Here is the latest Big 12 Conference 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.
UNDATED (AP) — Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker is The Associated Press national college football player of the week for his performance in a 39-31 upset of Oregon. Mestemaker set the tone with a 75-yard run on the first play from scrimmage and provided the game’s highlight with a high-flying dive into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. He finished with a career-high 109 rushing yards, passed for 317 and had a hand in three touchdowns as the Cowboys won as 24 1/2-point underdogs. Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 164 yards against Texas and is runner-up.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — U.S. Solheim Cup captain Angela Stanford has taken a position as an assistant women’s golf coach at her alma mater, TCU, following the Americans’ loss to Europe in the biennial team competition. TCU said Monday that Stanford would be an assistant to Angie Ravaioli-Larkin, who was her head coach when she was a standout player for the Horned Frogs from 1996-2000. Stanford played on the LPGA Tour from 2001-24, winning seven times, including a major title at the 2018 Evian Championship. The Big 12 Conference school’s announcement came a day after Europe reclaimed the Solheim Cup with a 15-13 win in the Netherlands.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — UCF quarterback Alonza Barnett III is expected to miss several weeks with a hamstring injury after leaving the Knights’ game late in the 12-7 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday. Coach Scott Frost described the injury as “fairly significant.” Barnett likely will miss several weeks, including this Saturday’s home game against Georgia State and the Big 12 opener Sept. 26 against TCU. Senior Keyone Jenkins is expected to start for the Knights on Saturday.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia assistant football coach Noel Devine has been arrested on a felony strangulation charge. Records show Devine was arrested Sunday in Morgantown, West Virginia. A not guilty plea was entered and Devine was ordered held in lieu of $40,000 bail. Court records didn’t provide details on the arrest. It’s not known whether he has an attorney who could comment on the charges on his behalf. Coach Rich Rodriguez says Devine has been placed on leave from the team. Devine was hired by Rodriguez in 2025 as an offensive analyst and assistant running backs coach. He was a three-year starter at running back for the Mountaineers two decades ago.
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.
