FSU: One in, one out
Florida State declared starting defensive end/linebacker Chris Casher eligible after an academic issue kept him from the season opener. He was scheduled to play Saturday night against The Citadel. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound sophomore adds an experienced pass-rusher. He had 25 tackles, two sacks and five tackles-for-loss as a reserve in 2013.
FSU also announced that redshirt freshman linebacker Matthew Thomas is suspended indefinitely. Coach Jimbo Fisher has repeatedly said Thomas was missing practices because of an ankle injury. In May 2013, weeks after signing with FSU, he asked to be released to transfer to either Georgia or USC. But Fisher and FSU persuaded him to remain with the Noles.
Kelly homage
The Miami Hurricanes are paying tribute to Jim Kelly’s fight against cancer, posting a banner inside Sun Life Stadium bearing an image of Kelly and the words “We Are KellyTough.” The banner is part of the signage ringing the lower deck of the stadium at Miami home games.
Kelly, a Miami quarterback from 1979-82 and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Miami Hall of Fame, was informed earlier this week that he no longer shows any signs of having sinus cancer. The phrase “KellyTough” became popular on social media as he fought the disease.
Inside the numbers
- Clemson quarterbacks passed for 467 yards, one shy of the school record, in a rout of South Carolina State, and that included freshman Deshaun Watson (Gainesville High) and sophomore Nick Schuessler (Grayson), who was efficient running the offense. Artavius Scott had six catches for 164 yards, a Clemson freshman record.
Pitt running back James Conner rushed for 213 yards in a victory against Boston College on Friday night, and combined with Week 1, he has rushed for 366 yards in two weeks.
They said it
“Whenever they put me in, I’m going to take advantage of my opportunities.” — Clemson’s Watson, who was 8-of-9 passing for 154 yards and three touchdowns. The Death Valley crowd cheered each time he entered the game, but starter Cole Stoudt, who was 22-of-31 for 302 yards, said he zones out the crowd and felt no disrespect.
Next Saturday
Pitt at Fla. International, noon, Fox Sports 1
Syracuse at Central Mich, noon, ESPNU
East Carolina at Va. Tech, noon, ABC/ESPN
Ga. Southern at Ga. Tech, noon, FSSO
Louisville at Virginia, 12:30 p.m.
N.C. State at South Florida, 3:30 pm., CBS SN
Arkansas State at Miami, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU
Kansas at Duke, 3:30 p.m.
Wake Forest at Utah State, 7 p.m., CBS SN
USC at Boston College, 8 p.m., ABC/ESPN