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Air Force a “Serious Target” to Join American Athletic Conference

ESPN’s Pete Thamel is reporting that Air Force is now a serious target to be added to the AAC after the Mountain West has started to weaken.

This is not the first time the AAC and Air Force have engaged in talks, as former Commissioner Mike Aresco engaged Air Force in conversations which ultimately did not result in anything substantive.

Considering the naming convention of the conference and the fact that the other two military academies are already in the AAC, this move could make a ton of sense for Air Force.

With the four schools of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State all leaving the Mountain West for the Pac-12, this makes sense from Air Force’s perspective to not be left without a conference if/when the Mountain West collapses in on itself. And given the Pac-12’s interest in expanding, this is also a smart move from the AAC, which may see some of their schools, like UTSA, Memphis, and Tulane all as prime candidates to be poached by the Pac-12.

Michigan QB Alex Orji Named Starter vs. USC

Michigan coach Sherrone Moore named Alex Orji the starting QB of the Wolverines ahead of their matchup against USC this weekend.

Orji was previously the backup to the struggling Davis Warren through the first 3 games of the 2024 season, but now that Big Ten play is starting Coach Moore is making the change.

In limited action, Orji had 10 carries for 58 yards, as well as being 3-for-6 passing for 15 yards and two passing touchdowns. Warren, on the other hand, was 48-for-72 passing for 444 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions.

Warren was benched in Michigan’s last game against Arkansas State after throwing three interceptions. After the game, Moore praised Orji’s ability to protect the ball and both move and command the offense.

Wisconsin QB Tyler Van Dyke Out for Rest of 2024

Wisconsin QB Tyler Van Dyke suffered a knee injury during Wisconsin’s 42-10 loss to Alabama, and it has now been revealed that Van Dyke will miss the remainder of the 2024 season due to that injury.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel has shared that it is a full ACL tear in his right knee, and he has no timeline for recovery yet but it will be after the 2024 season has come and gone.

Early in the game against Alabama, Van Dyke scrambled toward the first down marker and possibly tore his ACL before even making contact with an Alabama defender.

Wisconsin will move forward with Braedyn Locke as the presumed starter.

USA Today: Sherrone Moore Cannot Be Fired For Knowledge of Connor Stalions Scandal

USA Today Sports obtained the official contract Sherrone Moore and Michigan recently signed, and in it is one specific provision that is of note.

Specifically, it states that Moore’s contract may not be terminated for, “a violation of the Governing Rules which occurred prior to the Effective Date, to the extent the University had actual knowledge of the facts or alleged facts that are the basis for the violation prior to the execution of this Agreement by all parties, shall not be deemed a basis for termination with cause …” However, elsewhere the contract does state that Moore may be suspended without pay or fired with cause, “if the University determines that the Head Coach has been in violation of the Governing Rules, whether prior to or after the Effective Date of this Agreement.”

For those who do not speak lawyer, this means that if Sherrone Moore knew about Connor Stalions’ sign-stealing operation (or another rules violation before he became coach), he cannot be fired for that, but if he participated in it (or another rules violation, even before he became coach), he can be fired or suspended without pay. Any violations after Moore signed the contract are not covered by these provisions of his contract.

Mike Norvell on DJU: He’s Giving Us a Chance

Despite being 0-3, Mike Norvell is still backing QB DJ Uiagalelei and recently shared with reporters that he is pleased with how Uiagalelei is preparing.

Additionally, Norvell said about DJU that, “I think when you look at the game, there were some things that DJ did really well in putting guys in a position and trying to give opportunities. … I am pleased with the way that he’s preparing. I am pleased with the things that he’s doing. You see the moments where he’s giving us a chance. He’s giving us an opportunity to have big plays. I thought there were a lot of the reads and things that he needed to do and the position where he needed to put the ball that was positive.”

Uiagalelei is currently completing 56.6% of his passes for an average of 222 yards per game and has one touchdown and two interceptions through 3 games. The QBs behind DJU on the depth chart include Brock Glenn, who started the ACC Championship last season, and Luke Kromenhoek, a fringe 5-star/high 4-star true freshman. Florida State hosts Cal in Week 4.

Steve Sarkisian on Texas RB Jaydon Blue’s Health

Texas RB Jaydon Blue suffered an ankle injury in Texas’ Week 2 win over Michigan, which forced him out of the game and also cost him the chance to play against UTSA last week.

Coach Steve Sarkisian offered a positive update, sharing that “Jaydon’s making good progress right now,” and that “hopefully we can get Jaydon back.” Ultimately, Sarkisian did not share if he believed whether Blue would be available for Texas’ matchup against Louisiana-Monroe this weekend.

After having already lost RB CJ Baxter to a season-ending knee injury in fall camp, the running back room was already looking a little thing at the top. With Blue missing some time, too, Texas turned to Tre Wisner and Jerrick Gibson, a pair of underclassmen with Gibson being a true freshman. Given each of their relative inexperience and youth, Sarkisian described the run game as “unique,” and showing some room for improvement.

Hugh Freeze on Decision to Name Hank Brown Starting QB, Bench Payton Thorne

Before Auburn’s game last week against New Mexico, coach Hugh Freeze made the switch at starting QB, replacing Payton Thorne with Hank Brown.

Freeze shared that he made the decision internally on Monday even though he did not share it until Thursday: “I mean, I made the decision. I decided on Monday after watching the film. I just didn’t tell them until Thursday. It just felt like we left so many plays out there – winning football plays that could win a game for us. I couldn’t put my finger on why, because I know Thorne has the understanding of it. I just felt like this is what was best for our team.”

Against New Mexico, Brown was 17-for-25 for 235 yards and four touchdowns.

Through 2 games, Thorn was 27-for-48 for 487 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions. Against Cal, though, Thorne was 14-for-27 with 165 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions.

Michigan TE Colston Loveland Optimistic Injury Update

There is some good news for Michigan fans as it relates to TE Colston Loveland’s injury, which he suffered during the Arkansas State game, and that is that it is not as serious of an injury as was originally believed.

Loveland was forced to leave the game and did not return after suffering the injury. Ultimately, the extent of the injury is still not publicly known, but Coach Sherrone Moore sharing this optimistic injury update this soon after it happened is surely a good sign that it should not be an injury which holds out Loveland for an extended period of time.

Specifically, Moore shared, “Colston is continuing to be evaluated. It was less serious than we though, so we feel positively about that but we’ll see as the week progresses,” which is great news for Michigan fans that it sounds like the door is open for him to be healthy and ready for this weekend’s matchup against USC.

NC State QB CJ Bailey Will Start Against Clemson as Grayson McCall Deals with Injury

NC State QB Grayson McCall suffered an undisclosed injury against Louisiana Tech last week, to which coach Dave Doeren described McCall as “day-to-day.”

In his place, NC State will be starting true freshman quarterback CJ Bailey, who was a high 3-star QB according to the On3 composite rankings, even rating as a 4-star by Rivals.

Bailey came in after McCall came out with an injury, and he finished 13-for-20 passing with 156 yards and an interception. He also added 27 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown to contribute to NC State’s 30-20 comeback victory over the Bulldogs.

This will be a tough test for Bailey, as making one’s first career start on the road at Clemson is more or less baptism by fire, relatively speaking. Not only that, but Clemson is coming off of a bye week after beating up on Appalachian State in Week 2.

3-Star DL Floyd Boucard Decommits from Oklahoma

3-Star DL Floyd Boucard decommitted from Oklahoma yesterday after originally committing to the Sooners back on July 20th.

Boucard originally lauded the Oklahoma staff for their continual effort in recruiting him and making him feel like family. He officially visited Oklahoma back in June, but he also took official visits to Miami, Louisville, USC, and Alabama.

Boucard ranks as the 474th ranked prospect nationally and the 44th ranked DL in the country according to the On3 industry composite.

Oklahoma still has 22 commitments for the 2025 class, a class which still ranks 10th nationally and 8th in the SEC.

Other Commitments/Decommitments

3-Star (85) WR Ryan Matulevich commits to Dartmouth

3-Star (84) TE Grant Smith flips from Illinois State to Illinois

3-Star (84) ATH Xavier Ahrens commits to Montana State

2026 3-Star (84) QB Ely Hamrick commits to Virginia

3-Star (82) OT Brayden Walton flips from Washington State to Fresno State

Unrated LB Brayden Ellison commits to Georgia State