Ragin’ Cajuns coach Napier tests positive
Louisiana coach Billy Napier has tested positive forCOVID-19. The Ragin’ Cajuns game against Central Arkansas, originally scheduled for Saturday, was canceled due to the program experiencing issues with the virus.
“Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Football head coach Billy Napier has tested positive for COVID-19,” the team stated in a press release. “The third-year head coach of the Ragin’ Cajuns began to exhibit symptoms during the routine molecular test on Wednesday, Nov. 18, both resulted in negative readings. Coach Npier’s symptoms persisted, and he received a positive result on Saturday from a PCR test on Friday, Nov. 20. CoachNapier will continue his isolation as he quarantines separately away from his family. The football program will resume practice Saturday after halting team operations from Tuesday-Friday. Pending a successful recovery, Coach Napier will travel separately from the team to Monroe, Louisiana, for the Saturday, Nov. 28 game vs. ULM.”
BYU stays perfect: Tyler Allgeier ran for a career-high 141 yards and two touchdowns and No. 8 BYU routed overmatched North Alabama 66-14 on Saturday to improve to 9-0.
Allgeier had his fourth 100-yard game of the season. Zach Wilson threw for 212 yards and four touchdowns before halftime and added 33 yards rushing.
COVID hits Pitt hard: Pitt was without 16 players for its game against Virginia Tech because of coronavirus issues, the school announced Saturday. That didn’t stop senior quarterback Kenny Pickett from leading the Panthers to a 47-14 win over Virginia Tech, throwing for 404 yards and two touchdowns and running for another in his final start at Heinz Field
The Panthers postponed their game last week against Georgia Tech and paused football activities after they had a few positive tests. They were able to resume practice Tuesday with the expectation that they would be able to play.
On Friday, Pitt said its players would be outfitted with face coverings because of new state coronavirus safety guidelines. But players are not required to have the face coverings pulled up while they are playing in the game.
Virginia Tech announced it had 12 players unavailable, but did not specify if itwas all related to coronavirus issues.
Oregon holds off UCLA: Tyler Shough threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns and No. 11 Oregon held off short-handed UCLA 38-35 on Saturday to remain undefeated.
At 3-0, Oregon solidified its spot atop the Pac-12 North. Devon Williams had six catches for 123 yards, including a 19-yarder for a score and a 49-yard reception that helped set up a thirdquarter score. UCLA (1-2) had several players out because of COVID-19 protocols and contact tracing, including starting quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Redshirt freshman Chase Griffin started.
Wildcats shut down Badgers: Peyton Ramsey threw two touchdown passes and No. 19 Northwestern shut down Graham Mertz and No. 10Wisconsin for a 17-7 victory on Saturday that put the undefeated Wildcats in control of the Big Ten West.
Northwestern forced five turnovers and sacked Mertz three times in its first win over a top-10 team since a victory over No. 9 Nebraska on Nov. 5, 2011. Ramsey was 23 for 44 for 203 yards, and Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman had four catches for 95 yards. NU improved to 5-0 for the first time since 2015.
Iowa State rolls KSU: Brock Purdy passed for 236 yards and three touchdowns and No. 17 Iowa State beat Kansas State 45-9 for its most lopsided win over the Wildcats in 77 years. Iowa State (6-2) improved to 6-1 in the Big 12, matching the school record for conference wins. The Cyclones hadn’t had such a wide winning margin against the Wildcats since they beat them 48-0 in 1943.
Cincy stays unbeaten: Desmond Ridder threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores as No. 7 Cincinnati defeated Central Florida 3633 Saturday to head into the release of the first College Football Playoff rankings unbeaten.
Smith sets SEC record: DeVonta Smith caught nine passes for 144 yards and set the Southeastern Conference career record with two more touchdowns in No. 1 Alabama’s 63-3 victory over short-handed Kentucky. Smith broke Amari Cooper’s SEC and Alabama record with his 32nd touchdown catch, a 10-yarder from Jones in the second.
Wolfpack tops Liberty: Zonovan Knight rushed for 96 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns, including the winner with 6 minutes, 53 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, to help N.C. State hand No. 21 Liberty (8-1) its first loss of the season 15-14.