UNDATED (AP) — Ohio State is hiring former Houston Texans and Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator, a person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the hire still needed university approval, but an announcement was expected as soon as Friday. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day has been Ohio State’s primary play-caller since being promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach in 2019 to replace Urban Meyer. Bringing in an experienced play-caller at both the college and NFL level could allow Day to hand off those responsibilities.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Coleman Hawkins had 21 points to go with 10 rebounds as No. 14 Illinois beat Michigan 88-73. Quincy Guerrier had 16 points and 14 rebounds, Ty Rodgers added 15 points, and Marcus Domask had 15 for the Fighting Illini. They trailed only once, when Tarris Reed Jr. opened the scoring with a layup. Reed had 20 points to lead the Wolverines (7-11, 2-4). Olivier Nkamhoua added 16 and Dug McDaniel 14 for Michigan, which lost for the sixth time in its last seven games.
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Tyson Walker scored 12 of his 21 points inside the last four minutes to help Michigan State pull away and beat Minnesota 76-66 on Thursday night, giving coach Tom Izzo his 698th career win with the Spartans.Michigan State trailed just once in the second half, but it was tied seven times. It was knotted 62-all before Walker’s jumper at the 3:38 mark sparked a 14-4 run to end it. Walker was 4 of 5 from the floor, made four free throws, grabbed two rebounds and had a steal during the stretch. Minnesota missed its last five field goals.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Five of the six major conferences have a leader or co-leader that failed to make the NCAA Tournament last season. That doesn’t mean this is a college basketball season full of Cinderella stories. Four of the major-conference leaders that got out of March Madness last season have reached a Final Four within the last decade. But those teams’ early success shows how the 2021 rule change allowing players to transfer without sitting out a season has made it easier for established programs to bounce back quickly.
UNDATED (AP) — The arrival of the 3-point shot created more volatility at the top for The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll. The shot became an official part of the game for the 1986-87 season. It’s led to more upsets as even the best teams became vulnerable to hot-shooting upstarts. As the AP marks the 75th anniversary of the poll this month, the 3-point shot has led to more turnover at the No. 1 spot in the poll. That includes having 16 seasons with at least five different teams at No. 1 compared to only three before the 3-pointer’s arrival.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Beth Goetz is Iowa’s athletic director after serving in an interim role since August. Goetz joined the Iowa athletics staff in September 2022 as deputy director of athletics and chief operating officer. She succeeds Gary Barta, who retired on Aug. 1. Goetz previously was Ball State’s athletic director for four years. She was chief operating officer and senior women’s administrator at Connecticut from 2016-18 and was Minnesota’s interim AD in 2015-16 after serving two years as deputy athletics director. No contract or salary information were disclosed.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers assistant Glenn Thomas has been hired as quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator at Nebraska. Coach Matt Rhule also announced offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield will coach tight ends. Thomas was on Rhule’s staff at Temple and Baylor and has 15 years of college coaching experience. He has spent eight seasons working on NFL staffs, including three years in Atlanta as quarterback Matt Ryan’s position coach. Before joining the Steelers, Thomas was Arizona State’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022.
