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The Big 12 has not been kind to conference newcomers UCF and Cincinnati. In their first year in the league, neither squad has come up with a Big 12 win. That will change on Saturday when the Bearcats (2-6, 0-5) play host to the Knights (3-5, 0-5). Both programs have enjoyed glory years of recent vintage. UCF, for example, went 13-0 in 2017 and 35-4 over a three-year span that also included 2018 and 2019.

Minnesota will try to become bowl eligible when it hosts Illinois in a Big Ten Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) are looking for their third win in a row after knocking off then-No. 24 Iowa and Michigan State in their two most recent games. They sit in a four-way tie for first place in the West Division along with Iowa, Wisconsin and Nebraska. Minnesota coach P.J.

Nebraska will try to use the same formula that has led to a three-game win streak when it visits Michigan State on Saturday in East Lansing, Mich. The Cornhuskers (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) have limited their last three opponents to a combined 30 points, most recently beating Purdue 31-14 at home to move within a game of being bowl eligible for the first time in seven years. Overall, they’re allowing 18.6 points per game, sixth

The Vancouver Canucks are off to a surprisingly hot start to the season, and will not allow the frustration of their last outing to carry forward when they host the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. The Canucks saw their three-game winning streak snapped with a 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday, but that defeat is not the kind that should drop their spirits. Other than New York taking advantage with its power

The Los Angeles Kings will be going for their fourth consecutive road win Tuesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Kings are undefeated on the road this season but are 1-2-2 at home after losing 4-3 in a shootout to the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. “They are the measuring stick, obviously, they’ve earned that right,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said. “We were able to play a pretty good game,

San Diego State made a miracle run through the NCAA Tournament last season before losing to UConn in the national title game. The No. 17 Aztecs certainly won’t be operating under the radar this season as they begin chasing another dream campaign with a home game against Cal State Fullerton on Monday. San Diego State (32-7 last season) rattled off five straight wins during the tournament, including a mammoth takedown of No. 1 seed Alabama

Villanova’s first season was a bit rocky following the retirement of Hall of Fame head coach Jay Wright. The Wildcats finished 17-17 and were knocked out in the opening round of the NIT under Kyle Neptune, a longtime Villanova assistant under Wright. No. 22 Villanova, which opens the season at home Monday against American, is expected to be markedly improved this season thanks to a strong transfer class consisting of Tyler Burton (Richmond), TJ Bamba

North Carolina can’t make amends all at once for its shortcomings a season ago, but the No. 19 Tar Heels can begin that process from the get-go. The season launches with a game against visiting Radford on Monday Chapel Hill, N.C. The Tar Heels, who were fresh off a spot in the 2022 NCAA championship game, began last season with the No. 1 ranking and didn’t land a spot in the postseason with a 20-13

No. 9 Tennessee is the media’s preseason choice to win the Southeastern Conference championship, coming off a 25-win season and a Sweet 16 appearance. But the Volunteers could be counting on newcomers when they open the regular season against visiting Tennessee Tech on Monday in Knoxville. Tennessee tuned up with an 89-88 win at No. 4 Michigan State in an Oct. 29 exhibition game to help raise money for a Maui wildfire relief fund. Northern

A bulk of Kentucky’s roster are freshmen or transfers and the latest edition of John Calipari’s team features a pronounced lack of available height. Before heading into a neutral site showdown with No. 1 Kansas in the annual Champions Classic, No. 16 Kentucky gets two home games to measure its roster starting Monday when it hosts New Mexico State in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky went 22-12 last season and lost standout forward Oscar Tshiebwe along with