As the fall season ushers in a crisp chill to the air, the stage is set for a classic showdown in college football. On Saturday, the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears and the Wingate Bulldogs will renew their age-old rivalry in a game that promises high stakes and gridiron drama. For most seasons, Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate meet at the end of the season with much on the line, and this year's matchup is no different. With a win on Saturday, the Bears can secure a spot in the SAC (South Atlantic Conference) Championship Game on November 11 and earn at least a share of the Piedmont Division championship for the second consecutive season. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, still have a chance to grab a share of the Piedmont Division title, but they need a win against Lenoir-Rhyne to keep their hopes alive. Wingate is looking to play spoiler and replicate last year's upset when they defeated Lenoir-Rhyne 24-21 in Hickory. On October 29, 2022, Shaw Crocker connected with Trevor Grant for a 10-yard touchdown with 4:29 left, sealing the game with a game-clinching score.

In what promises to be a defensive battle, both teams boast two of the top defenses in Division II football. Lenoir-Rhyne enters the game with the nation's second-ranked scoring defense, allowing a mere 8.5 points per game, with almost every opponent being held to 10 points or fewer. Wingate's defense is equally formidable, conceding just 13.6 points per game, earning them the seventh spot in Division II rankings. In terms of yardage, Wingate allows 256.5 yards per game, ranking 14th nationally, while Lenoir-Rhyne is just as impressive, allowing 207.6 yards per game, placing them fourth. National recognition has also come Lenoir-Rhyne's way, as they are currently ranked at No. 7 in both the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) national poll and the D2Football.com poll. This marks the 34th time in the NCAA era that the Bears have earned a top-10 ranking. The Bears boast an impressive 55-12 record when playing as a nationally ranked team, with a 25-6 record on the road as a ranked squad.

The Lenoir-Rhyne-Wingate rivalry extends back over a decade, with both teams being consistent powerhouses in the South Atlantic Conference. Since 2010, these two institutions have dominated in overall wins, SAC wins, NCAA appearances, NCAA wins, and Jacobs Blocking Trophy winners. Furthermore, they have excelled in producing academic All-Americans. Lenoir-Rhyne holds 105 overall wins since the 2010 season, while Wingate has secured 97. In SAC play, the Bears lead with 75 victories, while the Bulldogs have 64. Lenoir-Rhyne has made six NCAA playoff appearances with eight wins, while Wingate has five appearances with four wins. This game will mark the 39th all-time meeting between these two programs, with Lenoir-Rhyne leading the series 24-14. The Bears had a five-game winning streak against Wingate before last year's 24-21 defeat. The last loss for Lenoir-Rhyne at Wingate was a lopsided 49-6 defeat in 2016. Lenoir-Rhyne has won the past three matchups at Irwin Belk Stadium, with the last two victories coming by a combined 48 points. As the Bears and Bulldogs prepare to step onto the gridiron once again, fans can expect a fiercely competitive matchup with historic implications. With defensive prowess, national rankings, and a rich history between these teams, this renewal of the Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate rivalry promises to be a must-watch event for college football enthusiasts.

Duke at Louisville: In an upcoming college football showdown, No. 20 Duke is set to face off against No. 18 Louisville at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m., and ESPN broadcasting the game live. This marks the fourth meeting between the two schools, with Louisville currently leading the series 3-0, including a resounding 62-22 victory in their last encounter in 2021. Notably, this game is the first time both programs are nationally ranked when they face off. Duke has had a challenging schedule this season, taking on its fourth nationally-ranked opponent in eight games, and they hold a 1-2 record against top-25 teams. The Blue Devils also face back-to-back top-20 opponents for the first time since 2013. Under the guidance of head coach Mike Elko, Duke has excelled in the turnover battle, accumulating 129 points from turnovers in 20 games. Coach Elko's record at Duke is an impressive 14-6 in his first 20 games, making it the second-best start for a head coach in the school's history. Duke's football team stands out in the ACC, ranking highly in both scoring offense and defense. Graduate running back Jordan Waters has been a scoring machine, and redshirt sophomore linebacker Tre Freeman leads the team in tackles, making significant contributions. The upcoming clash between Duke and Louisville promises an exciting contest between two nationally ranked teams, setting the stage for an action-packed game that college football fans won't want to miss.

BUIES CREEK – Campbell piled up 580 yards of total offense and logged a school-record 10 takeaways, downing visiting Presbyterian 72-0 Saturday at Barker-Lane Stadium. 

Campbell (1-2) scored touchdowns on eight of its first nine possessions, shutting out the Blue Hose (2-1), who came into Saturday averaging 76.0 points per game. CU forced turnovers on six of PC’s first eight drives, ending the night matching a school record with seven interceptions (at Carthage, 9/27/08) to go along with three fumble recoveries.

The Camels’ 72 points are the most in a single game against an NCAA Division I opponent, and second-most all-time, picking up the program’s first shutout since 2018 (9/22/18 vs. Shaw).

Wiley Hartley, making his first career start at quarterback in place of an injured Hajj-Malik Williams, tossed six touchdowns with 342 passing yards, both CU single-game records, completing 22-of-30 passes. Dylan Earney added 82 yards passing, completing 4-of-5 passes in relief, giving CU a school single-game record 424 passing yards. After a record-setting night in his first career start, Hartley was named honorable mention FCS Performer of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards. 

Wiley Hartley (Photo Credit: Bennett Scarborough)

Austin Hite led 12 different Camels who caught passes, including six who hauled in touchdowns, with five catches for 93 yards and a score. Caleb Snead found the end zone for the fourth time in three games, making four catches for 43 yards. Jordan Goco also grabbed a 60-yard TD, one of five Camels to score their first career touchdowns in the win.

Michael Jamerson rushed for two touchdowns, both in the first quarter, totaling 101 yards on the ground on 22 carries. 

Peyton Woulard collected Campbell’s first interception of the night and added a team-high eight tackles for CU, while DJ Charles made five stops with a pick. 

JT Whitmore also collected 3.0 sacks and forced a pair of fumbles, while Brevin Allen added 2.5 tackles for loss, including 2.0 sacks. Freshman linebacker CJ Tillman also returned an interception for a TD in the fourth quarter, adding four tackles, including a stop for loss. 

PC quarterback Ren Hefley, sacked seven times in the loss, completed 20-of-39 passes for 145 yards while throwing six interceptions. Keegan Holloran led the PC defense with a game-high 13 tackles. 

The win marked Campbell’s third straight in the series over the Blue Hose.

Before starting Big South play at North Alabama on October 2, Campbell will have an open date on September 25.

The trip to Florence, Ala., which will count as a Big South Conference game for the first time in the series, will be the first of two straight road matchups for the Camels to start league play, also heading to Gardner-Webb on October 9.

Campbell returns to Buies Creek for its Big South home opener on October 16, hosting No. 20 Monmouth.