A North Carolina man who was part of a "hacker collective" and involved in threats to dozens of school districts and other crimes was sentenced to nearly eight years in prison Monday, officials said.
Timothy Dalton Vaughn, 22, was a member of “Apophis Squad,” which prosecutors described as a group of computer hackers and swatters, and went by online names that included "WantedbyFeds."
He and others sent threats to more than 80 school districts; Vaughn helped report a fake hijacking of a London-to-San Francisco plane; he also tried to extort around $20,000 in the cryptocurrency bitcoin from a California business and when he was refused he made the company's website inaccessible, federal prosecutors said.
Vaughn also had sexually explicit images of children, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Central District of California said. He pleaded guilty to a child pornography charge and other counts in November 2019.
Vaughn was arrested by the FBI in February 2019, and he and a British man, George Duke-Cohan, then 19, were charged in the United States.
Duke-Cohan was already serving a sentence in the U.K. related to the hoax threats, and that sentence handed down in December of 2018 has been reported to be three years.
He is the one who called in the fake hijacking to San Francisco police, but Vaughn was accused of assisting in the bogus claim, according to an indictment. When the passenger plane landed at San Francisco it was quarantined for hours for security checks.
Vaughn, who was 19 and 20 at the time of the crimes and suffers from autism spectrum disorder, "had lost himself inside of his computer," his federal public defender wrote in a court filing prior to sentencing. Vaughn has said his arrest was for the best and that he "was in the rabbit hole, and ... near the bottom," according to the public defender's filing.
Andrew Blankstein
Andrew Blankstein is an investigative reporter for NBC News. He covers the Western United States, specializing in crime, courts and homeland security.
In the 50th AP top-10 matchup in Cameron Indoor Stadium history, No. 6 Duke welcomes No. 8 Michigan State in the 2020 State Farm Champions Classic on Tuesday night.
The game tips at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN with Sean McDonough and Jay Bilas on the call. On the radio, David Shumate and John Roth have the call on the Blue Devil Sports Network from Learfield IMG College (96.5FM & 610AM in Durham). Sean Kelly and Bob Valvano have the call nationally on ESPN Radio.
The Blue Devils are riding a three-game winning streak in the Champions Classic and their 6-3 record in the annual event is the best among the four Blue Blood programs.
Duke and Michigan State are meeting for the fifth consecutive season with the Blue Devils winning three of those four contests, including an 88-81 win in the 2017 Champion Classic in Chicago.
Duke is 33-16 in top-10 matchups at Cameron Indoor (29-11 in the Mike Krzyzewski era) and has won seven of the last nine.
In the Coach K era, Duke is 235-152 versus ranked teams and is 221-123 when both teams are ranked. When both teams are ranked in the top 10 in the Coach K era, Duke is 87-61.
Behind 19 points and 19 rebounds from ACC Freshman of the Week Jalen Johnson and a 24-point, nine-board effort off the bench from classmate DJ Steward, the Blue Devils opened the season with an 81-71 win over Coppin State on Saturday at Cameron Indoor.
Johnson is the 16th different Blue Devil to be named ACC Freshman of the Week over the last six-plus seasons.
Johnson's debut also included five assists and four blocked shots as he became the first Blue Devil all time with a statline of 19+ points, 19+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 4+ blocks.
The 2020-21 campaign marks the 41st season at Duke Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Coach K's 1,158 overall wins and 1,085 wins at Duke are each NCAA records.
Ranked No. 9 in the preseason AP poll, Duke was in the AP's preseason top 10 for the 13th straight year. The Blue Devils have been ranked in the top 10 at least some point during a season in 25 consecutive years – the nation's longest active streak (Kansas, 15).
Duke's 2020-21 roster features seven newcomers -- six freshmen that comprised the nation's No. 2 class and graduate transfer Patrick Tapé from Columbia University -- the program's first grad transfer.
DUKE VS. MICHIGAN STATE
Tuesday's game is the 17th meeting between Duke and Michigan State, with the Blue Devils leading 13-3…In the Champions Classic, the series favors Duke 3-0…The teams are meeting for the fifth straight season, with Duke winning three of the four previous clashes, including an 87-75 victory last season in East Lansing (ACC/Big Ten Challenge) and an 88-81 in Chicago in 2017 (Champions Classic)…Under Coach K, Duke is 13-2 versus the Spartans…The last 10 games in the series have been decided by an average 8.4 points per game.
DUKE IN THE CHAMPIONS CLASSIC
As the Champions Classic enters its 10th year in 2020, the Blue Devils are looking to continue their success in the early-season marquee doubleheader that brings together Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and Michigan State…Duke's 6-3 record is the best of the four, leading Kentucky (5-4), Kansas (4-5) and Michigan State (3-6)…The Blue Devils knocked off Kansas in last year's Classic at Madison Square Garden, 68-66, behind a team-high 15 points from Tre Jones…This year's event was originally scheduled for the United Center in Chicago, but was postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic. ..This year's other game -- Kansas vs. Kentucky -- tips at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night on ESPN in Indianapolis, Ind…Next year's Classic is scheduled to return to New York's MSG…Duke's Champions Classic record book can be found on the final page of these notes (page 34).
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
Michigan State was 22-9 overall last season, 14-6 in Big Ten play, and won five straight and six of seven to end the campaign…The team lost its two leading scorers from last season -- senior Cassius Winston (18.6) and junior Xavier Tillman (13.7) -- to the draft…After averaging 10.0 points last season, junior forward Aaron Henry has averaged 10.0 over State's first two games. Junior Joey Hauser, who sat out last season after transferring from Marquette, has opened his Spartan career with efforts of 15 points and nine boards against Eastern Michigan and 10-16 against Notre Dame…Duke will see the other Hauser brother -- Sam, who transferred to Virginia -- later this season.
CHAMPIONS CLASSIC: TOP 10 MATCHUPS
The Champions Classic will see its 13th AP top 10 matchup Tuesday night when No. 6 Duke battles No. 8 Michigan State…The Blue Devils are 4-3 in the previous top-10 matchups, with Kansas 4-2, Kentucky 3-4 and Michigan State 1-3.
DUKE'S TOP-10 MATCHUPS IN THE CHAMPIONS CLASSIC
2012 9 Duke vs. 3 Kentucky Duke, 75-68
2013 5 Kansas vs. 4 Duke Kansas, 94-83
2015 2 Kentucky vs. 5 Duke Kentucky, 74-63
2016 7 Kansas vs. 1 Duke Kansas, 77-75
2017 1 Duke vs. 2 Mich. State Duke, 88-81
2018 4 Duke vs. 2 Kentucky Duke, 118-84
2019 4 Duke vs. 3 Kansas Duke, 68-66
ON THIS DATE
Duke is 23-1 when playing on December 1 and has won 21 straight…The Blue Devils last played on this date in 2018 -- a 113-49 victory over Stetson at Cameron Indoor Stadium…Duke and Michigan State tangled on December 1, 2010 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge -- an 84-79 Blue Devil victory at Cameron Indoor behind 31 points from Kyrie Irving.
AP POLL STREAKS EXTEND
With the release of the Associated Press preseason poll on Nov. 9, Duke was ranked No. 9 -- extending some notable streaks…The Blue Devils have now been ranked in the top 10 at least once in 25 consecutive seasons -- the longest active streak nationally by a decade (Kansas, 15)…This marks the 13th consecutive season that the Blue Devils have debuted in the top 10…With Duke moving up to No. 6 in the Nov. 30 poll, the Blue Devils have now been ranked in 85 consecutive polls dating back to 2016, the nation's second-longest active streak.
DUKE VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
Duke is 235-152 (.607) vs. ranked teams under Coach K, with a 155-80 (.660) mark since the 1996-97 season…Each of Duke's three wins over ranked teams last season came over teams 11th or better in the AP Poll -- Kansas, Michigan State and Florida State…Since 1996-97, Duke is 87-51 (.630) against ranked ACC teams and 68-29 (.701) vs. ranked non-league foes…In the Coach K era, Duke is 144-86 (.626) overall when both teams are ranked in the top 15 ... 87-61 (.588) overall when both teams are ranked in the top 10 ... 33-18 (.647) when both teams are ranked in the top five…With the win over No. 3 Virginia on Feb. 9, 2019, Coach K broke a tie with Dean Smith for most wins in top three games (11).
ACC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Freshman Jalen Johnson was named the ACC Freshman of the Week for his efforts in the Coppin State victory…The Blue Devils have had a stranglehold on the award over the last six-plus season as Johnson becomes the 16th different Duke freshman to win it in that span…Duke has had an ACC Rookie of the Week 62 times over the last 126 weeks it has been awarded -- nearly 50 percent of the time.
DAZZLING DEBUT -- PART 1
Freshman Jalen Johnson stamped his name on the 2020-21 season with a record-setting performance in Duke's opener…The Milwaukee, Wis., native scored 19 points, grabbed 19 rebounds, had five assists and four blocked shots in 35 minutes becoming the first Duke player in history to post a statline of 19+ points, 19+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 4+ blocks…Johnson has joined Wisconsin's Ethan Happ as the only power conference players in the last 10 years with 15+ points, 15+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 4+ blocks in a game…Only Johnson and Danny Ferry have posted a game of 19-19-5 in Duke history. Ferry scored 20 points, had 19 rebounds and seven assists at Maryland on Jan. 14, 1987…His 19 rebounds marked the third most by a Duke freshman, while his 15 defensive rebounds set a Duke freshman record…Through Nov. 28th's games, his 19 boards were the most by any freshman in a game nationally this season. ..He finished the game without missing a shot (8/8 FG, 1/1 3FG, 2/2 FT), also setting a Duke freshman record for most points in a game with 100% shooting…He became just the third Duke freshman to post a double-double in a debut game, joining Jason Williams (13 points, 10 rebounds) vs. Stanford on Nov. 11, 1999 and Marvin Bagley III (25-10) vs. Elon on Nov. 10, 2017.
DAZZLING DEBUT -- PART 2
Freshman DJ Steward played fearless off the bench Saturday, pouring in a game-high 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting (4-of-9 from three-point range) with nine rebounds in 33 minutes…Steward's 24 points stand as the fourth most by a Duke freshman in a debut game, and the most off the bench by a Duke freshman in a debut game…The record of 33 points in a debut game was set by RJ Barrett vs. Kentucky (11/6/18). Zion Williamson had 28 points in that same game vs. Kentucky and Marvin Bagley III had 25 vs. Elon (11/10/17).
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NOTRE DAME, Indiana —Leading the Irish to a 31-17 win over No. 19 North Carolina Friday, graduate-student quarterback Ian Book was named to the Davey O’Brien Award Great 8 List for Week 13. It marks the seventh time in Book’s career that he has been named to the Great 8 list, and his fourth appearance in 2020 (also at Pitt, vs. Clemson, at Boston College). Book has been named to the list for his third-straight performance.
In Notre Dame’s ninth-consecutive win of 2020, and 15th-consecutive overall (the longest streak in the FBS), Book went 23-of-33 for 279 yards and a touchdown with zero interceptions. He also added eight rushes for 48 yards.
Book finished the day without any turnovers, giving him 237-straight pass attempts without an interception. It ties for the longest active streak among all FBS quarterbacks, and is the longest streak in Notre Dame history, topping Brady Quinn’s 226.
Book posted a season-long 33-yard run against the Tar Heels, the longest run by a starting quarterback in the ACC this week.
He quarterbacked the Irish to four touchdown drives of at least 75 yards Friday, including a season-long scoring drive of 97 yards.
Book led the Irish to 478 yards of total offense against a UNC defense that entered the game allowing 413.6 yards of offense per game, and the Irish continue to boast the best time of possession average in the ACC, controlling the ball at a rate of 34:12 minutes per game with 35:04 at North Carolina.
The Irish return to play Saturday, December 5, to close out their home schedule as they welcome Syracuse (2:30 p.m. ET on NBC) to Notre Dame Stadium.
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Montgomery’s cases increased by 297 since Sunday morning
Bethesda Beat Staff Report
| Published:
COVID-19 cases at nursing homes, assisted living facilities and group homes have accounted for roughly 8% of Montgomery County’s total.
There have been 2,752 cases in those facilities in the county since the beginning of the pandemic in March, according to the Maryland Department of Health. The figures are updated every Wednesday.
Those include 1,550 cases among residents and 1,202 cases among staff members.
Overall, the county has had more than 33,000 cases.
There have been 375 COVID-19 deaths in those group settings — 370 residents and five staff members.
The cases and deaths in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and group homes have been:
• Hebrew Home of Greater Washington in Rockville
386 cases: 191 residents, 195 staff
52 deaths: 52 residents, no staff
• Collingswood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Rockville
185 cases: 124 residents, 61 staff
41 deaths: 40 residents, 1 staff
• Sunrise at Fox Hill in Bethesda
30 cases: 13 residents, 17 staff
6 deaths: 6 residents, no staff
• Maplewood Park Place in Bethesda
30 cases: 9 residents, 21 staff
1 death: 1 resident, no staff
• Aspenwood Senior Living in Silver Spring
29 cases: 12 residents, 17 staff
3 deaths: 3 residents, no staff
• Fox Chase Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Silver Spring
27 cases: 11 residents, 16 staff
3 deaths: 3 residents, no staff
• Sunrise of Chevy Chase
25 cases: 8 residents, 17 staff
1 death: 1 resident, no staff
• Brightview Woodmont in Bethesda
24 cases: 8 residents, 16 staff
No deaths
• Kindley Assisted Living at Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg
22 cases: 4 residents, 18 staff
1 death: 1 resident, no staff
• Ingleside at King Farm in Rockville
21 cases: 4 residents, 17 staff
2 deaths: 2 residents, no staff
• Tribute at Black Hill in Germantown
16 cases: 5 residents, 11 staff
No deaths
• The Village at Rockville
11 cases: no residents, 11 staff
No deaths
• Sunrise of Rockville
10 cases: 1 residents, 9 staff
No deaths
• Raphael House in Rockville
6 cases: 3 residents, 3 staff
No deaths
• Adventist Behavioral Health Manor in Takoma Park
5 cases: 3 residents, 2 staff
No deaths
• Sunrise of Montgomery Village
2 cases: no residents, 2 staff
No deaths
The number of coronavirus cases overall in the county increased on Monday by 297 — or 0.9% — since Sunday morning. The county has had a total of 33,400 cases.
The Maryland Department of Health reported three additional deaths from the virus in the county. The county’s death toll now sits at 912.
There have been 42 “probable” deaths in the county. “Probable” deaths have the coronavirus listed as the cause of death on certificates, but have not been confirmed by laboratory tests yet.
Statewide, cases increased on Monday by 1,923 cases — or 1% — since Sunday. The state has now had 198,370 known cases.
There have been 4,486 people who have died of the virus across the state.
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BANGKOK — A dissident once branded Enemy No. 1 by the Chinese Communist Party is spreading conspiracy theories about vote-rigging in the American presidential election.
Pro-democracy campaigners from Hong Kong are championing President Trump’s claims of an electoral victory.
Human rights activists and religious leaders in Vietnam and Myanmar are expressing reservations about President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s ability to keep authoritarians in check.
It might seem counterintuitive that Asian defenders of democracy are among the most ardent supporters of Mr. Trump, who has declared his friendship with Xi Jinping of China and Kim Jong-un of North Korea. But it is precisely Mr. Trump’s willingness to flout diplomatic protocol, abandon international accords and keep his opponents off-balance that have earned him plaudits as a leader strong enough to stand up to dictators and defend democratic ideals overseas, even if he has been criticized as diminishing them at home.
As President-elect Biden now assembles his foreign-policy team, prominent human rights activists across Asia are worried about his desire for the United States to hew again to international norms. They believe that Mr. Biden, like former President Barack Obama, will pursue accommodation rather than confrontation in the face of China’s assertive moves. And their pro-Trump views have been cemented by online misinformation, often delivered by dubious news sources, that Mr. Biden is working in tandem with communists or is a closet socialist sympathizer.
“Biden is president, and it’s like having Xi Jinping sitting in the White House,” said Elmer Yuen, a Hong Kong entrepreneur who has posted YouTube videos criticizing the Chinese Communist Party, or C.C.P. “He wants to coexist with China, and whoever coexists with the C.C.P. loses.”
With Mr. Trump’s presidential tenure in its twilight, these activists are calling for the administration to make a final stand against Asian autocrats, similar to a last-ditch effort to expand the border wall with Mexico.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took a five-nation swing through Asia in October in which he abandoned politesse and described the Chinese government as a “predator,” “lawless and threatening,” and “the gravest threat to the future of religious freedom.” The tour was meant as a counterweight to China in a region where Beijing’s dollar diplomacy has bought significant influence.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, center, in Vietnam last month as part of a five-nation trip in which he was openly critical of the Chinese government.Credit...Nhac Nguyen/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Earlier this month, Lobsang Sangay became the first head of the Tibetan government-in-exile to visit the White House; the provocative invite infuriated Beijing, which considers Mr. Sangay to be a separatist.
In June, Mr. Pompeo met with the Hong Kong democracy leader Joshua Wong and President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, both of whom are loathed by the Chinese government.
Mr. Trump’s popularity is particularly enduring among Christians, such as Chinese-born legal scholars chafing against Communism’s atheist core and ethnic minority activists in Southeast Asia. Mr. Pompeo and other Trump administration officials, they believe, have been fulfilling a faith-based mission overseas.
Last year, Mr. Trump met in the White House with a group of religious leaders from across the world, including Hkalam Samson, the president of the Kachin Baptist Convention, which represents the persecuted Christian Kachin minority in Myanmar.
“My experience in the White House, when I was given one minute to speak out about the Kachin, meant a lot, and it also meant that Trump cares about us,” Mr. Samson said. “Trump is better for the Kachin than Biden.”
Skepticism for Mr. Biden extends to those fighting for secular political rights as well. The president-elect’s embrace of diplomatic custom will not work when only one side is playing fairly, they say.
“For Biden’s policies toward China, the part about making China play by the international rules, I think, is very hollow,” said Wang Dan, who helped lead the 1989 Tiananmen protests as a university student. “As we know, the Chinese Communist Party hardly abides by international rules.”
“The United States must realize that there will be no improvements on human rights issues in China if there is no regime change,” Mr. Wang added. He has continued to question Mr. Trump’s electoral loss, baseless claims shared by other prominent Chinese-born dissidents.
President Trump at the White House in July 2019 with survivors of religious persecution, including Hkalam Samson, a Baptist minister from Myanmar, at center right in a white jacket and red cap.Credit...Alex Brandon/Associated Press
But others within the community, particularly in Hong Kong and China, said that backing Mr. Trump is hypocritical at best and dangerous at worst.
“Trump’s human rights record — what he does to migrant children, the Muslim ban, white supremacy, alternative truth — removes him from my support, but this is apparently not the popular attitude among many dissidents in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan,” said Badiucao, a China-born political artist who now lives in self-exile in Australia.
Mr. Badiucao, who is known by a pseudonym to protect his family in China, has skirmished online with Mr. Wang and other well-known dissidents and has made the scuffle a topic for his art.
“These guys are utilitarian, and they believe that if Trump is waging war against the C.C.P. then he’s right for them,” Mr. Badiucao said. “That mentality fits the whole ‘America First’ ideology, where it’s OK for other people to suffer if your goal is met, and their goal is overthrowing the C.C.P.”
Over the past 12 months, the Trump administration has stepped up its actions in Asia.
Late last year, the U.S. government barred military leaders from Myanmar from entering the country because of their role in what Mr. Pompeo called “gross violations of human rights” of Rohingya Muslims and other minority groups. Financial sanctions were also placed on individuals in Pakistan and Cambodia, among other countries, where civil liberties are under threat.
This summer, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Carrie Lam, the chief executive of Hong Kong, and 10 others for “undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy and restricting the freedom of expression or assembly of the citizens of Hong Kong.” Four more officials were added to the sanctions list this month.
A protest in Hong Kong in July. This summer the U.S. Treasury Department placed economic sanctions on Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, and others.Credit...Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times
In June, Mr. Trump signed legislation that led to sanctions being placed on Chinese officials who have overseen the construction of mass detention camps in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, where more than a million people, mostly members of the Uighur Muslim minority, have been imprisoned.
“The Trump Administration by far has done more to raise our issue than all other countries combined,” said Salih Hudayar, who was born in Xinjiang and moved to the United States as a child. “I’m very skeptical of a Biden administration because I am worried he will allow China to go back to normal, which is a 21st-century genocide of the Uighurs.”
During the presidential campaign, Mr. Biden released a statement calling the situation in Xinjiang a “genocide.” The Trump Administration has not used such a designation, and a book by his former national security adviser said that Mr. Trump told Mr. Xi that he should continue building the detention camps in Xinjiang.
Foreign policy advisers to Mr. Biden say that it is unfair to presume that he will continue the Obama administration’s moderate stance. It is, they say, a different era. The recent human rights legislation championed by the Trump administration has received broad bipartisan support.
And some Asian dissidents acknowledge that the antipathy toward Mr. Biden is driven in part by a deluge of online misinformation that paints the president-elect as a secret socialist or contends, without any proof, that foreign “communist money” turned the election against Mr. Trump. Such unsubstantiated claims have been repeated by niche online publications in Vietnamese, Chinese and other languages.
“The crisis of democracy in the world makes people, especially activists, confused and susceptible to the influence of conspiracy theories and information manipulation,” said Nguyen Quang A, a Vietnamese dissident who has been detained multiple times for his criticism of the country’s communist leadership. “Vietnam doesn’t have independent media, and people, especially activists, already hate mainstream media.”
One of the most influential voices spreading false narratives about Mr. Biden and the election on Twitter is Ai Weiwei, the Chinese contemporary artist who now lives in overseas exile.
In an interview, Mr. Ai said that he was not a fan of Mr. Trump. For his art, he has posed at Trump properties with his middle finger raised. But Mr. Ai said that by shutting off debate on his social media feed, he would be no different than an authoritarian government like China’s.
“All over Asia, all over the world, people don’t have the right to speak,” he said. “In America, left or right, you have personal freedoms. This has to be protected.”
Chau Doan contributed reporting from Hanoi, Vietnam; Elaine Yu from Hong Kong; and Saw Nang from Yangon, Myanmar.
A 26-year-old adult and 8-year-old child were injured in an all-terrain vehicle rollover crash Friday night in northwest Palm Bay, city spokeswoman Keely Leggett said.
The child was flown via medical helicopter to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando with partial loss of sensation to lower extremities, News 6 partner Florida Today reported.
The adult was taken by ambulance to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne.
The crash occurred in the 600 block of Castanada Street, a short residential street northeast of the intersection of Malabar Road and Jupiter Boulevard.
The adult and child were riding on the ATV when it appears to have struck a ditch on the side of the road, Leggett said.
A freeze warning is in effect for several counties from midnight to 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Get ready for the colder temperatures this week. Starting with the coldest Tuesday morning when temperatures could dip into the upper 20s.
Colder temperatures this week (KPRC)
Near freezing temps expected Tuesday morning (KPRC)
As of today, the forecasts for Tuesday morning show the coldest temperatures of the season with widespread 30s and several areas reaching and going below the freezing mark.
Cooler than normal week ahead (KPRC)
We won’t stay that cold but the week ahead will be colder than normal with lots of sunshine and only a few chances for rain.
For the fourth straight week, the top eight teams in The Associated Press college football poll were stuck in place, and a glance at the upcoming schedule suggests it could be a couple more weeks before this gridlock lets up.
The elite eight runs down like this: Alabama at No. 1 followed by Notre Dame, Ohio State, Clemson and Texas A&M in the top five. Florida is sixth, Cincinnati is seventh and BYU eighth.
And that’s the way its been since Nov. 8, the day after Notre Dame beat Clemson.
Among the top six teams, only one plays an opponent with a winning record next week. Texas A&M is at Auburn (5-3). No. 7 Cincinnati and No. 8 BYU are scheduled to be off, and the speculation about those two unbeatens trying play each other on short notice seemed to be doused when the Bearcats had their American Athletic Conference game against Temple called off because of COVID-19 issues with both teams.
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No. 3 Ohio State is also in danger of getting another week off next Saturday because of a virus outbreak — which would create a whole other set of problems for the Buckeyes.
So barring a big upset by LSU, Syracuse, Virginia Tech or Tennessee, or a more modest upset by Auburn, the AP poll could be heading toward a fifth straight week of stagnation.
Reality check takes no issue for the voters standing pat. Here is where the ranked teams stand heading into an unusual December stretch run in college football, where the pandemic is the toughest opponent.
No. 1 Alabama (8-0)
Next: at LSU, Saturday.
Reality check: Because the Crimson Tide really needed another offensive weapon, the last two weeks sophomore tight end Jaleel Billingsley, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound former four-star recruit, has emerged with five catches for 111 yards and a touchdown.
No. 2 Notre Dame (9-0)
Next: vs. Syracuse, Saturday.
Reality check: The Irish have faced four of the top-10 rushers in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Louisville’s Javian Hawkins, Clemson’s Travis Etienne and North Carolina’s Javonte Williams and Michael Carter have run 52 times for 164 yards (31.5 per carry) against Notre Dame.
No. 3 Ohio State
Next: at Michigan State, Saturday.
Reality check: If the Buckeyes lose one more game from their schedule, and become ineligible for the Big Ten title game, it’s going to make a mess of the College Football Playoff race.
No. 4 Clemson (8-1)
Next: at Virginia Tech, Saturday.
Reality check: Remember when the Tigers were looking for a downfield threat? Senior Cornell Powell has become that guy, with 23 catches for 442 yards in the last three games.
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No. 5 Texas A&M (6-1)
Next: at Auburn, Saturday.
Reality check: At a time when defense does not win championships, the Aggies are going to try to make the playoff with a tough defense — that was torn up by both Alabama and Florida earlier this season.
No. 6 Florida (7-1)
Next: at Tennessee, Saturday.
Reality check: The Gators played their best defensive game of the season against Kentucky, but don’t get too excited because it was against Kentucky.
No. 7 Cincinnati (8-0)
Next: at No. 22 Tulsa, Dec. 12.
Reality check: Two weeks on hold for the Bearcats is poorly timed. Being out of sight and maybe out of mind is not great for a playoff contender.
No. 8 BYU (9-0)
Next: at San Diego State, Dec. 12.
Reality check: The Bearcats might not be ready to play next week, but the Cougars definitely want a game. Anyone?
No. 9 Miami (7-1)
Next: at Duke, Saturday.
Reality check: The Hurricanes will return to action after a two-week COVID-19 pause against Duke instead of Wake Forest, which should be an easy way for Miami to get back into the swing of things before playing North Carolina on Dec. 12.
No. 10 Indiana (5-1)
Next: at No. 18 Wisconsin, Saturday.
Reality check: The running game was enough for the Hoosiers to survive Maryland after Michael Penix Jr. went out with a leg injury. That probably won’t work against the Badgers.
No. 11 Georgia (6-2)
Next: vs. Vanderbilt, Saturday.
Reality check: The big question for the Bulldogs right now has nothing to do with this season. What’s the chances QB J.T. Daniels declares for the NFL draft after a brief layover in Athens. Seems unlikely, but who knows?
No. 12 Iowa State (7-2)
Next: vs. West Virginia, Saturday.
Reality check: The Cyclones were a combined 7-84-2 against Oklahoma and Texas before Matt Campbell became Iowa State’s coach in 2016. Under Campbell, the ’Clones are 4-6 against those Big 12 blue bloods.
No. 13 Oklahoma (6-2)
Next: vs. Baylor, Saturday.
Reality check: The Sooners had their first COVID-19 postponement last week and now we wait to see if it turns into two.
No. 14 Coastal Carolina (9-0)
Next: vs. No. 25 Liberty, Saturday.
Reality check: Coastal scheduled this game with Liberty in mid-August after the Power Five teams bailed on most of the Group Five. Who knew it would be one of the biggest games of this week?
No. 15 Marshall (7-0)
Next: vs. Rice, Saturday.
Reality check: The Thundering Herd has not played since Nov. 14, and Rice has been a team that has struggled to get on the field.
No. 16 Northwestern (5-1)
Next: at Minnesota, Saturday.
Reality check: Wildcats might have to wait to bounce back from their first loss as the Gophers work their way through a COVID-19 outbreak that canceled their last game.
No. 17 Southern California (3-0)
Next: vs. Washington State, Sunday.
Reality check: Still more COVID-19 news. USC and Washington State had their games canceled last week and instead of playing Friday night they’ll now meet on Sunday at the Coliseum.
No. 18 Wisconsin (2-1)
Next: vs. No. 10 Indiana, Saturday.
Reality check: QB Graham Mertz has completed 55.5 percent of his passes since going 20 for 21 against Illinois in the opener.
No. 19 Oklahoma State (6-2)
Next: at TCU, Saturday.
Reality check: Cowboys’ defense was lauded early in the season but it has crumbled the past couple weeks, allowing more than 7 yards per play against Oklahoma and Texas Tech.
No. 20 Louisiana-Lafayette (8-1)
Next: at Appalachian State, Friday.
Reality check: Ragin’ Cajuns get the defending Sun Belt champions and then have a week off before the rematch with Coastal Carolina in the conference title game. ULL has gotten overshadowed by Coastal’s feel-good story, but could still turn out to be the Sun kings.
No. 21 Oregon (3-1)
Next: at California, Saturday.
Reality check: Voters underrated all the attrition and opt outs on the Ducks’ defense, which ranks 10th in the Pac-12 at 6.37 yards per play allowed.
No. 22 Tulsa (5-1)
Next: at Navy, Saturday.
Reality check: The Golden Hurricane got an unexpected week off after Houston had to postpone their game. Tulsa has played in consecutive weeks twice this season.
No. 23 Washington (3-0)
Next: vs. Stanford, Saturday.
Reality check: If you don’t know sophomore outside linebacker Zion Tupuola-Fetui, you need to catch up. He has seven sacks in three games after wrecking Utah.
No. 24 Iowa (4-2)
Next: at Illinois, Saturday.
Reality check: Solid running game. Not much of a passing game. Good defense, kicker and punter. Just another Iowa football team.
No. 25 Liberty (9-1)
Next: at Coastal Carolina, Saturday.
Reality check: Flames looking for their first 10-win season in FBS.
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For the fourth straight week, the top eight teams in The Associated Press college football poll were stuck in place, and a glance at the upcoming schedule suggests it could be a couple more weeks before this gridlock lets up.
The elite eight runs down like this: Alabama at No. 1 followed by Notre Dame, Ohio State, Clemson and Texas A&M in the top five. Florida is sixth, Cincinnati is seventh and BYU eighth.
And that's the way its been since Nov. 8, the day after Notre Dame beat Clemson.
Among the top six teams, only one plays an opponent with a winning record next week. Texas A&M is at Auburn (5-3). No. 7 Cincinnati and No. 8 BYU are scheduled to be off, and the speculation about those two unbeatens trying play each other on short notice seemed to be doused when the Bearcats had their American Athletic Conference game against Temple called off because of COVID-19 issues with both teams.
No. 3 Ohio State is also in danger of getting another week off next Saturday because of a virus outbreak — which would create a whole other set of problems for the Buckeyes.
So barring a big upset by LSU, Syracuse, Virginia Tech or Tennessee, or a more modest upset by Auburn, the AP poll could be heading toward a fifth straight week of stagnation.
Reality check takes no issue for the voters standing pat. Here is where the ranked teams stand heading into an unusual December stretch run in college football, where the pandemic is the toughest opponent.
No. 1 Alabama (8-0)
Next: at LSU, Saturday.
Reality check: Because the Crimson Tide really needed another offensive weapon, the last two weeks sophomore tight end Jaleel Billingsley, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound former four-star recruit, has emerged with five catches for 111 yards and a touchdown.
No. 2 Notre Dame (9-0)
Next: vs. Syracuse, Saturday.
Reality check: The Irish have faced four of the top-10 rushers in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Louisville's Javian Hawkins, Clemson's Travis Etienne and North Carolina's Javonte Williams and Michael Carter have run 52 times for 164 yards (31.5 per carry) against Notre Dame.
No. 3 Ohio State
Next: at Michigan State, Saturday.
Reality check: If the Buckeyes lose one more game from their schedule, and become ineligible for the Big Ten title game, it's going to make a mess of the College Football Playoff race.
No. 4 Clemson (8-1)
Next: at Virginia Tech, Saturday.
Reality check: Remember when the Tigers were looking for a downfield threat? Senior Cornell Powell has become that guy, with 23 catches for 442 yards in the last three games.
No. 5 Texas A&M (6-1)
Next: at Auburn, Saturday.
Reality check: At a time when defense does not win championships, the Aggies are going to try to make the playoff with a tough defense — that was torn up by both Alabama and Florida earlier this season.
No. 6 Florida (7-1)
Next: at Tennessee, Saturday.
Reality check: The Gators played their best defensive game of the season against Kentucky, but don't get too excited because it was against Kentucky.
No. 7 Cincinnati (8-0)
Next: at No. 22 Tulsa, Dec. 12.
Reality check: Two weeks on hold for the Bearcats is poorly timed. Being out of sight and maybe out of mind is not great for a playoff contender.
No. 8 BYU (9-0)
Next: at San Diego State, Dec. 12.
Reality check: The Bearcats might not be ready to play next week, but the Cougars definitely want a game. Anyone?
No. 9 Miami (7-1)
Next: at Duke, Saturday.
Reality check: The Hurricanes will return to action after a two-week COVID-19 pause against Duke instead of Wake Forest, which should be an easy way for Miami to get back into the swing of things before playing North Carolina on Dec. 12.
No. 10 Indiana (5-1)
Next: at No. 18 Wisconsin, Saturday.
Reality check: The running game was enough for the Hoosiers to survive Maryland after Michael Penix Jr. went out with a leg injury. That probably won't work against the Badgers.
No. 11 Georgia (6-2)
Next: vs. Vanderbilt, Saturday.
Reality check: The big question for the Bulldogs right now has nothing to do with this season. What's the chances QB J.T. Daniels declares for the NFL draft after a brief layover in Athens. Seems unlikely, but who knows?
No. 12 Iowa State (7-2)
Next: vs. West Virginia, Saturday.
Reality check: The Cyclones were a combined 7-84-2 against Oklahoma and Texas before Matt Campbell became Iowa State's coach in 2016. Under Campbell, the 'Clones are 4-6 against those Big 12 blue bloods.
No. 13 Oklahoma (6-2)
Next: vs. Baylor, Saturday.
Reality check: The Sooners had their first COVID-19 postponement last week and now we wait to see if it turns into two.
No. 14 Coastal Carolina (9-0)
Next: vs. No. 25 Liberty, Saturday.
Reality check: Coastal scheduled this game with Liberty in mid-August after the Power Five teams bailed on most of the Group Five. Who knew it would be one of the biggest games of this week?
No. 15 Marshall (7-0)
Next: vs. Rice, Saturday.
Reality check: The Thundering Herd has not played since Nov. 14, and Rice has been a team that has struggled to get on the field.
No. 16 Northwestern (5-1)
Next: at Minnesota, Saturday.
Reality check: Wildcats might have to wait to bounce back from their first loss as the Gophers work their way through a COVID-19 outbreak that canceled their last game.
No. 17 Southern California (3-0)
Next: vs. Washington State, Sunday.
Reality check: Still more COVID-19 news. USC and Washington State had their games canceled last week and instead of playing Friday night they'll now meet on Sunday at the Coliseum.
No. 18 Wisconsin (2-1)
Next: vs. No. 10 Indiana, Saturday.
Reality check: QB Graham Mertz has completed 55.5 percent of his passes since going 20 for 21 against Illinois in the opener.
No. 19 Oklahoma State (6-2)
Next: at TCU, Saturday.
Reality check: Cowboys' defense was lauded early in the season but it has crumbled the past couple weeks, allowing more than 7 yards per play against Oklahoma and Texas Tech.
No. 20 Louisiana-Lafayette (8-1)
Next: at Appalachian State, Friday.
Reality check: Ragin' Cajuns get the defending Sun Belt champions and then have a week off before the rematch with Coastal Carolina in the conference title game. ULL has gotten overshadowed by Coastal's feel-good story, but could still turn out to be the Sun kings.
No. 21 Oregon (3-1)
Next: at California, Saturday.
Reality check: Voters underrated all the attrition and opt outs on the Ducks' defense, which ranks 10th in the Pac-12 at 6.37 yards per play allowed.
No. 22 Tulsa (5-1)
Next: at Navy, Saturday.
Reality check: The Golden Hurricane got an unexpected week off after Houston had to postpone their game. Tulsa has played in consecutive weeks twice this season.
No. 23 Washington (3-0)
Next: vs. Stanford, Saturday.
Reality check: If you don't know sophomore outside linebacker Zion Tupuola-Fetui, you need to catch up. He has seven sacks in three games after wrecking Utah.
No. 24 Iowa (4-2)
Next: at Illinois, Saturday.
Reality check: Solid running game. Not much of a passing game. Good defense, kicker and punter. Just another Iowa football team.
No. 25 Liberty (9-1)
Next: at Coastal Carolina, Saturday.
Reality check: Flames looking for their first 10-win season in FBS.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Browns were lucky that they weren’t the team to snap the Jaguars’ nine-game losing streak Sunday during a 27-25 victory that was way too close for comfort.
“We made it hard on ourselves there at the end,’' coach Kevin Stefanski said. “The guys fought, and we knew they were going to have to fight to get that one.’'
The Browns, who went in without Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, Sione Takitataki and Porter Gustin and then lost Ronnie Harrison to a shoulder injury on the first play of the game, needed a few big plays at the end to improve to 8-3 and avoid losing to an injury-riddled team that fell to 1-10.
“We knew it was going to be tough,’' Stefanski said. “It wasn’t going to be easy, and that’s what we signed up for coming down here.’'
The Browns, winners of three straight, have their best record through 11 games since returning in 1999. It’s also their first 8-win season since 2007, and their third 8-win campaign in the new era. They also climbed to the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff race — the top spot for one of the three Wildcard playoff spots.
“We have some of our best football ahead of us,’' said Jarvis Landry, who had his first 100-yard game and first TD catch of the season with 8 receptions for 143 yards. “We took care of each other. The offense picked us up. The defense picked us up. Special teams did a hell of a job today.’'
It should never have been this much of a nailbiter against a team starting their third-string quarterback in Mike Glennon and one that was without some key starters, including their best defensive player in end Josh Allen, their two starting cornerbacks, their starting nickel corner and their leading receiver in D.J. Chark Jr.
In fact, things are so bad for the Jaguars — who have lost 16-of-19 — that they fired general manager Dave Caldwell shortly after the game.
But the Browns — who fell behind three times — found themselves clinging to a 27-25 lead with 2:14 remaining, and needing big plays by Andrew Sendejo and Nick Chubb to close it out. Sendejo snatched Glennon’s two-point pass in the back of the end zone to prevent a 27-27 tie after James Robinson’s 4-yard TD run, and then Chubb caught a 13-yard screen pass on third and 12 with 1:25 remaining to clinch it.
“Really happy for [Sendejo] to make that play, and that’s what we need,’' Stefanski said. “We need guys in the back end that will make plays on the ball.”
As for Chubb’s screen, Stefanski said, “he made sure we got the first and the clock was running. He’s a very smart player as everybody knows, just understanding the situation.’'
The Browns needed to salvage the end of the game after failing to convert on third- and fourth-and-inches from the Jacksonville 22 while up 27-19. Baker Mayfield — who also missed two throws into the end zone for the second straight week —threw behind Kareem Hunt on third down in the right flat, and then Hunt was stopped for no gain on fourth down to give Jacksonville the ball back at their 22 with 5:29 left.
“We need to be able to get that, bottom line,’' Stefanski said. “It’s inches. That’s disappointing. We have to have the mentality that if we’re going for it there, we have to get it.”
Stefanski considered kicking a field goal there, “but I just felt like the plays that we had would convert.’'
Instead, Glennon, who headed into his first start since 2017 ‘with nothing to lose,’ moved to the Browns’ 24 on the next drive, and the Olivier Vernon stormed in on fourth and 10 and drilled the QB in the helmet to earn a 12-yard personal foul to the Browns’ 12.
“Really disappointing that we can’t get off the field [there],’' Stefanski said.
It wouldn’t have been that close if Mayfield (19-of-29, 258 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs, 116.7 rating) had hit one of two clutch throws in the first half. For the second straight week, he missed a pair of throws into the end zone, this time a 5-yarder to a wide open Rashard Higgins in the second quarter and 6-yarder two plays later to single-covered Jarvis Landry at the left side. The Browns settled for a field goal for a 10-6 edge.
“We left a lot of points up on the board,’' Mayfield said. “There were a ton of missed opportunities just from my perspective, a lot of missed throws. I have to make those throws.”
Mayfield, who extended his streak without an interception to four games, explained that on the miss to Higgins, he looked high to Harrison Bryant before low to Higgins.
“I just need to put it on him earlier,’' he said. “The one to the left, the rollout there to Jarvis, just get it down. Plain and simple. I’ve made that throw 1,000 times. I’m always going to be critical of myself.”
Mayfield threw a 5-yard TD pass to Landry to make it 7-3 in the first, and a 9-yarder to Hooper to give the Browns a 17-13 lead with 1:10 left in the half. But their hopes for a double-dip — scoring at the end of the half and start of the third — fizzled when Joe Schobert forced Harrison Bryant to fumble on the first play of the second half. Glennon (20-of-35, 235 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs) cashed in with a 2-yard TD pass to Tyler Eifert to make it 19-17 Jaguars early in the third.
“We knew they were not just going to roll over,’' said Chubb. “They’re a one-win team, but they’re a very talented team and very good. They were not going to have a wounded-dog mentality so we knew were going to get their best shot.’'
Stefanski compliment Mayfield’s game and defended the errant throws.
“I want him to make them all,’' Stefanski said. “Theres’ nobody that makes every throw. He does a great job of playing this game and makes an amazing play for us to win.’'
The game was a much-needed breakout for Landry, who’s been frustrated this with his lack of opportunities and has had some uncharacteristic drops this season.
“It’s definitely been a challenge for me,’' Landry said. “[I’ve had] that tough conversation when you’re winning and you still feel like you may not be getting the ball. I just made every play that I possibly could get my hands on.”
Chubb also came up big down the stretch, as usual. He ran for 104 of his 144 yards in the second half, and averaged 7.6 yards on his 19 totes. Hunt tacked on another 62 yards rushing and the Browns totaled 207.
“[Chubb] consistently makes plays when we need him to,’' Mayfield said. “He runs extremely hard. We lean on him, especially late in these games where we need these critical yards and these tough yards, to earn them.’'
The Browns also got a big game out of the embattled Sendejo, who made a big breakup in the end zone in the first quarter, and another on a deep ball on that final drive before catching the two-pointer. It was just what the Browns needed with Harrison out for the game.
“Dejo is a veteran,’' said Mayfield. “He’s a guy that blocks out whatever heat is on the outside because it truly does not matter. He comes and he leads. He is leading a young group of guys and continuing to show up for us.’'
The Browns, who hope to have Garrett and others back from the COVID-19 list next week, now have two huge games coming up against the 8-3 Titans and the 6-4 Ravens that will have huge playoff implications. The Titans rolled over the Colts (7-4) 45-26 on Sunday to help the Browns a favor in the playoff race, but they know they must play better in Tennessee on Sunday.
“As a team, we haven’t played a full-complete game yet,’' said Joel Bitonio. “We won some games and we’ve been in some battles and a lot of one-score games the last few weeks, but if we put it all together, I think it is going to be something special.”
Next
The Browns play in Tennessee next Sunday at 1 p.m.
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After a Thanksgiving bye week, BYU once again remained at #8 in the AP Top 25 and Coaches Polls. No teams ahead of BYU lost this week, so it was no surprise BYU remained steady in the polls. BYU is one of three teams 9-0 along with Notre Dame and Coastal Carolina.
The important rankings come out Tuesday when the second College Football Playoff rankings are unveiled. The general consensus among the national media is that BYU was hosed with its #14 ranking in last week’s inaugural reveal. #8 Northwestern was the lone team ranked above BYU that lost this weekend, so it will be interesting to see if BYU will move up much at all. The national media hammered the CFP committee, so if BYU moves up more than one or two spots it likely will be due to the ridicule and pressure that happened this past week.
In the meantime, BYU is looking to add another game to its schedule on December 5. BYU’s lone remaining game is December 12 versus San Diego State, so Tom Holmoe will be doing everything he can to add a quality opponent this coming weekend so BYU can prove that it is a legitimate top 10 team.
The changes in the poll came after that, with Miami inching up to No. 9 and Indiana returning to the top 10.
Oregon's first loss of the season knocked the Ducks out of the top 10, dropping them 12 spots to No. 21.
POLL POINTS
The Crimson Tide have now been ranked for 209 consecutive AP polls, matching Florida's run from 1990-2002 under Steve Spurrier for the third-longest streak in the history of the rankings.
Florida State is second at 211 straight poll appearances from 1989-2001. With two games against losing teams left on Alabama's schedule, the Tide are likely to catch Bobby Bowden's Seminoles before the SEC championship game on Dec. 19.
IN-N-OUT
Texas, Auburn and North Carolina dropped out of the rankings after each lost for the third time this season. All three started the season ranked and at some point spent time in the top 10.
The replacements were two teams returning to the poll and one making its season debut:
— No. 23 Washington is ranked for the first time this season after it improved to 3-0 with a 21-point comeback against Utah on Saturday night.
— No. 24 Iowa was also 24th in the preseason. The Hawkeyes disappeared from the rankings along with the rest of the Big Ten when it did not look as if the conference would play in the fall. When the Big Ten returned, Iowa didn't quite make the cut among voters, but four victories in a row have the Hawkeyes back where they started.
Vanderbilt fired football coach Derek Mason on Sunday, one day after a 41-0 loss at Missouri dropped the Commodores' record to 0-8.
Mason had a 27-55 record in his sixth season at Vanderbilt. He is the sixth-winningest coach in program history and only the second to lead the Commodores to two bowl games.
In a statement on Twitter, Mason wrote, "It has truly been my honor to have been given the opportunity to teach, mentor, champion and coach hundreds of Vanderbilt young men and one courageous female."
"On behalf of the entire Vanderbilt community, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Coach Mason for his many years of dedication and service leading our football program," athletic director Candice Storey Lee said in a statement. "Derek cares deeply about the student-athletes under his charge. His tenure at Vanderbilt will be remembered for his steadfast commitment to our student-athletes, not only on the field, but in the classroom and as young people."
Offensive coordinator Todd Fitch will serve as interim coach. Vanderbilt said the search for a new coach will begin immediately.
Vanderbilt plays at No. 9 Georgia on Saturday and is working to reschedule its final home game against Tennessee, which was postponed by the SEC to help Missouri catch up on games played. The Commodores have never had a winless campaign in their 117-year history.
Despite competing against SEC programs with far greater resources and recruiting bases, Mason guided the Commodores to at least five victories in three straight seasons from 2016 to 2018. He became the first Vanderbilt coach since the 1920s to beat in-state rival Tennessee three straight seasons, and his teams played in the 2016 Independence Bowl and 2018 Texas Bowl.
Vanderbilt went 3-17 the past two seasons combined, however, including 1-15 in the SEC. The Commodores have lost 12 straight SEC games, the longest active streak for a Power 5 school.
At least seven Vanderbilt players opted out of the 2020 season, with eight others transferring. Linebacker Dmitri Moore opted out and then changed his mind before deciding to transfer after playing in a loss to then-No. 6 Florida.
Hired in 2014 as Vanderbilt's 28th coach, Mason replaced James Franklin when he left for Penn State. Mason came to Vanderbilt after being associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Stanford.
Among the candidates who might be targeted by Vanderbilt are former Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher, Buffalo's Lance Leipold, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea (a former Vanderbilt fullback), Princeton's Bob Surace, Nevada's Jay Norvell, Indiana's Tom Allen, Tulane's Willie Fritz, Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott, Louisiana Tech's Skip Holtz, Charlotte's Will Healy, Coastal Carolina's Jamey Chadwell, Army's Jeff Monken, Navy's Ken Niumatalolo and North Dakota State's Matt Entz.
ESPN's Adam Rittenberg and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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