The Latest: South Carolina coach Martin to miss game at LSU
FILE - Villanova head coach Jay Wright gestures during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Georgetown in Washington, in this Saturday, March 7, 2020, file photo. South Carolina, 3-2 this season, has had seven scheduled games called off because of COVID-19. ___Xavier's scheduled men's basketball game Saturday at Seton Hall has been postponed because of COVID-19 related issues within the Xavier program. ___The Atlantic Coast Conference says Saturdayโs menโs basketball game between Georgia Tech and North Carolina State has been postponed. ___Michigan State is postponing a second straight men's basketball game due to a COVID-19 outbreak within its basketball program.
Successful season? College football played 500-plus games
โDo I think it would be a great matchup in college football, particularly in 2020? College football researcher and statistician Cody Kellner calculated 81 scheduled games were never played and 86% of the major college football season will be completed if no games are canceled Saturday. Teams played 52 of 55 potential regular-season games, including 43 of 45 conference games, plus a championship game. Teams played 85 of 90 potential regular-season games, including 70 of 75 conference games, plus a championship game. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at https://westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
Sun Belt football championship game canceled
Coastal Carolina wide receiver Jaivon Heiligh (6) and teammate Will McDonald (66) celebrate Heiligh's touchdown against Troy during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Troy, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)CONWAY, S.C. โ The Sun Belt Conference football championship game Saturday between No. 9 Coastal Carolina and No. 17 Louisiana-Lafayette was canceled Thursday night because of a positive COVID-19 test within the Coastal Carolina program. โWe will honor both teams as 2020 Sun Belt Conference Co-Champions.โBoth schools were in contention for a New Yearโs Six bowl spot with a victory in the first Sun Belt title game featuring a matchup of ranked teams. โWe are severely disappointed for our student-athletes and staff to not have the opportunity to play in what would have been a truly exciting championship game for the Sun Belt Conference,โ ULL AD Bryan Maggard said.
AP Top 25: Coastal breaks into top 10; Alabama still No. 1
25 San Jose State is this week's upstart. How they persevered through all kinds of challenges.โThis San Jose State team showed progress last year, going 5-7 after winning three games total in Brennan's first two seasons. San Jose State had to relocate to practice at first and then to play. CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKENDNine of the 10 FBS conference championship games will feature at least one ranked team and six will match Top-25 teams. 25 San Jose State, Mountain West championship.
No. 11 Coastal Carolina survives 42-38 scare against Troy
Coastal Carolina tight end Isaiah Likely (4) celebrates a touchdown with Coastal Carolina running back CJ Marable (1) against Troy during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Troy, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)TROY, Ala. โ Grayson McCall and Coastal Carolina put together a final drive that was perfection, just like their regular season. 11 Coastal Carolina preserved its first unblemished regular season with a 42-38 win over Troy on Saturday. โWe found a way to get it done and thatโs what championship teams do,โ Coastal coach Jamey Chadwell said. GAME COSTChadwell had griped about the Sun Belt making Coastal playing this game while Louisiana had an open date. He ran for a touchdown and added the two-point conversion with 30 seconds left last season to give Coastal a 36-35 victory.