ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Jim Harbaugh usually shares his thoughts freely and often in unique ways. That approach has changed amid an NCAA investigation into a sign-stealing scheme under his watch at Michigan. Harbaugh says there’s stuff he can’t talk about although he’d “love to.” He had a regularly scheduled news conference Monday as the second-ranked Wolverines prepared to play Purdue. Harbaugh did refute a report the school rescinded a contract offer for him. What is true is that contract talks with Michigan and Harbaugh have lingered for many months. The Wolverines hosts Purdue on Saturday night.
UNDATED (AP) — Iowa interim athletic director Beth Goetz has announced Brian Ferentz will be out as Iowa’s offensive coordinator at the end of the season. Ferentz, the son of head coach Kirk Ferentz, is in his seventh season as offensive coordinator. His unit’s production, never prolific, has been in a free fall for three years. The Hawkeyes’ 232.2 yards per game this season ranks last in the Football Bowl Subdivision by far and their scoring average of 19.5 points per game is 120th.
UNDATED (AP) — The College Football Playoff rankings will be released for the first time this season on Tuesday night and one unbeaten team is guaranteed to be left out. No. 23 James Madison is ineligible for postseason play as it completes an NCAA-required transition period into the highest level of Division I football. School officials are hoping the NCAA will make an exeception for the Dukes. The most likely road to a bowl will be as a replacement team in a lower-level postseason game. As for the CFP, the Dukes aren’t even in the discussion.
NEW YORK (AP) — Defending national champion UConn will play at least five games at Madison Square Garden this season, highlighting the 2023-24 college basketball schedule at “The World’s Most Famous Arena.” Duke, North Carolina, Texas, Baylor, Illinois and Indiana are among the other high-profile programs set to make a stop in Midtown Manhattan. In all, 10 teams ranked in the AP Top 25 preseason poll are on the docket at MSG. No. 10 Florida Atlantic returns to The Garden, where coach Dusty May and the surprising Owls won the East Regional in March to advance to their first Final Four. St. John’s, playing its first season under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, has doubled its number of regular-season Garden appearances to eight — including six Big East home games.
UNDATED (AP) — This time of the season, those head-to-head results can become challenging for voters in The Associated Press college football poll. Oklahoma slipped to No. 10 after losing to a good Kansas, that jumped into the rankings at No. 23. That put Oklahoma behind Texas, which landed at No. 7. Just a few weeks ago, the Sooners knocked off the Longhorns in a Red River Rivalry thriller. That’s Texas’ only loss of the season. No. 5 Washington stayed ahead of No. 6 Oregon, with the Pac-12 teams’ rankings matching the head-to-head result.
