NO. 1 TEXAS, NO. 2 PENN ST EACH PLACE 3 PLAYERS ON ASSOCIATED PRESS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
Texas and Penn State, the top two teams in The Associated Press preseason Top 25, each had three players selected for the preseason AP All-America team announced Monday.
No. 1 Texas had one player from each level of its defense on the first team: edge rusher Colin Simmons, linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and safety Michael Taaffe. No. 2 Penn State’s picks were running back Nicholas Singleton, offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane and defensive lineman Zane Durant.
No. 3 Ohio State, No. 4 Clemson, No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 8 Alabama and Pittsburgh each had two players on the first team.
The Southeastern Conference had 12 players on the 27-man first team determined by media members on the AP Top 25 voting panel. The Big Ten had seven players, the ACC four and the Big 12 two.
Clemson’s Cade Klubnik was the overwhelming preseason choice for first-team quarterback after throwing for 3,639 yards with 39 touchdowns and just six interceptions.
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Florida center Jake Slaughter are returning first-team AP All-Americans.
Downs, whose late interception against Texas helped wrap up a College Football Playoff semifinal win for defending champion Ohio State, starred as a freshman at Alabama two years ago and established himself as the nation’s top safety in his first season with the Buckeyes. He’s a projected top-three pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
Downs was joined on the preseason-All-America first team by Buckeyes receiver Jeremiah Smith.
Slaughter, a leading candidate for the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center, played 800 snaps in his breakout season for the Gators. He allowed just one sack and was among the highest-rated run and pass blockers in the country, according to Pro Football Focus.
The AP All-America team for this season will be released in December. It will mark the 100th anniversary of the first team published in 1925.
First team offense
Quarterback — Cade Klubnik, fourth year, Clemson.
Running backs — Jeremiyah Love, third year, Notre Dame; Nicholas Singleton, fourth year, Penn State.
Tackles — Spencer Fano, fourth year, Utah; Kadyn Proctor, third year, Alabama.
Guards — Olaivavega Ioane, fourth year, Penn State; Ar’maj Reed-Adams, sixth year, Texas A&M.
Center — Jake Slaughter, fifth year, Florida.
Tight end — Eli Stowers, fifth year, Vanderbilt.
Wide receivers — Jeremiah Smith, second year, Ohio State; Ryan Williams, second year, Alabama; Jordyn Tyson, fourth year, Arizona State.
All-purpose player — Desmond Reid, fourth year, Pittsburgh.
Kicker — Dominic Zvada, fourth year, Michigan.
First team defense
Edge — Dylan Stewart, second year, South Carolina; Colin Simmons, second year, Texas.
Tackles — Peter Woods, third year, Clemson; Zane Durant, fourth year, Penn State.
Linebackers — Anthony Hill Jr., third year, Texas; Whit Weeks, fifth year, LSU; Kyle Louis, fourth year, Pittsburgh.
Cornerbacks — Leonard Moore, second year, Notre Dame; Jermod McCoy, third year, Tennessee.
Safeties — Caleb Downs, third year, Ohio State; Dillon Thieneman, third year, Oregon.
Defensive back — Michael Taaffe, fifth year, Texas.
Punter — Brett Thorson, fourth year, Georgia.
Second team offense
Quarterback — Garrett Nussmeier, fifth year, LSU.
Running backs — Makhi Hughes, fourth year, Oregon; Isaac Brown, second year, Louisville.
Tackles — Francis Mauigoa, third year, Miami; Blake Miller, fourth year, Clemson.
Guards — Cayden Green, third year, Missouri; Keylan Rutledge, fourth year, Georgia Tech.
Center — Parker Brailsford, fourth year, Alabama.
Tight end — Max Klare, fourth year, Ohio State.
Wide receivers — Antonio Williams, fourth year, Clemson; Elijah Sarratt, fourth year, Indiana; Cam Coleman, second year, Auburn.
All-purpose player — Kaytron Allen, fourth year, Penn State.
Kicker — Peyton Woodring, third year, Georgia.
Second team defense
Edge — T.J. Parker, third year, Clemson; Matayo Uiagalelei, third year, Oregon.
Tackles — Tim Keenan III, fifth year, Alabama; Christen Miller, fourth year, Georgia.
Linebackers — Taurean York, third year, Texas A&M; Harold Perkins Jr., fourth year, LSU; Aiden Fisher, fourth year, Indiana.
Cornerbacks — Chandler Rivers, fourth year, Duke; D’Angelo Ponds, third year, Indiana.
Safeties — Koi Perich, second year, Minnesota; KJ Bolden, second year, Georgia.
Defensive back — Jalon Kilgore, third year, South Carolina.
Punter — Ryan Eckley, fourth year, Michigan State.
NO. 11 ARIZONA STATE AIMING TO MAINTAIN MOMENTUM FOLLOWING RISE TO CFP A YEAR AGO
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona State had one of college football’s biggest turnarounds last season, reaching the College Football Playoff after being picked to finish last in its first season in the Big 12.
The Sun Devils’ goal this season is prove they’re no one-hit wonders, to build upon one of the best seasons in program history instead of taking a step back.
“We really didn’t do anything special — we did something that’s actually normal,” Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham said. “What would be special would be to continue to build off of that and that was the real challenge. How do we not become what normal teams in our situation do, which is fall back to where we’ve always been?”
The Sun Devils had a meteoric rise last season, reaching the CFP for the first time a year after winning three games in Dillingham’s first season. Arizona State pulled it off behind hard-nosed, do-everything running back Cam Skattebo, steady quarterback Sam Leavitt and a run-stuffing defense.
Skattebo is now playing for the NFL’s New York Giants, but nearly everyone else is back, ramping up expectations and enthusiasm in the desert. Arizona State’s No. 11 ranking in the preseason AP Top 25 is the program’s highest since opening at No. 8 in 1998 under Bruce Snyder.
“We’ve got the Valley activated for sure now, so they’re definitely expecting some things out of us,” Sun Devils receiver Jordyn Tyson said.
Leavitt returns
Leavitt had a memorable first season in Tempe after a redshirt year at Michigan State in 2023.
The 6-foot-2 quarterback set a school freshman record with 3,328 yards of total offense and his 2,885 yards passing are second in program history by a freshman. Leavitt threw for 24 touchdowns with six interceptions and embraced the spotlight that came with the Sun Devils’ rise, leading them to the Big 12 championship and a spot in the Peach Bowl.
The sophomore is expected to take an even bigger step this season — he’s been tabbed among the Heisman Trophy favorites — with a deeper knowledge of Arizona State’s offense and the confidence of leading his team to the CFP.
“His confidence is not cockiness because he works and he prepares and he loves it,” Dillingham said. “So, I love the fact that he’s confident. I think it’s only going to fuel him to be the best version of himself.”
Replacing Skattebo
Skattebo was one of the nation’s best players last season, a multi-talented back who bulled through tacklers, caught passes, even threw a few while racking up more than 2,300 combined yards.
Now that he’s gone, the Sun Devils may spread it around this season between three talented backs.
Kyson Brown Jr. showed flashes in a limited role as Skattebo’s backup last season, Kanye Udoh ran for over 1,100 yards at Army last season and speedy Raleek Brown could have a breakout season after being injured most of last year.
Schedule
Arizona State opens the season at home against FCS team Northern Arizona on Aug. 30 before playing a tough road game at Mississippi State the following week.
The Sun Devils open Big 12 play at Baylor on Sept. 20, with road games against Utah, Iowa State and Colorado before hosting rival Arizona in the regular-season finale.
TCU SETS SIGHTS ON BIG 12 TITLE WITH HOOVER LEADING THE CHARGE
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — TCU seemed to finally be getting back on track with Josh Hoover fully established at quarterback and an improving defense. The trick is carrying that into a new season with a brutal early schedule.
After surprising everyone three years ago with an undefeated regular season and making the national championship game in coach Sonny Dykes’ debut, the Horned Frogs stumbled to a losing record in 2023 and then were 3-3 halfway through last season after ugly losses against SMU and four-win teams UCF and Houston. They went on to a 9-4 record by winning their final four games, the longest streak any Big 12 team takes into this season.
“What is a successful season for us? It’s to reach our potential, I really do believe that,” Dykes said. “If you go back to 2022 and you said what would have been a successful season from the outside looking in, maybe 7–8 wins? We went 12–0 and ended up playing for a national championship.”
While saying he doesn’t know yet what the potential is this season, that came with an important caveat.
“I think we’re at that point in our program right now where if we’re not in the Big 12 championship game, it’s probably not a successful season,” he said. “We think this team is capable of doing that. We’ll see how it plays out.”
Football, fishing and hunting
Hoover is somewhat oblivious to any of the attention, or rather lack of, paid to the QB who went from throwing for 439 yards and four TDs as an injury replacement in his first start two years to almost 4,000 yards last season.
“I don’t really pay attention to stuff. I’m not really on social media,” said Hoover, who threw for 3,949 yards and 27 TDs. “I just play football and do my thing off the field, hunt and fish, and just show up every day and try to get better. … All I’m worried about is being the best I can be, maximizing my potential to be the best quarterback I can for TCU, and winning a Big 12 championship.”
Better feel for defense
This is the second year with defensive coordinator Andy Avalos, the former Boise State head coach. There were plenty of adjustments with the new coach in a 4-2-5 scheme, but the unit got better. After allowing 37 points a game against its first five FBS opponents (including 66 to SMU), TCU held the last seven to under 20 a game.
“This time last year we couldn’t line up, so it’s just completely different,” Dykes said. “It’s encouraging.”
Namdi Obiazor (81 tackles) and Kaleb Elarms-Orr (54 tackles) return in the middle of that defense. Safety Bud Clark is in his sixth year, already with 50 games played.
“Everybody’s energetic, and everybody’s eager to learn,” said Clark, who had 67 tackles and three interceptions. “So I feel like that alone says a lot.”
Still plenty to catch
The Frogs are confident about their passing game despite the departures of their top three receivers, all in NFL camps after combining for 179 catches for 2,378 yards and 17 TDs last year.
Former Boise State transfer Eric McAlister is a big playmaker who had 39 catches for 762 yards(19.5 yards per catch) and five TDs. All but four of his catches went for a first down or touchdown. Reliable tight end DJ Rogers is back, plus TCU has new transfers Jordan Dwyer (1,192 yards, 12 TDs receiving at Idaho) and Joseph Manjack IV (Houston), and at least a trio of freshmen who could make an immediate impact.
“They did a great job of recruiting young receivers,” Hoover said. “I think we’re going to have good receivers here for a very long time.”
Tough go early
Two years after losing at home to Colorado in coach Deion Sanders’ debut, the Frogs open this season at North Carolina for six-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Belichick’s first game with the Tar Heels.
TCU’s non-conference slate also includes hosting No. 16 SMU, a playoff team last season and Dykes’ former team, on Sept. 20. The conference opener follows at reigning champ No. 11 Arizona State, before hosting Colorado and going to No. 17 Kansas State to reach the midpoint of the season.
KANSAS STATE’S AVERY JOHNSON FACES HIGH EXPECTATIONS AS WILDCATS OPEN SEASON IN IRELAND
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State fans placed quarterback Avery Johnson on a pedestal before he arrived on campus. He was the top recruit who decided to stay home and play for the in-state school, and he was expected to lead the Wildcats to Big 12 greatness.
There were games last year in which he did exactly that. There also were games in which he fell right off that pedestal.
The question now, as the No. 17 Wildcats prepare to open the season against No. 22 Iowa State on Saturday in Dublin, Ireland, is whether the junior QB can play consistently at an elite level. Whether coach Chris Klieman wants to acknowledge it or not, the chances of Kansas State playing for a conference title this season rest largely on Johnson’s shoulders.
“He’s doing a really good job of holding other people accountable. Holding himself accountable,” Klieman said. “He’s saying, ‘I’ve got to continue to improve that relationship with these wideouts, or other tight ends or running backs.’ He’s never satisfied, and that is something that I really appreciate about Avery.”
To be clear: Johnson had an excellent first season as a starter. He threw for 2,712 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and he ran for another 605 yards and seven scores. And he led the Wildcats to a 9-4 finish, which included a bowl win over Rutgers — the fourth straight season Kansas State has finished with at least eight wins.
Yet among those losses was a 38-9 rout at BYU in which he threw a pair of picks, a loss to Houston in which he threw two more, and a late-season loss to the Cyclones that allowed them — rather than Kansas State — to play for a Big 12 championship.
The experience that Johnson gained from those setbacks has proven to be invaluable, though.
“I think he’s probably more comfortable in his own skin, in his own ability,” Kansas State offensive coordinator Matt Wells said. “‘I don’t have to be this certain type of player. I don’t need to listen to the media or somebody ask me about being a certain prototypical blank-kind of quarterback. I’m good when I run. I’m good when I throw it.’ I think he’s further along in coverage recognition. I think he’s further along in his ability to dissect what a defense is doing. That takes time.”
The time has come to put it to the test. The Wildcats open against Iowa State in a Top 25 showdown in Ireland that could play a big factor in deciding who plays for the Big 12 title come the end of the season.
Backfield star
Kansas State lost running back D.J. Giddens to the NFL, but Dylan Edwards is back, and he showed last season the kind of game-breaking speed and ability that made him a four-star recruit. He had 224 yards total and three touchdowns in the Rate Bowl.
Help at wideout
Jayce Brown is back after catching 47 passes for 823 yards and five touchdowns, but the Wildcats seldom got production from the rest of their wide receivers last year. Purdue transfer Jaron Tibbs and Boston College transfer Jerand Bradley should help.
Tight end U
The school that produced second-round draft pick Ben Sinnott two years keeps churning out tight ends. Garrett Oakley, Will Swanson and Will Anciaux combined to catch 11 TD passes last season, and now they will be joined by Linkon Cure, who many recruiting services labeled the best tight end in this year’s recruiting class.
Middle of the defense
Austin Romaine was largely overlooked coming out of high school, but the middle linebacker has emerged as one of the best in the nation. He was second-team All-Big 12 last year and is on the watch list for the Butkus and Nagurski awards this year.
Schedule situation
The first four weeks of the season will set the tone for Kansas State. After playing in Ireland, the Wildcats return home to face North Dakota, then face the tricky triple-option of Army. After a short week comes a Friday night trip to Arizona on Sept. 12. Trips to Baylor and Kansas await but the Wildcats get TCU, Texas Tech and Colorado at home.
OKLAHOMA STATE COACH MIKE GUNDY STAYS COOL AS COWBOYS FACE UNCERTAINTY WITH NEW PLAYERS AND COACHES
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy remains cool, even as the pressure rises.
Perhaps that’s because before his Cowboys finished 3-9 last season, he reached a rare level of consistency, posting winning records every year from 2006 to 2023. Gundy’s outsized personality is only eclipsed by his overall record of 169-88 in 20 seasons.
The 58-year-old Gundy this year has a team returning just one starter on offense and three on defense, which could be good or bad depending on perspective. Most of the 60-plus newcomers are experienced transfers. He also overhauled his coaching staff, hiring new offensive and defensive coordinators.
“I’m not concerned,” Gundy said. “There are a bunch of guys running around and making plays, and the talent level is fine. The uncertainty is going to work in the morning and not knowing exactly what is going to happen.”
Things appeared promising for the Cowboys to perhaps have one of their best seasons a year ago before injuries and erratic play left Gundy with perhaps his most disappointing team. Now, the Cowboys will try to bounce back with a new quarterback — holdover Zane Flores or transfer Hauss Hejny.
Flores, a freshman from Gretna, Nebraska, redshirted two years ago and missed last season due to injury. Hejny played for new offensive coordinator Doug Meacham at TCU last season and is known primarily as a dangerous runner.
“We don’t have anybody that’s thrown a pass in a game at this level, so there’s a lot of uncertainty,” Gundy said. “Both guys are doing well, but they’ve got a long way to go, and we’re learning about them just as well as they’re learning the system.”
Replacing Gordon
Ollie Gordon II ran for more than 2,900 yards in his college career and won the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s top running back two seasons ago. Now that he’s playing for the Miami Dolphins, there is a scramble to earn carries.
There appear to be capable replacements. Trent Howland, Sesi Vailahi and Rodney Fields Jr. are back after getting action last season. Kalib Hicks, a transfer from Oklahoma and Freddie Brock, a transfer from Georgia State, are in the mix.
New coordinators
Gundy hired Meacham as offensive coordinator and Todd Grantham as defensive coordinator.
Meacham, a former Oklahoma State offensive lineman, was on the Cowboys’ coaching staff from 2005 to 2012. He was an offensive coordinator in 2021 at TCU, and he remained on the Horned Frogs’ staff through last season.
Grantham has been defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns in the NFL and for Georgia, Louisville, Mississippi State and Florida at the college level. He most recently was a defensive line coach for the New Orleans Saints last season.
QB coach
New quarterbacks coach Kevin Johns spent the latter part of last season as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Oklahoma. Johns also has FBS assistant coaching stops at Duke, Memphis, Texas Tech, Western Michigan, Indiana and Northwestern.
Gundy, a former QB himself and not easily impressed, has great respect for Johns.
“There weren’t many guys when I started calling around and asking about guys — two or three of them in the country that I thought would be capable of doing it,” Gundy said.
Terrill Davis
Oklahoma State might have another breakout receiving star. Davis, a redshirt senior, was an AP Division II All-American at Central Oklahoma last season after logging 1,609 yards receiving.
Gundy said Davis has adjusted quickly to the new surroundings.
“He has done really well,” Gundy said. “I would say he has exceeded my expectations just based on my history, and he is very mature.”
Schedule
The Cowboys open on a Thursday night at home against Tennessee-Martin. The next week, they’ll find out what they’ve got when they visit No. 7 Oregon. Three of the final five games are against ranked opponents – at Texas Tech on Oct. 25, at home against Kansas State on Nov. 15 and at home against Iowa State on Nov. 22.
MICHIGAN QB BRYCE UNDERWOOD TOPS LIST OF FRESHMEN WHO COULD MAKE IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood, the nation’s No. 1 recruit in his class, has spent months getting ready in hopes of starting the 14th-ranked Wolverines’ season opener against New Mexico.
If follows an outstanding high school career in which Underwood threw for 11,488 yards and 152 touchdowns while leading Belleville to a 50-4 record and two Michigan state championships.
The 6-foot-4 freshman heads our list of freshmen who could make a major impact this season.
Underwood arrived on campus in time for spring practice and went 12 of 26 for 187 yards in the spring game, throwing an interception but also delivering an 88-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Hoffman on a reverse flea-flicker.
“I think he’s grown every single day since he’s been on campus,” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore told reporters at the Big Ten media days event last month. “He’s been with us since December. Continues to do everything he can to be, one, the best teammate he can be; two, to be the best student he can be; and then, three, to be the best football player that he can be and quarterback that he can be for our football team.”
Michigan fans would love to see better quarterback production after the Wolverines followed up their 2023 national championship with an 8-5 season in which they threw more interceptions (13) than touchdown passes (12).
Underwood could change that.
He was committed to LSU for much of his recruitment but changed his mind and signed with Michigan in December after a sales pitch that included a FaceTime chat with former Michigan quarterback and seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady. He has made quite an early impression on his new coaches.
“He does everything the right way,” Moore said. “He makes sure that he attacks everything the best way.”
Michigan isn’t the only Big Ten school that could be starting a freshman quarterback. Maryland freshman Malik Washington was competing with UCLA transfer Justyn Martin and Khristian Martin, who aren’t related, as the Terrapins prepare to open their season against Florida Atlantic.
Other freshmen who could make immediate contributions:
Clemson DT Amare Adams
No. 4 Clemson has some experience at defensive tackle with DeMontre Capehart and Peter Woods returning from last year’s playoff team, but Adams could be strong enough to earn himself a featured role as well. Adams, who is 6-4 and 310 pounds, was the No. 3 defensive lineman and No. 22 overall prospect in his class according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports.
“He’s just not a normal freshman,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “He’s a really, really talented young player.”
Another defensive lineman who bears watching is Georgia’s Elijah Griffin, who was ranked third overall in the 247Sports Composite.
BYU QB Bear Bachmeier
BYU has an uncertain quarterback situation following the summertime departure of 2024 starter Jake Retzlaff, who is now at Tulane. Retzlaff’s exit left Bachmeier and McCae Hillstead competing for the starting spot.
Bachmeier initially signed with Stanford but transferred following the March firing of coach Troy Taylor. Bachmeier isn’t the only Big 12 freshman quarterback who could earn an immediate starting role. Julian Lewis was competing with Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter at Colorado.
Oregon WR Dakorien Moore
This 5-11 wideout accumulated over 3,400 yards receiving and scored 40 touchdowns during his high school career at Duncanville (Texas). The 247Sports Composite had him as the No. 1 wide receiver and No. 4 overall prospect in his class.
Moore could provide an immediate boost for an Oregon receiving unit that could use the help with Evan Stewart injured and Jurrion Dickey suspended indefinitely. Stewart, who caught 48 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns last season, is expected to miss at least part of the season after tearing his patellar tendon in June.
LSU CB D.J. Pickett
Pickett came to No. 9 LSU from Zephyrhills (Florida) High as the nation’s No. 2 cornerback and No. 11 overall prospect in his class, according to the 247Sports Composite. He could provide an immediate upgrade for an LSU defense that intercepted just six passes last season, the lowest total for any Southeastern Conference team.
Tennessee OT David Sanders
No. 24 Tennessee must replace four starters from the offensive line that helped the Volunteers earn a playoff berth last season. That creates plenty of opportunity for Sanders, who came out of Charlotte, North Carolina, as the 247Sports Composite’s No. 6 overall prospect in his class. Sanders, who is 6-6 and 305 pounds, is expected to open the season as Tennessee’s starting right tackle.
Florida WR Dallas Wilson
Wilson provided a tantalizing glimpse of his potential by catching 10 passes for 195 yards in No. 15 Florida’s spring game, though he suffered a lower-leg injury that has sidelined him for part of preseason camp. The 6-3 wideout caught 130 passes for 2,424 yards and 30 touchdowns in his high school career in Tampa. Wilson signed with Florida after initially committing to Oregon. He’s rated as the nation’s No. 35 overall prospect and No. 8 receiver in his class by the 247Sports Composite.
OHIO STATE NAMES SAYIN STARTING QB
Quarterback Julian Sayin will be Ohio State’s Week 1 starting quarterback against Texas, head coach Ryan Day announced Monday.
The redshirt freshman beat out Lincoln Kienholz for the position. Sayin was an ESPN 300 five-star recruit in the 2024 class, ranking as the second quarterback behind only Florida’s DJ Lagway.
Sayin initially signed with Alabama but transferred to Ohio State once Nick Saban announced his retirement in January 2024. He only attempted 12 passes in 2024 while sitting behind starter Will Howard en route to the Buckeyes’ National Championship win over Notre Dame.
The 20-year-old will be the first Ohio State signal-caller with no previous starting experience to lead the team in Week 1 since C.J. Stroud in 2021.
Ohio State averaged 35.7 points per contest in 2024, ranking ninth in all of college football. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who took the NCAA by storm as a freshman last year, is set to be Sayin’s top offensive target.
Sayin will face off against Arch Manning and the Longhorns in the season opener on Aug. 30.
NOTRE DAME TRANSFER STEVE ANGELI NAMED SYRACUSE QB1
Syracuse named Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli as its starting quarterback on Monday.
The redshirt junior won a competition with LSU transfer Rickie Collins and will make his Orange debut against No. 24 Tennessee on Aug. 30 in Atlanta.
Angeli appeared in 21 games for the Fighting Irish from 2022-24 with one start. He completed 15 of 19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns in a 40-8 win against Oregon State in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 29, 2023.
During Notre Dame’s run to the College Football Playoff national championship game last season, Angeli completed 6 of 7 passes for 44 yards in the 27-24 semifinal win against Penn State in the Orange Bowl.
Angeli completed 72.5 percent of his passes for 772 yards, 10 touchdowns and one interception at Notre Dame. Angeli participated in spring ball this year and competed with redshirt sophomore Kenny Minchey and redshirt freshman CJ Carr for the starting job, but he entered the portal less than a week after the Blue-Gold game.
Syracuse is scheduled to visit the Fighting Irish on Nov. 22.
Angeli replaces Kyle McCord, who set ACC and school records with 4,779 passing yards last season before getting drafted in the sixth round by the Philadelphia Eagles.
TEXAS TECH RB QUINTEN JOYNER TO MISS SEASON WITH KNEE INJURY
Texas Tech running back Quinten Joyner will miss the 2025 season after suffering a knee injury during a scrimmage on Saturday.
Joyner, a sophomore, was a projected starter for the Red Raiders after transferring in from Southern California in the offseason.
“I hate it so much for him, just because of how well he has done in the spring, summer and camp,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said on his podcast on Monday. “He has really come in here and been a pro, and we’ve asked him to do a lot of stuff that he hasn’t done before. … He’s really taken to it, so it’s unfortunate.”
The 5-foot-11, 215-pound Joyner had 478 yards and three touchdowns on 63 carries at USC last season. He added another 89 yards and a touchdown on 12 receptions.
The Red Raiders are the No. 23 team in the preseason AP poll.
FRESHMAN JARON-KEAWE SAGAPOLUTELE TO BE CAL’S STARTING QB
Cal true freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele has won the starting quarterback job, Golden Bears coach Justin Wilcox announced Monday.
Sagapolutele beat out Ohio State transfer Devin Brown for the gig. He will be the school’s first freshman opening game starter since Jared Goff in 2013.
Wilcox has been impressed with the young quarterback’s accuracy.
“He keeps his eyes down the field really well,” Wilcox told reporters. “Those two things showed up. He’s very, very coachable. He learns quickly.”
Sagapolutele committed to Cal in the summer of 2024 before flipping and signing with Oregon late in the 2024 season. But weeks later, he entered the transfer portal and chose the Golden Bears.
Sagapolutele is a four-star recruit from Hawaii. He passed for a state-record 10,653 yards in his career for Campbell High in Ewa Beach, located just west of Honolulu.
Goff was ready to play right away 12 years ago and part of the reason was due to his ability to handle all the responsibilities without getting flustered.
Wilcox became Cal coach for the 2017 season and didn’t coach Goff, who departed to be the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. But he thinks Sagapolutele has some of the same attributes.
“He didn’t seem to get real up and down. He was very steady,” Wilcox said of Goff. “A lot of great quarterbacks have that character trait. Their ability to stay in the moment, not get too high or too low. …
“Jaron has some of that, where he’s just a pretty even-keeled guy. You don’t get the sense (that the moment) is going to be too big for him. I think he’s got that demeanor that’s very calm and collected, and competitive at the same time.”
Brown passed for 331 yards, three touchdowns and one interception over the past three seasons for the Buckeyes. He was the favorite to win the job when Cal began fall camp.
Last year’s starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza, transferred to Indiana after the campaign.
The Golden Bears open the season against Oregon State in Corvallis on Aug. 30.
