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Tag: APP College Sports

  • Stefanie Ingram helped lead USF through late coaching change

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    TAMPA, Fla. — It’s a new era for the University of South Florida women’s basketball program, undergoing a coaching change late in the offseason.

    What You Need To Know

    •  The USF women’s basketball program had a coaching change just before the season.

    •  Jose Fernandez left for the WNBA, and Michele Woods-Baxter took over.

    •  Point guard Stefanie Ingram has helped steer the ship and keep the team together through that late change.

    •  Ingram is from Orlando, winning back-to-back state titles at Lake Highland Prep.


    Replacing a legend is not easy, but that is what interim coach Michele Woods-Baxter is trying to do, taking over for Jose Fernandez, who left USF after 25 years as its head coach.

    “It’s been a little bit crazy for us with Jose departing. But you know what, our group was resilient, I thought everybody came, and even after his departure everybody came together,” Woods-Baxter said.

    “It is what it is, we have players that get injured, and it’s next person up, and Coach B was the next person up. And she stepped up, and we’re all right behind her we all had to step up in a different role, and we’re all doing our best, which is exactly what we’re supposed to do,” USF redshirt junior Stefanie Ingram said.

    Fernandez left in October, just weeks before the start of the season, and jumped to the WNBA as head coach of the Dallas Wings. The program elevated Woods-Baxter to interim head coach after 17 seasons as an assistant.

    Ingram, the team’s point guard, transfered in to USF this offseason and just months after she arrived to campus, her head coach left. But she and the entire team did not skip a beat.

    “Just the competitive atmosphere, like, when I first got here in the summer when Jose was here, the competitiveness was huge, and even after he left, it maintained. Like, it’s in the people that are here, and that’s really what I love about this program,” Ingram said.

    “Stef’s a rock. I thought when it was tough for some of our players after coach left, I thought her and Karla both did a great job at pulling the team together and just letting them know hey we’re gonna be alright we’re gonna be fine,” Woods-Baxter said.

    Ingram is from Orlando, winning back-to-back state titles at Lake Highland Prep. She took her talents to the SEC, spending two seasons at Georgia before transferring to Florida Atlantic last season. Now, she’s closer to home, playing in Tampa.

    “It’s been great my family can come to the games. Yeah, it’s been really fun just having everybody here and I love Florida obviously,” Ingram said.

    She looked right at home on that court, shining in nonconference play with 27 points against Duke and 23 at Vanderbilt, two power conference opponents.

    “I’m a pass-first point guard, I’m not somebody that goes out there looking for my own shot specifically, but my teammates and coaches have said, ‘You gotta score, you gotta push, you have the capability for it,’ so I’ve been trusting them and trying to put the ball in the basket,” Ingram said.

    The Bulls will need her to keep doing that to accomplish their goal of winning an American Conference championship.

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    Michael Epps

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  • Enis’ 27 lead South Florida over Florida Atlantic 83-81 in OT

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    BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Wes Enis led South Florida with 27 points and CJ Brown hit the winning free throws with eight seconds remaining in the overtime as the Bulls knocked off Florida Atlantic 83-81 on Sunday, the Owls’ sixth consecutive loss.

    FAU’s Devin Williams hit a 3-pointer that made it 81-all with 33 seconds left, but Brown’s free throws capped the scoring. Kanaan Carlyle missed a potential winning 3-point shot from beyond NBA range.

    Enis shot 10 of 17 from the field, including 5 for 9 from 3-point range, and went 2 for 3 from the free-throw line for the Bulls (18-8, 10-3 American Athletic Conference). Brown finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and three steals while shooting 5 of 13 from the field and 6 for 6 from the foul line. Joseph Pinion had 16 points and went 6 of 15 from the field (4 for 8 from 3-point range).

    Devin Vanterpool finished with 26 points for the Owls (14-12, 6-7). Florida Atlantic also got 15 points, seven rebounds, two steals and five blocks from Williams. Carlyle also scored 15 points.

    Vanterpool made a layup with nine seconds left in regulation that made it 72-all and forced OT.

    Josh Omojafo scored the final seven points for South Florida to finish off the two-point victory.

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    Associated Press

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  • No. 4 Duke visits No. 14 North Carolina following Wilson’s 22-point game

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    No. 14 North Carolina will hosts the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils this Saturday after Caleb Wilson scored 22 points in North Carolina’s 87-77 win against the Syracuse Orange.

    Saturday’s matchup is the first this season for the two squads.

    Here’s some highlights about the upcoming rivalry matchup.

    Duke Blue Devils (21-1, 10-0 ACC) at North Carolina Tar Heels (18-4, 6-3 ACC)

    Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Saturday, 6:30 p.m. EST

    BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: 

    • Blue Devils -5.5; over/under is 150.5

    BOTTOM LINE:

    • No. 14 North Carolina plays No. 4 Duke after Caleb Wilson scored 22 points in North Carolina’s 87-77 victory over the Syracuse Orange
    • The Tar Heels are 13-0 in home games. North Carolina ranks fourth in the ACC in rebounding with 36.7 rebounds. Wilson leads the Tar Heels with 9.8 boards
    • The Blue Devils are 10-0 in ACC play. Duke is 1-1 in games decided by less than 4 points
    • North Carolina scores 83.1 points, 19.5 more per game than the 63.6 Duke gives up. Duke averages 8.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.7 more makes per game than North Carolina allows
    • The Tar Heels and Blue Devils face off Saturday for the first time in ACC play this season

    TOP PERFORMERS:

    • Luka Bogavac is shooting 33.3% from beyond the arc with 1.5 made 3-pointers per game for the Tar Heels, while averaging 10 points. Wilson is shooting 61.9% and averaging 20.7 points over the past 10 games
    • Cameron Boozer is averaging 23.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, four assists and two steals for the Blue Devils. Isaiah Evans is averaging 17 points over the past 10 games

    LAST 10 GAMES:

    • Tar Heels: 7-3, averaging 87.0 points, 34.1 rebounds, 17.4 assists, 6.5 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 77.8 points per game
    • Blue Devils: 10-0, averaging 80.5 points, 34.6 rebounds, 15.2 assists, 8.9 steals and 2.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 64.8 points

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • 17 former N.C. State athletes join lawsuit alleging abuse by ex-head trainer

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    RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Seventeen additional former N.C. State male athletes have joined a state lawsuit alleging sexual abuse under the guise of treatment and harassment by the Wolfpack’s former director of sports medicine, pushing the total number to 31 in a case that began with a federal lawsuit from a single athlete more than three years ago.

    What You Need To Know

    • Seventeen additional former N.C. State male athletes have joined a state lawsuit alleging sexual abuse under the guise of treatment and harassment by the Wolfpack’s former director of sports medicine

    • That pushes the total number to 31 in a case that began with a federal lawsuit from a single athlete more than three years ago

    • The complaint filed in Wake County Superior Court late last week expands a case alleging years of misconduct by Robert L. Murphy Jr.

    • Allegations include improper touching of the genitals during massages and intrusive observation while collecting urine samples during drug testing


    The complaint filed in Wake County Superior Court late last week expands a case alleging years of misconduct by Robert L. Murphy Jr., including improper touching of the genitals during massages and intrusive observation while collecting urine samples during drug testing.

    All but two of the 31 athletes are “John Doe” plaintiffs to protect anonymity, while two former men’s soccer players are named.

    One is Benjamin Locke, who filed the original complaint in August 2022. The other is one of two athletes who filed their own federal lawsuits in February 2023 and April 2023. The Associated Press typically doesn’t identify those who say they have been sexually assaulted or abused unless the person has spoken publicly about it, which Locke has done.

    Durham-based attorney Kerry Sutton, who has represented plaintiffs in each lawsuit, filed to dismiss those pending Title IX lawsuits before moving the case to state-level jurisdiction in September. That complaint added 11 new athletes to bring the total to 14 — and now the case has more than doubled with the latest filing.

    “While it is never good news to hear there are other men that have been suffering in silence due to what they experienced, I am encouraged by the bravery, vulnerability, and willingness of these men to come forward against injustice,” Locke said Monday in a statement released by Sutton.

    In a separate statement, Sutton said: “I hate to say it, but I expect to hear from more men in coming days who were sexually harassed or assaulted by Mr. Murphy.”

    Seth Blum, a Raleigh-based attorney who has represented Murphy, didn’t immediately return an email from The Associated Press on Monday. He has forcefully defended Murphy in past comments, saying he has been falsely accused and there has yet to be “one scrap of credible evidence he assaulted anyone.”

    “Put simply, Robert Murphy did not do this,” Blum said in a statement after the September lawsuit.

    Murphy, at N.C. State from 2012-22, is among nine defendants named individually. Others are school officials accused of negligence in oversight roles.

    The lawsuits outline similar allegations of Murphy’s conduct and the school’s response in failing to stop it, even when concerns reached senior levels of the athletic department. The latest filing describes the 31 former athletes as “victims of sexual assaults, sexual exploitation and sexual harassment” while saying Murphy “violated his position of trust to abuse rather than treat.”

    The allegations from 17 new plaintiffs largely centered on Murphy’s handling and observation of drug testing. Those allegations centered on athletes being instructed to raise their shirt above their chest and lower their shorts or pants to their ankles while Murphy stared at their genitals from a few feet away and sometimes from within the same bathroom stall.

    One athlete described feeling “uncomfortable and vulnerable,” while another was left “feeling humiliated,” according to the lawsuit. In another case, an athlete was so uncomfortable that he couldn’t urinate “even after consuming three Diet Cokes” and had return a day later “to repeat the same invasive process,” the lawsuit said.

    Roughly a half-dozen of the 17 also alleged Murphy improperly touched their genitals during massage or other rehabilitation treatments amid injuries. One athlete dealing with an Achilles tendon injury to his lower leg alleged Murphy began massage treatments but gradually moved higher until reaching the athlete’s groin; that athlete asked Murphy to stop and refused to let Murphy treat him again, according to the complaint.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Associated Press

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  • College Football Playoff to remain at 12 teams

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    IRVING, Texas — The College Football Playoff will remain at 12 teams after the commissioners of the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten couldn’t come up with a compromise for expansion.

    What You Need To Know

    • The College Football Playoff will remain at 12 teams after the commissioners of the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten couldn’t come up with a compromise for expansion

    • The CFP Management Committee announced Friday the 12-team format would stay the same for the 2026-27 season

    • The decision provides additional time for evaluation and discussion on the current format and potential changes in the future

    • The CFP went from four teams to 12 teams for the 2024 season, and the two most powerful conferences favored further expansion but could not agree on a number

    The CFP Management Committee announced Friday the 12-team format would stay the same for the 2026-27 season. The decision provides additional time for evaluation and discussion on the current format and potential changes in the future.

    The CFP went from four teams to 12 teams for the 2024 season, and the two most powerful conferences favored further expansion but could not agree on a number.

    The SEC pushed for 16 teams, with an emphasis on at-large bids — a format favored by the Power Four leagues other than the Big Ten and most of the smaller conferences that are hoping for access into whatever comes next.

    The Big Ten has pushed for a bracket of up to 24 teams with multiple automatic qualifiers from each conference. It could do away with the need for conference title games and replace them with seeding games to determine, say, two or three of the automatic spots.

    “After ongoing discussion about the 12-team playoff format, the decision was made to continue with the current structure,” CFP executive director Rich Clark said. “This will give the Management Committee additional time to review the 12-team format, so they can better assess the need for potential change. While they all agree the current format has brought more excitement to college football and has given more schools a real shot in the postseason, another year of evaluation will be helpful.”

    The 2026-27 season’s format will feature 12 teams based on conference champions and final ranking by the CFP selection committee. First-round games will be played on campus sites, followed by quarterfinals and semifinals hosted by the CFP bowls, and the national championship game, which will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 25, 2027.

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    Associated Press

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  • Indiana completes undefeated season, wins first title

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    MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Fernando Mendoza bulldozed his way into the end zone and Indiana bullied its way into the history books Monday night, toppling Miami 27-21 to put the finishing touch on a rags-to-riches story, an undefeated season and the national title.

    The Heisman Trophy winner finished with 186 yards passing, but it was his tackle-breaking, sprawled-out 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-4 with 9:18 left that defined this game — and the Hoosiers’ season.

    Indiana would not be denied.

    “I had to go airborne,” said Mendoza, who had his lip split and his arm bloodied by a ferocious Miami defense that sacked him three times and hit him many more. “I would die for my team.”

    Mendoza’s TD gave turnaround artist Curt Cignetti’s team a 24-14 lead — barely enough breathing room to hold off a frenzied charge by the hard-hitting Hurricanes, who came to life in the second half behind 112 yards and two scores from Mark Fletcher but never took the lead.

    The College Football Playoff trophy now heads to the most unlikely of places: Bloomington, Indiana — a campus that endured a nation-leading 713 losses over 130-plus years of football before Cignetti arrived two years ago to embark on a revival for the ages.

    “Took some chances, found a way. Let me tell you: We won the national championship at Indiana University. It can be done,” Cignetti said.

    Indiana finished 16-0 — using the extra games afforded by the expanded 12-team playoff to match a perfect-season win total last compiled by Yale in 1894.

    In a fitting bit of symmetry, this undefeated title comes 50 years after Bob Knight’s basketball team went 32-0 to win it all in that state’s favorite sport.

    That hasn’t happened since, and there’s already some thought that college football — in its evolving, money-soaked era — might not see a team like this again, either.

    “Congratulations to Indiana,” said President Donald Trump, who was in attendance. “Turned out to be a great game. Two great teams, wonderful teams with a lot of talent.”

    Players like Mendoza — a transfer from Cal who grew up just a few miles away from Miami’s campus, “The U” — certainly don’t come around often.

    Two fourth-down gambles by Cignetti in the fourth quarter, after Fletcher’s second touchdown carved the Hurricanes’ deficit to three, put Mendoza in position to shine.

    The first was a 19-yard-completion to Charlie Becker on a back-shoulder fade those guys have been perfecting all season. Four plays later came a decision and play that wins championships.

    Cignetti sent his kicker out on fourth-and-4 from the 12, but quickly called his second timeout. The team huddled on the field and the coach drew up a quarterback draw, hoping the Hurricanes would be in a defense they had shown before.

    “We rolled the dice and said, ‘They’re going to be in it again and they were,’” Cignetti said. “We blocked it well, he broke a tackle or two and got in the end zone.”

    Not known as a run-first guy, Mendoza slipped one tackle, then took a hit and spun around. He kept his feet, then left them, going horizontal and stretching the ball out — a ready-made poster pic for a title run straight from the movies.

    Maybe they’ll call it “Hoosiers.” This was a program so bad that a coach once stopped the game early to take a picture of the scoreboard when it read “Indiana 7, Ohio State 6.” The Hoosiers lost 47-7.

    This year, though, they beat Ohio State in the Big Ten title game on their way to the top seed in the playoff.

    They won their first two games by a combined score of 94-25 and Mendoza threw more touchdown passes (eight) than incompletions (five).

    This one was nowhere near as easy.

    Fletcher was a one-man force, hitting triple digits for the third time in four playoff games and turning a moribund offense into something much more.

    His first touchdown run was a 57-yard burst through the right side that pulled Miami within 10-7 early in the third quarter.

    But after forcing an Indiana punt deep into Miami territory, Hoosiers lineman Mikail Kamara slid past the ’Canes’ protectors and blocked the kick. Isaiah Jones recovered to make it 17-7 and Miami was in comeback mode the rest of the way.

    It ended as a one-score game, and the ’Canes — the visiting team playing on their home field — moved into Indiana territory before Carson Beck’s heave got picked off by Jamari Sharpe, a Miami native who made sure the only miracle in this season would be Indiana’s.

    “Did I think something like this was possible? Probably not,” Cignetti said. “But if you keep your nose down and keep working, anything is possible.”

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    Associated Press

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  • Road back to title contention was long for UM, but it has finally broken through

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    CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Miami safety Jakobe Thomas enjoyed seeing the Hurricanes at their worst.

    He was with Middle Tennessee State in 2022 when the Blue Raiders — four-touchdown underdogs that day — came into Hard Rock Stadium and used big play after big play to beat Miami 45-31, part of the Hurricanes’ spiral to a 5-7 season in Mario Cristobal’s first year back at his alma mater.

    And it wasn’t like that MTSU team was some juggernaut, either. It went 0-3 in its next three games, losing by a combined 60 points. But it had no trouble with Miami.

    That was then.

    Miami’s resurrection from that bad day and a lot of others over the last 20 years — a period during which the Hurricanes have had six coaches, three other interim coaches, 17 seasons that didn’t include a bowl win, countless headaches and zero Atlantic Coast Conference championships — is just about complete. The Hurricanes (13-2, No. 10 College Football Playoff) play for the national championship on Monday night against Indiana (15-0, No. 1 CFP) at that same Hard Rock Stadium that was practically empty at the end of MTSU’s win four years ago.

    What You Need To Know

    • Miami will play Indiana in the College Football Playoff championship game on Monday

    • Over a 20-year period, the Hurricanes have had six coaches, three interim coaches and 17 seasons that didn’t include a bowl win

    • Under coach Mario Cristobal, Miami has restored its accountability and much success

    • The method was to outwork everyone, make honesty and transparency fundamental principles, hire top people and win some recruiting battles

    “It’s completely different,” said Thomas, who transferred to Tennessee for 2024 before coming to Miami for his final college season. “The Miami team we played back in ’22 was not this team now. I think coach Cristobal changed the culture around this place.”

    Make no mistake: Swagger is still a thing at Miami. These Hurricanes are brash and aggressive and tackle hard and play harder. Cristobal’s intensity is constant. Same goes for his staff. But there’s a balance now as well, a demand for accountability and carrying yourself the right way at all times.

    Some examples — wide receiver Malachi Toney, the best freshman in America this season, gave away turkeys at Thanksgiving; star defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. organized a toy drive at Christmas and made a $5,000 donation to the elementary school he attended years ago; and receiver CJ Daniels conducted an event to raise awareness of epilepsy, something that has touched his family.

    Ever since Cristobal came back to Miami, the team has broken two records each year: one for fall-semester grade-point average, then one for spring-semester GPA.

    “We have good people,” Cristobal said. “No, we have great people. It starts there. Surround yourself with great people, like-minded people and see what happens.”

    Cristobal didn’t use some unheard-of, wacky formula to bring Miami back to the national title picture. It was really quite simple: outwork everyone, make honesty and transparency fundamental principles of the program, hire the best people and fight like hell to win recruiting battles — nationally, of course, but also the ones waged in the Hurricanes’ talent-rich backyard, which sends tons of kids to the highest levels of college football every year.

    Landing Bain — a Miami guy who stayed home for college and who should be a sure-fire first-round NFL draft pick — in 2022 was a huge get. Cristobal was on a plane when Bain called him to commit. He threw his phone across the plane when he heard the words. Luckily, it was a private plane. The phone didn’t hit anyone.

    “We’re used to winning, and that’s what we’re going to bring back to Miami,” Bain said in 2022 when he announced his college choice. “They need help bad. They need help right now, and I’m willing to come in right now and make a change.”

    Changes were made.

    After that 5-7 first season, Miami went 7-6 in 2023. Better, but nowhere near good enough. In 2024, the Hurricanes started 9-0, then lost three of their last four games. Better again, but still not good enough.

    So, Cristobal hired defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman away from Minnesota to shore up that side of the ball. Carson Beck signed and took over for No. 1 draft pick Cam Ward at quarterback. Miami kept landing key pieces in the transfer portal — Thomas, Keionte Scott and Mohamed Toure are some who’ll play big roles on defense Monday night, while Keelan Marion, James Brockermeyer, Marty Brown, Daniels and Beck are just a few of the names who’ll be on the offensive side.

    “It was just getting the brotherhood right,” said linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, who played for Miami in that loss to MTSU. “I feel like we’re all in there. Every person in that locker room is playing for each other. That’s what it looks like when we’re out there. No one is just playing for themselves. The brotherhood, I feel like it’s one of the most important things in a team’s culture. You’ve got to play for the person beside of you.”

    Miami has put together back-to-back seasons of double-digit win totals. It had four consecutive 10-or-more-win seasons from 2000 through 2003, then exactly one such season from 2004 through 2023. It will have back-to-back season-ending appearances in the AP Top 25 for just the second time since 2005. Win or lose on Monday, Cristobal will inevitably say more work needs to be done.

    But the dark days at Miami, finally, seem to be over.

    “A care factor that’s through the roof and a die-hard belief in the University of Miami, bleeding orange and green through all of us, I think that’s what has really forged our progress forward as we continue to try to get better,” Cristobal said. “And we certainly have a long ways to go.”

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    Associated Press

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  • Miami beats Ole Miss 31-27 in Fiesta Bowl

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    GLENDALE, Ariz. — Carson Beck scrambled for a 3-yard touchdown with 18 seconds left, and Miami will head back home for a shot at its first national championship since 2001 after beating Mississippi 31-27 in an exhilarating College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday night.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Miami Hurricanes have advanced to the College Football Playoff championship game

    • Miami defeated Mississippi 31-27 in a CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl

    • Carson Beck put the Hurricanes ahead with a 3-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left

    • Miami will play the winner of Friday’s other CFP semifinal between Indiana and Oregon at the Peach Bowl

    The 10th-ranked Hurricanes (13-2) had their vaunted defense picked apart by the sixth-ranked Rebels (13-2) in a wild fourth quarter, falling into a 27-24 hole after Trinidad Chambliss threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dae’Quan Wright with 3 minutes, 13 seconds left.

    Beck, who won a national title as a backup at Georgia, kept the Hurricanes calm amid the storm, leading them down the field for the winning score — and a shot at a national title on their home field at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19. Beck is 37-5 as a starter, including two seasons at Georgia.

    The sixth-seeded Rebels lost their coach before the playoffs, but not their cool.

    If anything, Lane Kiffin’s decision to bolt for LSU seemed to harden Ole Miss’ resolve, pushing the Rebels to the best season in school history — and within a game of their first national championship game.

    Ole Miss kept Miami within reach when its offense labored and took a 19-17 lead on Lucas Carneiro’s fourth field goal, from 21 yards.

    Malachi Toney, the hero of Miami’s opening CFP win over Texas A&M, turned a screen pass into a 36-yard touchdown that put Miami up 24-19.

    Chambliss’ TD pass to Wright put the Rebels back on top, but their improbable run came to an end when the defense couldn’t hold the Hurricanes.

    But what a run it was.

    With Pete Golding calling the shots after being promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach, and most of the assistants sticking around, the Rebels blew out Tulane to open the playoff and took down mighty Georgia in the CFP quarterfinals.

    They faced a different kind of storm in the Hurricanes.

    Miami has rekindled memories o.f its 2001 national championship team behind a defense that went from porous to nearly impenetrable in its first season under coordinator Corey Hetherman.

    The Hurricanes walled up early in the Fiesta Bowl, holding Ole Miss to minus-1 yard.

    One play revved up the Rebels and their rowdy fans.

    Kewan Lacy, the nation’s third-leading rusher, burst through a hole up the middle for a 73-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter — the longest run allowed by Miami’s defense since 2018.

    The Hurricanes seemed content to grind away at the Rebels in small chunks offensively, setting up CharMar Brown’s 4-yard touchdown run and a field goal.

    Miami unlocked the deep game just before halftime, taking advantage of a busted coverage for a 52-yard touchdown pass from Beck to Keelan Marion.

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    Associated Press

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  • Ole Miss, Miami to play for spot in FBS national championship game

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    GLENDALE, Ariz. — Mississippi has kept winning despite its coach bolting for another program.

    Miami has rekindled the glory days of its 2001 national championship with a ferocious defense and steady quarterback.

    One will play for a national championship after Thursday night’s Fiesta Bowl, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET.

    What You Need To Know

    • Miami and Ole Miss will play in the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday night for a spot in the CFB championship

    • The Hurricanes are having their best season since they won the 2001 national championship

    • The Rebels have continued their successful season even after Lane Kiffin left to coach LSU after the regular season

    • The outcome could be determined by quarterbacks Carson Beck of UM and Trinidad Chambliss of Ole Miss

    Ole Miss (13-1) spent the last half of the regular season wondering if coach Lane Kiffin would stick around or leave for LSU. Once the coach did head out, the sixth-seeded Rebels kept winning to reach the College Football Playoff semifinals.

    Defensive coordinator Pete Golding took over as coach, and many of the assistants expected to join Kiffin in Baton Rouge stuck around to see the Rebels through the rest of the playoffs. Ole Miss and its high-scoring offense blew out Tulane in its opening CFP game and then outlasted mighty Georgia 39-34.

    Miami (12-2) is in the midst of its best run since winning the 2001 national title.

    The 10th-seeded Hurricanes have done it with a defense that went from mediocrity to one of the stingiest in the FBS under first-year coordinator Corey Hetherman. Miami gave up its fewest points since the 2001 national championship team — fourth nationally at 13.07 per game. The Hurricanes have been even stingier in the CFP, holding Texas A&M and Ohio State to a combined 17 points.

    Like most big games, the Fiesta Bowl will likely come down to which quarterback plays best.

    Miami’s Carson Beck is a proven winner, earning a national championship as a backup at Georgia before two stellar seasons as the starter. He’s been a perfect fit since transferring to Miami, throwing for 3,313 yards and 27 touchdowns on 74% passing with 10 interceptions.

    Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss took a circuitous route to the playoffs.

    With limited options out of high school, the dual-threat quarterback opted to play at Ferris State, leading the Bulldogs to a Division II championship last season. Chambliss has been superb since taking over as starter three games into this season, racking up 4,180 total yards and 29 touchdowns.

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    Associated Press

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  • Florida, UCF land new quarterbacks in portal; former USF star heads to Auburn

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    FLORIDA — Florida and Auburn have new quarterbacks to pair with new head coaches, and UCF has added a passer from the 2025-26 College Football Playoff for 2026.

    What You Need To Know

    • Alonza Barnett III, who led James Madison to the College Football Playoff, will play for UCF coach Scott Frost in 2026

    • Former Georgia Tech quarterback Aaron Philo is transferring to Florida

    • Gators running back Jaden Baugh also has signed a new contract to stay with Florida

    • Ex-USF quarterback Byrum Brown will join former Bulls coach Alex Golesh at Auburn next season

    Alonza Barnett III, who led James Madison into the 2025-26 College Football Playoff and was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, will join Scott Frost’s Knights team in 2026. Barnett threw for 2,806 yards with 23 passing touchdowns while adding 589 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground and led the Dukes to the Sun Belt championship this past season. Through his redshirt junior season, he notched 5,433 career passing yards with 49 touchdowns and rushed for 1,075 yards and 23 touchdowns.

    UCF’s starting quarterback for most of last season, Tayven Jackson, entered the transfer portal.

    Georgia Tech’s Aaron Philo announced his commitment to the Gators on Tuesday and will follow former Yellow Jackets offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner from Atlanta to Gainesville. Philo is expected to compete with redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. for the starting job to replace departed DJ Lagway. Philo, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior, worked with Faulkner the past two seasons, serving as backup to Haynes King and appearing in eight games.

    The Gators got more good news from the transfer portal when they won a bidding war with Texas for running back Jadan Baugh, who rushed for 1,170 yards and caught 33 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns at Florida last season. Other high-profile players returning to the Gators include top tackler Myles Graham, leading receiver Vernell Brown III and wide receiver Dallas Wilson.

    Philo joins former Tech teammate Bailey Stockton, a receiver and brother of Georgia quarterback Gunnar Stockton, and Penn State offensive lineman TJ Shanahan as key guys to pick Florida since the transfer portal opened Friday. The Gators are rebuilding under new coach Jon Sumrall.

    South Florida’s Byrum Brown, meanwhile, announced he is following former Bulls coach Alex Golesh to Auburn.

    Brown reposted on his Instagram account an On3 post announcing that the quarterback is making the move. Brown has thrown for 7,690 yards and 61 touchdowns while also rushing for 2,265 yards and 31 scores over the last four seasons at South Florida. 

    He completed 66.3% of his passes for 3,158 yards with 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. He also rushed for 1,008 yards and 14 touchdowns on 175 carries while helping South Florida go 9-3 in the regular season.

    At UCF, other key players who are staying with the Knights are defensive tackles Horace Lockett Jr., who had entered the transfer portal, and RJ Jackson and defensive backs Braeden Marshall and Antione Jackson.

    In addition to Barnett, the transfer portal so far has brought the Knights running back Landen Chambers from Central Arkansas; offensive lineman Cooper Terpstra from Michigan State; offensive lineman Brady Wayburn from UConn, offensive lineman Tyler Gibson from Charlotte; offensive lineman Henry Tabansi from Buffalo; linebacker Tackett Curtis from Wisconsin; and defensive backs Kahmel Johnson from Wayne State and Caleb Flagg from Missouri.

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  • Texas gets 41-27 Citrus Bowl win over Michigan in Orlando

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    ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Arch Manning made big plays with his arm and his legs Wednesday in the Citrus Bowl, throwing two touchdown passes and putting it away with a 60-yard scoring run in a 41-27 victory that ended a rough month for No. 14 Michigan.

    Manning was an easy choice as the Citrus Bowl MVP, and that was before he burst up the middle on his 60-yarder that gave the Longhorns (10-3) a 38-27 lead, the first time all game either team led by more than one score.

    Manning was 21 of 34 for 221 yards passing, and he ran nine times for 155 yards.

    He delivered a perfect throw to Kaliq Lockett on a 30-yard TD for a 31-27 lead, the first time Texas led since a field goal on its opening drive.

    That was one play after he scrambled 15 yards for a first down on fourth-and-2. Manning twice converted on fourth down with clutch runs, both times extending drives that led to touchdowns.

    Kyle Whittingham, who arrived in Orlando on Saturday to start meeting with players, watched from the box at the Citrus Bowl. The longtime Utah coach takes over a Michigan team (9-4) that produced a strong running game and played tough on defense despite missing its top two defenders who opted out of the game.

    But there was no answer for Manning, who accounted for about 80% of the Longhorns’ offense.

    Bryce Underwood, Michigan’s freshman quarter, kept the Wolverines in the game until a pair of late interceptions sealed it. He was 23 of 42 for 199 yards and two touchdowns, along with three interceptions in the last 18 minutes of the game.

    Underwood, who ran for 77 yards, scampered for a 5-yard touchdown run by diving to touch the pylon, giving Michigan its last lead at 27-24 with just under 11 minutes to go.

    Hisd pass was intercepted by Ty’Anthony Smith over the middle after Texas had taken the lead, and Smith picked him another along the sideline on the next drive.

    Biff Poggi lost for the first time as Michigan’s interim coach. Poggi coached victories over Nebraska and Central Michigan when former coach Sherrone Moore served a two-game suspension related to the sign-stealing scandal from 2023.

    Moore was fired three weeks ago for having an extramarital affair with a staffer, and he was arrested and charged with three crimes later in the day for breaking into the woman’s home.

    Whittingham brings a history of toughness and discipline from his 21 years at Utah, which Michigan hopes can go a long way toward bringing some stability to a culture in chaos.

    The Takeaway

    Michigan: Bryson Kuzdzal gave Michigan strength in the running with 82 hard-earned yards on 20 carries. He converted first downs on fourth-and short on three occasions.

    Texas: While Manning ran the show for the Longhorns, they got great production from freshman running back Christian Clark, who had one touchdown and rushed for 105 yards on 20 carries. Texas was without its leading three rushers, all of whom are entering the transfer portal.

    Too much yellow

    The field only looked like it was sprinkled with Cheez-It crackers from the bowl sponsor. Michigan and Texas combined for 21 penalties. The most devastating for Michigan was a blind side block on a second-and-2 from the Texas 10. Underwood threw an interception two players later.

    Up next

    Michigan: New coach Kyle Whittingham fills out his staff. The Wolverines open at home Sept. 5 against Western Michigan.

    Texas: Opens at home Sept. 5 against Texas State.

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  • Where and when to watch the NFL, NBA and more during the Christmas holiday

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    One of the best times of the year for sports fans around the nation is upon us.

    Christmas brings heightened enjoyment for many as they gather around the TV to watch their favorite teams battle on the gridiron and hardwood.

    Here’s a guide to all the NFL, NBA, college and highschool sports a fan could ask for.

    What to watch Christmas Eve

    A lone college football bowl game is taking center stage.

    Hawaii place kicker Kansei Matsuzawa (17) watches a kick in the first half during an NCAA football game against Arizona on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

    Hawaii vs. Cal, 8 p.m., on ESPN: The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl will be the culmination of the Golden Bears and the Rainbow Warriors’ seasons. The Golden Bears finished the regular season with a 7-5 record, while the Rainbow Warriors finished 8-4. Both teams are coming off a win on Nov. 29.

    What to watch Christmas Day

    There is a triple-header lined up for pro football fans, along with multiple NBA games.

    Detroit Lions offensive tackle Dan Skipper (70) blocks against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

    NFL:

    Dallas at Washington, 1 p.m. on Netflix: The Cowboys will look to pick up a much-needed win as they battle for a playoff spot in a competitive NFC. The Commanders are eliminated from playoff contention, but they will look to play spoiler against their divisional rival.

    Detroit at Minnesota, 4:30 p.m. on Netflix: Another divisional rivalry is set to take place later on Christmas as the Lions take on Minnesota. While the chances are slim, the Vikings are still in the race for the playoffs and will look to make a statement against the Lions. Detroit is in a much better position and will look to make a run at the NFC North divisional title with a win at U.S. Bank Stadium.

    Denver at Kansas City, 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video: A dominant Broncos defense will look to contain a down-and-out Chiefs team. Kansas City has struggled as a team, resulting in them being eliminated from the postseason, but they will look to upset Denver on Christmas.

    NBA:

    Cleveland at New York, noon on ESPN: Two of the Eastern Conference’s premier teams will battle it out on Christmas. The Knicks have had a strong start to the season, only dropping x games so far. The Cavs have played up to expectations, with Donavan Mitchell leading the way in the scoring department. 

    San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 2:30 p.m. on ABC/ESPN: A defending champion Thunder roster is taking on the Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs. Oklahoma City has been scorching hot since the start of the season, while being led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in points and assists. The Spurs have also played, but have missed Webenyama on and off in the past month because of a lingering calf injury. 

    Dallas at Golden State, 5 p.m. on ABC/ESPN: Number 1 pick Cooper Flagg and the Mavs are gearing up to take on the Warriors’ aging dynasty. Dallas has yet to get its footing this season, while Golden State has been steady so far. The Mavs will try not to let injuries define them in this matchup. The Warriors will look to show why experience trumps athleticism.

    Houston at Los Angeles, 8 p.m. on ABC/ESPN: Kevin Durant and the Rockets will visit Luka Doncic at Crypto.com Arena. With LeBron James showing his age, other Lakers’ stars have picked up the slack. Los Angeles has continued to show why they are a contender early in the Western Conference behind several key performances from Austin Reeves. The Rockets have been steady so far as well, showing why Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun are both premier players in the NBA.

    Minnesota at Denver, 10:30 p.m. on ABC/ESPN: The Nikola Jokić-led Nuggets will host the Timberwolves in the last Christmas Day game. In a packed Western Confernece, Denver and Minnesota have shown in the past how competitive their matchups can get.

    What to watch Friday

    There will be three college football bowl games on tap, as well as two NBA games.

    Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) can’t controls the ball against Chicago Bulls guard Dalen Terry, left, and forward/center Jalen Smith during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

    College Football:

    Central Michigan vs. Northwestern, 1 p.m. ESPN: The GameAbove Sports Bowl pits Central Michigan against Northwestern at Ford Field. Northwestern has only won one of their last five games, while Central Michigan has stayed relatively consistent, winning three of their last five.

    New Mexico vs. Minnesota, 4:30 p.m. ESPN: The Lobos and Golden Gophers will battle it out at the Rate Bowl. The Lobos come into this one hot, not having lost a single game in the past five, while the Golden Gophers are just 3-2 in their past five matchups.

    Florida International vs. UTSA, 8 p.m. ESPN: The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl has the Panthers and the Roadrunners battling it out the evening after Christmas. FIU has lost only one of their last five, while UTSA has stayed steady with three wins in their last five.

    NBA:

    Philadephia at Chicago, 7:30 p.m. on Prime Video: The Bulls will look to get back on track as they take on the 76ers. Despite playing without Joel Embiid for most of the season, Philadephia has continued to stay competitive. Chicago has struggled of late, despite a blazing hot start to the season.

    Los Angeles at Portland, 10 p.m. on Prime Video: Two teams mired with issues will battle it out on the hardwood in Moda Center. The aging Clippers have struggled to shake off the rust this season, while a young Blazers roster is trying to find their identity.

    What to watch Saturday

    Saturday is full of meaningful football matchups.

    Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) prior to the game against the Denver Broncos during an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 14, 2025 in Denver. (AP Photo/Bart Young)

    Houston at Los Angeles, 4:30 p.m. on NFL Network: The Texans and Chargers are matched up with playoff seeding on the line. Houston and Los Angeles are both currently in the playoffs, but the matchup could affect which team the other plays in January. The Texans have had a resurgence late in the season, while the Chargers have been steady all season.

    Baltimore at Green Bay, 8 p.m. on Peacock: The matchup between Baltimore and Green Bay is set for prime time. Both teams are firmly in the playoff race in their respective conferences. A win for either team would be huge for seeding down the line in January.

    Eight college football bowl games will be on tap as well. Games start at 11 a.m. and run into the night on ESPN and ABC.

    What to watch Sunday

    Ten NFL games will be on all throughout Sunday as usual, starting at 1 p.m. and ending in the late evening.

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  • Gators’ quarterback Lagway says he’s entering transfer portal

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    FLORIDA — University of Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is leaving the program and entering the transfer portal, he announced Monday on his Instagram account.

    That means the Gators will enter next season with a new starting quarterback and a new head coach.

    In his post, Lagway thanked his family, teammates, coaching staff, Florida’s athletic trainers and other members of the university community for their support.

    “I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have been part of such an incredible program here at the University of Florida,” Lagway said in his post.

    Florida hired Jon Sumrall from Tulane as head coach late last month to replace Billy Napier, who they fired midseason.

    Lagway spent two seasons at Florida, the highest profile recruit of Napier’s coaching stint at Florida.

    In Lagway’s 24 regular-season games as the Gators’ quarterback, Florida went 12-13 and in 2024 went to the Gasparilla Bowl, where Florida defeated Tulane and he was named MVP. He completed 328 of 529 pass attempts for 4,179 yards, 28 touchdown passes, and he threw 23 interceptions. He also carried the football 122 times for 237 yards and one touchdown.

    This past season, the oft-injured Lagway completed 63% of his passes this season for 2,264 yards, with 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He also ran for 136 yards and a score. He missed most of the offseason program while recovering from core-muscle surgery, a sore throwing arm and a strained calf. He also missed time in 2024 with a hamstring injury.

    He looked like a potential star as a freshman at Florida, going 6-1 as a starter. But he seemed out of sorts as a sophomore — evidenced by sloppy mechanics and a clear lack of confidence in the pocket.

    Lagway also was due to make more than $3 million in 2026 at Florida and made millions already through name, image and likeness deals with Gatorade, Jordan Brand, Mercedes-Benz, Lamborghini Orlando, T-Mobile, Beats by Dre, Chipotle and others.

    After Lagway made the announcement, newly hired LSU coach Lane Kiffin retweeted a link to a news story about Lagway announcing his decision. When Florida sought a replacement for Napier, it reportedly showed strong interest in hiring Kiffin before he accepted an offer for the Tigers’ job.

    The transfer portal opens Jan. 2.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    Spectrum Sports Staff

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  • Bowl games announced for Orlando and Tampa

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    A few teams will be making their way to Florida to cap off their seasons.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Florida’s colleges begin restocking football rosters with early signings

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    FLORIDA — College football programs throughout Florida announced written commitments for 2026 on Wednesday, the first of the three-day early signing period for high school players.

    On his first early signing day since returning to UCF, coach Scott Frost announced 13 commitments, including two quarterbacks, two running backs and six in-state prospects.

    “Today went off without a hitch. I really like the group that we got. It was a no-drama day. Everything was in and done early,” Frost said. “Recruiting high school kids is a really important way to build the foundation of your team and get guys in the program who can help now or be developed into guys that you hope you can keep for a long time.  But it’s not the only way to build and improve a team anymore.”

    Frost said investing in high school players, from a money standpoint, means they need to have a good chance of playing.

    “I want to make sure we have a team that has the best chance possible to compete next year,” Frost said.

    Last year, UCF had to bring in 60-70 new players after the graduation of many seniors and the departure of then-coach Gus Malzahn.

    Frost said that he hopes to bring back a lot of players who they want to build around.

    “That’s going to mean that we can fill in holes rather than build an entire team,” he said. “That’s definitely a better position to be approaching this from.”

    Frost said he and his staff looked at high school players who have the traits that will help them develop soon into players who will improve the team.

    “There’s a lot of size and length,” Frost said. “I think we can get bigger. We certainly need to get a little tougher as a football team. But I really like the size and length of a lot of these guys. I like the elite speed of a lot of guys. And overall, I just like the upside of the class.”

    He said he and his staff are in a better position to know the players already on the roster and the holes that need to be filled.

    Frost said the program should be in an even better recruiting position next season. He said it takes more than a year to recruit a player and he got back to UCF so late last year that it put the team behind in recruiting for this year’s class.

    He said he expects to leave a couple positions open for the late signing period to maybe add some quality players who fell through cracks.

    • Running back Kaj Baker out of Miami and Somerset Academy
    • Quarterback Dante Carr out of Minersville (Pa.) High
    • Offensive lineman Kasiyah Charlton out of Brunswick (Ga.) High
    • Tight end Brooks Hall out of Platte County (Mo.) High
    • Linebacker Preston Hall out of Missouri City, Texas and Ridge Point High
    • Edge rusher Alhassan Iddrissu out of Oakdale, Conn., and St. Thomas More High
    • Defensive back Elijah Keys out of Jacksonville Duncan U. Fletcher High
    • Running back Arthur Lewis IV out of Palatka Bartram Trail High
    • Quarterback Rocco Marriott out of Platte County (Mo.) High
    • Defensive tackle Noah Mercer out of Key West High
    • Linebacker Matthew Occhipinti out of Saddle Brook, N.J., and Don Bosco Prep
    • Defensive back Amarion Queen out of Martin County High
    • Offensive lineman Amahn Williams out of Randolph, Mass., and Tabor Academy

    While Frost has been busy recruiting, he said he has been looking for an offensive line coach, too. Coach Shawn Clark died early in the season. Frost said he doesn’t expect to make any other changes to his staff.

    USF Bulls

    The biggest news out of USF on Wednesday was the hiring of former Ohio State offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline as their new head coach. He replaces Alex Golesh, who was hired as Auburn’s coach after the regular season.

    That did not slow recruiting at USF, which announced 17 players made official commitments on early signing day. Fourteen of those players are from Florida high schools. The Bulls loaded up in the defensive backfield, with four cornerbacks and two safeties. They also signed four defensive linemen.

    • Linebacker Lorenzo Barnes from Marianna
    • Running back Jayson Franklin out of Fayetteville, N.C.      
    • Defensive lineman Iverson Garcia-Ponce out of Knoxville, Tenn.
    • Defensive end Demetrius Geathers Jr. out of Deerfield Beach
    • Kicker Gaston Gramatica from Tampa
    • Offensive lineman Jordan Harrison out of Clinton, Md.
    • Wide receiver Gabe Legrand out of Lake Wales
    • Defensive lineman Sager Quinn out of Cahutta, Ga.
    • Defensive end Peter Ramil out of Binghamton, N.Y.
    • Wide receiver Dmari Roberts out of St. Petersburg
    • Cornerback Derrick Nichols III out of Miami
    • Linebacker Dennis King III out of Daytona Beach
    • Safety CJ Cresser out of Brooksville
    • Cornerback Ja’Kyri Watson out of Kissimmee
    • Cornerback Masiyah Limehouse out of Plant City
    • Cornerback Keyshaun Birks out of St. Petersburg, Fla.

    Florida Gators

    The University of Florida, which earlier this week announced it had hired Jon Sumrall to replace Billy Napier as coach, announced the signings of 16 high school players, including six offensive linemen and two edge rushers. All but seven signees are from Florida.

    • Cornerback CJ Bronaugh out of Orlando Windermere
    • Offensive lineman Corey Brown out of Gainesville and Jones
    • Offensive lineman Chancellor Campbell out of St. Petersburgh Lakewood
    • Offensive lineman G’Nivre out of Ocala and IMG Academy
    • Offensive lineman Tyler Chukuyem out of Douglasville, Ga., and South Paulding High
    • Wide receiver Marquez “Quez” Daniel out of Tuskegee, Ala., and Booker T. Washington High
    • Edge rusher KJ Ford out of Dallas, Texas Duncanville High
    • Offensive lineman Desmond Green out of Alvin, S.C., and Timberland High
    • Quarterback Will Griffin out of Treasure Island and Tampa Jesuit
    • Wide receiver Davian Groce out of Frisco, Texas Lone Star High
    • Defensive lineman Kendall “KG” Guervil out of Fort Myers High
    • Tight end Heze Kent out of Brunswick (Ga.) High
    • Offensive lineman Javarii Luckas out of Belle Glade Glades Central
    • Edge rusher Jareylan “Reylan” McCoy out of Tupelo, Miss., High
    • Inside linebacker Malik Morris out of Lakeland High           
    • Wide receiver Justin Williams out of Gainesville Buchholz  

    Florida State Seminoles

    Florida State signed the largest class of the state programs that Spectrum Sports regularly follows — 30 players, including some from NFL Academy and junior colleges. The class, which has 14 from Florida schools, includes nine defensive linemen, seven offensive linemen and five wide receivers.

    • Defensive lineman Jalen Anderson out of Slidell, La., High School and Pearl River Community College in Mississippi
    • Defensive back Tre Bell III out of Westview, Fla., and Barbara Goleman Senior High
    • Wide receiver Brandon Bennett out of Miramar American Heritage School
    • Defensive lineman Wihtley Cadeau out of Atlanta and Booker T. Washington High
    • Defensive lineman Chris Carbin out of Powder Springs, Ga., and Hillgrove High
    • Wide receiver Devin Carter out of Evans, Ga., and Douglas County High
    • Defensive back Jordan Crutchfield out of Fort Pierce and Vero Beach High
    • Defensive lineman Judah Daniels out of Lehigh Acres and Fort Myers High School
    • Tight end Corbyn Fordham out of Ponte Vedra Beach and The Bolles School
    • Offensive lineman Luke Francis Jr., out of the NFL Academy in London, United Kingdom
    • Linebacker Daylen Green out of Bainbridge, Ga., and Gadsden County High
    • Offensive lineman Jakobe Green out of Quincy, Fla., and Gadsden County High
    • Offensive lineman Nikau Hepi out of Auckland, New Zealand and the NFL Academy
    • Offensive lineman Mike Ionata out of Tarpon Springs and Calvary Christian High
    • Defensive back Chuck Kennon out of Bradenton and Booker High
    • Linebacker Noah Lavallee out of Marietta, Ga., and Walton High School
    • Defensive lineman Damaad Lewis out of Charlotte N.C., Myers Park High School
    • Linebacker Karon Maycock out of Miami Central High School
    • Offensive lineman Steven Moore out of Memphis, Tenn., Barlett High School and Garden City (Kan.) Community College
    • Quarterback Jaden O’Neal out of Mustang, Okla., High School
    • Offensive lineman Steven Pickard Jr. out of Charleston, S.C. and IMG Academy
    • Defensive lineman Jaemin Pinckney out of Dorchester, S.C., Woodland High
    • Defensive lineman Earnest Rankins out of Scottsdale, Ga., and Southwest DeKalb High
    • Running back Amari Thomas out of Marianna and Blountstown High
    • Tight end Xavier Tiller out of Atlanta and Langston Hughes High
    • Wide receiver E.J. White out of Vero Beach High
    • Defensive lineman Franklin Whitley out Greenville (S.C.) Senior High
    • Wide receiver Darryon Williams out of Tampa Plant High
    • Linebacker Izayia Williams out of Tavares High School
    • Wide receiver Jonah Winston out of Hoover (Ala.) High School

     

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  • ‘The standard here is championships. That’s why I came,’ new Florida coach says

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. — New University of Florida football coach Jon Sumrall made one thing clear at his introductory news conference — he is at Florida to win and to win championships.

    “The standard here is championships. That’s why I came,” Sumrall said. “I’m built for this job. I was made for this job. Winners win. I’m a winner. We’re going to win.”

    What You Need To Know

    • The Gators introduced Jon Sumrall of Tulane as their new football coach Monday

    • He will come to Gainesville full time after the Green Wave complete the 2025 college football postseason

    • Sumrall finalized a six-year, $44.7 million contract that comes with incentives, according to AP

    • “The standard here is championships. That’s why I came,” Sumrall said.

    Sumrall went on to explain how the team will reach those lofty goals and pointed out that he plans for the Gators to play differently than where he has coached in the past.

    “We’re going to play with an edge, a blue-collar mindset and a chip on our shoulder,” Sumrall said.”We will be tough. We will have grit. We will not be outworked. We will play with physicality.”

    The team will be built on player strengths.

    “When I think of the Gators, I think of aggressive. I think of explosive,” Sumrall said. I think about mixing tempos, using it to your advantage and dictating the game to the opponent.”

    In a nod to the offenses of former Gators championship-winning coaches Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer, who both attended the news conference, Sumrall said, “I think about stretching the field and threatening every blade of grass.”

    The offensive line, he said, must play with a nasty demeanor.

    Sumrall, who is coming to Florida from Tulane, won’t completely make the transition until after the college football postseason is complete. He will coach the Green Wave against North Texas in the American Conference Championship Game on Friday, and maybe after that, if Tulane is selected for the College Football Playoff.

    But he made it clear he already has begun working to build the 2026 Gators football program.

    Roster building starts with the current team, he said, and he needs the players at Florida now to stay. He said he is making it his first recruiting effort with them and held video conferences with many of those players Sunday night.

    With early signing day coming up Wednesday, Sumrall said he also has spoken with some players who already have verbally committed to the Gators and admires the high character of that class.

    Speaking about both groups, Sumrall asked them to give him an opportunity.

    “I will fight to keep all of them,” he said. “…I can’t wait to coach you. I would love to coach you.”

    He said he expects to recruit many players from within the state.

    “I believe the lifeblood of your program is recruiting good high school players, and in Florida, elite, high school football players,” Sumrall said.

    But as a national program, he acknowledged that they will look throughout the country to get the most elite players.

    Sumrall said he also will use the transfer portal, but mostly as a way to supplement the roster or fill holes on the team.

    He said he and his staff are “going to run a player-driven program. My job here is to serve and develop the players….Those players are going to get everything I got to help them become their best.”

    Florida Athletic Director Scott Strickland said he wanted a winner, and that’s Sumrall. He has the fifth-highest win-percentage among active Football Bowl Series coaches, and is 42-11 in four seasons as coach at Troy and Tulane. He reached the conference championship game each of those four years.

    Sumrall finalized a six-year, $44.7 million contract that comes with incentives, according to a person familiar with the search. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because financial details were not released. The deal averages $7.45 million annually.

    Sumrall thanked the University of Florida community for the opportunity as well as Spurrier, Meyer and some current players who turned out for their support.

    “It’s great to be a Florida Gator. I am honored and humbled to be the head coach at the University of Florida,” Sumrall said.

    The Gators haven’t had a top-five offense in the Southeastern Conference since 2020-21. 

    To find the last time they had a top 10 offense in the nation, you have to go back to 2009.

    Sumrall will look to change that.

    He wasn’t the first choice of many Gators, who had hoped to hire Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin. But Kiffin selected LSU over Florida.

    At the opening of the news conference, Sumrall said he and Kiffin had discussed their job searches.

    “Lane Kiffin and I have both been going through the same thing. And we talked a lot, and we both were in agreement that I was the right man for this job,” Sumrall said.

    He also said his entire family is all in on their support for Florida.

    “We had options. My wife and I sat down, and we chose Florida,” Sumrall said. “Florida had to choose us first, but we chose it back.”

    Sumrall replaces Billy Napier, who was fired Oct. 19, after a 3-4 start to this season and a 22-23 record overall with the Gators. Napier was hired from Louisiana, where he went 40-12 over four seasons. Billy Gonzales took over as interim coach at Florida to finish out the Gators’ season.

    During Napier’s last season in particular, he took a lot of public criticism. Sumrall said that the support of the community and fan base is vital to building a championship program.

    “We can only maximize our potential with your full support. It takes all of us working together to win championships,” Sumrall said. “I love, love, love, your passion and your enthusiasm. …That’s part of what attracted me here.”

    Strickland also signed General Manager Dave Caldwell, who won a Super Bowl during his five seasons with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. He also spent eight years (2013-20) with the Jacksonville Jaguars and built a roster that made the AFC title game.

    Caldwell is expected to help manage Florida’s salary cap and evaluate college talent as demands on coaches have expanded with the burgeoning transfer portal and name, image and likeness payments.

    Sumrall said is constantly recruiting, but “My No. 1 job is to coach the team. While future Gators matter to me, current players matter more.”

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    Brandon Green, Spectrum Sports Staff

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  • Auburn hires USF’s Alex Golesh as new head coach

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    TAMPA, Fla. — USF head coach Alex Golesh will be heading to Auburn University to coach the Tigers in 2026, Auburn officials announced Sunday.

    Golesh has agreed to a six-year deal with Auburn, replacing Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze, according to sources with ESPN. 

    Golesh has agreed to a six-year deal with Auburn, replacing Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze, according to sources with ESPN. Officials said Golesh is expected to visit Auburn on Sunday to assess the 2026 commitments and to develop a plan for Signing Day.

    This comes after USF closed out its 2025 regular season with a win against Rice 52-3 on Saturday and with a 9-3 record overall.

    This is a developing story. Check back with Spectrum Bay News 9 for more updates.

     

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Jadan Baugh runs wild in Florida’s 40-21 victory against rival FSU

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — If Tulane’s Jon Sumrall is Florida’s next head coach, he should make keeping Jadan Baugh a priority.

    Baugh ran for a career-high 266 yards and two touchdowns — the second-most rushing yards in school history — and Florida denied rival Florida State a chance to become bowl eligible with a 40-21 victory Saturday in the Swamp.

    “I always try to go out and play my hardest because you never know who’s watching,” Baugh said. “Your first impression is your last impression.”

    This one will linger. The sophomore carried 38 times, punishing the Seminoles all night, and finished with the program’s most yards on the ground since Emmitt Smith tallied 316 against New Mexico in 1989. His last touch was a 12-yard TD scamper on a fourth-and-3 play with less than a minute remaining in which he broke two tackles.

    Baugh said interim coach Billy Gonzales told him to slide and not score. His response: “Don’t do me like that.” No one complained after he put an exclamation point on a dominant performance.

    “Jadan Baugh ran like somebody was trying to kill him all night,” center Jake Slaughter said.

    DJ Lagway added three touchdown passes for the Gators (4-8), who ended a four-game losing streak, won for the first time since firing coach Billy Napier in mid-October, and provided a final glimpse of what many thought they could be this season.

    Florida State (5-7) played its first game since announcing coach Mike Norvell would return next season. But the Seminoles lost for the seventh time in nine games and failed to extend their season. They also lost to Florida for the fifth time in the last seven meetings.

    Baugh had a lot to do with the latest one. He became the first Florida player since 2004 to top 200 yards rushing against the ’Noles.

    “We came into (the game) saying that’s a guy you have to stop. For him to have that kind of production is a complete failure,” Norvell said.

    Equally impressive, Baugh became the program’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Kelvin Taylor in 2015. Baugh became the 10th player in school history to top the single-season milestone, joining a list that includes Smith, Fred Taylor and Errict Rhett. Baugh is the first underclassman since Smith in 1987 to accomplish the feat.

    Lagway, Baugh and others put on a show in the team’s season finale — an audition of sorts for Florida’s next coach. After missing out on Lane Kiffin, the Gators have targeted Sumrall as Napier’s replacement and could make it official as early as Sunday.

    Sumrall would remain with the Green Wave for next week’s American Conference title game and through the College Football Playoff, if Tulane gets a berth.

    Florida State trailed from the second possession and never posed a threat. Thomas Castellanos threw for 240 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. He also led the team with 77 yards rushing and a score and a lost fumble.

    The takeaway

    Florida State: The Seminoles are 7-18 since winning the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2023 and getting snubbed by the College Football Playoff selection committee. Norvell has vowed to make changes heading into 2026, but FSU is essentially in the same position Florida was at the end of last season — with a coach on the hot seat and facing long odds.

    Florida: Lagway, Baugh and a defense that finished with seven sacks could be building blocks for the next regime.

    Up next

    Florida State: Norvell has to find a quarterback and determine what quick fixes he can make to make the Seminoles more consistently competitive in 2026.

    Florida: The Gators expect to have their next head coach soon. And even though it appears to be another guy from the Group of Five, they have to hope for better results than Napier’s failed tenure.

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    Associated Press

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  • Byrum Brown’s 5 total touchdowns lead USF to 48-18 rout of UAB

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    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Bryum Brown threw for 353 yards and accounted for five total touchdowns in USF’s 48-18 victory over UAB on Saturday.

    The Blazers played hours after an incident at their football operations center in which two players were stabbed. Both were reported to be in stable position at a local hospital.

    The Bulls (8-3, 5-2 American Athletic Conference), who had already clinched a program-record third consecutive bowl appearance, trailed 10-7 after the first quarter but they scored the next 27 points to lead 34-10 heading to the fourth quarter.

    The highlight of Brown’s day was a 60-yard touchdown pass to Mudia Ruben that gave USF a 24-10 lead on the first play of the third quarter. Brown had a 1-yard run for the Bulls’ first touchdown and a 2-yard run for their final score to go with three TD passes. His five total touchdowns match his career high.

    Nykahi Davenport added 117 yards rushing and had a short touchdown run for USF. The Bulls had 191 yards rushing and a total offense of 544 yards. Reuben, a senior who had never had a 100-yard receiving game, had 174 yards and two touchdowns on five receptions.

    Jalen Kitna had 230 yards passing for the Blazers (3-8, 1-6) but he threw three interceptions. Iverson Hooks caught 10 passes for 146 yards.

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    Associated Press

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  • UAB football player accused of stabbing 2 teammates before game against USF

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    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A University of Alabama at Birmingham football player stabbed two teammates Saturday morning, hours before the team’s game against the University of South Florida, the university said in a statement.

    Both wounded players were in stable condition, and the teammate suspected of stabbing them was in custody, the statement said. The university did not release the names of the players involved.

    The stabbing occurred on campus at the Football Operations Building.

    The team elected to play the afternoon game at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, where 29 players were being honored on Senior Day.

    “UAB’s top priority remains the safety and well-being of all of our students,” the statement said.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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