Texas A&M, Texas crack top 15 in preseason poll

Texas A&M is ranked No. 13 and Texas No. 14 in the USA Today coaches preseason poll released Thursday, which tallies votes from 65 FBC schools. UT is also one of three Big 12 teams ranked, joining No. 6 Oklahoma and No. 25 Iowa State.

Texas stumbled after a 4-1 start last year that featured a narrow loss to LSU, finishing the regularseason 7-5 (5-4 Big 12). But the drubbing of No. 11 Utah in the Alamo Bowl, an infusion of new coaches and the return of senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger has some convinced Texas will challenge for a Big 12 title.

Clemson is No. 1 for the second straight year.

The Tigers received 38 of 65 first-place votes in the poll. Clemson is seeking its third national title in five years after losing 42-25 to LSU in last season’s championship game.

Ohio State, which lost 29-23 to Clemson in a Fiesta Bowl semifinal last year, is second in the poll and received 17 first-place votes. Alabama, Georgia and LSU round out the top five. Alabama received four first-place votes. LSU got six. Rounding out the top 10 are Oklahoma, Penn State, Florida, Oregon and Notre Dame.

Texas Tech to host Houston Baptist

With cancellations and postponements due to the coronavirus affecting college football schedules, HBU and Texas Tech have reached an agreement to play on Sept. 12 at Jones AT&T Stadium officials from both institutions announced.

Texas Wesleyan canceled the game at HBU originally scheduled for that date. The Huskies will open the season with fourstraight road games, three against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents for the first time in program history. Texas Tech will also mark HBU’s first-ever meeting against a “Power 5” foe.

Navy-Notre Dame series to take a break

The Navy-Notre Dame series has been touted as the “longest, continuous intersectional rivalry” in college football, but that 94year run will come to an end this fall. The Fighting Irish and Midshipmen have met every year since 1927.

Notre Dame was forced to make a decision about the Navy game after the ACC announced changes to its basic schedule format on July 29. That plan called for member schools to play 10 conference contests plus one non-conference game. A mandate was included that non-conference matchups must be held within the state of the member school.

To comply, Notre Dame has elected to play Western Michigan at home on Sept. 19 as its lone non-conference opponent. That meant the Navy game, scheduled the Labor Day weekend in Annapolis, had to be scrapped.

Penn State won’t have spectators this season

Penn State says it is not expecting to have fans at home games this season, a decision forced by the pandemic that will cost the schools millions in revenue.

Penn State has one of the largest stadiums in the country, holding more than 107,000 fans.

Statewide policies are limiting gatherings in Pennsylvania to fewer than 500 people.