TEXAS HOLDS OFF IOWA ST. IN BIG 12 OPENER

Shane Buechele threw for 171 yards and a score, and Texas opened Big 12 play by beating Iowa State 17-7 on Thursday night.

Chris Warren III added a rushing TD for the Longhorns, who improved to 13-2 against the Cyclones.

Warren had an 11-yard touchdown run and Toneil Carter caught a 22-yard TD pass from Buechele to give Texas a 14-0 halftime lead.

The game truly hinged on a pair of plays in a 21second span late in the third quarter that went the Longhorns’ way.

Big 12 removes bye-bye.

With the return of the Big 12 championship game, each conference team has only one open date this season.

There will be no bye-bye. Instead of two bye weeks, or even three like in 2013 or 2014 when those seasons started in August, there is now only one built-in break for Big 12 teams.

The regular season is a week shorter because of the championship game.

Iowa State, Texas and Texas Tech have also already had their byes and this week begin their conference slates without any more breaks.

Tar Heels lose top WR.

Add three more names to North Carolina’s growing list of season-ending injuries, including top receiver Austin Proehl.

The school released its injury report Thursday night ahead of Saturday’s trip to Georgia Tech.

That included Proehl, defensive tackle Tyler Powell, tight end Carl Tucker and receiver Rontavius Groves being out for the season, pushing the Tar Heels’ list of seasonending injuries to 13.

FSU expects pair to play.

Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher says he expects starting wide receiver Auden Tate and linebacker Matthew Thomas to play Saturday against Wake Forest.