SPORTS LEDGER Established 2006 The PAGE 1B September 2025 E-Edition
Jacksonville State Falls To UCF in 2025 Season Opener
By Myra Pierce The Sports Ledger Jacksonville
State
University its 2025 football season on Thursday, August 28, with a rainy night 17-10 loss to the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Both the Gamecocks opened and the Knights struggled to find their footing early, and neither team managed to score in the first quarter. With 10:45 remaining in the second quarter, UCF fumbled the football and the Gamecocks recovered it. However, the turnover was short lived because Jacksonville State’s No. 3 Tre’Quon Fegans was flagged for targeting on the play and was ejected from the game. With the game scoreless, lightning was detected in the area, prompting a weather delay. Play was suspended for 2:07 before resuming at 9:55 p.m. ET. At the 7:47 mark in the second quarter, UCF’s Miles Montgomery broke through the defense and crossed the goal line, but the touchdown was negated due to a penalty, keeping the game scoreless. Later in the quarter, UCF suffered another setback as Horace Lockett was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, resulting in a 15-yard loss with just 1:23 left before halftime. To close the half, the Knights blocked a 35- yard field goal attempt by Jacksonville State, sending
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Jacksonville State's Chase Alexander closes in for a sack against UCF quarterback Tayven Jackson during the 2025 season opener.
both teams back into the locker room with the game still scoreless at 0-0. In the first half, UCF didn’t need Jacksonville State to beat them, they beat themselves. Despite the Gamecocks falling short in yardage, first downs, and discipline, the Knights failed to capitalize, leaving the scoreboard untouched at halftime. However, things turned around for the Knights in the second half. With 10:55 remaining in the third quarter, Tayven Jackson connected with Myles Montgomery on a 64-yard
pass. The drive concluded with a 24-yard field goal by Anthony Venneri, giving the Knights their first points of the game and a 3-0 lead with 8:03 left in the quarter. Jacksonville State responded with 5:28 left in the third quarter with a 42- yard field goal by Garrison Rippa to tie the game 3-3. A 10-yard rushing touchdown by JSU’s Andrew Paul with 12:01 left in the game marked the first time this season that the Gamecocks reached the end zone. The extra point kick by Rippa, put Jax State on top of the Knights 10-3.
UCF answered quickly with a 39-yard pass to Dylan Wade with 9:30 left in the game. Noe Ruelas sealed the extra point, tying the game once again at 10- all. Finally, with 1:03 to play in regulation, UCF scored a touchdown on a 33-yard pass to D.J. Black. The PAT was good by Ruelas and the Knights pulled ahead 17-10. Despite a valiant effort from Jax Sate, the Gamecocks ran out of time, as the Knights claimed the 17-10 season opening victory.
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) will implement a nine-game football schedule beginning in 2026, reinforcing the SEC’s position as the nation’s leader in competitive excellence and fan excitement. The decision, approved by the SEC’s Presidents and Chancellors following a recommendation by the league’s Athletics Directors and announced in a recent press release. “Adding a ninth SEC game underscores our universities’ commitment to delivering the most competitive football schedule in the nation,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “This format protects rivalries, increases competitive balance, and paired with our requirement to play an additional Power opponent, ensures SEC teams are well prepared to compete and succeed in the College Football Playoff.” Under the new format: • The SEC will continue with a single-standings, non- divisional structure; • Each school will play three annual opponents focused on maintaining many traditional rivalries; • Each team’s remaining six games will rotate among the remaining conference schools; and • Each team will face every other SEC program at least once every two years and every opponent home and away in four years. SEC teams are required to schedule at least one additional high quality non-conference game from the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten or Big 12 conferences or Notre Dame each season. The SEC will continue to evaluate its policies to ensure the continued scheduling of high-quality non-conference opponents. “The SEC has established itself as the leader in delivering the most compelling football schedule in college athletics,” Sankey said. “Fans will see traditional rivalries preserved, new matchups more frequently, and a level of competition unmatched across the nation.” The SEC has played eight conference games each season since 1992 when the conference first expanded from 10 to 12 teams with the addition of Arkansas and South Carolina. The SEC played seven conference games per year from 1988-1991 and six games from 1974-1987. Prior to 1974 there was no uniform requirement for the number of conference games to be played by each school, with most schools playing six or seven league contests per year. SEC Moves To Nine Game Conference Schedule in 2026 Auburn's Rayshawn Pleasant (No. 14) had a 98 yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Tigers season opener against Baylor at McLane Stadium in Waco, TX on Friday, August 29, 2025. Read more about the Tigers season opening game on The Sports Ledger at www.thesportsledger.com. Auburn Tigers Beat Baylor Photo by Zach Bland, Auburn Tigers
Auburn Athletics to retire Cam Newton’s Jersey Number
Auburn Athletics will retire 2010 Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton’s No. 2 jersey, making him the fourth player in program history to have his number retired. The retirement ceremony will take place at the Georgia game on Oct. 11 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Newton’s No. 2 jersey will join Pat Sullivan (No. 7), Bo Jackson (No. 34) and Terry Beasley (No. 88) as former Tiger football players to have their jersey number retired. Sullivan and Beasley’s jerseys were retired following Sullivan’s 1971 Heisman Trophy season and Jackson’s jersey was retired as part of Auburn’s football centennial celebration in 1992. "Auburn will always be home to me,” Newton said. “The national championship
we won in 2010 was a special moment, and to have my jersey retired alongside legends like Pat Sullivan, Bo Jackson, and Terry Beasley is an incredible honor that I'll cherish forever. War Eagle!" One of the most decorated players in Auburn and Southeastern Conference history, Newton led Auburn to the 2010 BCS National Championship and SEC Championship with a perfect 14-0 record. “Cam Newton not only led Auburn to a national championship in 2010, but he produced one of the most prolific seasons ever by a college football player,” Auburn athletics director John Cohen said. “Retiring Cam’s jersey number is a fitting way to celebrate his lasting impact on Auburn
University and Auburn Athletics for all time.” A native of College Park, Georgia, Newton was a consensus All-American in his lone season at Auburn and won the Walter Camp Award, Maxwell Award, Manning Award, Davey O’Brien Award and was Associated Press National Player of the Year. “Cam is one of the greatest players to wear an Auburn uniform and it is only fitting that he has his No. 2 jersey retired,” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said. “We look forward to honoring and celebrating Cam this season with this much-deserved recognition.” During Newton’s historic 2010 season, he threw for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns while
rushing for 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns, also scoring a receiving touchdown. He became the first player in SEC history to pass for more than 2,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season. Newton went on to have an 11-year career in the National Football League and was NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2011 and NFL Most Valuable player in 2015 while leading the Carolina Panthers to Super Bowl 50. Newton holds the Carolina franchise record for passing yards, passing touchdowns and rushing touchdowns while leading the organization to four playoff appearances and three division titles. His 75 rushing touchdowns are the most by a quarterback in NFL history.
The Miami Hurricanes defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a 27-24 thriller on Sunday, August 31, 2025. With the win No. 10 Miami improved to 1-0, while the sixth-ranked Irish fell to 0-1. Miami moved to No. 5. Ironically, this year's victory was the Hurricanes’ highest ranked win since Miami’s 2017 victory over then ranked No. 3 Notre Dame at Hard Rock Stadium. Also, Miami has now won seven consecutive home games against the not so lucky Fighting Irish. The last time Notre Dame defeated Miami was almost 50 years ago in 1977. Read the full game recap on The Sports Ledger's website at www.thesportsledger.com. Miami Hurricanes Upset Notre Dame
By Brandon K. Pierce | The Sports Ledger Mississippi State University opened the 2025 football season with a 34-17 victory over in-state rival Southern Miss on Saturday, August 30. The Bulldogs were led by starting quarterback Blake Shapen, who completed 26 of 34 pass attempts for 270 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Mississippi State's offense compiled 465 total yards, while limiting the Golden Eagles to 301 yards. However, the Bulldogs were penalized 14 times for 119 yards. The program must reduce the number of negative plays before game No. 2 this season, which is against No. 12 Arizona State on Sept. 6 in Starkville at 6:30 p.m. Mississippi State Defeats Southern Miss 34-17
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator