NIL
For Veronica Wallace '23, '24MBA, advocating for workplace representation is part of the job
Veronica Wallace ’23, ’24MBA made inclusion a major part of her Bryant experience; it’s a passion she has carried over to the working world, as well. Wallace, who earned her MBA in Business Analytics after completing her undergraduate degree in Marketing with a minor in Sociology, worked as a sports management associate at the Kraft […]
Veronica Wallace ’23, ’24MBA made inclusion a major part of her Bryant experience; it’s a passion she has carried over to the working world, as well.
Wallace, who earned her MBA in Business Analytics after completing her undergraduate degree in Marketing with a minor in Sociology, worked as a sports management associate at the Kraft Group, owners of the New England Patriots and the New England Revolution, prior to joining the Rhode Island FC soccer team as a corporate partnerships coordinator in April 2025.
The 18-month position was part of the Kraft Group’s leadership development program and provides experience in sports operations, marketing and sales, and business operations — including human resources, information technology, and finance.
That would be plenty for anyone, but Wallace also saw the job as an opportunity to help build a workplace that’s more inclusive.
Wallace, who recently presented at the Black Women’s Blueprint’s annual Women of Color Conference at Bryant and spoke at last year’s Day of Understanding, was a leader of the group W.O.K.E. Athletes while at Bryant.
“It provided an open platform to talk about different issues and allow the community to come together,” says Wallace, noting that the group advocated for athletes from all underrepresented groups. “We have all been in rooms where people didn’t understand our stories.”
“We have all been in rooms where people didn’t understand our stories.”
Wallace brought that advocacy experience to the Kraft Group along with the experience of having been a student athlete at Bryant, where she ran track as well as serving as a resident assistant, graduate assistant, international student integration coordinator, orientation leader, 4Mile program counselor, and a member of the Bryant Senior Advisory Committee.
“There are not a lot of women, and particularly women of color, in the sports industry,” she says. “I was put in a position where I could make it feel more inclusive for me and others like me.”
Her advocacy also extends to those on the field. For example, when the Patriots’ fortunes declined last season under first-year head coach Jerod Mayo — the first Black head coach in team history — racial animus was an unfortunate part of the public response.
“It’s easy to see athletes as superstars and not how these incidents can affect them,” says Wallace, who has taken the initiative to raise awareness about hate speech in monthly staff meetings.
Wallace says increased representation within the NFL has been encouraging. Currently, there are 15 women coaches working in the league, and three NFL franchises have women owners: the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, and Detroit Lions. Additionally, Jason Wright was named the first Black team president in 2020, serving in that capacity for the Washington Commanders through 2024.
Taking on a vocal role as a representative of her community can be a challenge, Wallace acknowledges.
“I stay away from the politics and focus on the best ways to support the company and our athletes,” she says. “We need to be kind to each other and make people feel welcomed and safe.”
Support from within the Kraft organization has been strong, she adds.
“My boss always wants to hear what I have to say,” she says. “The experience has been really great so far.”
On a personal level, Wallace has grown more comfortable with expressing her authentic self at work.
“At the end of the day, what you look like doesn’t dictate your work ethic,” she says. “If you come in with an afro, hair braids, or a different hairstyle, it doesn’t matter; you deserve to be there, and that’s not dictated by aesthetics.”
“What you look like doesn’t dictate your work ethic. If you come in with an afro, hair braids, or a different hairstyle, it doesn’t matter; you deserve to be there, and that’s not dictated by aesthetics.”
Wallace urges other women and people of color to be unafraid of having conversations around issues of race, gender, and representation in the workplace.
“You are going to be uncomfortable, especially having certain conversations in a room where people don’t look like you or cannot relate to what’s being discussed,” she says.
The goal is to inspire as well as educate, Wallace emphasizes.
“Continue to strive for your dreams, goals, and aspirations. because entering a space that isn’t diverse is crucial for setting an example and being a role model for generations after you,” adds Wallace. “You are history in the making.”
NIL
Soccer Hosting Holy Cross (Ind.) Thursday Afternoon for Exhibition
The Ball State soccer team plays in its second and final exhibition of the 2025 season when it hosts Holy Cross (Ind.) at 4 p.m. on Thursday at the Briner Sports Complex. The Cardinals played Wright State on Sunday and will open up the regular season at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 17 against Purdue […]
The Cardinals played Wright State on Sunday and will open up the regular season at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 17 against Purdue in Muncie.
Thursday’s promotion is Faculty Appreciation Day, where nominated professors will be recognized at halftime.
Head coach Andy Stoots enters his first season leading the program after recent stints at Missouri and Louisville.
NIL
Adidas deal could land 5-star recruit Tristen Keys
While University of Tennessee was mulling a lucrative offer from Adidas this spring, Tristen Keys, the No. 1 wide receiver recruit in the nation, was doing the same. There’s a chance they could join forces under the Adidas umbrella now that both UT and the blue-chip prospect have signed with the apparel brand. On Aug. […]
While University of Tennessee was mulling a lucrative offer from Adidas this spring, Tristen Keys, the No. 1 wide receiver recruit in the nation, was doing the same.
There’s a chance they could join forces under the Adidas umbrella now that both UT and the blue-chip prospect have signed with the apparel brand.
On Aug. 13, UT announced a 10-year deal with Adidas, beginning in 2026, to become the Vols’ official apparel partner.
On June 8, Adidas announced it had signed Keys to a name, image and likeness contract, continuing its strategy to aggressively land elite high school recruits before they choose a college.
“When we think about our core consumer, they know about that kid, that top high school athlete, more than ever,” Chris McGuire, Adidas Vice President of Sports Marketing, told Knox News when referring to the company’s approach to NIL for high school athletes.
“Social (media) has led all these individual athletes to have their own platform to talk to larger fan bases. They are becoming individuals that kids look up to in their sport.”
How 5-star QB Faizon Brandon can land Tristen Keys
In March, Keys committed to LSU, a Nike school. But it’s been widely reported that he is considering flipping his commitment to Tennessee, Miami or Texas A&M. All three will be Adidas schools when UT joins the fold in July 2026.
Keys is a 6-foot-3, 180-pounder from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The five-star recruit is ranked the No. 1 wide receiver and No. 6 prospect overall in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports Composite.
Tennessee commitment Faizon Brandon, a five-star quarterback, has been trying to convince Keys to flip to the Vols. Notably, Brandon wore bright orange Adidas cleats during a recent high school practice.
It hinted that Brandon and Keys could be fellow Adidas ambassadors as well as future teammates.
That would be a dream pairing for the Vols. It’s only a fantasy unless Keys commits to UT, and there’s no timetable for that potential announcement.
But UT’s deal with Adidas is an encouraging sign for the Vols landing Keys, a centerpiece of the shoe brand’s collection of high school athletes.
What Adidas says about impact on recruiting via NIL
Whether UT can flip Keys won’t define Adidas’ impact on Vols recruiting. But it’s a timely peek into the triangulation that goes into landing premier prospects in the NIL era.
The university matters. The brand and its NIL package matters. And the recruit considers both.
Typically, players wear the shoe brand under contract to their school. In the NIL era, that might change as athletes sign with brands not partnered with their school.
But it’s much easier, and perhaps more financially beneficial to the athlete, if the athlete and school are contracted to the same brand.
Adidas is a leader in NIL because it dove headfirst into the industry once it was adopted by the NCAA in 2021. The company has remained aggressive in the NIL space, and but there’s plenty of competition by other apparel brands like Nike and Under Armour.
Adidas knows its impact on recruiting through NIL is a selling point to potential
“What we want to do is make sure we have a strong base of NIL athletes under contract, and then our college coaches know that they are comfortable talking to them,” McGuire said. “At the end of the day, it’s up to that kid to make that choice of what school they want to attend.”
Adidas is already trying to sign current UT athletes to NIL deals.
Once the partnership begins in July 2026, every UT athlete will be eligible to participate in Adidas’ NIL Ambassador Network, which touts more than 12,000 college athletes who earn a percentage of the sales they drive for key products and campaigns.
The NIL Ambassador Network is only available to athletes at Adidas-partnered Division I schools. It’s part of Adidas’ attempt to lock up athletes from high school to college and possibly professional ranks.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
NIL
PROP approves double first base rule in Division I softball
Story Links The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Wednesday approved requiring a double first base to be implemented in softball for the 2025-26 academic year for Division I. Implementation in Divisions II and III will be delayed until 2026-27. After a thorough discussion in June, the NCAA Softball Rules Committee made […]
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Wednesday approved requiring a double first base to be implemented in softball for the 2025-26 academic year for Division I. Implementation in Divisions II and III will be delayed until 2026-27.
After a thorough discussion in June, the NCAA Softball Rules Committee made the recommendation in an effort to better define a running lane between home plate and first base. This can help umpires make calls when deciding whether the offensive player interfered with a defensive player’s ability to catch a throw.
Video review
The panel approved a measure that allows a team to retain a video review challenge if the call on the field is overturned.
If a game goes into extra innings, all remaining challenges will carry over.
Other tweaks to the video review system include:
- A video challenge will be allowed if interference (including collisions) is not called on the field and the ball remains live.
- Interference called on the field will not be reviewable, and all base runners will remain at the bases they were occupying. The exceptions to nonreviewable interference calls will be spectator and batter interference.
- A “no catch” call within the infield will be reviewable only if it results in the third out with runners on base or any time with the batter/runner only. However, a catch call within the infield area is not reviewable at any time.
- If video review is conducted on-site by the crew chief, the monitors should not be within any team area. At least one umpire should remain on the field during a video review.
- During a video review, the defensive team will remain on the field and can huddle or warm up. Offensive players can leave the batter’s box, the bases and the on-deck circle. However, once the umpire returns with the decision on the video review, both teams must be ready to play. If there is a defensive delay, a ball will be added to the count. If there is an offensive delay, a strike will be added to the count.
Other rules changes:
- One-way electronic communication devices may be used by offensive players. Communication can originate from the dugouts or coaches boxes.
- All protests will be resolved during the game. Games will no longer be played “under protest,” awaiting postgame decisions by the NCAA secretary-rules editor for softball.
- Once a play is under video review, replays of the play can be shown at any speed on the in-game video board.
Rescinded proposal
After reviewing comments from the membership, the NCAA Softball Rules Committee rescinded a proposal that if a hitter has one foot completely out of the batter’s box or stepping on the plate while contacting a pitch, an immediate dead ball would be called.
The rule remains that if any part of a batter’s body is touching home plate or on the ground outside the lines of the batter’s box at the moment of bat-and-ball contact, a delayed dead ball is signaled. The coach of the defensive team can choose either the result of the play or the standard effect for illegal contact, which is a strike on the batter and all base runners having to return to the base legally occupied at the time of the pitch. If the standard effect for illegal contact is chosen and it is the third strike, the batter is declared out.
Obstruction rule
During its meeting in June, the NCAA Softball Rules Committee clarified the obstruction rule.
Obstruction occurs when a defensive player, neither in possession of the ball nor in the act of fielding a batted ball, impedes a batter’s attempt to make contact with a pitch or impedes the progress of any runner who is legally running bases on a live ball. It can be intentional or unintentional.
It is obstruction when a defensive player, while not in possession of the ball, does one of the following:
- Blocks any part of the leading edge of first, second or third base or home plate (as defined).
- Otherwise blocks the runner from advancing or returning to a base.
The defensive player is not considered obstructing if the player is in possession of the ball or if the movement or position of the defensive player did not impede or alter the runner’s path to a base or home plate.
Notes:
- Once in possession of the ball, the defensive player can be positioned between the runner and the base/plate.
- Obstruction may be ruled even though there is no physical contact.
- Obstruction can occur on a force or tag play.
- Blocking the leading edge of the base constitutes obstruction unless the runner’s ability to reach the base is not hindered.
- If the base runner would have been out, regardless of the defensive player’s movement or positioning, the runner would remain out, and the obstruction would be ignored.
NIL
Tennessee football
AI-assisted summary Top-ranked 2026 wide receiver recruit Tristen Keys, already signed with Adidas, is considering flipping his commitment from LSU to Tennessee, an Adidas school starting in 2026. Tennessee’s 10-year apparel deal with Adidas may influence Keys’ decision, as it aligns with his existing NIL contract. Five-star quarterback and Tennessee commit Faizon Brandon is actively […]
- Top-ranked 2026 wide receiver recruit Tristen Keys, already signed with Adidas, is considering flipping his commitment from LSU to Tennessee, an Adidas school starting in 2026.
- Tennessee’s 10-year apparel deal with Adidas may influence Keys’ decision, as it aligns with his existing NIL contract.
- Five-star quarterback and Tennessee commit Faizon Brandon is actively recruiting Keys, adding another layer to the Vols’ pursuit.
While University of Tennessee was mulling a lucrative offer from Adidas this spring, Tristen Keys, the No. 1 wide receiver recruit in the nation, was doing the same.
There’s a chance they could join forces under the Adidas umbrella now that both UT and the blue-chip prospect have signed with the apparel brand.
On Aug. 13, UT announced a 10-year deal with Adidas, beginning in 2026, to become the Vols’ official apparel partner.
On June 8, Adidas announced it had signed Keys to a name, image and likeness contract, continuing its strategy to aggressively land elite high school recruits before they choose a college.
“When we think about our core consumer, they know about that kid, that top high school athlete, more than ever,” Chris McGuire, Adidas Vice President of Sports Marketing, told Knox News when referring to the company’s approach to NIL for high school athletes.
“Social (media) has led all these individual athletes to have their own platform to talk to larger fan bases. They are becoming individuals that kids look up to in their sport.”
How 5-star QB Faizon Brandon can land Tristen Keys
In March, Keys committed to LSU, a Nike school. But it’s been widely reported that he is considering flipping his commitment to Tennessee, Miami or Texas A&M. All three will be Adidas schools when UT joins the fold in July 2026.
Keys is a 6-foot-3, 180-pounder from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The five-star recruit is ranked the No. 1 wide receiver and No. 6 prospect overall in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports Composite.
Tennessee commitment Faizon Brandon, a five-star quarterback, has been trying to convince Keys to flip to the Vols. Notably, Brandon wore bright orange Adidas cleats during a recent high school practice.
It hinted that Brandon and Keys could be fellow Adidas ambassadors as well as future teammates.
That would be a dream pairing for the Vols. It’s only a fantasy unless Keys commits to UT, and there’s no timetable for that potential announcement.
But UT’s deal with Adidas is an encouraging sign for the Vols landing Keys, a centerpiece of the shoe brand’s collection of high school athletes.
What Adidas says about impact on recruiting via NIL
Whether UT can flip Keys won’t define Adidas’ impact on Vols recruiting. But it’s a timely peek into the triangulation that goes into landing premier prospects in the NIL era.
The university matters. The brand and its NIL package matters. And the recruit considers both.
Typically, players wear the shoe brand under contract to their school. In the NIL era, that might change as athletes sign with brands not partnered with their school.
But it’s much easier, and perhaps more financially beneficial to the athlete, if the athlete and school are contracted to the same brand.
Adidas is a leader in NIL because it dove headfirst into the industry once it was adopted by the NCAA in 2021. The company has remained aggressive in the NIL space, and but there’s plenty of competition by other apparel brands like Nike and Under Armour.
Adidas knows its impact on recruiting through NIL is a selling point to potential
“What we want to do is make sure we have a strong base of NIL athletes under contract, and then our college coaches know that they are comfortable talking to them,” McGuire said. “At the end of the day, it’s up to that kid to make that choice of what school they want to attend.”
Adidas is already trying to sign current UT athletes to NIL deals.
Once the partnership begins in July 2026, every UT athlete will be eligible to participate in Adidas’ NIL Ambassador Network, which touts more than 12,000 college athletes who earn a percentage of the sales they drive for key products and campaigns.
The NIL Ambassador Network is only available to athletes at Adidas-partnered Division I schools. It’s part of Adidas’ attempt to lock up athletes from high school to college and possibly professional ranks.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Emailadam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
NIL
Tennessee football
AI-assisted summary Top-ranked 2026 wide receiver recruit Tristen Keys, already signed with Adidas, is considering flipping his commitment from LSU to Tennessee, an Adidas school starting in 2026. Tennessee’s 10-year apparel deal with Adidas may influence Keys’ decision, as it aligns with his existing NIL contract. Five-star quarterback and Tennessee commit Faizon Brandon is actively […]
- Top-ranked 2026 wide receiver recruit Tristen Keys, already signed with Adidas, is considering flipping his commitment from LSU to Tennessee, an Adidas school starting in 2026.
- Tennessee’s 10-year apparel deal with Adidas may influence Keys’ decision, as it aligns with his existing NIL contract.
- Five-star quarterback and Tennessee commit Faizon Brandon is actively recruiting Keys, adding another layer to the Vols’ pursuit.
While University of Tennessee was mulling a lucrative offer from Adidas this spring, Tristen Keys, the No. 1 wide receiver recruit in the nation, was doing the same.
There’s a chance they could join forces under the Adidas umbrella now that both UT and the blue-chip prospect have signed with the apparel brand.
On Aug. 13, UT announced a 10-year deal with Adidas, beginning in 2026, to become the Vols’ official apparel partner.
On June 8, Adidas announced it had signed Keys to a name, image and likeness contract, continuing its strategy to aggressively land elite high school recruits before they choose a college.
“When we think about our core consumer, they know about that kid, that top high school athlete, more than ever,” Chris McGuire, Adidas Vice President of Sports Marketing, told Knox News when referring to the company’s approach to NIL for high school athletes.
“Social (media) has led all these individual athletes to have their own platform to talk to larger fan bases. They are becoming individuals that kids look up to in their sport.”
How 5-star QB Faizon Brandon can land Tristen Keys
In March, Keys committed to LSU, a Nike school. But it’s been widely reported that he is considering flipping his commitment to Tennessee, Miami or Texas A&M. All three will be Adidas schools when UT joins the fold in July 2026.
Keys is a 6-foot-3, 180-pounder from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The five-star recruit is ranked the No. 1 wide receiver and No. 6 prospect overall in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports Composite.
Tennessee commitment Faizon Brandon, a five-star quarterback, has been trying to convince Keys to flip to the Vols. Notably, Brandon wore bright orange Adidas cleats during a recent high school practice.
It hinted that Brandon and Keys could be fellow Adidas ambassadors as well as future teammates.
That would be a dream pairing for the Vols. It’s only a fantasy unless Keys commits to UT, and there’s no timetable for that potential announcement.
But UT’s deal with Adidas is an encouraging sign for the Vols landing Keys, a centerpiece of the shoe brand’s collection of high school athletes.
What Adidas says about impact on recruiting via NIL
Whether UT can flip Keys won’t define Adidas’ impact on Vols recruiting. But it’s a timely peek into the triangulation that goes into landing premier prospects in the NIL era.
The university matters. The brand and its NIL package matters. And the recruit considers both.
Typically, players wear the shoe brand under contract to their school. In the NIL era, that might change as athletes sign with brands not partnered with their school.
But it’s much easier, and perhaps more financially beneficial to the athlete, if the athlete and school are contracted to the same brand.
Adidas is a leader in NIL because it dove headfirst into the industry once it was adopted by the NCAA in 2021. The company has remained aggressive in the NIL space, and but there’s plenty of competition by other apparel brands like Nike and Under Armour.
Adidas knows its impact on recruiting through NIL is a selling point to potential
“What we want to do is make sure we have a strong base of NIL athletes under contract, and then our college coaches know that they are comfortable talking to them,” McGuire said. “At the end of the day, it’s up to that kid to make that choice of what school they want to attend.”
Adidas is already trying to sign current UT athletes to NIL deals.
Once the partnership begins in July 2026, every UT athlete will be eligible to participate in Adidas’ NIL Ambassador Network, which touts more than 12,000 college athletes who earn a percentage of the sales they drive for key products and campaigns.
The NIL Ambassador Network is only available to athletes at Adidas-partnered Division I schools. It’s part of Adidas’ attempt to lock up athletes from high school to college and possibly professional ranks.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Emailadam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
NIL
The college football season is here. Which matchups are must-watch? :: WRALSportsFan.com
By MAURA CAREY, AP Sports Writer The 2025 college football season kicks off with fireworks, featuring eye-catching Week 1 showdowns like No. 1 Texas vs. No. 3 Ohio State, No. 9 LSU vs. No. 4 Clemson and No. 10 Miami vs. No. 6 Notre Dame. Despite the excitement of preseason powerhouses and Heisman Trophy contenders […]
The 2025 college football season kicks off with fireworks, featuring eye-catching Week 1 showdowns like No. 1 Texas vs. No. 3 Ohio State, No. 9 LSU vs. No. 4 Clemson and No. 10 Miami vs. No. 6 Notre Dame. Despite the excitement of preseason powerhouses and Heisman Trophy contenders going head-to-head, early stumbles in September rarely end postseason dreams, certainly not in the new 12-team playoff era of college football. The real pressure hits as the season progresses and playoff standings are on the line.
Here are six high-stakes matchups that you won’t want to miss (using preseason AP Top 25 rankings):
After falling short of the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, pressure is building for LSU’s Brian Kelly and Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer. Both historically successful programs are not far removed from recent title victories, with LSU in 2020 and Alabama the following year.
Both are coming off matching 9-4 seasons, each with a 5-3 conference record in the rugged SEC. Alabama should be favored in every game ahead of this one except for a late September visit to No. 5 Georgia. If LSU can knock off Clemson, the Tigers should be favored in all their games too ahead of this tilt.
Last fall, a two-interception game from Garrett Nussmeier hurt the Tigers, who struggled to stop Jalen Milroe and Co. Now Nussmeier is considered a Heisman contender and he will get a chance for a marquee conference road win over the Tide and DeBoer, who wants to distance himself from last year’s 9-4 debut season.
Texas and Georgia, the two highest-ranked SEC teams in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, square off in Athens less than a month before the league title game, which is where they last met (a 22-19 Bulldogs win in December).
Texas has a new quarterback in charge in Arch Manning; he briefly entered both games against Georgia in 2024, completing 3 of 6 passes for 19 yards after a slow start by Quinn Ewers and a 20-point deficit in Week 8.
Both teams have a lot of football to navigate before this one but it could be a dandy — and a precursor to another meeting or even two before the season ends?
Penn State earned the No. 2 seed in the Top 25, surpassing the reigning national champions, Ohio State, who came in at No. 3. The Big Ten rivals meet on Nov. 1 in Columbus in a matchup likely to carry league title game and playoff implications.
Drew Allar, a two-headed rushing attack and a stout defense should have the Nittany Lions favored in every game before this one, with all due respect to No. 7 Oregon (Sept. 27). Same for the Buckeyes, who are a 2.5-point favorite over the higher-ranked Longhorns in the opener.
Ohio State is 24-8 against Penn State and has won eight in a row. Coach James Franklin’s sole victory against the Buckeyes was in 2016 during his second year at the helm.
This year, the playoff format shifts to straight seeding, meaning the top four teams will be rewarded with a bye. A good showing here might impress the CFP committee before its first rankings of the season, too.
Expectations are high for Clemson, which is loaded. After LSU, the Tigers could be on cruise control when SMU comes calling for a game that matches two CFP teams from a year ago (both lost in the first round).
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, a Heisman favorite, had a standout outing against the Mustangs in 2024, throwing for 262 yards and four touchdowns. Receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. had a career-high eight receptions, 143 yards and two TDs. The two are expected to pick up where they left off.
SMU QB Kevin Jennings is back amid some question marks elsewhere, but the schedule isn’t daunting ahead of the trip to Clemson.
The Sun Devils went 11-3 and grabbed an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff last season, thanks in part to a dominant 45-19 Big 12 championship game victory against … Iowa State.
The Cyclones have some challenging games ahead of this one but wins there set this up nicely for a chance to impress the CFP committee.
Power Four conference champions still earn a spot in the 12-team bracket, but they won’t have the luxury of a first-round bye unless they’re ranked in the top four. The Sun Devils could be in the running either way, but every win counts for both teams in pursuit of a playoff berth.
After consecutive underwhelming seasons, USC coach Lincoln Riley could use a major road win, and is there a bigger statement to make than against a storied rival?
Notre Dame has beaten the Trojans seven times in the last eight meetings, including the last two in which the Fighting Irish averaged 48.5 points. USC last won a game in Notre Dame Stadium in 2011.
The Irish have national title hopes. The Trojans have hopes that Riley is finding the right formula to turn things around in what could be one of the last games in this longstanding series. The contract for a rivalry that dates to 1926 expires after their game in 2026.
No. 8 Alabama at No. 5 Georgia (Sept. 27), a chance for ‘Bama to improve to 10-1 against the Bulldogs since 2008 or for Kirby Smart to cut into his 1-6 record as a head coach against the Crimson Tide … No. 3 Ohio State at No. 14 Michigan (Nov. 29), a matchup of the last two national champions in a series that has seen the Wolverines win four straight … No. 25 Boise State at No. 6 Notre Dame (Oct. 4), a rare shot for a top Group of Five team to put up a marquee midseason win on the road … No. 3 Ohio State at No. 12 Illinois (Oct. 11), a chance for Bret Bielema’s Illini to show if last year’s 10-win season was a fluke.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
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