UCF holds off Temple to extend streak
Clemson’s Swinney denies Browns rumors
ORLANDO, Fla. — McKenzie Milton threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns to help No. 9 UCF beat Temple 52-40 to extend the nation’s longest winning streak to 21 games Thursday night.
Taj McGowan scored on runs of 1 and 10 yards, the latter finishing a long drive that put the Knights (8-0, 5-0 American Athletic Conference) up by nine points after Temple (5-4, 4-1) nearly rallied to tie it.
Milton, returning to the lineup after missing a game with an undisclosed injury, finished 17 of 33 with one interception. Dredrick Snelson scored on a 19-yard reception and Michael Colubiale had TD catches of 9 and 19 yards to ensure the Knights gained sole possession of first place in the AAC East Division.
Anthony Russo completed 31 of 52 passes for 444 yards and four touchdowns for Temple, whose three-game winning streak was snapped despite gaining 670 yards on a night the teams combined to gain over 1,300 yards.
Ventell Bryant scored on receptions of 15 and 8 yards for the Owls. Russo also threw to Branden Mack and Randle Jones while building a 34-28 halftime that lasted less than a minute into the third quarter.
UCF took a 42-34 lead into the fourth quarter and stopped a potential tying two-point conversion before pulling away for good.
In addition to staying on top of the East Division standings, UCF remained on course to be part of the discussion about which teams deserve to be part of the College Football Playoff in December.
The Knights, denied a spot in the fourteam playoff field a year ago despite finishing as the only undefeated team in the FBS, were 12th in the initial CFP rankings released this week.
MARYLAND: The chairman of the University System of Maryland board of regents has resigned following the furor over the decision to reinstate football coach DJ Durkin.
The board’s decision to reinstate Durkin on Tuesday drew harsh criticism from students, players and state politicians. As a result, University President Wallace Loh fired Durkin on Wednesday.
On Thursday, board chairman James Brady stepped down from his post.
“In my estimation, my continued presence on the board will inhibit its ability to move Maryland’s higher education agenda forward,” Brady said in a statement. “And I have no interest in serving as a distraction from that important work.”
After reviewing external reports on the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair and the culture of the program, the board decided to reinstate Durkin and retain athletic director Damon Evans.
McNair collapsed on the practice field and died two weeks later of heatstroke. Durkin was put on administrative leave in August and, following the board’s recommendation, returned for one day.
“I understand that reasonable people could come to other conclusions,” Brady said. “And even among our board, some did.”
CLEMSON: Dabo Swinney is used to having his name mentioned for job openings in November and into the offseason. This year it happened a little early.
Hue Jackson was fired as the Cleveland Browns head coach on Monday, and immediately there was speculation about who would replace Jackson in Cleveland.
Charles Robinson of Yahoo wrote an article Monday night listing three possible candidates. Swinney was one of them.
“I’m happy right where I’m at,” Swinney told reporters after practice Wednesday night. “Y’all have been around here forever, and it’s November. It’s almost November. It’s November tomorrow. About every November there’s always some type of either I’m getting a job or somebody on my staff’s getting a job or whatever. And so that just kind of comes with the territory.”