Clemson No. 1 in the first coaches’ poll
Looks like Trevor Lawrence is going to win one more national title with Clemson before presumably heading off to the NFL.
At least that’s what the majority of college football coaches seem to think. For the second year in a row, the Tigers landed atop the preseason USA Today coaches’ poll, with 38 of the 65 voters selecting Clemson at No. 1.
Ohio State represents the Big Ten at No. 2, followed by three teams from Southeastern Conference — Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana State.
USC starts the season in the top 25 for the first time since 2018. Following a breakout season from quarterback Kedon Slovis last year, the Trojans come in at No. 17. Two other Pac-12 Conference teams made the cut — Oregon at No. 9 and Utah at No. 20. — Chuck Schilken
Notre Dame opens its season as an Atlantic Coast Conference football member against Duke on Sept. 12 and won’t face Navy for the first time in more than nine decades as part of the ACC’s reconfigured schedule due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Penn State All-American Micah Parsons opted out of the 2020 season because of concerns about COVID-19. The junior linebacker made his announcement with a social media post Thursday. He will be eligible to enter the 2021 NFL draft and is already expected to be a high firstround selection. Later in the day, Miami defensive end Gregory Rousseau, another potential first-round draft pick, informed Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz that he would not play this season. while those voluntarily opting out receive $150,000.
Lafayette Dorsey Jr. ,a former All-City guard at Dorsey High who excelled during two years playing for Pacific, died Thursday morning in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner-coroner’s office. He was 23. The cause of death has not been determined. — Eric Sondheimer
Halford Schuhmacher, the attorney representing Andrew Toles, was granted a continuance until Sept. 30 in the trespassing trial of the former Dodgers outfielder in Key West, Fla. The case had been scheduled to go before a jury Aug. 17. Toles was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor in June after police found him sleeping behind the Key West Airport. — Kevin Baxter
The Ducks re-signed defenseman Jacob Larsson to a two-year, $2.4-million deal.
Nani scored twice in the first half and Orlando City rolled to a 3-1 win over Minnesota. Orlando will play Portland on Tuesday in the MLS Is Back tournament final.