VIRGINIA TECH UPSETS NO. 10 NORTH CAROLINA
Braxton Burmeister ran for a touchdown and threw for another and host Virginia Tech made Sam Howell look pedestrian in a 17-10 victory over No. 10 North Carolina on Friday night in the opener for both teams.
Burmeister scored on a four-yard run and found James Mitchell for an 11-yard scoring strike as the Hokies built a 14-0 lead they took into halftime.
Howell, who threw eight touchdown passes in two previous games against Virginia Tech, was sacked six times and intercepted three times, the last when he threw wildly while in the grasp of Jordan Williams and found Chamarri Conner at the Hokies’ 40.
The play was reviewed, and when the officials announced that it was an interception, the sellout crowd at Lane Stadium erupted with relief. Many fans joined the team in celebration on the field after the game, which marked the first time since the 2019 season that fan attendance was not limited.
Howell did become the Tar Heels’ career leader with 69 touchdown passes when Josh Downs took a screen pass 37 yards for a score in the third quarter, but he was unable to find his usual magic late.
BIG 12 MOVING TO ADD FOUR MEMBERS
The Big 12 is moving quickly on an expansion plan that could have the conference at 12 schools after Texas and Oklahoma leave, with BYU, Central Florida, Cincinnati and Houston as the “most intriguing” candidates.
Three people familiar with the Big 12’s talks said the eight schools being left behind by the Longhorns and Sooners are working to rebuild by adding four new members.
Regularly scheduled meetings are planned for Big 12 university presidents and athletic directors in the coming days to discuss next steps, and another meeting of presidents was expected to take place late next week.
One person said invitations to new members could go out next week.
Sports Illustrated first reported, citing unidentified sources, that BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF were expected to apply for membership to the Big 12 early next week.
GOPHERS RB IBRAHIM’S STATUS UNKNOWN
Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck did not have an update on star running back Mo Ibrahim’s injury status. Ibrahim hurt his lower left leg late in the third quarter of the 45-31 loss to Ohio State on Thursday and left the field in a walking boot.