UCF's Dillon Gabriel Out Indefinitely; Shoulder Injury Diagnosed as Clavicle Fracture
Sep 18, 2021
ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 11: Dillon Gabriel #11 of the UCF Knights attempts a pass during warmups against Bethune Cookman Wildcats at the Bounce House on September 11, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
UCF announced Saturday that quarterback Dillon
Gabriel will be out indefinitely after he suffered a fractured left clavicle late in Friday night's road loss to
Louisville.
The Hawai'i native put
together a terrific 2020 season for the Knights. He ranked fourth in the Football Bowl Subdivision in passing touchdowns (32) and fifth in passing yards
(3,570) while leading the team to a 6-4 record and an appearance in
the Boca Raton Bowl, in which it lost to BYU.
Gabriel has accounted for 79 touchdowns (70 passing, eight rushing and one receiving) across 26
games in two-plus seasons. He's
tallied just 14 interceptions over that span.
The Knights were off to a 2-0 start with wins over Boise State and Bethune-Cookman before
their 42-35 loss to Louisville. Jaylin Alderman returned an
interception 66 yards for a touchdown with 13 seconds left to give the
Cardinals the win.
Gabriel was injured on a Hail
Mary attempt after UCF got the ball back.
"He's a great competitor, great
player and competed to the last play," Knights head coach Gus
Malzahn told reporters after the game.
Mikey Keene, who threw a touchdown pass in seven attempts in relief of Gabriel during a blowout of
Bethune-Cookman, should get the first crack to fill the massive void. Quadry Jones is another option for Malzahn.
UCF has a bye next week before it
returns to action Oct. 2 for a road game against
Navy.
Randy Edsall Steps Down as UConn HC After Saying He Would Retire at End of Season
Sep 5, 2021
EAST HARTFORD, CT - SEPTEMBER 04: Connecticut Huskies head coach Randy Edsall during the game as the Holy Cross Crusaders take on the UConn Huskies on September 4, 2021, at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UConn head football coach Randy Edsall is stepping down effective immediately as the team's head coach.
UConn AD David Benedict: “Upon further reflection by both Randy and I, and after having the opportunity to visit with Randy today, we are both in agreement that it is in the best interest of our student-athletes to have a new voice leading UConn football.”
But UConn opened the season with a 45-0 loss at Fresno State and is 0-2 overall following Saturday's 38-28 defeat to Holy Cross.
Edsall, 63, spent the first 11 years (1980-90) of his coaching career holding various roles at Syracuse before stints as a defensive backs coach at Boston College (1991-93) and the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars (1994-97). In 1998, he served as Georgia Tech's defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.
He became UConn's head coach in 1999, when the school was still in the FCS (it joined the FBS in 2002), spending 12 years with the program and leading the Huskies to five bowl games, including a berth in the Fiesta Bowl in the 2010 season.
Statement from UConn AD Dave Benedict on Randy Edsall announcing his retirement at the end of the season. pic.twitter.com/ECgnA09tHu
But he left the school in 2011 to become the head coach at Maryland, where he spent five seasons, leading the Terrapins to a 22-34 record and two bowl appearances. He was fired midseason in October 2015.
UConn rehired him in 2017, though the school has struggled in his second tenure, going 6-32. UConn has an 80-102 mark overall with Edsall at the helm.
His departure was looming, given the team's blowout loss versus Fresno State and a shocking 38-28 upset at the hands of Holy Cross, an FCS school, on Saturday.
"I'm disappointed, because I thought we would be able to do a little bit more than what we're doing," Edsall told reporters after the loss. "It's up to me to figure it out and get ourselves to play better. But the one thing I know is you've got to be able to run the ball and create new lines of scrimmage and to stop the run, you've got to do those things, too."
Instead, UConn will turn to defensive coordinator Lou Spanos as it tries to turn its season around.
Spencer Rattler, No. 2 Oklahoma Fend Off Tulane in Thrilling Season Opener
Sep 4, 2021
Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) during an NCAA college football game against Baylor Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Heisman Trophy hopeful Spencer Rattler
threw for over 300 yards Saturday to help No. 2 Oklahoma escape with a season-opening
40-35 victory over Tulane at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial
Stadium in Norman.
The Sooners, who are aiming to win the
program's first national championship since 2000, were supposed to
start the campaign with a road game against the Green Wave, but the
contest was moved to OU's campus because of Hurricane Ida's
impact on New Orleans.
WR Mario Williams (OU): 6 catchers for 37 yards, 1 TD
Rattler, OU Face Plenty of Room for Improvement After Narrow Win
Oklahoma overcame a sluggish start—Tulane led 14-7 late in the first quarter, and the game remained tied
until five minutes into the second period—to pick up the victory
and avoid putting itself in a must-win situation for the
remainder of the regular season, and that's all that truly matters in Week 1.
That said, it was far from the most
efficient performance for Lincoln Riley's group in a game that still hung in the balance late in the fourth quarter.
Rattler was playing pitch-and-catch
with his receivers against an overmatched Tulane secondary for much
of the game, but in situations where he was forced to throw in to
coverage he sailed several throws over the heads of his targets. His first interception came on an attempt into triple coverage down the field.
Oklahoma also failed to take advantage
of back-to-back fumbles by Green Wave quarterback Michael Pratt in
the second quarter. It set the Sooners up with dream field position
in opposing territory both times, including once at the Tulane 11,
but they only came away with a pair of field goals. They must convert those chances against better teams.
The OU defense really toughened up
after the first quarter, but even it has some teaching points after
allowing touchdown drives of 55 and 75 yards the first two times
Tulane had the ball. It also appeared to tire in the second half to leave the door open for a comeback.
That's not to say there weren't plenty
of positives for the Sooners in the win.
Mario Williams gets his first touchdown as a Sooner. OU is now up 34-14 with 3:01 left until halftime. pic.twitter.com/JZtZjcIEm7
Rattler was terrific when given time to
stand tall in the pocket to deliver strikes, including a 50-yard
connection with Marvin Mims that was initially called a touchdown
before being reversed on review because the sophomore receiver
stepped out of bounds at the two.
Running back Kennedy Brooks looked
fresh and primed for a big year after opting out of the 2020 campaign. He helped seal the win in the final two minutes after a Tulane rally.
The defensive front seven was able to
wear down the Tulane offensive line to create constant pressure and
set the stage for OU's 23-0 second quarter.
Kicker Gabe Brkic was also among the
standouts with four field goals, highlighted by three from beyond 50
yards.
Gabe Brkic just became the first player in #Sooners history to convert three field goal attempts of 50+ yards in a single game.
Oklahoma has championship-level
expectations, however, and it takes nearly flawless football come
playoff time in order to reach that potential. Few programs know that
better than OU, which has reached the CFP three times in the past
four years but failed to advance beyond the semifinals.
Saturday's win was a first step in the
12-week regular-season journey for the Sooners. They got the win, but
there's plenty of work to do and errors to iron out in the months
ahead as they pursue the title.
What's Next?
Oklahoma is back in action next
Saturday when it hosts FCS opponent Western Carolina. It marks the
second of four straight home games to open the season for the Sooners.
The Green Wave were also scheduled to
play at home next Saturday against Morgan State. That game has been
changed to a neutral-site contest at Legion Field in Birmingham,
Alabama.
Rutgers vs. Temple Postponed Until Saturday Because of Hurricane Ida
Sep 2, 2021
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 02: The Rutgers Scarlet Knights helmet on the sidelines in the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on November 02, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Thursday night's scheduled college football game between Rutgers and Temple in Piscataway, New Jersey, has been moved to Saturday because of flooding caused by Hurricane Ida, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com).
ESPN's Adam Rittenberg reported the game will kick off at 12 p.m. ET.
NJ.com's Keith Sargeant first reported the game was in jeopardy because of "growing concern" about whether roads will be passable enough for fans to attend the game should it happen.
In a statement, Piscataway Township officials recommended the game be played without fans if it occurs:
"While Piscataway is a strong supporter of Rutgers University and fervent fans of Rutgers Football, if the Rutgers-Temple football game is still going to take place this evening, the Township is calling on the University to do so without fans. Township infrastructure is overwhelmed by the damage of Hurricane Ida and evacuations are still taking place this morning. Most importantly, search and rescue operations are ongoing. Piscataway Public Works and our first responders worked through the night to help residents and significant work continues today. Roadways in the Township cannot handle an influx of tens of thousands of people coming to the football game especially with the closure of Landing Lane Bridge."
Per Sargeant, Rutgers was expecting a sell-out crowd of over 50,000 fans for Thursday's game, and it's unclear if fans will be able to attend the rescheduled game Saturday.
According to Sargeant, figures from the National Weather Service and Rutgers NJ Weather Network show that 6.53 inches of rain fell Wednesday in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
It was also noted by Sargeant that flooding of the Raritan River has led to the closure of some major roadways.
Led by head coach Greg Schiano, Rutgers is looking to finish with a winning record in football for the first time since 2014.
With Schiano back last season for the first time since leaving after the 2011 campaign, the Scarlet Knights went 3-6, which was a step in the right direction after winning a total of three games in the previous two seasons combined.
Meanwhile, Temple is coming off a 1-6 season after finishing .500 or better in each of the previous six seasons, including 10-win campaigns in 2015 and 2016.
Per Action Network, the Scarlet Knights are 14.5-point favorites over the Owls should the game go ahead as scheduled.
AAC's Mike Aresco Denies Collusion to Add Big 12 Teams amid Oklahoma, Texas Exits
Aug 4, 2021
FILE - In this Aug. 4, 2015, file photo, American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco addresses the media during an NCAA football media day in Newport, R.I. The AAC gathers for its media day, but hanging over the start of the season is Big 12 expansion. There is a chance the AAC could be lose a member or two (or three or four) when the Big 12 decides to add schools. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, File)
American Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco has denied any collusion in trying to add Big 12 teams in the wake of Texas and Oklahoma announcing their intentions to leave for the SEC.
Speaking to reporters during a virtual event on Wednesday, Aresco said the AAC "has never strategically aligned or plotted with ESPN to influence conference structures."
Aresco's comment come in the wake of Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby accusing ESPN of encouraging other conferences to poach programs in order to expedite Texas and Oklahoma's move to the SEC.
"I have absolute certainty that they (ESPN) have been involved in manipulating other conferences to go after our members," Bowlsby told The Associated Press (h/t ESPN) last week.
Speaking to Dennis Dodd and David Cobb of CBS Sports, Bowlsby accused ESPN of encouraging the AAC to pursue three to five of the remaining Big 12 programs with the promise of giving the conference "future television proceeds."
The Big 12 also sent a cease-and-desist letter to ESPN, signed by Bowlsby, alleging that the network "has taken certain actions that are intended to not only harm the Big 12 Conference but to result in financial benefits for ESPN.”
Here is the cease & desist letter the Big 12 sent to ESPN.
Bob Bowlsby alleges ESPN is actively working with and encouraging other conferences to attempt to poach Big 12 members. pic.twitter.com/fb224elCtd
ESPN sent a letter back to the Big 12, saying the accusations were made "entirely without merit."
Texas and Oklahoma accepted formal invitations from the SEC on July 30. The move will take effect on July 1, 2025, after the Big 12 media rights agreements for both programs expire.
The impending loss of Texas and Oklahoma has left the Big 12's future very much up in the air.
Bowlsby told Texas lawmakers at a hearing on Monday that the conference's future television contracts could see a 50 percent decrease without the two powerhouse programs.
The AAC, which was established in July 2013 in the wake of the Big East dissolving, currently has 11 full-time members.
4-star WR, Oklahoma Decommit Jordan Hudson Commits to SMU over Alabama, Texas
Jul 4, 2021
4-star wide receiver Jordan Hudson announced his commitment to SMU over Alabama and Texas on Sunday.
Hudson is listed as the No. 113 overall player and 14th-ranked receiver by 247Sports. He previously committed to Oklahoma but announced he was reopening his recruitment in June.
Listed at 6'1" and 180 pounds, Hudson has ascended to stardom at Garland (Texas) High School, which is about 30 minutes outside Dallas.
This is the second time in as many years that SMU has pulled off a surprising recruiting coup over more notable schools. Preston Stone, one of the top quarterbacks in the 2021 class, accepted a scholarship to SMU over offers from Alabama, Auburn and several other Power Five programs.
SMU coach Sonny Dykes likely sees Stone and Hudson as the type of one-two punch that can help the program rise to national prominence. The Mustangs are 17-6 over the last two seasons and have become a threat near the top of the American Athletic Conference.
SMU's 2022 recruiting class is currently ranked 64th.
AAC Commissioner: Guaranteeing Power 5 Schools CFP Spots an 'Enormous' Misstep
Jun 19, 2021
American Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco makes comments during the AAC NCAA college basketball media day, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco told ESPN's Heather Dinich on Saturday that guaranteeing College Football Playoff spots for the Power Five conference champions in a proposed 12-team CFP would be "an enormous step in the wrong direction."
Aresco's comments were in response to a statement by outgoing Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott, who said his conference "supports expansion of the CFP and believes that the Autonomy Five champions should annually qualify for the CFP."
"I didn't sense any other traction for it," Aresco told Dinich regarding Scott's proposal. "That would be an enormous step in the wrong direction from the working group's proposal as far as I'm concerned. The top six conferences, without favor, is merit-based. It's fair. It doesn't reward privilege for privilege's sake."
The Power Five conferences include the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, SEC and Pac-12. Other FBS conference champions have been ranked higher than one (or more) Power Five league winners in past years, either via the CFP or Bowl Championship Series rankings.
The AAC is one example. Aresco notably has a vested interest in ensuring that the Power Five doesn't get automatic berths, and his perspective has merit. The AAC's champion has been among the best FBS teams of late, with No. 6 Cincinnati last year, No. 12 UCF in 2017 and No. 8 UCF 2018 among those schools.
"The most desirable outcome obviously in our view is for this to be a meritocracy, where you have to earn it," Aresco added.
"That was what was the smartest thing about the top six. I applaud the working group for doing that. To my mind and our conference, it was the most welcome part of it."
As Dinich noted, the 12-team proposal would include the six highest-ranked league champions in a given year plus the six highest-ranked non-champion teams as determined by the CFP selection committee.
The current four-team CFP has been in effect since 2014, and that format has held steady through 2020. Before that, the Bowl Championship Series was used from 1998 to 2013 to determine the two finalists for the national title. Pre-1998, there wasn't a set playoff structure, with teams finishing the year in a series of bowls as pollsters decided the national champion.
Former Houston LB Zamar Kirven Charged with Double Murder After Shooting
Apr 18, 2021
Houston linebacker Zamar Kirven (15) celebrates his interception with linebacker Terrance Edgeston during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Memphis, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Former University of Houston football player Zamar Kirven has been charged with murder after a shooting that killed 22-year-old Sabion Kubitza and 20-year-old Jacob Ybarra, per Rosemond Crown and Katy Mendez of KWTX.
The McLennan County (Texas) Sheriff's Office said the shooting took place at about 2 a.m. Sunday morning and that the victims may have been asleep at the time.
Police said Kirven knew the victims and played high school football with both men.
Kirven played three seasons for Houston at linebacker after joining the program as a 2-star recruit out of Mart, Texas. He entered the transfer portal in December after he was reportedly kicked off the team for a violation of team rules, according to Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle.
Kirven appeared in three of his team's first six games in 2020 before leaving the program. He saw action in 17 games over his first two years, making five starts in 2019.
SMU Assistant Football Coach Jamal Powell Dies at Age 39
Apr 7, 2021
An SMU football helmet sits on the sideline before an NCAA football game against Tulsa, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)
SMU assistant football coach Jamal Powell died Tuesday after being diagnosed with incurable cancer and Guillen-Barre Syndrome, per Frank Heinz of NBC DFW.
Powell died four days before his 40th birthday.
The school confirmed the news Wednesday:
We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jamal Powell.
"It’s hard to put into words how heartbroken our family is, but we are so thankful such a remarkable and unique man came into our life," head coach Sonny Dykes said in a statement. "He made everyone he met want to be better. God bless the Powell Family."
Powell spent the past three years at SMU, beginning as an offensive line coach in 2018 before becoming an offensive quality control analyst.
He had also spent time on the coaching staffs at Lamar, James Madison, West Virginia State, Centre College and Southwest Baptist University after starting as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M.
As a player, Powell was a first-team All-Conference USA selection at TCU and spent limited time in the NFL before playing in the Canadian Football League.
Powell first announced his diagnosis of Stage 4 cancer in August 2020.
Gus Malzahn Lands the Rare Mix of High Expectations and Realistic Upside at UCF
David Kenyon
Feb 17, 2021
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn during the first half of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football game against Minnesota Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Gus Malzahn has secured one of the best jobs in college football.
Now at UCF, the former Auburn boss assumes control of a program that has fielded teams ranging from respectable to highly competitive for the last decade-plus.
Since 2007, the Knights have won six conference titles. Four years removed from a mythical national championship and three from a second straight undefeated regular season, UCF has also posted a 16-7 record during the last two years. The recent success has created real expectations within the fanbase.
UCF is among the premier programs in the AAC, a league that campaigns for "Power Six" recognition. Plus, if there's ever another wave of realignment, UCF will garner legitimate interest.
Along with its location in the recruiting hotbed of Florida, that's in no small part because of the school's spending on facilities and coaches. Last year, per USA Today, then-head coach Josh Heupel earned $2.3 million—one spot behind Wake Forest's Dave Clawson and one ahead of Oregon State's Jonathan Smith. Malzahn, too, will earn $2.3 million annually.
Former Auburn football coach Gus Malzahn has been named as the new head coach at UCF, the school announced Monday. UCF signed Malzahn to a five-year contract worth $2.3 million annually @WCBD
In short, Malzahn has a readymade winner with supporters who expect success. The best-case scenario is a promotion to power-conference affiliation, and the worst-case scenario is being a well-supported big fish in the Group of Five pond.
Yet, in theory, UCF has brushed its ceiling.
Neither the Knights' prior undefeated years nor Cincinnati's 9-0 record in 2020 cracked the College Football Playoff barrier. Given that reality, no reasonable person can label a national title a justifiable goal for Malzahn.
At the same time, however, the program is close enough to national contention that it can throw a fit and be heard loudly. The fans expect an opportunity to make the noise, too—and will be heard clearly if UCF doesn't win.
"Do you have a good grasp of the pressure cooker you're walking into here?" a reporter asked Malzahn at his press conference.
Well, yes. Malzahn spent eight years at Auburn, a school with two SEC championships, one national title and national runner-up during the 2010s. He was the offensive coordinator or head coach in those years; he understands this level of pressure.
Gus Malzahn asked if he’s ready for the pressure cooker that is coaching at UCF.
The former Auburn coach got a good chuckle from that one during his introduction in Orlando. pic.twitter.com/V3yo8xyaP3
The point of the question is fair, though. UCF expects more than a nice season once in a while. This blend of recent success, fan support and financial contributions is rare in the Group of Five.
While power-conference teams generally have that outlook, it's difficult to sustain. Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Oklahoma have remained at the top of their conferences for an extended period, but others have occasionally broken through and quickly dipped. They surge, then fall again. Malzahn's time at Auburn is a good example of that challenge.
In Orlando, though, Malzahn has a far greater opportunity to accomplish it. Though he's one of few coaches to defeat Nick Saban in the SEC, the whole "not playing Alabama every year" thing is a plus.
Malzahn has everything you'd want in a coaching job: established success, financial backing and a great location for recruiting.
But the sky won't fall if a national title doesn't come. Instead, that's a happy bonus to baseline goals of a few conference championships and prominent bowl games.
All recruiting information via 247Sports. Stats from NCAA.com, cfbstats.com or B/R research. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
