Big Sky Football

The Sacramento Kings have offered Sacramento State men's and women's basketball programs the chance to play home games at Golden 1 Center "pending arena availability," per NBA insider Chris Haynes.

Haynes described the Kings' offer as "a major hurdle cleared" in Sacramento State's reported bid to join the Pac-12.

Sacramento State has been a member of the Big Sky conference since the FCS league was formed in 1963. The Pac-12 meanwhile needs at least one more full-time member in order to meet FBS membership requirements.

Golden 1 Center seats about 17,600 fans for Kings games. Hornets basketball is currently played in a multipurpose gym, which was built in 1955 and can house just over 1,000 people.

That isn't the only Sacramento State athletics program that could see a significant capacity increase in the near future. The Hornets announced last Thursday plans to construct a new football stadium that will increase the venue's capacity by 4,000 people to 25,000 while updating a venue built in 1969.

The football stadium news was followed by third-party fundraising committee SAC12's Monday announcement that the group had raised more than $35 million in NIL funds for Sacramento State in a span of 24 hours.

The SAC12 said it was hoping to fundraise $50 million in order to capitalize on "the continued momentum to elevate Sacramento State Athletics to the Pac-12 and the Hornet football program to the FBS."

The Pac-12 announced on Tuesday that the conference would be adding Gonzaga as an eighth member, a total that leaves the league short of FBS minimum requirements because the Bulldogs do not run a football program.

ESPN's Pete Thamel and Kyle Bonagura reported on Tuesday that the Pac-12 has held early talks with Grand Canyon and Saint Mary's, but that "the conference is expected to remain focused on adding another football-playing school before shifting its attention back to basketball."

Sacramento State is hoping the new football stadium, the NIL fundraising display and now the Kings' offer to share their arena will make them an appealing option as a full member.

Saturday's game between South Dakota and Portland State has been canceled due to an illness in the Vikings program.

Portland State announced the cancelation a few hours prior to the scheduled 4 p.m. ET kickoff due to "many team members" being exposed to whooping cough in the last few days:

"Today's Portland State Football game vs. South Dakota has been canceled due to illness within the PSU program.

"A case of pertussis (whooping cough) got into the Viking team two days ago. Pertussis is a highly contagious disease that affects the lungs. As a result, many team members have been exposed to the disease. The two programs and their team doctors have been in discussions regarding the situation. It was determined by Portland State that the game would not be played in the interest of the health of the student-athletes."

The school did note that no players are seriously ill at this time.

South Dakota athletic director Jon Schemmel issued a statement to Jay Elsen of Midco Sports about the decision to cancel the game:

Per the Centers for Disease Control website, whooping cough is marked by a severe hacking cough that is usually followed by a high-pitched intake of break that can sound like "whoop."

Initial symptoms can resemble those associated with a common cold before gradually worsening to include coughing fits that can cause breathing issues and fatigue.

The CDC noted coughing fits can last for up to 10 weeks and a full recovery could take 12 weeks, depending on the severity. The disease is most serious for babies and children. Teens and adults will usually experience fewer complications, particularly if they have been vaccinated.

Portland State (0-2) was set to host its first game of the season after playing on the road the past two weeks. South Dakota (1-1) is ranked No. 6 in the FCS top 25 poll and was coming off a 27-13 loss at Wisconsin last week.

The Vikings are set to play Boise State at Albertsons Stadium on Sept. 21. South Dakota will host Drake at DakotaDome next Saturday.

Idaho State cornerbacks coach DaVonte' Neal, a former 5-star recruit who played for Notre Dame and Arizona, has been arrested and charged with felony first-degree murder, per Greg Woods of the Idaho State Journal.

A Maricopa County, Arizona, grand jury indicted Neal on May 16 in response to an alleged shooting that occurred there on November 11, 2017.

Pocatello, Idaho, police arrested Neal on an extradition warrant from Maricopa County on May 25.

Neal has also been charged with one count of drive-by shooting and one count of discharging a firearm at a structure.

Idaho State has placed Neal on administrative leave, and the school plans to terminate his contract, per an email to the Idaho State Journal. The school also stated that a background check on Neal came back clean.

"Idaho State takes all allegations involving our employees very seriously, and we are committed to the safety and well-being of our community," school president Kevin Satterlee said in a written statement. "We are fully cooperating with law enforcement on their investigation.”

Neal came aboard as part of a new staff with head coach Charlie Ragle, who served as Cal's special teams coordinator and tight ends coach over the past five seasons before ISU hired him in December.

ISU athletic director Pauline Thiros released a statement on the situation to the Idaho State Journal via text:

I have been in constant contact with [ISU head coach Charlie Ragle] who has known Davonte' for many years and never had any knowledge or suspicion of a possible crime of any kind. The news of Davonte' Neal's arrest and charges in Arizona was a great shock. Going forward, we will cooperate in every way possible, safeguard our program and culture, support each other and our students, and allow the legal process to work. The news is devastating and we hope for resolution for all involved.

Per an ISU release announcing his hire on Jan. 10, Neal played at Notre Dame from 2012 to 2013 before transferring to Arizona (2014-16). He was a two-time Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year and a 2011 Parade All-American.

He's originally from Arizona and played for Nagle at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. Neal and Nagle also crossed paths in college when the coach served as Arizona's special teams coordinator and tight ends coach from 2013 to 2016.

Former Portland State football player Keenan Harpole was charged with second-degree murder in the killing of fellow student Amara Marluke, according to KGW 8's Alma McCarty.

Harpole pleaded not guilty on Tuesday and is being held without bail at Multnomah County jail. He was arrested after turning himself in to police on Monday afternoon. He is also charged with unlawful use of a weapon.

Portland State President Stephen Percy announced that Marluke was killed early Monday morning near the university campus. 

"I am profoundly affected by the sheer tragedy of this loss," Percy said. "My heart breaks for Amara’s family and for everyone who knew her. I offer my deepest sympathies. We will work together as a campus community to heal."

According to Lisa Balick and Elise Haas of KOIN 6 News, students reported hearing multiple gunshots Monday morning outside their dorm. Officers responded to the scene and found Marluke dead.

Harpole was a member of the Portland State football team in 2021 but redshirted. He's no longer listed as part of the Vikings' 2022 roster.

Eastern Washington quarterback Eric Barriere completed 26-of-35 passes for 600 yards and seven touchdowns as the No. 2 team in Division I FCS football crushed Idaho 71-21 on Saturday from Roos Field in Cheney, Washington.

The senior signal-caller also added a 12-yard touchdown run en route to the dominant 50-point victory.

Freddie Roberson benefitted the most from Barriere's big day thanks to nine receptions, 192 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Andrew Boston (5/175/1) and Dennis Merritt (3/102/1) also eclipsed 100 yards.

Barriere and Roberson also connected on the play of the day as the quarterback somehow stayed up despite an oncoming Idaho pass rush to find his wideout for a 42-13 second quarter edge.

Barriere also found the time to drop a 20-yard dime to Boston in the third quarter for his sixth score:

Eastern Washington scored 29 points in the first quarter and 14 each in the second, third and fourth quarters thanks largely to the Walter Payton Award candidate. That honor is given to the most outstanding offensive player in Division I FCS.

Barriere, who also ended the day with the EWU program's single-game passing and total offense marks, will now look to continue the 7-0 Eagles' undefeated season when they play Weber State next Saturday.

Northern Colorado offensive coordinator Max McCaffrey has been "officially reprimanded" for throwing a piece of broken clipboard into the stands and inadvertently hitting a fan during Saturday's game against Montana State.

According to The Athletic, the university determined that McCaffrey "showed a lack of judgment but no malicious intent." McCaffrey is the son of Northern Colorado head coach Ed McCaffrey, and the brother of Bears quarterback Dylan McCaffrey, as well as Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey.

The university reportedly reviewed the incident in conjunction with the Big Sky Conference and Montana State. According to the university, the fan requested the broken clipboard as a souvenir, and McCaffrey obliged.

"While Coach Max McCaffrey's tossing of a souvenir into the stands showed poor judgment, it was clear there was no intent to harm nor was the action fueled by anger," athletic director Darren Dunn said in a statement, via The Athletic. "Max is embarrassed by the incident and is working privately to apologize to the fan hit by the errant toss."

Dunn added, "After visiting with Max and the entire football staff, I am confident we will have no further engagement with fans of our opponents."

Max McCaffrey is currently in his second season on the Northern Colorado staff and his first as offensive coordinator.

He played wide receiver at Duke for four seasons. In three NFL seasons he failed to make an official roster and bounced around practice squads for the Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Northern Colorado lost Saturday's game to Montana State 40-7 and is currently 2-3 on the season.     

Portland State head coach Bruce Barnum is a man of his word.

Barnum told The Oregonian's John Canzano he'd take care of the beer tab for anybody who attended the Vikings' 21-7 victory over Western Oregon. On Wednesday, he shared a $14,448 receipt he paid from Barney Beer Garden:

Barnum's pledge doesn't appear to have drawn more fans to Hillsboro Stadium. An FCS program, Portland State averaged 3,999 fans during the 2019 season and had 3,124 fans on hand for its home opener.

Those who benefited from his generosity are probably thankful nonetheless. And luckily Barnum's pledge didn't result in a 10-Cent Beer Night-like calamity.

Dylan McCaffrey, the younger brother of Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, announced Sunday he is transferring from Michigan to Northern Colorado, where his father Ed is the head coach.

McCaffrey, who opted out of the 2020 season in September, entered the NCAA transfer portal last week. 

He has two years of eligibility remaining, having appeared in 13 games at quarterback since arriving in Ann Arbor in 2017 (h/t Aaron McMann of MLive.com). 

Before opting out, he was reportedly in the race for the starting job under center after backing up Shea Patterson in 2018 and 2019. Redshirt sophomore Joe Milton beat out redshirt freshman Cade McNamara and true freshman Dan Villari for the gig once McCaffrey elected to sit out, according to McMann.

The 4-star recruit redshirted his freshman season and was limited due to a broken collarbone in 2018 and a concussion in 2019. 

His Michigan career ends with 242 yards and three touchdowns on 18-of-35 passing, plus 166 rushing yards and two more scores. 

While head coach Jim Harbaugh will return, having signed an extension that keeps him in Ann Arbor through 2025 amid rumors he would head back to the NFL, McCaffrey is one of six Michigan players who have put their names in the NCAA transfer portal since the end of the season, per McMann. 

And he may not be the only member of his family on his way out of the Big Ten. Luke McCaffrey, who started two games and made seven appearances as a redshirt freshman quarterback at Nebraska this year, entered the transfer portal last week.

The younger McCaffrey finished 2020 with 466 passing yards, one touchdown and six interceptions. He was more productive on the run with 364 rushing yards and three scores on 65 carries. 

The autopsy on former Northern Arizona University offensive guard Malik Noshi revealed that he died from an opioid overdose, according to Jeremy Cluff of the Arizona Republic. 

The report said the cause of death was acute fentanyl intoxication, and also noted that he had recently used cocaine and alcohol. The medical examiner's report said the overdose was accidental.

Noshi, who was 22, died on July 7 in Flagstaff, Arizona. According to Rio Lacanlale of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, medics were called to his home after he was found not breathing, and they attempted "life-saving measures," though Noshi was ultimately pronounced dead on the scene.  

NAU vice president for intercollegiate athletics, Mike Marlow, released the following statement after the results of the autopsy were revealed:

"Opioids are commonly referred to as a national crisis. No community or family is immune from the dangers they represent. The statistics are alarming but we will not allow Malik's memory to become just a statistic. Malik was a leader, hard worker, close teammate, friend and loved one to many. His memory will fortify the bond between those left behind and serve to strengthen our steadfast resolve to provide ongoing support for the health and well-being of our student-athletes."

Noshi was heading into his senior season and expected to be a starting offensive lineman for the Lumberjacks after a Big Sky Honorable Mention season as a junior. The Lumberjacks honored him by starting their season with only 10 offensive players taking the field:

The game also opened with a moment of silence in honor of Noshi, while his teammates will wear his No. 65 on their helmets throughout the season, per Lance Hartzler of the Arizona Daily Sun.