COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State’s head coach, Ryan Day, shares his concerns as the Buckeyes start preseason practice. Despite leading a top-performing team, Day mentions worries about the offensive line, tight ends, backup quarterback, and receiver slots. The offensive line remains a focus after struggles in key games last season. Four starters return, but changes are expected.
UNDATED (AP) — Defensive lineman Kellan Wyatt has decided to return for his fifth season with the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers, a person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made. Wyatt becomes the second starting linemen from last season’s title run to come back since last week’s U.S. District Court ruling in Colorado granting players from the 2022 high school graduating class one more year. Coach Curt Cignetti confirmed Wednesday that defensive end Stephen Daley had returned after he was not drafted in April. The NCAA plans to appeal the Colorado ruling.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California starting center Kilian O’Connor will miss the upcoming season due to injury. Head coach Lincoln Riley wasn’t specific about the nature of O’Connor’s setback, only calling it a non-contact, “freak injury” that required surgery. O’Connor started seven games last season for the Trojans as a redshirt junior in his first year on scholarship. He was expected to anchor USC’s offensive line again this season.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Purdue plans to hire Tommy McClelland from Rice as the school’s athletic director. That's according to a person with knowledge of the decision who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because school officials had not made an announcement. McClelland replaces Mike Bobinski, who announced his retirement on June 3. The 68-year-old Bobinski has held the job since 2016 and plans to stay at the university until the end of December. During McClelland’s three-year tenure with Rice, the school added scholarships in several programs, brought back women’s diving and added women’s golf.
UNDATED (AP) — Ohio State and Oregon hold the top two spots in the USA Today preseason coaches football poll. Ohio State received 38 of the 72 first-place votes, while Oregon got six. Georgia is third with seven first-place votes. Texas and Notre Dame round out the top five. Defending national champion Indiana is sixth with 14 first-place votes. The Southeastern Conference has five of the top 10 teams. The Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll will be released on August 17.
UNDATED (AP) — The NCAA has women's flag football on the fast track to becoming a championship sport. There could be a national title game as early as spring 2028, before the LA Games, where flag football will make its Olympic debut. More than 120 schools are slated to field a team this academic year. A vote in January by Division I, II, and III officials could cement the sport's inclusion. Schools are already recruiting and game-planning to build championship rosters. The NFL has thrown its weight behind the sport, sponsoring teams and tournaments, and USA Football is developing players to bring home an Olympic medal.
