Here is the latest ACC sports news from The Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) — Ohio State can celebrate another title after holding off a Notre Dame comeback bid to walk away with a nailbiter of a 34-23 victory over the Fighting Irish. Will Howard hit big-play receiver Jeremiah Smith for 56 yards on a late third-and-11 to secure a game that went from comfortable to tense. Trailing 31-7, Notre Dame managed to score two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions, narrowing the gap to a one-score game late in the fourth quarter. However, Howard’s crucial throw to Smith set up a field goal that marked the beginning of the celebration. This victory marks Ohio State’s sixth title and their first since the 2014 season.
ATLANTA (AP) — The connections surrounding Marcus Freeman’s attempt to make history during Monday night’s game were hard to ignore. His quest to become the first Black head football coach to win a college title at the highest level ended in a 34-23 loss to Ohio State. The same day also marked celebrations in the United States for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, coinciding with Donald Trump being inaugurated for his second term as president. As Freeman faced this pivotal moment, the nation reflected on the legacy of a leader committed to inclusion and equality, amidst growing scrutiny of diversity initiatives on college campuses.
UNDATED (AP) — Auburn has been named the unanimous No. 1 in the men’s AP Top 25 following a tumultuous week. Ranking behind them are Duke, Iowa State, Alabama, and Florida completing the top five. This past week saw 19 ranked teams suffering at least one loss, with seven of the top 10 teams affected. Only three teams—Alabama, Florida, and No. 6 Tennessee—retained their previous rankings. Notably, No. 25 Louisville is celebrating an eight-game winning streak and is ranked for the first time since 2021. No. 20 St. John’s and No. 22 Missouri also made their way into this week’s poll.
UNDATED (AP) — In the women’s college basketball scene, No. 2 South Carolina has earned a first-place vote in the AP Top 25 thanks to their strong performance through the first three games of a challenging five-game stretch against ranked opponents. Meanwhile, UCLA has garnered 27 first-place votes from the national media panel, maintaining their status as the top-ranked team. No. 3 Notre Dame also received the remaining two first-place ballots. USC and LSU follow in fourth and fifth place, while Michigan and Baylor have re-entered the Top 25, and Oklahoma State and Utah have fallen out.
