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Is Australia Ready To Take Bledisloe Cup Back From New Zealand?

A generation of Australian men’s rugby hasn’t seen its national team lift one of its most hallowed trophies. Are the Wallabies ready to take it back?

A generation of Australian men’s rugby hasn’t seen its national team lift one of its most hallowed trophies yet in their lives.

The Bledisloe Cup – the Wallabies’ annual cup competition between their noisy neighbors across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand – used to be a relatively back-and-forth event that saw Australia pick a few titles off of its adversary throughout the years. However, since the Wallabies last lifted the cup in 2002, all they’ve known in the rivalry is misery.

Sep 15, 3:45 PM GMT+6

2022 Australia vs New Zealand All Blacks – Bledisloe Cup, Game 1

As the All Blacks rocketed their way to superstardom and worldwide recognition across much of the 21st century, Australia, while still a very talented top-tier rugby nation, never was able to upend the world-beating Kiwis for much of it. 

Two decades since its last cup triumph, a golden opportunity has risen for Australia to take charge once again.

The stakes always are high in the Bledisloe Cup, of course, but with the added implication that the winner very well could bring home a Rugby Championship title, too – New Zealand holds a one-point lead over second-place Australia in the competition’s current table – there’s a lot more on the line than just pride in the South Pacific this month.

Here’s a look at what to expect from the Wallabies as they kick off the 2022 edition of the Bledisloe Cup later this month on their home turf in Melbourne, with both matches on the schedule slated to be streamed live on FloRugby.

Wallabies Cup Woes

Since 2002, Australia’s national men’s rugby team has twice been the runner-up at a Rugby World Cup, won two Tri Nations/Rugby Championship titles and been ranked as high as No. 2 in the world on multiple occasions. 

What the Wallabies haven’t done in that time frame, however, is finally get a Bledisloe Cup over their Trans-Tasman rivals. 

The All Blacks have won every iteration of the annual rivalry over the past two decades, a reign of dominance from New Zealand that included 10 consecutive wins over Australia in all competitions from 2008-2010. 

Even in recent years, the All Blacks have been steady performers in the showdown, pulling off at least one 35-point win over the Wallabies in each of the past three years to ensure that any Australian dreams of lifting the trophy are quickly dashed, usually before they can even really get off of the ground in the first place. 

However, there are some unusual factors at play. 

The All Blacks are in the midst of a historic slump of six defeats in nine matches, dropping games against the likes of Ireland and Argentina in New Zealand for the very first time in that stretch. 

It’s the national team’s worst nine-game stretch since 1970 (and even that was marginally better, with three wins and a draw to go with five defeats), with the All Blacks going from having never slipped below third in the World Rugby Rankings prior to this year to slipping to as low as fifth – and currently fourth – in this year’s Rugby Championship. 

Though Australia has some of its own issues to sort out, there possibly hasn’t been a better chance in literal decades for the Wallabies to take advantage of New Zealand’s misfortunes and bring the Bledisloe Cup back to the Land Down Under. 

A Need Of Steady Rugby

Speaking of issues to sort out, what arguably has been the main one for Australian rugby over the past year? Without a doubt, it’s consistency. 

With no consecutive wins since October of last year, the Wallabies have had the look of world-beaters in some tests, while simultaneously disjointed and without a bite to their game in others. 

Some of that has been due to injuries and other squad absences – captain Michael Hooper, for example, hasn’t played in this edition of The Rugby Championship, as he opted to take a break to focus on his mental health – but some of Australia’s most impressive performances in recent memory have come when coach Dave Rennie’s squad was severely short-handed. 

The stunning 25-17 victory over South Africa last month in Adelaide immediately springs to mind, for instance. 

Still, that recurring issue of showing out sometimes and falling flat other times probably couldn’t have had worse timing than in this year’s Rugby Championship, as for the first time since Argentina joined the competition (2012), all four teams sit at an equal 2-2 record after four tests. 

The Wallabies are obviously still very much in the mix to come out on top in the tournament for the first time since 2015, but in order to do it they almost certainly have to take the Bledisloe Cup off New Zealand’s hands, too – something that, as already mentioned, has been an achievement out of Australia’s reach for the past two decades. 

Odds aren’t terrific for the Wallabies to pull off the Rugby Championship/Bledisloe Cup double for the first time since 2001, as Australia likely will need to rattle off two consecutive victories over New Zealand to simultaneously clinch both titles, especially considering that South Africa easily could notch two wins itself over Argentina in the Rugby Championship’s other remaining mini-tour. 

Notably, 2001 also was the last time Australia won consecutive tests against New Zealand in an eerily-similar scenario to this year. Perhaps the stars are aligning for a repeat.

Rising Stars, Old Friends

A massive reason behind how Australia has managed to find itself playing for a Rugby Championship title this year, despite heavy squad rotation and swapping, is that some emerging talents have suddenly risen up to take big roles in big games. 

In a fixture such as New Zealand-Australia, in which legends are made on the regular, those players’ resumes could be taken to all-new heights. 

For example, Queensland Reds flanker Fraser McReight mainly was brought into the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship squad on the back of strong performances with the Australia “A” team in July’s Pacific Nations Cup in Fiji. 

When Hooper made himself inactive and the senior team scrambled for an outside flanker to take his place, Rennie found the 23-year-old and has rode his coattails to a Rugby Championship-high three tries thus far, including a double in the win over the Springboks. 

Throw in some other capable outings across the squad from the likes of newcomers like lock Jed Holloway and veteran presences like winger Marika Koroibete, and Australia is a bit of a discombobulated unit – but one that’s also very, very dangerous against any team it plays against. 

Nonetheless, the absences keep piling up for Australia, as fly-half Noah Lolesio and center Hunter Paisami both are doubtful for the first Bledisloe Cup match Sept. 15 in Melbourne after each suffered a concussion in the 24-8 defeat to the Boks in Sydney, while starting lock Rory Arnold is expecting the birth of his child and wasn’t included in the squad for the New Zealand tests. 

That’s where some of the Wallabies’ old names of times past come in: Bernard Foley, a former World Cup star who hasn’t suited up for the team in three years, could be Lolesio’s replacement if he can’t go, while back Kurtley Beale returned to the squad for the first time this year after last playing in the 2021 end-of-year tests against England.

Is Australia Ready To Take Bledisloe Cup Back From New Zealand?

A generation of Australian men’s rugby hasn’t seen its national team lift one of its most hallowed trophies. Are the Wallabies ready to take it back?

A generation of Australian men’s rugby hasn’t seen its national team lift one of its most hallowed trophies yet in their lives.

The Bledisloe Cup – the Wallabies’ annual cup competition between their noisy neighbors across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand – used to be a relatively back-and-forth event that saw Australia pick a few titles off of its adversary throughout the years. However, since the Wallabies last lifted the cup in 2002, all they’ve known in the rivalry is misery.

Sep 15, 3:45 PM GMT+6

2022 Australia vs New Zealand All Blacks – Bledisloe Cup, Game 1

As the All Blacks rocketed their way to superstardom and worldwide recognition across much of the 21st century, Australia, while still a very talented top-tier rugby nation, never was able to upend the world-beating Kiwis for much of it. 

Two decades since its last cup triumph, a golden opportunity has risen for Australia to take charge once again.

The stakes always are high in the Bledisloe Cup, of course, but with the added implication that the winner very well could bring home a Rugby Championship title, too – New Zealand holds a one-point lead over second-place Australia in the competition’s current table – there’s a lot more on the line than just pride in the South Pacific this month.

Here’s a look at what to expect from the Wallabies as they kick off the 2022 edition of the Bledisloe Cup later this month on their home turf in Melbourne, with both matches on the schedule slated to be streamed live on FloRugby.

Wallabies Cup Woes

Since 2002, Australia’s national men’s rugby team has twice been the runner-up at a Rugby World Cup, won two Tri Nations/Rugby Championship titles and been ranked as high as No. 2 in the world on multiple occasions. 

What the Wallabies haven’t done in that time frame, however, is finally get a Bledisloe Cup over their Trans-Tasman rivals. 

The All Blacks have won every iteration of the annual rivalry over the past two decades, a reign of dominance from New Zealand that included 10 consecutive wins over Australia in all competitions from 2008-2010. 

Even in recent years, the All Blacks have been steady performers in the showdown, pulling off at least one 35-point win over the Wallabies in each of the past three years to ensure that any Australian dreams of lifting the trophy are quickly dashed, usually before they can even really get off of the ground in the first place. 

However, there are some unusual factors at play. 

The All Blacks are in the midst of a historic slump of six defeats in nine matches, dropping games against the likes of Ireland and Argentina in New Zealand for the very first time in that stretch. 

It’s the national team’s worst nine-game stretch since 1970 (and even that was marginally better, with three wins and a draw to go with five defeats), with the All Blacks going from having never slipped below third in the World Rugby Rankings prior to this year to slipping to as low as fifth – and currently fourth – in this year’s Rugby Championship. 

Though Australia has some of its own issues to sort out, there possibly hasn’t been a better chance in literal decades for the Wallabies to take advantage of New Zealand’s misfortunes and bring the Bledisloe Cup back to the Land Down Under. 

A Need Of Steady Rugby

Speaking of issues to sort out, what arguably has been the main one for Australian rugby over the past year? Without a doubt, it’s consistency. 

With no consecutive wins since October of last year, the Wallabies have had the look of world-beaters in some tests, while simultaneously disjointed and without a bite to their game in others. 

Some of that has been due to injuries and other squad absences – captain Michael Hooper, for example, hasn’t played in this edition of The Rugby Championship, as he opted to take a break to focus on his mental health – but some of Australia’s most impressive performances in recent memory have come when coach Dave Rennie’s squad was severely short-handed. 

The stunning 25-17 victory over South Africa last month in Adelaide immediately springs to mind, for instance. 

Still, that recurring issue of showing out sometimes and falling flat other times probably couldn’t have had worse timing than in this year’s Rugby Championship, as for the first time since Argentina joined the competition (2012), all four teams sit at an equal 2-2 record after four tests. 

The Wallabies are obviously still very much in the mix to come out on top in the tournament for the first time since 2015, but in order to do it they almost certainly have to take the Bledisloe Cup off New Zealand’s hands, too – something that, as already mentioned, has been an achievement out of Australia’s reach for the past two decades. 

Odds aren’t terrific for the Wallabies to pull off the Rugby Championship/Bledisloe Cup double for the first time since 2001, as Australia likely will need to rattle off two consecutive victories over New Zealand to simultaneously clinch both titles, especially considering that South Africa easily could notch two wins itself over Argentina in the Rugby Championship’s other remaining mini-tour. 

Notably, 2001 also was the last time Australia won consecutive tests against New Zealand in an eerily-similar scenario to this year. Perhaps the stars are aligning for a repeat.

Rising Stars, Old Friends

A massive reason behind how Australia has managed to find itself playing for a Rugby Championship title this year, despite heavy squad rotation and swapping, is that some emerging talents have suddenly risen up to take big roles in big games. 

In a fixture such as New Zealand-Australia, in which legends are made on the regular, those players’ resumes could be taken to all-new heights. 

For example, Queensland Reds flanker Fraser McReight mainly was brought into the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship squad on the back of strong performances with the Australia “A” team in July’s Pacific Nations Cup in Fiji. 

When Hooper made himself inactive and the senior team scrambled for an outside flanker to take his place, Rennie found the 23-year-old and has rode his coattails to a Rugby Championship-high three tries thus far, including a double in the win over the Springboks. 

Throw in some other capable outings across the squad from the likes of newcomers like lock Jed Holloway and veteran presences like winger Marika Koroibete, and Australia is a bit of a discombobulated unit – but one that’s also very, very dangerous against any team it plays against. 

Nonetheless, the absences keep piling up for Australia, as fly-half Noah Lolesio and center Hunter Paisami both are doubtful for the first Bledisloe Cup match Sept. 15 in Melbourne after each suffered a concussion in the 24-8 defeat to the Boks in Sydney, while starting lock Rory Arnold is expecting the birth of his child and wasn’t included in the squad for the New Zealand tests. 

That’s where some of the Wallabies’ old names of times past come in: Bernard Foley, a former World Cup star who hasn’t suited up for the team in three years, could be Lolesio’s replacement if he can’t go, while back Kurtley Beale returned to the squad for the first time this year after last playing in the 2021 end-of-year tests against England.

Is Australia Ready To Take Bledisloe Cup Back From New Zealand?

A generation of Australian men’s rugby hasn’t seen its national team lift one of its most hallowed trophies. Are the Wallabies ready to take it back?

A generation of Australian men’s rugby hasn’t seen its national team lift one of its most hallowed trophies yet in their lives.

The Bledisloe Cup – the Wallabies’ annual cup competition between their noisy neighbors across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand – used to be a relatively back-and-forth event that saw Australia pick a few titles off of its adversary throughout the years. However, since the Wallabies last lifted the cup in 2002, all they’ve known in the rivalry is misery.

Sep 15, 3:45 PM GMT+6

2022 Australia vs New Zealand All Blacks – Bledisloe Cup, Game 1

As the All Blacks rocketed their way to superstardom and worldwide recognition across much of the 21st century, Australia, while still a very talented top-tier rugby nation, never was able to upend the world-beating Kiwis for much of it. 

Two decades since its last cup triumph, a golden opportunity has risen for Australia to take charge once again.

The stakes always are high in the Bledisloe Cup, of course, but with the added implication that the winner very well could bring home a Rugby Championship title, too – New Zealand holds a one-point lead over second-place Australia in the competition’s current table – there’s a lot more on the line than just pride in the South Pacific this month.

Here’s a look at what to expect from the Wallabies as they kick off the 2022 edition of the Bledisloe Cup later this month on their home turf in Melbourne, with both matches on the schedule slated to be streamed live on FloRugby.

Wallabies Cup Woes

Since 2002, Australia’s national men’s rugby team has twice been the runner-up at a Rugby World Cup, won two Tri Nations/Rugby Championship titles and been ranked as high as No. 2 in the world on multiple occasions. 

What the Wallabies haven’t done in that time frame, however, is finally get a Bledisloe Cup over their Trans-Tasman rivals. 

The All Blacks have won every iteration of the annual rivalry over the past two decades, a reign of dominance from New Zealand that included 10 consecutive wins over Australia in all competitions from 2008-2010. 

Even in recent years, the All Blacks have been steady performers in the showdown, pulling off at least one 35-point win over the Wallabies in each of the past three years to ensure that any Australian dreams of lifting the trophy are quickly dashed, usually before they can even really get off of the ground in the first place. 

However, there are some unusual factors at play. 

The All Blacks are in the midst of a historic slump of six defeats in nine matches, dropping games against the likes of Ireland and Argentina in New Zealand for the very first time in that stretch. 

It’s the national team’s worst nine-game stretch since 1970 (and even that was marginally better, with three wins and a draw to go with five defeats), with the All Blacks going from having never slipped below third in the World Rugby Rankings prior to this year to slipping to as low as fifth – and currently fourth – in this year’s Rugby Championship. 

Though Australia has some of its own issues to sort out, there possibly hasn’t been a better chance in literal decades for the Wallabies to take advantage of New Zealand’s misfortunes and bring the Bledisloe Cup back to the Land Down Under. 

A Need Of Steady Rugby

Speaking of issues to sort out, what arguably has been the main one for Australian rugby over the past year? Without a doubt, it’s consistency. 

With no consecutive wins since October of last year, the Wallabies have had the look of world-beaters in some tests, while simultaneously disjointed and without a bite to their game in others. 

Some of that has been due to injuries and other squad absences – captain Michael Hooper, for example, hasn’t played in this edition of The Rugby Championship, as he opted to take a break to focus on his mental health – but some of Australia’s most impressive performances in recent memory have come when coach Dave Rennie’s squad was severely short-handed. 

The stunning 25-17 victory over South Africa last month in Adelaide immediately springs to mind, for instance. 

Still, that recurring issue of showing out sometimes and falling flat other times probably couldn’t have had worse timing than in this year’s Rugby Championship, as for the first time since Argentina joined the competition (2012), all four teams sit at an equal 2-2 record after four tests. 

The Wallabies are obviously still very much in the mix to come out on top in the tournament for the first time since 2015, but in order to do it they almost certainly have to take the Bledisloe Cup off New Zealand’s hands, too – something that, as already mentioned, has been an achievement out of Australia’s reach for the past two decades. 

Odds aren’t terrific for the Wallabies to pull off the Rugby Championship/Bledisloe Cup double for the first time since 2001, as Australia likely will need to rattle off two consecutive victories over New Zealand to simultaneously clinch both titles, especially considering that South Africa easily could notch two wins itself over Argentina in the Rugby Championship’s other remaining mini-tour. 

Notably, 2001 also was the last time Australia won consecutive tests against New Zealand in an eerily-similar scenario to this year. Perhaps the stars are aligning for a repeat.

Rising Stars, Old Friends

A massive reason behind how Australia has managed to find itself playing for a Rugby Championship title this year, despite heavy squad rotation and swapping, is that some emerging talents have suddenly risen up to take big roles in big games. 

In a fixture such as New Zealand-Australia, in which legends are made on the regular, those players’ resumes could be taken to all-new heights. 

For example, Queensland Reds flanker Fraser McReight mainly was brought into the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship squad on the back of strong performances with the Australia “A” team in July’s Pacific Nations Cup in Fiji. 

When Hooper made himself inactive and the senior team scrambled for an outside flanker to take his place, Rennie found the 23-year-old and has rode his coattails to a Rugby Championship-high three tries thus far, including a double in the win over the Springboks. 

Throw in some other capable outings across the squad from the likes of newcomers like lock Jed Holloway and veteran presences like winger Marika Koroibete, and Australia is a bit of a discombobulated unit – but one that’s also very, very dangerous against any team it plays against. 

Nonetheless, the absences keep piling up for Australia, as fly-half Noah Lolesio and center Hunter Paisami both are doubtful for the first Bledisloe Cup match Sept. 15 in Melbourne after each suffered a concussion in the 24-8 defeat to the Boks in Sydney, while starting lock Rory Arnold is expecting the birth of his child and wasn’t included in the squad for the New Zealand tests. 

That’s where some of the Wallabies’ old names of times past come in: Bernard Foley, a former World Cup star who hasn’t suited up for the team in three years, could be Lolesio’s replacement if he can’t go, while back Kurtley Beale returned to the squad for the first time this year after last playing in the 2021 end-of-year tests against England.

Morgan State vs Georgia Southern Live football TV, radio, web schedules for 2022

Thursday, September 1

ESPN (plus WatchESPN.com): West Virginia at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Fox Sports 1: Central Michigan at Oklahoma State, 7 p.m.; Cal Poly at Fresno State, 10:30 p.m.

WATCH 2022 COLLEGE FOOTBALL LIVE

SEC Network (plus WatchESPN.com): Ball State at Tennessee, 7 p.m.

ACC Network (plus WatchESPN.com): Virginia Military at Wake Forest, 7:30 p.m.

Fox, WNYW-5 in New York (plus FoxSports.com/live): Penn State at Purdue, 8 p.m.

ESPNU (plus WatchESPN.com): Louisiana Tech at Missouri, 8 p.m.

CBS Sports Network (plus CBSsports.com/cbs-sports-network): Alabama A&M at Alabama Birmingham, 8 p.m.

Big Ten Network (plus FoxSports.com/live) New Mexico State at Minnesota, 9 p.m.

Pac 12 Network (plus Pac-12.com/live): Northern Arizona at Arizona State, 10 p.m.

ESPN3.com: Saint Francis at Akron, 6 p.m.; Bryant at Florida International, 7 p.m.; Long Island at Toledo, 7 p.m.; North Greenville at Furman, 7 p.m.

ESPN Plus (subscription): Citadel at Campbell, 6 p.m.; North Alabama at Indiana State, 6 p.m.; South Carolina State at Central Florida, 7 p.m.; Kennesaw State at Samford, 7 p.m.; Western Illinois at Tenn. Martin, 7:30 p.m.; Mars Hill at East Tennessee, 7:30 p.m.; Eastern Illinois at Northern Illinois, 8 p.m.; Mississippi Valley State at Tarleton State, 8 p.m.; Lamar at Abilene Christian, 8 p.m.; Western Oregon at Weber State, 8 p.m.; Saint Thomas at Southern Utah, 8 p.m.; Lincoln at Texas A&M Commerce, 8 p.m.; Missouri State at Central Arkanasas, 8 p.m.

FloFootball.com (subscription): Monmouth at New Hampshire, 7 p.m.; Rhode Island at Stony Brook, 7 p.m.

NECfrontrow.com: Fordham at Wagner, 6 p.m.

TheMW.com/watch (plus NBCsports.com/bayarea): Portland State at San Jose State, 10:30 p.m.

Friday, September 2

ESPN (plus WatchESPN.com): Western Michigan at Michigan State 7 p.m.; Texas Christian at Colorado, 10 p.m.

ESPNU (plus WatchESPN.com): Virginia Tech at Old Dominion, 7 p.m.

ACC Network (plus WatchESPN.com): Temple at Duke, 7:30 p.m.

Fox Sports 1 (plus FoxSports.com/live): Illinois at Indiana, 8 p.m.

ESPN3.com: Eastern Kentucky at Eastern Michigan, 7 p.m.; William & Mary at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

NECfrontrow.com: Holy Cross at Merrimack, 7 p.m.

ESPN Plus (subscription): Tennessee Tech at Kansas, 8 p.m.

FloFootball.com (subscription): Lehigh at Villanova, 6 p.m.

Saturday, September 3

ABC, WABC-7 in New York (plus ESPN3.com): Colorado State at Michigan, noon; Oregon at Georgia, 3:30 p.m.; Notre Dame at Ohio State, 7:30 p.m.

CBS, WCBS-2 in New York (plus CBSsports.com/live, ParamountPlus.com): Arizona at San Diego State, 3:30 p.m.

Fox, WNYW-5 in New York (plus FoxSports.com/live): Texas El Paso at Oklahoma, 3:30 p.m.

ESPN (plus WatchESPN.com): North Carolina State at East Carolina, noon; Cincinnati at Arkansas, 3:30 p.m.; Utah at Florida, 7 p.m.; Boise State at Oregon State, 10:30 p.m.

Fox Sports 1 (plus FoxSports.com/live): South Dakota State at Iowa, noon; Tulsa at Wyoming, 3:30 p.m.; Illinois State at Wisconsin, 7 p.m.; Kent State at Washington, 10:30 p.m.

ESPNU (plus WatchESPN.com): North Carolina at Appalachian State, noon; Brigham Young at South Florida, 4 p.m.; Memphis at Mississippi State, 7:30 p.m.

SEC Network (plus WatchESPN.com): Sam Houston at Texas A&M, noon; Troy at Mississippi, 4 p.m.; Utah State at Alabama, 7:30 p.m.

ACC Network (plus WatchESPN.com): Rutgers at Boston College, noon; Bethune Cookman at Miami, 3:30 p.m.; Louisville at Syracuse, 8 p.m.

Big Ten Network (plus FoxSports.com/live): Buffalo at Maryland, noon; North Dakota at Nebraska, 3:30 p.m.

CBS Sports Network (plus CBSsports.com/cbs-sports-network): Delaware at Navy, noon; Houston at Texas San Antonio, 3:30 p.m.; Southern Methodist at North Texas, 7:30 p.m.

ACC regionals (plus ESPN3.com): Richmond at Virginia, 12:30 pm.

Pac 12 Network (plus Pac-12.com/live): Bowling Green at UCLA, 2:30 p.m.; Cal Davis at California, 4 p.m.; Rice at Southern California, 6 p.m.; Colgate at Stanford, 8 p.m.; Idaho at Washington State, 9:30 p.m.

Longhorn (plus WatchESPN.com): Louisiana Monroe at Texas, 8 p.m.

ESPN3.com: Georgetown at Marist, noon; Norfolk State at Marshall, 3:30 p.m.; Nicholls at South Alabama, 5 p.m.; Morgan State at Georgia Southern, 6 p.m.; Concordia at Stetson, 6 p.m.; Grambling State at Arkasas State, 7 p.m.; Indiana Wesleyan at Valparaiso, 7 p.m.; North Carolina vs. North Carolina Central, 7:30 p.m.

ESPN Plus (subscription): Western Carolina at Charleston Southern, noon; Dayton at Robert Morris, noon; Southeast Missouri at owa State, 2 p.m.; Duquesne at Youngstown State, 2 p.m.; Lincoln at Delaware State, 2 p.m.; Davidson at Jacksonville State, 2 p.m.; Northwestern State at Montana, 3 p.m.; Drake at North Dakota State, 3:30 p.m.; Tennessee State at Eastern Washington, 4 p.m.; Houston Baptist at Northern Colorado, 4 p.m.; Middle Tennessee at James Madison, 6 p.m.; Florida Atlantic at Ohio, 6 p.m.; Miles at Alabama State, 6 p.m.; Wofford at Chattanooga, 6 p.m.; Towson at Bucknell, 6 p.m.; Army at Coastal Carolina, 7 p.m.; Southeastern Louisiana at Louisiana; 7 p.m.; Elon at Vanderbilt, 7 p.m.; South Dakota at Kansas State, 7 p.m.; Albany at Baylor, 7 p.m.; Massachusetts at Tulane, 7 p.m.; Miami Ohio at Kentucky, 7 p.m.; Mercer at Auburn, 7 p.m.; Liberty at Southern Mississippi, 7 p.m.; Texas Southern at Prairie View A&M, 7 p.m.; Limestone at Gardner-Webb, 7 p.m.; Presbyterian at Austin Peay, 7 p.m.; Southern Illinois at UIW, 7 p.m.; Georgia State at South Carolina, 7:30 p.m.; Murray State at Texas Tech, 8 p.m.; McNeese State at Montana State, 8 p.m.; Utah Tech at Sacramento State, 9 p.m.

FloFootball.com (subscription): Howard at Hampton, 6 p.m.

Sunday, September 4

ESPN2 (plus WatchESPN.com): Jackson State at Florida A&M, 3 p.m.

ABC, WABC-7 in New York (plus ESPN3.com): Florida State vs. Louisiana State, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, September 5

ESPN (plus WatchESPN.com): Clemson vs. Georgia Tech, 8 p.m.

Thursday, September 8

ESPN Plus (subscription): Tennessee Martin at Missouri State, 8 p.m.

Friday, September 9

ESPN2 (plus WatchESPN.com): Louisville at Central Florida, 7:30 p.m.

CBS Sports Network (CBSsports.com/cbs-sports-network): Boise State New Mexico, 9 p.m.

NECfrontrow.com: Assumption at Merrimack, 7 p.m.

Saturday, September 10

Fox, WNYW-5 in New York (also FoxSports.com/live): Alabama at Texas, noon; Washington State at Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m.

ABC, WABC-7 in New York (also ESPN3.com): Ohio at Penn State, noon; Tennessee at Pittsburgh, 3:30 p.m.; USC at Stanford, 7:30 p.m.

NBC, WNBC-4 in New York: Marshall at Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m.

CBS, WCBS-2 in New York (also CBSsports.com/live, ParamountPlus.com): Colorado at Air Force, 3:30 p.m.

Fox Sports 1 (also FoxSports.com/live): Duke at Northwestern, noon; Houston at Texas Tech, 4 p.m.; Georgia Southern at Nebraska, 7:30 p.m.; Mississippi State at Arizona, 11 p.m.

ESPN (also WatchESPN.com): South Carolina at Arkansas, noon; Kentucky at Florida, 7 p.m.; Baylor at Brigham Young, 10:15 p.m.

ESPN2 (also WatchESPN.com): Missouri at Kansas State, noon; Appalachian State at Texas A&M, 3:30 p.m.; Arizona State at Oklahoma State, 7:30 p.m.

ESPNU (also WatchESPN.com): North Carolina at Georgia State, noon; Virginia at Illinois, 4 p.m.; San Jose State at Auburn, 7:30 p.m.

SEC Network (also WatchESPN.com): Wake Forest at Vanderbilt, noon; Samford at Georgia, 4 p.m.; Southern at LSU, 7:30 p.m.

ACC Network (also WatchESPN.com): Southern Mississippi at Miami, noon; Furman at Clemson, 3:30 p.m.; Boston College at Virginia Tech, 8 p.m.

Big Ten Network (also FoxSports.com/live): Arkansas State at Ohio State, noon; Western Illinois at Minnesota, noon; Iowa State at Iowa, 4 p.m.; Akron at Michigan State, 4 p.m.; Indiana State at Purdue, 4 p.m.; Wagner at Rutgers, 4 p.m.; Hawaii at Michigan, 8 p.m.; Idaho at Indiana, 8 p.m.

CBS Sports Network (also CBSsports.com/cbs-sports-network): Texas San Antonio at Army, noon; Memphis at Navy, 3:30 p.m.; Syracuse at Connecticut, 7 p.m.; Oregon State at Fresno State, 10:30 p.m.

ACC regionals (also WatchESPN.com): Charleston Southern at North Carolina State, 12:30 p.m.

Pac 12 Network (also Pac-12.com/live): Southern Utah at Utah, 1:30 p.m.; Portland State at Washington, 4 p.m.; Nevada Las Vegas at California, 4 p.m.; Alabama State at UCLA, 5 p.m.; Eastern Washington at Oregon, 8:30 p.m.

NFL Network (also NFL.com/network/watch/nfl-network-live.com): Eastern Michigan at Louisiana, 7 p.m.

New Mexico State vs. Nevada: Live updates, score, results, highlights, for Saturday’s NCAAF game

Live scores, highlights and updates from the New Mexico State vs. Nevada football game

WATCH 2022 COLLEGE FOOTBALL LIVE

The Nevada Wolf Pack won the last time they faced the New Mexico State Aggies, and things went their way on Saturday, too. Nevada walked away with a 23-12 victory.

quarterIt took a quarter to shake off the cobwebs, but after zero first-half points, the Nevada offense picked up 17 points in the second quarter. New Mexico State wasn’t quite able to keep up, and the score was 17-2 heading into the break. The Wolf Pack coasted a bit in the second half, relying primarily on their first half lead, but they still walked away with the win.

RB Devonte Lee was the offensive standout of the contest for Nevada, punching in two rushing touchdowns. Nevada also got a significant boost from RB Toa Taua, who ran away from the competition to the tune of 108 yards.

Nevada’s defense was a force to be reckoned with, as it collected four interceptions and one fumble. CB Isaiah Essissima picked up that interception and then proceeded to rub salt in the wound by taking it back the other way for a touchdown.

No one had a standout game offensively for the Aggies, but they got scores from WR Kordell David and QB Gavin Frakes. The game brought the Wolf Pack to 1-0 and dropped New Mexico State to a mirror-image 0-1.

Nevada will square off against the Texas State Bobcats at 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at Clarence Mackay Stadium. As for New Mexico State, they will go up against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium. New Mexico State is the clear underdog, so they’re hoping it’s the size of the fight

South Alabama releases depth chart for 2022 opener vs. Nicholls

Just ahead of its Saturday season-opener vs. Nicholls, South Alabama has released its first depth chart for the 2022 season.

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There were a handful of surprises among the starting 22, including Ole Miss transfer Jalen Jordan as the first-team Rover. Senior C.J. Thompson, listed as the second-teamer, took most of the No. 1 reps in the spring and in preseason camp.

Finally intact, South Alabama backs ready to run in 2022

Carter Bradley ‘grateful’ to be named South Alabama’s QB1

Other notables are former walk-on Reggie Smith as the first-team right guard ahead of several more experienced players. Anterrious Gray, the Jaguars’ primary starter at right guard last season, is now listed as the second-team left guard behind Florida State transfer Dontae Lucas.

Junior-college transfer La’Damian Webb is listed as the first-team running back, ahead of returning starter Terrion Avery. Webb missed much of preseason camp with foot and hand injuries suffered in the offseason, but returned to full-speed work last week.

One other intriguing spot is free safety, where three-year starter Keith Gallmon was lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle. Kansas State transfer Marvin Martin is now listed with the first-team, with junior Jaden Voisin as the second-teamer.

Returning starter Diego Guajardo is listed as the first-team place-kicker ahead of Jacob Meeks, a Texas Tech transfer. Meeks is listed as the first-team kickoff man.

There are nine newcomers listed among the starters, four on offense, four on defense and Meeks among the specialists. The offensive newcomers expected to start are Lucas, Webb, Jacksonville State transfer PJ Mixon at left tackle and Toledo transfer Carter Bradley at quarterback, while the defensive newcomers listed as first-teamers are Martin, Jordan, Ole Miss transfer Jamar Richardson at field cornerback and Indiana transfer James Miller at Mike linebacker.

There are three true freshmen on the two deep, all listed as second-teamers: Ricky Fletcher at field cornerback behind Richardson, Tremel States-Jones at Husky (nickel) safety behind returning starter Yam Banks and Braylon McReynolds as kick returner behind veteran Caullin Lacy.

Here’s South Alabama’s full two-deep released Monday:

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Carter Bradley (6-3, 216, Jr.); Desmond Trotter (6-3, 224, Jr.)

Running back: La’Damian Webb (5-7, 206, Jr.); Terrion Avery (5-8, 210, Sr.)

X-receiver: Jalen Wayne (6-2, 207, Sr.); Oakley Coleman (6-3, 185, RSo.)

H-receiver: Caullin Lacy (5-10, 190, So.); Jay’juan Townsend (6-0, 185, So.)

Z-receiver: Devin Voisin (6-0, 190, Jr.); Christian Wortham (6-1, 189, RFr.)

Tight end: Lincoln Sefcik (6-3, 244, Jr.); DJ Thomas-Jones (6-3, 230, Jr.)

Tight end: Brandon Crum (6-4, 255, Jr.); Jacob Hopper (6-6, 248, So.)

Left tackle: PJ Mixon (6-4, 292, Sr.); Adrien Strickland (6-6, 323, RFr.)

Left guard: Dontae Lucas (6-4, 322, Jr.); Anterrious Gray (6-3, 317, Sr.)

Center: James Jackson (6-3, 319, Sr.); Trey Simpson (6-2, 295, Jr.)

Right guard: Reggie Smith (6-1, 295, Jr.); James Robinson (6-4, 345, RSo.)

Right tackle: Antawn Lewis (6-3, 330, Sr.); Josh McCulloch (6-3, 312, Jr.)

DEFENSE

Bandit end: Jamie Sheriff (6-2, 262, Sr.); Brock Higdon (6-7, 251, RSo.)

Nose guard: Wy’kevious Thomas (6-2, 304, RSo.); Zeke Chapman (6-2, 305, Sr.)

Defensive tackle: Charles Coleman (6-3, 282, Jr.); Ed Smith (6-2, 290, RFr.)

Wolf linebacker: CJ Rias (6-2, 236, Jr.); DK Bonhomme (6-2, 237, Jr.) OR Lamondre Brooks (6-2, 238, RFr.)

Mike linebacker: James Miller (6-1, 231, Jr.); Ke’Shun Brown (6-1, 233, RSo.)

Stinger linebacker: Quentin Wilfawn (6-1, 240, Sr.); Trey Kiser (6-0, 230, Jr.)

Husky (nickel) safety: Yam Banks (6-1, 208, So.); Tremel States-Jones (6-0, 195, Fr.)

Field cornerback: Jamar Richardson (6-0, 180, Sr.); Ricky Fletcher (6-2, 193, Fr.)

Boundary cornerback: Darrell Luter (6-0, 190, Sr.); Marquise Robinson (6-1, 193, So.)

Rover safety: Jalen Jordan (5-9, 180, Jr.); CJ Thompson (6-1, 205, Sr.)

Free safety: Marvin Martin (6-0, 196, So.); Jaden Voisin (6-0, 203, Jr.)

SPECIALISTS

Placekicker: Diego Guajardo (6-0, 192, Jr.); Jacob Meeks (6-2, 192, Jr.)

Punter: Jack Brooks (6-0, 205, Jr.); Jack Martin (5-11, 179, Jr.)

Long snapper: Travis Drosos (6-0, 220, So.); Anthony Zaccaro (6-2, 240, So.)

Kickoff: Jacob Meeks (6-2, 192, Jr.); Diego Guajardo (6-0, 192, Jr.)

Returner: Caullin Lacy (5-10, 190, So.); Braylon McReynolds (5-8, 180, Fr.)

Saturday’s game kicks off at 4 p.m. at Hancock Whitney Stadium. The game will be streamed live via ESPN+.

North Dakota vs Nebraska Live score: Scott Frost’s Cornhuskers blow double-digit lead, Wildcats prevail in Ireland

With the loss, Nebraska falls to 5-21 in one-score games under fifth-year coach Scott Frost

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For the second straight season, Nebraska dropped a season-opening game against a Big Ten opponent in excruciating fashion, blowing not one, but two double-digit leads in a 31-28 loss to Northwestern in Dublin, Ireland. Routinely on the wrong end of close games, the Cornhuskers now fall to 5-21 in one-score affairs under fifth-year coach Scott Frost. 

Nebraska showed real promise early in the third quarter, but everything changed once Frost called a bizarre onside kick after going up 28-17. Northwestern quickly sniffed out the kick and converted with a 44-yard drive capped off by a 3-yard Cam Porter touchdown to cut the lead to four. 

Then, Texas transfer quarterback Casey Thompson threw his first interception in a Cornhuskers uniform. Northwestern responded with a six-play, 42-yard scoring drive culminating in a four-yard run from running back Evan Hull to give the Wildcats the lead for good. Northwestern ran the ball 12 straight times to kill the clock in the fourth quarter, using a four-minute drive to take the clock to just outside the two-minute mark. Thompson then threw another back-breaking interception off the fingers of a receiver on the next possession to end the game. 

Much was asked of Thompson in his first start; the transfer threw 41 times for 355 yards with two total touchdowns. However, one pass was placed slightly high and another was tipped by a receiver for two frustrating interceptions. Running back Anthony Grant posted 101 yards rushing and two touchdowns, but the Cornhuskers averaged just 2.2 yards per carry outside of a 46-yard touchdown run. 

Northwestern quarterback Ryan Hilinski played one of the best games of his lengthy carer, however, completing 27 of 38 passes for two touchdowns with no interceptions. Hull and Porter also combined for 213 yards rushing and two scores. 

What did we learn from Saturday’s Week 0 game in Dublin? Here are three takeaways from the Big Ten opener to the 2022 season. 

The new era looks like the old era

After a disappointing 3-9 campaign last season, Frost brought in a new quarterback (Thompson), new offensive coordinator (Mark Whipple) and a number of new players and assistants. In so many ways, this was billed as a new program that earned a fresh start under an embattled head coach. 

The second Northwestern applied any pressure, however, the Huskers reverted right back to the mistakes of old. 

“I think we’re gonna learn as an offensive staff that you have to be a little creative in this league,” said Frost. “It’s tough for me, there’s no one way of doing things. I think we can cooperate a little bit more.” 

Despite the heralded workouts from new offensive line coach Donovan Raiola, Nebraska was a complete non-factor in the trenches. When things started getting uncomfortable, Thompson’s receivers regressed quickly. Not helping matters was the fact that tight end Travis Vokolek left with an injury. The final drive of the game ended with a receiver drop followed by a pass bouncing off a receiver’s fingers for an interception. Naturally, turnovers ended up being a deciding factor. 

Frost has had unbelievably bad luck in close games over his tenure. At a certain point, there’s simply no excuse left. 

It’s an even-numbered year

The Wildcats have famously put together their best campaigns in even-numbered years over the past few seasons, including a Big Ten West title in 2020 and No. 21 finish in the AP Top 25 in 2018. After a miserable 3-9 effort last season, Northwestern looked more impressive in almost every facet than anyone could have expected. 

The offensive line was the most impressive unit on the field by far, clearing the way for a group that posted 528 total yards on 6.4 yards per play. More impressively, the Cornhuskers had zero sacks and only one credited quarterback pressure. 

Granted, it’s hard to know exactly how much to read into things with an inconsistent Nebraska squad on the other sideline, but Northwestern won the game on its own terms. While there’s still plenty to prove before the middle of the Big Ten schedule, the Wildcats have some legitimately elite talent groups with upside against even the best in the Big Ten West. 

Bowl eligibility just became harder

Nebraska has not been to a bowl game since 2016, and Frost needs to reach that feat in 2022, at least, in order to keep his job. Unfortunately, losing a season-opener in which the Cornhuskers were favored for the second year in a row makes the pathway even harder. 

Nebraska returns home for a matchup against a tricky FCS squad in North Dakota and will play Clay Helton’s Georgia Southern squad the following week. Then, it’s a battle with No. 9 Oklahoma in Lincoln in a game that could make or break Frost’s career. 

There are winnable games on the horizon — but are any as winnable as against Northwestern? Without any bye weeks before Sept. 24, there’s not much chance to settle down. And don’t count on Frost leaving on his own if the results don’t come in 2022. 

“No,” said Frost when asked if he would resign following the loss, “I love the guys.”

Cal Poly to Open 2022 Football Season Thursday at Fresno State

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly (0-0, 0-0 Big Sky), which plays 10 of the 11 opponents from the 2021 season again this fall, opens its 2022 football campaign Thursday night at Fresno State (0-0, 0-0 Mountain West) inside Valley Children’s (formerly Bulldog) Stadium (cap.: 40,727). It will be the Mustangs’ first Thursday opener since 2014 at New Mexico State (Aug. 28) and just the fourth in program history.  

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Kickoff for the non-conference game between Central California rivals is set for 7:35 p.m. PDT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN?Radio (1280 AM and 101.7 FM) in San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County and KRKC?(1490 AM and 104.9 FM)?in southern Monterey County with Zachary Anderson-Yoxsimer (play-by-play) and Stephan Hodges (analyst) calling the action. Pregame show starts at 7 p.m. The game also will be nationally televised on FS1 (Spectrum Channel 69 and 422 in San Luis Obispo County) with Eric Collins (play-by-play announcer for the Charlotte Hornets) and Devin Gardner (Michigan quarterback from 2010-14) on the mic. Links for audio and video streams as well as live stats can be found on the football schedule page at www.GoPoly.com. 

The first full season of Mustang football under Cal Poly head coach Beau Baldwin, which began 21 months after he was named Cal Poly’s 17th head football coach on Dec. 11, 2019,  ended with a 2-9 mark. The Mustangs defeated San Diego 28-17 in the opener as Spencer Brasch, in his first game as a Mustang after transferring from Cal, completed 23 of 38 passes for 316 yards, the most by a Mustang quarterback in 12 years, and two touchdowns with no interceptions and Elijah Ponder returned an interception 75 yards for another score. Cal Poly also beat Idaho State 42-39 in the penultimate contest as Jaden Ohlsen kicked a 41-yard field goal with four seconds remaining and Brasch completed 25 of 50 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns. 

The offseason was highlighted with some firsts for Baldwin in his tenure at Cal Poly, namely seven uninterrupted months of conditioning from January through July, a Spring Camp that ended with a successful Spring Game, the hiring of five new assistant coaches to replace those who moved on to the NFL or FBS schools, and an explosive six-touchdown performance in the first of two Fall Camp scrimmages on the new FieldTurf inside Alex G. Spanos Stadium. 

One of the coaches who left is James Montgomery, now running backs coach and recruiting coordinator for the Bulldogs. Another Fresno State assistant, offensive line coach and running game coordinator Saga Tuitele, coached the offensive line at Cal Poly from 2009-15. One of the new assistants at Cal Poly — running backs coach Robbie Rouse —was a running back at Fresno State from 2009-12, rushing for a total of 4,647 yards and 37 rushing touchdowns while also finishing with 794 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. He is the first player in program history to record three 1,000-yard seasons and helped the Bulldogs reach a bowl game in three of the four seasons. Will Plemons, currently Cal Poly’s defensive line coach, coached the same group at Fresno State during three coaching stints — 2004-05 and 2008-11 under Pat Hill and 2019 under Jeff Tedford. 

Fresno State is coming off a 10-3 campaign in 2021 which included a 6-2 Mountain West mark for second place in the West Division and a 31-24 victory over UTEP?in the New Mexico Bowl at Albuquerque, N.M. Kalen DeBoer left the Bulldogs as head coach after the regular season ended to become head coach at Washington and Tedford was hired nine days later to coach the Fresno State program for the second time. Tedford coached the Bulldogs from 2017-19, inheriting a team that had gone 1-11 and turned it around to back-to-back double-digit wins — 10-4 in 2017 and 12-2 in 2018. Several Bulldog players on the 2022 roster have seen a full rotation of three coaching staffs in their six years of collegiate football. 

Tedford greeted 40 lettermen, including 14 starters (six on offense, seven on defense, one on special teams) to Fall Camp. Top Bulldogs to watch for include quarterback Jake Haener, wide receiver Jalen Cooper, defensive end David Perales, running back Jordan Mims and safety Evan Williams. 

Haener passed for 4,089 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2021, completing 17 of 22 passes for 380 yards and four touchdowns against Cal Poly. He was selected as the 2022 preseason Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Cropper played in all 13 games with 10 starts and made 85 receptions for 899 yards and 11 touchdowns, which led the offense in all categories. He was named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list this summer.  

Perales is coming off a season with 45 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and three QB hurries in 12 starts on his way to a second-team All-Mountain West selection. Over the last two seasons Perales has recorded 22.5 tackles for a loss and 11 sacks. Mims returns for a sixth season, playing in all 13 games with two starts on his way to 710 yards and six TDs rushing along with 25 catches for 324 yards and four scores. Williams recorded a team-high 94 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and three interceptions in 2021 and was a first-team all-conference pick.  

Fresno State has won 28 conference titles in 100 seasons of football with 30 bowl appearances, winning 15. Fresno State is 628-439-27 overall, including a 187-61-2 mark in Valley Children’s Stadium. There have been 33 crowds of 40,000 or more in Valley Children’s Stadium, which opened in 1980 and was named Jim?Sweeney Field at Bulldog Stadium until this year. A total of 117 Bulldogs have earned All-America honors, including 18 on the first team. 

Fresno State leads Cal Poly 33-10-2 in the all-time series which began in 1922. The Bulldogs have won the last eight meetings, including a 63-10 decision last fall and a 41-25 verdict in 2013. In 2021, Fresno State led 35-3 shortly before halftime and never looked back. In the game nine years ago, the Mustangs turned a 41-3 third-quarter deficit into a two-possession game with three touchdowns in the second half, but could get no closer. Seven of Cal Poly’s 10 wins against Fresno State occurred from 1969-79 when Joe Harper was head coach. 

Baldwin is coaching against Fresno State for the second time while Tedford is facing Cal Poly for the first time as a head coach. 

Baldwin was head coach at Eastern Washington for nine seasons (2008-16) and was an assistant coach for the Eagles from 2003-06. An offensive coordinator at Cal for three years (2017-19) before coming to Cal Poly, Baldwin guided Eastern Washington to an 85-32 mark, five Big Sky titles and six FCS playoff berths, including the 2010 national championship. 

Cal Poly fans have seen major changes, particularly on offense, with Baldwin at the helm. The Triple Option is gone and the new offensive package features three or four wide receivers on most plays with one running back instead of two slots, a fullback and a pair of receivers in the old Triple Option formation. 

Baldwin and his staff welcomed 62 returning lettermen to Fall Camp in?August, including 30 on offense, 27 on defense and five specialists on special teams. The returnees include 27 players who started at least five games during the 2021 season — 13 on offense, nine on defense and five on special teams. 

Also on the 108-man fall roster are 22 players who were true freshmen and played in at least one game but no more than four, preserving their redshirt year, five transfers from four-year schools, two community college transfers, 13 redshirts or squad members who did not play at all in 2021 and 28 newcomers from the high school ranks. 

The group of veterans includes quarterback Spencer Brasch (145 of 267 passes for 1,725 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2021), wide receiver Chris Coleman (43-590-4), linebacker Laipeli Palu (51 tackles) and defensive linemen Dustin Grein (36 tackles, one sack), Elijah Ponder (35 tackles, eight sacks) and Josh Ngaluafe (28 tackles, two sacks), who combined for 22 tackles for lost yardage in 2021. 

Other toop returnees include wide receiver/punt returner Giancarlo Woods (27-339-1 receiving, 6.8 punt return average), wide receiver Zedakiah Centers (35-310-0) and offensive linemen Charles Lincoln, Austin Anderson, Mohab Wahdan, Hunter Jones and Payson Campisano, all of whom started at least five games a year ago. 

Cal Poly played the fifth-toughest schedule in the NCAA’s Division I Football Championship Subdivision last fall and faces 10 of the 11 teams again this season, replacing Weber State with Eastern Washington.  

The 11 opponents on the Mustangs’ 2021 schedule compiled an 80-52 win-loss record for a .606 winning percentage. Five of them — South Dakota, Montana, Montana State, UC Davis and Sacramento State — qualified for the FCS playoffs and Fresno State played in a bowl game. 

Weber State, which won or shared four straight Big Sky titles heading into the 2021 season, didn’t make the postseason but was one of seven Cal Poly opponents ranked at one time or another in 2021. San Diego finished 7-4 with a share of the Pioneer League crown, its 10th in the last 11 years. 

Cal Poly tackled that schedule with as many as 10 freshmen and seven sophomores in the starting lineup last fall. 

“We’re an ascending program that will be better next year,” Baldwin said shortly after the 2021 season ended. “Every program goes through its ups and downs. It’s always a work in progress. 

“I am excited for the future of this program and especially the younger players,” Baldwin added. “There were a number of young guys who got the chance to play. When you take over a program and change the system, you usually become a young team, the players adapting to your program and system, always going through growing pains, and we definitely had a lot of that.” 

In addition to this year’s game at Fresno State and the 2014 contest at New Mexico State, Cal Poly’s only other season-opening Thursday games were at Toledo in 2002 on Aug. 29 and at Northern Arizona on Sept. 9 in 1999. The Mustangs also played Thanksgiving Day games against Cal Poly Pomona in the 1960s. 

Cal Poly, which captured the 2012 Big Sky title in its first year in the conference, claimed four Great West Conference titles in the eight-year history of the league (2004, 2005, 2008, 2011) and has earned NCAA Division I FCS playoff berths in 2005, 2008, 2012 and 2016. 

Next week, Cal Poly plays its home opener, hosting San Diego for a 2:02 p.m. kickoff inside Alex G. Spanos Stadium. 

Wyoming Football: News and notes ahead of Tulsa

LARAMIE — Craig Bohl’s postgame press conferences typically have an overriding theme to them — he wants to look at the game film.

Wyoming’s ninth-year head coach did just that Sunday. He saw exactly what you did during the Cowboys’ lopsided 38-6 setback at Illinois.

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The passing game reached an all new low, and if you’ve followed this program, you know that’s really saying something. Andrew Peasley completed just 5-of-20 throws for 30 yards and an interception in his UW debut.

He misfired on passes. Receivers didn’t get open. Illinois’ secondary, according to Bohl, was just that good.

The Cowboys’ defense, as a whole, missed plenty of tackles. Two punts were shanked by Clayton Stewart and the opening kickoff was returned to midfield. To make matters even worse, the visitors converted just one of 12 third-down opportunities and turned the ball over twice.

The Illini held on to the ball for 36:36 and ran 81 plays. Wyoming, 23:24. It finished with just 51 snaps.

“Some of the things that we did well in the game, I thought that we rushed the ball well,” Bohl said of UW’s 182 yards on 31 attempts, which equates to a 5.9 yards per carry average. “I was deeply concerned about, you know, a lot of new faces on the offensive line and for us to be able to maintain that line of scrimmage and then get people moved back. I thought the offensive line did a good job with that. Our numbers bear that out.”

That line, led by veterans Frank Crum and Eric Abojei, also kept Peasley upright all afternoon on a humid day in Champaign. According to the official stats, Wyoming’s QB wasn’t touched one time.

Right guard Emmanuel Pregnon and center Nofoafia Tulafono made their first-career starts at Illinois. For Pregnon, he hadn’t played a meaningful snap of football since 2019 when he was a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver. Jack Walsh, a redshirt freshman from up the road in Palatine, Ill., also split snaps with Zach Watts at the left guard spot.

Here are some other news and notes from Bohl’s weekly press conference:

* Sabastian Harsh will miss the entire 2022 season after going through an undisclosed surgery, according to Bohl. The sophomore defensive end from Scottsbluff was the unquestioned MVP of the offseason for the Cowboys. Bohl also announced that running back Titus Swen has bruised ribs but has been cleared by doctors to play this Saturday. Fellow ball carrier, Dawaiian McNeely, who missed the opener with an injury, could be back in time for Tulsa, though Bohl said it is still unlikely. You can read all about Wyoming’s injuries right HERE.

* Bohl did not name a starting quarterback heading into the season opener. Peasley was that guy. Who was his back-up though? Jayden Clemons. The redshirt sophomore from Utah earned that spot by “Boxing” his way up the depth chart ahead of Evan Svoboda and Hank Gibbs. You can read all about that decision right HERE.

* Nine players started their first-ever college game last Saturday. An additional 19 threw a Cowboys’ jersey over their heads for the first time. Despite being the third-youngest team in the nation, Bohl said he didn’t expect a blowout inside Memorial Stadium. “You guys saw my demeanor after the game, I was disappointed,” Bohl said. “I had gone into the game with really some, not high expectations, but anticipating better things. And in that, those better things, I think, are still there, but they’ve got to be shown out on a game field.”

Norfolk State 2022 football schedule features all DI opponents

Norfolk State University’s 2022 football schedule features all Division I teams, including two FBS games, as well as the Battle of The Bay.

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NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State University released its 2022 football schedule on Monday. The 11-game slate features five home games at William “Dick” Price Stadium, including the return of the Battle of the Bay to Norfolk in addition to three home conference games.

The Spartans open the 2022 season with back-to-back road games against FBS competition. The season kicks off on Sept. 3 with a date at Marshall in Huntington, W.Va. The teams played once previously, in 2015, which was also played at Marshall. 

The following week, NSU heads west within the state to face James Madison. The teams have met twice before, in 2017 at JMU and 2018 at NSU, with the Dukes winning both times. After competing in the FCS and Colonial Athletic Association previously, JMU – like Marshall – is set to join the Sun Belt Conference.

The Spartans’ home opener takes place on Sept. 17 when NSU hosts the Battle of the Bay for the first time since 2017. The teams had not played in four years following Hampton’s departure from the MEAC before renewing the rivalry at HU this past fall, a game the Spartans won 47-44 in overtime. 

Following the Hampton game, the Spartans face two straight Northeast Conference opponents. On Sept. 24, St. Francis (Pa.) visits Dick Price Stadium to complete a home-and-home series. The Spartans topped the Red Flash in their first-ever meeting, 28-16, this past fall in Loretto, Pennsylvania.

October’s slate begins with a road trip to face 2021 Northeast Conference champion Sacred Heart on Oct. 1 in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Five of NSU’s final six games are conference contests. The MEAC schedule begins Oct. 8 at Morgan State. Delaware State then visits NSU for the Spartans’ Homecoming on Oct. 15. Following a bye week, NSU hosts Howard on Oct. 29. 

NSU’s final non-conference game of the season is Nov. 5 at North Carolina A&T. It will be the teams’ first matchup since the Aggies left the MEAC following the 2019 season.

The regular season wraps up with a home game with North Carolina Central on Nov. 12 and a road contest at defending MEAC champion South Carolina State on Nov. 19.

“We have a challenging non-conference schedule with four of the six games being on the road,” NSU head football coach Dawson Odums said. “We’re also looking forward to having five home games in ‘Sparta’ this year that our fans should be excited about.

“We’re looking to take another step towards greatness this year – it’s a new day, new season and new opportunity, but the same mission.”

Game times and ticket information will be announced later this spring.