Thanks for the Memories, Ben
NCAA
BC Plays Host to the ‘Cuse
CHESTNUT HILL – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Two new Atlantic Coast Conference coaches go head-to-head for the first time Saturday when Bill O’Brien’s Boston College team hosts Fran Brown and century-old rival Syracuse.
The teams enter their 58th all-time meeting as the Eagles (4-4, 1-3 ACC) have lost three straight and the Orange (6-2, 3-2) came back to beat Virginia Tech in overtime last Saturday for their fourth win in five games.
“I’ve been involved with a lot of rivalries, and this is one of those types of games,” O’Brien said. “It’s just two tough teams going against each other.”
Two of Boston College’s four losses and its last two wins have come in one-possession games. Syracuse has played in five such close encounters this season, winning two in overtime.
With three of the teams’ last four meetings decided by a single-digit margin, another close one is expected.
In a 31-27 loss to Louisville on Oct. 25, Thomas Castellanos threw three touchdowns. Three forced turnovers — including Quintayvious Hutchins’ fumble recovery and interception — helped the Eagles build 20-0 and 27-10 leads. But the Cardinals scored 14 fourth-quarter points.
Boston College Bests The Citadel
CHESTNUT HILL – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Sophomore guard Donald Hand Jr. tossed in a career-high 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds Monday night to lead host Boston College past The Citadel 69-60 in the season opener for both teams in Massachusetts.
Hand was 3 of 8 from 3-point range and 11 of 11 from the free-throw line. He scored 17 points in the second half.
Chad Venning added 15 points in the game for the Eagles, who received 11 from Elijah Strong.
Brody Fox led The Citadel with 18 points. Fox’s layup with 24 seconds to play sliced BC’s lead to seven points, which was the closest the Bulldogs got in the second half.
Cam Glover and Keynan Davis each scored 10 points for the Bulldogs. Davis also pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.
It was a rough shooting night for The Citadel, which made 20 of its 52 shots from the floor (38.5 percent). The Bulldogs were 3 of 24 from 3-point territory.
BC led 27-25 with 1:44 remaining in the first half, then the Eagles used a 10-0 run to take a 37-25 lead with 7 seconds left in the half. Venning scored six points in the 10-0 run. BC had a 37-28 halftime lead.
The Citadel was 2 of 13 from 3-point territory in the opening 20 minutes, when BC had a 15-6 edge in points off turnovers.
The Citadel didn’t score in the second half until Glover made two free throws that cut BC’s lead to 43-30 with 15:02 to play. The Eagles owned their largest advantage in the game after Hand made two free throws to stretch the lead to 48-32 with 13:42 left.
The Bulldogs were within nine points, 63-54, after a Davis 3-pointer with 5:01 to play. Hand made two free throws that gave the Eagles a 67-54 advantage with 2:06 remaining.
BC had a 43-32 edge in rebounds. Each team committed 14 turnovers.
–Field Level Media
Oregon Remains No. 1
INDIANAPOLIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The top four teams in the Associated Press Top 25 held their spots in the latest poll, released Sunday, and were joined by three new teams.
Oregon (8-0) received 61 of the 62 first-place votes to remain at No. 1, followed by Georgia (6-1), which received the other vote. They were followed by Penn State (7-0), Ohio State (6-1) and Miami (8-0), which jumped a spot to round out the top five.
Texas (7-1), which rebuffed a stiff challenge from Vanderbilt Saturday, dropped a spot to No. 6, with Tennessee (6-1) staying at No. 7.
New to the top 10 this week are Notre Dame (7-1), which jumped four spots to No. 8; BYU (8-0), up from No. 9; and Texas A&M, No. 14 last week and one of four Southeastern Conference programs in the group.
Idle Clemson (6-1) fell out of the top 10 and landed at No. 11, followed by Iowa State (7-0), Indiana (8-0), Alabama (6-2) and Boise State (6-1), up two places to No. 15.
Taking the biggest plunge was LSU (6-2), which fell eight rungs to No. 16 after being trounced by Texas A&M 38-23. Missouri and Illinois, both 6-2, each dropped four places after losses. Illinois is No. 24, one spot ahead of Missouri.
Leaving the poll this week were the two teams at the bottom of the poll last week: No. 24 Navy and No. 25 Vanderbilt. Navy (6-1) was manhandled by Notre Dame, 51-14, while Vanderbilt gave Texas all it could handle as the Commodores lost 27-24.
Entering the Top 25 were No. 22 Washington State (7-1) and No. 23 Colorado (6-2).
The full AP Top 25 poll after Week 9:
1. Oregon
2. Georgia
3. Penn State
4. Ohio State
5. Miami
6. Texas
7. Tennessee
8. Notre Dame
9. BYU
10. Texas A&M
11. Clemson
11. Iowa State
13. Indiana
14. Alabama
15. Boise State
16. LSU
17. Kansas State
18. Pittsburgh
19. Ole Miss
20. SMU
21. Army
22. Washington State
23. Colorado
24. Illinois
25. Missouri
–Field Level Media
Oregon Jumps to No. 1
INDIANAPOLIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Oregon vaulted to the top of the Associated Press Top 25 college football poll for the first time in 12 years on Sunday after its dominant win at Purdue and Texas’ home loss to Georgia on Saturday.
The Ducks (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) avoided a letdown following their 32-31 home victory over then-No. 3 Ohio State on Oct. 12 by routing the host Boilermakers 35-0 on Friday. Oregon, which received 59 of the 61 first-place votes, moved into the top spot after the then-No. 5 Bulldogs knocked off the Longhorns 30-15 to end Texas’ two-week run at No. 1.
Georgia (6-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) moved up to No. 2 and received the other two first-place votes, while the Longhorns slipped to No. 5. Penn State and Ohio State bye weeks and remain at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively.
The Ducks are the fourth team this season to hold the top ranking. No team has been No. 1 for longer than three straight weeks.
Tennessee made the biggest leap in the polls, jumping four spots to No. 7 after its 24-17 home win over then-No. 7 Alabama. The Crimson Tide suffered the biggest drop, falling eight spots to No. 15, their worst ranking since 2010.
Vanderbilt (No. 25) entered the AP poll for the first time since 2013 after its 24-14 home victory over Ball State. Meanwhile, defending national champion and then-No. 24 Michigan fell out of the rankings for the first time this season after losing 21-7 at Illinois, which moved up to No. 20.
Miami remained one spot ahead of the Volunteers at No. 6 after its wild 52-45 win at Louisville. LSU routed Arkansas 34-10 to remain at No. 8, while Clemson and Iowa State swapped spots in the rankings to round out the top 10 after both teams won.
The full AP Top 25 poll after Week 8:
1. Oregon
2. Georgia
3. Penn State
4. Ohio State
5. Texas
6. Miami
7. Tennessee
8. LSU
9. Clemson
10. Iowa State
11. BYU
12. Notre Dame
13. Indiana
14. Texas A&M
15. Alabama
16. Kansas State
17. Boise State
18. Ole Miss
19. Pittsburgh
20. Illinois
21. Missouri
22. SMU
23. Army
24. Navy
25. Vanderbilt
–Field Level Media
Virginia Tech Pummels Eagles
BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten rushed for a school-record 266 yards on 18 carries and scored four touchdowns to lead Tech to a 42-21 ACC victory over Boston College on Thursday night in Virginia.
The Hokies (4-3, 2-1 ACC) led 14-0 after one quarter and 28-0 at halftime, but BC scored three TDs in a 5:53 span in the third quarter to make it a 28-21 contest. BC’s second and third TDs followed Virginia Tech turnovers.
Tuten’s third touchdown came on a 6-yard run and helped the Hokies extend their lead to 35-21 with 11:02 remaining in the game. The touchdown came three plays after BC (4-3, 1-2) had failed to convert on a fourth-and-1 play from its 49-yard line with 12:33 remaining.
Tuten added a 61-yard TD run with 8:28 to play. He also scored on an 83-yard run and caught a 20-yard TD pass from quarterback Kyron Drones, who had TD runs of 11 yards and 1 yard.
Darren Evans held Virginia Tech’s previous record for yards rushing in a game (253 in 2008).
BC scored on a 25-yard TD pass from quarterback Thomas Castellanos to Treshaun Ward, an 11-yard pass from Castellanos to Jeremiah Franklin and a 5-yard run by Kye Robichaux. The latter touchdown came with 2:55 remaining in the third quarter and trimmed Virginia Tech’s lead to 28-21.
Castellanos completed 17 of 26 passes for 205 yards but was limited to 58 yards rushing on 20 attempts.
NCAA Hoops: ’24-’25 Preseason Poll
INDIANAPOLIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Kansas is No. 1 and two-time defending national champion UConn is No. 3 in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll released Monday.
The Jayhawks received 30 of the 60 first-place ballots, while No. 2 Alabama collected 14 and the Huskies received 11. No. 4 Houston received four first-place votes, with the other going to No. 6 Gonzaga. Iowa State is No. 5.
Kansas was the preseason No. 1 team last season, too, but the Jayhawks were derailed by injuries and finished 23-11 with a second-round loss in the NCAA Tournament.
Head coach Bill Self padded the Kansas roster through the transfer portal, adding A.J. Storr (Wisconsin), Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State) and Rylan Griffen (Alabama) to a roster led by All-American big man Hunter Dickinson and seniors Dajuan Harris Jr. and KJ Adams.
“We welcome being No. 1, especially with our returning players like Hunter, Dajuan and KJ, and then you add the players we brought in,” Self said. “The goal is to be No. 1 at the end of the season, and though we welcome this, it is not the end goal.”
The Crimson Tide lost to UConn in the Final Four last season and are led by All-American guard Mark Sears.
The Huskies are attempting to become the first program to win three straight titles since John Wooden’s UCLA dynasty won seven in a row from 1967-73.
The Big 12 has five teams in the top 10, while the Southeastern Conference leads the way with nine schools in the Top 25.
The rest of the Top 25 preseason poll:
11. Auburn
12. Tennessee
13. Texas A&M
14. Purdue
15. Creighton
16. Arkansas
17. Indiana
18. Marquette
19. Texas
20. Cincinnati
21. Florida
22. UCLA
23. Kentucky
24. Ole Miss
25. Rutgers
–Field Level Media
Vanderbilt Fined $100,000; Arkansas Fined $250k
NASHVILLE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Southeastern Conference announced on it will fine both Vanderbilt University and the University of Arkansas for “violations of the league’s access to competition area policy,” or in layman’s terms, for not preventing fans from storming the field Saturday.
Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-1 SEC) scored the biggest upset in school history, taking down a No. 1 team in Alabama for the first time ever, 40-35. Meanwhile, Arkansas (4-2, 2-1) also recorded a top-five upset (its first in 15 years) by defeating then-No. 4 Tennessee 19-14 in Fayetteville, Ark.
In the wake of both upsets, as is customary in big wins, fans charged the field to celebrate with their teams. In Vanderbilt’s case, the fans took down the goalpost and carried it out of the stadium, eventually depositing it in the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville.
After fans took to the field in Arkansas, Volunteers defensive lineman Omari Thomas was attempting to exit but was seen on video shoving a male fan into a female and both fell to the ground.
Thomas apologized on Sunday.
“I apologize for my actions during the chaotic postgame scene,” Thomas wrote on social media. “Even though we got run into multiple times by fans while trying to exit the field, that doesn’t condone my actions or define my character. I sincerely apologize. I wish Arkansas and their fans all the best.”
Per policy that was revised in 2023, Vanderbilt received a fine of $100,000 as a first-time offender. Arkansas was levied a $250,000 penalty for its second offense. The Razorbacks’ first offense was last November during men’s basketball season when fans stormed the court following an 80-75 victory over No. 9 Duke.
For conference games, the fines are paid to the opposing institutions.
Alabama dropped to No. 7 after the loss. Tennessee fell to No. 8.
–Field Level Media
BC Eagles Win One #ForWelles
CHESTNUT HILL – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos’ 42-yard touchdown pass to Lewis Bond with 1:28 left in regulation propelled the BC Eagles to a 23-19 win over previously unbeaten Michigan State on Saturday night in Boston. Bond finished with 102 yards on six receptions to lead the Eagles (3-1), catching the game-winning toss over two defenders’ reach and walking untouched into the end zone.
Michigan State (3-1) moved past midfield on the following drive as quarterback Aidan Chiles (17-of-35, 241 yards) completed three straight passes, but his third interception landed in Max Tucker’s hands in the back of the end zone to clinch the win for the hosts.
Treshaun Ward logged 102 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries to lead the Boston College rushing attack. Castellanos was 10-of-16 passing for 140 yards and the deciding score. It was a see-saw fourth quarter for the Eagles, as Castellanos had a 1-yard keeper stopped short of the end zone at the end of a 12-play drive.
Following the turnover, Michigan State’s 18-play, 89-yard march resulted in a Jonathan Kim 27-yard field goal with 4:12 left. Kim kicked field goals of 41, 26, 51 and 27 yards for the Spartans, who were seeking their first 4-0 start since 2021.
Ky’ron Lynch-Adams rushed for 61 yards on 15 carries, while Jake Velling caught six passes for 77 yards.
Boston College scored 10 points off turnovers to turn around a 13-6 halftime deficit in less than three minutes early in the third quarter. After Carter Davis forced Lynch-Adams to fumble the opening kickoff of the second half, Luca Lombardo’s 39-yard field goal made it 13-9.
Amari Jackson intercepted a Chiles deep ball on the ensuing series, and Ward then ran 36 yards up the sideline for a go-ahead score only 2:38 into the third.
After Chiles missed a wide-open Montorie Foster Jr., Kim nailed an impressive 51-yard field goal to conclude an 8-play drive and tie the game at 16-all.
In the opening quarter, Michigan State forced a 3-and-out to begin the game and then capped a 9-play drive with Kim’s 41-yard kick. Ward rushed four times and made a 4th-and-4 catch out of the backfield to help set up Richard’s 11-yard score on a run to the left with 12:24 left in the first half.
Converting on an 11-play, 64-yard drive that spanned 6:08, the Eagles’ lead was 6-3 as Lombardo missed the point-after attempt after a high snap.
The Spartans responded with a 75-yard drive, scoring on a Chiles 1-yard run at 8:10 of the second. Foster’s 40-yard catch over the middle preceded the touchdown.
Kim’s 26-yarder extended the Michigan State lead with 20 seconds left before halftime.
-Field Level Media
Michigan State Visits Boston College
BC Eagles Host Spartans for ’24 Red Bandana Game
BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Unbeaten Michigan State visits Boston College for the programs’ first meeting since 2007 on Saturday at Chestnut Hill.
Playing its annual Red Bandana Game in honor of Boston College alum and Sept. 11, 2001, hero Welles Crowther, the Eagles (2-1) look to bounce back from last weekend’s 27-21 loss at then-No. 6 Missouri — the first setback under new head coach Bill O’Brien.
“For us to be able to go out there and play a game in honor of (Crowther) is a big deal,” O’Brien said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for Boston College to show off who we are. This is who we are.”
Thomas Castellanos threw three touchdowns against the Tigers and ranks second in the Atlantic Coast Conference with nine on the season. The Eagles led 14-3 before giving up 24 unanswered points.
“We’re never going to accept losing at Boston College, but these guys fought hard,” O’Brien said. “I think if we can do a better job stopping the run, that’s going to lead to more success for us in the future.”
With last week’s 40-0 win over Prairie View A&M, Michigan State (3-0) has won three straight games under a first-year coach in Jonathan Smith for the first time since Mark Dantonio in 2007.
The Spartans have seen both Aidan Chiles and Tommy Schuster make an impact at quarterback, with the latter debuting with his new team last week — 8-of-10 passing for 97 yards — after transferring from North Dakota.
Chiles threw for 173 yards and a touchdown, following up a 363-yard performance in a 27-24 win at Maryland on Sept. 7.
“We’ve got total confidence (Schuster would) be ready to go out there,” Smith said. “It’s a long season, just like we’re dealing with injuries at different spots, he needs to be ready, and he will be.”
A new Spartan has recently been added to the injury list in offensive lineman Gavin Broscious.
“You probably won’t see him the rest of the year which is unfortunate,” Smith said. “Again, these yearly ones (hurt) because he’d been working really hard.”
Boston College has a 4-1-1 advantage in the all-time series, including a 24-21 win in the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando. The QB matchup in that game featured Matt Ryan against Michigan State counterpart Brian Hoyer.
–Field Level Media