Utah Tech extended its hottest stretch of the season Tuesday night, defeating Southern Utah 3-1 at Burns Arena in St. George behind another all-around performance from senior outside hitter Tessa Treanor. The Trailblazers won 25-18, 25-21, 23-25, 25-18 , improving to 10-3 overall and 3-0 in Big Sky play . The victory extended Utah Tech's winning streak to seven matches, the longest of the program's Division I era. Treanor led the way with 15 kills and a season-high 19 digs , recording her fifth double-double of the season. Nana Asiata added 12 kills, while Sydney Reese finished with 10. Utah Tech Rallies From Slow Start Southern Utah opened the match aggressively, scoring seven of the first nine points and putting the Trailblazers into an early hole. Utah Tech gradually worked its way back behind kills from Annalyse Shimada, Reese, Treanor and Shaylee Dahle. The deficit was reduced to 10-8 before Southern Utah moved back ahead 12-10. Asiata then delivered consecutive kills to tie the score at 12. Following another tie at 13-13, Cale Torgerson recorded a kill before back-to-back blocks involving Shimada pushed Utah Tech ahead 16-13 . The Trailblazers never surrendered the lead. Utah Tech eventually stretched its advantage to 21-15 and closed the opening set 25-18 following consecutive Southern Utah attack errors. Trailblazers Take 2-0 Match Lead Southern Utah scored the opening two points of the second set, but Utah Tech immediately answered with its strongest run of the frame. The Trailblazers scored seven consecutive points , with Asiata producing three early kills before Lusia Langi and Torgerson added kills of their own. The run gave Utah Tech a 7-2 advantage. Southern Utah recovered and eventually tied the set at 16-16 . Torgerson responded with a kill to put Utah Tech back in front, and the Trailblazers later used a three-point run capped by Treanor to build a 22-18 advantage. Treanor eventually finished the frame herself, delivering the kill that secured a 25-21 victory and a 2-0 match lead. Southern Utah Avoids the Sweep The Thunderbirds produced their best start of the night in the third set. Southern Utah raced ahead 9-3 before Utah Tech began cutting into the deficit. The Thunderbirds still held a 16-11 advantage when the Trailblazers scored three straight points, including a Reese kill and a block by Dahle and Torgerson. Utah Tech eventually erased the deficit completely. A Reese kill and Reese block tied the set at 18-18, and an Asiata kill later gave the Trailblazers a 21-19 lead . Southern Utah responded. The Thunderbirds tied the frame at 21-21, and although kills from Treanor and Torgerson twice brought Utah Tech even again, Southern Utah scored the final two points to capture the set 25-23 . The Thunderbirds had extended the match, but Utah Tech quickly took control again. Utah Tech Dominates Fourth Set The Trailblazers opened the fourth with a 7-1 run . Reese delivered three early kills, Shimada contributed to two blocks and Torgerson added a service ace as Utah Tech immediately created separation. Treanor then took over offensively. She recorded four kills between the points that moved Utah Tech from an 8-4 advantage to a 17-12 lead , preventing Southern Utah from mounting another comeback. The Trailblazers eventually pushed their advantage to 21-13. Southern Utah answered with four straight points, but Asiata stopped the run with a kill. Shimada then supplied the final block as Utah Tech completed the match with another 25-18 victory . Tessa Treanor Records Fifth Double-Double Treanor finished the night as Utah Tech's offensive leader with 15 kills . Her season-high 19 digs gave her a fifth double-double and marked the fourth time this season that she has led the Trailblazers in kills. Utah Tech also received double-digit attacking production from Asiata and Reese. Asiata's 12 kills marked her ninth double-digit kill performance of the season , while Reese contributed 10. Shimada made her biggest impact at the net, leading Utah Tech with six blocks, including three solo stops . Marley Roe distributed a team-high 22 assists, and Kaleinani Watson finished with a career-high 15 digs and eight assists . Trailblazers Control Match Defensively Utah Tech finished with the advantage in nearly every major team category. The Trailblazers recorded 55 kills compared with Southern Utah's 38 , while hitting .187 and holding the Thunderbirds to just .061 . Utah Tech also led 12-9 in blocks and 67-58 in digs , while the teams finished tied with two service aces apiece. Southern Utah's defense still provided several encouraging performances. Audrey Atwood recorded a team-high 10 kills , reaching double figures for the first time this season. Emilia Linden and Natalie Moore added seven kills each. Cala Cooper led the Thunderbirds with five blocks, including three solo , while Moore also recorded three solo blocks. Libero Amanda Mendoza finished with a season-high 17 digs . Southern Utah's nine total blocks extended its streak of matches with at least five blocks to four. The Thunderbirds also held Utah Tech below .200 hitting, but the defensive effort was not enough to overcome the Trailblazers' broader statistical advantage. Utah Tech Extends Winning Streak to Seven Tuesday's victory continued an impressive run for Utah Tech. The Trailblazers have now won seven consecutive matches , establishing their longest winning streak since moving to Division I. Burns Arena has also become a difficult place for opponents. Utah Tech has won 12 consecutive home matches and 16 of its last 17 at home . The Trailblazers have also beaten Southern Utah five consecutive times and improved to 8-5 in the all-time series. The schedule now brings Utah Tech a significant conference test. The Trailblazers return to Burns Arena on Thursday to face 2025 Big Sky champion Northern Colorado , which enters at 6-7 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Southern Utah returns home for its next match, also facing Northern Colorado on Saturday at noon MT.

Week 4 delivered major movement across the college football rankings, but the team at the top remained unchanged. Texas held the No. 1 position in the AP Top 25 after surviving Tennessee 20-17, while Georgia and Notre Dame remained directly behind the Longhorns. The biggest story further down the rankings was Florida, which surged 13 spots from No. 21 to No. 8 following a 52-28 victory over previously No. 4 Ole Miss. The new poll also rewarded Iowa, Oregon and Mississippi State for significant Week 4 victories, while Oklahoma State, Boise State, UCLA and Kentucky entered the Top 25. Texas Remains No. 1 After Tennessee Test Texas maintained its grip on the top ranking by escaping Knoxville with a 20-17 victory over Tennessee . The Longhorns improved to 4-0 and extended their winning streak to seven games, their longest under head coach Steve Sarkisian. Texas now has a week off before facing Oklahoma on Oct. 10. Georgia remained No. 2 after delivering one of the weekend's most convincing performances, beating Oklahoma 41-13. The Bulldogs are also 4-0 and have won 52 consecutive games against unranked opponents. No. 3 Notre Dame maintained its position after beating Purdue 49-10. The Fighting Irish have now won 14 consecutive games by double digits and travel to North Carolina next. Miami and Ohio State Move Into Top Five Miami climbed two positions from No. 6 to No. 4 following a dominant 52-3 victory over Central Michigan. The Hurricanes are 4-0 for the fourth consecutive season and now prepare for a road matchup against Clemson. Ohio State also moved two places, rising from No. 7 to No. 5 after defeating Illinois 42-19. The Buckeyes have won 11 consecutive games against Illinois and will next travel to face undefeated No. 14 Iowa. Indiana slipped one position to No. 6 despite improving to 4-0 with a 29-23 win over Northwestern. The Hoosiers have won 20 consecutive games , the longest active winning streak in the FBS. Alabama climbed one position to No. 7 after beating South Carolina 49-18. Florida Makes Week’s Biggest Jump No team benefited more from Week 4 than Florida. The Gators entered the weekend ranked No. 21 before producing a 52-28 victory over Ole Miss , which had been ranked fourth. That result sent Florida all the way to No. 8 , a 13-position climb. It was also the Gators' first victory over an AP top-five opponent since 2020. Florida is now 4-0 and travels to Missouri for another ranked matchup. Ole Miss experienced the opposite movement, falling from No. 4 to No. 9 after suffering its first loss. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss committed five turnovers against Florida, more than the three he had all of last season. BYU rounds out the Top 10 after an idle week. Iowa, Oregon Rise After Statement Wins Iowa provided another of Week 4's biggest moments. The Hawkeyes defeated Michigan 20-19 on a touchdown as time expired , improving to 4-0 and climbing three positions from No. 17 to No. 14 . The victory was Iowa's first over a ranked Big Ten opponent since 2021. Iowa will have an immediate opportunity to strengthen its résumé when No. 5 Ohio State visits Saturday . Oregon made an even larger jump. The Ducks moved from No. 20 to No. 15 after beating USC 41-27. Oregon is now 18-1 in Big Ten play since joining the conference in 2024. The loss sent USC in the opposite direction, dropping the Trojans from No. 12 to No. 18 . Mississippi State Climbs Eight Spots Mississippi State was another major Week 4 riser. The Bulldogs climbed from No. 24 to No. 16 after defeating Missouri 31-24 and improving to 4-0. The victory was Mississippi State's first in a matchup between AP-ranked teams since 2014. The Bulldogs now host No. 7 Alabama in one of the notable games on the upcoming schedule. Missouri fell six positions from No. 19 to No. 25 after the loss. The Tigers have now dropped nine consecutive games against AP-ranked opponents. Four Teams Enter the AP Top 25 The bottom portion of the rankings welcomed four new teams. Oklahoma State entered at No. 19 following a 41-24 victory over West Virginia. The Cowboys have averaged more than 46 points in their three victories since losing their opener to Tulsa. Boise State entered at No. 22 after beating Western Michigan 32-7. The Broncos are 11-0 against MAC opponents since 2000. UCLA arrived at No. 23 following a 54-3 victory over Maryland. The Bruins are 4-0 for the first time since 2022. Kentucky rounds out the newcomers at No. 24 after defeating South Alabama 45-21. The Wildcats have scored 138 points through four games, their second-highest four-game total over the past 15 years. Complete AP Top 25 After Week 4 Here is the complete poll, listed from No. 1 through No. 25 as provided in the source: Texas (4-0) Georgia (4-0) Notre Dame (4-0) Miami (4-0) Ohio State (3-1) Indiana (4-0) Alabama (4-0) Florida (4-0) Ole Miss (3-1) BYU LSU (3-1) Texas Tech (4-0) Utah (4-0) Iowa (4-0) Oregon (3-1) Mississippi State (4-0) Tennessee (3-1) USC (4-1) Oklahoma State Houston SMU (3-1) Boise State (3-1) UCLA (4-0) Kentucky (3-1) Missouri (3-1) The source contains minor record inconsistencies between its two AP ranking sections for BYU, Oklahoma State and Houston, so their records are omitted above rather than silently reconciling the conflicting figures. Week 5 Brings More Ranked Matchups The reshuffled rankings immediately create several important Week 5 games. No. 5 Ohio State visits No. 14 Iowa, No. 7 Alabama travels to No. 16 Mississippi State, and No. 8 Florida visits No. 25 Missouri. Miami's rise to No. 4 will also be tested on the road against Clemson. After a Week 4 that produced dramatic finishes and significant movement throughout the poll, Texas remains the team everyone is chasing at the top.

No. 5 SMU overcame a blistering start from Cal to earn a 3-1 victory Sunday afternoon at Moody Coliseum, completing an undefeated opening weekend of ACC play behind a season-best performance from Suli Davis. The Mustangs dropped the opening set before responding to win 19-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-15 . SMU improved to 10-2 overall and 2-0 in the ACC , while Cal fell to 10-3 and 0-2. Davis powered the comeback with a season-high 26 kills while hitting .308 , and SMU finished at .358 as a team. Cal Takes Control of Opening Set Cal entered the match facing its second top-five opponent of the weekend after playing No. 2 Pitt on Friday, but the Golden Bears showed no signs of being intimidated. Cal grabbed the lead early and never surrendered it in the first set. There were no ties or lead changes , with the Golden Bears building advantages of 8-4 and 19-13 before closing out a 25-19 victory. The offensive numbers were exceptional. Cal hit .538 in the opening frame , outperforming an SMU offense that still managed a .400 hitting percentage. Davis was already producing at a remarkable rate despite the opening-set loss. She recorded 10 kills in the first frame , the most by an individual player in a set during head coach Sam Erger's tenure. The challenge for Cal was maintaining its early efficiency. It could not. SMU Responds With 25-16 Second-Set Win The momentum changed quickly in the second set. SMU found ways to create opportunities for Davis and middle blocker Favor Anyanwu, and the Mustangs raced to a 25-16 victory to even the match at one set apiece. At the same time, Cal's attacking efficiency began falling sharply. After hitting .538 in the first set, the Golden Bears dropped to .214 in the second . That decline continued throughout the remainder of the afternoon. SMU's ability to respond after losing the opening frame prevented Cal from turning its early momentum into control of the match. From that point forward, the Mustangs never dropped another set. Mustangs Hold Off Cal in Third Cal made another push in the third set. SMU created as much as a seven-point advantage, but the Golden Bears refused to let the frame get away. Cal gradually reduced the deficit and eventually pulled within 23-20 late in the set. The Mustangs responded by taking the final two points and closing out a 25-20 victory . Cal's offensive efficiency had now dropped to just .074 , a dramatic difference from its .538 performance in the opening set. With SMU ahead 2-1, the Golden Bears needed another strong start in the fourth to extend the match. For a brief stretch, they got one. SMU Breaks Open Fourth Set Cal stayed with SMU through an 8-8 tie in the fourth set. Then the match changed completely. The Mustangs began forcing mistakes while finding openings offensively, turning the tie into a commanding 21-11 advantage . Cal managed to collect a few additional points, but there was no second comeback. SMU finished the set 25-15 , completing the 3-1 victory. Cal hit only .087 in the fourth , meaning the Golden Bears went from .538 in the first set to below .100 in each of the final two frames. Across the final three sets, SMU held Cal to a combined .132 hitting percentage . Suli Davis Delivers Season-High 26 Kills Davis was the centerpiece of SMU's offensive performance. The sophomore outside hitter finished with 26 kills on a .308 hitting percentage , reaching the 20-kill mark for the fourth time this season. She has recorded at least 15 kills in all but one match this year. Her 26 kills also tied for the second-most by an SMU player in a four-set match during the 25-point rally-scoring era . Davis finished the weekend averaging 6.29 kills and 6.71 points per set across victories over No. 12 Stanford and Cal, performances that earned her ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors. SMU Middles Add Efficient Attack Davis produced the biggest numbers, but SMU also received highly efficient production from the middle. Natalia Newsome and Favor Anyanwu combined for 18 kills while hitting .630 , committing only one error on 27 attacks. Setter Hannah Beauford recorded 43 assists and four digs , helping the Mustangs finish with a .358 team hitting percentage. Victoria Harris led SMU defensively with 12 digs and also contributed a team-high two service aces. Anyanwu led the Mustangs with four blocks. Overall, SMU held advantages of 56-41 in kills, 52-41 in assists, 6-2 in aces and 35-27 in digs . Abby Zimmerman Leads Cal Cal's offense never rediscovered its first-set rhythm, but several Golden Bears still produced strong individual numbers. Abby Zimmerman led Cal with 11 kills , while Sawyer Thomsen contributed nine kills on an efficient .562 hitting percentage . Senior libero Sophia Johnson also reached a career milestone , recording her 1,000th career dig during the weekend. The larger issue was the dramatic offensive decline after Cal's opening-set performance. The Golden Bears went from hitting .538 in the first to .214, .074 and .087 over the remaining three sets. SMU Extends Home and ACC Winning Streaks The victory extended two significant SMU streaks. The Mustangs have now won 15 consecutive home matches , setting a program record and tying for the third-longest active home streak nationally. SMU has also won 11 consecutive ACC matches , the longest active conference winning streak in the league. Since joining the ACC in 2024, the Mustangs are 35-7 in conference matches. SMU is also 52-0 under Erger when hitting .300 or better , a streak preserved by Sunday's .358 performance. The Mustangs will now leave Dallas for their first ACC road test, traveling to face Syracuse on Friday, Oct. 2 . Cal returns to Haas Pavilion to host Virginia and Virginia Tech.

No. 2 Pitt continued its undefeated start Sunday night, sweeping No. 12 Stanford 3-0 in a nationally televised ACC matchup at Victory Heights Arena in Pittsburgh. The Panthers won 25-21, 25-23, 25-21 , improving to 12-0 overall and 2-0 in ACC play . Stanford fell to 7-5 and 0-2 in the conference. The matchup featured the top two teams from the ACC preseason poll. Olivia Babcock led Pitt with 20 kills , adding nine digs and four blocks. The Panthers hit .325 as a team and controlled the net with 11.5 blocks as their remarkable winning streak continued. Pitt Pulls Away Late in Opening Set Stanford matched Pitt closely throughout the early stages of the opening set. Neither side led by more than two points before the Cardinal moved ahead 15-13 . Pitt responded immediately with three consecutive points to force a Stanford timeout. The teams remained tied at 18-18 before Abbey Emch and Babcock delivered consecutive kills to put the Panthers ahead 20-18. Babcock then struck twice more after Stanford pulled within one, extending Pitt's advantage to 22-19. Maaike Heilig added another kill following Stanford's final timeout, and Blaire Bayless eventually delivered the set-winning point as Pitt took the opener 25-21. It was the beginning of another efficient night for a Pitt offense that repeatedly found answers whenever Stanford threatened. Stanford Pushes Pitt to 23-23 The second set provided Stanford's strongest opportunity to change the direction of the match. With the score tied 8-8, Pitt produced a three-point run highlighted by an Emch kill off an overpass. Stanford responded and eventually pulled even at 13-13 , forcing the Panthers to use a timeout. Pitt regained control behind consecutive kills from Babcock and Ayanna Watson, building an 18-15 advantage. Babcock later recorded her 14th kill to stretch the margin to four, but Stanford refused to concede the set. The Cardinal fought back and tied the score 23-23 with consecutive kills . Pitt then executed when the set reached its decisive moments. Izzy Starck produced a strong set that allowed Bayless to finish a kill, and the Panthers captured the final two points for a 25-23 victory and a 2-0 match lead. Pitt’s Blocking Takes Over in Third Set Stanford opened the third set with three consecutive points, handing Pitt its largest deficit of the match. The Panthers answered immediately. Babcock contributed two kills and participated in two assisted blocks during a four-point Pitt run. Bayless and Emch then helped produce two more blocks as the Panthers moved ahead 6-3. Pitt eventually extended its lead to 15-9 , but Stanford mounted another comeback. The Cardinal reduced the deficit to 18-15 and later pulled within two at 22-20. Another Stanford kill made it 22-21 , forcing Pitt head coach Dan Fisher to use his second consecutive timeout. Once again, Babcock delivered when Pitt needed a point. Her kill ended Stanford's run. Emch and Bayless followed with a block to create match point, and Bayless closed the night with the final kill , securing the 25-21 set and the sweep. Olivia Babcock Reaches 20 Kills Again Babcock's performance continued another outstanding season for the Pitt star. She finished with 20 kills, nine digs, four blocks and two assists , recording her third 20-kill match of the season. The performance also pushed Babcock past another offensive milestone. She now has 202 kills through Pitt's first 12 matches , two more than she had through the same number of matches last season when she eventually broke Pitt's single-season kills record. Bayless provided another effective attacking option with 11 kills on a .333 hitting percentage , along with three digs and two blocks. Starck recorded a double-double with 31 assists and 10 digs . She also contributed four blocks and converted all three of her attacks into kills. Panthers Win the Battle at the Net Pitt's blocking played a major role in preventing Stanford from gaining control of any set. The Panthers finished with 11.5 blocks compared with Stanford's six , while hitting .325 and limiting the Cardinal to a .228 attack percentage. Heilig led Pitt with six blocks and also recorded the Panthers' only service ace. Trinity Thompson anchored the back row with a career-high 14 digs , tying the highest individual total by a Pitt player in a match this season. Stanford actually held a 54-45 advantage in digs, but Pitt's efficiency and blocking allowed the Panthers to win each of the three close sets. Jordyn Harvey Leads Stanford Stanford had several productive individual performances despite the loss. Jordyn Harvey led the Cardinal with 15 kills , while Julia Blyashov contributed 13 kills, six digs, two blocks and three assists. Middle blocker Lizzy Andrew added 10 kills while hitting .455 and finished with four blocks. Setter Logan Parks recorded 34 assists, eight digs, four blocks, three kills and an ace , while libero Spencer Etzler led the defensive effort with a season-high 21 digs . Stanford consistently challenged Pitt late in sets, but the Cardinal could not convert those opportunities into set victories. Pitt Extends Winning Streak to 12 Matches The sweep added to an impressive collection of streaks for Pitt. The Panthers are now 12-0 , matching the 1983 team for the fifth-longest unbeaten start in program history. Pitt's program record is a 23-0 start in 2018. Pitt has also won 21 consecutive sets since dropping the opening frame against Utah on Sept. 6. The Panthers are 5-0 at Victory Heights Arena this season and have yet to lose a set in the building. Even more impressive is Pitt's home winning streak. Sunday's victory was the Panthers' 58th consecutive home win , tying Florida's 1990-94 streak for the seventh-longest home winning streak in NCAA Division I history. Pitt also earned its sixth victory over a ranked opponent this season . The Panthers next travel to face Boston College on Friday at 7 p.m. , followed by a road matchup against Syracuse on Sunday. Stanford returns home to host Virginia Tech on Friday before facing Virginia the following night.

No. 24 North Carolina survived one of its toughest matches of the season Sunday afternoon, outlasting Wake Forest 3-2 in a five-set ACC thriller at Varsity Arena in Winston-Salem. The Tar Heels won 25-21, 23-25, 26-24, 30-32, 15-9 , improving to 7-3 overall and 2-0 in ACC play . Wake Forest fell to 6-7 and 0-2 despite pushing the nationally ranked Tar Heels through a marathon fourth set and into a decisive fifth. Safi Hampton tied her career high with 22 kills while hitting .373 and added 13 digs , while Hailey Pearce stepped into a larger role following a first-set injury and delivered 11 kills. North Carolina Survives Wake Forest’s Opening Push The tone was established immediately. The first set featured six ties and two lead changes as neither team found much separation early. Hampton and Chelsea Thorpe led North Carolina with four kills apiece, while Thorpe also contributed three blocks. With UNC holding a one-point advantage, the Tar Heels used a 4-0 run to establish a 15-10 lead . Wake Forest responded quickly, cutting the deficit to 15-14, but the Demon Deacons never managed to pull even. North Carolina maintained control down the stretch and captured the opening set 25-21 . Wake Forest Answers in Second Set The Demon Deacons responded with another tightly contested frame. Wake Forest and North Carolina combined for seven ties and three lead changes in the second set. The Demon Deacons eventually created a 23-19 advantage, but UNC refused to let the frame end easily. The Tar Heels scored three consecutive points to cut Wake Forest's lead to one. This time, the Demon Deacons held on. Ryleigh Whitekettle delivered another late kill as Wake Forest finished the set 25-23 , evening the match at one set apiece. Hampton Delivers in Wild Third Set The third set was even closer. Wake Forest opened with a 4-1 run before North Carolina immediately answered to tie the score at 4-4. The Tar Heels later used a four-point surge to move ahead 12-9, only for the Demon Deacons to battle back again. Wake Forest eventually took a 19-17 advantage. Hampton responded with a kill and a service ace to pull UNC even, setting up a tense finish. Freshman Lyla Stewart recorded her 16th and 17th kills to tie the set at 24-24 , but North Carolina ultimately prevailed. Wake Forest survived two set points before Hampton supplied the finishing kill for a 26-24 victory . The set featured an extraordinary 16 ties and three lead changes . North Carolina now held a 2-1 advantage, but Wake Forest was far from finished. Wake Forest Wins 32-30 Marathon The fourth set became the defining battle of the afternoon. Stewart reached a major individual milestone when her 20th kill tied the score at 12-12, establishing a new career high. From there, the teams traded points deep into extra play. Wake Forest capitalized on a pair of North Carolina errors to tie the score at 24-24. Neither side could immediately finish the set, creating a dramatic sequence of repeated set and match-point opportunities. The frame eventually featured 11 set or match points before Wake Forest finally broke through. Sanaa Williams delivered consecutive kills to close the set 32-30 , forcing a fifth and sending the record-tying crowd at Varsity Arena into a deciding frame. Tar Heels Race to 9-2 Lead in Fifth After the exhausting fourth set, North Carolina wasted no time regaining control. The Tar Heels exploded to a 9-2 advantage in the fifth. Wake Forest's Kelis Hawkins opened the frame with a block, but North Carolina answered with a seven-point run. Stewart eventually stopped the surge with her 24th kill, but the damage had already been done. Wake Forest could not erase the deficit. North Carolina closed out the deciding set 15-9 , securing the five-set road victory. Pearce proved especially important in the final frame, producing a team-high three kills in the fifth set after being called upon because of an injury earlier in the match. Safi Hampton Ties Career High With 22 Kills Hampton delivered her strongest offensive performance of the season when North Carolina needed it most. She finished with 22 kills on a .373 hitting percentage , tying her career high. Her 13 digs gave her a second consecutive double-double. Her production was especially important during the third set, when Wake Forest repeatedly threatened to take control. Hampton produced the kill and ace that erased a 19-17 deficit before eventually recording the set-winning kill. Pearce's contribution was equally valuable under different circumstances. The senior entered because of an injury in the opening set and finished with 11 kills , providing North Carolina with crucial production throughout the remainder of the afternoon. Lyla Stewart Posts Career-High 24 Kills Wake Forest's Stewart delivered the biggest offensive total of the match. The freshman recorded 24 kills and 14 digs , producing her first career 20-kill match and third consecutive double-double. She also contributed two assists, two blocks and two service aces. Stewart has now accumulated 72 kills over her last four matches and has reached double figures in kills in each of those contests. She received plenty of offensive support. Whitekettle finished with 17 kills , while Williams added 14 kills and a team-high five blocks. Amina N'Diaye contributed eight kills and three blocks. Setter Becca Bellows posted a double-double with 34 assists and 10 digs , while Emma Keeping added 26 assists and eight digs. North Carolina Extends In-State Winning Streak The victory extended North Carolina's success against programs from its home state. The Tar Heels have now won 11 consecutive matches against in-state opponents , while head coach Mike Schall improved to 16-4 in matchups against North Carolina programs. Wake Forest played the match in front of 945 fans , tying the largest home crowd in program history. North Carolina now returns to Chapel Hill for the first time since Sept. 4 and will host Clemson on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. Wake Forest begins its first ACC road trip of the season at Miami on Oct. 2 , followed by a matchup at Florida State on Oct. 4.

No. 2 Georgia turned Oklahoma’s mistakes into a commanding SEC victory Saturday, defeating the Sooners 41-13 at Sanford Stadium in Athens. The Bulldogs forced four turnovers, built a 28-0 halftime lead and improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in SEC play . Linebacker Chris Cole delivered the defining moment, recovering an Oklahoma fumble deep in Georgia territory and returning it 85 yards for a touchdown . Oklahoma fell to 2-2 and 0-1 in the SEC despite finishing within 10 yards of Georgia in total offense. The difference was what happened when the Sooners had the football in critical situations. Georgia Turns Oklahoma Mistakes Into Early Lead Oklahoma entered Athens with a defense that had allowed only two touchdowns through its first three games and was giving up just 7.7 points per contest. Georgia quickly changed the equation. Quarterback Gunner Stockton completed his first nine passes, including a 35-yard touchdown to Talyn Taylor , as the Bulldogs established early control. Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer struggled to protect the football. He lost two fumbles and threw an interception during the first half, repeatedly giving Georgia opportunities to extend its advantage. K.J. Bolden intercepted Mateer in the second quarter, but the most damaging turnover came with Oklahoma threatening to score. Chris Cole Changes Game With 85-Yard Touchdown Oklahoma trailed 14-0 but had driven deep into Georgia territory with an opportunity to cut the deficit. Instead, the game swung dramatically in the opposite direction. A Sooners fumble bounced into the hands of Chris Cole , who raced 85 yards for a touchdown . Instead of Oklahoma potentially making it a one-score game, Georgia suddenly held a three-touchdown advantage. Cole was not finished. Late in the first half, Raylen Wilson forced another Mateer fumble. Cole recovered that one as well and returned it 23 yards, setting up Chauncey Bowens’ second rushing touchdown . Georgia entered halftime ahead 28-0 , having taken full advantage of Oklahoma’s three first-half turnovers. Chauncey Bowens Steps Up Without Nate Frazier Georgia played without leading running back Nate Frazier , who was held out because of injured ribs. Bowens took advantage of the opportunity. The fill-in starter scored on runs of two and six yards , giving Georgia important production from the backfield while the Bulldogs built their first-half advantage. Stockton, meanwhile, finished the afternoon 14-of-25 for 171 yards, one touchdown and one interception . The numbers were modest compared with Georgia’s offensive production through the first three games, but the Bulldogs did not need a massive offensive performance because their defense repeatedly created short fields and scoring opportunities. Oklahoma Finally Responds in Third Quarter Oklahoma showed signs of life after halftime. Sophomore defensive back Omarion Robinson recorded his first career interception on Georgia’s opening possession of the third quarter, giving the Sooners the ball at the Bulldogs’ 35-yard line. Five plays later, Mateer connected with tight end Rocky Beers for a 17-yard touchdown . The two-point conversion failed, leaving Georgia ahead 28-6. The touchdown showed why the final margin did not completely reflect Oklahoma’s ability to move the football. Through three quarters, the Sooners had actually outgained Georgia 210-173 . But Oklahoma’s turnovers had already created too large a deficit. Dwight Phillips Jr. Puts Game Away Georgia continued adding to its advantage in the second half. The Bulldogs connected on a pair of field goals from beyond 45 yards before Dwight Phillips Jr. broke free for a 54-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. That pushed Georgia’s lead to 41-6 . Oklahoma added one final touchdown when Mateer directed a 75-yard drive and connected with Manny Choice for a 14-yard score , the first touchdown reception of Choice’s career. It made the final score 41-13, but the outcome had already been decided. Four Turnovers Sink Oklahoma Oklahoma finished with four turnovers , and Georgia converted those mistakes into 17 points. Mateer completed 25 of 34 passes for 231 yards, two touchdowns and one interception , with Beers and Isaiah Sategna III each recording eight receptions. Beers led the Sooners with 84 receiving yards, while Sategna finished with 81. The Sooners also recorded 16 first downs compared with Georgia’s 12 and outgained the Bulldogs 231-171 through the air. Even the overall yardage was close. Georgia finished with approximately 300 total yards, while Oklahoma was just behind. None of those numbers could overcome the turnovers. Oklahoma coach Brent Venables pointed directly to ball security afterward, saying the Sooners had failed in the priority of taking care of the football. Georgia Continues Dominant 4-0 Start Georgia’s victory continued an impressive opening month. The Bulldogs have now scored more than 40 points in each of their first four games for the first time since 2018 . Their 219 points through four games are the program’s highest total at this stage of a season since 1910. Georgia has been especially dominant early in games. The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 63-0 in the first quarter and 133-12 in the first half . Head coach Kirby Smart, however, was not satisfied with the second half. Georgia and Oklahoma played the final two quarters to a 13-13 tie, prompting Smart to point to a drop in his team’s standard after halftime. Still, the Bulldogs left Sanford Stadium undefeated after another convincing SEC victory. Georgia next remains home to face Vanderbilt , while Oklahoma gets a week off before traveling to Dallas to face No. 1 Texas in the Red River Rivalry on Oct. 10 .

Pitt remained unbeaten with its most dominant performance of the season Saturday, overwhelming Bucknell 59-0 at Acrisure Stadium behind a record-setting passing attack and a defense that never allowed the Bison to reach the scoreboard. Quarterback Mason Heintschel completed 29 of 37 passes for 403 yards and six touchdowns , despite playing only a little more than two quarters. Pitt scored touchdowns on its first five possessions, built a 35-0 halftime lead and improved to 4-0 . The performance also made Heintschel the first quarterback in Pitt history to produce two games with at least six touchdown passes in the same season. Pitt Takes Control From Opening Drive There was little suspense once Pitt's offense settled into the afternoon. The Panthers reached the end zone on each of their first five possessions, allowing Heintschel to spread the football throughout a deep group of receivers. He ultimately completed passes to nine different players . Pitt entered the matchup looking to sharpen its passing attack after relying heavily on the running game in its previous victory over Syracuse. The Panthers had rushed for 245 yards in that game but used Bucknell as an opportunity to get Heintschel and his receivers back into rhythm. The result was Pitt's most productive offensive performance of the season. By halftime, the Panthers had built a 35-0 advantage , capped by Heintschel's 48-yard touchdown pass to freshman Demetrice McCray in the final minute of the second quarter. Mason Heintschel Throws Six Touchdowns Heintschel did not begin the afternoon perfectly. The sophomore opened just 3-of-7 passing , but once he found his rhythm, Bucknell could not slow him down. He finished 29-of-37 before leaving after only two series in the second half. His final numbers were remarkable: 403 passing yards and six touchdowns . The six scoring passes fell just one short of the Pitt and ACC record of seven, a mark Heintschel set himself in the Panthers' season-opening victory over Miami (Ohio). That gives him two games with six or more touchdown passes this season, something no other quarterback in Pitt history has accomplished. Heintschel's performance was also an important response after he went without a touchdown pass in Pitt's previous two games. Censere Lee Finds End Zone Three Times Pitt's receiving depth was on full display. Censere Lee caught five passes for 47 yards and three touchdowns , becoming the first Panthers receiver with three touchdown catches in a game since Jared Wayne accomplished the feat against Miami in 2022. Lee's production demonstrated how many options Pitt has available in the passing game. Despite recording fewer than 50 receiving yards, he repeatedly became Heintschel's target near the end zone. McCray provided the explosive plays. The freshman caught three passes for 72 yards , highlighted by the 48-yard touchdown that pushed Pitt's advantage to 35-0 before halftime. The photograph on page 1 of the source captures McCray scoring during the second quarter, while the image on page 12 shows the freshman celebrating one of his touchdown receptions. Pitt Sets Program Record With Eight TD Passes Heintschel was not the only Pitt quarterback to reach the end zone through the air. Backups Holden Geriner and Corey Dailey each threw a touchdown pass after Heintschel left the game. That gave Pitt eight touchdown passes , setting a new program record. The Panthers finished with 766 total yards , another program record according to Pitt's official recap. Tight end Carson Kent also became more involved in the offense, recording six receptions for 57 yards and his first touchdown of the season . The offensive explosion demonstrated considerable balance in Pitt's passing game. Heintschel found nine receivers, Lee scored three times, McCray supplied explosive plays and the backups continued producing after the game had already been decided. Pitt Defense Completes the Shutout While the offense generated the headlines, Pitt's defense was equally dominant. Bucknell did not cross 100 total yards until the fourth quarter and finished without a point. Quarterback Emmett Dowling completed only 10 of 21 passes for 49 yards . The Bison also converted just two of 13 third-down opportunities , repeatedly sending their defense back onto the field against Pitt's high-powered offense. The result was Pitt's first shutout of the season and completed a game in which the Panthers controlled virtually every major phase. Penalties Provide Pitt’s Biggest Concern Despite winning by 59 points, Pitt did leave the afternoon with one obvious area to address. The Panthers were penalized 16 times for 165 yards . The penalty yardage exceeded Bucknell's entire offensive output. Head coach Pat Narduzzi expressed frustration afterward, particularly because similar mistakes could become much more damaging against stronger conference opponents. Pitt also committed the game's only turnover when Cataurus "Blue" Hicks fumbled after making a catch during the third quarter. Neither issue threatened the outcome against Bucknell, but both provide areas for Pitt to clean up as the schedule becomes more demanding. Pitt Improves to 4-0 Before Virginia Tech Test Pitt has now completed an unbeaten September. The Panthers are 4-0 , combining an explosive passing attack with a running game that carried the offense against Syracuse a week earlier. Saturday's 59-0 victory showed what Pitt can produce when Heintschel and the passing game are operating efficiently. The challenge increases immediately. Pitt will travel to Blacksburg to face undefeated Virginia Tech on Friday night at 7 p.m. on ESPN . The Panthers will enter that matchup following their most dominant offensive performance of the season, with Heintschel coming off a 403-yard, six-touchdown afternoon and Pitt's defense coming off a shutout.