UNDATED (AP) — This weekend in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Georgia Tech faces Duke in a key matchup on Saturday. Both teams are unbeaten in the conference, and the game could impact the ACC championship race. Georgia Tech's quarterback, Haynes King, is a dual threat, while Duke's Darian Mensah leads the ACC with 15 touchdown passes. On Friday, Miami hosts Louisville. Miami is unbeaten, but Louisville could shake up the standings with an upset. Clemson, after a rough start, looks to continue its comeback against SMU in a rematch of last year's conference championship.
UNDATED (AP) — Alabama's Ty Simpson edged out Indiana's Fernando Mendoza for first-team quarterback on The Associated Press midseason All-America team. Ohio State and Texas A&M lead with three players each on the top unit. Nine players from the Big Ten and seven from the Southeastern Conference are on the first team. Simpson has completed 76% of his passes for 285 yards per game, 14 touchdowns, and one interception since Alabama's season-opening loss to Flrodai State. Mendoza has led unbeaten Indiana to its highest ranking at No. 3. Texas Tech holds two of the three first-team linebacker spots.
UNDATED (AP) — North Carolina State running back Hollywood Smothers has earned midseason honors from The Associated Press. Smothers, the Atlantic Coast Conference's leading rusher, was voted the league's most surprising player. Smothers ranks third in the nation with 739 rushing yards. Virginia's strong start helped Tony Elliott edge Georgia Tech's Brent Key as the ACC's top coach. Dual-threat quarterback Haynes King has led Georgia Tech to a 6-0 start, earning votes as the league's top offensive player.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Hurricanes are 5-0 and ranked No. 2 in the country. They're favorites to win the Atlantic Coast Conference and a popular pick for the national championship. Despite the hype, Miami players say they're ignoring the praise. Quarterback Carson Beck reminds his team that the same people praising them now doubted them before the season. Coach Mario Cristobal emphasizes the need to improve daily. Miami hosts Louisville on Friday. The Hurricanes are big favorites, but Louisville's defense is strong. Defensive standout Rueben Bain Jr. says he focuses on playing football and helping his team win.
UNDATED (AP) — Last week was rough for Top 25 college football teams with five losing to unranked opponents. Over the past two weeks, eight have been knocked off. Despite this the Top 25 is having a strong season against unranked teams with a 95-17 record. This .848 winning percentage could be one of the best since 2000. Top 10 teams are 32-5 against unranked opponents through Week 7. The .865 winning percentage is middle-of-the-pack since 2000 but well ahead of the top 10’s .839 winning percentage for the 2024 season.
UNDATED (AP) — College football fans have a packed weekend with a season-high five Top 25 matchups on Saturday. The action kicks off with No. 10 LSU visiting No. 17 Vanderbilt followed by No. 5 Mississippi at No. 9 Georgia. In the evening, No. 11 Tennessee faces No. 6 Alabama, No. 20 Southern California takes on No. 13 Notre Dame and No. 23 Utah visits No. 15 BYU. Unbeaten UNLV looks to knock off Boise State on the road. Quarterbacks Carson Beck of Miami, Ty Simpson of Alabama and Fernando Mendoza of Indiana have separated themselves in the Heisman Trophy race.
