Navy's football squad will honor the Blue Angels by wearing all-blue uniforms for their annual showdown with Army.
The Midshipmen unveiled the Under Armour Blue Angels attire in anticipation of Dec. 9's game against the Black Knights. They also released a video showing off their sleek garb.
Per WTKR.com's Adam Winkler, Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk commented on the uniform's significance.
"This tribute to the Blue Angels reflects the enthusiastic pride and appreciation we have for the Navy's premier flying team and the motivation they convey to Navy football and the fleet at large," Gladchuk said.
Last year, Navy designed "Beat Army" attire for the rivalry game. Army, which snapped a 15-year drought with a 21-17 victory, wore uniforms honoring World War II paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division.
[Navy Athletics/Football]
USF QB Quinton Flowers Makes an Obscene Gesture After Touchdown Run
Moe Moton
Nov 24, 2017
In an entertaining seesaw matchup between USF and UCF, Bulls quarterback Quinton Flowers made an X-rated gesture to the crowd after scoring a 24-yard touchdown.
Flowers' score, and the ensuing extra point, put USF in the lead 34-28 with 3:41 left in the third quarter.
Thus far, he's put together a stellar performance, accumulating nearly 600 yards of total offense with five total touchdowns.
The Knights led 49-42 late in the fourth quarter at the time of publication.
USF WR Tyre McCants Drags UCF LB Chequan Burkett into the End Zone
South Florida wide receiver Tyre McCants wouldn't allow a jersey tackle deny him a touchdown on Friday.
The 5'11" pass-catcher streaked down the sideline with 230-pound UCF linebacker Chequan Burkett hanging onto his threads en route to the end zone.
McCants' 47-yard touchdown put the Bulls on the scoreboard first in a competitive American Athletic East division matchup.
The Knights led the Bulls 21-20 at halftime at the time of publication.
AAC Commish Rips CFP Committee for UCF's No. 15 Ranking, USF Being Unranked
Nov 22, 2017
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 18: Shaquem Griffin #18 of the UCF Knights looks on before the game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 18, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. UCF defeated Temple 45-19. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
American Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco said the College Football Playoff selection committee should be showing more respect to UCF, which was ranked 15th in the latest CFP release despite an unblemished 10-0 record.
On Wednesday, Aresco told Heather Dinich of ESPN.com the Knights aren't "getting a fair shake" and argued the lack of deference for the conference is also shown in 9-1 South Florida being unranked.
"I just don't think our league is garnering the respect it deserves, period," he said. "I feel strongly about it. The evidence is in."
Aresco added UCF should be placed "somewhere in the top 10" ahead of its clash with USF on Friday afternoon. That game will determine which team wins the AAC East Division for an opportunity to face Memphis in the conference's championship game.
The problem for the Knights, Bulls and the rest of the AAC is strength of schedule.
Although UCF is undefeated, it ranks 19th in ESPN's Football Power Index and 11th in strength of record, according toESPN.com. Based on the FPI metric, the Knights have only faced one team ranked inside the top 60 (No. 33 Memphis) en route to their 10-0 mark.
"We have gone through in great detail the schedule that Central Florida has played," selection committee chairman Kirby Hocutt said Tuesday, per Dinich. He noted it lacks the depth of No. 14 Mississippi State, which has three losses, all against top-10 opponents.
"Central Florida is having a fine season and certainly has the committee's respect," CFP executive director Bill Hancock said. "The committee evaluates each team fully and deliberately each week. Two weekends of great football remain, and the committee will continue to closely observe each team's performances."
Although UCF has an opportunity to add noteworthy victories over South Florida and Memphis, it's hard to imagine a scenario where it jumps from No. 15 into a top-four spot in the coming weeks. The Knights would need absolute chaos elsewhere around college football.
USF Bulls vs. UCF Knights Odds, Analysis, College Football Betting Pick
Nov 20, 2017
Central Florida head coach Scott Frost during the third quarter against Temple in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, in Philadelphia. UCF defeated Temple 45-19. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
The South Florida Bulls hold the edge in the recent rivalry with the UCF Knights, going 6-2 both straight up and against the spread over the last eight meetings, including wins/covers the last two seasons. In the game that will decide a berth in the AAC championship game and possibly a spot in a New Year's Day bowl, South Florida takes on Central Florida on Friday afternoon in Orlando.
College football point spread: The Knights opened as 9.5-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)
Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more picks and a breakdown of this week’s top sports betting news.
Why the USF Bulls can cover the spread
The Bulls stumbled a few weeks ago, taking a loss to Houston, but are 2-0 since after tipping Tulsa last Thursday 27-20. USF spotted the Golden Hurricane an early touchdown, then scored three touchdowns in five minutes to take control. The Bulls led by at least two scores for most of the rest of the game, finally securing the victory with a defensive stop at their own 30-yard line in the final minute.
On the evening, South Florida outgained Tulsa 421-357 and outrushed the Hurricane 279-166. But the Bulls helped keep the game close by turning the ball over twice in Tulsa territory, including an interception in the end zone, and had a blocked punt, which led directly to a Hurricane field goal.
South Florida has now outgained each of its 10 opponents this season, seven of them by 100 or more yards, and outrushed nine of 10 foes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfHHzdfM80I
Why the UCF Knights can cover the spread
The Knights reached 10-0 on the season with a 45-19 triumph at Temple last week. UCF trailed the Owls in the second quarter 10-7, then used a 24-3 run to take a 31-13 lead into halftime. The Knights then scored the first 14 points out of the locker room on their way to an easy cover as 13-point favorites.
On the day, UCF actually got outgained by Temple 397-384. But they won the turnover battle 5-0, turning four of those turnovers into 24 points, and much of the yardage the Knights defense gave up came while protecting a big lead.
Central Florida has now outgained nine of its 10 opponents this season, eight of them by at least 100 yards.
Smart pick
The Knights own the edge on offense, but the Bulls own an edge on defense. Also, there's a possibility of distraction at UCF, with reports of coach Scott Frost's impending departure. Smart money here takes the points with South Florida.
College football betting trends
South Florida is 6-2 SU and ATS in its last eight games against Central Florida.
The total has gone under in three of South Florida's last four games against Central Florida.
Central Florida is 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in its last eight games on a Friday.
All college football odds and betting trends courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, OddsShark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and the OddsShark YouTube page for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.
UCF's Tre'Quan Smith Secures Acrobatic Sideline Grab vs. Temple
Tre'Quan Smith had little margin for error to catch this football in bounds.
UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton scrambled outside the pocket to find his wide receiver near the sideline. Smith slowed the ball down with his left hand before cradling it with his fingertips. He also managed to plant his left foot in bounds.
Dredrick Snelson put the Knights ahead by scoring a two-yard touchdown on the next play. Aiming for his third straight 100-yard game, Smith also snagged a 41-yard reception in the opening half.
[Twitter]
USF WR Kevaughn Dingle Arrested on Sexual Battery Charges
Nov 18, 2017
SYRACUSE, NY - SEPTEMBER 17: A player carries his South Florida Bulls helmet before the game against the Syracuse Orange on September 17, 2016 at The Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. South Florida defeats Syracuse 45-20. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
South Florida Bulls wide receiver Kevaughn Dingle was arrested and charged with felony sexual battery Friday, according to WTSP.
Citing a police report, the Tampa Bay Times' Joey Knight reported Dingle was arrested after "campus police received a call of a possible sexual battery occurring at the Holly C Residence Hall" Thursday.
ABC Action News' Michael Paluska relayed Dingle's mugshot:
According to247Sports, Dingle was a 3-star recruit out of Miami Carol City High School and arrived at USF as the 79th-ranked wide receiver and 68th-ranked player in the state of Florida among Class of 2017 recruits.
This UCF Linebacker with One Hand Might Be the Most Badass Player in CFB
Nov 8, 2017
BR Video
UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin is a beast on the gridiron. He earned Defensive Player of the Year last season in the AAC.
Griffin was born with a rare birth defect. But that hasn't stopped him from being a defensive stud on the field. Watch above.
Bleacher Report is your No. 1 stop for what’s trending in sports. You can count on B/R for all the hottest stories. From wild sports to the next big thing, don’t miss out.
Download the free Bleacher Report app to catch all the moments that matter in one place. Get the app to get the game.
UCF Will Pay Tribute to Space Exploration with Custom Helmets vs. East Carolina
Central Florida will combine its football program's history and modern style with space-themed uniforms in a home game against East Carolina on Saturday.
The school started in 1963 as Florida Technological University. The Knights were then the Citronauts, which meshed the citrus industry and the developing space program.
They will pay homage to their past with some flair this week. The helmets feature constellations in five sections that represent the Saturn V rocket, which carried astronauts to the moon for the first time in 1969.
The uniforms will also feature a customary look:
With a 4-0 record, No. 22 UCF has the perfect chance to back up its new appearance against East Carolina.
[YouTube, Twitter]
Memphis Safety Shaun Rupert Dismissed from Team After Robbery Charge
Sep 29, 2017
MEMPHIS, TN - SEPTEMBER 23: Shaun Rupert #19 of the Memphis Tigers prepares to take the field against the Southern Illinois Salukis on September 23, 2017 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis defeated Southern Illinois 44-31. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images)
Memphis starting safety Shaun Rupert has been dismissed from the football team after he was arrested.
Per Kim Chaney of LocalMemphis.com, Rupert was arrested Thursday on robbery, burglary and weapons charges stemming from an alleged incident on May 25.
Chaney's report also included a statement from the University of Memphis athletic department:
"Shaun Rupert has been dismissed from the University of Memphis football team for a violation of team rules. This matter will also be reviewed by the Office of Student Accountability, Outreach and Support for violations of the UofM Student Code of Conduct. No additional comments will be made while the investigation is ongoing."
Chaney reported the victim told police Rupert and another man "pushed their way in" to the his apartment with handguns and demanded money. The victim added Rupert and the other man "stole two watches, and Xbox, and an Apple Macbook."
Rupert is said to have confessed to the robbery when brought in for questioning by police on Thursday.
Rupert previously played at the University of Missouri in 2014 before transferring to Memphis, where he appeared in 11 games in 2016 and started each of the team's first three games this season.
