College Sports

Oregon State takes 14-0 lead over Montana in opening quarter

Braden Atkinson matched Sean Mannion's Oregon State record with six touchdowns as the Beavers beat Montana 52-17.

2026 College Football Season Brings CFP, Big Ten Stakes

College football moves into a busy week with Oregon trying to rebound against Portland State after a loss, alongside preview coverage of BYU-Colorado State and LSU-Ole Miss, plus a look at the season’s broadcast teams shaping every game. Meanwhile, Washington’s Big Ten era is shadowed by relatively low roster spending and the absence of an NIL collective, raising concerns about financing and competitiveness as it awaits future media-rights payments.

Denzel Aberdeen Sues NCAA for Injunction to Play Fifth Season

Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen has filed for a temporary injunction to return for a fifth season under the NCAA’s 5-in-5 rule, arguing the policy should apply to him despite the Class of 2022 being excluded. The push comes amid multiple legal challenges to the rule, including a Colorado court ruling awarding eligibility that was stayed by the 10th Circuit, leaving his status in flux as lawsuits expand to state courts.

Jonathan Alder Girls Soccer Routs Kenton Ridge 10-0

Two women's soccer matches highlighted dominant performances: Texas Tech's boxscore shows multiple goals from Kaitlyn Giametta and others in a win over Kent State, while Jonathan Alder's Kennedy McGrath propelled a 10-0 rout of Kenton Ridge to top the Kenton Trail Division standings.

Ohio State, Oregon, USC and Indiana open as Big Ten contenders

SiriusXM Big Ten kicks off the 2026 season with Week 1 power rankings and player-of-the-week honors, highlighting Ohio State’s robust start, USC quarterback Jayden Maiava’s standout performance, and Penn State’s transition under Matt Campbell with shifted national-title odds. The new coaching dynamics and ongoing Big Ten updates across the conference are shaping expectations for a competitive season.

Cruz Booed While Promoting College Sports Bill

The Protect College Sports Act would create a federal framework for NIL, reporting thresholds, agent fee caps, a guaranteed one-transfer rule, and a revenue-sharing cap with an antitrust exemption for governance, aiming to standardize college sports rules nationwide. High-profile advocates Deion Sanders and Nick Saban are starring in ads backing the bill, funded by Cody Campbell, as supporters push for a floor vote amid partisan and organizational scrutiny and shifting conference endorsements.

Big 12 withdraws Texas Tech, Paxton lawsuit after private settlement

The Big 12 has dropped its federal lawsuit against Texas Tech, the Texas Tech University System, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton with prejudice, effectively closing the case after the matter was handled internally. The dispute centered on Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility amid extensive sports betting, with Sorsby admitting thousands of bets totaling at least $90,000 and the NCAA taking a role, including temporary injunctive relief that could have restored his eligibility before the matter was resolved.

Tennessee's Arion Carter pledges $427 per tackle for cancer fund

Arion Carter is turning a one-game NCAA suspension into a charity effort, pledging $427 per tackle (plus bonuses for sacks, interceptions/forced fumbles, and defensive touchdowns) to cancer-related causes via his mother’s GIRLS nonprofit, inspired by his girlfriend’s battle with breast cancer. He returns to help Tennessee against Georgia Tech, with coach Josh Heupel praising his character and commitment to community.

Washington Huskies Win Apple Cup 24-10

Washington state apple growers anticipate a 2026 crop 7-10% smaller due to frost, hail and rising costs, but quality remains strong and supply of the Cosmic Crisp is expected to stabilize for retailers while shipments are tracking ahead of last year. In college football, the Washington Huskies opened the Apple Cup with a 24-10 win over Washington State, riding a stout defense and a trio of true freshman contributors, signaling a promising start under coach Jedd Fisch.

Michigan Escapes Western Michigan After Controversial Hail Mary

Michigan escaped Western Michigan 13-12 when a review added one second to the clock, enabling Bryce Underwood to launch a 47-yard Hail Mary to JJ Buchanan for the winning score. Kyle Whittingham, in his debut, acknowledged a challenging game and the controversial finish, while postgame reporting highlighted the dramatic turnaround and ongoing questions about preparation and execution.

College Football Faces Playoff, Eligibility, Scheduling Battles

Amid a push for reform, college football scheduling is being rethought to combat extreme heat with earlier start times and later finishes, fewer cupcake games, and more meaningful nonconference opponents. At the same time, the sport is grappling with broader Playoff debates—from former professional players’ eligibility and roster rules to bold playoff projections for nontraditional programs and ideas like G6 promotion/relegation.

Syracuse Opens Season With 66-3 Rout

Syracuse opened the 2026 season with a dominant 66-3 win over New Hampshire, and quarterback Steve Angeli looked sharp in his return from injury as the offense clicked early. With a crowded QB room featuring Amari Odom and Malachi Nelson, Syracuse hasn’t named a backup, signaling ongoing competition even after a strong performance and heightening attention on the team’s depth and development.

Judge keeps Missouri's Sterling Webb eligible days before season opener

A St. Louis County judge granted Missouri defensive lineman Sterling Webb a temporary restraining order allowing him to play this season despite the NCAA's new five-year eligibility rule, ahead of Missouri's opener against Arkansas-Pine-Bluff. The ruling arrives amid multiple lawsuits challenging the rule’s transition provisions, highlighting how programs and athletes navigate the reform and its impact on rosters.

Texas vs Texas State

Purdue players set 2026 transfers

Purdue, under Barry Odom, is rebuilding with a strong transfer class and new skill players to support quarterback Ryan Browne, who must reduce interceptions and improve decision-making to lift a projected 3.5-win over/under. Early preseason notes highlight Browne's progress and the staff’s expectations, with added depth at the line, receivers, and a new running back to replace departed talent.

William Jewell RB MicahJo Barnett dies after medical emergency

William Jewell College and the Liberty, Missouri community mourn the death of MicahJo Barnett, a junior running back and business administration student, following a medical emergency during the football game against Fort Lewis College. A campus vigil is planned for 8 p.m. on the Jewell quad as the community supports his family.

Alabama Plans 2026 Non-Conference Showdown with North Carolina

Alabama women's basketball is plotting a tougher 2026 non-conference slate that opens with North Carolina, following its 2025 non-conference sweep and NCAA Round of 32 run. In other college sports coverage, FloVolleyball has announced broadcast windows for the 2026 Westmont vs. Cal State LA and Wayne State (MI) vs. Bloomsburg women's games, and a Yahoo report outlines Oregon’s 2026 football opponent lineup.

BYU Bachmeier, Martin Return to Contend

BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier reportedly turned down offers exceeding $4 million, staying rooted in BYU’s culture and community rather than chasing a bigger payday. With LJ Martin back at No. 14 BYU, the Cougars aim for a Big 12 title behind one of the most productive backfields in the FBS, led by Bachmeier’s 3,033 passing yards and 527 rushing yards last season.

Six CFP rankings shows planned for 2026-27 season

The 2026-27 College Football Playoff will feature six weekly rankings shows starting Nov. 3, with ESPN announcing the top 25 each week. Inside predictions, Josh Pate and others forecast Miami to win the title, with Indiana, Notre Dame, and Oregon positioned prominently in revised brackets and the format adding automatic bids for Power 4 champions and a top Group of 6 entry.

Carter Suspension Reduced to One Game; Draft Withdrawal

Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter’s NCAA suspension for taking a $427 flight paid by an agent has been reduced from two games to one, meaning he will miss only the season opener versus Furman but can play against Georgia Tech in Week 2. UT officials and supporters, including coach Josh Heupel and athletics director Danny White, characterize the decision as a necessary correction to an antiquated rule in the modern NIL era, highlighting Carter’s leadership and decision to repay the cost.

Court Stay on Fifth-Year Eligibility Jeopardizes HBCU Returns

The 10th Circuit stayed district court orders, blocking a path for 2022 graduates to reclaim a fifth year and resetting the NCAA’s age-based rules, creating chaos ahead of the 2026-27 season. Across multiple cases and injunctions, some athletes remain eligible under other state rulings while schools push back on retroactive eligibility and roster disruptions.

Several Players Named to Comeback Player Watch List

Colorado State tight end Pearce Spurlin is on the Comeback Player of the Year watch list after his 2024 medical retirement due to a congenital heart condition and upcoming aortic valve surgery that could allow a return. Florida edge rusher LJ McCray, who missed most of 2025 with knee and foot injuries, is on the 2026 comeback watch list, with West Virginia wide receiver Jaden Bray also earning a preseason nod as he aims for a big final season.

Texas Tech Plans Boise State Opener, Unbeaten 17

Texas Tech is pushing to repeat as Big 12 champions across football and expand its high-level momentum with a strong transfer portal influx, a healthy quarterback Will Hammond, and a fortified defense, signaling the program’s sustained championship push. The Red Raiders’ rising recruiting profile, including a top-10 national class for 2027 and standout additions, underlines a long-term trajectory that extends beyond the football field, while even the soccer program opens its season with optimism as it hosts Boise State.

Courts Broaden Fifth-Year Eligibility Disputes

A wave of lawsuits against the NCAA has yielded temporary restraining orders allowing former college players to pursue a fifth year of eligibility or transfer for the 2026 season, with examples spanning UNM, LSU, Ole Miss and other programs. Notable players include Luke Drzewiecki, Jack Pyburn and several Ole Miss alums such as Dae’Quan Wright, Zxavian Harris and Wydett Williams, as part of a coordinated effort alleging the NCAA breached its covenant of good faith by denying the fifth year while others are allowed to pursue it.