COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Michigan likes to talk about the waves of defensive linemen the Wolverines can throw at teams, but not to be overlooked on offense are the waves of running backs the team has been able to rely on this season.

First, Justice Haynes took over as lead back and was among the nation’s best until he was sidelined with a foot injury. Then Jordan Marshall took on the workload with great success and became the team’s leading rusher. He suffered a shoulder injury against Northwestern last week and was on the sideline in uniform for Saturday’s game at Maryland, but he was able to rest while former walk-on Bryson Kuzdzal, who entered the Northwestern game after Marshall was hurt and had 53 yards on 15 carries, took over.

“Jordan could have (played against Maryland) if we needed him,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said.

But the Wolverines didn’t need him and allowed him to rest before next week’s important game against Ohio State. In Michigan’s 45-20 victory over the Terps, Kuzdzal rushed for 100 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns. In the six games he had played before Maryland, Kuzdzal had 106 yards on 25 carries and one touchdown.

Haynes, Marshall and Kuzdzal each have three-touchdown games this season. Kuzdzal’s 100-yard performance was Michigan’s 12th this season – Haynes had six, Marshall, four, and freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, one. The last time U-M had four different players each with at least one 100-plus-yard rushing game was in 1998.

Kuzdzal said he had an idea this week he would get the bulk of carries.

“Because with next week’s game (against Ohio State) and everything else going on, you don’t know if you want to put them in the game,” Kuzdzal said, referring to Marshall. “But either way, I just want to prepare the same way as I can and do the best I can.”

Moore said he was pleased with the way Kuzdzal stepped up in the start.

“Doesn’t matter who’s in the game, there’s a standard of being a running back at Michigan,” Moore said. “There’s a standard being a Michigan football player that you’ve got to play with, and (Kuzdzal) played to that standard today. Ran hard, ran physical, ran tough. And that a true credit to him, to his family, being a walk on. The trust level, the trust factor we have with him is so big, and he just played a really high level for us.”

Kuzdzal said Haynes and Marshall have been in his “corner” and advised him simply to trust himself. He said he learned more about taking practice and applying it to a game.

“It’s just a lot of experience learning to settle myself down and do what I’ve been coached to do,” Kuzdzal said. “I was able to do that today.”

Injury updates

Marshall is nursing a right shoulder injury but could have played if needed against Maryland, Moore said.

“I said, I guess you’re not gonna play next week (against Ohio State),” Moore said to Marshall, who played for Cincinnati Moeller. “And he just laughed at me. He said, is that really a question?”

Two-time captain Max Bredeson, a fullback/tight end, was injured in the game but returned in the second half to the sideline with his right foot in a boot and on crutches.

“We will get further evaluation when we get home and see what happens,” Moore said.

Linebacker Ernest Hausmann, the team’s leading tackler, and receiver Semaj Morgan did not make the trip to Maryland.

“They’re just working to some things, not long-term things. Yeah, we’ll see as we go through the week.”

Marsh has solid game

Freshman receiver Andrew Marsh finished with 147 all-purpose yards — 76 receiving, including a 12-yard touchdown, 48 kickoff and 23 punt return yards.

“Andrew Marsh just kind of doing what Andrew Marsh does, making plays as a punt returner, as a kick returner,” Moore said. “He just continues to make plays so just keep putting him in different places to do it.”

Williams gets his first sack

Defensive tackle Tre Williams had one of Michigan’s three sacks of Malik Washington.

“Getting this was real special,” Williams said. “I talked to my dad this morning, and he was telling me, ‘Don’t do too much. Just be you and do your job, and the play’s gonna come to you,’ so that’s kind of what happened. Shout out my dad.”

Washington had taken three sacks all season.

“We knew that he only had got sacked three times, but I don’t think they had saw a complete defensive line that has waves like us,” Williams said. “We send waves at people. It’s not just a couple guys. We send waves and waves and waves and waves at people, and that gets really overwhelming at times for teams. I’m not surprised that we sacked him three times today. Wish we could have had more.”

With just one week left in the regular season, the Mid-American Conference championship chase is absolutely bananas.

Five of the conference’s 13 teams remain in the hunt to play for the MAC title at Ford Field on Dec. 6, with Western Michigan in the driver’s seat and four others, Central Michigan included, still with a chance.

The Broncos are 6-1 in the MAC and can get into the MAC championship game for the first time since 2016 with a win over state rival Eastern Michigan on Tuesday. Central Michigan, Toledo, Miami and Ohio all are 5-2 in the MAC, which pending next week’s outcomes might just have to reach deep into its bag of tiebreaker scenarios. By the end of the regular season, there could be as many as four teams that have to go to the tiebreakers.

The only team that doesn’t have to worry about tiebreakers for now is WMU; win at EMU, and the Broncos are in.

“We have built a foundation and mentality of going 1-0. I’ve been saying this since training camp … our players are probably tired of me saying it,” said Lance Taylor, WMU’s third-year head coach, who has the Broncos bowl-eligible for the second straight year. “You’ve gotta fight human nature, whether it’s complacency, whether it’s blocking the noise and distractions, looking at all the what-ifs. None of that stuff matters.

“The only scenario that matters is how we prepare this week, and goi

ng 1-0.”

Western Michigan, of course, still could get into the MAC championship game, even with a loss to EMU, depending how other games shake themselves out, thanks to the one-game lead entering the final week of the regular season.

Western Michigan has won three straight games, including thrilling comebacks over rival Central Michigan and Ohio, and this past week’s 35-19 win over Northern Illinois. In that game, the Broncos trailed, 13-0.

There remains the possibility that WMU could play CMU in the MAC championship game for the first time ever. It wasn’t possible from 1997-2023, when the winners of each division played for the title. The MAC did away with divisions in 2024.

Central Michigan has won two straight games since the loss at Western Michigan to stay in the mix, including this week’s 28-16 victory at Kent State.

The Chippewas host Toledo next Saturday, meaning one of those teams will fall out of title contention with a loss. It’s the only MAC game in the final week of the regular season between two teams still in the championship mix. CMU needs a win, and some help to get to Ford Field. If WMU wins, CMU needs a win and Ball State to beat Miami. If WMU loses, CMU needs a win and Buffalo to beat Ohio, or Ohio to beat Buffalo and Ball State to beat Miami. Got all that?

Either way, it’s been quite a resurgent season for CMU under first-year head coach Matt Drinkall. It’s the Chippewas’ first winning season and first time being bowl-eligible since 2021. They last played for a MAC championship in 2019.

“To be in the position we’re in I think is just a testament to the kids’ buy-in,” Drinkall said. “We have a very good plan and these guys attack it every single day, every week. They have bought all the way in. … We might not have the flashiest, most talented roster, but it’s talented enough, and we’ve got elite leadership and elite heart.”

Here’s the MAC schedule for contenders in the final week of the regular season:

• Western Michigan (7-4, 6-1) at Eastern Michigan (4-7, 3-4), 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN2)

• Ohio (7-4, 5-2) at Buffalo (5-6, 4-3), noon Friday (ESPNU)

• Toledo (7-4, 5-2) at Central Michigan (7-4, 5-2), noon Saturday (ESPN+)

• Ball State (4-7, 3-4) at Miami (6-5, 5-2), noon Saturday (CBSSN)

There are up to seven MAC tiebreakers to determine the two participants in the championship game, starting with head-to-head if there are two teams tied, and starting with head-to-head winning percentage among the tied teams, if there are more than two. But that tiebreaker might not work with a multi-team tie because the MAC now plays an unbalanced schedule. The second tiebreaker for multi-teams is if one tied team defeated the other tied team(s). The third tiebreaker is winning percentage among all common opponents. Things should finally be settled by then, well before the seventh tiebreaker ― which is actually a random draw by commissioner Jon Steinbrecher.

In other words, it’s good to be Western Michigan right now, even though it is a rivalry game, and Eastern Michigan, despite being out of bowl eligibility, has won its last two games.

“When you take care of the opportunity that you’re given,” said Taylor, “you’re given more.”

Tickets to this year’s game start at $18.80, and they are available at detroitlions.com.

In last year’s MAC championship game, Ohio beat Miami, 38-3.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Azzi Fudd scored 31 points and Sarah Strong added 16 points and 20 rebounds to lead No. 1 UConn to a 72-69 victory over sixth-ranked Michigan on Friday night in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase.

Huskies coach Geno Auriemma had said earlier in the week that Michigan might be the best team that his team would play this early in the season. He wasn’t wrong.

UConn (5-0) looked like it would run away with it early, building a 17-point lead midway through the third quarter before the Wolverines (4-1) rallied. They used a 13-0 run to pull to 49-45 heading into the fourth.

Fudd ended a nearly 8-minute scoring drought for the Huskies hitting a 3-pointer to start her own personal 9-0 run and restore a double-digit advantage for UConn.

Michigan wasn’t done, rallying to 68-66 in the final minute on a 3-pointer by Syla Swords with 22.2 seconds left. The Wolverines fouled Fudd 5 seconds later and the guard calmly hit two free throws to restore the two-possession lead.

Swords once again answered hitting a deep 3-pointer with about 12 seconds left, making it 70-69.

Fudd then hit two more free throws with just under 8 seconds left and Michigan couldn’t get a final shot off to tie it.

Swords finished with 29 points and Olivia Olson added 18 for the Wolverines.

UConn jumped all over Michigan with Strong leading the way on both ends of the court. She had six points, nine rebounds and three blocks in the first 10 minutes as the Huskies led 22-5 after one quarter. Fudd took over in the second quarter, scoring 13 points as the Huskies led 45-27 at the half.

This was the third time in the past two seasons that Michigan has faced a No. 1 team in the poll. The Wolverines lost to South Carolina to open the season last year and then were beaten by Big Ten foe UCLA. Prior to those meetings, Michigan had only faced a No. 1 team once before — a loss to Iowa in 1988.

Up next

UConn will play Utah and Michigan will face Syracuse on Sunday in the second set of games in this tournament.

— By DOUG FEINBERG, Associated Press

Mohammad Habhab had 24 points in Eastern Michigan’s 97-91 win against Oakland on Friday.

Habhab had 11 rebounds and nine assists for the Eagles (3-2). Carlos Hart added 22 points while going 7 of 10 and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line, and added seven rebounds and five assists. Mehki Ellison finished 5 of 8 from the field to finish with 13 points.

“Sometimes the other team just plays better and we honestly did not play bad tonight,” Oakland head coach Greg Kampe said. “Offensively, we played pretty well. We took a few bad shot, panicked a bit…within the last few minutes we got it back to three [points], and we had chances and weren’t tough enough with the ball. We need to learn how to finish late in the game.”

The Golden Grizzlies (1-5) were led in scoring by Brody Robinson, who finished with 22 points and six assists. Michael Houge added 17 points for Oakland. Isaac Garrett had 15 points and six rebounds.

Habhab put up 12 points in the first half for Eastern Michigan, who led 46-41 at halftime. Eastern Michigan turned a one-point second-half lead into an eight-point advantage with a 7-0 run to make it a 75-67 lead with 8:09 left in the half.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

EAST LANSING (AP) — Coen Carr scored 11 points in the opening seven minutes and finished with 13, and Jeremy Fears had 18 points and 11 assists to lead No. 17 Michigan State to an 84-56 win over Detroit Mercy on Friday night.

The Spartans (5-0) followed up their 83-66 victory over No. 12 Kentucky in New York City with a rout at home against an overmatched team led by former Michigan State point guard and assistant coach Mark Montgomery.

Michigan State, which beat then- No. 14 Arkansas two weeks ago, will likely play a third game against an AP Top 25 team when it faces No. 18 North Carolina on Thanksgiving in Florida.

Carson Cooper scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half and Jaxon Kohler had nine of his 13 points after halftime, helping the Spartans coast to the lopsided win after getting off to a strong start.

The Titans (1-5) started 0 of 10 from the field and missed 16 of their first 18 shots before improving their shooting.

It was too late.

The Spartans led 17-4 midway through the first half and 41-25 at halftime.

Michigan State maintained a comfortable cushion, keeping fresh players on the court as coach Tom Izzo used an 11-man rotation before going even deeper down the bench late in the game.

One of the loudest cheers of the night came when Nick Sanders, son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, made a 3-pointer with 1:10 left.

Detroit Mercy’s Orlando Lovejoy had 14 points. Ayden Carter and TJ Nadeau each scored 10.

Up next

Detroit Mercy plays at DePaul on Sunday night.

Michigan State plays East Carolina on Tuesday.

EAST LANSING (AP) — Isaline Alexander scored 20 points off the bench and No. 24 Michigan State thrashed Western Michigan 98-44 on Sunday.

Alexander, a senior whose past two seasons were cut short by injury, was 9-for-9 shooting and made 2 of 5 free throws.

Grace VanSlooten had 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists for Michigan State (4-0). Kennedy Blair delivered 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Rashunda Jones scored 13 points.

The Spartans scored the first 18 points of the game and led 31-5 after one quarter. Michigan State dominated the third quarter in similar fashion, outscoring the Broncos 33-7 due in large part to a scoring streak of 21-2.

The Spartans had a huge 39-1 advantage in points after turnovers. Western Michigan turned it over 29 times compared to only four miscues for Michigan State.

De’Ahna Richardson scored 11 points and Kailey Starks 10 for the Broncos (1-3). Ariana Wilkes had 10 rebounds and the Broncos outrebounded the Spartans 43-37.

Michigan State entered the game second in the NCAA and second in the Big Ten in assists per game, averaging 27.3. The Spartans had 28 assists on Sunday.

The Spartans have won 12 in a row in the series after trailing 8-7 in the early days of the in-state matchup.

Up next

Michigan State: Eastern Illinois visits on Thursday.

Western Michigan: The Broncos host Roosevelt on Tuesday.

Saline quarterback Tommy Carr, the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, has switched his college commitment to the Wolverines.

He had been committed to Miami of Ohio.

Carr (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) is ranked a three-star prospect by 247Sports. He is ranked the No. 7 player overall in Michigan in 2026 and the No. 29 quarterback nationally in the 2026 recruiting class.

Saline’s run in the Michigan high school football playoffs ended Friday night with a 42-28 loss to Detroit Cass Tech in a Division 1 regional final. Carr led Saline to a 10-2 record this season, passing for 2,797 yards and 37 touchdowns

Carr is the younger brother of Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr and the son of former Michigan QB Jason Carr.

Michigan’s 2026 recruiting class has 25 commitments and is ranked No. 10 nationally by 247Sports.

EAST LANSING (AP) — Ethan Grunkemeyer threw two touchdown passes to Devonte Ross, Kaytron Allen ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns and Penn State defeated Michigan State 28-10 on Saturday to snap a six-game losing streak.

Grunkemeyer completed 8 of 13 passes for 127 yards for the Nittany Lions (4-6 overall, 1-6 Big Ten).

Grunkemeyer sealed the win with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Ross with 4:32 left and Allen added his second touchdown on a 26-yard run with 2:07 remaining.

Alessio Milivojevic completed 17 of 27 passes for 128 yards for the Spartans (3-7, 0-7) who lost their seventh straight game.

Elijah Tau-Tolliver ran 57 yards for a touchdown on Michigan State’s first play of the game. Allen tied it on the ensuing Penn State possession with an 8-yard scoring run.

Following a Michigan State field goal, the Nittany Lions went in front 14-10 on Grunkemeyer’s 75-yard touchdown pass to Ross.

Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles did not play as he was on the pregame sidelines wearing a walking boot on his left foot. He started the first eight games of the season but saw his streak of 20 consecutive starts come to an end on Nov. 1 against Minnesota when he was replaced by Milivojevic.

The Spartans played their first game since the NCAA placed Michigan State’s football program on three years of probation for violations that occurred during Mel Tucker’s tenure as coach.

The takeaway

Penn State: The Nittany Lions avoided their first seven-game losing streak in the same season since 1931. With a home game against Nebraska and traveling to Rutgers to close the regular season, Penn State’s hopes to go to a bowl remain alive.

Michigan State: Porous pass protection and the inability of wide receivers hampered the Spartans’ passing game. Michigan State gave up five sacks to Penn State, raising their total sacks given up this season to 35.

Up next

Penn State hosts Nebraska on Saturday.

Michigan State visits Iowa on Saturday.

— By BOB TRIPI, Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) — Olivia Olson scored 30 points and No. 14 Michigan blasted Hannah Hidalgo and No. 18 Notre Dame 93-54 in the Shamrock Classic on Saturday, the worst loss for the Fighting Irish in more than two decades.

Three days after Hidalgo scored a school record 44 points with an NCAA record 16 steals, the Wolverines led wire-to-wire on the Wayne State campus and limited Hidalgo to 12 points on 4-of-21 shooting with seven turnovers. Hidalgo, who has scored in double figures in each game of her career that spans 71 games, converted a a three-point play with 2:21 to go.

Mila Holloway had 12 points, Syla Swords 11 and Ashley Sofilkanich 10 for Michigan (3-0). Swords had nine rebounds and Brooke Quarles Daniels grabbed 10 as the Wolverines had a 50-28 advantage on the boards, dominating second-chance points 19-5 and points in the paint 50-26.

Cassandre Prosper had 17 points and KK Bransford added 15 for the Fighting Irish (3-1).

Swords knocked down consecutive 3-pointers late in the first quarter to give Michigan a 17-10 lead.

Olson made two layups and Swords and Holloway had three-point plays a half-minute apart to give the Wolverines a 28-15 lead four minutes into the second quarter. They pushed the lead to 19 before going into the break on top 46-29.

Michigan finished it off with a 16-0 run in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines shot 50% and Notre Dame 28%, going 2 of 22 behind the arc.

Up next

Michigan is home on Tuesday against Binghamton and plays No. 1 UConn at the Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase in Uncasville on Friday.

Notre Dame returns to campus to play No. 8 Southern Cal on Friday.

CHICAGO (AP) — Dominic Zvada kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired, Jordan Marshall ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns before exiting with an injury and No. 18 Michigan stayed in the playoff chase by beating Northwestern 24-22 at Wrigley Field on Saturday.

The Wolverines (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten, No. 18 CFP) overcame three late turnovers, including two interceptions by Bryce Underwood, and remained in the running for the College Football Playoff with their fourth straight win. Northwestern (5-5, 3-4) lost its third in a row.

Zvada’s boot capped a 50-yard drive and set off a celebration on the field and in the stands, where a large part of the crowd wore maize and blue.

Michigan was up 21-9 when the Wildcats’ Preston Stone plowed in from the 1 two minutes into the fourth quarter.

Michigan then had a third down at its 26 when Braden Turner picked off a pass intended for Deakon Tonielli and returned it to the 6. Caleb Komolafe ran it in on the next play, giving Northwestern at 22-21 lead with 12:05 remaining in the game. The 2-point conversion pass failed.

Michigan then drove to the 30 before Underwood got picked off again, this time by Robert Fitzgerald at the 20. The Wolverines had another opportunity after Northwestern punted, only to give it away again after opting not to go for the field goal. They had a fourth-and-1 at the Wildcats’ 24 when Bryson Kuzdzal fumbled the handoff and Northwestern recovered.

Marshall had another big outing with Justice Haynes missing his second consecutive game because of a right foot injury. After setting career highs with 185 yards rushing and three touchdowns in a narrow win against Purdue two weeks ago, he scored from the 1 early in the second quarter to give Michigan a 7-0 lead.

Underwood, coming off shaky performances in wins over Michigan State and Purdue, completed 21 of 32 passes for 280 yards against a defense that began the day ranked 22nd in the nation against the pass. He also ran for a touchdown.

Freshman Andrew Marsh set career highs with 12 receptions for 189 yards, and the Wolverines beat Northwestern for the 14th time in the past 15 meetings.

Stone was 13 of 27 for 184 yards.

Hunter Welcing had 81 yards receiving, and the Wildcats dropped their 14th straight against Top 25 teams.

Northwestern also fell to 0-7 all-time at Wrigley Field. Six of those losses have come since 2010, when college football returned to the famed ballpark after more than a seven-decade absence.

Takeaways

Michigan: The Wildcats remained on course to make the College Football Playoff, no easy task with No. 1 Ohio State visiting on Nov. 29.

Northwestern: The Wildcats have two more opportunities to become bowl-eligible for the second time in coach David Braun’s three seasons. They host Minnesota at Wrigley next week before visiting Illinois in the finale.

Up next

Michigan: Visits Maryland on Nov. 22.

Northwestern: Hosts Minnesota at Wrigley Field on Nov. 22.

— By ANDREW SELIGMAN, Associated Press

Heading into the season, much of the buzz and attention surrounding Michigan basketball had to do with all the new pieces.

Coach Dusty May’s portal haul was rated among the best in the nation, with three transfers — guard Elliot Cadeau, forward Yaxel Lendeborg and center Aday Mara — being named to preseason watch lists for the top players at their respective positions.

The fourth and final transfer, forward Morez Johnson Jr., and the top-ranked freshman, former Orchard Lake St. Mary’s star Trey McKenney, each shined in their regular-season debuts with 20-point performances.

Yet, May doesn’t want people to forget about returning players Nimari Burnett, L.J. Cason, Roddy Gayle Jr. and Will Tschetter and their importance to the team. He said as much when he brought up the foursome unprompted when speaking about this season’s roster at the midway point of summer workouts.

“We’ve sat here and Tschetter’s name has come up one time and Nimari Burnett’s name hasn’t come up yet,” May said in July. “The continuity they bring, the character that they bring, the work capacity, the unselfishness where they’re trying to help the younger guys 24/7. They’re spending their time and energy trying to help guys that could potentially chip into their minutes because they want to win and they want to be great teammates.

“Then you throw in Roddy Gayle and L.J., when the prognosticators are talking about we went to the portal and signed this guy and that guy and we brought in this five-star recruit and this four-star, those guys get lost in the shuffle. But if we win this year at the level we’re capable of, if we max out as a group, those returners are going to be a big reason why.”

May’s praise didn’t stop there. During Michigan’s media day on Sept. 30, he called the quartet the “biggest, most pleasant surprise” in the preseason.

“I will say our returners have improved drastically. All four of the guys that were in the rotation last year are much better basketball players,” he said. “Roddy Gayle (in practice) probably had as good of a two-week period as anyone in our program. You guys know how I feel about Nimari. His level of consistency, his routine, his mentorship to the young guys, he just brings so much to the table.

“Then you factor in Will Tschetter, who’s becoming a real shooter, someone who’s able to shoot on the move, get it off quick, not just be a spot-up guy, and he’s able to defend the ball. … Prior to (an ankle injury), L.J. was playing at a significantly higher level than he played at last season.”

May called Burnett a consummate pro and a culture builder with the way he approaches everything. On the floor, he doesn’t care if the ball is in his hands and he doesn’t try to do too much. He simply finds his shots in the flow of the game. Off the floor, May said Burnett attacks his player development plan at an “A-plus level” and acts as another assistant coach with recruits.

As for all the roster additions, Gayle described Burnett as the “perfect leader” for the newcomers.

“If you are confused on what to do, just follow Nimari,” Gayle said at Michigan’s media day. “He always has a steady incline where he’s always getting better just by the basics. I think that’s one thing Nimari does well. He does the basics well, probably the best I’ve ever seen, as far as like stretching, taking care of his body, lifting. You know what you’re getting out of Nimari every day; same with Will.”

Given Burnett’s, Gayle’s and Tschetter’s background of experiences and veteran status, they are the three May turns to any time he doesn’t have “a great pulse” on something with the team or needs help figuring things out that he hasn’t yet.

There’s also an added level of familiarity between the coaching staff — which remained intact — and the returners. Everyone knows what’s expected, even if some roles are different than a year ago, with Cason and Gayle taking on more playmaking responsibilities and Tschetter playing more at small forward.

Gayle, for example, was trying too hard to fit in and “please” his teammates and coaches at times after transferring in from rival Ohio State, May said. Now, Gayle looks much more comfortable.

While Gayle’s midseason struggles last season might lead some to underrate what he can bring to this team, assistant coach Mike Boynton Jr. believes a “life-changing year” could be in store if Gayle commits himself to being one of the best Big Ten wing defenders in a league that has a bunch of talented perimeter players.

“If he can make a mark for himself (on defense), he can do well individually, but obviously that’s going to be a big part of us being successful,” Boynton said. “Then on the offensive side, I think there’s a little bit less pressure. All the noise about him coming from Ohio State has dissipated … and now he can just be him as a Michigan returner and be able to play with more freedom and less focus on trying to prove something about who he is. Just be a good player on a really good team.”

Out of the returning cast, Cason has the most natural room for growth and potential to make a greater impact than he did as a freshman, when he turned in several strong postseason performances.

The highs and lows Cason experienced shaped him and should help him become a more consistent contributor, even though he’s been banged up in the fall.

“I think he took all of it in and committed himself to just maturing, being more organized, taking the off-the-court preparation seriously,” Boynton said.

Just as vital as Cason’s ability to get into the lane, collapse the defense and make plays is Tschetter’s ability to connect the defense with his communication and connect the offense with his spacing.

May said it’s noticeable when Tschetter is and isn’t on the floor at practice due to his effort, energy and enthusiasm. In the exhibition against St. John’s, May felt the Wolverines looked like a different team down the stretch when Tschetter was in the game compared to when he wasn’t.

“I’m excited for all of them,” Boynton said of the core four. “Roddy had a good offseason and preseason. Nimari has been as solid as they come. Will is probably as consistent as they (come). He is who he is whether he plays eight minutes or 28 minutes. … They’re all going to play a big role if we do the things we would like to do.”

That’s not lost on May and the rest of the staff. None of them overlook or underestimate the value of Burnett, Cason, Gayle and Tschetter and how the returning pieces will factor into this season’s roster puzzle as it takes shape.

“If we’re ever going to be at a championship level — and time will tell if we’re going to be at a championship level this season — a big part of it is going to be because of the leadership and continuity of those guys,” May said.

EAST LANSING (AP) — Rashunda Jones, Grace VanSlooten and reserve Jalyn Brown scored 15 points apiece and No. 23 Michigan State coasted to a 92-60 win over Eastern Michigan on Sunday.

Theryn Hallock added 14 for the Spartans (2-0), who forced 30 turnovers.

Sis Eleko scored 18 points for the Eagles (1-2), Fernanda Ovalle added 15 and Peyton Hill 10.

The Spartans led 19-15 after one quarter but used a 15-0 burst in the second for a 37-20 lead and closed the half with 11 straight points to go up 48-26 at the break.

Jones had 11 points and VanSlooten 10 as Michigan State made 10 of 11 shots inside the arc and 9 of 11 free throws. Eastern Michigan shot 3 of 9 with 13 turnovers in the second quarter. The Eagles had four 10-second violations by halftime.

The Spartans, who had a school record 125 points in their season opener against Mercyhurst, stretched the lead to 74-45 after three quarters.

Michigan State continues its six-game season-opening homestand on Wednesday against Youngstown State.

ANN ARBOR (AP) — Olivia Olson scored 18 points, Mila Holloway added 17 and No. 13 Michigan used a strong first quarter to cruise to an 84-55 win over Harvard on Sunday.

Syla Swords had 14 points for the Wolverines (2-0), who shot 55%.

Abigail Wright scored 17 points to lead the Crimson (1-1). Karlee White scored 12 of her 15 in the second half, making 9 of 11 from the foul line, and Olivia Jones added 11.

Michigan broke away from a 7-7 tie with 17-straight points, the first four from Olson, who also hit a 3-pointer. Swords also contributed a pair of baskets and the lead was 24-8 after one quarter. The Wolverines hit 10 of 15 shots, the Crimson 3 of 12 with 10 turnovers.

Harvard missed its last nine shots in the first quarter and first two of the second, finishing the first half 9 of 27 to trail 40-24. Michigan had eight turnovers in the second quarter and but shot 58% for the half.

The Wolverines pushed the lead to 61-41 after three quarters. Reserves pushed the lead to 29 as Harvard was 2 of 10 with seven turnovers in the fourth quarter. The Crimson finished with 26 giveaways and Michigan had 20.

Michigan goes to Detroit on Saturday to play No. 15 Notre Dame in the Shamrock Classic.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Mila Holloway scored 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting, added eight assists and seven steals and No. 13 Michigan opened the season with a 100-40 win over Canisius on Tuesday night.

Olivia Olson added 18 points and Ashley Sofilkanich, who transferred from Bucknell after being the Patriot League Player of the Year and surpassed 1,000 career points, and Te’Yala Delfosse both scored 14 for the Wolverines, who shot 52% and had 25 steals while forcing 45 turnovers.

Mary Copple (Brighton HS) had eight points to lead Canisius, which went 12 of 31 from the field (39%). Michigan had 13 field goals in the third quarter alone.

The Golden Griffins shot 57% in the first quarter but only got up seven shots because of 14 turnovers and trailed 23-14. It was 51-26 at the half when 23 turnovers became 26 points.

The Wolverines’ third game is the first against a Power 4 team, facing Notre Dame in the Shamrock Classic in Detroit.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Theryn Hallock and Grace VanSlooten combined for 37 points on 16 of 21 shooting, Kennedy Blair had a double-double and No. 23 Michigan State opened the season with a record-breaking 125-39 win over Mercyhurst on Tuesday night.

The Spartans set records for points in a game and margin of victory.

Hallock scored 19 points, VanSlooten 18 and Blair had 14, on 6-of-8 shooting, and 12 assists. Four other Spartans reached double figures. Rashunda Jones and reserve Amy Terrian both had 15, and backups Emma Shumate and Jalyn Brown had 14 and 13, respectively, off the bench.

Michigan State shot 62% with 13 3-pointers and had just three turnovers while turning 36 Mercyhurst turnovers into 62 points.

Lena Walz and Cici Hernandez both had nine points for Mercyhurst, under first year Erin Mills-Reid.

The Spartans scored the first nine points of the game and after the Lakers hit a 3-pointer reeled off 16 straight points. Mercyhurst knocked down another three and Michigan State finished the quarter with 11 straight points for a 36-6 lead.

The Lakers were 2 of 11 with 10 turnovers in the first quarter and Michigan State, which was 15 of 22 (68%), proceeded to score the first 13 points of the second quarter for a 24-point run. Add another 10-0 run and the Spartans were up 66-18 at halftime, a Breslin Center record for points in a half.

The Spartans have six-straight home games and don’t play a scheduled Power 4 opponent until meeting Wisconsin in a Big Ten Conference game on Dec. 7, their ninth game.

DETROIT — Three former Eastern Michigan men’s basketball players declined to cooperate with an NCAA investigation into potential sports-betting violations, the NCAA announced Friday.

The NCAA identified the three players as forwards Jalin Billingsley and Da’Sean Nelson and guard Jalen Terry. The NCAA said not cooperating with an investigation is a violation of NCAA rules, which could result in permanent ineligibility, but none of the three has any college eligibility remaining.

Eastern Michigan said its athletic department cooperated fully in the investigation.

“EMU remains committed to compliance with NCAA rules and preserving the integrity of competition,” athletic director Scott Wetherbee said in a statement to The Detroit News on Friday.

“Eastern Michigan fully cooperated with the NCAA staff and its investigators. The three student-athletes who chose not to participate in the investigation have exhausted their eligibility.

“With the matter behind us, we are looking forward to the upcoming season.”

The NCAA said in its report Friday that in January 2025, its enforcement staff received alerts from integrity-monitoring services about potentially suspicious first-half betting activity on Eastern Michigan’s Jan. 14 game at Central Michigan, won by CMU, 82-63.

On Jan. 29, the three players had their phones imaged by an NCAA enforcement vendor. The NCAA said its enforcement staff made requests to interview the players after their phones were imaged.

On March 17, 10 days after the team’s season ended, the players’ lawyers notified the NCAA that they would not participate in the investigation, and they requested the phone images be destroyed.

The NCAA said Friday that it was unable to determine if sports-betting violations occurred.

Not participating in an NCAA investigation is considered a Level I violation, if players have eligibility remaining. Instead, the NCAA’s only remaining recourse was to publicly name the players in question.

“When individuals choose not to cooperate — particularly when cases involve potential integrity issues — those choices can and will be met with serious consequences including prohibitions on athletically related activities, the loss of eligibility and/or being publicly named in an infractions decision,” the NCAA’s Division I Committee on Infractions said in a statement released Friday.

EMU finished the 2024-25 season with an overall record of 16-16, 9-9 in the Mid-American Conference.

Terry played in 31 games and led the team in scoring at 16.6 points per game, and also averaged 4.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists. Nelson played in 31 games and averaged 16.1 points and 5.7 rebounds. Billingsley played in all 32 games and averaged 10.5 points and 5.1 rebounds.

The publicly IDing of the former Eastern Michigan players comes one day after federal investigators arrested Miami Heat player Terry Rozier for allegedly rigging sports betting with his on-court actions.

The NCAA, the only major sports league in United States without commercial partnerships with sportsbooks, said this week that it has investigated about 30 current and former men’s basketball players for sports betting improprieties. NCAA athletes aren’t allowed to bet on any sports, but starting Nov. 1, they can bet on professional sports.

“We are grateful for federal law-enforcement’s efforts to stamp out illegal sports betting, and I am proud that the NCAA continues to have the most aggressive competition-integrity polices in place,” NCAA president Charlie Baker said in a statement this week. “The Association has and will continue to pursue sports-betting violations using a layered integrity-monitoring program for over 22,000 states.

“But we still need more states, regulators and gaming companies to help in this effort by eliminating risky prop bets to reduce opportunities for manipulation.”

If in mid-September you had forecast that Florida State would spend part of mid-October in the wee hours at Stanford frantically trying to avoid going 3-4 overall and 0-4 in the ACC while lunging toward the goal line on a final play that the referee then carefully reviewed for half an eternity, well, sure, you could have made a bloody fortune, but that wouldn’t have made you any less loopy. The truth around college football, after all, has gone loopy lately, even for college football.

Another one of those berserk weekends met its end after four top-10 teams lost and the Seminoles, 17.5-point favorites, fell, 20-13, to a program in a rebuilding decade. The drawn-out ending of Florida State-Stanford played like some slow-warping alternate universe as the game kept seeming to conclude but then not doing so as Stanford students in the stands mocked Florida State with tomahawk chops. Florida State Coach Mike Norvell wound up looking glum and puzzled again, his sixth Seminoles team appearing as if lost among the redwoods with a dead flashlight, still roaming the country without any ACC win since September 2024, across nine yawning losses.

And a final score from Tallahassee on Aug. 30, 2025 – Florida State 31, Alabama 17 – continued to mutate into some inexplicable oddity in the rearview.

Maybe somebody should just go ahead and delete it.

The Seminoles, who danced at the end of that 31-17 win to Soulja Boy’s “Crank That” as quarterback Thomas Castellanos fretted maybe they should temper the braggadocio, the team from the empire resuscitated, have now lost to Virginia, Miami, Pittsburgh and Stanford. Its good coach’s job teeters. Meanwhile, the Alabama team and its second-year coach presumed doomed and soft for a loud September week just reached 6-1 with a fourth straight win over a ranked SEC opponent, this time Tennessee by 37-20. Alabama looks like Alabama. It has beaten even Vanderbilt. “They’ve got an edge to them still and haven’t lost it since the beginning there, since Week 1,” Kalen DeBoer said of his players to reporters in Tuscaloosa. “That’s hard to do. That’s really hard to do.”

All around the land, a sport historically long on oligarchy has taken to dabbling in anarchy. Miami looks ironclad – no, wait. It lost Friday night to Louisville on a diving interception that doubled as one of the best catches ever by a linebacker, making Louisville quarterback Miller Moss say, “Holy s—,” and making the interceptor, Miami native T.J. Capers, say, “You know, I’d say it was surreal.” James Franklin looks gone – no, wait. There he sat as an ex-Penn State coach on the set of ESPN’s “College GameDay,” saying, “We’re just going to go win the national championship somewhere else now.” Two-loss Texas looks healed – no, wait. It got outgained 395-179 on Saturday night at struggling Kentucky, got out-first-downed 26-8, got out-possessed 39:23-20:37 and tussled into a 13-13 overtime, where it needed a touchdown-saving tackle by Jaylon Guilbeau, a goal-line stand and a 45-yard field goal to smile going home. “You know,” Coach Steve Sarkisian told reporters in Lexington, “once a year, you have a culture win, where the game’s not pretty but the team, because the team is so close, finds a way to win the game.”

USC returns – no, wait. Michigan sinks – no, wait. The only frigates sailing calmly above the fray seem to be Ohio State and Indiana, but the latter case feels refreshingly upside-down. UAB fired its coach last Sunday, then upended 21½-point favorite Memphis on Saturday. BYU dipped into deep trouble Oct. 11 at Arizona, wriggled out of that in double overtime and then bested loathed rival Utah, 24-21, on Saturday to reach 7-0 with the help of a ricocheting 22-yard touchdown run by a quarterback wearing No. 47 and named Bear (Bachmeier), all while Jason Benetti of Fox Sports called from the booth, “There’s a Bear on the loose in Provo!”

It’s a season in which Vanderbilt sits a legit 6-1 as lionhearted quarterback Diego Pavia helps beat No. 10 LSU, 31-24, with a fourth-down play in the third quarter on which a defensive end appears squarely in his windshield and Pavia buys himself two seconds with some sort of unteachable 360 move out of the ether before throwing. He also throws a touchdown pass to a blocking tight end, Cole Spence, who later chirpily notes it’s his first news conference and says, eventually: “Yeah, we’re not hiding it. We’re trying to go win a national championship. This is a big win, another step on the road, but if we end this season with six wins, we’re going to be pissed.”

In how many seasons do Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech stream toward the top 10 while ranked Virginia sits 6-1 after that nutty rarity, a game-winning safety, all while Texas Tech gets upset?

In one, pretty much. Assumptions keep croaking, so when you assume, you make – you know. An epitome of croaked assumptions occurred in that fresh harbor of fervor, Tempe.

You might know the populous Arizona State student body as having a bit of a reputation for appreciating that the campus is not, you know, dry. But as the newfangled college football with its 12-team playoff and its player mobility seems to allow more college towns a chance at non-delusional hoping, those Sun Devil students helped create one hell of a field-storming scene after a 26-22 upset of No. 7 Texas Tech. At one point, it appeared their grand blob of humanity engulfed a 6-foot-5, 295-pound lineman with an 82-inch wingspan, Champ Westbrooks from Los Angeles, except you can’t engulf somebody like that, so Westbrooks appeared to just grin amid the love.

Amid all the fine senselessness, both Texas Tech and Arizona State had visited Salt Lake City this year, the former whacking Utah, 34-10, and the latter getting whacked, 42-10, just last week. “I still don’t want to think about it,” Arizona State Coach Kenny Dillingham said, “because I’m so embarrassed by it.” So, of course, assumptions crumbled again.

“You’ve got to find solutions to problems,” said Dillingham, the 35-year-old native Arizonan who has returned the electricity to his alma mater. “[Losing 42-10] beat me up. It beat me up a lot. But I sat down. … I called two coaches that I knew that I had a lot of respect for and I said: ‘Hey, this is the situation we’re in. We’ve got some guys dinged up. … We’re not as physical as we were. We’re a veteran team. I’ve never been in this situation. Help?’”

Well, the embarrassed rise again in 2025, maybe even after some pad-popping practices, and so the Sun Devils led 19-7, trailed 22-19 with two minutes left and won on a 75-yard drive led by quarterback Sam Leavitt, including a hairy fourth and two when he darted toward the line but then flipped a pass to Jordyn Tyson along the sideline, leading to 33 yards of relieved roaring. Besides, everyone wants a quarterback who sobs when the leaves fall and he’s hurt and he can’t play, as happened at Utah.

“I remember we were driving on the bus on the way to the [Utah] game,” Leavitt told reporters in Tempe, “and obviously, we’re [based] in Arizona, so it doesn’t really get fall weather around here. So we get [to Salt Lake City] and leaves are falling and it feels like real football. So we’re on our way to the stadium, I’ve got my headphones on, and I just started bawling.”

In 2025, you can bawl one week and enthrall the next – or, of course, the other way around.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Michigan State’s best defense Saturday came when its defense wasn’t even on the field.

In a 38-13 blowout loss to No. 3 Indiana, Michigan State’s defense gave up touchdowns on its first five drives and got pushed into its red zone on the next two. But a whopping 19:12 of first half possession time kept Indiana’s offense off the field and made Saturday’s game competitive for at least a little while.

“Going into the game, especially in the first half, we wanted to put longer drives together,” MSU coach Jonathan Smith said. “Possess the ball, and there was a lot that we were able to execute besides just being able to flat-out match touchdown scores.”

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw for four touchdowns and 332 yards while leading his offense to a 464-367 lead in total yardage. Michigan State’s defense managed just three tackles for loss and no turnovers.

Such a stat line was to be expected against Indiana, who had the nation’s fourth-ranked offense and defense heading into the game. With explosive players all over the field, Indiana exploited talent mismatches against an increasingly banged-up MSU defense (it lost another, safety Malik Spencer, to end the game).

The Spartans’ defense didn’t have an answer for Elijah Sarratt, who scored two touchdowns on four catches, including one on a beautiful ball thrown by Mendoza right behind freshman cornerback Aydan West. In the run game, Indiana had whatever it wanted between the tackles, including Kaelon Black’s 29-yard touchdown through a significant chunk of the MSU defense.

Yet the Michigan State offense at least stayed on the field long enough to keep the game at a reasonable score — not the blowout most expected as the Spartans limped in off three straight losses. Four of eight drives lasted longer than four minutes, with the only touchdown drive going for 8:18 to take a second lead in the second quarter.

But Indiana just proved too much down the stretch for this defense.

“We knew what we were getting into,” VanSumeren said. “This is the Big Ten. This is what we came here to do, is to play these type of games, play these type of teams. It’s not like we were physically outmatched or anything like that. It’s just some things we gotta clean up at different positions, and we’ll get it right.”

Running woes strain Chiles’ limits

Aidan Chiles looked like he could do it all Saturday, throwing for 243 yards and a touchdown. He completed 27 of his 33 throws, including 20 straight at one point. He ran for 91 yards, including a 64-yard keeper in the second half. He even punted, the first MSU quarterback to do so since Rocky Lombardi in 2018.

But Chiles couldn’t do it all, held off the score sheet in the second half. And much of that had to do with the lack of a running game beside him.

Michigan State finished short of 100 yards rushing as a team for the third straight game, managing just 74 yards on 24 carries. It could’ve been even bleaker — Chiles’ 48 yards led the unit, and his total would’ve been a lot lower without that 64-yard call.

Transfer Elijah Tau-Tolliver ran for 13 yards on five carries to lead the running backs, starter Makhi Frazier bottled for a single yard on seven carries. Brandon Tullis, who showed improved pass protection compared to his early season form, finished with 3 yards on two carries.

Smith highlighted Indiana’s defensive front, led by defensive lineman Mikail Kamara (two tackles) and aided by the adept reads of linebacker Aiden Fisher (nine tackles) and Rolijah Hardy (eight tackles).

“We gotta get that solved, because we do — we want to be more effective with that,” Smith said.

Progress is fine, Spartans want results

There are no moral victories in football, even if the early fight Michigan State showed made the result a little easier to stomach.

Smith made it clear that though Michigan State showed progress in the loss, they’re still in the business of winning football games.

“We’re always looking to win the game, 100%,” Smith said, “and so that hasn’t lost our sight in any way. I mean, this is a good football team and all of that, but we want to be able to play winning football and haven’t done it the last few weeks.”

The lack of wins is weighing on Smith’s program. His four-game losing streak is the longest of his 19-game tenure at Michigan State, one that is in question given the way this season has gone. Performances like Saturday’s may have been expected, but those losses still sting.

And though it’s nice to show some progress on film, there’s a lot more work to be done. Improvements in the pass rush, pass coverage, the run game and pass protection need to be made, especially in a highly-charged rivalry setting this week against Michigan.

ANN ARBOR — With leading rusher Justice Haynes sidelined, Michigan running back Jordan Marshall stepped in and the Wolverines did not miss a beat in the running game.

Marshall had 133 yards on 25 carries (5.3 per carry) and had a touchdown in the Wolverines’ 24-7 victory over Washington on Saturday at Michigan Stadium. Michigan finished with 187 yards against a run defense that had allowed an average 82.8 yards.

“I just pride myself in running hard,” Marshall said. “That’s how I practice. That’s how I’m going to play. I’m gonna push files, I’m gonna hit people, I’m just going to play hard. That’s what my team asked from me every single play, and I’m going to give them my best. And I think I did that for not only Justice, who’s on the sideline today, but for Coach (Tony) Alford and for our whole room is just to run hard.”

Haynes suffered an unspecified injury to his torso late in the first half at USC the previous week and did not return to the game. He practiced this week and was listed as questionable but did not play. He leads the team with 705 yards and eight rushing touchdowns and entered the game as the nation’s fourth-leading rusher averaging 117.5 yards a game.

While Haynes has distinguished himself with home-run runs — he has two 75-yard touchdowns — Marshall is more of a grind-it-out, tough-yardage runner who will drag defenders much like former Michigan back Blake Corum.

“You hand off the ball, you see him get wrapped up a little bit and like, yeah, couple more yards coming after that,” quarterback Bryce Underwood said. “So just an expectation now for him.”

Marshall, sitting to Underwood’s left at the postgame interview, said that absolutely is the expectation every time he touches the ball.

“I’m a downhill, hit-you-in-the-mouth-type of runner, and I pride myself on that and carrying piles,” Marshall said. “I’ve been doing this since high school (at Cincinnati Moeller), carrying piles, and I don’t plan on stopping.”

Marshall said Haynes didn’t offer much advice before the game, because he didn’t have to. The running backs, he said, trust each other.

“He knows what I can do. I know what he can do,” Marshall said. “He just gave me that look, and he doesn’t need to say anything for me to know what I’m going to go out there and do. And I told the guys before the game, in the running back room, we talk about being the most connected team and most connected program.

“When one of your brothers are down or not playing, you got to play for them. Justice was doing everything he could this week to get out there and play with his team and couldn’t go before the game, and I know I was going to have to carry the load today and help this team win. And again, just putting us in the position to win is all I ever asked for. And playing relentless and with 100% effort every single play is what I’m going to give every single time I step out there.”

Injury updates

Starting left tackle Evan Link suffered an injury to his left leg early in the game, and after being surrounded by his teammates, he was taken off the field on a cart.

“It doesn’t look too good,” Moore said of Link’s injury. “I know it was a lower-body thing, but we’ll see how he does.”

Blake Frazier filled in for Link.

There were several absences from the game on Saturday. Haynes went through some pregame drills but was ruled out. He was listed as “questionable” on the availability list issued two hours before kickoff by the Big Ten.

Safeties Rod Moore and Brandyn Hillman did not appear on the Big Ten list but were considered by Michigan to be “game-time” decisions. They did not play. Also out was tight end Hogan Hansen. A Michigan spokesman said the Big Ten was informed before the game he would not be playing.

“They practiced through the week,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said. “We always err on the side (of caution) even sometimes when they want to go, making sure they’re full strength before we do anything. “They were just game-time decisions. (Moore) practiced these past couple days, but again, you’re always going to do what’s in the best interest of the kid, even if they want to go. He probably could have gone, but we just felt like it wasn’t that time.”

Moore said he watched pregame warm-ups to make sure players were capable of playing.

“Guys that practice leading up to the game, you feel like they’re ready,” Moore said. “You get to the game, they go through warm-ups and you say, OK, that doesn’t look exactly right. Those are the things we make decisions off of.”

Linebacker Ernest Hausmann, the team’s leading tackler who had seven against the Huskies, went down late in game with what looked like a lower left leg injury. He walked off the field unassisted.

“He’ll be fine,” Moore said.

Hanging on to the trophy

Tight end Zack Marshall entered the game against Washington having caught three passes for 29 yards during his career. With tight ends Marlin Klein and Hogan Hansen out, Marshall became an important target for Underwood.

Marshall was targeted seven times and made five catches for a team-best 72 receiving yards including a 10-yard touchdown pass from Underwood. Marshall was asked what he saw on the touchdown reception.

“A lot of grass,” Marshall said. “It was pretty fun. They attached to the back, I got open. I mean, it’s how you draw it up.”

Marshall brought the football he caught for his first touchdown to the postgame interview and was asked what he’s going to do with it.

“I’m gonna put it straight into my backpack, put it right on the wall,” Marshall said. “I’m never touching those gloves again. I mean, I’m excited.”