UNDATED (AP) — No. 24 Virginia football is experiencing a high point under coach Tony Elliott. The Cavaliers are 4-1 and tied for first in the Atlantic Coast Conference after a double-overtime win against Florida State. They appeared in the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2019. Elliott, who joined Virginia in 2022, has faced challenges, including a campus shooting that affected his team. Despite a rocky start, Virginia has brought in promising recruits and transfers. The Cavaliers visit unbeaten Louisville on Saturday, aiming to continue their winning streak.
UNDATED (AP) — Oregon has moved up to No. 2 in The Associated Press college football poll, while Mississippi has its highest ranking since 2015. Alabama jumped back into the top 10, and Virginia entered the Top 25 for the first time in six years. Ohio State remains No. 1 for the fifth straight week. The Buckeyes received 46 first-place votes. Oregon's two-overtime win at Penn State boosted them to their highest ranking since last year. Miami slipped to No. 3, followed by Mississippi and Oklahoma.
UNDATED (AP) — Oregon and Mississippi would earn top-four seeds and receive first-round byes in the College Football Playoff if it were based on this week's Associated Press Top 25. Ohio State remains No. 1 and is followed by No. 2 Oregon, No. 3 Miami and No. 4 Mississippi. Mississippi and Indiana are on the mock bracket for the first time this season. Alabama's win over Georgia allowed the Crimson Tide to return to the bracket for the first time since the preseason. The addition of Mississippi and Alabama would give the Southeastern Conference five teams in the 12-team CFP.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Oregon coach Dan Lanning believes Dante Moore is the best quarterback in college football. Moore led the No. 6 Ducks to a gritty win against Penn State on Saturday night. Despite the noise from over 111,000 fans, Moore completed 29 of 39 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns. Oregon climbed to No. 2 in the latest AP Top 25. Moore feels he’s come a long way since his freshman season at UCLA. He transferred to Oregon to learn from experienced quarterbacks. Through five games this year, Moore is fourth in passing touchdowns and sixth in completion percentage among FBS quarterbacks.
UNDATED (AP) — Southern California star JuJu Watkins announced on social media that she will be sidelined for the season after suffering an ACL injury in the NCAA Tournament last season. The USC junior was the AP Player of the Year last season after leading the Trojans to their best season in 40 years. Watkins became just the fourth player to win the award in her sophomore year. The AP started giving out the award in 1995, and Watkins is the first Trojans player to win it. The star guard isn’t eligible for the WNBA draft next year. A U.S. player must be at least 22 in the year of the draft or have graduated from a four-year school within three months of the draft to be eligible.
