JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville State football had an opportunity in front of them on Friday and it took full advantage.
The Gamecocks (9-4) hosted the Conference USA title game and came out victorious 52-12 over Western Kentucky. It was a first half of beauty from the Gamecocks, which saw Tyler Huff throw for two touchdowns while Tre Stewart ran for the second two touchdowns as they took a 22-point lead into the half.
Not much changed in the second half, Huff scored on a short scamper, and went over the 300-total yard mark on the Gamecocks second drive of the half. Stewart scored again and had more than 250 yards of offense.
Tyler Huff starts for Jacksonville State football
A week after injuring his ankle, Tyler Huff earned the start for the Gamecocks. He immediately showed how healthy he was, taking a read-option play 14 yards for a first down before breaking free two plays later for a 48-yard run.
He shined and had one of his best games of the year, going 11 of 15 for 176 yards and two touchdowns. he added 151 yards and a score on the ground.
Gamecocks defense found its lost form
The Gamecocks defense got back to its dominant self, shutting down a passing attack that torched it for 301 yards six days ago. In the first half, Caden Veltkamp went 10 of 20 for 56 yards, and almost had an interception right before halftime. The ground game didn’t get better for the Hilltoppers, as they ran for 69 yards in the first half.
Most of the success came on third down, where they held them to a 2 of 7 rate in the first half, making it impossible to extend drives.
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Gamecocks get back to winning recipe
There’s a simple recipe for the Gamecocks to win, let Huff and Stewart run wild and get a strong day out of the defense, including a turnover or two while hanging out in the opponents backfield. Well, Huff and Stewart combined for more than 325 yards and four touchdowns on the ground — so that’s a double check mark. The defense forced two fumbles and had two sacks as part of a five tackle for loss day, so consider those boxes checked for the defense.
Jacksonville State football next game
The Gamecocks will await their bowl destination. With the final CFP rankings coming out Sunday, the bowls will be finalized on the same day.
We’re down to the stretch drive in the battle to book spots in the first NCAA football 12-team playoff bracket.
Nine conference championship games on Friday and Saturday will be the final chances for teams to earn conference-champion berths or make a case to the committee — which already has been heavily criticized by some teams on the wrong side of the bubble — for an at-large spot ahead of Sunday’s bracket reveal.
Four of the games figure to have no impact on the College Football Playoff field — Conference USA, Mid-American, American Athletic and Sun Belt finalists are destined for other bowl games — while the other five likely will affect seeding and berths.
Here’s a look at what’s ahead this weekend when it comes to conference championships and the CFP field.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Conference USA championship Western Kentucky (8-4) at Jacksonville State (8-4), 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Mountain West championship No. 20 UNLV (10-2) at No. 10 Boise State (11-1), 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
American Athletic championship Tulane (9-3) at No. 24 Army (10-1), 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Big 12 championship No. 16 Iowa State (10-2) vs. No. 15 Arizona State (10-2), noon ET / 9 a.m. PT at Arlington, Texas
Mid-American Conference championship Ohio (9-3) vs. Miami (Ohio, 8-4), noon ET / 9 a.m. PT at Detroit
Southeastern Conference championship No. 5 Georgia (10-2) vs. No. 2 Texas (11-1), 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT at Atlanta
Sun Belt Championship Marshall (9-3) at Louisiana (10-2), 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Big Ten championship No. 1 Oregon (12-0) vs. No. 3 Penn State (11-1), 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT at Indianapolis
Atlantic Coast Conference championship No. 17 Clemson (9-3) vs. No. 8 SMU (11-1), 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
*1: Oregon (12-0) *2: Texas (11-1) 3: Penn State (11-1) 4: Notre Dame (11-1) 5: Georgia (10-2) 6: Ohio State (10-2) 7: Tennessee (10-2) *8: SMU (11-1) 9: Indiana (11-1) *10: Boise State (11-1) 11: Alabama (9-3) 12: Miami (10-2) 13: Ole Miss (9-3) 14: South Carolina (9-3) +15: Arizona State (10-2) 16: Iowa State (10-2) 17: Clemson (9-3) 18: BYU (10-2) 19: Missouri (9-3) 20: UNLV (10-2)
* The top four conference champions (highest-ranked teams currently are given that designation) earn the top four seeds and first-round byes
+ The fifth-best conference champion also earns a spot in the field, leaving seven at-large spots. The cut-off currently is after No. 11 Alabama.
Seeds 5-8 host first-round games against seeds 9-12, Dec. 20-21. The top four seeds await the winners for neutral-site quarterfinals Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
The final two rounds are also at neutral sites.
The playoff doesn’t start until Dec. 20, but it unofficially begins this weekend.
The Mountain West championship and Big 12 championship are seen as win-and-in, lose-and-out games — and perhaps the Atlantic Coast Conference is a third.
No. 10 Boise State has a chance to earn a top-four seed — and a first-round bye — with a win over No. 20 UNLV on its unique blue field thanks to the Big 12 experiencing a down year in the rankings.
Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty, battling for the Heisman Trophy with Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter, will be able to make one final case for the top individual prize under a national spotlight with Friday night lights.
The Mountain West finalists both have key Canadian players. Boise State sophomore safety Ty Benefield of Vancouver is his team’s leading tackler, while Rebels senior defensive back Jett Elad of Mississauga, Ont., is third on his team in tackles. Both were named honourable mention all-Mountain West players
The Big 12 finalists, No. 16 Iowa State and No. 15 Arizona State, also are battling for a CFP spot — potentially the 12th and final seed. Iowa State hasn’t won a league title since 1912, while Arizona State was picked to finish last in the Big 12 in this year’s media poll.
Clemson’s CFP hopes were on life support after a non-conference loss to South Carolina last week, but a Syracuse upset over Miami gave the Tigers the right to play SMU in Saturday’s ACC final for what has become an automatic berth.
While SMU is ranked eighth, committee chair Warde Manuel said Tuesday that there is a chance No. 11 Alabama (9-3) could jump ahead of SMU if the Mustangs (11-1) lose.
In a hotly debated decision, Alabama was placed ahead of No. 12 Miami (10-2) in the penultimate rankings on Tuesday, essentially pushing the Hurricanes out of contention.
Canadian QB Kurtis Rourke and the No. 9 Indiana Hoosiers (11-1) figure to be in as one of the last at-large teams.
It’s Oregon if the top-ranked Ducks stay undefeated with a win over Penn State in the Big Ten final.
If Oregon slips up, No. 2 Texas (11-1) figures to get that honour with a victory over Georgia in the SEC final.
If both teams lose, perhaps it’s No. 3 Penn State (11-1) on top.
Ohio State’s stunning home loss to arch-rival Michigan last week prevented what would have been a 1-2 showdown between the Buckeyes and Oregon in the Big Ten final.
The No. 6 Buckeyes (10-2) are safe to be in the CFP bracket, but they won’t get a bye.
After four consecutive losses to Michigan — with the latest marred by a post-game brawl after the Wolverines tried to plant its flag at midfield — questions about Ohio State coach Ryan Day’s job security are growing louder. Anything less than a big run in the playoffs could lead to a coaching change.
12:00 PM: Big 12 Championship: [15] Arizona State vs. [16] Iowa State (in Arlington) (ABC) Announcers: Joe Tessitore, Jesse Palmer, Katie George The No. 15 Sun Devils (10-2, 7-2) and No. 16 Cyclones (10-2, 7-2) meet for the first time to decide the champion of the Big 12. Arizona State won its last five to emerge from a crowded field in its first Big 12 campaign after departing the Pac-12.
No. 16 Iowa State (10-2, 7-2) makes its first appearance since 2020; No. 12 Arizona State (10-2, 7-2) plays in the Big 12 Championship in its first year.
12:00 PM: MAC Championship: Ohio vs. Miami (OH) (in Detroit) (ESPN) Announcers: Anish Shroff, Andre Ware, Paul Carcaterra The RedHawks (8-4, 7-1) and Bobcats (9-3, 7-1) clash in the Mid-American Conference championship game in Detroit. Miami (Ohio) seeks back-to-back titles, and a third since 2019. Miami defeated Ohio 30-20 on Oct. 19 during a seven-game MAC win streak.
Ohio (9-3, 7-1) won five-straight games; Miami (8-4, 7-1) beat the Bobcats, 30-20, on Oct. 19 behind three passing touchdowns from Brett Gabbert.
2:00 PM: SWAC Championship: Southern @ Jackson State (ESPN2) Announcers: Tiffany Greene, Jay Walker, Coley Harvey The Tigers play the Jaguars in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. Jackson State has won its past eight. Southern dropped its past four title-game appearances, including 43-24 to Jackson State in a battle for the 2022 SWAC crown.
2 PM: FCS Playoffs: Montana @ South Dakota State (ESPN+) Announcers: Lowell Galindo, Fozzy Whittaker
2 PM: FCS Playoffs: Villanova @ UIW (ESPN+) Announcers: David Saltzman, Taylor McHargue
2 PM: FCS Playoffs: Rhode Island @ Mercer (ESPN+) Announcers: Michael Reghi, Forrest Conoly
3 PM: FCS Playoffs: UT Martin @ Montana State (ESPN+) Announcers: Jason Ross Jr.,Tyoka Jackson
3 PM: FCS Playoffs: Abilene Christian @ North Dakota State (ESPN+) Announcers: Noah Reed, Craig Haubert
4 PM: FCS Playoffs: Illinois State @ UC Davis (ESPN+) Announcers: Richard Cross, Charles Arbuckle
4:00 PM: SEC Championship: [2] Texas vs. [5] Georgia (in Atlanta) (ABC) Announcers ABC: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe ESPN (Field Pass): Harry Douglas, Cole Cubelic, Marty Smith, Ryan McGee SEC (Sky Cast): Tim Tebow, Jordan Rodgers, Roman Harper No. 5 Georgia (10-2, 6-2) won its season meeting with No. 2 Texas (11-1, 7-1), 30-15, on Oct. 19 behind three rushing touchdowns from Trevor Etienne.
7:30 PM: Sun Belt Championship: Marshall @ Louisiana (ESPN) Announcers: Roy Philpott, Sam Acho, Taylor Davis The Ragin’ Cajuns (10-2) host the Thundering Herd (9-3) for the Sun Belt Conference championship game. West Division champ Louisiana Lafayette owns four Sun Belt titles after winning in 2021. East victor Marshall plays for its first SBC crown.
Marshall (9-3, 7-1) won six-straight games behind Braylon Braxton; Louisiana (10-2, 7-1) makes its first Sun Belt Championship appearance since 2021.
8:00 PM: ACC Championship: [17] Clemson vs. [8] Southern Methodist (in Charlotte) (ABC) Announcers: Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, Molly McGrath No. 18 Clemson (9-3, 7-1) is 8-1 in the ACC Championship; No. 8 SMU (11-1, 8-0 makes its first appearance in its first year as an ACC member.
8:00 PM: Big Ten Championship: [3] Penn State vs. [1] Oregon (in Indianapolis) (CBS) Announcers: Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson, Jenny Dell No. 3 Penn State (11-1, 8-1) makes its first appearance since 2016; No. 1 Oregon (12-0, 9-0) plays in the Big Ten Championship in its first year in the Big Ten.
9 PM: FCS Playoffs: Lehigh @ Idaho (ESPN+) Announcers: Shawn Kenney, Marcus Ray
The fifth College Football Playoff rankings of 2024 will be announced tonight, Tuesday, Nov. 30, and things are bound to change after seven ranked teams lost last weekend. Before the CFP committee unveils the next rankings, I predict where the top 25 teams will land, along with the bracket.
Note that these are my predictions and mine alone. I look at head-to-head results, schedule strength, games against ranked teams and more to help rank the teams how I think the CFP committee will do so. You can read the CFP committee’s official protocols here.
2024 College Football Playoff rankings predictions: Fifth Top 25 projections
These predictions are as of Sunday, Dec. 1.
Oregon (12-0) LW: 1 — Oregon will be ranked No. 1 as long as it’s undefeated.
Texas (11-1) LW: 3 — Texas won its long-awaited rivalry game with Texas A&M, adding a quality win to its resume as it moves up to No. 2
Penn State (11-1) LW: 4 — Penn State moves up in this week’s rankings after Ohio State’s loss.
Notre Dame (11-1) LW: 5 — Notre Dame escaped USC and will likely host a game in the first round of the playoff, potentially rising to the No. 5 seed when it’s all said and done.
Georgia (10-2) LW: 7 — A win is a win in the committee’s eyes this week. Georgia moves up thanks to winning its close game in a week where Miami and Ohio State lost.
Tennessee (10-2) LW: 8 — Tennessee assured its spot in the playoff with a win over Vanderbilt. The Volunteers will be in a great position to host a playoff game.
Ohio State (10-2) LW: 2 — Ohio State will still be in the playoffs even with its second loss because of wins over Penn State and Indiana. Those wins keep the Buckeyes over a pair of one-loss teams.
SMU (11-1) LW: 9 — SMU defeated Cal to enter the ACC championship with just one loss.
Indiana (11-1) LW: 10 — Indiana stays behind SMU after a win over a one-win Purdue team.
Boise State (11-1) LW: 11 — Boise State handled business against Oregon State and will rise into the top 10.
South Carolina (9-3) LW: 15 — Theorder of the rankings from No. 12-14 will be the cause for plenty of debate. South Carolina beat a Clemson team ranked No. 12 last week, while other three-loss SEC teams beat unranked opponents. However, teams like Alabama and Ole Miss defeated the Gamecocks head-to-head. True as that may be, the committee already showed that head-to-head isn’t the end-all factor when the Tide, Rebels, Bulldogs and Vols were all in the top 10 a few weeks ago. The Clemson win pushes the Gamecocks into the playoffs.
Alabama (9-3) LW: 13 — Alabama will be the first team out this week at No. 12 since it’s ranked higher than any Big 12 team. The Tide will need one team to falter to help it make the playoff.
Ole Miss (9-3) LW: 14 — Ole Miss will be ranked 14th by the committee and require conference championship game blowouts to make the playoff.
Miami (FL) (10-2) LW: 6 — Miami lost its second game of the season to Syracuse. The Hurricanes have fewer losses than teams ranked above it, but Miami hasn’t defeated a currently ranked team. The loss to Syracuse knocked Miami from the ACC championship game and the playoff picture.
Arizona State (10-2) LW: 16 — Arizona State dominated Arizona with a spot in the Big 12 championship game on the line. The Sun Devils are just one more win away from a playoff spot.
Iowa State (10-2) LW: 18 — Iowa State won Farmeggedon, holding off Kansas State. The Cyclones can clinch a playoff spot with a win next week.
BYU (10-2) LW: 19 — BYU finishes the regular season with 10 wins but is out of the playoff picture since it won’t play in the Big 12 title game.
Clemson (9-3) LW: 12 — Clemson’s hopes of making the playoff as an at-large team died with a loss to South Carolina, but its hopes of making the playoff revived when Miami’s loss sent it to the ACC Championship Game. Nonetheless, expect Clemson to land outside the top 15 this week.
Missouri (9-3) LW: 21 — Missouri rallied past Arkansas and will move inside the top 20 this week.
UNLV (10-2) LW: 22 — UNLV took down Nevada and will enter the top 20 ahead of a CFP elimination game in the Mountain West title game.
Syracuse (9-3) LW: NR — At 9-3 with a win over a then-top-10 team, Syracuse will enter the rankings this week.
Illinois (9-3) LW: 23 — Illinois defeated Northwestern and will remain ranked this week.
Colorado (9-3) LW: 25 — Colorado moves up after a 52-0 win on Black Friday. Unfortunately, the Buffaloes saw their playoff hopes disappear last week in a loss.
Texas A&M (8-4) LW: 20 — Texas A&M lost to Texas, but the committee will keep the Aggies ranked since Texas is a top-two team.
Army (10-1) LW: NR — I have no idea who the committee will rank in the final spot, but I’ll go with Army since the Black Knights are 10-1 and bounced back from their first loss with a win.
First Teams Out: No. 12 Alabama, No. 13 Ole Miss, No. 14 Miami
Notable College Football Playoff rankings questions
How far does Ohio State fall?
Ohio State lost to an unranked Michigan, but it still has wins over two top-10 teams. The playoff committee already had a pair of two-loss teams ranked above one-loss teams last week. Could a third two-loss team in Ohio State continue the trend?
Where are the three-loss SEC teams in comparison to Miami?
Miami is the other top-10 team to suffer its second loss this week. However, the Hurricanes don’t have nearly the quality wins of a team like Ohio State. Miami likely will fall below a one-loss Boise State team putting it out of the top 10. The next teams outside of the top 10 are all three-loss teams based on last week’s rankings. When comparing resumes, how much the committee will weigh a third loss will determine where Miami lands compared to South Carolina, Alabama and Ole Miss.
Resume comparison
Team
Rec.
LW Rank
LW Result
Current Ranked Wins
Losses
Miami (FL)
10-2
No. 6
L Syracuse
None Best win: Louisville or Duke
Georgia Tech (28-23) Syracuse (42-38)
Alabama
9-3
No. 13
W Auburn
Georgia (41-34) South Carolina (27-25) Missouri (34-0)
Is a win over Clemson enough to move South Carolina past teams it lost to?
South Carolina lost to LSU in a controversial 36-33 finish, lost to Ole Miss in a 27-3 rout and lost to Alabama 27-25 in a close one. That’s two losses to two teams ranked right in front of the Gamecocks. However, South Carolina was the only team to beat a ranked team this week. Will that be enough to make the Gamecocks the last team in?
Michigan stuns No. 2 Ohio State, Syracuse upsets No. 6 Miami, more from Rivalry Week
Recapping Rivalry Week’s college football action that saw No. 7 Georgia escape Georgia Tech in 8OT, Michigan upset No. 2 Ohio State and Syracuse remove No. 6 Miami from the ACC title game.
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2024-25 FCS National Championship Game: Date, time, TV channel, history
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Lafayette-Lehigh football: Memorable moments, all-time history
It’s been more than 135 years since the first Lafayette vs. Lehigh football game. Here are key moments from their rivalry and an all-time history of the series.
After a chaotic end to the regular season in college football, the matchups are set for championship week. Here’s a look at the showdowns coming up in the Power Four and Group of Five. All championship games are Dec. 7 except in the American Athletic, Conference USA and Mountain West, which will be played Dec. 6.
ACC Championship
No. 9 SMU (11-1, 8-0 ACC, No. 9 CFP) vs. No. 12 Clemson (9-3, 7-1, No. 12 CFP) at Charlotte, North Carolina
What to know: The Mustangs completed a sweep of their first ACC schedule with a 38-6 win over California, making them the only team in their new league that didn’t lose a conference game; SMU has a 17-game conference winning streak dating to its days in the American Athletic. Clemson, which advanced to the title game after Miami lost at Syracuse, will be seeking its eighth ACC crown in the past 10 years.
Big Ten Championship
No. 1 Oregon (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten, No. 1 CFP) vs. No. 4 Penn State (11-1, 8-1, No. 4 CFP) at Indianapolis
What to know: The Nittany Lions have been one of the quietest one-loss teams all season but get a chance for a big win and a higher CFP seed with a victory in this one. They will face the last unbeaten team in college football in the Ducks, who finished the regular season without loss for the first time since 2010.
Big 12 Championship
No. 14 Arizona State (10-2, 7-2 Big 12, No. 16 CFP) vs. TBD at Arlington, Texas
What to know: The Sun Devils rode Cam Skattebo (177 yards and three touchdowns) in a big win over rival Arizona to land a title game berth after perhaps the wildest of all power conference races. Their opponent was not settled until late Saturday.
SEC Championship
No. 3 Texas (11-1, 7-1 SEC, No. 3 CFP) vs. No. 6 Georgia (10-2, 6-2, No. 7 CFP) at Atlanta
No. 25 Army (10-1, 8-0 AAC) vs. No. 18 Tulane (9-3, 7-1, No. 17 CFP) at West Point, New York.
What to know: The Green Wave’s loss to Memphis over the weekend likely cost the league any hope of a playoff bid but both teams are going to the postseason regardless. Army still has its annual showdown with Navy before a bowl game, too.
Conference USA Championship
Jacksonville State (8-4, 7-1 CUSA) vs. Western Kentucky (8-4, 6-2) at Jacksonville, Florida
What to know: The C-USA title game pits two teams in a rematch six days after facing each other. WKU handed the Gamecocks their first league loss, 19-17 on Saturday night, and will have to beat them again for the title.
Mid-American Championship
Ohio (9-3, 7-1 MAC) and Miami (Ohio) (8-4, 7-1) at Detroit
What to know: The two Ohio schools met earlier this season, with the RedHawks beating the visiting Bobcats 30-20. Ohio has won seven of its last eight.
Mountain West Championship
No. 11 Boise State (11-1, 7-0 MWC, No. 11 CFP) vs. No. 21 UNLV (10-2, 6-1, No. 22 CFP) at Boise, Idaho
What to know: The Broncos bring a 10-game winning streak into the championship game, have won 11 straight at home and are on the verge of making the College Football Playoff behind Heisman Trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty. They have made the Mountain West title game three straight seasons. This one is a rematch of the title game a year ago won by Boise State and a regular-season matchup in October, a 29-24 Broncos win.
Sun Belt Championship
Louisiana-Lafayette (10-2, 7-1 Sun Belt) vs. Marshall (9-3, 7-1) at Troy, Alabama
What to know: The Ragin’ Cajuns earned a spot in the championship for the fifth time in the seven-year history of the game. Marshall beat James Madison 35-33 in double overtime to clinch a spot for the first time in program history.
As college football hurtles toward championship season, the race for conference titles is heating up. Here’s a quick breakdown of who has already punched their ticket and who’s still in contention across the Power 4 and Group of 5 conferences:
Power Four Conference Championship Tracker
ACC:
Clinched: SMU has secured a berth in the title game.
Scenarios: Miami can clinch with a win at Syracuse next week. Clemson needs Miami to lose to Syracuse to secure their spot.
Big Ten:
Clinched: Oregon is confirmed for the Big Ten Championship Game.
Scenarios: Ohio State advances with a win against Michigan at home. Penn State needs a win over Maryland and help elsewhere to clinch.
Scenarios: If a four-way tie at 7-2 between Arizona State, BYU, Colorado, and Iowa State occurs, Arizona State and Iowa State would advance to the title game based on tie-breaking rules. The Big 12 tells CBS Sports there are over 250 possible combinations of teams that would meet in the conference championship game.
Scenarios: Texas controls its own destiny in its first SEC season and can secure a spot with a win against No. 15 Texas A&M (the Longhorns are currently favored by 7.5 points). Likewise, three-loss Texas A&M can keep its CFP hopes alive by beating Texas. If it does so, it will make the SEC Championship Game to face Georgia, where it can jump from off the bubble to first-round CFP bye if it takes the Dawgs out.
Group of Five Conference Championship Tracker
American Athletic Conference:
Conference USA:
Clinched: Jacksonville State will host the conference title game.
Scenarios: Liberty clinches with a win over Sam Houston. Western Kentucky can clinch with a win over Jacksonville State and a Liberty loss. Sam Houston needs to beat Liberty and see Western Kentucky lose to Jacksonville State.
Mid-American Conference (MAC):
Contenders: Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio), and Ohio control their destinies, all sitting at 6-1. Key matchups on Nov. 29 include Bowling Green hosting Miami (Ohio) and Ohio hosting Ball State.
Mountain West:
Clinched: Boise State has secured its eighth title game appearance, a conference record.
Scenarios: Colorado State advances with a win over Utah State and a UNLV loss to Nevada. UNLV gets in with a win over Nevada and a Colorado State loss. If both win, the higher-ranked team in the final CFP Rankings will advance. If both lose, results-based computer metrics will decide.
Sun Belt:
Contenders: Marshall and Louisiana control their destinies.
Scenarios: Marshall advances with a win at James Madison, while Louisiana can clinch with a win at Louisiana-Monroe.
We’ll see if the final week of the season can match the chaos that the penultimate weekend brought. If so, the tiebreaker scenario is going to get even crazier.
GENEVA — Heading into a late bye week, Hobart College’s football season is already a success, and it’s not yet finished.
Saturday’s 27-21 win over RPI was the Statesmen’s seventh straight win — its longest in-season winning streak since winning 12 straight in 2014. Coupled with Buffalo State’s upset of Rochester, Hobart captured at least a share of the Liberty League title and secured an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.
The Statesmen shared the conference championship in 2016 with St. Lawrence but have not won the conference outright since that 2014 season during eventual Super Bowl champion Ali Marpet’s senior year.
The Statesmen (8-1, 5-0) have a chance to win the Liberty League outright with a victory in the season finale over Rochester next Saturday. Even with a loss, they will split the title with Ithaca College.
The Statesmen have now won the Liberty League 11 times dating back to 2000 when they shared it with Rochester and Union College. The Statesmen have shared the conference title four times and have won it outright six times.
Though the initial thought of a late-season bye week may have had the team and head coach Kevin DeWall a bit irked at first, it works out quite well. Hobart now has time to recover from eight weeks of bumps, bruises and injuries before closing out the regular season and heading into the national tournament.
On Saturday against RPI, the Statesmen’s defense allowed more than 14 points for the first time all season. The 21 points allowed was the first time an opponent reached double digits since Moravian scored 12 on Sept. 21. But, the young offense has come a long way since then and took the reins and secured the team’s first win in Troy since 2014.
Even with 21 points allowed, Hobart’s scoring defense still sits in the top five in the country. With an average of 8.44 points allowed per game, the Statesmen are fourth in Division III.
Senior quarterback Johnny Colombi was named the conference’s Offensive Performer of the Week, for the second time in three games senior linebacker Jaimen Bliss earned the Defensive Performer of the Week Award, and freshman wide receiver Johnny Harding snagged his fourth Rookie of the Week. Additionally, senior kicker Tobias Wefering earned a spot on the league’s weekly honor roll.
Colombi threw for a game-high 258 yards and three touchdowns against the Engineers. He directed Hobart scoring drives on the team’s first three possessions, staking Hobart to a 17-0 lead. Colombi leads the Liberty League in passing touchdowns (14) and is second in passing yards (1,519), average per game (189.9), efficiency (144.3) and fewest interceptions (5).
Bliss posted a game-high 12 tackles on Saturday. With the Statesmen leading 7-0, Bliss intercepted the RPI quarterback and returned it 28 yards to the RPI 49, setting up Hobart’s second scoring drive. Bliss leads Hobart and is second in the Liberty League in total tackles (78).
Harding — a McQuaid Jesuit alumnus — caught four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown at RPI. He scored the game’s opening touchdown on a 16-yard pass play, giving the Statesmen a lead they would not relinquish. Through nine games, he has a team-high 36 receptions, the most by a Hobart player since Jake Catalioto had 46 through nine games in 2019.
On special teams, Wefering broke the Hobart season and career field goals made records with makes from 43 and 22 yards. He also made all three of his PATs to give him nine points in the contest. With 14 field goals this season and 33 in his career, he now has two more than Kyle Hackett’s records of 12 field goals in a season and 31 in a career set in 2019. Wefering needs one more point to become the 10th player in program history with 200 for his career.
Hobart will wrap up its regular season when it hosts Rochester in the annual Centennial Cup game. The Liberty League contest is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16.
Dating back to 1892, the Centennial Cup has been contested 115 times. Hobart leads the all-time series with a record of 60-48-7 and has won the previous 12 meetings.
The Statesmen have a home record in the series of 22-18-1 and secured the largest margin of victory in the Cup’s history at home in 2018 by a score of 52-18.
Since 2000, Hobart has lost three times to the Yellow Jackets — 2000, 2003 and 2010.
In other HWS athletics news:
Hobart hockey remains unanimous No. 1
It’s not exactly a shock given the 2-0 start to the season and the 11-2 scoring margin of victory, but in the first USCHO.com poll of the season, the Statesmen received all 20 votes making them the unanimous choice at No. 1 pick.
In addition, junior forward Tanner Daniels was named to the New England Hockey Conference’s weekly honor roll.
Hobart opened its season with a pair of wins this past weekend. The Statesmen defeated Oswego, which was receiving votes in the poll, 5-2 on opening night. The next day, Hobart beat Potsdam 6-0. The two wins extended Hobart’s unbeaten streak to 26 games, dating back to last year, and its winning streak to 16 games. It also marked the Statesmen’s 38th and 39th straight wins at The Cooler, an NCAA Division III record.
Hobart begins league play this weekend, Nov. 8-9, when it heads to Rutland, Vermont, to take on Vermont State Castleton University. The 2024-25 season will be the final season of the New England Hockey Conference. Hobart and William Smith hockey teams will transition to the SUNYAC at the beginning of the 2025-26 season.
Poole family names Hobart head soccer coach position
Honorary Trustee Thomas B. Poole and Mary Jane Poole have named the head coach position for Hobart soccer. The $1 million dollar gift establishes in perpetuity The Thomas B. Poole ‘61 and Family Head Coach of Hobart Soccer, created to honor two of the team’s legendary coaches: Ray Demuth, the inaugural coach of the Hobart soccer program who served as Poole’s coach, and current head coach Shawn Griffin, the winningest coach in Hobart soccer history who has been at the helm for a quarter of a century.
The announcement of the gift was made at a gathering of the Board of Trustees and the entire coaching staff of Hobart and William Smith Athletics.
“Tom and Mary Jane embody what it means to lead lives of consequence,” says President Mark D. Gearan in a press release. “Throughout their lives, they have been dedicated to making certain that the communities they call home — whether at HWS or on Long Island — have the resources they need to thrive. Like so many others, I have benefited tremendously from their advice and friendship, and I am so pleased that a sport that means so much to Tom will forever bear his name. On behalf of our entire campus community and the network of alumni across the country and around the world, I offer my heartfelt gratitude to the Poole family.”
As a senior, Poole captained the 1960 Hobart soccer team that ended the season with a 6-1-1 record, the best in Hobart soccer history prior to the 1992 team going 15-0-1.
SIOUX FALLS — The result last weekend wasn’t what the Augustana hockey team had hoped to get on the road, but coach Garrett Raboin believes there was a lot of value in the experience.
The Vikings were looking to carry forward the success away from their home arena, but despite staying competitive throughout the entirety of both games, they were dealt a pair of one-goal losses at then-No. 12/14 St. Cloud State.
However, there’s no time for AU to dwell on the past.
Raboin believes there was a lesson to be had in how the Huskies managed the game, and the Vikings will try and put that to use this weekend when they begin CCHA play with a Friday-Saturday series at St. Thomas in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. Friday and 6:07 p.m. Saturday.
“The second period in both nights, I felt, was the difference,” Raboin said about last weekend’s losses. “Line changes, puck placement, different things like that became really important. They’re a top 10 team in the country for a reason, and at that level, those things in close games matter so much.
“It’s something we talked to our guys about as our next step, identifying where we can grow there and making the corrections.”
Augustana’s Colton Friesen skates with the puck while being defended by Long Island’s John Gormley on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at Midco Arena in Sioux Falls.
Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live
For Augustana (3-3), Owen Bohn tallied three goals on the weekend, including two in the first period of the series opener, but the Vikings were never able to extend their one-goal lead.
A goal by Josh Zinger in the final minute of the opening frame sent both teams into the first intermission tied at 2-2. Then, the Huskies got goals from Nick Portz and Daimon Gardner in the second stanza, and despite a third-period tally from defenseman Owen Baumgartner — his first as a Viking — AU wasn’t able to get the equalizer against Huskies goalie Isak Posch in the final five minutes, falling 4-3.
On Saturday, freshman goaltender Christian Manz got his first collegiate start for Augustana, stopping 28 of 30 shots. However, the Vikings’ offense was held in check by Posch, whose only blemish was a goal by Bohn that tied the game at the 4:20 mark of the second period. A little more than three minutes later, Zinger lit the lamp to seal the final score, 2-1.
AU finished with a 13-5 advantage in shots on goal in the final frame, but it still wasn’t enough to beat Posch, who recorded 26 saves to improve the Huskies to 6-1 on the season.
In the aftermath of the sweep, the Huskies jumped up to No. 10 in the national polls, while Manz was named CCHA Rookie of the Week for his efforts between the pipes.
“We like where our group’s at right now,” Raboin said. “We feel like it’s in a solid place. Guys are starting to develop a confidence that they should take and a belief from playing some of the bigger teams in the country, as far as where they’re ranked nationally.
“There’s some things that our guys should be excited about and carry with them into the future.”
The Vikings will play truly meaningful league games for the first time this weekend after CCHA member schools voted earlier this summer to allow them to become a full members of the conference a year early.
Augustana’s Payton Matsui skates with the puck against Long Island on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at Midco Arena in Sioux Falls.
Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live
Through three non-conference series to open the season, Raboin believes his team has learned a lot about itself in a short amount of time, and he hopes his team will carry those lessons into the start of conference play.
“There’s some chemistry that’s starting to build within your group,” Raboin said. “You’re seeing some special teams get more reps.
“Those are things that hopefully can put you in a better place entering league play, but this league’s so darn tough. You go back to Mankato winning the league six straight years in a row under Mike Hastings and their record in the league. It was challenging for them, and those are teams that went on to Frozen Fours and a national championship game. The CCHA is a darn good league. It’s super deep, and it’s a night-to-night dogfight.”
St. Thomas’ Mason Poolman celebrates after scoring a goal against Vermont on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at Saint Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights, Minn.
Abby Bondi / St. Thomas Athletics
With a 1-3-1 record on the year, the Tommies’ October slate didn’t go quite as smoothly as they had hoped, but the start of conference play offers an opportunity for them to reset.
UST, which is led by fourth-year coach Rico Blasi, opened the season at home with a 1-0 loss against SCSU before earning a tie and a win the following weekend against visiting Vermont.
Then, last weekend, St. Thomas faced its toughest test yet with a two-game set against then-No. 5 Minnesota. The Tommies dropped the first game, 7-1, in Minneapolis before turning around the next night and getting knocked off in a 6-2 decision at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
“You have to take the score out of last weekend. That’s not indicative of the series,” Raboin said about UST, which was picked as the preseason favorite to win the conference. “They’re a darn good team, and they’re going to make it really difficult for us to really create anything or find time and space.
“Our guys are going to have to accept how hard it is if they want to have any success.”
St. Thomas head coach Rico Blasi looks on during a non-conference matchup against Minnesota on Oct. 13, 2023, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Jim Rosvold / Special to The Rink Live
St. Thomas is in its fourth year as a Division I program and has steadily improved each season since its first at college hockey’s highest level in 2021-22.
Sophomore Mason Poolman is tied for the team lead with five points (three goals, two assists) and was named Wednesday as the league’s Defenseman of the Month. Forward Liam Malmquist has five points on two goals and three helpers, while team captain Lucas Wahlin and alternate captain Cooper Gay each have three points for the Tommies.
Between the pipes, UST has split time between its two standout netminders, Aaron Trotter and Jake Sibell, both of whom have combined for a 3.93 goals-against average through five games. Trotter is 1-1 with a 3.50 GAA and .889 save percentage, while Sibell has a 0-2-1 record, 4.26 GAA and .867 save percentage.
Tale of the tape
Augustana
St. Thomas
2.7
Goals/game
2.2
1.7
Goals allowed/game
4.0
27.2
Shots/game
30.2
31.5
Shots allowed/game
32.2
1-12
PPG
0-17
0-17
PPG allowed
4-21
“I think hungry is what you see in their game,” Raboin said. “They’re quick to close time and space. They pressure pucks all over the rink. They have two outstanding goaltenders. You notice their captain all the time, just his energy and his compete. They have good size.”
In 2020, St. Thomas’ athletic department made an ambitious leap, going immediately from Division III to Division I in all sports. The hockey program was accepted as a member of the CCHA, and several years later, plans for the new Lee and Penny Anderson Arena were set in motion with hopes of opening in the fall of 2025.
In May, though, St. Thomas announced plans to leave the CCHA and join the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, beginning in 2026-27. For this season and next, the Tommies remain ineligible to earn the league’s automatic bid for winning the Mason Cup Playoffs.
Augustana’s Brady Ziemer skates the ice prior to the start of a game against St. Cloud State on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.
Jason Soria / SCSU Athletics
The month of October has gone pretty well for the Vikings in their two years of existence.
Augustana now has a 6-5-1 all-time record in the opening month of the season, and there are trends this time around that might be indicative of a little more staying power.
Defensively, the Vikings are among the best teams in the nation. They are currently averaging a league-best 1.67 goals allowed per game, which is tied with top-ranked Denver for sixth best in the country.
Raboin says it’s due to the execution of playing a selfless brand of hockey in which all five skaters are committed to defending as a unit.
“There’s a lot of elements we’re really pleased with during our start,” Raboin said. “Now entering league play, the stakes go up. It’s going to be fun to get into league play and see where our guys are at.”
Long Island’s Riley Wallack skates with the puck while being defended by Augustana’s Will Svenddal on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at Midco Arena in Sioux Falls.
Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live
AU ranks second in the conference with 17.7 blocked shots per game. Senior blueliner Brady Ziemer leads the Vikings with 16 blocks.
Additionally — and perhaps most importantly — Augustana boasts one of the top netminders in the country in Josh Kotai, who was recognized Wednesday as the conference’s Goaltender of the Month. The sophomore from Abbotsford, British Columbia, is one of just four goalies in the country with two shutouts already this season.
In five starts, Kotai leads the conference with a .950 save percentage that is also tops in the nation among goaltenders with 100 or more saves on the season. He also boasts a 1.63 GAA that ranks second in the league behind only Minnesota State’s Alex Tracy and sixth in the country among goalies with 200 or more minutes in net.
Between Manz and Kotai, Raboin has been thrilled with the play from his goaltenders.
“Both guys have pushed each other. Kayden Hargraves is in that goalie room, too, pushing that group,” Raboin said, “but I told our guys, ‘It’s nice to get recognized with a goalie of the month honor, but usually you have to have a goalie that’s working a little too hard.’
“That’s our next evolution is to maybe not have him so busy, but I’m excited about [Kotai] for this month.”
Augustana’s Owen Bohn pats teammate Joey DelGreco on the head after Bohn scored a goal against Long Island on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at Midco Arena in Sioux Falls.
Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live
Bohn’s three-goal weekend vaulted him to the top of the conference in goal scoring.
The sophomore forward has a CCHA-best five goals on the season. He has 15 shots on goal and is converting on 33% of those shots.
“He’s had a great start to the season,” Raboin said. “I think this weekend, with the three-goal performance at St. Cloud State, that was exciting for us because he had been scoring, but it was flashes of lightning. He had a better game possessing pucks. We felt like his legs were underneath him. He had more sustained offense.
“His game was just overall better on the weekend, and he’s a talented player. He’s one guy we’re going to need to rely on for offense.”
Eight teams will compete for the 2024 HBCUAC Volleyball Championship
NEW ORLEANS – October 25, 2024 – The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) reveals the eight schools that will compete for the title at the 2024 HBCUAC Volleyball Championship hosted by Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission from November 11-13 at Bossier Parish Community College.
Dillard University (La.), Fisk University (Tenn.), Oakwood University (Ala.), Philander Smith University (Ark.), Southern University at New Orleans (La.), Stillman College (Ala.), Talladega College (Ala.), and Tougaloo College (Miss.) have secured berths. The seeds will be revealed after conference play is completed on November 4.
Talladega (20-7, 13-1 HBCUAC), the defending regular season and tournament champion, is battling Fisk University – last season’s tournament runner-up – and Dillard – the 2023 regular season runner-up – for the 2024 regular season title and top seed. All three schools have one loss. Fisk avenged last season’s championship loss with a five-set victory on Sept. 21. Talladega swept Dillard on Sept. 28 in one of the HBCUAC Crossovers. Dillard swept Fisk on Oct. 18. Talladega hosts Fisk on October 25 with the winner likely clinching the first seed.
The Tornadoes have a deep roster as three players have won Attacker of the Week. Franchesca Rivas and defensive specialist Briyith Echeverri have been recognized as Player of the Week multiple times this season.
Fisk (22-14, 13-1 HBCUAC) also boasts a strong roster as they’ve won a majority of the HBCUAC Player of the Week awards. Trinity Britt has won eight of the 10 Setter of the Week awards and leads the conference in assists and assists per set and ranks eighth in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) with 939 assists. Reagan Jones claimed five Attacker of the Week awards and ranks fifth in the NAIA with 401 kills. Nialah Gupton has claimed multiple Defender of the Week awards and leads the HBCUAC with 470 digs.
Dillard (13-7, 11-1 HBCUAC) has only been taken beyond three sets twice and has only dropped five sets in 12 conference matches. Trenity Pender claimed the most recent Defender of the Week award. The Bleu Devils have one of the most intimidating front rows in the conference. Gabrielle Washington leads the HBCUAC with 1.24 blocks per set. Nya St. Cyr and Cadence Thomas follow at 0.96 and 0.93 blocks per set, ranking in the top five of the conference.
Philander Smith (16-6, 8-4 HBCUAC) in its first season under head coach Mariah Yarbrough has been formidable, winning eight conference matches. All of their losses have been to the top three teams in the conference. Christlove Lature and Essence Wren won Defender and Setter of the Week for September 30-October 6. Lature ranks second in the conference with 4.33 digs per set and third with 325 total digs. Wren ranks second in the conference with 515 assists averaging 8.05 per set. Zarea Winn ranks third with 3.04 kills per set.
Oakwood (10-15, 8-7 HBCUAC) has made significant improvement after finishing seventh in the conference last season, currently ranked fifth. It went 3-2 in the HBCUAC Crossovers. Kamaria Murray earned Attacker of the Week for September 30-October 6. Cameryn Bucknor ranks fifth in the conference with 5.59 assists per set.
Stillman (8-17, 7-8 HBCUAC), who joined the conference this season after competing in the Southern States Athletic Conference the last two seasons, is making strides in its third season since the program was reinstated in 2022. It picked up its first seven victories since the return of the program. Emily Powell won Defender of the Week twice, she ranks fifth in the conference with 4.01 digs per set. Erin Nelson is fifth with 0.47 service aces per set and ranks in the top 15 with 3.43 assists per set.
Tougaloo (7-15, 5-6 HBCUAC) has shown improvement, besting last season’s overall and conference win total by two matches. LaShundria Chatman ranks fifth in the conference with 2.44 kills per set. Kaliyah Shavers is 10th with 2.18. Taylor Cousar is eighth in the conference with 4.59 assists per set. Ke’Ira Collier ranks sixth in the conference with 3.63 digs per set.
Southern University at New Orleans (4-15, 4-8 HBCUAC), in its second season since making its return in 2023, is much stronger. It won its first four matches since 2019. Armoni Harris was the Week 2 Defender of the Week and leads the HBCUAC with 4.44 digs per set. Taszia Adkinson ranks in the top 15 of the conference with 2.03 kills per set. The regular season and tournament champions will earn automatic bids to the 2024 NAIA National Volleyball Championship. The opening round will be November 23 at campus sites. The winners will advance to the National Championship Tournament December 4-10 at Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
Along with competing for the 2024 HBCUAC title, the schools will lead clinics for junior high and high school students at the BHP YMCA and the Lash Family YMCA in Shreveport on Sunday afternoon. The 2024 All-HBCUAC Awards will be presented during the Reception at Eleven Events LLC.
Fans can catch all the action on HBCU-Plus, which can be viewed online or the free app can be downloaded on mobile devices and Smart TVs. For more information on the 2024 HBCUAC Volleyball Championship visit Tournament Central.
-HBCUAC-
About HBCU Athletic Conference The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Oakwood University (AL), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s track and field, women’s volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.
