Miami’s Carson Beck is the prototypical power-program quarterback, a former four-star prospect with a massive NIL portfolio who knows what it’s like to play on…
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Miami’s Carson Beck is the prototypical power-program quarterback, a former four-star prospect with a massive NIL portfolio who knows what it’s like to play on the big stage. Mississippi’s Trinidad Chambliss nearly gave up football, won a Division II national championship and has shined since being unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight. Their paths will converge in the desert at Thursday’s Fiesta Bowl with a spot in the national championship game on the line. Beck has been a perfect fit at Miami since transferring from Georgia, putting the Hurricanes in position for their first national championship since 2001. Chambliss won a Division II national championship at Ferris State before joining Ole Miss. He’s been superb since taking over as the starter.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Miami’s biggest signing this season might be defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman from Minnesota. He was hired in January 2025 to fix a struggling defense. The Hurricanes are now allowing their fewest points per game since 2001, their last national championship season. They’ve given up only 9.7 points per game in a six-game winning streak. Miami faces Mississippi in a CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday night. Hetherman’s philosophy, “excitement, swarm, violence,” has transformed the team. With standout players like Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, Miami’s defense is thriving.
UNDATED (AP) — Rocco Becht has announced he will follow coach Matt Campbell from Iowa State to Penn State, giving the Nittany Lions a veteran quarterback to replace Ethan Grunkemeyer. Becht stated his decision in a social media post late Sunday. Multiple media outlets report Grunkemeyer will reunite with James Franklin at Virginia Tech. Grunkemeyer started seven games after Drew Allar was injured. Those transfers follow Drew Mestemaker’s weekend decision to join Eric Morris at Oklahoma State.
UNDATED (AP) — Arizona holds onto the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 by a single point over Michigan. This marks one of the closest races in the poll’s 78-year history. The Wildcats received 32 first-place votes, while the Wolverines got 29. The top six teams remain unchanged, with Iowa State, UConn, Purdue, and Duke following Michigan. Nebraska is in the top 10 for the first time since 1966, riding an 18-game winning streak. The Big 12 has seven ranked teams, including four in the top 10, while the Big Ten has six in the poll and three in the top 10.
UNDATED (AP) — This was a great bowl season for guys named Anthony Smith. East Carolina wide receiver Anthony Smith scored two touchdowns in the Pirates’ 23-17 Military Bowl victory over Pittsburgh. The Minnesota defensive end with the same name delivered a pair of sacks in the Golden Gophers’ 20-17 Rate Bowl overtime triumph over New Mexico. Both of those Anthony Smiths got selected to the Associated Press all-bowl team. This all-bowl team includes top performers from bowl games that weren’t part of the College Football Playoff. An all-playoff team will come out after the national championship game.
UNDATED (AP) — Kentucky and Vanderbilt made significant jumps in The Associated Press women’s basketball Top 25. This follows a week where four of the top 10 teams lost, causing a shakeup in the rankings. UConn remains No. 1, followed by Texas, South Carolina, and UCLA. Oklahoma has moved up to fifth. Kentucky and Vanderbilt each rose five spots to sixth and seventh after defeating LSU. Vanderbilt’s win was its first against a top-five team in 17 years. Maryland and Michigan both dropped after losses. Only four teams remain undefeated: UConn, Texas, Vanderbilt, and Texas Tech.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Houston coach Kelvin Sampson, former longtime Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton and former North Carolina playing great Tyler Hansbrough are part of this year’s class of inductees to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. The hall released its 11-person class for 2026 on Monday, with induction set for May 1. Sampson is a Pembroke native who has led Houston to two Final Fours. Hamilton is a Gastonia native who led the Seminoles for 23 years. Hansbrough is a former national player of the year who led the Tar Heels to the 2009 national title.
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