RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — N.C. State quarterback CJ Bailey says he's “waking up on the right side of the bed every morning, feeling good” while moving past a last-second fumble in a loss to Vanderbilt. Bailey's fumble was recovered in the end zone to give the Commodores a shocking win as the Wolfpack appeared on the verge of closing the game out. Bailey said Wednesday he was holding the ball trying to burn the clock. The third-year starter says the team has showed him support to help him move forward for Saturday's visit from Appalachian State.
UNDATED (AP) — Week 4 of the college football season is rife with games between Associated Press Top 25 teams that could be ready to reveal their true selves. No matchup fits the theme more than No. 20 Oregon at No. 12 Southern California given the Ducks’ shocking loss at Oklahoma State and the Trojans’ defensive issues. Can No. 4 Mississippi validate its win over LSU with another one as an underdog at No. 21 Florida? Is No. 17 Iowa’s offensive improvement fool’s gold or will it get shut down at No. 18 Michigan? Will No. 13 Penn State keep rolling against Wisconsin? AP makes its picks.
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlantic Coast Conference teams have opened the season by losing their first five games against Southeastern Conference teams. The slow start has included some late comeback wins for SEC teams but still has left the ACC with a 6-9 mark so far in nonconference games against Power Four teams. It also has played a role in the ACC having only three teams in this week's AP Top 25 poll. It's a disappointing start after the ACC finished last season with an 8-6 record against the SEC, including Miami's College Football Playoff wins over Texas A&M and Mississippi.
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Chris Spatola, a college basketball analyst and son-in-law of retired Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, has died. He was 47. The Krzyzewski family announced Spatola’s death in a statement released by the school Tuesday night. No cause of death was announced. The family called his death an “unimaginable loss.” Spatola played at Army and served in Iraq. He had worked on Krzyzewski's Duke staff from 2007-12. He later shifted into broadcasting, notably with ESPN and SiriusXM.
UNDATED (AP) — Six Top 25 matchups highlight the Week 4 schedule in college football. Four are in the Southeastern Conference. No. 1 Texas is at No. 14 Tennessee, No. 4 Mississippi goes to No. 21 Florida, No. 19 Missouri visits No. 24 Mississippi State and No. 23 Texas A&M visits No. 10 LSU. The other two Top 25 matchups are in the Big Ten. No. 17 Iowa is at No. 18 Michigan and No. 20 Oregon visits No. 12 Southern California.
UNDATED (AP) — N.C. State coach Dave Doeren says there “was a lot of pain” and anger in the Wolfpack locker room after a stunning loss to Vanderbilt on a last-second fumble that was recovered for a touchdown. N.C. State hadn't trailed all day before that fumble by quarterback CJ Bailey. Doeren said Monday the responsibility rests with himself, the coaching staff and Bailey in not executing the final play correctly. N.C. State must regroup before hosting Appalachian State on Saturday night.
