football member playing eight league games in 2027 in the shift to a nine-game scheduling model. That's a quirk of the ACC having 17 members as the only power conference with an odd number of schools. The ACC announced its league opponents for 2027 on Wednesday. The plan is for the ACC to regularly have 16 of its 17 teams playing nine conference games and all 17 playing 10 games against Power Four teams when counting nonconference games. Twelve teams play nine ACC games this year in the transition to the new model.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — The University of Miami will be wearing Nike apparel again starting in July 2027. A person familiar with the agreement says the sides have struck a 10-year deal that will exceed $200 million. The Miami Herald first reported the agreement. Miami has been an Adidas school since 2015, but that 12-year agreement expires June 30, 2027. The deal with Nike will include cash, apparel and marketing elements. Miami has a long history with Nike, going back to the 1980s when the apparel giant first signed the Hurricanes in a groundbreaking deal.
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.
