Football Bowl Subdivision teams are averaging 3.82 punts per game through Week 4 of the season. That figure on track to be the lowest since the NCAA began keeping the statistic in 1937. Punt attempts have decreased eight straight seasons, and the 2024 average of 4.06 was one full punt per game less than in 2015. The sport’s growing reliance on analytics has encouraged coaches to be aggressive on fourth down. Also, field goals from long distances are on the rise.… Continue Reading
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Julian Sayin had a 40-yard touchdown pass to Carnell Tate early in the fourth quarter, Ohio State got a couple of key stops in the red zone and the third-ranked Buckeyes opened the defense of their national championship with a 14-7 victory over top-ranked Texas. It was the fourth time the No. 1 team in the AP preseason poll has met the previous season’s national champion in the opener. The defending champ has won the last three. Arch Manning completed 17 of 30 passes for 170 yards, a touchdown and an interception for the Longhorns.… Continue Reading
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — N.C. State stopped East Carolina on a fourth-and-1 pass in the red zone with 37 seconds left to hold on for a 24-17 season-opening win. ECU trailed 17-0 but drove all the way to the Wolfpack’s 9-yard line in the final minute before N.C. State’s stop. CJ Bailey threw for 318 yards and a perfect 48-yard scoring pass up the seam to Wesley Grimes for the Wolfpack. Bailey also joined Hollywood Smothers in rushing for a touchdown. Katin Houser threw for 366 yards and a 79-yard touchdown to Jayvontay Conner shortly before halftime.… Continue Reading
N.C. State and East Carolina meet Thursday to open the season in a testy instate series. The Pirates beat the Wolfpack in the Military Bowl to end last season. That game included a late on-field brawl. Both teams have returning quarterbacks in ECU’s Katin Houser and N.C. State’s CJ Bailey.… Continue Reading
Texas is No. 1 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 for the first time. The Longhorns narrowly edged out Penn State in the closest preseason vote since 1998. Texas received 25 first-place votes, while Penn State received 23. The Nittany Lions have their highest preseason ranking since they were No. 1 to open 1997. The Southeastern Conference leads with 10 teams in the Top 25. The Big Ten has two of the top three teams for the third straight year. The Big 12 has four ranked teams and the ACC has three.… Continue Reading
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — A 20-year-old man has been arrested in Michigan and charged with first-degree murder in last month’s fatal shooting of former Clemson receiver Diondre Overton. Jeremiah Diago Blanks is believed to have slain Overton at a gathering in the former player’s hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina, last month. That’s according to the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Danny H. Rogers said in a statement Tuesday that detectives traveled to Michigan and got help from the U.S. Marshals Service in arresting Blanks. Police did not disclose further information about Blanks or a potential motive for the slaying.… Continue Reading
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Peyton Jones ran 20 yards for a touchdown as Duke took its first lead with 5:42 remaining, Star Thomas scored two touchdowns and the Blue Devils rallied from a 20-point deficit to defeat rival North Carolina 21-20 in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams. Thomas rushed for 166 yards and Maalik Murphy threw for a touchdown and 209 yards. Duke snapped a six-game losing streak in the series and it was a signature victory for first-year coach Manny Diaz, a former assistant at Texas under current North Carolina coach Mack Brown.… Continue Reading
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Tennessee’s announcement of a 10% talent fee on 2025 football season tickets to help pay players could have been considered inevitable in the still-evolving era of name, image and likeness compensation. Especially with revenue going directly to players likely in the fall of 2025. It nonetheless sent shock waves throughout the sport and could spur other Power Four conference programs to follow suit. The question is whether even diehard fans are willing to absorb another surcharge, though this one could directly impact on-field talent.… Continue Reading
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Mack Brown says he is “disappointed in me” for making emotional postgame locker-room comments after giving up 70 points in a shocking home loss to James Madison. That included Brown floating whether he should stay on as coach. The Tar Heels lost 70-50 at home Saturday to the Dukes from the Sun Belt Conference. The 70 points tied the record for the most points ever allowed by UNC in any game. Brown said he asked players if they felt good in his leadership afterward. He said Monday: “That’s something I shouldn’t do.” UNC visits Duke on Saturday.… Continue Reading
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Cade Klubnik threw for three touchdowns and added a 55-yard scoring run as No. 21 Clemson continued its offensive revival with a 59-35 victory over NC State to start Atlantic Coast Conference play Saturday. Klubnik and the Tigers scored eight first-half touchdowns in a 66-20 victory over Appalachian State two weeks ago. This time, Clemson had six first-half TDs and led the Wolfpack 45-7 by halftime. It was Clemson’s 800th victory in program history, the first ACC team to reach that mark.… Continue Reading