UNDATED (AP) — Injured running back Turbo Richard could return to the field for No. 6 Indiana this weekend when the Hoosiers visit Rutgers, meaning the defending national champions could have their top two running backs available for their first road trip this season. Coach Curt Cignetti told reporters during his weekly news conference that the team “got really good news” on Richard and that he would be day to day. Cignetti says he's optimistic that Richard and injured linebacker Rolijah Hardy will play Saturday. Richard was the team's leading rusher until he got hurt. Hardy is tied for the team lead with 18 tackles.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed a sweeping bipartisan bill that would regulate college sports. It's an attempt to end “chaos” in an industry that has been upended by skyrocketing athlete payments and near-unrestricted transfers between schools. Passage of the legislation Monday would be the strongest effort yet by Congress to set national regulations governing payments to college athletes for their name, image and likeness and how often they can transfer. It would give the NCAA new authority over those rules and limited antitrust protections to enforce them. The legislation still has to pass the House.
UNDATED (AP) — A few new contenders are emerging in the race for College Football Playoff spots. No one saw Florida coming but the Gators are up to No. 8 in The Associated Press Top 25. Mississippi State was picked second to last in the SEC but is now No. 16 in the nation. No. 10 BYU has been ahead of Big 12 prohibitive favorite Texas Tech for three weeks. No. 14 Iowa could be the most intriguing. The Hawkeyes beat Michigan 20-19 on the last play to set up a huge game against No. 5 Ohio State in Iowa City.
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State coach Pat Fitzgerald says running back Cam Edwards had a season-ending knee injury in a loss to Nebraska. Edwards ran for 304 yards and three touchdowns in three-plus games for the Spartans before he was hurt in the first quarter of a 31-13 loss to the Cornhuskers on Saturday. He transferred to Michigan State after running for 1,240 yards and 15 touchdowns last season at Connecticut and having 2,690 yards and 27 touchdowns over four years with the Huskies. The Spartans (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) play at Wisconsin (3-1, 1-0) on Saturday.
UNDATED (AP) — Florida made a massive jump in The Associated Press Top 25 and landed in the top 10 for the first time in five years. The Gators’ 24-point win over Mississippi on Saturday earned them a 13-rung promotion to No. 8. That's their highest ranking since 2020 and first top-10 appearance since 2021. Texas, Georgia and Notre Dame continued to hold the top three spots, Miami was a season-high No. 4 and Ohio State moved up two spots to No. 5. Indiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and BYU completed the top 10. The Longhorns received 62 of 70 first-place votes.
UNDATED (AP) — Florida not only would be on the 12-team College Football Playoff bracket for the first time based on The Associated Press Top 25, the Gators would host a first-round game. First-year coach Jon Sumrall’s team zoomed up 13 spots to No. 8 in the poll. That would give the Gators the last home-field spot and the Southeastern Conference a total of six teams in the field. Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame and Miami would be the top four seeds and Ohio State, Indiana, Alabama and Florida would host first-round games.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oregon quarterback Dante Moore left the Coliseum field in an ambulance and wearing a neck brace after the Heisman Trophy candidate was hit roughly by Southern California linebacker Desman Stephens during a slide in the second quarter. Stephens’ hit resulted in his ejection and sparked a melee on the field while Moore was receiving immediate medical attention. The Ducks quarterback is an expected high pick in the next NFL draft. Oregon beat USC 41-27, and the Ducks were thrilled about an important win while also concerned about Moore and furious at Stephens.
UNDATED (AP) — Oregon says that quarterback Dante Moore sustained a concussion in a late hit by linebacker Desman Stephens during the second quarter of the Ducks’ victory over Southern California on Saturday. Stephens was suspended for one game by USC earlier Sunday for the hit and his celebration afterward. Stephens was ejected for targeting in the second quarter of the Trojans' 41-27 loss to the Ducks after he dived in to hit a sliding Moore, who left the field in an ambulance. Stephens incurred online wrath for celebrating the hit before his ejection, and for returning to the Trojans' sideline in the second half. Stephens says he is “deeply sorry to Dante, his family and everyone who saw my reaction.”
