AI-assisted summary
• South Florida’s undefeated start to the 2025 season ended with a loss to Miami.
• Despite the defeat, South Florida’s playoff hopes are still alive.
• Its chances are alive, but South Florida still faces a challenging conference schedule.

The magic carpet South Florida rode for the first two weeks of the 2025 season entered the turbulent winds of a hurricane and did not make it out.

In an in-state matchup of ranked opponents, it was all Miami as it overwhelmed the Bulls in a convincing 49-12 victory to reign supreme in the Sunshine State.

After beating Boise State and Florida, a win over the No. 6 team in the country would’ve solidified the Bulls as a team of destiny. At 3-0, not only would they be a College Football Playoff favorite, but it wouldn’t be ridiculous to say they could make some noise in the postseason.

Instead, the Hurricanes marched into the end zone on their opening drive and never looked back, while the defense made life miserable for Byrum Brown and company.

It’s a deflating defeat. But did it ruin South Florida’s season? 

Not even close. 

What’s great about a 12-team playoff is the pressure is taken off the Group of Five teams to stay perfect in order to sit at the table. While the overall competition isn’t as tough as the Big Ten or SEC, it wasn’t fair the underdogs had no wiggle room to prove they deserve a shot.

In this era as a Group of Five team, South Florida has to do two things to ensure itself a spot in the playoff field.

1. Be the highest-ranked Group of Five team
2. Win its conference championship

The Bulls have arguably one of the best resumes of the early season. Two ranked victories and a loss to a Top 10 team, which shouldn’t be penalized as much as it used to be. The College Football Playoff selection committee changed how it views strength of schedule – teams won’t be severely punished for losing to high-quality opponents.

South Florida already positioned itself as the top-ranked Group of Five team in the US LBM Coaches Poll coming into Week 3. Even with the blowout loss, it can assume it will still be in that category when the new poll is released on Sept. 14.

Step one is already in motion. The Bulls have positioned themselves well for when the first College Football Playoff rankings drop on Nov. 14.

It’ll be easy to compare USF’s path to a playoff spot to Boise State last season. The Broncos lost on the road by three points to eventual No. 1 seed Oregon in Week 2 before they ran the Mountain West by winning 10 games in a row. 

The Bulls could do the same in the American and win the conference at 12-1 to undoubtedly secure their spot. The chances of making the College Football Playoff are still well within their grasp – it’s just not an easy road there.

Boise State was clearly the top dog in the conference in 2024. South Florida can’t say the same, because it isn’t the only team in the American capable of making the playoffs.

And it’s not hard to tell who the favorites are in what suddenly has become an intriguing league in the College Football Playoff race.

Last year’s runner-up, Tulane, remains loaded, with former Brigham Young quarterback Jake Retzlaff picking up his momentum from last season. The Green Wave opened the season with a convincing win over Northwestern and headed into another showdown with a Power 4 team in Duke.

There’s also Navy, coming off its first 10-win season since 2019 and with Blake Horvath back under center. You also can’t forget Memphis, winners of 11 games in 2024; Ryan Silverfield has reloaded for 2025.

South Florida will have to play at Memphis on Oct. 25 and at Navy on Nov. 15. Both teams it lost to last season, and ones it could play again in the American championship game.

Can South Florida afford to lose another game? Hard to say, but with a conference championship in hand, it should get in the playoff.

The Bulls may be the best story in college football and the people’s vote to make the 12-team playoff. They’ve proven through marquee wins they can qualify for it, bringing hope not seen since 2007, when Matt Grothe and Mike Ford propelled USF to No. 2 in the initial reveal of the BCS rankings.

But in that remembrance comes a lesson. That team started 6-0 before it lost its next three games and took itself not just out of the national title picture, but the BCS as well.

The season is far from over. The Bulls have nine games left, but in the American, there are teams ready to end the dream in Tampa and thrust themselves into the CFP conversation. 

If South Florida wants to reach unprecedented heights and honor that team of destiny from 18 years ago, it can’t let the loss to Miami derail its season; it’s got to finish the job, and prove this isn’t the same old South Florida.

AI-assisted summary
• Tennessee missed a 43-yard field goal at the end of regulation that would have secured the victory.
• Both quarterbacks delivered standout performances, with Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar throwing for 371 yards and Georgia’s Gunner Stockton passing for 304 yards.
• The game featured nearly a thousand yards of total offense as both defenses struggled to contain the opposing attacks.

KNOXVILLE, TN – Josh McCray’s legs kept churning. In a game that saw nearly a thousand yards of offense, the final 3 feet would meet the most resistance.

And the fellas wearing zebra stripes weren’t convinced. They thought the Georgia tailback got stopped inches short of the goal line.

It’s a strange sport, this thing called college football, that a game so thrilling could end in replay review. And the review showed what the officials had missed live: McCray’s second-down run in overtime penetrated the goal line.

Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs celebrated joyously on the Neyland Stadium turf that, minutes earlier, had braced for a possible field-storming by the home fans.

No. 15 Tennessee had multiple opportunities to finish off No. 3 Georgia, but the Bulldogs kept dodging knockout blows.

“I feel almost like we have to apologize,’ Smart said after Georgia’s ninth consecutive win against Tennessee, ‘because I don’t think we should have won that game. They outplayed us in a lot of ways, but that’s the way it goes.”

It’s dangerous business to let Smart’s team hang around, as shown here again.

Georgia survived, 44-41, in a game in which each quarterback played their guts out, and each defense spent too much time looking infirm.

‘It’s going to hurt,’ Tennessee defensive lineman Caleb Herring said of the result.

Because, it so easily could have finished differently.

The Vols’ usually reliable Max Gilbert missed a 43-yard field goal at the end of regulation that would have won the game. Tennessee had a false start penalty just before the field goal, pushing it back 5 yards.

Oh, the stories the south end zone here could tell.

The night you knew – I mean, really, really knew – Tennessee coach Josh Heupel was for real, a field goal fluttered over the south goal posts. Later, those goal posts succumbed to an exuberant fan base that smoked cigars by the thousands. Alabama and Nick Saban went home a loser.

Three years later, Gilbert’s kick sailed wide, wide, wide right, and the fans in that south end zone went silent.

Overtime awaited, and there would be no fairytale ending for Joey Aguilar, Tennessee’s transfer quarterback whom UCLA decided it didn’t want as its starter less than five months ago.

Aguilar cooked Smart’s defense to the tune of 371 passing yards, four touchdowns and another score on the ground.

Gunner Stockton did some James Beard chef work of his own. In his first career road start, playing in one of the nation’s most raucous stadiums, which shook on its foundation in the second half, Stockton showed a cool hand.

Last team with the ball wins? You bet.

Gunner Stockton, Joey Aguilar supply thrills

Who needs Carson Beck?

The Miami Hurricanes do, but not Georgia.

Stockton kept Georgia’s offense counterpunching in a game when the Bulldogs’ defense looked out of its depth. He threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns.

“He made some big-time throws,’ Smart said.

Both quarterbacks did.

Less than five months ago, Tennessee had no starting quarterback. Nico Iamaleava packed his pajama pants and vamoosed to UCLA, where he took a pay cut to play for a bad team close to home and left the Vols in a lurch. UCLA left Aguilar in a pickle. In the winter, Aguilar had transferred from Appalachian State to finish his career playing for the Bruins in his home state.

UCLA coach DeShaun Foster later decided he wanted Iamaleava, not Aguilar, as his starter. How fortunate for Aguilar. Foster pushed Aguilar right into the arms of an offensive mastermind and a proven quarterback developer.

Aguilar proved a quick study of Heupel’s up-tempo offense. In a blur, he had 21 points on the board against a Georgia defense helpless to stop Tennessee in the first quarter.

Fourteen passes, Aguilar threw, in the game’s first 15 minutes. Fourteen passes, he completed, looking like Peyton Manning against Kentucky.

Nine months ago, Stockton served as Georgia’s backup until Beck’s injury in the SEC championship game thrust him into duty. He looked OK then. He didn’t look great against Notre Dame in the playoff. He looked sensational in this one, while carving up a vulnerable Tennessee defense.

Georgia wins on ground in overtime

Mike Bobo’s developed several good quarterbacks while spending the better part of the past two decades as Georgia’s offensive coordinator, across two different stints. Bobo’s latest quarterback looks awfully promising and the picture of steadiness, but there’s nothing that delights Georgia fans like a tailback chewing up yardage between the tackles.

A certain five-word phrase can be heard so frequently in Georgia, you’d think it must be the state motto.

Run the damn ball, Bobo.

The pockets of Georgia fans tucked into the stands here could have been only too delighted to see Bobo’s game plan to open the second half. Georgia handed the ball off 13 times in 14 plays while marching 75 yards for a touchdown on a drive suited for Herschel Walker.

Great though Stockton was, he never needed to sling a pass in overtime. His third and final handoff of overtime went to McCray, and Tennessee’s defense finally showed some pushback. Not enough.

McCray finished the run with just enough surge, and Georgia showed just enough wriggle to slip out of here battered, but with its undefeated record intact.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

Heading into Saturday’s game against No. 8 Notre Dame,Texas A&M football coach Mike Elko said the victor of the top-25 ranked matchup would be the team that made plays late in the fourth quarter.

The 17th-ranked Aggies did just that.

Facing a fourth-and-goal with 19 seconds remaining in the game, Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed fired an 11-yard throw into the left corner of the end zone that was held onto by tight end Nate Boerkircher for the eventual 41-40 game-winning catch at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.

But for Notre Dame, the loss represented the second time the Fighting Irish will start 0-2 on the season under Marcus Freeman. The loss also damaged Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff resume, as the Irish are not set to face another ranked opponent for the remainder of the season and have now lost both of their games to ranked opponents in Texas A&M and Miami.

Texas A&M’s win, however, didn’t come without some help from Notre Dame, either. Here’s a look at how the Aggies were able to pull the win and how Notre Dame squandered a chance at its first win of the season in chronological order:

Notre Dame missed extra point attempt

A Jeremiyah Love touchdown with 2:53 left in the game appeared to give Notre Dame a 41-34 lead — until holder Tyler Buchner bobbled the snap on the extra point attempt, resulting in a failed conversion. That meant Texas A&M could take a one-point lead with a touchdown and extra-point conversion.

Marcel Reed third-down conversion

Facing third-and-8 at the Notre Dame 23-yard line, Texas A&M was in desperate need of a conversion to continue their drive. They got it from Reed, who scrambled for a 9-yard gain to the Fighting Irish 14-yard line with less than a minute remaining to extend the drive.

Christian Gray called for defensive holding penalty

Speaking of Notre Dame’s struggles to get a stop on third downs, the Irish gave the Aggies an extra fresh set of downs a few plays later. Facing third-and-16, Reed overthrew KC Concepcion in the middle of the field to get near the first down.

However, a holding penalty was called against Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray, resulting in the Aggies drive resetting with a first down at the 10-yard line.

Karson Hobbs missed interception in end zone

Notre Dame had a key opportunity at a potential game-winning play in the winding seconds of the game, when Reed’s throw into the end zone sailed toward Notre Dame’s Karson Hobbs. The Irish sophomore safety, however, couldn’t hold onto the ball, keeping the Aggies alive yet again.

Texas A&M converts fourth-and-goal for game-winner

The Irish got stops on second and third down, leaving them one play away from picking up a signature win vs. Texas A&M. Reed had other plans, however, throwing a laser of a pass into the hands of Boerkircher for the eventual game-winner.

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AI-assisted summary
• Week 2 features a Super Bowl 59 rematch between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.
• The Indianapolis Colts, led by quarterback Daniel Jones, are aiming for their first 2-0 start since 2009.
• Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson returns to face his old team as head coach of the Chicago Bears.

There were 12 one-score games during the opening week of the regular season. What does Week 2 have in store?

This week features four games that showcase two teams that are 1-0, including a Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders AFC West battle that concludes Week 2.

The game of the week is a Super Bowl 59 rematch between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs, who are a slight home underdog, are out for revenge following a blowout Super Bowl loss.

According to NFL Research, the average margin of victory in Week 1 was 7.56 points. It marked the third-lowest margin of victory in Week 1 since 1970. There are sure to be more close games this week. USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon provides his five things to watch in Week 2:  

Can Daniel Jones help lead Colts to first 2-0 start in over 15 years?

Jones played surprisingly well in a 33-8 thrashing of the Dolphins. His 115.9 passer rating was the sixth highest in the NFL during opening week. Can Jones build on his Week 1 performance?

The Colts have the luxury of two straight home games to begin the regular season. Indy hasn’t started a season 2-0 since 2009, when Peyton Manning was the quarterback and led the team to Super Bowl 44.

Head coach Shane Steichen’s decision to start Jones over Anthony Richardson Sr. will be justified if Jones helps the Colts beat the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos defense poses a significant test. After leading the league with 63 sacks last season, the Broncos recorded an NFL-high six sacks and allowed a league-low 133 total yards of offense in their Week 1 victory.

Super Bowl 57 and 59 rematch

This superb matchup marks the 11^th rematch of a Super Bowl in the following season all-time. The reigning Super Bowl champ has won seven of the past 10 rematches.

The Eagles dismantled the Chiefs in Super Bowl 59 after Kansas City got the better of Philly in Super Bowl 57. Patrick Mahomes was under duress throughout the championship game in New Orleans, getting sacked a career-most six times despite zero blitzes by Philadelphia.

Mahomes and the Chiefs are out for revenge in this one but will be without their No. 1 wide receiver Rashee Rice (suspended) and possibly their second best wideout Xavier Worthy (shoulder). Meanwhile, the Eagles will have defensive tackle Jalen Carter back after his foolish spitting incident.

Will Kansas City’s revamped O-line protect Mahomes better? Mahomes was sacked twice and pressured 15 times in the Chiefs’ Week 1 loss.

Mahomes is in danger of the first 0-2 start of his career. The Eagles have won seven straight games, including the playoffs, dating back to last season.

Trouble in Miami?

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel didn’t hold back when asked about Tua Tagovailoa’s performance in a woeful Week 1 loss.

‘I think I saw a quarterback play that was less than to be desired, which Tua absolutely knows,’ McDaniel told reporters this week. ‘He’s the captain and the franchise quarterback and everybody kind of fell victim to something similar.’

NFL opens review of latest allegations against Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill

To make matters worse, wide receiver Tyreek Hill was visibly frustrated on the sideline last week.

The vibes aren’t good in South Beach, and McDaniel’s seat gets warmer with every loss. The positive news is the Dolphins have won four straight contests against the New England Patriots.

New England will also look to avoid a 0-2 start. Patriots wideout Stefon Diggs has a career average of 93 receiving yards versus Miami.

Ben Johnson returns to Detroit

Johnson returns to the Motor City where he shined as an offensive coordinator from 2022-2024.

The Lions offense looked like it was impacted by Johnson’s absence in their season opener. Detroit was held out of the end zone until garbage time in the fourth quarter and went 5-15 on third down during a 27-13 loss.

‘Ben’s my friend. He’s always going to be my friend. But nothing about that’s going to change,’ Lions coach Dan Campbell said this week, per the Detroit News. ‘We’re going in, getting ready to play Chicago. We’re going to win this game. We have to.’

Johnson’s Bears had a strong start before they surrendered 21 fourth-quarter points in their opening game loss.

Whoever loses this divisional matchup will start 0-2 versus NFC North opponents, a tough early-season hole to recover from.

Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll meet again

The Harbaugh and Carroll rivalry goes all the way back to 2007 when Harbaugh was at Stanford and Carroll was at USC. The rivalry reignited when Harbaugh joined the San Francisco 49ers in 2011, a year after their NFC West foe Seattle Seahawk hired Carroll.

The rivalry is renewed as Carroll’s Raiders host the Los Angeles Chargers for the first time since Carroll was named head coach of the Silver & Black.

“I respect him a lot. He’s a great coach,” Harbaugh said of Carroll. “The competition, you can expect that a Pete Carroll team is gonna be really good.”

Carroll is 5-4 against Harbaugh in the NFL. Harbaugh went 2-1 versus Carroll when the two were college head coaches. Harbaugh’s Chargers swept the season series over the Carroll-less Raiders last year.

A secondary storyline is this AFC West tilt features the two running backs selected in the first round of the 2025 draft in Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton. Jeanty rushed for 38 yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut. Hampton produced 48 rushing yards and had four runs result in first downs last week.

Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart’s slap on Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is going to cost him some cash.

The NFL has fined Tart for slapping Kelce during the Chargers’ 27-21 Week 1 win in Sao Paulo, Brazil, according to ESPN. The NFL announces fines Saturday afternoon. ESPN reported Tart’s fine amount will be $12,172 for a first offense of striking, per NFL rule.

Tart slapped Kelce on the front of his helmet following a two-yard run by Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt with a little over eight minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Officials quickly threw a flag and penalized Tart for unnecessary roughness.

The penalty moved the football to the Chargers’ 11-yard line. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes reached the end zone on an 11-yard run on the ensuing play.

Tart produced one tackle and two pass deflections in the Chargers’ Week 1 win. Pro Football Focus gave Tart a 70.4 grade for his performance, the fifth highest grade among Los Angeles defenders in Week 1.

HOUSTON – Colorado football coach Deion Sanders tried out a new starting quarterback Friday night against Houston but didn’t get the kind of results he wanted and now might have to reconsider the position again after a 36-20 loss at TDECU Stadium.

As expected, Sanders started Ryan Staub, who answered the call at quarterback with an underwhelming  performance that included a slow start, one late touchdown pass and two fourth-quarter interceptions. Meanwhile, Houston kept hogging the ball in the second half and finished with five field goals from Cougars kicker Ethan Sanchez and two touchdown runs after halftime from quarterback Conner Weigman.

Staub, a redshirt sophomore, completed 19 of 35 passes for 204 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

He had risen to the starting position this week after a “tryout” performance last week coming off the bench in a 31-7 win against Delaware. He was listed as Colorado’s third-string quarterback as recently as a week ago, then shot up to No. 1 on Friday before starting slowly on his first four possessions against the Cougars, all of which ended in punts.

He recovered with two touchdown drives on his final two series before halftime, cutting Houston’s lead to 16-14. But it wasn’t enough.

The loss drops Colorado to 1-2 and adds uncertainty to the quarterback position, where Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter started the first two games for the Buffaloes. Houston improved to 3-0 in front of announced crowd of 37,899.

Colorado vs. Houston highlights

Final: Houston 36, Colorado 20

Houston adds another field goal

Another field goal from Ethan Sanchez gives Houston a 36-20 lead with 3:34 left. Sanchez this time hit from 49 yards, his fifth field goal of the game.

Colorado cuts into deficit

Colorado cuts Houston’s lead to 33-20 as Colorado quarterback Ryan Staub threw his first touchdown pass of the game with 4:34 remaining. Staub’s scoring pass to receiver Joseph Williams went 37 yards on second down.

The ensuing two-point attempt failed, leaving the Buffaloes with too little, too late. Staub has completed 18 of 32 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown with one interception.

Houston pushes lead to 33-14

Houston quarterback Conner Weigman scored a 7-yard touchdown run, helping lift his team to a 33-14 lead with 11:39 left. The score ended a three-play, 61-yard possession highlighted by a 54-yard pass from Weigman to receiver Stephon Johnson on second down.

It’s Weigman’s second touchdown run of the game.

Colorado has had only nine plays for minus-5 yards in the second half.

Houston leads 26-14

Houston running back Dean Connors burst left on an 18-yard run before crashing just short of the front corner of the end zone. But Houston followed through with a quarterback sneak for a touchdown on the next play, helping the Cougars extend their lead to 26-14 with 1:21 left in the third quarter.

Colorado has only had the ball for three plays so far in the third quarter. 

Houston leads 19-14

Houston leads 19-14 after another field goal from Houston kicker Ethan Sanchez, this time from 35 yards with 6:25 left in the third quarter. That makes Sanchez 4-for-4 on field-goal tries for the night as Colorado’s defense once again bent but didn’t break. The Houston drive lasted 8:35 and went 57 yards in 17 plays. The Buffaloes haven’t had the ball yet in the second half.

Houston loses another offensive lineman

Houston offensive lineman McKenzie Angello limped off the field after being injured with 11:14 left in the third quarter, marking at least the second injury of the game for Houston’s offensive front. Houston lineman David Ndukwe was carted off in the first half with an apparent leg injury.

Houston leads at halftime 16-14

Quarterback Ryan Staub led his team downfield with passes of 36 and 25 yards before scrambling for 19 yards to the goal line and nearly scoring a touchdown to end the first half. The ball popped loose from him short of the end zone but was recovered by tight end Zach Atkins for a Colorado touchdown with 26 seconds left in the first half.

The score cut Houston’s lead to 16-14 after Staub seemed to catch fire during this two-minute drill, much like he did to end the first half last week in a 31-7 win against Delaware.

Staub is 12-for-18 passing for 120 yards. He started slowly, having led his team to punts on their first four possessions. But he’s since led his team downfield for touchdowns on their final two series of the second quarter.

Another field goal lifts Houston to 16-7 lead

Houston kicker Ethan Sanchez is 3-for-3 on field-goal tries after drilling a 47-yarder with 1:45 left in the first half. The kick gives the Cougars a 16-7 lead after Colorado scored on the previous drive. Sanchez has scored from 52, 43 and 47 yards so far. 

Colorado running game wakes up

Colorado put together its best drive of the game so far to cut Houston’s lead to 13-7 with 7:33 left before halftime. Running back Simeon Price, a transfer from Coastal Carolina, took off on a 38-yard touchdown run to cap a 93-yard drive for the Buffaloes. A pass interference call against Houston enabled it when Colorado faced third down from its own 7-yard line early in the series. Instead of punting again, the Buffs got a first down and took advantage of it.

Colorado offense fails to convert again

The Buffaloes under new quarterback Ryan Staub have gone three-and-out on three straight possessions while Houston has scored on all three of its possessions. It’s not clear how long this will go on before coach Deion Sanders switches quarterbacks. Houston leads 13-0 with 12:43 left in the first half.

Colorado’s only first downs in the game came on its first series. 

Deion Sanders calls his defense ‘hot garbage’

The Cougars are now up 13-0 after nailing a 43-yard field goal with 14:13 left in the first half. The Cougars have scored on all three of their possessions and have outgained Colorado 181-45 in total yards. After the first quarter, Colorado coach Deion Sanders told ESPN his defense looked like “hot garbage.”

Another three-and-out for Ryan Staub

On Staub’s third series, the Buffaloes went three-and-out again. Staub got sacked and threw two incompletions and is now 6-for-9 passing for 42 yards. He hasn’t driven his team farther than the Houston 47-yard line. Houston still leads 10-0 late in the first quarter.

Houston takes 10-0 lead

Houston quarterback Conner Weigman took off on a 49-yard run down the right side of the field on first down to set up a touchdown for the Cougars with 3:52 left in the first quarter. Running back Dean Connors capped the five-play, 79-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run.

Houston has outgained Colorado 137-36 in total yards and has six first downs compared to two for Colorado after two possessions each for both teams.

Ryan Staub’s second drive fizzles

On Ryan Staub’s second drive, Colorado went three-and-out before punting. He completed an 8-yard pass but then threw an incompletion on third down and 2. He’s now 5-for-7 passing for 32 yards. A big question hovering over him is how long coach Deion Sanders will stick with him if he fails to march the team downfield. 

Houston takes 3-0 lead

Houston kicker Ethan Sanchez kicked a 52-yard field goal that barely cleared the crossbar to lift the Cougars to a 3-0 lead with 6:42 left in the first quarter. The kick capped a 10-play drive that went 63 yards after starting at Houston’s own 3-yard line.

Houston lineman carted off

Houston offensive lineman David Ndukwe was carted off the field with an apparent leg injury with 6:48 left in the first quarter and the game tied 0-0. A Colorado defender apparently fell on his leg, leading to a stoppage in play as he was helped onto the cart and taken off the field. 

Ndukwe sat up in the cart and waved to the crowd as he left.

Ryan Staub starts game, leads stalled drive

Ryan Staub indeed did start the game for Colorado at quarterback, but his first drive petered out when he underthrew a pass over the middle on third down and 12 from the Houston 47-yard line. He completed 4 of 5 passes for 24 yards. Houston takes over with 10:39 left in the first quarter.

When is Colorado vs Houston game?

Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 12 from TDECU Stadium in Houston.

How to watch Colorado vs Houston

The game will be televised on ESPN and also is available on Fubo.

Watch Colorado vs. Houston on Fubo with a free trial

Colorado vs Houston odds

College football odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook; Odds updated Sept. 11. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

• Spread: Houston (-4.5)
• Moneyline: Houston (-200), Colorado (+165)
• Total: 45.5 points

Ryan Staub warming up with first-team offense

Colorado quarterback Ryan Staub warmed up with the first-team offensive line about 30 minutes before the game. He also was listed on top of the depth chart distributed in the press box before the game. If he starts as expected, it would be his second career start and first since a 23-17 loss at Utah to end the regular season in 2023.

Tent covering portable toilet falls down

Colorado coach Deion Sanders has been open about his health issues since having his cancerous bladder removed in May. Earlier this week, he spoke about the portable toilet he has on the sideline in case he needs it. He said he hasn’t used it yet but joked about somebody possibly using it in a game and whether a wind gust might knock it down to reveal the occupant on the toilet.

Well, guess what happened hours before Friday’s game?

Colorado brought a Depend-sponsored portable toilet with him to Houston and put it on the sideline, but the tent that covers it fell down. No one was in it at the time.

Pop-Tarts Bowl credentialed for this game

Representatives from the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando have been credentialed for this Big 12 Conference opener. After the College Football Playoff has filled its bracket, the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Dec. 27 matches the top selection from the Atlantic Coast Conference against the second selection from the Big 12.

Scouts from the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints and New York Giants also had assigned seats in the press box.

Who are Colorado’s other two quarterbacks?

Before Friday, Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter had started the first two games for Colorado. Heralded freshman Julian Lewis previously was listed as the No. 2 QB. Salter is a dual threat quarterback who led Liberty to a 13-1 record in 2023. He played the entire season opener for Colorado on Aug. 29, a 27-20 loss against Georgia Tech. But then in the Delaware game, Sanders said he wanted to give each of his three quarterbacks at least two series initially and then see who would emerge.

Salter led the team to a 10-0 lead on his first two series vs. Delaware. Lewis’s first two possessions ended in punts.

Who is Ryan Staub, the new Colorado quarterback?

Staub is a redshirt sophomore from Stevenson Ranch, California, who served as backup the past two seasons under Deion Sanders’ quarterback son Shedeur. He barely played except for the final regular season game of 2023, when Shedeur was injured. He played well in the game but lost 23-17.

He was listed as Colorado’s third-string quarterback as recently as last week but was put in the game on a tryout basis of sorts last week vs. Delaware with 45 seconds left before halftime. The Buffaloes led at the time 10-7. By the time he left the game in the second half, Colorado led 31-7 after Staub had led the team on three touchdown drives in four possessions, highlighted by touchdown passes of 21 and 71 yards. The Buffaloes won 31-7.

That led coach Deion Sanders to consider starting Staub vs. Houston.

Why is this a key game for Deion Sanders?

It’s the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams. It’s also a key test for Colorado at the most important position on the field. Who will be Colorado’s quarterback this season? Deion Sanders said he wants to settle on one quarterback and not play “musical chairs” in the position. Ryan Staub could steal the job if he plays well. If not, the Buffs might go back to Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter.

Announcers for Colorado vs Houston

ESPN play-by-play broadcaster Anish Shroff will call the game along with former Houston quarterback Andre Ware, the 1989 Heisman Trophy winner. They will be joined by sideline reporter Paul Carcaterra.

Colorado injury update

Wide receiver Omarion Miller is expected to be out a second consecutive game with a hamstring injury. Running back Dallan Hayden could make his season debut if he comes back from a hand injury.

How will Colorado win or lose this game?

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

An ACC official has reportedly quit out of frustration after how a review was handled during the Week 2 college football game between Syracuse and UConn, according to ESPN.

Gary Patterson, an ACC official since 2002, was the head referee of the matchup, and reportedly terminated his contract after the officiating crew had to backtrack plays due to a review of a potential fumble by Syracuse quarterback Steve Angeli.

Patterson was set to officiate the Backyard Brawl rivalry between Pitt and West Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 13, before terminating his contract.

ESPN reported the situation that led to Patterson’s decision occurred with 1:02 remaining in the second quarter, when Steve Angeli and Syracuse faced first-and-10 from their own 25-yard line. Angeli’s arm was hit as he threw on the play, and officials immediately ruled it an incomplete pass.

Angeli’s pass on second down was nearly intercepted, but two UConn defenders collided.

Patterson’s frustration mounted after second down, as a flag was thrown after the second-down play. It was unclear as to why the flag was thrown at first, but it turned out that the ACC’s command center had signaled to review the first-down pass for being a potential fumble, despite second down already being played. The on-field officials, including Patterson, weren’t signaled for review in time before the second-down play.

Patterson and the command center then discussed the potential fumble on first down, before ruling the play was upheld and there was no fumble. The situation negated the second-down play, despite Angeli nearly tossing an interception.

Here’s a look at the situation, which unfolded starting at the 58:19 mark in the video below:

‘Sources who have reviewed numerous camera angles of the sequence said there was no physical indication by any official on the field that they had been buzzed by the replay booth before the second-down snap,’ ESPN wrote. ‘An ACC spokesperson said that officials were buzzed to initiate the review but that the timing was not ideal for it to be a seamless replay.’

ESPN reported the ACC has addressed how the situation was handled internally. ESPN’s rules expert, Bill LeMonnier, also said the instance was the fault of either the replay booth or command center, not the on-field officials.