Pitt's James Conner, Miami's Duke Johnson establish school records

The match itself did not mean all that much — though Pitt did become bowl-eligible by defeating Miami 35-23 — but running backs for each team set remarkable school records.

Pitt sophomore James Conner ran for 2 touchdowns, giving him 24 for the season. The record of 22 have been held by Tony Dorsett, when he was a senior as well as the Heisman winner in 1976. Additionally, Conner raised his ACC single-season touchdown record.

Conner also rushed for 75 yards, giving him 1,675 for the season, which leads the ACC.

Meanwhile, Miami junior Duke Johnson ran for 89 yards, pushing his season total to 1,520 and his career total to a school-record 3,387 yards. The previous record holder was Ottis Anderson, who totaled 3,331 from 1975 78. Johnson has rushed for at least 88 yards in every single match this season and has had six 100-yard games.

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Pitt"s James Conner, Miami"s Duke Johnson establish school records

Indiana"s Tevin Coleman generating "ton of buzz in NFL circles"

Indiana’s Tevin Coleman, who’s on the brink of setting his school’s single-season rushing record, is coming off a 307-yard performance and he’s second in the nation in rushing.

So why isn’t he receiving more acclaim? He’s been overshadowed in his own league by Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon — who is on pace to set the FBS single-season rushing record after a 408-yard performance and leads the nation in rushing.

» Scout’s Take: Can Melvin Gordon succeed in NFL?

But Coleman (6-foot-1, 210 pounds), a junior, is being noticed by NFL scouts. NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks wrote Monday that Coleman has "spectacular skills" and that he "continues to generate a ton of buzz in NFL circles." Brooks also said Coleman has "the stuff needed to be a feature back at the next level."

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Indiana"s Tevin Coleman generating "ton of buzz in NFL circles"

Adrian Peterson"s appeals hearing set for Monday

Adrian Peterson‘s appeals hearing to be removed from the Commissioner’s Exempt list has been set for Monday, a league spokesperson confirmed to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport on Wednesday.

The NFL Players Association on Monday filed an expedited, non-injury grievance on behalf of Peterson that seeks immediate reinstatement for the Minnesota Vikings running back.

On Nov. 4, Peterson pleaded no contest to one count of misdemeanor reckless assault. He was placed on probation and was issued a $4,000 fine and 80 hours of community service in addition to enrollment in parenting classes.

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Adrian Peterson"s appeals hearing set for Monday

Ohio State"s J.T. Barrett glow in thriller vs. Penn State

Redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett had a huge overtime and sophomore defensive end Joey Bosa had a big game to lead Ohio State past Penn State, 31-24, in double overtime Saturday night and stay in the playoff hunt.

» Winners and losers from Week 9 in CFB

Barrett scored both of Ohio State’s overtime touchdowns and also threw a TD pass for the Buckeyes, who led 17-0 at halftime. Bosa wreaked havoc all night and had 2.5 sacks, including one that stopped the match in the second overtime.

While Ohio State (6-1) dominated the first half, the Buckeyes’ offense bogged down in the 2nd half. Penn State, which scored its first TD on a pick-six, forced overtime using a 31-yard field goal with nine seconds left. But Barrett took over in overtime.

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Ohio State"s J.T. Barrett glow in thriller vs. Penn State

Nebraska"s Ameer Abdullah establishes school all-purpose yards record

Nebraska senior tailback Ameer Abdullah establish a school record for single-game all-purpose yardage Saturday — and burnished his Heisman qualifications in the procedure — in leading the Huskers to a 42-24 victory over Rutgers.

Abdullah rolled up 341 all-purpose yards — 225 yards (and three touchdowns) to the floor, 26 receiving yards and 90 yards in kickoff returns. Additionally, Saturday’s trip was his fourth 200-yard game of the season, which ties Mike Rozier’s single-season school record set in 1983. Rozier won the Heisman that season, when he rushed for 2,148 yards.

» Can Not-miss Minutes: Top plays of Week 9 in CFB

Abdullah had been third in the country in rushing at 146.3 yards per game.

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Nebraska"s Ameer Abdullah establishes school all-purpose yards record

Ex-Michigan WR Csont"e York sentenced to seven days in jail

Former Michigan wide receiver Csont’e York was sentenced Friday to seven days in jail for 2 misdemeanor assault convictions.

York struck one man, breaking his jaw and knocking him unconscious, and shoved another guy during a July 18 incident outside an Ann Arbor pub. Michigan suspended York on Aug. 3 and declared he’d been fired from the football team on Aug. 18. York is now registered in the University of Toledo.

York pleaded guilty to assault and assault and battery on Sept. 22.

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Ex-Michigan WR Csont"e York sentenced to seven days in jail

West Virginia"s Kevin White drawing NFL comparisons

The senior who might function as the country’s greatest wide receiver is going from the Big 12’s worst pass defense this Saturday. That may cause a significant day for West Virginia’s Kevin White, who continues to be compared to both Steve Smith and Larry Fitzgerald.

White (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) leads the country in receptions (69) and receiving yards (1,020) and has seven TD grabs. He and WVU play at Oklahoma State on Saturday, as well as the Cowboys are conceding 288.4 passing yards per game.

Analyzing West Virginia WR Kevin White and I Have already had about 5 wow minutes in 2 matches. Quite unique gift.

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West Virginia"s Kevin White drawing NFL comparisons

Notre Dame"s Everett Golson throws for 300 yards, 3 TDs

Notre Dame’s Everett Golson threw for 300 yards for the second time in three weeks to lead the Irish to a wild 50-43 win over North Carolina.

The win sets up a gigantic game for the Irish next week at Florida State.

Golson was 21-of-38 and threw three TD passes as the Irish hit the 50-point mark for the first time since the 2012 opener (50-10 over Navy). It was his third career 300-yard outing, and he also ran for 71 yards. Golson has attempted at least 34 passes in each of the past five games and at least 38 in four consecutive games.

» What you need to know from Week 7 in CFB

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Notre Dame"s Everett Golson throws for 300 yards, 3 TDs

FSU"s Jameis Winston throws for 317 yards in win over Syracuse

Jameis Winston threw for 317 yards and three touchdowns Saturday as Florida State cruised past Syracuse 38-20 a day after FSU announced that Winston faces a student honor code hearing.

» Report: FSU, police obstructed Winston investigation

Winston threw two TD passes in the second quarter to lift FSU to a 24-6 halftime lead; his final TD pass of the day came in the third quarter for a 31-6 lead that ended any intrigue.

"It’s not about distractions," Winston told reporters afterward. "It’s about Florida State football."

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FSU"s Jameis Winston throws for 317 yards in win over Syracuse

Tony Corrente resigns as Pac-12 head of officiating

The Pac-12’s uphill battle to fix its officiating problem just got a bit tougher.

Citing personal and professional reasons, current NFL head referee Tony Corrente resigned from his post as the Pac-12’s Coordinator of Football Officiating.

"Under Tony’s leadership, our program made great strides in improving the quality, accountability and consistency," Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement on the matter. "While it’s unfortunate that Tony has decided to leave us at this time, I want to express my appreciation for his contribution, and for leaving our officiating program strong and headed in the right direction."

According to San Jose Mercury News writer Jon Wilner, news of Corrente’s resignation caught Pac-12 officials off guard, as they had been hoping to extend his contract.

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Tony Corrente resigns as Pac-12 head of officiating

Nick Marshall shreds LSU defense in blowout win

In his first start as an SEC quarterback, LSU’s Brandon Harris didn’t get it done.

But at least he got to watch Nick Marshall show him how.

Auburn’s senior quarterback led a 566-yard explosion by the Tigers’ offense in a 41-7 home win. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. But it was his direction of Auburn’s base running play, the zone-read option, that really had LSU on its heels. Marshall rushed 16 times for 119 yards and two more touchdowns, while the give man on the option — senior Cameron Artis-Payne — had 126 yards on 24 carries.

It didn’t take long for Marshall to stake his team to a commanding lead. He found wide receiver Sammie Coates (four catches, 144 yards) for a 56-yard touchdown in the first quarter, then put the Tigers up 17-0 with a 7-yard touchdown run. Marshall all but put the game out of reach with 2:29 left in the first half with a 29-yard touchdown run.

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Nick Marshall shreds LSU defense in blowout win

Jameis Winston throws for 297 yards, a TD in easy victory

Jameis Winston threw for 297 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score Saturday as Florida State coasted past Wake Forest 43-3.

Winston has thrown a TD pass in every game of his career, but he didn’t connect for a score in this game until there was 9:40 remaining. That score gave the Seminoles a 40-3 lead.

Florida State (5-0) led just 13-3 at halftime before awakening in the second half.

Winston was 23-of-39; that’s the second-most attempts in a game in his career, and the top three have come this season (40 in the opener against Oklahoma State and 38 last week against North Carolina State). Winston also threw an interception, giving him five for the season in four games; he threw 10 in 14 games last season.

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Jameis Winston throws for 297 yards, a TD in easy victory

Bo Wallace leads Ole Miss to stunning upset of Alabama

The College Football Playoff picture grew awfully fuzzy on Saturday, and Ole Miss made sure it didn’t miss out on the fun.

The Rebels stunned Alabama, 23-17, to remain undefeated and put the rest of the SEC on notice that they are for real. Now at 2-0 in SEC play, Ole Miss has a share of the SEC West lead along with in-state rival Mississippi State, which upset Texas A&M earlier in the day.

Bo Wallace connected with Jaylen Walton for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 2:54 remaining for the winning score. Crimson Tide cornerback Tony Brown blocked the extra point to keep the deficit at six points, but the Ole Miss defense held on for Alabama’s final drive, when Senquez Golson intercepted a Blake Sims pass in the back of the Rebels’ end zone.

Alabama held a 17-10 lead until Wallace found Vince Sanders for a 34-yard touchdown pass with 5:29 remaining. On the ensuing kickoff, Alabama’s Christion Jones fumbled and the Rebels recovered at the Alabama 31 to set up the game-winning drive.

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Bo Wallace leads Ole Miss to stunning upset of Alabama

Vernon Adams could be next in line of small-school NFL QBs

It’s well established that a quarterback doesn’t need to be from a major college program to find success in the NFL.

The list of QBs that rose from outside college football’s power conferences — or even Division I in some cases — within the past decade or so includes Joe Flacco (Delaware), Colin Kaepernick (Nevada), Ben Roethlisberger (Miami Ohio) and Tony Romo (Eastern Illinois). The latest signal-caller trying to follow their lead is New England Patriots rookie Jimmy Garoppolo (Eastern Illinois), a second-round pick earlier this year who threw his first career touchdown pass Monday night in relief of Tom Brady.

Who could be next in the pipeline from the less-heralded ranks?

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Vernon Adams could be next in line of small-school NFL QBs

Ameer Abdullah runs for 208 yards, 3 TDs in Nebraska"s triumph

Another week, another 200-yard game for Nebraska senior tailback Ameer Abdullah.

Abdullah ran for 208 yards and three TDs on 22 carries — his second 200-yard game in a row and his third of the season — as the Huskers smashed host Illinois 45-14.

Abdullah helped Nebraska — which plays at Michigan State next week — rush for 458 yards and roll up 624 complete yards. He’s got a state-top 833 rushing yards this year, to go with eight rushing TDs.

Abdullah started the season using a 232-yard performance against Florida Atlantic, subsequently rushed for 229 yards last week in a win over Miami. He now has four 200-yard games in his career, including two against Illinois; he rambled for 225 against the Illini last season.

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Ameer Abdullah runs for 208 yards, 3 TDs in Nebraska"s triumph

Purdue leads the way when it comes to NFL wages by school

It Is been a rough few years in the field for Purdue football. As it pertains to the Boilermakers’ success in the NFL, yet, things aren’t bad in any way.

According to the data group at BestTickets.com, Purdue alumni in the league lead the way when it comes to typical yearly wages at $4.43 million for the 2014 season. That is just ahead of Pittsburgh, Texas, Georgia Tech and Ole Miss.

That amount is naturally fostered by New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees, who has a reported wages of just north of $20 million a year. Throw in Super Bowl winner Cliff Avril’s $6.5 million check and it is a rosy picture for the Boilermakers. The website additionally adds that only four of the 13 players in the NFL from the school make significantly less than a million annually.

Some other interesting data on schools as well as the NFL:

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Purdue leads the way when it comes to NFL wages by school

Scout"s Notebook: Dak Prescott an intriguing prospect to follow

When I scouted for the Carolina Panthers from 2003-2007, I used to be required to give every player a crucial variable level according to five core features (intellect, leadership, competitiveness, clutch variable and perseverance) that we considered were vital to being a tournament player. I continue to utilize those characteristics as a barometer of a prospect’s potential at another level after I examine them for NFL Media. While I am not convinced that Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott possesses a skill set which is conducive to playing quarterback in the NFL, I undoubtedly consider that he demonstrates the qualities needed to be a tournament player in another degree.

Looking at the 6-foot-2, 235-pound junior lead the Bulldogs to an upset win over LSU in Death Valley, I saw a bright football player together with all the intangibles to be a winner at each degree. From his brilliant command of the Bulldogs’ offense to his charismatic leadership style, Prescott put in the type of show that leads lookouts to fall in love having a possibility effective at standing out to the greatest and brightest stages. Not to mention his brilliant show of athleticism and playmaking ability as an explosive double-threat quarterback around the margin.

So, I am intrigued by thinking of Prescott playing the position in another degree after seeing the likes of Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick and Cam Newton love success as professionals with similar skill sets. While Prescott must continue to evolve as a pocket passer to improve his opportunities playing the position as a master, he definitely teases scouts along with his ability, athleticism and striking intangibles. Given the development of the match in the quarterback position, Prescott is an interesting possibility to observe during another couple years.

1. Florida State: Despite playing without Jameis Winston, the Seminoles found a means to knock off a ranked opponent in the home. While the Seminoles did not earn style points for the win, the fact that they were competent to hold on in a really competitive competition says a lot about Florida State’s stamina.

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Scout"s Notebook: Dak Prescott an intriguing prospect to follow

DeAngelo Hall says he ripped Achilles; Hatcher injures hamstring

It seems the Redskins have suffered a huge setback for their defense. 

Defensive leader and starting cornerback DeAngelo Hall left the Redskins’ 37-34 loss, and he told reporters following the match which he ripped his Achilles.

The Redskins already are missing nickelback Tracy Porter, who has yet to suit up this season while he copes using a lingering hamstring injury.

Washington also lost Jason Hatcher in the match, who left using a hamstring injury.

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DeAngelo Hall says he ripped Achilles; Hatcher injures hamstring

Pharoh Cooper blowtorches Vanderbilt as Gamecocks triumph

South Carolina wide receiver Pharoh Cooper demonstrated why he is among the very versatile athletes in the SEC in leading the Gamecocks to a 48-34 win Saturday at Vanderbilt.

The sophomore led all receivers with 10 catches for 114 yards, and added another 74 yards in the ground on only two carries. His 188 total yards signified his most productive game of the season. It ended up being a breakout performance, and College Football 24/7 called Cooper would be a breakout player in the SEC this season.

His 10 catches were a career high. Cooper now leads the Gamecocks in receptions with 21 for 244 yards.

Gamecocks quarterback Dylan Thompson completed 22 of 34 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns, though star running back Mike Davis was held to less than 100 yards again (17 rushes for 84 yards). Opposing defenses have keyed on Davis greatly this season, and if this continues, Cooper’s chance for huge plays should come with this.

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Pharoh Cooper blowtorches Vanderbilt as Gamecocks triumph

Nebraska"s Ameer Abdullah runs for 229 yards, 2 TDs in triumph

It was rather a night for Nebraska senior running back Ameer Abdullah: He rushed for 229 yards and two touchdowns, caught a TD pass, moved into third position in the institution ‘s career rushing list and became the Huskers’ career leader in all-purpose yards as the Huskers downed Miami, 41-31.

Abdullah (5-foot-9, 200 pounds) now has 5,760 all-purpose yards, passing Heisman winner Johnny Rodgers (5,586) on Saturday night. It was the 20th 100-yard game of Abdullah’s career, the most of any present FBS player and tied for second-most (with Ahman Green) in school history. Abdullah has 3,602 career rushing yards; Green is second in school history with 3,880 and Mike Rozier first with 4,780.

Abdullah’s 3-yard TD reception tied it at 14 midway through the 2nd quarter. His first rushing touchdown came early in the 3rd quarter and gave Nebraska a 24-14 edge, and his second completed the Huskers’ marking and gave them a 41-24 lead with 4:13 left in the match.

Abdullah had a career-high 35 carries as Nebraska did a whole lot of damage to the earth; the Huskers rushed for 345 yards on 54 carries and tried only 13 passes. Nebraska ended with 458 absolute yards; the Huskers punted just once but they did commit two turnovers.

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Nebraska"s Ameer Abdullah runs for 229 yards, 2 TDs in triumph