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ATHENS, Ga. — It might be one of the most trite axioms in sports, but “next man up” has taken on a literal meaning for No. 3 Georgia‘s defense this season.

A year ago, a historically talented defense led the Bulldogs to their first national championship in 41 years. Five defensive starters — end Travon Walker, tackles Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt, linebacker Quay Walker and safety Lewis Cine — were selected in the first round of the NFL draft, the most from any school in the common era of the draft since 1967.

Three other Georgia defenders — linebackers Nakobe Dean and Channing Tindall and cornerback Derion Kendrick — also were drafted, leaving the Bulldogs with only three returning defensive starters going into the 2022 season.

The attrition has gotten worse since then. When the Bulldogs take on No. 1 Tennessee at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, only two players who started for Georgia’s defense in its 33-18 victory against Alabama in the CFP National Championship game are expected to be on the field — cornerback Kelee Ringo and safety Christopher Smith.

The Bulldogs lost senior outside linebacker Nolan Smith to a season-ending pectoral muscle injury this week; safety William Poole left the team in September for personal reasons.

Nonetheless, the Georgia defense that takes the field against the high-flying Volunteers in a game that might decide the SEC East title leads the conference in run defense (85.4 yards) and total defense (262.5 yards) and is second against the pass (177.1 yards).

Not bad for a defense that also lost coordinator Dan Lanning, who left to become Oregon‘s head coach. Linebackers coach Glenn Schumann and special teams coordinator Will Muschamp, a former head coach at Florida and South Carolina, were promoted to co-defensive coordinators.

“It is just the standard,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “Just because you lose good players does not mean you are not going to be good next year. Maybe that is an expectation that some teams have, but that is not the expectation of any team I have ever been a part of. The expectation is that you are going to be good because you recruit good players and because you coach hard.”

Few FBS coaches have recruited defensive players as well as Smart, a former Georgia defensive back and Alabama defensive coordinator. Seven of the Bulldogs’ anticipated defensive starters for Saturday’s game were ranked in the ESPN 300 as high school seniors.

Linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. and safety Malaki Starks were ranked the No. 1 athletes in their respective classes in 2021 and 2022. Ringo was the No. 1 cornerback in the 2020 class. Jalen Carter was the No. 12 prospect overall and No. 2 defensive tackle in 2020.

“They are just big, smooth and efficient,” said Samford coach Chris Hatcher, whose team lost 33-0 at Georgia on Sept. 30. “If we thought we had a crease on them, I’d look up and we’d gained a yard and it’s second-and-9. Knowing Kirby and Will because I worked with them, they’re relentless recruiters. Some of those guys played last season in the national championship year because they had some blowout wins. Those backups got a lot of reps and they know the expectation there. I just have not seen that much of a drop-off from last year to this year.”

Through eight games, Georgia’s defense stacks up well against last year’s unit, at least statistically. The Bulldogs are second in the FBS in scoring defense, behind only Illinois. Georgia allowed 10.2 points per game in 2021; it is giving up 10.5 per game this season. Opponents gained 269 yards of offense per game last season; they’re totaling 263 this season.

Georgia’s defense has been even better on third down. Last season, opponents converted 35% of third downs; they’re moving the chains only 29% of the time this season.

“It all comes down to guys that are out there being coachable,” Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker said. “As you can see, they have some great coaches behind them, and they play extremely hard. That’s something that you can’t teach. The effort and attitude and toughness that they bring to the game is immaculate, and that’s what SEC football is about. This is the top brand of football.”

Georgia hasn’t played an offense as explosive as Tennessee’s this season. It is just the second time the Bulldogs will face an offense that is ranked in the top 50 in the FBS in scoring offense, according to data from ESPN Stats & Information. Oregon, which is fifth in the country with 42.4 points per game, could manage only a field goal in a 49-3 loss to the Bulldogs in the Sept. 3 opener.

The Volunteers lead the FBS in scoring (49.4 points) and total offense (553 yards per game) and are second in passing (353.4 yards). Hooker is a leading Heisman Trophy candidate, completing 71.2% of his passes for 2,338 yards with 21 touchdowns and one interception. Receiver Jalin Hyatt has 45 catches for 907 yards with 14 touchdowns, including a school-record five TDs in a 52-49 victory against Alabama on Oct. 15.

As good as Georgia’s defense was last season, the Volunteers still tested it in the Bulldogs’ 41-17 victory at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee had 387 yards of offense, including 332 passing. Cedric Tillman had 10 catches for 200 yards with one score.

With a second offseason in coach Josh Heupel’s fast-break attack, the Volunteers have been even better this season. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, it will be the first game featuring an offense averaging 49 points or more against a defense allowing 11 or fewer in November or later since 1996.

The Volunteers aren’t one-dimensional, either. They’re 25th in the FBS in rushing, with nearly 200 yards per game. Hooker is the team’s third-leading rusher with 338 yards and four scores.

“Tennessee is not necessarily a pass-happy offense,” Smart said. “They run the ball really well. I think you could say that statistically they have explosive passes. They are a running team that chunks it deep. They do a really good job with explosive pass plays. They commit to the run. There is a toughness there. Their backs run really tough.”

One area Georgia’s defense has lagged behind last season’s unit is sack production. The Bulldogs have generated only 10 sacks and 39 tackles for loss, which ranks outside the top 100 in the FBS.

“You wouldn’t call them vanilla by any stretch,” Tennessee quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle said. “They’re a really good defense, we all know that. They’ve got guys that can rush the passer, they’ve got blitzers, they’ve got cover guys. You don’t see a lot of flaws in their defense, especially looking at them from a personnel standpoint. They’re well coached, they’re in position, you see them flying to the football. That’s why you don’t see them giving up big plays, because they have a bunch of guys around the ball.

“You see guys that are well coached with a lot of eye discipline. It’s not like they don’t get home or they don’t force it. They’re making tackles, they’re keeping everything in front of them, and they’re making guys snap it again. Then they’re doing a good job of getting off the field on third down.”

Losing Smith, who led the team with three sacks, seven tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hurries, won’t make pressuring Hooker any easier. Sophomore Chaz Chambliss and freshman Marvin Jones Jr. will have to play more in his absence.

“Those guys have to play,” Smart said. “They practice every day just like Nolan does. They have to have an opportunity to go play. This is the next man up.”

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Ball State fires Neu amid another losing season

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Ball State fires Neu amid another losing season

Ball State fired coach Mike Neu, the school announced Saturday. The Cardinals are 3-7.

Neu was 40-63 in nine seasons at Ball State. Neu led the Cardinals to the MAC title in 2020, which was his only winning season at Ball State.

Sources told ESPN that the staff was informed of Neu’s dismissal early Saturday.

Offensive line coach Colin Johnson will serve as the interim head coach for the last two games, athletic director Jeff Mitchell said in a statement. Ball State hosts Bowling Green on Nov. 23 then plays at Ohio on Nov. 29.

Neu, 53, is a beloved alum with a strong campus reputation, but the lack of results ultimately led to his dismissal. Ball State lost 51-48 in overtime at Buffalo this week and fell to 2-4 in MAC play.

That clinched a fourth consecutive losing season for Ball State.

“Coach Neu has poured his heart into the Ball State football program,” Mitchell said in the statement. “I commend him for his professionalism and the positive team culture he has constructed. His efforts have greatly impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. He has represented the Ball State brand with integrity and class, and I wish him well in future pursuits.”

Neu led Ball State to two bowl games. That included a win over San Jose State in the Arizona Bowl to conclude the 2020 season, when Ball State finished 7-1 and won its first MAC title since 1996.

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Pitt QB Holstein out; Yarnell starts vs. Clemson

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Pitt QB Holstein out; Yarnell starts vs. Clemson

Pittsburgh quarterback Eli Holstein will not play against No. 20 Clemson on Saturday, with redshirt junior Nate Yarnell getting the start for the Panthers.

Holstein hadn’t been cleared medically, sources said, and was considered a game-time decision by coach Pat Narduzzi after leaving two of Pitt’s past three games following apparent head injuries. Holstein took part in warmups Saturday.

Yarnell, who lost a camp battle to Holstein, will make his first start this season and fourth in his career for the Panthers. He has a 2-1 record as a starter, with wins over Western Michigan (2022) and Boston College (2023) and a loss to Duke (2023).

Yarnell has a strong amount of experience for a backup, as he has thrown for 1,104 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career. That includes a 65.3% completion percentage and an average of 8.9 yards per attempt. This season, he has thrown for five touchdowns and two interceptions while playing in the past three games.

Holstein has been a revelatory player for the Panthers under new offensive coordinator Kade Bell. Holstein, a transfer from Alabama, has thrown for 17 touchdowns with six interceptions.

Pittsburgh has the country’s No. 16 scoring offense at 36.7 points per game. That’s up from No. 114 last season, when it averaged 20.2 points.

Holstein has completed 61.9% of his passes and thrown for 2,174 yards.

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10-0 Indiana gives Cignetti new 8-year contract

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10-0 Indiana gives Cignetti new 8-year contract

Indiana has agreed to a contract extension with Curt Cignetti amid the Hoosiers’ unprecedented 10-0 start, the school announced Saturday.

Cignetti’s new eight-year contract runs through the 2032 season and will pay him an average of $8 million per year with an annual $1 million retention bonus, putting the total value of the new contract at $72 million.

“I am beyond appreciative for the tremendous commitment, confidence, and support from President Pam Whitten and Athletic Director Scott Dolson,” Cignetti said in a statement. “Manette [his wife] and I love Bloomington and are grateful for how the IU community has embraced us. I look forward to leading this outstanding program and doing my part to continue the momentum for Hoosier football.”

Cignetti originally received a six-year, $27 million contract when he was hired in December. He took the Indiana job after leading James Madison to an 11-1 season in 2023 — when he made $677,311 — with the goal of changing the Hoosiers’ historically woeful image in football.

He then led Indiana to the first 10-win season in school history and a possible push for the College Football Playoff. No. 5 Indiana (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) has one more win than its combined total over the previous three seasons. Its No. 5 ranking is one spot shy of the team’s highest ever, last reached in 1967, also the last time the Hoosiers won or shared a Big Ten title.

Indiana has scored at least 40 points seven times, won nine times by 14 or more points and trailed only twice briefly all season.

“We were confident IU could become a winning program and we love what he’s building here,” Dolson said in a statement. “We love the student-athletes that he’s bringing here. We love how our fanbase has rallied around this team and made Memorial Stadium the place to be on Saturday afternoons. And now, we love the fact that he’s going to be doing all those things right here in Bloomington for a long, long time.”

A source told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg that Indiana will also significantly increase the pool for Cignetti’s assistants and staff.

The Hoosiers are on a bye this week before a pivotal matchup with No. 2 Ohio State next Saturday that could determine Indiana’s playoff hopes and a potential spot in the Big Ten championship game.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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