Florida State defensive lineman Braden Fiske has traveled a path from Western Michigan to the doorstep of the NFL.

Fiske commanded the attention of the football world at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. He posted a 4.78-second time in the 40-yard dash, fastest among defensive tackles, and led the position group with jumps of 33.5 inches on the vertical and 9-foot-9-inches on the broad as well as 4.37-second time on the shuttle.

READ: Michael Penix Jr. set out to ‘write my own narrative’ at Washington Pro Day

After Florida State held its Pro Day on March 20, Fiske recalled running the 40 and the moment he knew he impressed the onlookers around him.

“So they show the broadcast up on like one of the big screens there, but at the bottom it’s cut out, so you don’t see like the time,” Fiske said. “You can tell by reactions that fans when they’re clapping, I was like, ‘Alright, that must have been decent,’ then you run it back and like Reggie Wayne is standing there on the side and he’s looking at me like, ‘Oh, who is this guy?’ You get back and all the guys are running too, like, the scouts over there, they’re like, ‘Yo, that was fast.’ I’m like, ‘Bet.’”

READ: Reports: Judge denies Florida State’s dismissal request of ACC lawsuit

The Michigan City, Indiana, native spent five seasons with the Broncos. He earned a spot on the Second Team All-Mid-American Conference after recording career highs of six sacks and 58 tackles including 12 for loss in 2022.

Fiske entered the transfer portal and found a new home with head coach Mike Norvell and Florida State, and he fit well along the defensive line leading the Seminoles to an Atlantic Coast Conference Championship featuring a 13-0 record and appearance in the Orange Bowl.

Standing 6-foot-5 and 297 pounds, Fiske offers intrigue for any pro team looking for a playmaker on the inside, and he wants the NFL to know he’s honing his skills and remaining disciplined in his approach to the start of his professional career.

“I think it’s just one of those things you don’t know till you see it in person,” Fiske said. “I mean, I think a lot of the traits in my game are something you got to see up close and personal. It’s not something you just watch on film all the time, and you can really see the way I attack practice, the film room, the training room. And I think those are the things that once NFL teams got to get more of an up close and personal look at the Senior Bowl, the combine. That’s what they got to see, then the testing numbers and the practice habits at the Senior Bowl just kind of backed all that up.”

READ: Joe Judge joins Ole Miss coaching staff

The combine boosted Fiske up draft boards, and according to Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com’s top 50 2024 NFL Draft prospect rankings, he ranks No. 38 among draft-eligible prospects.

Fiske compared his draft positioning before the Seminoles went on their run toward a conference title and he took part in postseason events like the combine and Senior Bowl, and he knows he’s opened the eyes of some within NFL teams. As he continues toward the end of the month and the draft, Fiske said he’s eager to get started on his pro journey.

“My draft stock was, I mean, realistically, looking like a fourth, fifth, you know, maybe, and it’s wishy-washy,” Fiske said. “But I think after the ACC championship, Senior Bowl, combine, I think I helped myself quite a bit. I mean, it’s looking good. I can’t put an exact number on it. But I mean, it definitely, definitely made a huge impact on where we’re going to take this guy.”

The post Florida State’s Braden Fiske motivated by ‘huge impact’ leading up to NFL Draft appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Silverfield will be paid $2.2 million in 2024 before seeing $250,000 increases over the next two years, then will receive $2.6 million in 2027 before a $100,000 increase entering the final year of the new deal, according to a release.

READ: Nevada hires Kansas analyst Matt Lubick as OC

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be the head football coach at the University of Memphis,” Silverfield stated in a release. “I am excited and appreciative of the commitment to continue moving forward with the progress of our football program.”

According to a release, “compensation is allocated as $200,000 in base salary per year with the remaining amount as non-salary compensation divided equally between radio and television appearance availability and public relations, public service and public speaking appearance availability,” and also includes “incentives and bonuses” based on team performance.

Silverfield has been head coach of the Tigers since 2020. He took over for current Florida State skipper Mike Norvell, and the two coached together when Silverfield oversaw the offensive line.

READ: Malik Nabers showcases ‘dog mentality’ at LSU’s Pro Day

Silverfield guided Memphis to its fifth 10-win season in his fourth year in 2023. The Tigers went 6-2 in the American Athletic Conference and earned a Liberty Bowl victory over Iowa State.

A two-time recipient of the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year, Silverfield became the first Memphis head coach to be named to that honor twice upon his recognition after last season.

“We are extremely excited to make this commitment to Coach Silverfield to keep him leading our football program into the future,” University of Memphis Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Laird Veatch stated in a release. “Coach Silverfield guided the team to one of the best seasons in program history in 2023 and we believe he’s laid the foundation to help Memphis ascend even higher in the expanded College Football Playoff era.”

The post Memphis extends HC Ryan Silverfield through 2028 appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Alabama announced Wednesday that head coach Nick Saban is retiring.

“The University of Alabama has been a very special place to Terry and me,” Saban stated in a release. “We have enjoyed every minute of our 17 years being the head coach at Alabama as well as becoming a part of the Tuscaloosa community. It is not just about how many games we won and lost, but it’s about the legacy and how we went about it. We always tried to do it the right way. The goal was always to help players create more value for their future, be the best player they could be and be more successful in life because they were part of the program. Hopefully, we have done that, and we will always consider Alabama our home.”

According to Chris Low of ESPN, Saban is retiring immediately. He informed the Crimson Tide team today, according to Low. 

READ: Denzel Burke, Donovan Jackson among returners to Ohio State in 2024

Saban won six national championships Alabama since taking over prior to the 2007 season. Across his 17 years with the Crimson Tide, Saban won nine Southeastern Conference championships. 

Saban and Alabama most recently competed in the College Football Playoff Semifinals at the Rose Bowl against eventual-champion No. 1 Michigan. It marked Alabama’s eighth CFP appearance under Saban. 

READ: Jacksonville State hires Rhode Island’s Brandon Napoleon as safeties coach 

“Simply put, Nick Saban is one of the greatest coaches of all time, in any sport, and The University of Alabama is fortunate to have had him leading our football program for the past 17 seasons,” Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne stated in a release. “Throughout his career as a head coach, his teams have won seven national championships, 11 conference championships and 312 games, and he’s developed an NCAA-record 49 NFL first-round draft picks and, most importantly, hundreds of college graduates. He is the consummate coach, mentor and leader, and his impact is felt far beyond the football field.”

Saban has been named coach of the year nine times in his career. He’s earned a 35-12 record against top-10 teams since 2008, and he owns an 87.7% winning mark at Alabama. 

Saban won the CFP National Championship in 2015, 2017 and 2020. He has seven total national championships, tied with legend Paul “Bear” Bryant for most in history. 

READ: No. 1 Michigan ‘couldn’t be in a better spot’ after winning College Football Playoff National Championship 

According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, among the candidates to succeed Saban include Oregon’s Dan Lanning, Washington’s Kalen DeBoer, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, Penn State’s James Franklin, Florida State’s Mike Norvell and Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, among others. 

The post Alabama’s Nick Saban announces plan to retire appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Through more than a dozen weeks and three-plus months of competition, only four programs stood remaining as undefeated come bowl season. 

READ: USC’s Lincoln Riley announces QB Caleb Williams won’t play in Holiday Bowl 

The unbeaten teams include No. 1 Michigan, No. 2 Washington, No. 5 Florida State and No. 23 Liberty. 

Two of those programs are playing in the College Football Playoff for college football’s biggest prize, a national championship, in the Wolverines and Huskies. 

However, the CFP Selection Committee did something unprecedented: it left an unbeaten Power 5 conference champion out of the Playoff. 

Here are some noteworthy quotes as focus turns from Week 14 to bowl season. 

Bo Nix, Oregon 

No. 8 Oregon had a chance at redemption against Washington going into the Pac-12 Championship game last weekend. 

The Ducks sought to right their only wrong of the season which came in Week 6 when they fell 33-30 to the Huskies, and Washington beat Oregon a second time, this time 36-33, and claimed the conference title. 

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix is out of eligibility. He’s a contender for the Heisman Trophy, given to the most outstanding player in college football. 

Nix leads the country with a 77.2% completion and is tied for most passing touchdowns with LSU’s Jayden Daniels who also has 40. 

Nix gave an ode to his college football career after Oregon’s loss on Saturday. He reflected on a number of college football staples and traditions that meant the most to him. 

“I’m going to miss college football. I know it was my goal my whole entire life to be a college quarterback and to play and to win a national championship, and even though that may be off the table and it’s not necessarily something that can be obtained anymore, it was still a goal and I still worked for it every day,” Nix said. “As crazy as it sounds, I’m going to enjoy this plane ride home around the guys because I’ve had many of them before, but not sure how many I’m going to have in front of me and, I don’t know, it’s just a lot of emotions, a lot going on that, man, you wish you could change, like, you wish you could go back and do so many different things. But, I mean, they’re over there on the same side, you know, they wanted to win too, and that’s what is the good and bad thing about any kind of competition, any kind of sports is there has to be a loser and as bad as it feels, that’s why you play the game.” 

Mike Norvell, Florida State 

As mentioned earlier, the Seminoles got the shorter end of the stick when it came to the CFP. 

READ: Full list of Power 5 bowl games

Unbeaten all season and atop the Atlantic Coast Conference, Florida State was left out of the Playoff based on it seems a couple factors. 

The Seminoles won three of their last four games by 10 points or fewer. But they still won the games. 

Florida State also lost starting quarterback Jordan Travis due to a horrific left leg injury in Week 12. But the Seminoles still won their final three games with backups Tate Rodemaker and Brock Glenn. 

It seems the CFP Selection Committee penalized Florida State for its loss of Travis among other factors. The committee does take into account which players are available for a team when making its decision, and it went with No. 4 Alabama which beat then-No. 1 Georgia 27-24 in the Southeastern Conference Championship game over the Seminoles. 

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell released an emotional statement on Sunday, giving his opinion on the Seminoles being left out of the Playoff which left him “disgusted and infuriated.” 

“I am disgusted and infuriated with the committee’s decision (Sunday) to have what was earned on the field taken away because a small group of people decided they knew better than the results of the games,” Norvell stated. “What is the point of playing games? Do you tell players it is okay to quit if someone goes down? Do you not play a senior on Senior Day for fear of injury? Where is the motivation to schedule challenging non-conference games? We are not only an undefeated P5 conference champion, but we also played two P5 non-conference games away from home and won both of them. I don’t understand how we are supposed to think this is an acceptable way to evaluate a team. I’m hurting for our players who have displayed a tremendous amount of resilience and response this season. What happened (Sunday) goes against everything that is true and right in college football. A team that overcame tremendous adversity and found a way to win doing whatever it took on the field was cheated (Sunday). It’s a sad day for college football. I’m proud of the work we have put in and the players I have the privilege to coach. We have one more opportunity to define this 2023 team in the Orange Bowl, and I believe in how our team will respond.” 

Deion Sanders, Colorado 

The college football world went ablaze over the weekend and into the week after Florida State was left out of the Playoff. 

Many voiced their opinion on the Seminoles missing the CFP on social media, and many voiced displeasure about it. 

READ: Stat Pack: Week 14

This season is the final year of the four-team Playoff. Next year, it will expand to include 12 teams, allowing the six highest seeded conference champions a spot in the CFP. 

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders is an alum of Florida State, playing there from 1985-88 across three sports. 

Sanders shared his stance on whether Florida State didn’t receive a fair shot at the Playoff, and while he gave his opinion, he also talked up the 12-team Playoff — and how he and the Buffaloes plan to be in it. 

“First and foremost, I want their problem. Can I have that problem? Can I have those problems please? I want those problems,” Sanders said. “Thank God the committee got it right next year when there’s a bigger gate and open for a plethora of schools having an opportunity to go to the playoffs — and we plan on being one of them. There’s no way that you’re going to leave coach Saban and Alabama out of a playoff and Georgia. No, you’re not going to leave Georgia and Alabama out. It ain’t no playoff if you do that. I’m happy man, I’m not happy. I don’t know how I would have handled that. I think coach Norvell did a wonderful job articulating himself speaking his truth and the players supporting him as well. That’s a tough one man. I would love to be in that situation. Unfortunately, we’re not but we plan on being in that situation. But that’s a tough one. But they’re going to always go with the business. See, people think it’s just football man. You got to understand this is a business as well.” 

The post Quotables: Week 14  appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Both of those ranked games will be previewed later. But there are conference championship game implications also on the line this week. 

PODCAST: Despite chalk at the top, week 12 had intrigue

Spots in the Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12 title games are up for grabs this Saturday. Alabama-Georgia and Florida State-Louisville are already conference championship games set in stone for Dec. 2. 

There are also 13 ranked teams that will play on the road this week including No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 5 Florida State and No. 8 Alabama. 

Here are several games to watch this week. 

No. 16 Oregon State at No. 6 Oregon 

There is a lot on the line this week for the Ducks. 

Sitting comfortably at No. 6 in the College Football Playoff rankings, Oregon is playing for a place in the Pac-12 Championship game. 

The quarterback matchup Saturday will pit Oregon’s Bo Nix, who is coming off of a six-touchdown performance, against Oregon State’s DJ Uiagalelei. 

No. 16 Oregon State upset Oregon 38-34 in the final week of the regular season last year. The Beavers scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter as they ran for 268 yards. 

The two teams will match up once against on Friday night, and there’s a shot for either team to possibly advance to the Pac-12 Championship game. 

“I think it resonates with every single one of us and certainly not far from our mind,” Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said. “They’re a good team. We have to go play really well to compete against them, and you got to play an entire game.” 

No. 2 Ohio State at No. 3 Michigan 

Is there mutual respect in a rivalry? 

That was a pertinent topic this week in the press conferences that Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh and Ohio State’s Ryan Day took part in during the days leading up to “The Game” on Saturday. 

READ: Big Board: Week 13

Harbaugh was asked first on Monday about his level of respect for Day and the Buckeyes coaching staff, and here is his response. 

“It’s all about our preparation for Ohio,” Harbaugh said. “The days, the minutes, the hours, everything leading up to this game, that’s where our focus is. Preparing ourselves and planning, going to practice and then execute, so I mean, anything else is irrelevant when you get into this kind of just kind of big game week.” 

Both Michigan and Ohio State will enter Saturday 11-0 and with top-three defenses. Their scoring offenses are two of three teams in the Big Ten averaging more than 33 points per game. 

Day answered a similar question about his level of respect for Michigan. 

“I think with everything going on and the things that are out there, we’ve just kind of stayed away from all the distractions,” Day said. “We have, and (we’re) just focused on our team, and I think our guys have done a good job of it. I think when you talk to our guys, I’ve talked to them a couple times about what’s going on this season and then going into the game, but they’re focused on this game, they’re focused on the season, they’re focused on their preparation, and we’re just going to continue on that.” 

No. 5 Florida State at Florida 

The Seminoles might just have their backs against the wall. 

Steady for most of the season, No. 5 Florida State earned a bittersweet 58-13 victory over North Alabama last week. While the Seminoles got the win, they lost quarterback Jordan Travis due to a horrific left leg injury. 

Backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker entered the game after Travis’ departure and tossed two touchdowns alongside 217 passing yards. 

READ: Quotables: Week 12

Florida State dropped a spot in the fourth CFP rankings of the season on Tuesday. Head coach Mike Norvell said he can sense an urgency to the Seminoles, something that’s helped them earn two ranked wins this season and maintain their place atop the ACC standings. 

“You say urgency — you always want it.,” Norvell said. “It’s always like the push, the standard, the expectation. Sometimes I need to encourage more, and like they came in the door (Tuesday_ and they weren’t needing a whole lot of my encouragement. In the meeting room, they were ready to go. You felt it, you felt the energy, and we’re going to push the standard. We’re all going to be held accountable to it, but I thought the guys did a nice job with that.” 

The post Preview Thursday: Week 13  appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Georgia reclaimed the No. 1 spot and is now atop both the CFP and Associated Press Top 25 rankings. 

PODCAST: Week 11 Recap: Are things getting any clearer?

The Bulldogs won their 27^th-consecutive game in dominant fashion over No. 13 Ole Miss, holding the Rebels to three points in the second half while quarterback Carson Beck threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns. 

Here are several players and notes to keep a tab on in this week’s Big Board. 

Taking a look at the Atlantic Coast Conference title picture 

The conference title picture is shaping up, and this week the ACC is under observation. 

No. 4 Florida State sits atop the ACC standings at 10-0 and 8-0 in conference play. The Seminoles have a firm grip on heading to the conference championship game under head coach Mike Norvell and quarterback Jordan Travis. 

Hot on the heels are the No. 10 Louisville Cardinals, who received their highest College Football Playoff ranking since 2016 last week when they checked in inside the top 10. 

While Florida State and Louisville won’t face one another in the regular season, it very likely could happen that the two face off in the ACC championship on Dec. 2. The Seminoles already have their spot sealed up. 

Louisville will have Miami and Kentucky to close out the regular season. Both of the Cardinals’ future opponents have been ranked this season, and it won’t come easy for them. 

READ: Georgia climbs to No. 1 in third CFP rankings

Awaiting a chance to be opportunistic are North Carolina and NC State, which are both tied for third in the conference at 4-2. 

The Tar Heels have Clemson and NC State to finish the year, and the Wolfpack will play at Virginia Tech this week. 

The ACC title picture is becoming clearer. Now it just remains to be seen who the Seminoles will face. 

Blake Corum, Jayden Daniels and Marvin Harrison Jr. 

Nine hundred nineteen yards, 10 touchdowns and three victories. 

That’s what Michigan’s Blake Corum, LSU’s Jayden Daniels and Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. did last weekend by themselves combined. 

It’s time to start considering this trio as viable contenders for the Heisman Trophy, given to the most outstanding player in college football. 

Corum currently leads the NCAA with 18 rushing touchdowns. Daniels leads the country in passing efficiency at 202.12, and Harrison is second with 12 receiving touchdowns. 

Daniels had a more than impressive game against Florida last weekend. He passed for 372 yards and three touchdowns, then added 234 yards on the ground along with two rushing touchdowns, totaling five scores against the Gators. 

Harrison had a season-high three touchdowns in the Buckeyes’ win over Michigan State. He ran in the first rushing score of his career from 19 yards out. 

Corum had a season-high 145 rushing yards in Michigan’s win at Penn State without head coach Jim Harbaugh. He also had two rushing touchdowns. 

Corum’s current Heisman odds are north of +25000, Daniels’ are +370 and Harrison’s are +600, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. With the regular season dwindling down, this trio could be waiting for their Heisman moments. 

The head coaching carousel is beginning to spin 

Every year in college football there is coaching turnover. 

That’s no different this season. 

READ: San Diego State head coach Hoke to retire at end of season

Texas A&M made the decision to fire head coach Jimbo Fisher despite more than $76 million remaining in his contractual buyout. It was the first head coaching move of the season. 

Boise State also fired head coach Andy Avalos on Sunday, and Penn State relieved offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich of his duties as well. 

Also, a head coaching job opened up in the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State moved on from head coach Zach Arnett on Sunday afternoon. 

There will be more moves to come, but for now, these openings are available. Indiana and Iowa are also looking for new offensive coordinators in the Big Ten Conference as the Hoosiers moved on from Walt Bell and the Hawkeyes will replace Brian Ferentz. 

Among the names of potential head coaching replacements thus far include Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, Duke’s Mike Elko and Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN. 

The post Big Board: Week 12  appeared first on Saturday Glory.

None bigger than a pair of top-10 matchups taking place around the college football world than No. 3 Michigan-No. 10 Penn State and No. 9 Ole Miss-No. 2 Georgia. 

PODCAST: Week 10 did not disappoint

Those games will be previewed later. There are also eight ranked programs playing on the road this week including No. 7 Texas and No. 8 Alabama. 

Here are several games to watch this week. 

Miami at No. 4 Florida State 

A battle for the state of Florida will take place on Saturday. 

The No. 4 Seminoles will put their 15-game winning streak on the line against Miami, which is looking to get back in the win column after a loss at NC State. 

The rivalry game between the Seminoles and Hurricanes is set for 3:30 p.m. on ABC, and quarterbacks Jordan Travis of Florida State and Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke will square off. Both teams are top-five in the Atlantic Coast Conference in total offense putting up more than 437 yards per game. 

READ: Top-four unchanged, Ole Miss rises to No. 9 in second CFP rankings

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell said his team looks forward to playing Miami every season, and it’s a game that is talked about with the likes of any game on the biggest stage. 

“There’s only two games that I talk about before the season and I talked about them before our offseason because every day matters when it comes to that,” Norvell said. “If that’s not important to you then you’re not going to play in this game because you will get exposed. This game takes everything that you have. I’m grateful that I get the chance to coach in this game, I mean, it’s special and you respect the past, you respect every game that has been played before, you respect the people that have played in this game and I mean because these guys have to give it all and because if not, you can take all records, all things that have happened before, it won’t matter. But you prepare for this one every single day.” 

No. 3 Michigan at No. 10 Penn State 

There is a chance for a three-way tie in the Big Ten East Division. 

If Penn State can upend Michigan at home on Saturday and if the Buckeyes were to lose to Michigan on Nov. 25, then all three of Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State would be in a tie atop the division. 

First, though, the Wolverines must take on the Nittany Lions. 

This will be a matchup between the top two total defenses in the country. Michigan leads by allowing 231.4 yards per game while the Nittany Lions are close behind at 234.2. 

Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy will look to vault himself higher into the Heisman Trophy conversation, while Penn State’s Drew Allar will get an extended look against the Wolverines defense. 

Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh said Allar, who is fourth in the Big Ten with 1,895 passing yards, will present a challenge to Michigan. 

“He’s been good. You can see all the improvement,” Harbaugh said. “Just prototypical guy, tall, smart, got great stature in the pocket, very athletic, strong. He’s hard to get down on the ground. Courage, stands in there and throws it now. He’s an excellent quarterback.” 

No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 2 Georgia 

The second top-10 showdown of the week is set to be a good one in SEC country. 

The No. 2 Bulldogs will welcome their third ranked opponent of the season in No. 9 Ole Miss, which is riding a five-game winning streak. 

While the top-10 matchup in the Big Ten will be a battle among defenses, this SEC matchup will be one for the offenses. 

READ: Big Board: Week 11

Georgia has the No. 2 offense in the SEC with an average of 493 yards per game, while the Rebels are right behind at 478.89 yards. 

The quarterback battle will be between Georgia’s Carson Beck, who is in his first season as starter, and Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart, who is in his second year with the program after transferring from USC. 

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has scouted what Dart has done this season, as the Kaysville, Utah, native is third in the SEC with a 168.87 quarterback rating. Smart said Dart encapsulates what Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss look for in quarterbacks. 

“I think Lane’s quarterbacks take home a personality from him, and they have a lot of moxie,” Smart said. “They have a lot of talent. They play really hard. They play with reckless abandon for their body, and he runs like a running back. He’s taking some hits this year and shown his toughness so he’s not going to shy away from contact and toughness, and he’s the extra element of run that gives them a competitive advantage over a lot of teams you play because they have great backs, but he runs the ball like a back and he throws the ball really well too, which that’s what makes them really hard to defend when you got a guy that can make all the throws but can also take off and run, and he’s proven the ability to do that.” 

The post Preview Thursday: Week 11  appeared first on Saturday Glory.

There are four ranked matchups scheduled for Saturday when Week 8 commences, and it will be headlined by another top-10 matchup this time taking place in the Big Ten Conference. 

PODCAST: The Shane Beamer Story Isn’t That Serious

Among the other contests on tap for Week 8 includes eight ranked teams playing on the road, including No. 2 Michigan traveling to Michigan State. 

Here are several games to watch this week. 

No. 22 Air Force at Navy 

Air Force entered the Associated Press Top 25 Poll for the first time this season, checking in at No. 22 which is its highest ranking since the 2019 season. 

A battle between service academies will take place on Saturday, as the Falcons travel to face Navy in a series that dates back to 1960. Both teams enter on winning streaks since the Midshipmen have won their last two games and the Falcons have won 11. 

Air Force will be without its starting quarterback as Zac Larrier deals with injury, and head coach Troy Calhoun projects Larrier will be out “a while.” 

Navy averages 20.3 points per game on 335 yards of total offense. The Midshipmen shut out Charlotte 14-0 in Week 7. 

Calhoun said aside from the in-game competition, he looks forward to the march-ons of the service academies and pregame traditions. 

“It’s always a big deal,” Calhoun said. “We came in the other day from pregame and you look all the way up that tunnel and you see all those cadets. It just moves you beyond football too, and again, just you have future service members that have made a commitment to do everything they can to make our country a better place, and I think that’s awesome. And I keep thinking at some point, I’d like to go watch one of these games also to see the flybys but hopefully that’s a ways out.” 

No. 17 Duke at No. 4 Florida State 

This Atlantic Coast Conference matchup should be a fun one. 

The Blue Devils fell just short of an upset win over Notre Dame earlier in the season, dropping the game 21-14 and seeing quarterback Riley Leonard deal with ankle injury. 

READ: Big Board: Week 8

Florida State, meanwhile, is out to its first 6-0 start since the 2015 season. The Seminoles are led by fifth-year quarterback Jordan Travis who is tied for second in the ACC with 13 passing touchdowns and fourth with a 154.1 passing efficiency rating. 

Duke’s defense will present a challenge to the Seminoles, as the Blue Devils lead the ACC in total defense allowing 164.7 yards per game. It’s a tough enough team that stands out to Florida State head coach Mike Norvell. 

“You watch film and you see really good players,” Norvell said. “They’ve done everything they needed to do. They were one play away in that Notre Dame game that you just, I mean, you kind of felt for them for how it all played out but I mean this is a very, very talented team and it’s one that you don’t need to give a motivational speech to any of our guys because they know the challenge that’s ahead and it’s going to take our best game and I’m looking forward to continuing the week of preparation.” 

No. 7 Penn State at No. 3 Ohio State 

This week’s top-10 bout will take place in Columbus, Ohio. 

The Buckeyes and Nittany Lions are plenty familiar with one another, and Ohio State has won nine of the past 10 matchups. 

This time around, the stakes are high and the competition will be up to the level of a top-10 game. Both teams enter near the top of the Big Ten in total offense and defense. 

Penn State is No. 1 in total defense allowing 193.7 yards per game. That provides a dramatic challenge to the Buckeyes offense which tops the Big Ten at 443 yards per game. 

READ: Quotables: Week 7

The battle will remain in the trenches as both teams offer dynamic run offenses, with the Nittany Lions atop the conference behind an average of 203.3 rushing yards per game to Ohio State’s 135, and the Buckeyes could be without running back TreVeyon Henderson due to injury. 

A contest between two undefeated programs will take place at Ohio Stadium, and Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day said he hopes to see the fans in the stands early. 

“I know I talked to Gene (Smith), about this, and one of the biggest things that he mentioned to me was getting everybody in the stadium early,” Day said. “We want to do that. We’ve done that in the past just to set the tone. But this is one of those games that we’ve got to really create a hostile environment for Penn State, in particular their offense. When we’re really loud in the stadium, anytime that their offense has the ball, it makes it very difficult to operate the communication, the snap count, all of those things and so the louder we can be, it doesn’t matter whether it’s third down, red zone, short yardage, if they’re operating and they’re on the field, the louder we can be, the more hostile that we can be, advantage Buckeyes.” 

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Throughout the game Saturday, the Tigers dropped back in man coverage with single matchups between receivers and defensive backs, and it led to 289 passing yards from Travis, who took exception to the defense after throwing a game-winning touchdown 24 yards to Keon Coleman. 

“They were disrespecting me a little bit. I don’t think they believed that I can make those throws, and I’m glad it ended like that. So glad it ended like that,” Travis said. “It kind of just shows the journey and all the ups and downs and, like a roller coaster, man, and I overcame it all and this football team overcame it all, and I’m so grateful for a moment like that.” 

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Travis’ up and down journey can show in last week’s game, and to others, it can begin when he first stepped foot on a college football field at Louisville in 2018. 

Travis spent a year with the Cardinals and appeared in three games before deciding to transfer to his dream destination at Florida State. A native of West Palm Beach, Florida, the transfer made a perfect fit. 

Across the next four seasons, Travis would build a career that broke Florida State program records, and it hasn’t come easily. In came Mike Norvell as head coach prior to the 2020 season, and with him came a new system and offensive ideas. 

Saturday’s 31-24 overtime win in Death Valley was a culmination of work that both Travis and Florida State attained over time, and it marked the Seminoles’ first win over Clemson since 2014. 

“The joy is really special because we just love to see each other succeed, and that’s the main thing,” Travis said. “We don’t have selfish people on this football team and I think that’s what makes us really special. We have wide receivers that don’t get the ball all the time but they’re out there blocking their butts off no matter what, never hanging their head. Never come to yell at me, none of that type of stuff. It just shows the brotherhood of this football team.”

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Travis completed 57% of his passes against the Tigers, adding on two touchdown passes and the one that mattered most on his first pass attempt in overtime. 

Coleman totaled 86 receiving yards across five catches, and two went for touchdowns. 

“If they’re not doubling us, they can’t cover us so we might as well just keep throwing the ball,” Coleman said. “(Travis) trusted that and did what he does best and put it in the right spot.” 

Florida State’s season has been widely successful thus far. The Seminoles notched a top-10 victory in Week 1 defeating then-No. 5 LSU 45-24. 

The Seminoles struggled closing out their 31-29 win over Boston College a week ago. They allowed 19 unanswered points to end the game, and Travis exited with an apparent shoulder injury. 

Travis would re-enter the game Sept. 16, and his shoulder has appeared healthy and he played well in the game against Clemson. 

“We have practice (Sunday) so we’re going to get back to work (Sunday),” Travis said. “There’s no days off here. No matter what if we have an off day or not. We have to take the opportunity to watch film, be in the treatment room, working out, things like that.” 

Travis has been with the Florida State program over the past several years during which it had three wins in 2020, five wins in 2021 and then its 10-3 season last year which marked the Seminoles’ first 10-win season since 2016. 

Norvell said he loves coaching Travis, and he knows how much the quarterback means to the Florida State program. 

“He is an absolute winner. That’s who he is,” Norvell said. “Coming off a game where he had a little bit of an injury and some challenges that he had to work through, and he stood up and stood up in the moment. And I’m so proud of him for who he is.”

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The Seminoles will have three-consecutive home games coming up over the next three weeks, and it presents an opportunity for Florida State to add to its 4-0 record. 

But for now, Saturday’s win proved more than Flroida State’s first win over the Tigers in nine years and first on the road in 10. 

“Honestly, man, I don’t remember. I’m so excited, so happy,” Travis said. “I had tears coming down my face in the locker room, man, because just the journey how far I’ve come as a man and as a player, so I’m grateful. I mean, that was a really special moment.” 

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Week 3 presents a slate of games that appears interesting, especially for ranked teams on the road. Eight ranked programs are on the road this week including four of the top-10.  

No. 1 Georgia hosts South Carolina in a Southeastern Conference matchup. The Bulldogs are already 2-0 behind 577 passing yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Carson Beck, while the Gamecocks are led by Spencer Rattler for a second-straight season.  

Here are several games to watch this week.  

No. 3 Florida State at Boston College  

The Seminoles are off to one of the hottest starts in college football propelling themselves to No. 3 in the latest Associated Press Top 25, thanks in large part to their Week 1 victory over then-No. 5 LSU.  

Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis has had back-to-back games of at least 175 passing yards and two touchdowns. The sixth-year gunslinger has also had his legs involved on the ground, rushing for at least 20 yards in both outings this season. 

While the Seminoles have an eight-game winning streak which is the longest in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Boston College enters with a 1-1 record. 

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell said the Seminoles can appreciate their surge up to No. 3 in the poll, their highest ranking since 2017, but there is still more work to do in order to truly embrace it all.  

“There is an appreciation for where we’ve come because I watch our players work. I watch what they put into it. I see how hard our coaches coach. I see the program-wide investment to see guys believe, get better and then you obviously respond to the situations that we have found ourselves in,” Norvell said. “Oh, somebody says that we’re highly rated or highly ranked, whatever, or not. None of that matters. It’s about what we are willing to do when we show up and when we go to work. I believe in this team, I believe in this team for what they’ve been through. I believe in this team for the guys that have said yes to come be a part of it and the challenges that are presented to them when they were making that choice.”  

No. 8 Washington at Michigan State 

A matchup between future conference members of the Big Ten is on tap in East Lansing, Michigan, this Saturday. 

The No. 8 Huskies enter 2-0 behind strong quarterback outings from Michael Penix Jr. Penix currently leads the NCAA in total offense with an average of 434 yards per game. 

Washington has outscored its two opponents 99-29 through the first two games. The strengths for the Huskies remain in the passing game, and receiver Rome Odunze leads the team with 239 receiving yards. 

Michigan State will be without head coach Mel Tucker, who is suspended without pay as he is subject of an ongoing sexual harassment investigation. 

“I think the thing that we’ve just focused on, it’s our season theme, is us versus us and just focusing on what we’re in charge of, what we control,” Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer said. “We know we’re going to go out there. It’s going to be a hostile environment and I think anytime there’s strife and things like that it has an effect for teams at times to pull them closer together, and so I think without a doubt in my mind they’re going to come out ready to rip and play well.”  

Wyoming at No. 4 Texas  

It’s all about trust for Texas.  

The Longhorns are one of the several AP Top 10 teams at home this week, and they will do so defending their new positioning in the rankings.  

Quinn Ewers and Texas prevailed over then-No. 3 Alabama last week, besting the Crimson Tide 34-24. Ewers claimed a number of national awards for his performance as he threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns.  

Wyoming enters this week’s bout 2-0 behind quarterback Andrew Peasley. The Cowboys also lead the Mountain West Conference in sacks averaging 3.5 per game. 

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said the Longhorns have “aspirations of being champions this year,” and they’re off to a hot start on their way to possibly claiming a Big 12 title and more. 

“We have an adage, trust equals time plus consistency. And so it takes time to earn trust,” Sarkisian said. “But you also have to be consistent, whether you’re a person, a staff, whatever you are, so that they can feel what it looks like over and over and over. It’s hard to trust somebody when two days you do something one way then the third day, you totally contradict yourself. And so we’ve tried to be really consistent with our messaging, and we knew over time as our program grew that we could earn more trust along the way.” 

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Colorado head coach Deion Sanders asked reporters after the Buffaloes’ 45-42 win over then-No. 17 TCU on Saturday and reminded them that he has receipts from doubters. 

The belief is strong in Boulder. The belief in college football is just as strong as nearly every team was in action to get the season underway. 

Here are some noteworthy quotes as focus turns from Week 1 to Week 2. 

Chip Kelly, UCLA 

The new clock rules are taking some time to adjust for everybody. 

UCLA head coach Chip Kelly had some thoughts on the new clock rules, which allow for the clock to continue running after first downs this season. 

“This new rule is, it’s crazy,” Kelly said. “We had four drives in the first half. This game goes fast. Hope you guys are selling a lot of commercials.” 

The Bruins totaled 238 yards on their only four drives of the first half. Coastal Carolina had as many drives through the first four quarters as well, and both teams had seven drives in the second half. 

Jim Harbaugh, Michigan 

Harbaugh spent his season-opener at the home of offensive line coach and offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore as he served the first of a self-imposed three-game suspension to start the season. 

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy and the Wolverines got the job done and tipped their caps in ode to Harbaugh early in the game against East Carolina. McCarthy threw 280 yards and three touchdowns while Michigan had 402 yards of offense and held the Pirates to 235. 

Harbaugh won’t return to the sidelines this week, and when asked about the responsibilities of a head coach during a game, he introduced a new version of both offense and defense.  

“Be the guardian of victory is probably the No. 1 job you have,” Harbaugh said. “Making sure that the decisions you’re making are complimentary on all three phases. There’s no offense, there’s no defense. It’s a we-fense. And making sure that putting the players in the position to have their hard work achieved.” 

Mike Norvell, Florida State 

The Seminoles claimed the first top-10 victory of the season in a showdown against then-No. 5 LSU on Sunday night. 

Head coach Mike Norvell and quarterback Jordan Travis made an early statement in their 45-24 win over the Tigers. Florida State won in its fourth top-10 season-opener and remained unbeaten in Orlando. 

Norvell said Sunday’s game had “a championship-type feel to it,” and Travis was among the leading Seminoles. Travis threw for 342 yards and four touchdowns against fellow Heisman Trophy hopeful Jayden Daniels, who finished with 347 passing yards and two touchdowns. 

“That was one game. That was our first step, and it was a big step, right?” Norvell said. “You get a chance to be on this stage, you want to go play well. And I don’t think we played our best game, but I thought that second half we were able to really finish the way that we wanted to, and I’m just, I’m proud of them for the way that they continued to battle the way, they showed their resilience, and just who they are.” 

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