BYU-LSU game moved to New Orleans
The BYU-LSU game will be played Saturday night at the Superdome in New Orleans after massive flooding in Houston from Hurricane Harvey forced it to be relocated from NRG Stadium.
ESPN announced the move Monday. Finding a stadium to play the neutral-site game was in the hands of the television network and AdvoCare Texas Kickoff organizers who wanted to find a place that allowed convenient access to at least some fans already holding tickets.
The game is still scheduled to kick off at 9:30 p.m. Eastern and be televised on ESPN.
“Efforts are underway in New Orleans and we will work with the fans, the Superdome, the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau and both schools throughout the week to ensure the most optimal gameday experience for all,” said Pete Derzis, ESPN senior vice president of college sports programming and events.
ESPN said Dallas, San Antonio, Jacksonville, Nashville and Orlando also reached out about hosting the game.
LSU, ranked No. 13 in the AP poll, announced that tickets and parking passes purchased through its ticket office will be refunded automatically, starting Tuesday. The school said it will alert fans when tickets for the Superdome become available through its website for purchase.
BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe apologized to Cougars fans for the disruption of plans.
“We hope many of you will be able to make necessary changes to join us in New Orleans to cheer on the Cougars,” Holmoe said. “Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the people in South Texas who are currently facing the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey.”
Louisville loses Peete for season with torn ACL
LOUISVILLE, Ky.— Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said junior wide receiver and special teams captain Devante Peete will miss the season with a torn right ACL.
Peete began preseason camp listed No. 2 behind Seth Dawkins at one of three receiver positions for the 16th-ranked Cardinals. He caught four passes for 70 yards last season. He also had 10 tackles and blocked a punt on special teams. Petrino said Monday that the 6-foot-6, 207pound Peete had done a great job at receiver and called the injury “an unfortunate thing.”
Petrino said Peete, from Pompano Beach, Fla., can redshirt and added, “He has a great attitude, he’s a great worker and will be back.”
Louisville faces Purdue on Saturday in Indianapolis.
Harbaugh won’t reveal roster for Florida game
ANN ARBOR, Mich.— Jim Harbaugh is playing games.
Entering his third season in charge of college football’s winningest program, he’s refusing to unveil his roster until three days before No. 11 Michigan kicks off the season against No. 17 Florida in Texas.
And he won’t say whether returning starter Wilton Speight or seldom-used senior John O’Korn will take the first snap Saturday against the Gators at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.
“Have not heard Florida announce who their starting quarterback would be,” Harbaugh said Monday. “We’d love to have that information. No, we’re not announcing our starting quarterback. People make a lot of a big deal about our roster or not announcing a starting quarterback.”
NJ Advance Media, attempting to identify New Jersey natives playing in the Big Ten, submitted a Freedom Of Information Act request to obtain the Wolverines’ 2018 roster. The list of players was not published online or printed on paper when the team had spring practice or reported for training camp this summer. The school relented a little, releasing the student-athletes on athletic scholarship on Harbaugh’s roster.
Michigan center Mason Cole and his teammates have gotten used to the off-the-field buzz Harbaugh has created since coming back to campus in 2015.
“We don’t think anything of it,” Cole said. “We just go out and play. We don’t really worry about the rosters.”
Michigan was more forthcoming about what it will wear against Florida. It showed off an alternate uniform featuring a maize jersey, a color it will wear above the belt for the first time since facing Navy in 1928.