One game into the 2024 college football season and we have an upset.

Georgia Tech football pulled off the improbable upset 24-21 over Florida State at Aviva Stadium in Dublin for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. Aidan Birr hit a 44-yard field goal as time expired to give the Yellow Jackets the victory over the Seminoles.

The game marked the third straight year and the ninth time in history a college football game has been played in Ireland. Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King completed 11-of-16 passes for 146 yards and also added 15 rushes for 46 yards, while Jamal Haynes had 75 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Birr had missed a 51-yard field goal earlier in the game.

Making his FSU debut, DJ Uiagalelei completed 19-of-27 passes for 193 yards. He had his best drive on the final FSU drive, converting two fourth-down conversions, as the Seminoles tied the game at 21 with 6:33 left. The offense never got another opportunity.

The Seminoles had won 19 straight games before an Orange Bowl loss last year to Georgia after they were snubbed from the College Football Playoff in favor of two one-loss teams in Texas and Alabama. The Seminoles have lost back-to-back games for the first time since 2022, when they lost three in a row to Wake Forest, NC State, and Clemson.

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Georgia Tech is entering Year 2 under Brent Key, and is led by quarterback Haynes King. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 7-6 season — their first winning season since 2018, the final year under coach Paul Johnson.

Florida State vs Georgia Tech score updates

This section will be updated when the game begins.

Final: Georgia Tech 24, Florida State 21

3:09 p.m: Aiden Birr connects on a 44-yard field goal to give Georgia Tech the upset victory over No. 10 Florida State.

3:08 p.m.: Eric Singleton Jr. catches a ball and takes it for 12 yards to the FSU 26. The Yellow Jackets took a timeout with five seconds left.

3:06 p.m.: Georgia Tech has trouble with the snap and loses 11 yards to the FSU 39-yard line. FSU calls its final timeout with 55 seconds left. 

3:02 p.m.: Chad Alexander rushes for 3 yards up the middle and FSU takes its second timeout. There is 1:02 left.

2:58 p.m.: Florida State calls its first timeout with 1:11 left. The Yellow Jackets have the ball at the FSU 31 and are within field goal range. Another first down could let them bleed the clock out for a game-winning field goal opportunity. 

2:52 p.m.: At the two-minute warning, Georgia Tech is into FSU territory with a chance to take the lead. It’ll be second-and-7 after the timeout from the Seminoles’ 39.

2:45 p.m.: Roydell Williams caps a 15-play drive with a two-yard touchdown score to even the score at 21. DJ Uiagalelei completed a pair of fourth-down conversions to keep the drive alive, one to Ja’Khi Douglas and the other to Malik Benson. The game is tied with 6:33 left.

2:30 p.m.: Jamal Haynes gives Georgia Tech the lead again with a three-yard touchdown run. The Yellow Jackets drive was 11 plays for 89 yards and took nearly seven minutes off the clock

Third quarter: Georgia Tech 14, Florida State 14

2:25 p.m.: It’s a tie game at 14 following a scoreless third quarter for both teams. However, the fourth quarter opens with Georgia Tech deep into FSU territory. Haynes King has taken over on the drive, completing five passes and running for 21 yards on the second to last play of the quarter. 

2:15 p.m.: A sack by Georgia Tech’s Kevin Harris cuts another Florida State drive short. The Seminoles will punt for the second straight drive. They have not scored a touchdown since their first drive.

2:07 p.m.: Florida State punted for the first time today from the Georgia Tech 44 after not converting a third-and-seven. The Yellow Jackets will start on their own 20 after a touchback. Earlier in the drive, Ja’Khi Douglas had a 15-yard catch on a third-and-seven to keep the drive alive. The play was initially called incomplete but overturned by replay, showing Douglas got his right toe down in bounds to gain possession. 

Georgia Tech then went 3-and-out on its own drive. FSU starts at its own 33.

1:54 p.m.: Aidan Birr’s 51-yard field goal goes wide left and the score remains tied at 14. Jamal Haynes set up the scoring opportunity with his long run to open the second half.

1:52 p.m.: The second half is underway with Georgia Tech starting on its own 25 following a touchback. Running back Jamal Haynes went for 36 yards on the first play.

Halftime: Georgia Tech 14, Florida State 14

1:38 p.m.: Individual halftime stats:

DJ Uiagalelei is 12-for-14 passing for 96 yards for the Seminoles, while Lawrance Toafili has seven touches for 52 yards and a touchdown. Haynes King is 3-for-5 passing for 53 yards and has 33 rushing yards and a touchdown for the Yellow Jackets.

1:33 p.m.: Halftime stats:

Yards — FSU 174; Georgia Tech 154
Passing yards — FSU 96; Georgia Tech 53
Rushing yards — FSU 78; Georgia Tech 101
First downs — FSU 13; Georgia Tech 9
Time of possession — FSU 16:37; Georgia Tech 13:23
Tackles for loss — FSU 1 (6); Georgia Tech 4 (9)
Turnovers — FSU 0; Georgia Tech 0

1:30 p.m: Ryan Fitzgerald made a 59-yard field goal to end the first half to tie the game at 14-14. Fitzgerald hit a 52-yard field goal earlier in the quarter. He’s been the MVP of the first half for the Seminoles. Georgia Tech has kept up with the No. 10 ranked team in the country thus far

1:08 p.m: Jamal Haynes capped off a 14-play drive with a one-yard score on third down to give Georgia Tech its first lead of the game and the season. The scoring drive took 7:53 off the clock. FSU gets the ball with 3:13 left in the first half.

12:54 p.m.: Ryan Fitzgerald connected on a 52-yard field goal to extend the FSU lead to 11-7. A facemask penalty on a sack on third-and-long gave the Seminoles a new life on the drive to set up the score.

First quarter: Florida State 8, Georgia Tech 7

12:44 p.m.: Florida State leads 8-7 after the first quarter of the 2024 college football season. Lawrance Toafili had a 28-yard TD run for the Seminoles, while Zach Pyron responded with a one-yard score.

12:41 p.m.: A 6-yard loss for Georgia Tech running back Jamal Haynes on first down hurt a potential drive for the Yellow Jackets. Haynes King got six yards on third down, and the GT punted the ball for the first time. FSU starts at its own 25.

12:35 p.m.: Lawrance Toafili is tackled short of the first down marker on fourth-and-four, as the Yellow Jackets will take over on their own 31. FSU again moved the ball but could not convert a fourth down in Georgia Tech territory. 

12:25 p.m.: Georgia Tech responds quickly with a touchdown of its own on a keeper from backup QB Zach Pyron. Malik Rutherford had the biggest play of the drive, a 42-yard catch and run from Haynes King. The Jackets opted for the extra point kick and it was good.

12:14 p.m.: Lawrance Toafali scores on a 28-yard touchdown run for the first score of the college football season. FSU then breaks out the swinging gate early, with Mason Arnold then hitting tight end Brian Courtney for a 2-point score to make it 8-0. FSU loves using trick plays and breaks it out early in the season opener.

12:07 p.m.: Florida State calls tails and loses the coin toss. Georgia Tech elects to defer and FSU gets the ball first. 

Pregame

12:03 p.m.: The ‘College GameDay’ crew all picked Florida State to beat Georgia Tech in the opener, expect guest picker Sheamus. He picked the Yellow Jackets to win because of his heart.  

11:12 a.m.: With the FSU fight song playing in the background, the Seminoles’ QBs have taken the field, led by DJ Uiagalelei. Sophomore Brock Glenn and sophomore Luke Kromenhoek are the other scholarship quarterbacks for FSU.

10:25 a.m.: DJ Uiagalelei is ready to make his Florida State football debut. The former Oregon State and Clemson QB was warming up by throwing deep passes. He takes over for Jordan Travis, who started the last two seasons for FSU. Haynes King is the QB for the Yellow Jackets for the second straight season.

9:50 a.m.: Here’s a look at the uniforms for both teams for today’s college football season opener from Dublin.

9:25 a.m.: Florida State wide receiver Hykeem Williams has been ruled out due to an undisclosed injury. Williams had five catches for 80 yards as a freshman.

9:19 a.m.: Pat McAfee gets the FSU fans going by initiating the ‘War Chant’ during College Football Gameday and mentioning the Seminoles’ snub. It’s officially football season.

FSU vs Georgia Tech time today

Date: Saturday, Aug. 24
Time: Noon ET
Location: Aviva Stadium (Dublin)

What channel is Florida State vs Georgia Tech game on today?

TV Channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)

The ACC matchup between Florida State and Georgia Tech in Dublin will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Joe Tessitore and Jesse Palmer will call the game from the booth at Aviva Stadium, with Katie George reporting from the sidelines.

Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a cable login), Fubo (which offers a free trial) and ESPN+.

FSU vs. Georgia Tech history

Series record: Florida State leads, 15-11-1
Florida State’s last win: Oct. 29, 2022 (41-16)
Georgia Tech’s last win: Sept. 12, 2020 (16-13)

Florida State vs. Georgia Tech predictions

‘Uiagalelei gets his first win as FSU’s quarterback, leading a consistent display from the Seminoles as the team comes home from Ireland with a 10-point victory over Georgia Tech.’

‘King will keep it interesting, but a late turnover prevents Georgia Tech from making a true fourth-quarter rally. The Yellow Jackets were 7-2 (against the spread) as an underdog last season, and we’re going to trust that trend against a tricky number. Just hope to avoid a late score by the Seminoles here for the cover.’

‘One of Casale’s top Week 0 college football picks: He’s backing Georgia Tech (+11.5) against FSU. The Seminoles are coming off an unbelievable season that ended tragically, with starting quarterback Jordan Travis suffering a season-ending knee injury in a loss to Florida to end the regular season. They went on to beat Louisville for the ACC title but the committee ultimately admitted that Travis’ injury was a deciding factor when they chose to leave Florida State out of the CFP.‘

‘While the Seminoles are most certainly the play, there could be injuries and disciplinary first-half suspensions that will move the market. Florida State has a massive advantage in the trench and will be a play at -11 or better.‘

FSU vs. Georgia Tech betting odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Friday:

Spread: Florida State (-10.5)
Over/under: 55.5 points
Money line: FSU (-450) | Georgia Tech (+340)

Florida State vs Georgia Tech injury updates

FSU wide receiver Hykeem Williams is out due to an undisclosed injury.

FSU vs. Georgia Tech weather updates

Florida State football schedule 2024

Saturday, Aug. 24: vs. Georgia Tech* (Dublin)
Monday, Sept. 2: vs. Boston College*
Saturday, Sept. 7: BYE
Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. Memphis
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Cal*
Saturday, Sept. 28: at SMU*
Saturday, Oct. 5: vs. No. 14 Clemson*
Saturday, Oct. 12: BYE
Friday, Oct. 18: at Duke*
Saturday, Oct. 26: at No. 19 Miami*
Saturday, Nov. 2: vs. North Carolina*
Saturday, Nov. 9: at No. 7 Notre Dame
Saturday, Nov. 16: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. Charleston Southern
Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. Florida

 * Indicates ACC game

Georgia Tech football schedule 2024

Saturday, Aug. 24: vs. No. 10 Florida State* (Dublin)
Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Georgia State
Saturday, Sept. 7: at Syracuse*
Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. VMI
Saturday, Sept. 21: at Louisville*
Saturday, Sept. 28: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 5: vs. Duke*
Saturday, Oct. 12: at North Carolina*
Saturday, Oct. 19: vs. No. 7 Notre Dame
Saturday, Oct. 26: at Virginia Tech*
Saturday, Nov. 2: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. No. 19 Miami*
Saturday, Nov. 16: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. No. 22 NC State*
Friday, Nov. 29: at No. 1 Georgia

 * Indicates ACC game

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Danny Jansen started a June 26 game in Boston at catcher for the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.

Two months later, he’ll resume it on the side of history.

Jansen, now with the Red Sox, will be the first baseball player ever to appear for both teams in the same game when Boston and Toronto continue their previously suspended contest on Monday.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora confirmed Friday that Jansen will be Boston’s catcher when the teams reconvene.

‘It’s going to be nuts,’ Jansen told The Athletic.

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Jansen was set for his first at-bat of the original game for the Blue Jays when the contest was called in the second inning.

Just over a month later, Jansen was traded to the Red Sox, who subsequently designated Reese McGuire — Boston’s catcher on June 26 — for assignment.

Jansen was surprised when he learned about his potential shot at history.

‘I didn’t know (much about this) at first,’ he told The Athletic. ‘I was like, ‘What, am I going to have to go on the other team?’ I didn’t know what was going to happen. It just kind of caught me off guard about the whole situation. Because when I got traded, it was just a whirlwind at first and I didn’t think about it.

‘But then once that stuff settled, I heard about (the suspended game scenario). And I was like, ‘Oh, that’s cool. That’s a unique thing that’s going to happen.”

Jansen, 29, has hit .257 with two home runs and five RBIs in 13 games with the Red Sox entering Friday.

Left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery is back in Boston ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks games against the Boston Red Sox and openly expressed his disappointment with his former agent, Scott Boras, claiming that Boras ‘kind of butchered it’ regarding a potential contract with the Red Sox this offseason.

After helping the Texas Rangers win their first World Series in 2023, Montgomery was expected to negotiate a sizable nine-figure contract as a free agent during the winter. However, Montgomery, along with other marquee players, including Cody Bellinger, who played a crucial role in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2020 World Series win, Blake Snell, a former Cy Young Award winner, and Matt Chapman, a Gold Glove-winning third baseman, remained unsigned until late March.

Instead, Montgomery signed a one-year, $25 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks after what he claims was Boras’ failure to make a contract with the Red Sox happen, resulting in Montgomery losing out in millions and parting ways with the agent.

‘I had a Zoom call with (the Red Sox), that’s really all I know. It went good,’ Montgomery said to the Boston Herald. ‘I don’t know, obviously Boras kind of butchered it, so I’m just trying to move on from the offseason and try to forget it.’

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Jordan Montgomery’s Diamondback contract details

Montgomery’s contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks includes a player’s option for 2025. The contract is worth $22.5 million but can increase to $25 million if he makes four more starts, offering a glimmer of hope for a lucrative future.

Montgomery fired Boras shortly after inking the one-year deal and now is represented by Casey Wasserman’s management company.

Scott Bora’s speaks on Montgomery’s comments

Boras made the following statement to the Boston Herald after learning about Montgomery’s comments:

‘I saw what Jordan said. I know what it is to be frustrated with this game. As a former player I feel for him. But I’m also a lawyer with obligations to my clients, including former ones. So I cannot discuss what happened or the decisions Jordan made unless he gives me permission,’ Boras said. ‘If he gives me the green light I’ll be happy to talk about it. I’ve been doing this for over 35 years. I relay all offers and relevant information to all my clients and act at their direction. They make all decisions. We wish Jordan well.’

According to the Boston Herald, Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow declined to comment on Montgomery and his free agency.

If you think Week 0 is a strange designation, you might have an even harder time wrapping your head around this little factoid. A half a dozen members of the Football Championship Subdivision will have played two games – by the end of Week 1. What’s more, one team will have already played two conference games.

Bearing all that in mind, however, Week 0 presents an abbreviated slate, with just four games involving FBS squads. But for true fans of the sport, this jump start to the season will definitely whet the appetite. Here’s a quick look at the Saturday schedule.

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No. 10 Florida State vs. Georgia Tech in Dublin, noon ET, ESPN

The easy choice for headliner of the day finds the Seminoles and Yellow Jackets leaping straight into ACC play overseas. It is in fact the first of two consecutive conference contests for FSU, which will play host to Boston College on Labor Day night to close out Week 1. Florida State is the lone ranked team to take the field on opening day and will be significantly favored, but the Yellow Jackets pulled off some upsets in 2023 and have enough returning talent to make a game of this one. The defenses might have the upper hand in the early stages. Newly arrived Seminoles QB DJ Uiagalelei and a rebuilt receiving corps must negotiate a Georgia Tech secondary featuring DB Clayton Powell-Lee that could be the unit’s strongest group. Yellow Jackets QB Haynes King has a year in the system under his belt but will face a nasty FSU pass rush led by DE Patrick Payton.

Montana State at New Mexico, 4 p.m. ET, FS1

The Lobos are the first of three Mountain West squads playing at home in Week 0. They’ll look to get the Bronco Mendenhall era in Albuquerque off on the right foot. The But they’ll likely get a stiff test from the Bobcats, perennial playoff contenders in the Football Championship Subdivision ranked fourth in the preseason FCS coaches poll. Montana State’s strength is its ground game, a big part of which is mobile QB Tommy Mellott. Finding real estate could be difficult against an FBS-caliber defense, even a rebuilt one like New Mexico’s. The Lobos’ attack will be in the hands of QB Devon Dampier, and his primary WR Caleb Medford is a candidate for a breakout season.

SMU at Nevada, 8 p.m. ET, CBSSN

Among the trio of Mountain West clubs in action on Saturday, the Wolf Pack are the only ones hosting another Bowl Subdivision team. The Mustangs will get an early taste of life on the road as they embark on their new era in the ACC. Nevada is not exactly expected to contend in the MWC, so any SMU struggles might set off alarm bells among its fans even on the road. Incumbent QB Preston Stone could quell any potential anxieties quickly if he gets the Mustangs rolling early.

Delaware State at Hawaii, 11:59 p.m. ET

You’ll have to stream this one if you’re curious, and Rainbow Warrior fans had better hope there is little drama as Timmy Chang’s third campaign helming his alma mater kicks off. His team would do well, however, to remember Howard, another MEAC squad, pulling off a historic upset of fellow Mountain West member UNLV back in 2017. Nevertheless, Hawaii will want to make short work of this one with UCLA coming to the islands next week, and the Delaware State’s travel woes getting to Honolulu undoubtedly didn’t help their own preparations.

WANNA BET? These are the top NCAA football betting promos and bonuses in 2024 

ASHBURN, Va. – Everybody makes mistakes. Even rookie quarterbacks set to make their regular-season debut Week 1. But Jeff Driskel hasn’t seen Jayden Daniels make the same one twice through a month of Washington Commanders training camp. 

“That’s what you want to see,” Driskel said, “especially somebody who has a lot on his plate, this early, it’s really impressive.” 

As for any advice he may pass along, Driskel said he doesn’t. 

“He doesn’t need the advice,” said Driskel, who has started 12 games for five teams over six years in the NFL. 

Daniels has played in big games before – and played a lot of football, too; the former Arizona State and Louisiana State quarterback had 55 career starts in college over five seasons, the final of which ended with him lifting the Heisman Trophy. 

All things Commanders: Latest Washington Commanders news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

“He’s proven that he can do it at a high level,” Driskel said. “I’m just excited to go out there and the world to see what we’ve been seeing since he’s been picked here.

“He’s a very smart player, a very instinctual player, and it shows up on game day.” 

But Daniels had to win the starting job after the Commanders drafted him No. 2 overall. Head coach Dan Quinn’s entire operation in Year 1 of his tenure – and a characteristic that will extend beyond the 2024 season – is based on competition.

Quinn informed Daniels of his decision in the quarterback room earlier this week. His message to the 23-year-old was “you’ve absolutely crushed it” and the time had come for the announcement.

“It was a cool moment, but one that he had absolutely earned,” Quinn said. 

It was apparent enough that Quinn told the media before he informed the rest of the team. 

“I would think they would have probably figured it out before you guys did,” he said. 

Center Tyler Biadasz, who followed Quinn from the Dallas Cowboys to the Commanders this offseason, said Daniels’ maturity level and emotional consistency has impressed the locker room the most. 

“You’d never know the difference between any other moment, right? Because he’s always in it,” Biadasz told USA TODAY Sports. “And he’s in the now, which is awesome.” 

Quinn likes to say Daniels plays with “swagger.” The confidence he shows has rubbed off on his teammates and, in turn, developed their collective confidence in him. Daniels has demonstrated to his teammates and coaches since his arrival that he can be counted on – to make the right call, put the offense in the proper play and make the right decisions. 

After practice reps, Biadasz said, Daniels often communicates what he saw, either to the receivers or the line. There is an “onto the next play” mentality. His command of the huddle is noticeable. At the line of scrimmage, he makes protection switches and other calls, Biadasz said. 

“He’s on. He’s dialed in,” Biadasz said. “But his biggest thing is how he grows day in and day out.”

How Commanders are making Jayden Daniels’ life easier 

No team entered the offseason with more cap space, $96 million in financial freedom, than the Commanders. The roster had holes everywhere, but Adam Peters signed a slew of veterans on both sides of the ball to serve as north stars for the younger players the front office hopes can form a contending core down the line. 

On offense, that included running back Austin Ekeler, tight end Zach Ertz, backup quarterback Marcus Mariota and Biadasz. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. and Ekeler are expected to shoulder a significant load running the ball. 

“All of those things were part of the design prior to even Jayden being here,” Quinn said. 

Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has brought in his scheme, with wrinkles, from the four seasons he spent as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals (2019-22). 

Kingsbury’s first ground-floor installation of his offense at the NFL came when he was a rookie head coach with a rookie quarterback in Kyler Murray, another mobile signal-caller. That experience helped him bring Daniels up to speed, and Daniels has allowed the offensive coordinator to push the limit of what the coaches can install. 

“And it’s not like it’s a ton of repeat,” Kingsbury said. “I mean, you’ll dress things up and have the same concept but run it a different way, different personnel group, and he handles it really well.

“So far he’s handled everything with flying colors.”

The coaches are still cautious not to overload Daniels mentally. They also know that success as a rookie will come if they let him use his natural gifts – playing fast and attacking defenses, Kingsbury said. 

“Not to make it easy or simple … but at the same time, there’s a lot of intent put into ‘How are these guys are going to learn it?’” quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard said. “So hats off to Kliff, too, on designing a system and going about it in a way for not just Jayden to learn it well enough, but (everyone).”

Daniels offered a preview of how that might look in real time through his limited preseason action – Daniels played in the first two contests but will sit Sunday against the New England Patriots.

“We want to get the ball in our playmakers’ hands as fast as possible, take the shots when it’s there, and be very good in the run game,” Daniels said. 

In a limited sample size, the emphasis going with one of his first reads was clear. Daniels went 12-for-15 – including a 42-yard deep shot against the New York Jets to Dyami Brown, who has emerged as a favored downfield target of Daniels – during the preseason. He also had a rushing touchdown against the Jets. 

Last season, rookie quarterbacks Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, with the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans, respectively, displayed the wide spectrum of how a passer’s debut season can go. The safe assumption is that Daniels’ first year will reside somewhere in the middle. 

Quinn has referred to himself as an “impatient” man. He shudders at the term “rebuild.” One area he is willing to give himself and the team added grace, however, is the development of the franchise’s quarterback of the future. 

“So you may hear me use the term ‘expect the expected,’” Quinn said. “There’s gonna be bumps, there’s gonna be missed turns that you need and, quite honestly, you don’t want them to. But you know that it’s an important part of the process.”

Daniels’ capacity to rectify any issues immediately – and not repeat them – has led to an inspiring start. 

“That’s who he is,” Biadasz said. “He’s a winner. He wants to win … he wants to make the next play great.”

The University of Colorado has effectively decided to muzzle a journalist because of the critical commentaries he wrote about head football coach Deion Sanders.

The university confirmed Friday that it would no longer take questions from Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler at football-related events.

“After a series of sustained, personal attacks on the football program and specifically Coach Prime, the CU Athletic Department in conjunction with the football program, have decided not to take questions from Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler at football-related events,” the university said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports. “Keeler is still permitted to attend football-related activities as a credentialed member of the media and other reporters from the Denver Post are welcome to ask questions of football program personnel made available to the media, including coaches, players, and staff. Keeler is still permitted to cover and ask questions of other CU athletics programs and athletics administrators.”

Why did Colorado do this to this journalist?

The university didn’t respond to a question about whether this was Sanders’ idea. In a news conference earlier this month, Keeler wished Sanders a “happy summer” before Sanders expressed displeasure with him and wouldn’t take a question from him. He told him he was ‘always on the attack.’

“You don’t like us, man,” Sanders said on Aug. 9. “Why do you do this to yourself?”

Keeler wrote about it afterward, calling Sanders “Deposition Deion” but acknowledging Sanders had a right to push back.

“I’ve taken my swings at the pinata,” Keeler wrote. “Friday was Prime’s turn, and he didn’t miss. I had it coming, as the old song from ‘Chicago’ goes. That’s fine.”

Keeler then showed up to a Colorado football practice Aug. 13 and tried to ask a question to Colorado graduate assistant coach Warren Sapp. A university employee wouldn’t let him, however.

“Next question,” the employee said.

Keeler had been critical of Sanders previously. In February, he wrote a column that criticized Sanders’ bold statements about his team and potential. Sanders had recently suggested his team was capable of making a run for the College Football Playoff in 2024.

“Deion Sanders is a false prophet, the Bruce Lee of B.S., Harold Hill in designer shades. He’s also in the wrong business,” Keeler wrote then. “If Coach Prime wanted to run for governor, he’d kill it. Rallies for breakfast. Adoring fans for miles. No NCAA. No recruiting rules. No pesky Washington States to hammer you senseless in the cold.”

In a report published Friday, the Post said it asked for specific examples of how Keeler personally attacked Sanders and the program. The news outlet said a sports information staffer cited his use of phrases such as “false prophet,” “Deposition Deion,” “Planet Prime,” “Bruce Lee of B.S.,” “the Deion Kool-Aid” and “circus.”

Deion Sanders’ contract and history with critical media

The Post noted Sanders has specific language in his contract with CU that requires him to speak only with “mutually agreed upon media.” Such phrasing does not appear in the contracts of CU men’s basketball coach Tad Boyle or women’s basketball coach JR Payne. It also wasn’t in the contract of Sanders’ predecessor, Karl Dorrell.

The Post also noted that Sanders has done this before, when he coached at Jackson State. Rashad Milligan, a reporter for the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, was barred from reporting on the Jackson State football team at the Southwestern Athletic Conference Media Day in July 2021. This came a day after that Milligan wrote a story about a domestic violence charge against one of the team’s top recruits.

That recruit later reached a deal to plead no contest to disorderly conduct and received three months of probation and a $50 fine, according to court records obtained by USA TODAY Sports. Milligan told USA TODAY Sports that Sanders had other issues with similar coverage of his besides that story. He said he voluntarily left the Clarion-Ledger later that year before the situation was resolved.

Denver Post sports editor Matt Schubert addressed the situation on social media Friday..

‘It’s well within anyone’s rights to not take questions from @DPostSports reporters + columnists,’ he wrote on the social media site X. ‘The reasons listed here by CU, however, are entirely subjective. It would be more accurate to say, `We don’t like @SeanKeeler’s critiques of our program.”

In a separate beef with the media, Sanders also recently expressed displeasure with the media company CBS. When a local CBS television reporter tried to ask a question, Sanders said, ‘CBS, I’m not doing nothing with CBS. Next question.’

Sanders didn’t say what the issue was with CBS but extended an olive branch to that reporter a week later, indicating the situation was resolved. It’s not clear how long Keeler will be in his doghouse, however.

Sanders opens his second season at Colorado on Thursday against North Dakota State. Last year, his team finished 4-8.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

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College football is back, which means the ESPN College GameDay show is back as well. The show travels to different locations to feature the week’s game. In Week 0, the ESPN crew traveled to Dublin, Ireland for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, which featured Florida State playing Georgia Tech on Saturday.

The College GameDay crew features Pat McAfee, who also hosts his show, the Pat McAfee Show. He shared a clip of himself chugging beers at an Irish pub during a live segment on Friday. The audience was in stitches as McAfee joked that he had College GameDay the next morning and hoped he would make it after a day of drinking in Ireland.

College GameDay in Ireland

McAfee, known for his high energy and humor, added a touch of Irish culture to the show. He even performed an Irish dance with his new co-host wife, ‘Miss Terry,’ who is married to Nick Saban, the legendary college football coach. This moment was a perfect example of the fun and entertainment that the show brings to its viewers.

McAfee, with his high energy and humor, is a key part of the panel. As we gear up for the upcoming college football season, his presence promises to make it an electrifying and unforgettable experience for all fans.

Florida State vs. Georgia Tech: TV, time and streaming

Date: Saturday, August 24
Time: 12 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+

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