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Week 7 in college football did not disappoint. There were several blockbuster matchups, and some previously undefeated teams were dealt their first losses.

No. 7 Indiana traveled to No. 3 Oregon for a game between two undefeated Big Ten teams and snapped the Ducks’ 18-game home winning streak, sending Oregon down five spots in this week’s AP Poll. The Hoosiers, on the other hand, have shown they’re the real deal and in the hunt for another shot at the national championship after last season’s early exit from the College Football Playoff. Meanwhile, in the Cotton Bowl, the return of quarterback John Mateer didn’t help No. 6 Oklahoma, which fell from the ranks of the unbeaten at the hands of Texas.

And with things going from bad to worse for Penn State after its third straight loss Saturday, the school fired James Franklin on Sunday after 12 seasons as its head coach.

What’s ahead for the Hoosiers as they chase a first-round bye in the playoff? What’s next for the Nittany Lions after their coaching change? And how does Oklahoma bounce back after a rough rivalry loss that may have exposed some issues that need to be addressed?

Our college football experts break down key storylines and takeaways from Week 7.

Jump to:
Indiana’s CFP chances | Franklin’s future
No buyout is too high | Watch out for Washington
Here comes Navy | A new star at USC?
Oklahoma’s offense

Indiana is better than last season — and capable of a deeper playoff run

At the midpoint of the season, no team has made a bigger playoff statement than Indiana. The Hoosiers tried to announce their arrival on the national stage with last season’s playoff appearance, but doubts lingered after an early exit. They tried to reassert themselves with a historic 63-10 beatdown of Illinois, but the Illini aren’t Ohio State or Oregon. And then the Hoosiers beat Oregon — by double digits — in Autzen Stadium, where the Ducks hadn’t lost in 18 straight games. Indiana forced Heisman Trophy hopeful quarterback Dante Moore into two interceptions and sacked him six times.

With the win, the Hoosiers catapulted into the top five and into program lore, positioning themselves not only for a run at the Big Ten title, but for a first-round bye as a top-four playoff team. Indiana doesn’t play Ohio State during the regular season, but it can face the Buckeyes in the conference championship game if the Hoosiers keep winning. And if Indiana’s only loss this season is to the selection committee’s No. 1 team and the Big Ten champs, the Hoosiers could still earn a top-four seed because those spots are no longer reserved for conference champions. If Indiana can beat Oregon, though, it can also beat Ohio State. — Heather Dinich


Franklin’s firing marks a first in highly pressurized CFP era

Penn State’s firing of coach James Franklin on Sunday was an absolute stunner, and also not a stunner. And yeah, still a stunner.

The unsurprising part about Franklin’s ouster, halfway through his 12th season at Penn State, was how clear the stakes had become this fall. Penn State had to start winning games and ultimately win some type of championship — Big Ten or national. After bringing back the nucleus of a team that played for the Big Ten title and was a play away from the national championship game, anything less would be a major disappointment.

I thought that if Penn State fell short and finished 10-3 or worse, Franklin could possibly look to move on. Things had run their course for him in Happy Valley. He would have gone out with a very good tenure without enough truly notable accomplishments.

The still-stunning part is that it came to an outright firing, especially to the tune of nearly $50 million remaining to be paid on his contract. The Oregon loss stung Penn State unlike other big-game defeats under Franklin. The Nittany Lions then looked completely lost against inferior opponents UCLA and Northwestern. The postgame malaise Saturday night suggested Franklin knew the end was coming before he got the news from athletic director Pat Kraft on Sunday.

But the finality of it all is still jarring and also indicative of the stakes that exist in the CFP era. As an industry source noted Sunday, Auburn and LSU waited at least a season before firing national-championship-winning coaches Gene Chizik and Ed Orgeron. Coaches can now reach the national semifinal and be fired halfway through the ensuing season. That’s wild.

What happens next for Franklin and Penn State will be fascinating, but it’s clear few coaches are safe in such a big-money, all-in sport. — Adam Rittenberg


No buyout is too high

There was a belief, at least among some FBS coaches, that athletic directors and universities would be less likely to fire a coach because the buyouts were going to be too high in the NIL era.

“They want the money for NIL,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin told me earlier this month. “But also because of the contracts. It’s great for coaches, but it’s the problem [agent] Jimmy Sexton created. These contracts [have] so much guaranteed money that now they’re like, ‘Whoa, we want to fire him, but we don’t want to pay $50 million.'”

Kiffin, it should be noted, is one of several high-profile coaches represented by Sexton.

“Not only have you got to pay him, you’ve got to pay his assistants,” Kiffin continued, “and then you have to go out and buy another team because everybody’s going to transfer within 30 days once the coach is fired, depending on the next coach you get.”

Obviously, that’s still not the case after Penn State canned Franklin and will pay his buyout of roughly $49 million, which is the second biggest in college football history, behind only the $76 million that Texas A&M doled out to Jimbo Fisher.

It’s not even November, and there are already seven head coaching openings, and all but one of them at Power 4 conference schools: Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Penn State, Stanford, UCLA and Virginia Tech.

Thanks to NIL and the transfer portal, the head coach, even a successful one, is no longer irreplaceable. Will one of those schools finally step up and say, “Enough is enough?” — Mark Schlabach


Don’t miss Demond Williams Jr.

One of the best individual performances of the week came late Friday night in Seattle, where Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. became just the 16th player in FBS history to throw for at least 400 yards and rush for at least 100 yards in the same game. The last Big Ten quarterback to achieve the feat was Northwestern’s Zak Kustok in 2001 against Bowling Green.

Williams has been outstanding all season. He ranks No. 5 nationally in Total QBR (86.1) with his worst game coming in a 24-6 loss to Ohio State and the country’s best defense. And even then, he still completed 18 of 22 passes against the Buckeyes for 173 yards without an interception. With Michigan, Illinois and Oregon still on the schedule, Washington has some chances to make a statement and push for a playoff spot. — Kyle Bonagura


Anchors aweigh, here comes Navy

The Midshipmen trailed Temple by a touchdown with less than a minute to play Saturday. They also faced fourth-and-1 at midfield. But then, following a convoy of lead blockers, Navy quarterback Blake Horvath sliced through the middle of the Owls defense for a 51-yard touchdown. He then tossed the winning 2-point conversion with a defender dragging him to the ground, giving Navy its first fourth-quarter comeback victory since 2021.

The Midshipmen are quietly 6-0 with the chance to make some major noise in November.

Navy travels to Notre Dame on Nov. 8 before facing South Florida (No. 19) and Memphis (No. 22) in back-to-back tilts that figure to have major American Conference title-game implications.

As it stands, the winner of the American will be the heavy favorite to grab the Group of 5 slot in the playoff. If Horvath, who has rushed and passed for 100 yards apiece in three straight games, keeps up this fourth-quarter magic, the Midshipmen could be a surprise playoff contender. — Jake Trotter


USC’s new star running back

USC might have stumbled into its new star running back.

After Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders went down with injuries during Saturday’s matchup between the Trojans and No. 15 Michigan, Lincoln Riley had no choice but to turn to walk-on King Miller.

The redshirt freshman who didn’t see any action last season was thrust into the game and did not disappoint. Miller carried the ball 18 times Saturday and totaled 158 rushing yards and a touchdown. Every time he touched the ball, it seemed like he could go for a huge gain.

Miller had a total of only 11 carries for 152 yards in three games entering Saturday. This was more than just an unexpected breakout; it was a coming-out party.

“King was huge,” coach Lincoln Riley said. “He stepped up and made big plays. That was obviously really important for us with the way it went down. This is just what he does in practice. He’s a hard worker. He’s a humble guy. He cares about this team a lot. And honestly, hell, we didn’t have anyone else. But he was awesome. The moment certainly wasn’t too big for him.”

Miller’s role on this USC team is far from finished. Riley said Sanders’ injury “doesn’t look super positive in terms of the rest of the season,” while Jordan is set to miss 4-6 weeks after undergoing tightrope surgery this week, according to multiple reports.

If Saturday’s win over Michigan was any indication, the fact that Miller might just turn out to be the Trojans’ top option at running back going forward might not be a bad thing. — Paolo Uggetti


Oklahoma’s offensive stumble exposes broader concerns

Let’s start here: For the third time in four Red River Rivalry games under coach Brent Venables, Oklahoma went without a touchdown against Texas in Saturday’s 23-6 defeat.

The first two occasions came with the Sooners playing a backup quarterback in the 2022 and 2024 editions of the rivalry game. This time, Oklahoma had its starter back with John Mateer under center 17 days after undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone in his right (throwing) hand hand. But Mateer’s much-anticipated return at the Cotton Bowl promptly turned into his first flop in 2025, lowlighted by three interceptions and the Heisman Trophy hopeful’s least accurate throwing performance (20-of-38) in what has been an otherwise dazzling debut season with the Sooners.

“I was ready to go physically,” Mateer said afterward. “Mentally, I just didn’t perform. My eyes weren’t as good as they needed to be. When your quarterback doesn’t play good football, [it’s] hard to win in this league. That’s what happened.”

Mateer’s showing in Oklahoma’s gut-check defeat prompts both near- and long-term questions.

Did the Sooners rush their star passer back against Texas? Would Oklahoma have been better off giving Mateer another week to recover and handing another start to sophomore Michael Hawkins Jr.? Will the physical or mental blows of Saturday impact Mateer beyond Week 7?

More broadly, questions have to be asked about whether this Sooners offense is good enough to support an Oklahoma defense that ranks second nationally and the program’s CFP hopes in 2025. Even with Mateer at his best, the Sooners are hamstrung by a rushing attack that ranks 106th and a good-not-great receiving corps averaging 1.5 touchdowns per game, 12th best among SEC programs. In three games against power conference opponents this fall, the Sooners have averaged only 23.6 points and 323 yards of total offense.

One loss doesn’t change much about the ceiling for the Sooners’ 2025 season. But any chance of Oklahoma flirting with the 12-team field hinges on finding solutions on offense, well beyond the issues that cropped up in Mateer’s disastrous performance against Texas on Saturday. — Eli Lederman

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CFP Bubble Watch: Who’s in, who’s out, who has work to do at midseason

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CFP Bubble Watch: Who's in, who's out, who has work to do at midseason

Week 7 shook up the College Football Playoff picture. No team earned a more impactful result than Indiana, whose win at Oregon is now the best in the country during the first half of the season. Indiana’s playoff chances jumped 21%, climbing to a 93% chance to make the playoff, according to the Allstate Playoff predictor.

Not only are the Hoosiers off the bubble, but Indiana also is chasing a first-round bye as one of the top four seeds, having cemented its place alongside Ohio State and Miami as one of the nation’s best teams.

Indiana wasn’t the only winner, though, as South Florida and Texas Tech both saw their playoff chances jump by at least 15%.

Below you’ll find one team in the spotlight for each of the Power 4 leagues and another identified as an enigma. We’ve also tiered schools into three groups. Teams with Would be in status are featured in this week’s top 12 projection, a snapshot of what the selection committee’s ranking would look like if it were released today. Teams listed as On the cusp are the true bubble teams and the first ones outside the bracket. A team with Work to do is passing the eye test (for the most part) and has a chance at winning its conference, which means a guaranteed spot in the playoff. And a team that Would be out is playing in the shadows of the playoff — for now.

The 13-member selection committee doesn’t always agree with the Allstate Playoff Predictor, so the following categories are based on historical knowledge of the group’s tendencies plus what each team has done to-date.

Reminder: This will change week-to-week as each team builds — or busts — its résumé.

Jump to a conference:
ACC | Big 12 | Big Ten
SEC | Independent | Group of 5
Bracket

SEC

Spotlight: Tennessee. The Vols have looked like a borderline playoff team against unranked opponents in recent weeks, beating Mississippi State and Arkansas by a combined 10 points with one overtime. Offensively they’ve been elite, averaging 300 passing and 200 rushing yards per game this season. Defensively, they need to stop the run to make a run in the SEC. They’ll have a chance against Alabama on Saturday to further legitimize their hopes. With a win, Tennessee’s chances of reaching the playoff would jump to 52%, according to the Allstate Playoff Predictor. Tennessee ranks No. 10 in ESPN’s game control metric and No. 19 in strength of record. The Vols are projected in the committee’s No. 12 spot this week, which means they would get knocked out of the actual field during the seeding process to make room for the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion. The five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed spots in the playoff, so if the fifth team is ranked outside of the committee’s top 12, its No. 12 team gets the boot.

Enigma: Texas. The Longhorns took a baby step toward a return to CFP relevance with a big win against Oklahoma, but it was their first win against a Power 4 opponent and their first against a ranked team. Texas has the 15th-most difficult remaining schedule, and with two losses is already in a precarious position. The Longhorns will play three of their next four opponents on the road (at Kentucky, Mississippi State and Georgia). There were encouraging signs from the win against the rival Sooners, from the stingy defense that flustered quarterback John Mateer all game to what looked like an improved offensive line that gave quarterback Arch Manning some time to throw. He completed 16 of 17 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown when under no duress. If Texas can continue to put it all together against the heart of its SEC schedule, it could make a run to be one of the committee’s top two-loss teams.

If the playoff were today

Would be in: Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas A&M

On the cusp: Tennessee

Work to do: Missouri, Texas, Vanderbilt

Would be out: Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi State, South Carolina


Big Ten

Spotlight: USC. The Trojans have looked like a CFP top 25 team through the first half of the season, with their only loss a close one on the road to a ranked Illinois team. In Week 7, USC’s convincing 31-13 win against Michigan pushed it into more serious Big Ten contention. Ohio State and Indiana are the leaders, followed by Oregon, but USC has the fourth-best chance (7.1%) to reach the Big Ten title game, according to ESPN Analytics. That will change when the Trojans go to Oregon on Nov. 22, but they don’t play Ohio State or Indiana during the regular season. A win at Notre Dame on Saturday would be a significant boost to USC’s playoff résumé, while simultaneously knocking the Irish out of playoff contention. According to the Allstate Playoff Predictor, USC’s chances of reaching the playoff would adjust to 58% with a win against Notre Dame. According to ESPN Analytics, USC has less than a 50% chance to win its games against Notre Dame and Oregon.

Enigma: Washington. The Huskies have improved significantly and quickly under coach Jedd Fisch, who’s in his second season. Their only loss was to Ohio State, 24-6, on Sept. 27, but they lack a statement win that gives them real postseason credibility. Wins at Washington State and Maryland are certainly respectable, but bigger opportunities loom starting on Saturday at Michigan. This game has significant implications, because if the Huskies can win, they stand a strong chance of hosting Oregon as a one-loss team in the regular-season finale. According to ESPN Analytics, Michigan has a 67.6% chance to win on Saturday, and Oregon has a 70% chance to beat Washington on Nov. 29. The Huskies are projected to win every other game, though. A win against Michigan could increase their playoff hopes significantly.

If the playoff were today

Would be in: Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon

On the cusp: USC

Work to do: Nebraska, Washington

Would be out: Iowa, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, Wisconsin


ACC

Spotlight: Georgia Tech. Raise your hand if you had Georgia Tech at Duke on Saturday circled as a game that would impact the College Football Playoff. The Yellow Jackets would have been the next team to crack the latest CFP projection this week, and their chances of reaching the ACC championship game will skyrocket if they can win at Duke. Georgia Tech currently has the fourth-best chance to reach the ACC title game behind Miami, Duke and Virginia. ESPN Analytics gives the Blue Devils a 61.8% chance to win. The only other projected loss on the Jackets’ schedule is the regular-season finale against Georgia. Even if Georgia Tech reaches the ACC title game and loses, it could get in as a second ACC team with a win over Georgia.

Enigma: Virginia. The Hoos have won back-to-back overtime games against Florida State and Louisville, putting themselves in contention for a spot in the ACC championship. They host a tricky Washington State team on Saturday that just gave Ole Miss a few headaches, though, and need to avoid a second loss to an unranked team. The toughest game left on their schedule is Nov. 15 at Duke. Without an ACC title, Virginia is going to have a tough time impressing the committee with a schedule that includes a loss to unranked NC State and possibly no wins against ranked opponents. It didn’t help the Hoos that Florida State lost to an unranked Pitt, as the win against the Noles was the highlight of their season so far.

If the playoff were today

Would be in: Miami

On the cusp: Georgia Tech

Work to do: Virginia

Would be out: Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Louisville, North Carolina, NC State, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest


Big 12

Spotlight: BYU. The Cougars needed a late-night double-overtime win at Arizona to stay undefeated, and are on the path to face Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship game. The question is if they can stay undefeated until the Nov. 8 regular-season matchup against the Red Raiders. BYU has its second-most difficult remaining game on Saturday against rival Utah, which is also in contention for the Big 12 title. BYU has a slim edge at a 51% chance to win, which would be a critical cushion considering back-to-back road trips to Iowa State and Texas Tech await. The Big 12 has also gotten a boost from Cincinnati, which has a favorable remaining schedule and could be a surprise CFP top 25 team. If BYU stumbles over the next three weeks, a road win at a ranked Cincinnati team would help its résumé. Speaking of the Bearcats …

Enigma: Cincinnati. Is this team for real? The Bearcats have won five straight since their 20-17 season-opening loss to Nebraska, including three straight against Big 12 opponents Kansas, Iowa State and UCF. All three of those teams are .500 or better, and the selection committee will respect that as long as it holds. Cincinnati also has November opportunities against Utah and BYU, which could change the playoff picture in the Big 12. ESPN Analytics gives the Bearcats less than a 50% chance to beat Utah, BYU and TCU.

If the playoff were today

Would be in: Texas Tech

On the cusp: BYU

Work to do: Cincinnati, Houston, Utah

Would be out: Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, UCF, West Virginia


Independent

Would be out: Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have the best chance to win out of any team in the FBS, with a 49% chance to finish 10-2. According to the Allstate Playoff Predictor, Notre Dame would have a 50% chance to reach the CFP if it runs the table. That seems accurate, given the selection committee would compare Notre Dame against the other 10-2 contenders, and it’s a coin toss as to whether the room would agree that the Irish’s résumé and film make them worthy of an at-large bid. How Miami and Texas A&M fare will impact this — as will the head-to-head results if those teams don’t win their respective leagues and are also competing with the Irish for one of those at-large spots. It helps Notre Dame that opponents USC and Navy could finish as CFP top 25 teams if they continue to win. Undefeated Navy could also make a run at the Group of 5 playoff spot.


Group of 5

Spotlight: South Florida. South Florida. The Bulls are back on top after their convincing 63-36 win at previously undefeated North Texas, which just a week ago was listed here as a potential Group of 5 contender. Following the win, the Bulls’ chances of reaching the CFP increased by 20%, according to ESPN Analytics. South Florida’s lone loss was Sept. 13 at Miami, 49-12, which was a significant defeat against what could be the committee’s No. 1 team. Although that result showed the gap between the Bulls and one of the nation’s top teams, it certainly didn’t eliminate South Florida, which has one of the best overall résumés of the other contenders. With wins against Boise State, Florida and now at North Texas, this is a team that earned the edge in this week’s latest projection. Still, South Florida has the second-best chance of any Group of 5 school to reach the playoff (30%) behind Memphis (42%), according to ESPN Analytics.

Enigma: UNLV. Undefeated UNLV survived a scare from 1-5 Air Force on Saturday to stay undefeated and in contention for a playoff spot. UNLV and Boise State, both of the Mountain West Conference, are the only teams outside of the American Conference with at least a 5% chance to reach the playoff, and they play each other in a critical game on Saturday. UNLV has scored at least 30 points in each of its six games this season and is 6-0 for the first time since 1974, but it hasn’t always been pretty. UNLV scored the winning touchdown against Air Force with 36 seconds left and allowed the Falcons 603 total yards. The Rebels have the fourth-best chance to reach the playoff at 9% behind the American’s Memphis, South Florida and Tulane.

If the playoff were today

Would be in: South Florida

Work to do: Memphis, Navy, Tulane, UNLV

Bracket

Based on our weekly projection, the seeding would be:

First-round byes

No. 1 Ohio State (Big Ten champ)
No. 2 Miami (ACC champ)
No. 3 Indiana
No. 4 Texas A&M (SEC champ)

First-round games

On campus, Dec. 19 and 20

No. 12 South Florida (American champ) at No. 5 Alabama
No. 11 LSU at No. 6 Ole Miss
No. 10 Oklahoma at No. 7 Georgia
No. 9 Texas Tech (Big 12 champ) at No. 8 Oregon

Quarterfinal games

At the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential and Allstate Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

No. 12 South Florida/No. 5 Alabama winner vs. No. 4 Texas A&M
No. 11 LSU/No. 6 Ole Miss winner vs. No. 3 Indiana
No. 10 Oklahoma/No. 7 Georgia winner vs. No. 2 Miami
No. 9 Texas Tech/No. 8 Oregon winner vs. No. 1 Ohio State

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Belichick calls UNC exit rumors ‘categorically false’

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Belichick calls UNC exit rumors 'categorically false'

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — After a week of chaos surrounding the North Carolina football program and Bill Belichick’s future in Chapel Hill, the six-time Super Bowl-winning coach denied rumors he was looking for an exit and doubled down on his belief that his “process” eventually will lead to a winning team.

“Reports about my looking for a buyout or trying to leave here is categorically false,” Belichick said. “There’s zero truth to any of that. I’m glad I’m here. We’re working toward our goals. We believe very much in the process. We need to just keep working and grinding away, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

Belichick said there were “things we could’ve done better” but widely praised embattled general manager Michael Lombardi as having “done a good job,” reiterated that the timing of his hire put North Carolina behind other schools in terms of talent acquisition, and said that, regardless of the on-field results for the 2-3 team, UNC has made major strides in its performance.

“It’s a learning curve,” Belichick said. “We’re all in it together. But we’re making a lot of progress, and the process will eventually produce the results we want like they have everywhere else I’ve been.”

Belichick’s Monday media session was attended by university chancellor Lee Roberts, athletics director Bubba Cunningham and a host of other high-level administrators, as well as Lombardi — something unique for a midseason news conference.

Cunningham said the school continues to support Belichick’s vision for the program, but he admitted the disappointing results have led to a lot of frustration.

“There’s a steeper learning curve than we all anticipated,” Cunningham said. “The gap between expectations and performance is more severe than what we expected, and that’s what creates a lot of attention.”

Two weeks ago, Lombardi sent a letter to donors preaching patience during a “rebuilding” process, a terminology several players pushed back on.

“It’s Coach Belichick’s first year, so I’m not surprised he’s wanting to rebuild it,” Boise State transfer Andrew Simpson said. “Wanting to grow and be better, that’s what I focus on. Just because it’s a rebuild doesn’t mean we can’t win games now. We have seven more games, and that’s what I focus on.”

Belichick downplayed any concerns about the on-field results, saying he doesn’t “have expectations other than achieving what we want to achieve every day” and reiterating he has the support of the administration.

Reports of internal strife in the locker room were also dismissed by Belichick and multiple players made available to the media Monday, with Belichick saying Lombardi, in particular, maintains close conversations with players.

Among other controversies last week, Belichick refused to comment on the suspension of assistant coach Armond Hawkins for recruiting violations, but he said a planned Hulu documentary, which had reportedly been scrapped amid the team’s bad start, would still happen in some form.

“It’s still a work in progress, and we’re working through a few logistics,” Belichick said. “But there will be something.”

North Carolina is coming off its second open date in the past three weeks and heads to Cal for the team’s first ACC road trip Friday.

Belichick said he expects an improved performance with the additional week of practice time, despite a woeful defeat against Clemson following the last open date.

“Everybody’s most interested in the final score, and I’m at the top of that list,” he said. “But it’s a process. You build a culture, you build a program, and eventually the results will come. When will that happen? Hopefully as soon as possible. We’re working hard to get there.”

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Aggies lose leading rusher Moss for extended time

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Aggies lose leading rusher Moss for extended time

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M running back Le’Veon Moss will miss significant time because of an ankle injury.

Coach Mike Elko announced the injury Monday after the team’s leading rusher was injured in the first half of Saturday’s win over Florida that improved the fourth-ranked Aggies to 6-0.

“He’s going to have to go get it looked at, and we’ll kind of figure out where it’s at,” Elko said. “It certainly will not end his season, but it’s going to be a significant amount of time.”

Moss had five carries for 46 yards, highlighted by a 22-yard TD run, before he was injured in the second quarter Saturday.

He leads the Aggies with 70 carries for 389 yards and 6 touchdowns. It’s the second straight season he has sustained a significant injury after he missed the last four games last season because of a knee injury.

“I love Le’Veon,” Elko said. “I wish Le’Veon was healthy. We’re going to miss him. He’s been a warrior for this program. He’s given us everything he had to get ready for this season. I hope this goes as fast and as smooth as it can, but injuries are a part of SEC football. And if we’re going to allow injuries to impact or derail things, we can’t do that.”

With Moss out, the Aggies will make Rueben Owens II, a sophomore who is second on the team with 327 yards rushing, their primary ball carrier. He had 51 yards rushing and scored his first touchdown of the season Saturday, a week after he had a career-high 142 yards rushing in a win over Mississippi State.

“Rueben’s a lot bigger than people give him credit for,” Elko said. “Rueben’s starting to hit his stride, which has been really good.”

Elko added that Amari Daniels and Jamarion Morrow will also pitch in while Moss recovers.

The Aggies play the first of three straight road games Saturday at Arkansas.

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