Here is the latest ACC sports news from The Associated Press
UNDATED (AP) — Proponents of the Protect College Sports Act are pushing to pass the legislation through the Senate before the chamber breaks in the coming weeks. The bill aims to regulate escalating spending in college sports as schools can now pay players. Major conferences, Senate leadership and President Donald Trump support the bipartisan bill, but it faces opposition that could derail it. Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy opposes the bill, arguing it protects industry profits over athlete compensation. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, a co-sponsor, has been actively promoting it.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State has fired athletics director Michael Alford. He had been the school’s athletics director since January 2022 after he was hired in the fall of 2020 to be the president of Seminole Boosters, Inc. School president Dr. Richard McCullough says “Michael Alford has served the University and our student-athletes with dedication, and we thank him for his contributions to our athletics programs.” McCullough appointed Bruce Warwick, currently senior associate athletics director, to serve as interim athletics director. There will be a national search for Alford’s replacement.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville coach Pat Kelsey has added another fifth-year player to the roster with forward LJ Wells now available this season for the Cardinals. Kelsey says he is friends with Northern Kentucky coach Darrin Horn, who gushes about Wells’ character, work ethic and coachability. Wells spent the past four seasons at Northern Kentucky and started 33 games as a senior averaging 15 points and 7.3 rebounds. The Cardinals also have guard Seth Trimble, who transferred from North Carolina for a fifth season. Trimble and Wells both are among a group of athletes who sought the right to play a fifth season from a Kentucky county court.
UNDATED (AP) — After knocking off top-ranked Ohio State, Texas is the new No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll. Ohio State dropped out of the top five for the first time in two seasons. Oregon dropped 15 spots to No. 21 after losing at Oklahoma State. Michigan has returned to the poll at No. 19 following a win over Oklahoma, which fell to No. 24. Georgia and Notre Dame held their places at No. 2 and No. 3. Indiana and Miami moved up to No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.
UNDATED (AP) — The Big Ten faced a tough Week 2 in college football, with Ohio State losing a 20-point lead to Texas and Oregon getting upset by Oklahoma State. The conference lost six of eight games against Power Four opponents. Meanwhile, the SEC won five of seven nonconference games, including two against the Big Ten. Texas’s comeback over Ohio State and Oregon’s struggles were major talking points. Oregon’s loss dropped the Ducks from No. 6 to No. 21 in the AP poll. Michigan and Iowa managed wins, but the Big Ten’s overall performance raised concerns about its strength this season.
UNDATED (AP) — Six of the 12 teams in the College Football Playoff would be from the Southeastern Conference and two of the four first-round games would be all-SEC matchups based on The Associated Press Top 25 poll. Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame and Indiana would be the top four seeds. First-round games would be No. 9 seed Texas A&M at No. 8 Mississippi, No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Miami, No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 LSU and No. 11 BYU at No. 6 Ohio State.
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Tech says defensive back Jaylen Mbakwe has been released from the hospital after precautionary observation following his injury in the third quarter of the Yellow Jackets’ 45-24 loss to No. 18 Tennessee. Following Saturday night’s game, Georgia Tech coach Brent Key said Mbakwe was talking and responsive. Mbakwe was involved in a collision with teammate Jordan Walker that led to Mbakwe leaving the field on a stretcher. Mbakwe collided headfirst with Walker’s knee. Walker was carried off the field, unable to put any weight on his leg. Mbakwe lay on the field and appeared motionless for several minutes.
