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  • Former FSU baseball coach Mike Martin passes away at 79

    Former FSU baseball coach Mike Martin passes away at 79

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    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Mike Martin, a member of the College Baseball Hall of Fame who won an NCAA Division I record 2,029 games in 40 seasons as Florida State’s baseball coach, died Thursday after a three-year battle with Lewy body dementia. He was 79.

    What You Need To Know

    • Former FSU baseball coach Mike Martin passed away after fighting Lewy body dementia

    • The Seminoles advanced to the College World Series a record-tying 17 times in his 40 seasons as coach

    • Martin’s teams won an NCAA Division record 2,029 games

    • Many of his players went on to long careers in Major League Baseball

    The school announced Martin’s death on social media.

    Martin, nicknamed “Eleven” for his jersey number, was the head coach at Florida State from 1980 through 2019, getting to the College World Series a record-tying 17 times in that span — including his first and last seasons in Tallahassee. The Seminoles finished second twice at the CWS and third on three other occasions under Martin, who never won a national title.

    He passed Texas’ Augie Garrido as the NCAA wins leader on May 5, 2018, when Florida State beat Clemson 3-2. That was win No. 1,976 for Martin; he would add 53 more to the total before retiring after the 2019 season.

    “I want to be remembered as a guy that did it right, that put education first, that made sure that guys understood what’s expected of them, that they’re coming to Florida State to get a degree first,” Martin said on June 19, 2019, when his career ended with a CWS loss to Texas Tech in Omaha, Nebraska. “We’re not a school that just wants baseball players. We’re a university that demands that you do what you’re supposed to do in the classroom, and that’s give it your best shot.

    “I want to be remembered as a guy that played the game hard but made others around him feel good when they whipped my fanny.”

    Martin won the Atlantic Coast Conference’s coach of the year award seven times and coached a slew of players who would become Major League Baseball standouts — among them Buster Posey, Deion Sanders, Stephen Drew, J.D. Drew and Doug Mientkiewicz.

    A native of North Carolina, Martin graduated from Florida State in 1966, spent three seasons as a minor-league player and got his first coaching job in 1970 — as the basketball coach at Tallahassee Community College.

    He returned to the Seminoles as an assistant for the baseball program in 1975 and never left. Martin became head coach for the 1980 season and was wildly successful, winning at least 40 games in all 40 of his FSU seasons, at least 50 games in 24 of those seasons and reached the 60-win mark twice in his tenure.

    Martin is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carol; children Mike Jr., Melanie and Mary Beth; and grandchildren Hannah Elizabeth, Tyler, Thomas Joseph and Lexi.

    FSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford posted a tribute on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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    Associated Press

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  • Clayton Jr. makes 7 3-pointers to lift Florida past No. 10 Kentucky

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    LEXINGTON, Ky.  — Walter Clayton Jr. made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1 minute, 42 seconds remaining in overtime and added two insurance free throws with 16.4 seconds left to finish with 23 points, and Florida outlasted No. 10 Kentucky 94-91 on Wednesday night for its fourth consecutive victory.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Florida Gators defeated the No. 10 Kentucky Wildcats in overtime

    • Walter Clayton Jr., a former Bartow High star, led Florida with 23 points

    • Clayton Jr. hit the free throws that forced OT and the game-winning shot

    • Reed Sheppard led Kentucky with 24 points

    Clayton, who is from Lake Wales and a former star at Bartow High, made a career-best 7 of 13 overall from behind the arc, with the first of his two clutch makes coming with 3 seconds left in regulation to force the extra five minutes at 84-all.

    “I wasn’t surprised at all,” Clayton said of the tying shot. “ZP (Zyon Pullin) does a great job at attracting the defense. He is a threat obviously. So, with him driving to the middle, I was able to raise up to the left wing and Reed (Sheppard) was a little far off me. I came up, closed it out, jumped, and hit the shot.”

    Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham made one of two free throws with 13.5 seconds remaining in regulation to give Kentucky an 84-81 lead before Clayton drained the tying 3.

    Zyon Pullin finished with 21 points, including three free throws in the final minute of overtime, and Tyrese Samuel had 22 with 13 boards for the Gators (15-6, 5-3 Southeastern Conference), who avenged an earlier loss to the Wildcats. They also improved to 3-0 in overtime games this season, having beaten Michigan in double OT last month and Georgia 102-98 on Saturday.

    “We are definitely comfortable in those moments,” second-year Gators coach Todd Golden said of his team’s first Quad 1 victory in seven tries. “I don’t necessarily think it’s a great strategy to be successful all the time to go to overtime, but the balls bounced their way a couple of times in those games.”

    Reed Sheppard had 24 points in his second start, Dillingham 20 and Antonio Reeves 19 for short-handed Kentucky (15-5, 5-3), which played without starting guard D.J. Wagner (ankle) and regular forward Justin Edwards (leg).

    Seven-footer Ugonna Onyenso made his first collegiate start for Kentucky and contributed career highs of 13 points on 4-of-11 shooting, 16 rebounds and eight blocks.

    The tight game featured 29 lead changes and 15 ties, and the Gators even trailed by 10 late in the first half before closing to enter the second half down just 41-36.

    The teams traded initial baskets in OT before Tre Mitchell’s free throw gave the Wildcats their last lead. Then Clayton drained a 3 from the left corner. Dillingham missed a 3 and Pullin added the free throws before Clayton sealed the game from the line.

    Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves was recognized before player introductions for recently surpassing 2,000 career points in the win over Georgia. The fifth-year senior tallied 1,195 points in three seasons at Illinois State before transferring to Lexington last season and scoring 488 while being named SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year last season.

    Big picture

    Florida needed extra time for the second consecutive game and came up big again, no easy feat before 20,068 in loud, hostile Rupp Arena. Perimeter shooting was key as the Gators fared better from deep (12 of 28, 43%) than inside the arc (20 of 50, including 2 of 6 in OT). They also edged Kentucky 50-48 on the glass.

    Kentucky must wait another game in hopes of playing at full strength, and the Wildcats surely could have used Wagner’s offense. They got a lot from Sheppard, Dillingham and Reeves but also missed a bunch of close attempts that could have won the game. They made 10 of 26 3s (38%) and shot 45% overall, but were just 2 of 8 in OT. Onyenso missed a couple in the clutch, spoiling an otherwise impressive effort.

    “Just a couple of breakdowns,” Onyenso said. “If I had made the layups that I missed, I think it would have given us a chance to win. It was a tough loss.”

    Up next

    Florida visits Texas A&M on Saturday.

    Kentucky hosts No. 5 Tennessee on Saturday night.

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    Associated Press

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  • USF gets past East Carolina to run winning streak to six

    USF gets past East Carolina to run winning streak to six

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    GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Chris Youngblood scored 20 points and USF beat East Carolina 71-60 on Wednesday night.

    Youngblood also had six assists for the Bulls (14-5, 7-1 American Athletic Conference).

    Kasean Pryor scored 14 points and added 11 rebounds. Selton Miguel also had 14 points. The Bulls picked up their sixth straight conference win, tying the longest in program history.

    The last time the Bulls won six straight conference games was during the 1991-92 season. 

    Cam Hayes led the way for the Pirates (11-11, 4-5) with 14 points and three steals. East Carolina also got 13 points, three steals and two blocks from RJ Felton.

    South Florida took the lead with 18:49 to go in the first half and never looked back. The score was 40-28 at halftime, with Youngblood racking up 12 points. South Florida was outscored by East Carolina in the second half by one point.

    USF’s 7-1 conference start is its best in program history. The Bulls are tied for the American Athletic Conference lead with Charlotte and no. 20 Florida Atlantic.

    The Bulls stay on the road to start the month of February. South Florida takes on North Texas on Saturday, Feb. 3. The tip between the Bulls and Mean Green is slated for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

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    Associated Press

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  • Kasean Proyor’s 20 points help USF take down Temple 75-69

    Kasean Proyor’s 20 points help USF take down Temple 75-69

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    PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kasean Pryor had 20 points in South Florida’s 75-69 victory against Temple on Wednesday night.

    Pryor added 10 rebounds for the Bulls (12-5, 5-1 American Athletic Conference). Selton Miguel added 16 points while shooting 4 for 9 and 8 of 9 from the free throw line, and he also had five assists. Chris Youngblood had 11 points and was 3 of 8 shooting (3 for 5 from 3-point range).

    Matteo Picarelli finished with 23 points for the Owls (8-12, 1-6). Temple also got 16 points and three steals from Hysier Miller. In addition, Jahlil White had 13 points and six assists.

    USF, which has won 10 of its last 11 games, takes on UTSA at home on Saturday, and Temple visits East Carolina on Sunday.

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    Associated Press

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  • Florida State hands Syracuse its first home loss of season

    Florida State hands Syracuse its first home loss of season

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    SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Jamir Watkins scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Florida State pulled away midway through the second half and beat Syracuse 85-69 on Tuesday night.

    It was Syracuse’s first home loss of the season.

    Syracuse built a one-point halftime advantage and had a seven-point lead with 15:57 to play. De’Ante Green’s three-point play sparked a 9-2 surge to tie it at 48-all with about 14 minutes left. The Orange then were up 52-48 before a Primo Spears 3-pointer sparked a 24-10 run, and the Seminoles had a 72-62 lead with 5:29 left and cruised from there. Watkins made a pair of dunks and scored 10 points during the stretch.

    Watkins scored 15 second-half points and finished 8 of 15 from the floor and 9-of-12 shooting from free-throw line. Baba Miller added 12 points and Spears chipped in 13 points and six assists for Florida State (12-7, 6-2 ACC), which has won eight of its last 10 games.

    Syracuse, which entered 9-0 at home, was 1 for 14 from 3-point range, shot 23 of 52 (44%) overall and committed 16 turnovers.

    Judah Mintz scored 16 of his 28 points in the second half to lead Syracuse (13-6, 4-4). JJ Starling added 10 points. Maliq Brown grabbed 12 rebounds to go with eight points.

    Mintz scored 12 points and Starling added eight to help Syracuse take a 36-35 lead into the break. Watkins had 12 points and six rebounds in the first half for Florida State.

    Syracuse hosts North Carolina State on Saturday. Florida State returns home to face No. 3 North Carolina on Saturday.

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    Associated Press

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  • USF takes down Wichita State 72-68

    USF takes down Wichita State 72-68

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    TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Kasean Pryor scored 25 points as South Florida beat Wichita State 72-68 on Sunday.

    Pryor added 10 rebounds for the Bulls (11-5, 4-1 American Athletic Conference). Jose Placer scored 17 points while shooting 6 for 7, including 3 for 4 from beyond the arc. Kobe Knox had 10 points and shot 5 for 8, including 0 for 3 from beyond the arc.

    USF has won nine of its last 10 games. 

    Harlond Beverly led the Shockers (8-10, 0-5) in scoring, finishing with 15 points and six rebounds. Xavier Bell added 14 points and eight rebounds for Wichita State.

    In addition, Kenny Pohto had 12 points. The Shockers extended their losing streak to seven straight.

    Placer scored 12 points in the first half and South Florida went into halftime trailing 35-32.

    Pryor’s 17-point second half helped South Florida close out the four-point victory.

    USF plays at Temple Wednesday and hosts UT-San Antonio Saturday.

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    Associated Press

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  • Arctic blast brings the chill across the U.S. this weekend

    Arctic blast brings the chill across the U.S. this weekend

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    We have one more day of this arctic chill across the parts of the United States. 

    The jackets, scarves, and beanies won’t be needed from Midwest to the Northeast after Sunday. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Cold air covers the central and eastern U.S. through the weekend

    • Dozens of record cold temperatures have been broken

    • This kind of cold can be dangerous

    The arctic air wraps up from the Northeast and Southeast Sunday morning. 

    Parts of Florida will wake up to freezing temperatures on Sunday. 

    Highs will reach 15 to 25 degrees below the average for numerous spots, although this arctic surge won’t be as powerful as the previous one.

    And by Monday, temperatures should be closer to normal for this time of the year.

    What we saw

    The arctic air has been enough to tie or break dozens of record cold temperatures over the past few days–not just morning lows, but afternoon highs.

    Sunday morning saw temperatures as low as -20 to -40 degrees in northern and northeast Montana. Saco, Mont., dropped to -51 degrees, and subzero lows reached as far south as Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and parts of Indiana, according to Zack Taylor, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland.

    The Associated Press reports the winter weather over the past two weeks is blamed for at least 45 deaths. That includes 14 in Tennessee alone, where 9 inches of snow fell around Nashville. Three people in Oregon were electrocuted by a live power line that fell on a car, and five people in Seattle died from exposure to cold.

    Brutal cold earlier in the week made Monday’s Iowa caucuses the coldest ever, and heavy lake-effect snow and intense wind gusts forced the Steelers-Bills NFL game to be postponed from its original kickoff. A storm system on the leading edge of the cold dropped accumulating snow as far south as Arkansas and northern Mississippi, whereas much as six inches fell.

    This week’s arctic waves have easily been the coldest of the season so far. Check your local forecast to see how cold you’ll get, and take a look at the stories below to be ready for the bitter blast.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • 4 Las Vegas High School Students Charged With Murdering Schoolmate

    4 Las Vegas High School Students Charged With Murdering Schoolmate

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  • South Florida rallies from 20 down to stun No. 10 Memphis 74-73

    South Florida rallies from 20 down to stun No. 10 Memphis 74-73

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    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — After escaping several games with last-second shots, No. 10 Memphis finally got burned.

    Kasean Pryor made a go-ahead free throw with 4 seconds left, and South Florida rallied from a 20-point deficit to stun the Tigers 74-73 on Thursday night.

    Pryor finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and reserve Selton Miguel led USF with 23 points, going 5 of 10 from 3-point range. The Bulls (10-4, 3-1 American Athletic Conference) have won eight of nine and ended a 10-game winning streak for the Tigers (15-3, 4-1), who hadn’t lost since a narrow defeat at Mississippi on Dec. 2. Memphis moved into the top 10 this week.

    “This one hurts because we worked so hard to get to this level,” Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said.

    South Florida’s comeback was the second-largest in its history. The Bulls beat a ranked team for the first time since topping Louisville on Feb. 29, 2012, and knocked off a top-10 opponent for the first time since a win over Georgetown on Feb. 3, 2010.

    Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim was doused with a celebratory bucket full of water when he entered the postgame locker room.

    “It’s not about us,” Abdur-Rahim said. “It’s about the University of South Florida. … This is a great win for the University of South Florida, and this group of kids who allow us to push them.”

    With the game tied at 73-all, Pryor took an inbound pass alone in the paint and elevated for dunk but took a hard foul from Nae’Qwan Tomlin. Pryor made the first free throw but missed the second.

    Quinerly, who hit two game-winning 3-pointers during Memphis’ winning streak — against SMU and Tulsa — had a chance to do it again, but this time he missed a 3 at the buzzer.

    Asked if Memphis got complacent with the early big lead and the escapes in close games, Tomlin replied: “Probably.”

    “(South Florida) came out and played real hard, so credit to them,” he said.

    David Jones led Memphis with 25 points and Quinerly finished with 15. Chris Youngblood had 13 points for USF.

    Memphis led 52-32 early in the second half and USF responded by going on a 9-0 run with Pryor, Kobe Knox and Brandon Stroud each making a 3. The Bulls inched closer throughout the period and Jayden Reid tied it with a layup with 37 seconds left — his only basket of the game. A turnover by Quinerly helped set up USF for Pryor’s decisive free throw.

    Jones had 18 points in the first half — including a run of 11 straight — for Memphis, which led 47-32 at the break. The Tigers were effective in transition, finishing the half with a 17-0 advantage in fast-break points and scoring 14 points off eight Bulls turnovers.

    “Bad loss,” Hardaway said. “National TV. Scoring 26 points in the second half after scoring 46 in the first. But when you are not playing team basketball that can happen.”

    Abdur-Rahim believes the Bulls have the potential for more impressive wins this season.

    “We’re not going to get drunk off success,” he said.

    BIG PICTURE

    South Florida: The Bulls, who improved to 1-3 on the road this season, upped their intensity in the second half and didn’t panic when Memphis took its big lead.

    Memphis: The Tigers shot poorly after the break. As they’ve done many times this season, they let an opponent stay close, making the game more interesting than it appeared it would be. This time, it cost them at the finish.

    UP NEXT

    South Florida: Hosts Wichita State on Sunday.

    Memphis: At Tulane on Sunday.

    ___

    Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. https://link.apnews.com/join/6nr/newsletters-cbb.

    ___

    AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

    By CLAY BAILEY

    MEMPHIS, Tenn.

    AP Wire ID 9a66ffe2773420246d2b51ec71f24a4b

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    Associated Press

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  • Sellers get hot, and UCF basketball pulls away from Texas late

    Sellers get hot, and UCF basketball pulls away from Texas late

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    AUSTIN, Texas  — Jaylin Sellers had 24 points, Shemarri Allen scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half and UCF rallied from a 15-point deficit in the second half to beat Texas 77-71 on Wednesday night.

    What You Need To Know

    • UCF was down 15 points in the second half before coming back to beat Texas 77-71

    • The Knights went on a 24-9 run to wrap up the victory

    • UCF’s Jaylin Sellers scored 24 points and Shemarri Allen had 15 of his 17 points in the second half

    • Ithiel Horton, who played at UCF last season, scored 20 points to lead Texas

    UCF trailed 59-46 with 11 minutes, 59 seconds remaining before holding Texas to four made shots — all from 3-point range — the rest of the way. The Knights finished the game on a 24-9 run.

    Max Abmas’ 3-pointer gave Texas its last lead, 68-67, with 4:29 remaining. Sellers and Allen then scored four points apiece during a 10-3 surge to end it.

    Texas made just two of its last 10 shots in the final six minutes. The Longhorns shot 68% (17 of 25) in the first half but cooled to 34.5% (10 of 29) in the second.

    Sellers was 7 of 12 from the floor that included a pair of 3-pointers, and he made all eight of his free throws. Allen also had seven assists. Darius Johnson added 11 points for UCF (11-5, 2-2 Big 12). C.J. Walker and Omar Payne chipped in 10 points apiece.

    Ithiel Horton, who transferred to Texas from UCF, scored 20 points to lead Texas (12-5, 1-3). Abmas and Dillon Mitchell each added 15 points.

    Texas built a 44-32 halftime advantage, and Horton’s jumper stretched the lead to 55-40 with 14:30 remaining. Allen scored five straight points, and Sellers capped the 14-3 surge with consecutive jumpers that gave the Knights a 67-65 advantage before pulling away.

    UCF is on the road against fifth-ranked Houston on Saturday.

    Texas, which has lost three of its past four games, hosts No. 9 Baylor on Saturday in the first of six games in a row against teams ranked in the top 25. The Longhorns had been ranked in the AP poll for 36 consecutive weeks before falling out on Monday.

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    Associated Press

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  • Knecht scores 39 to lead Volunteers over Gators in men’s basketball

    Knecht scores 39 to lead Volunteers over Gators in men’s basketball

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    KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Dalton Knecht scored a career-high 39 points and had eight rebounds to lead No. 6 Tennessee past Florida 85-66 on Tuesday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida men’s basketball shot 29% in a rout by Tennessee Tuesday that saw the Gators fall 85-66

    • Dalton Knecht led the Volunteers with 39 points and eight rebounds

    • Walter Clayton Jr. scored 16 points for the Gators

    • The game started two hours early because of dangerous weather

    Jonas Aidoo had 19 points and a team-high 10 rebounds to help the Volunteers (13-4, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) win their 12th consecutive home game.

    “Anytime Jonas is aggressive and locked in, he’s a major factor,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “The guys are starting to understand each other, where they need the ball.”

    Knecht averaged 32 points in two games last week as he captured SEC Co-Player of the Week honors.

    “I’m just playing with confidence,” Knecht said. “It’s a lot easier with my teammates. It’s a lot of hard work. My teammates make it super easy.”

    Knecht shot 13-of-23 overall, including 4 of 6 on 3-pointers, and made all nine of his free throws.

    “He’s been doing that to everybody,” Florida coach Todd Golden said. “He did a lot in transition and broken plays. We weren’t good enough to protect the rim.”

    The Gators (11-6, 1-3), who haven’t won in Knoxville since 2014, were led by Walter Clayton Jr. with 16 points and Riley Kugel with 12. Tyrese Samuel had 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, and Zyon Pullin scored 11.

    “I thought we got our opportunities at the rim,” Golden said. “We didn’t match their physicality. (The Vols) play with an edge at home.”

    Florida was limited to 29% shooting from the field (20 of 68).

    “They’re an outstanding offensive team,” Barnes said of the Gators. “They’re one of the fastest teams in the country. When you hold a team to 29%, you’re doing a good job.”

    Knecht hit 9 of 10 field goals — including three 3-pointers — and scored 22 points in the first half as Tennessee jumped to a 44-32 halftime lead. A 12-3 run midway through the half gave the Vols some breathing room. Kugel had 10 to lead the Gators in the half.

    “We’re just feeding off the crowd,” Knecht said. “It starts with our defense: Make a stop and score.”

    Florida could not make up the deficit.

    “You don’t want to fall behind against this team,” Golden said. “They’re very disciplined. They’re not going to make mistakes.”

    The game started two hours early because of dangerous weather conditions.

    The takeaway

    Florida: The loss to Tennessee started a stretch of tough games for the Gators. They will play what figures to be four more Quadrant 1 games, considered in the NCAA Evaluation Tool, over the next two weeks. Florida is 0-5 this season in Q1 games and 2-19 over the past two seasons.

    Tennessee: The Vols are giving up eight more points a game (66.0-57.9) compared to last season, but they are scoring eight more points a game (78.7-70.8). The focus for Barnes has been consistency. The Vols have struggled with that all season and it continues to haunt them at times.

    Up next

    Florida: The Gators have another road game Saturday night against Missouri.

    Tennessee: The Vols will remain at home Saturday for a battle with Alabama.

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  • Napier brings in Ron Roberts as Gators’ executive head coach

    Napier brings in Ron Roberts as Gators’ executive head coach

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida announced the hiring of veteran defensive assistant Ron Roberts on Tuesday, adding the former Auburn coordinator to coach Billy Napier’s staff in hopes he can help lead a woeful unit back to prominence.

    Roberts was named executive head coach, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He reunites with Austin Armstrong, the team’s 30-year-old defensive coordinator who struggled at times last season. Armstrong considers Roberts a mentor.

    The 56-year-old Roberts fills an opening that was created when linebackers coach Jay Bateman left to become Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator in late December.

    Roberts spent last year at Auburn after three seasons at Baylor. The Bears led the Big 12 with 27 takeaways in 2021, including 19 interceptions, as they won the conference title and beat Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl to finish 12-2.

    The Gators ended the 2023 season on a five-game losing streak, with the defense bearing the brunt of the criticism. The unit allowed 38.2 points a game during the skid. Florida ranked 122nd (of 133 teams) nationally in yards per play and were next to last with 20 pass plays of 40 yards or longer.

    After Florida ended the season with a loss to rival Florida State, Napier fired secondary coach Corey Raymond and defensive line coach Sean Spencer. Napier also reassigned his strength coach and fired his nutritionist.

    Napier has since hired Will Harris to replace Raymond and Gerald Chatman to replace Spencer.

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  • Florida State, Norvell reach agreement on ‘enhanced contract’

    Florida State, Norvell reach agreement on ‘enhanced contract’

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    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State and football coach Mike Norvell have agreed to terms on what the university called an “enhanced contract,” the school announced Friday.

    What You Need To Know

    • FSU and football coach Mike Norvell have reached terms on an “enhanced contract,” the program announced

    • Terms were not revealed, but AP and Yahoo reported the deal is worth over $10 million per year for eight years

    • Norvell’s name had come up in speculation as a replacement for recently retired Nick Saban at Alabama

    • The Seminoles have gone 31-17 in Norvell’s four seasons and 23-4 the past two seasons. 

    The Seminoles did not release the terms of the deal, but the Associated Press, citing a source with direct knowledge of the deal, confirmed initial reports by Yahoo that the deal is for eight years and more than $10 million per year.

    The agreement came as Norvell’s name had been mentioned in media reports as a possible replacement at Alabama for Nick Saban, who announced his retirement as the Crimson Tide’s coach on Thursday. The Associated Press and ESPN reported Friday night that Washington coach Kalen DeBoer, whose team was the runner-up to Michigan in the national championship game, has signed a deal to take Alabama’s job. AP cited a source who spoke on condition of anonymity because neither school had announced DeBoer’s decision. 

    “We came to Tallahassee four years ago, and it was a life-changing experience,” Norvell said in a statement on seminoles.com. “Knowing the great history, tradition and expectation has guided our staff on a daily basis. It has been an incredible journey these last four years, and I have fallen in love with this program, the university and the people who I get to represent. I am so excited to continue our climb to push Florida State back to the top of college football. We are committed to being our best on and off the field while helping develop our players to be their best in every area of their lives. I am incredibly thankful for the amazing commitment into our student-athletes and staff from President McCullough, AD Alford and the Board of Trustees.”

    Norvell led the Seminoles (13-1) to an unbeaten regular season in 2023 before they were the first undefeated Power Five conference champion left out of the College Football Playoff, following a season-ending injury to quarterback Jordan Travis.

    Since they were not selected for the College Football Playoffs, the Seminoles have faced some adversity. Norvell stood up for his program and expressed how angry he was that the program was left out after becoming the first undefeated team in CFP history to be left out. The program has filed a lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference, challenging the league’s grant of rights that ties the program to the ACC.

    The Seminoles, who subsequently lost many of their key players to injuries or the NFL Draft before the bowl game, then got crushed by Georgia in the Orange Bowl 63-3. On Thursday, the NCAA announced that a Florida State assistant coach has been suspended for the first three games of the 2024 season for violating recruiting rules by connecting a potential transfer with a representative from a name, image and likeness collective during an official visit. FSU agreed to two years of probation, the loss of a total of five football scholarships over the next two seasons and other restrictions on recruiting, including a reduction of official visits. The school was also fined $5,000.

    In four seasons at Florida State, the 42-year-old Norvell has dramatically improved the program and is 31-17, including 23-4 the past two seasons. The Seminoles went 3-6 in his first season as coach, but Norvell worked patiently through the COVID-19 pandemic to steadily rebuild the program.

    Despite the lopsided Orange Bowl loss, the Seminoles place sixth in the final Top 25 rankings. Norvell was voted the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year and the AFCA Region 1 Coach of the Year. He was one of five finalists for the George Munger Coach of the Year Award presented by the Maxwell Football Club and one of 12 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.

     

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    Associated Press

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  • FSU faces penalties for NIL, recruiting violations

    FSU faces penalties for NIL, recruiting violations

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    PHOENIX (AP) — A Florida State assistant coach has been suspended for the first three games of the 2024 season for violating recruiting rules by connecting a potential transfer with a representative from an NIL collective during an official visit, the NCAA announced on Thursday.

    The NCAA did not name the coach in its release, but a person with direct knowledge of the case confirmed to The Associated Press that it was offensive coordinator Alex Atkins. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because neither the NCAA nor the school was identifying Atkins as the coach involved.

    What You Need To Know

    • FSU assistant coach has been suspended for the first three games of the 2024 season for violating recruiting rules
    • NCAA said the coach facilitated contact between the player and a booster in April 2022

    • It is the first time the NCAA has punished a school for using name, image and likeness compensation as recruiting inducement

    The case involved two Level II infractions and was resolved as part of a negotiated resolution between NCAA enforcement staff and Florida State, approved by the Committee on Infractions. It is the first time the NCAA has punished a school for using name, image and likeness compensation as recruiting inducement.

    Collectives are the booster-funded, independent organizations that support schools by paying athletes for their names, images and likenesses.

    Florida State agreed to two years of probation, the loss of a total of five football scholarships over the next two seasons and other restrictions on recruiting, including a reduction of official visits. The school was also fined $5,000.

    The NCAA said the coach facilitated contact between the player and a booster in April 2022. The booster encouraged the player to enroll at Florida State and offered him an NIL opportunity with the collective worth about $15,000 per month.

    The person told AP the player involved was offensive tackle Amarius Mims from Georgia. Mims entered the transfer portal, but ended up returning to Georgia. He recently announced he was entering the NFL draft as an underclassmen.

    The NCAA said the assistant coach then gave false or misleading information about his involvement in the arranged meeting to investigators, violating ethical conduct rules.

    Atkins was given a two-year show cause order by the NCAA and had recruiting restrictions placed upon him by the school last year.

    The university also must disassociate with the booster for three years and the collective for one year.

    Florida State said the NCAA acknowledged no findings of responsibility by head coach Mike Norvell and the COI affirmed Norvell “promotes an atmosphere of compliance.”

    “We are pleased to reach closure to this situation and view this as another step in strengthening our culture of compliance at Florida State University,” athletic director Michael Alford said in a statement. “We take all compliance matters very seriously, and our full cooperation with the NCAA on this case is a clear example of that commitment. We remain committed to compliance with all NCAA rules including disassociation of the booster and the collective.”

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  • Michigan is unanimous No. 1, FSU 6th in final AP Top 25 football poll

    Michigan is unanimous No. 1, FSU 6th in final AP Top 25 football poll

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    HOUSTON, TX — Michigan was voted a unanimous No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 college football poll of the season after the Wolverines beat Washington in the College Football Playoff championship game Monday night to win their first national title in 26 years.

    The Wolverines (15-0) received all 61 first-place votes as the only unbeaten team in the country. Washington (14-1) was second, the Huskies’ best final ranking since finishing No. 2 in 1991. That year, Washington was No. 1 in the final coaches’ poll to claim its only national title.

    Texas (12-2) was third, its best ranking since finishing second in 2009. Georgia (13-1) was fourth and Alabama (12-2), which ended the Bulldogs’ 29-game winning streak in the Southeastern Conference title games to make the playoff, was fifth.

    Florida State (13-1) and Oregon (12-2) finished tied for sixth. The Seminoles’ only loss came in a lopsided Orange Bowl against Georgia after they became the first unbeaten Power Five conference champion to be left out of the playoff and many of their top players opted out of the bowl.

    Missouri was eighth and Mississippi was ninth to give the SEC four teams in the top 10. For the Tigers, it was their best finish since landing at No. 5 in 2013.

    Ohio State was 10th, the Buckeyes’ worst final ranking since they were 12th in 2013.

    Clemson moved back into the poll at No. 20 to extend its streak of being ranked to end the season to 13 years, the second-longest in the nation behind Alabama’s 16.

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  • CFP title game a preview of new Big Ten, Pac-12’s shot to go out No. 1

    CFP title game a preview of new Big Ten, Pac-12’s shot to go out No. 1

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    HOUSTON — The College Football Playoff championship is quite the stage for Washington and Michigan to get reacquainted with each other.

    The teams play for the national title on Monday night. Starting next season, they’ll compete against each other for Big Ten titles.

    What You Need To Know

    • The College Football Playoff title game will feature two teams that will be in the Big Ten next season

    • The Big Ten’s expansion helped lead to the demise of the Pac-12

    • Michigan leads the overall series against Washington 8-5

    • A Washington victory Monday night would see the Pac-12 go out with the top team in the country

    “I imagine all the Big Ten folks in Chicago in the office, they’re sitting like a rat in a cheese factory right now for sure,” said Washington co-defensive coordinator William Inge, who was a graduate assistant at Iowa and assistant at Indiana for seven years.

    The Big Ten’s coast-to-coast expansion began in the summer of 2022 when it voted in USC and UCLA beginning in 2024. The Pac-12’s demolition was assured just over a year later when it failed to land a lucrative media rights contract. Oregon and Washington in August accepted invitations from the Big Ten, and four other Pac-12 schools bolted to the Big 12.

    “The Big Ten goes into 2024 with the national championship. We can write that now,” Big Ten Network analyst Gerry DiNardo said.

    Washington and Michigan have met 13 times previously, most recently in 2021, and are scheduled to play a regular-season game in Seattle on Oct. 5. Michigan leads the series 8-5.

    DiNardo, the head coach at Indiana from 2002-04, said the entry of Washington and the other three schools comes at a fortuitous time.

    The Huskies are the team of the moment, but Oregon, USC and UCLA traditionally have been the biggest brands on the West Coast.

    “We’re taking on four teams that potentially are as good as they’ve been in recent years,” DiNardo said. “It’s not an obvious marriage, but never has there been a better time for this crossover to happen.”

    ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit said he was a fan of the Pac-12 and has mixed feelings about its breakdown.

    “How fitting that they’ve had a heck of a run as a conference this year and then one of their teams get to the championship,” he said. “There are a lot of people from the Pac-12 excited to see how they go out. And then for the Big Ten to look into their future … It’s just weird to think this will be a conference game next year.

    “I’m from that early ‘90s era,” he added. “I remember these teams playing in the Rose Bowl back-to-back years. We’re all going to have to go through it to get used to it.”

    Herbstreit said even though he’s excited about the prospects for an 18-team Big Ten, he also is apprehensive. The Big Ten will have no divisions starting in 2024, meaning the top two teams will meet in the conference championship game, and the College Football Playoff will go from four to 12 teams.

    All that expansion, Herbstreit said, could water down the Big Ten’s most famous rivalry — Ohio State-Michigan. In the 10 years of the East-West alignment, the winner of “The Game,” as it’s known, reached the conference title game.

    Herbstreit, who played quarterback for the Buckeyes from 1989-92, said Ohio State and Michigan could meet multiple times over a month if the Big Ten power structure remains the same. Conceivably, he said, the teams’ regular-season game the last Saturday of November could be followed by a rematch the next week in Indianapolis.

    “How could it not take away from the last game in November?” Herbstreit said. “Not to say Ohio State and Michigan will do it every year. But if they play, and then again a week later, that’s bizarre. And then what if they match up a third time in the playoff? It’s part of this new world we have to get used to.”

    Michigan receiver Cornelius Johnson shares Herbstreit’s concern about the rivalry.

    “Used to be you’d play that game, and that would be basically the championship right then and there,” he said. “Now you get it adjusted. It’s going to be like an NFL-type of schedule with the playoffs.”

    As a fan, he said, he liked the Pac-12 and the four-team playoff. He also said he understood greater revenue potential was the impetus for the changes.

    “I thought it was perfectly fine the way it is,” he said. “They switched it up. The fact they did, you’ve got to roll with it. I’m excited to see how it plays out with everything new going on. It’s going to be weird getting adjusted to. There’s never been that many changes from one year to the next.”

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  • No. 25 Tennessee routs No. 20 Iowa, 35-0

    No. 25 Tennessee routs No. 20 Iowa, 35-0

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    BY PHILIP ROSSMAN-REICH

    ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava ran for three touchdowns and threw for one in his first career start, and No. 25 Tennessee shut down No. 20 Iowa’s Division I-worst offense to beat the Hawkeyes 35-0 in the Citrus Bowl on Monday.

    Iamaleava, a prized recruit for Volunteers coach Josh Heupel, stepped in for senior Joe Milton, who opted out of the game to prepare for the NFL draft. The 19-year-old threw for 151 yards, and his 27 rushing yards included three scores.

    “I just took it as every other game,” Iamaleava said. “We knew we had a job to do. There was no nervousness or anything going into the game. It felt like we were just really prepared.”

    Dylan Sampson rushed 20 times for 133 yards for the Vols (9-4), and Tennessee’s defense did the rest against an Iowa offense that came in averaging 16.6 points per game and 238.8 yards.

    The Hawkeyes (10-4) were blanked in consecutive games to close the season after falling 26-0 to No. 1 Michigan in the Big Ten championship game. Iowa’s defense gave up more than 20 points for the third time this season — all of them in shutout losses.

    “We have to thread the needle,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “You get good field position and then take it down inside and give yourself a touchdown and (if you) don’t, that’s not good. And the worst offense is not getting any points.”

    The Hawkeyes finished with 173 yards of offense. Deacon Hill threw for 56 yards, was intercepted twice and lost a fumble. The Vols sacked him six times, resulting in 24 lost yards. The Hawkeyes crossed midfield only once in the first three quarters, and that drive concluded when Andre Turrentine intercepted Hill in the end zone.

    The shutout was the largest in Citrus Bowl history. East Carolina had the previous record, beating Maine 31-0 in 1965, when the game was known as the Tangerine Bowl.

    Iamaleava ran for touchdowns on consecutive drives — scoring from 19 yards and 3 yards — that gave Tennessee an all-but-insurmountable 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

    Hill was sacked and fumbled at Iowa’s 2-yard line late in the third quarter, setting up Iamaleava’s 2-yard rushing TD. James Pearce Jr.’s 52-yard pick-6 put the Vols ahead 28-0 early in the fourth.

    “We always want to come out and dominate at a really high level no matter who we are playing,” Pearce said. “Just knowing that we were playing a tough defense, I guess the better defense won.”

    Iamaleava provided the exclamation point with an 18-yard TD toss to McCallan Castles.

    ANOTHER FRESHMAN

    Iowa’s offense found a bit of a spark when freshman Marco Lainez replaced Hill in the fourth quarter. Lainez scrambled for a team-high 51 yards on six carries and got Iowa past midfield for the second time in the game. But he completed just 2 of 7 passes for 4 yards.

    TOUGHER SLEDDING

    Tennessee came in averaging 31.5 points and 453.5 yards per game, but was held to 366 by Iowa. That was the second-most yards allowed by the Hawkeyes this season, with only Penn State gaining more in a 31-0 victory.

    SHUTOUT HISTORY

    Tennessee recorded its first shutout in a bowl game since a 3-0 win over Texas A&M in the 1957 Gator Bowl. Iowa was shut out in a bowl game for the first time since a 28-0 loss to Washington in the 1982 Rose Bowl.

    UP NEXT

    Tennessee should have high hopes for next season with Iamaleava running the offense under Heupel and coordinator Joey Halzle, who will be entering his second year in that role.

    Iowa will hope to improve its offense to match its defense. The Hawkeyes will hire a new offensive coordinator this offseason after announcing at midseason that Brian Ferentz, the coach’s son, would not return in that role. Iowa should get quarterback Cade McNamara back from a torn ACL suffered in September.

    ___

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    ___

    AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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  • From Bakersfield to speaker of the House: Kevin McCarthy's D.C. career in photos

    From Bakersfield to speaker of the House: Kevin McCarthy's D.C. career in photos

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    Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s last day in Congress was Sunday. The Bakersfield Republican congressman and former speaker’s career in Washington, D.C., spanned more than a decade and a half.

    Always a prodigious fundraiser, McCarthy rose quickly through the ranks of the House GOP after winning election in 2006. His first attempt to secure the speakership, in 2015, ended in failure. He finally achieved his longtime goal in 2023, after a historic 15-ballot fight. But his grasp on the gavel was short-lived. In early October, eight rebel Republicans joined with Democrats to oust him from the speaker’s chair. In December, he announced he would retire before the end of the year, bringing his congressional career to a close.

    Here’s a photographic look at some of the highlights of McCarthy’s time on Capitol Hill.

    California’s state Assembly members Dario Frommer, left, Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez, Assembly minority leader Kevin McCarthy and Darrell Steinberg chat before the 2004 budget bill vote in the state Capitol building in Sacramento on May 28, 2004.

    (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

    Two men in suits each hold up a hand and rest the other hand on a book held by a woman between them in front of flags.

    House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) on Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington as the 113th Congress began.

    (Charles Dharapak / Associated Press)

    A woman in a red dress with a gavel shakes hands with a man in a suit in front of a U.S. flag.

    House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), who will lead the 116th Congress, shakes hands with Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) as he hands her the gavel at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 3, 2019.

    (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)

    Then-President Trump and Rep. Kevin McCarthy disembark from an airplane.

    Then-President Trump and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) disembark from Air Force One at Los Angeles International Airport on April 5, 2019, in Los Angeles.

    (Los Angeles Times)

    A man in a suit speaks at a lectern while flanked by several people in front of the U.S. Capitol building.

    House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) speaks at a press conference on Capitol Hill on March 11, 2021, in Washington, D.C., about the situation at the U.S. southern border.

    (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

    Three men walk down a hall in a building.

    House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) leaves a news conference with two unidentified people Nov. 3, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

    (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

    A man in a suit speaks at a lectern while bright lights shine down on him.

    House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill on March 18, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

    (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

    Several people in suits walk down stairs outside a building while people in military garb are in the foreground.

    House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) and other members of the House Republican leadership walk down the steps of the House of Representatives, where members of the National Guard from California were standing at the base of the steps on Capitol Hill on March 11, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

    (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

    A man walks down stairs among other people near a logo that says Take Back the House.

    House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), center, prepares to depart after addressing a crowd during an election night watch party at the Westin, City Center, on Nov. 9, 2022, in Washington, D.C.

    (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

    Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi poses for photos with others near a painting of her in an ornate room.

    Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) poses with Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), former House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), her husband, Paul Pelosi, and others near her portrait following an unveiling ceremony in National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol Building on Dec. 14, 2022, in Washington, D.C.

    (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

    A man in a suit pumps his fist as others around him clap.

    Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) pumps his fist as he votes for himself a 10th time in the House chamber as the House meets for the third day to try to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 5, 2023.

    (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)

    A man faces several people and bright lights in a room.

    Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) speaks with reporters as he departs a GOP Caucus meeting in the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington, D.C. That day members of the 118th Congress would be sworn in and the House of Representatives would hold votes on a new speaker of the House.

    (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

    President Biden speaks as Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy stand behind him.

    President Biden speaks as Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), right, listen during a State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 7, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

    (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

    Several men in suits sit around a table and talk.

    President Biden, left, Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar attend the annual Friends of Ireland Caucus St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon in the Rayburn Room of the U.S. Capitol on March 17, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

    (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

    Two men in suits stand near the White House in front of several other people.

    Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speak to reporters after meeting with President Biden, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) at the White House on May 9, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

    (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

    A man in a suit walks away from several people standing outdoors.

    House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) turns to walk away after speaking to the media outside the West Wing after meeting with President Biden and other congressional leaders in the White House on Nov. 29, 2022, in Washington, D.C. Biden met with Senate and House leaders to discuss the legislative agenda for the remainder of the year.

    (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

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  • No. 6 Georgia routs No. 5 Florida State 63-3

    No. 6 Georgia routs No. 5 Florida State 63-3

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    MIAMI GARDENS — Carson Beck passed for 203 yards and two touchdowns, backup QB Gunnar Stockton passed for two more scores and No. 6 Georgia routed previously undefeated and fifth-ranked Florida State 63-3 in the Orange Bowl on Saturday night in a matchup of teams missing out on the College Football Playoff.

    Georgia scored on nine of 12 drives and gained 673 total yards against the short-handed Seminoles, who were without more than two dozen players because of opt-outs and transfers, including five starters in their defensive front seven, their top two running backs and top three receivers.

    The Bulldogs (13-1) were used to competing for championships this time of year, having won the last two national titles. But Georgia lost to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game — the Bulldogs’ first loss since the 2021 season — and missed out on one of the four spots in the CFP rankings. Instead, they settled for the seventh New Year’s Six bowl appearance in program history.

    Florida (13-1) failed to make the CFP cut despite winning the Atlantic Coast Conference title, and because of transfers, opt-outs and injuries, the Seminoles were without players who were responsible for 97% of their passing yards, 88% of their rushing yards and 84% of their receptions this season.

    The Orange Bowl provided Georgia a chance to make a statement. The Bulldogs charged out to a 39-point halftime lead, the largest in the bowl’s 90-year history, beating West Virginia’s 29-point halftime lead over Clemson in 2012. It was also the largest margin of defeat in Florida State’s history.

    Beck, who had touchdown passes of 12 and 2 yards, did not play in the second half. Stockton, a freshman, started in the third quarter and immediately ushered another touchdown drive. He finished with 96 yards passing and 46 yards rushing, and the Bulldogs became the first program to score at least 55 points in back-to-back bowl games (they beat TCU 65-7 in the Peach Bowl last season).

    The Bulldogs’ Kendall Milton rushed for 104 yards on nine carries and had two touchdowns. Daijun Edwards added two more rushing scores and 62 yards. Both were part of a senior class that picked up its school-record 50th win.

    In what could be his last game for the Bulldogs, receiver Ladd McConkey had 49 all-purpose yards. He scored on a 27-yard rush in which he caught a pass from Beck behind the line of scrimmage, looked to complete another pass but took off running instead, weaving through stumbling Florida State defenders and into the end zone to put Georgia up 38-3 in the second quarter.

    Bulldogs players knew the story of the team on the other side of the field: The Seminoles entered the game having beaten all 13 teams on their schedule, including Louisville in the ACC title game, but were left out of the College Football Playoff partly due to a season-ending leg injury to starting quarterback Jordan Travis. Florida State became the first Power Five conference champion to finish with an undefeated record and still be left out of the playoff.

    In the week leading up to the bowl game, Georgia players expressed their understanding of the Seminoles’ frustrations, while acknowledging that they, too, felt slighted.

    Georgia coach Kirby Smart had lobbied for the selection committee to consider the Bulldogs’ full resume in making their final decision: Georgia won 29 straight games before the SEC title matchup and finished the season with the eighth-best offense in the country and the No. 9 defense.

    It wasn’t enough. And the Bulldogs vented frustrations in the Orange Bowl — possession by possession.

    THE TAKEAWAY

    Georgia: As dominant as the Bulldogs were on offense, their defense was just as impactful. They intercepted Seminoles quarterback Brock Glenn twice and recovered two fumbles. They also limited Florida State to 63 yards rushing.

    Florida State: The Seminoles were outmatched in all three phases as they fell short of completing their first 14-win season since 2013. Glenn struggled in his second career start, completing 9 of 26 passes for 139 yards.

    UP NEXT

    Georgia: The Bulldogs open the 2024 season against Clemson in Atlanta. Beck is returning for his senior season.

    Florida State: The Seminoles will start the 2024 season against Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland, marking the second time that two ACC teams have opened the season in Ireland.

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  • Kansas State beats N.C. State in Pop-Tarts Bowl, 28-19

    Kansas State beats N.C. State in Pop-Tarts Bowl, 28-19

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    BY PHILIP ROSSMAN-REICH

    ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Avery Johnson threw for two touchdowns and ran for one, DJ Giddens rushed for 151 yards and scored twice, and Kansas State beat No. 19 North Carolina State 28-19 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Thursday night.

    Johnson, a freshman making his first start after Will Howard entered the transfer portal, threw for 178 yards, rushed for 71 and directed a 15-play, 72-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that put the game away and closed out a solid season for coach Chris Klieman’s Wildcats (9-4).

    “We knew we needed to finish the drive strong and put the game away,” Johnson said. “Credit to those guys up front. Fifteen plays isn’t easy. They dominated and we ultimately got into the end zone.”

    Quarterback Brennan Armstrong rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown and threw for 164 yards in his final game for the Wolfpack (9-4), who fell short of winning 10 games for the second time in program history.

    “I look back to what could I have done differently because we didn’t get the job done,” Armstrong said. “I felt like I did what I had to do to be ready and prepared. We just didn’t get the job done.”

    Giddens had a 37-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, his only catch of the game, and ran for a 4-yard TD early in the second that made it 14-0.

    Kansas State led 21-7 late in the second quarter and 21-10 at halftime, but N.C. State rallied in the third quarter, thanks in part to some trickery. Trent Pennix ran for a 60-yard touchdown on a fake punt with 1:50 left in the period. But the 2-point try failed, allowing the Wildcats to maintain a 21-19 lead.

    Johnson and Giddens took over from there. Giddens had six rushes for 25 yards on a drive that took 7:24 off the clock and concluded with Johnson’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Jayce Brown with 2:48 remaining.

    “Some of those times a young player may force a throw when he is scrambling and he doesn’t see anybody open,” Klieman said. “He threw the ball away and avoided a number of sacks for a loss of yards. He’s 1-0 as a quarterback. He made big-time play after big-time play.”

    Jacob Parrish intercepted Armstrong on N.C. State’s next play from scrimmage.

    FAKE IT TIL YOU MAKE IT

    Both teams ran successful fake punts.

    Kansas State punter Jack Blumer called his own number in the second quarter for a 30-yard gain that set up Giddens’ rushing TD.

    N.C. State had its biggest play on a direct snap to Pennix, a tight end, from the punt formation that he took all the way to the end zone.

    CENTURY CLUB

    Armstrong became N.C. State’s first 100-yard rusher of the season. He had come close on a few occasions, with 96 yards against both Connecticut and Wake Forest.

    Giddens had his fifth game this season with 100 yards rushing or more. This was his second-highest rushing total behind a 207-yard effort against UCF.

    ELUSIVE DOUBLE DIGITS

    N.C. State’s lone 10-win season came in 2002, when it went 11-2 with Phillip Rivers at quarterback.

    POP-TARTS BOWL MASCOT

    One gimmick of the Pop-Tarts Bowl was a mascot that organizers described as edible. After Kansas State was awarded the trophy, the human mascot named “Strawberry” was lowered into a giant replica toaster, and an edible look-alike was ushered out. Klieman and Johnson took bites of the oversized treat before other Wildcats players crowded around for a snack.

    UP NEXT

    N.C. State will have to replace Armstrong, a fifth-year senior who transferred from Virginia for his final season, and graduating Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year Payton Wilson.

    Kansas State can look forward to having both Johnson and Giddens back in 2024.

    ___

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    AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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