HANK KURZ Jr.
Miami starting quarterback D'Eriq King does drills during NCAA college football practice, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021, in Coral Gables, Fla.(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
No. 10 Tar Heels, Hokies seek upper hand in ACC matchup

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 02, 2021 12:52 PM EDT
Here are things to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference in Week 1:

FILE - Virginia Tech quarterback Braxton Burmeister throws a pass during the first half against Clemson in an NCAA college football game in Blacksburg, Va., in this Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, file photo. Few Power Five programs struggled through the pandemic more than Virginia Tech. Coach Justin Fuente and the Hokies hope to restore some order this season. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP, Pool, File)
No. 10 Tar Heels, Hokies meet in early ACC Coastal clash

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 02, 2021 11:47 AM EDT
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell will get much of the attention this

FILE - In this April 17, 2021, file photo, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart talks to his players before the team's spring NCAA college football game in Athens, Ga. Smart, the coach of No. 5 Georgia, faces No. 3 Clemson in the season-opener in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Pick Six: Critical games dot the schedule as 2021 commences

By Hank Kurz Jr. Aug. 24, 2021 02:22 AM EDT
Every weekend in college football, the schedule offers compelling matchups.

FILE - Sam Houston State head coach K.C. Keeler, center, is swarmed by his team after they defeated South Dakota State in the NCAA college FCS Football Championship in Frisco, Texas, in this Sunday May 16, 2021, file photo. Sam Houston State won 23-21. Keeler didn't ask his Sam Houston players to stick around long after they won the school's first FCS national championship last May, capping a long and draining season — physically and emotionally — because of the pandemic. He's also not asking them to stick around as long at practice this year. Throughout the Championship Subdivision, coaches are making concessions this fall to acknowledge that the quick turnaround from last spring is hard. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
With short turnaround, FCS programs adjust practice regimens

By Hank Kurz Jr. Aug. 19, 2021 02:53 PM EDT
K.C. Keeler didn't ask his Sam Houston players to stick around long after they

FILE - In this Saturday, April 17, 2021 file photo, Georgia wide receiver Adonai Mitchell catches a touchdown pass past defensive back Lewis Cine during Georgia's spring NCAA college football game in Athens, Ga. They are young men who are often household names before they've done anything to warrant such attention beyond dominant high school careers. Mitchell. made a splash with seven catches for 105 yards and a touchdown in Georgia's G-day spring game, and looked fast in the process(Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)
Pick Six: Freshmen with high expectations to watch in 2021

By Hank Kurz Jr. Aug. 19, 2021 02:46 AM EDT
Ga'Quincy McKinstry not only arrived at defending national champion and

FILE - Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong (5) throws a pass to tight end Billy Kemp IV (4) during the team's NCAA college football game against North Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Charlottesville, Va. Armstrong is back at quarterback. (Andrew Shurtleff/The Daily Progress via AP, File)
Experience abounds as Virginia looks to rebound from 2020

By Hank Kurz Jr. Aug. 18, 2021 02:49 PM EDT
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Perhaps the first sign that Virginia's players were

FILE - Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente answers a question during the NCAA college football Atlantic Coast Conference media days in Charlotte, N.C., in this Wednesday, July 21, 2021, file photo. Few Power Five programs struggled through the pandemic more than Virginia Tech. Coach Justin Fuente and the Hokies hope to restore some order this season. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond, File)
Virginia Tech looks for success and a return to normalcy

By Hank Kurz Jr. Aug. 18, 2021 01:52 PM EDT
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Few Power Five programs struggled through the pandemic

James Madison quarterback Cole Johnson (12) is sacked by Sam Houston State linebacker Ysidro Mascorro (50) during the fourth quarter of a semifinal game in the NCAA college football FCS playoffs, Saturday, May 8, 2021, in Huntsville, Texas. Sam Houston came from behind to edge James Madison 38-35, for a berth in the FCS national championship game. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Unique, exhausting season reaches finale with FCS title game

By Hank Kurz Jr. May. 13, 2021 03:04 PM EDT
The longest college football season in history comes to a close this weekend

VMI quarterback Seth Morgan (4) hits receiver Jakob Herres for a first down during the first half of an NCAA college football game against The Citadel, Saturday, April 17, 2021, in Lexington, Va. (David Hungate/Roanoke Times via AP)
VMI gets in-state matchup with JMU in FCS playoff debut

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 23, 2021 04:19 PM EDT
The obstacles have been plentiful for Virginia Military Institute this season.

VMI quarterback Seth Morgan (4) crosses the goal line after a two-yard run with East Tennessee State's Max Evans (93) on his back for the first score of the game during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, April 3, 2021, in Lexington, Va. (David Hungate/The Roanoke Times via AP)
Playoff berths at stake as FCS regular season winds down

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 14, 2021 04:07 PM EDT
The final weekend for most leagues playing FCS spring football has arrived with

FILE - The James Madison team runs out onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Morehead State in Harrisonburg, Va., in this Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, file photo. James Madison remains solidly atop the STATS Perform FCS Top 25, but the Dukes could go into the playoffs on April 24 having played once in six weeks. (Daniel Lin/Daily News-Record via AP, File)
James Madison atop the Top 25 despite COVID-related layoffs

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 07, 2021 03:58 PM EDT
James Madison remains atop the FCS polls. The Dukes remain

San Diego Toreros chasing history in game against Davidson

By Hank Kurz Jr. Mar. 31, 2021 03:52 PM EDT
San Diego no longer has an NFL team, but football is still strong in the city.

North Carolina running back Javonte Williams participates in the school's Pro Day football workout for NFL scouts in Chapel Hill, N.C., Monday, March 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Offensive playmakers on display as Tar Heels conduct pro day

By Hank Kurz Jr. Mar. 29, 2021 06:40 PM EDT
Michael Carter looked around at North Carolina’s pro day and the Tar Heels

Incarnate Word quarterback Cameron Ward throws a pass during their first home game of the spring Southland Conference season against Southeastern Louisiana at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium in San Antonio on Saturday, March 20, 2021. For a freshman quarterback, Incarnate Word's Cameron Ward has already put up pretty nice numbers for a season. (Marvin Pfeiffer/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)
Incarnate Word freshman QB Cameron Ward puts up big numbers

By Hank Kurz Jr. Mar. 24, 2021 06:10 PM EDT
Cameron Ward has put up numbers that would be impressive in any freshman’s

Tennessee State getting big kick out Zita's performances

By Hank Kurz Jr. Mar. 17, 2021 02:47 PM EDT
Tennessee State placekicker Antonio Zita is turning heads — and probably making

Clemson leads the way, again, in ACC recruiting battle

By Hank Kurz Jr. Feb. 03, 2021 07:37 PM EST
Clemson's most recent berth in the College Football Playoff was arguably its

Gonzaga guard Andrew Nembhard shoots during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Northwestern State in Spokane, Wash., Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. Gonzaga won 95-78. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
No. 16 Virginia's vs No. 1 Gonzaga highlights ACC week ahead

By Hank Kurz Jr. Dec. 25, 2020 04:01 AM EST
A look at the upcoming week around the Atlantic Coast Conference:

Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente, center, and his team celebrate a win over Virginia in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Blacksburg, Va. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP, Pool)
Hokies AD: More than half of football team contracted virus

By Hank Kurz Jr. Dec. 15, 2020 05:42 PM EST
Virginia Tech athletic director Whit Babcock painted a stark picture Tuesday of

Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente, left, and Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall talk before an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Blacksburg, Va. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP, Pool)
Virginia joins Pitt, BC in ending season without bowl game

By Hank Kurz Jr. Dec. 13, 2020 02:47 PM EST
Virginia is not going to a bowl game this season. A week

Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong is stopped by Virginia Tech defenders during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Blacksburg, Va. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP, Pool)
Herbert and Hokies snap skid, beating Virginia 33-15

By Hank Kurz Jr. Dec. 12, 2020 11:20 PM EST
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Khalil Herbert ran for 162 yards, including a 76-yard