ECU basketball preps for season opener with strong roster; Jayshayne Woodard feeling more confident, comfortable entering second year at ECU…Pirates Stay Home this Week, Hosting Charlotte and South Florida volleyball…Mike Wright Jr. proves he needs more snaps… USF faces Memphis in crucial conference clash…Thunder celebrate ring ceremony, banner unveiling and double-OT win over Durant’s Rockets

Pirate Press: ECU Headlines

Hoops just around the corner

Pirates Stay Home this Week, Hosting Charlotte and South Florida volleyball ecupirates.com

ECU basketball preps for season opener with strong roster WCTI 12

Golden LEAF awards ECU $1 million for new Brody learning center WITN 7

Five young players to keep an eye on the rest of ECU’s football season 247 Sports

Coley: Mike Wright Jr. proves he needs more snaps Greenville Daily Reflector (sub req’d)

ECU’s Brody School of Medicine gets $1 million for education center YAHOO!

Jayshayne Woodard feeling more confident, comfortable entering second year at ECU CBS Sports

Outdoor college hockey returns to Truist Field in Charlotte: See schedule here WBTV

Around the American Athletic Conference

American Conference

• American Conference Unveils 2025-26 Men’s Basketball Tip Times and Television Designations
• American Conference Announces 2025-26 Women’s Basketball Tip Times and Television Assignments
• JMU, Marshall, Rice, Tulane Earn Weekly Honors
• No. 4 Memphis Earns Highest United Soccer Coaches Ranking in Program History
• Tulane Sweeps Cross Country Weekly Honors

Temple’s players starting to believe that this team is in fact good The Philadelphia Inquirer

Owls eye bowl game at midseason mark  Temple News

Sports Illustrated

• 5 Early Impressions as AAC Softball Teams Begin Fall Ball 
• Mid-Major Men’s College Hoops Preview: The Best Teams Beyond the Power Conferences

Navy football looks to go 7-0 for only the fifth time in program history The Baltimore Sun

Are USF fans witnessing the most dynamic offense in Bulls history? Tampa Bay Times

USF faces Memphis in crucial conference clash The Oracle (USF)

USF’s Byrum Brown is producing points and records at a rapid-fire rate Green, Gold, and Bold

South Florida vs Memphis picks, predictions, odds for college football Week 9 game USA Today

Memphis Commercial Appeal

• Memphis offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey talks USF matchup
• Memphis football coach Ryan Silverfield talks UAB loss, looks ahead to USF
• How many Memphis Tigers games will air on national TV in 2025-26?

NOLA.com

• Tulane’s new uniform pays homage to New Orleans streets with cracks and Mardi Gras beads
• Tulane men’s hoops can benefit from American Conference nearly bereft of returning talent

Denton Record-Chronicle

• Basketball takes over the Square on Wednesday as UNT and TWU teams star in Nightmare on Elm Street
• UNT coach Eric Morris vows to focus on season, not contract as school opens up talks

UTSA film study: How missed tackles led to disastrous rout at North Texas San Antonio Express-News

Navy tight end Cody Howard is the toughest guy on the team  Annapolis Capital

Should Shocker basketball fans invest in ESPN+? What this year’s schedule says YAHOO!

 

Regional Headlines: The Carolinas and beyond

WRAL

• North Carolina loses three more players, including early season offensive line starter
• The Brotherhood Lives On: Duke Overpowers UCF in Dawkins’ Return to Cameron
• Belichick: Time spent in media spotlight doesn’t compromise time he’s able to spend coaching UNC
• UNC coach reinstated; was suspended for violating NCAA benefits rules
• Bill Belichick among final 12 coaches for Pro Football Hall of Fame 2026 class
• NC State aims to reset and refocus ahead of Pitt to kickstart season finish

Raleigh News & Observer

• Blue Devils welcome back Johnny Dawkins and take exhibition win over UCF
• UNC football’s Belichick updates on suspended coach’s return, NCAA compliance
• UNC football, Bill Belichick see three more players depart roster
• Duke basketball starts its 2026 recruiting class with an ACC legacy player
• Contract reveals details for Bill Belichick, UNC football Hulu documentary
• NC State football coach Dave Doeren ‘thankful’ for AD’s patience, perspective
• Duke’s Scheyer after exhibition game: ‘There is a ton we have to work on’
• The baseball gods are real, and they’ve cursed the Seattle Mariners
• With Bryce Young day to day, what does it mean for Panthers? Plus a Bills preview

Columbia The State

• Spending on SEC roster construction keeps growing. Can USC MBB keep up?
• South Carolina football facing worst home point spread in 3 years vs. Alabama
• Shane Beamer sounds off on negative noise surrounding South Carolina’s team

Charleston Post & Courier

Norfolk Virginian-Pilot

• David Teel: UVA a case study of college football’s parity, fragility
• Norfolk State’s Michael Vick shakes up defensive staff amid team’s struggles

Vick announces NSU coaching changes after 1-6 start  WAVY

Queen City News

• Hornets look to reach playoffs for first time in …
• Quick Six: How confident are you in Dalton starting at …
• Bryce Young likely out for Week 8 with ankle injury: Reports

The Associated Press

• College football Week 9: No. 8 Ole Miss to test defense of No. 13 Sooners in 1 of 3 Top 25 SEC games
• SEC fines Texas A&M $50,000 for faking an injury during win over Arkansas
• Big 12 fines No. 24 Arizona State $50,000 for field storming against No. 14 Texas Tech
• Deion Sanders marvels at Shohei Ohtani’s ‘unbelievable’ performance as LA returns to World Series