The Latest Breaking News from North Carolina

PORTLAND, Ore. — Alabama coach Nate Oats said on Friday after both the Crimson Tide and North Carolina lost games in the Phil Knight Invitational that Sunday’s matchup would be as close to a must-win game as one could be in November.

The Wolverines (12-0) reached a season-high No. 2 after beating Ohio State, which dropped the Buckeyes three spots to No. 5.

The Tar Heels earned their No. 1 ranking based on last March, but this year's group has yet to play up to that level.

PORTLAND, Ore. — The experience that was supposed to help No. 1 North Carolina in tough games was no help at all in its 70-65 loss to Iowa State on Friday in the Phil Knight Invitational.

PORTLAND, Ore. — No. 1 North Carolina played Portland on Thursday to open the Phil Knight Invitational like it won’t be keeping that top ranking much longer.

The Big Ten′s season has led into this weekend. Ohio State and Michigan, both 11-0, play in Columbus with everything at stake. It’s the first time they’ll play with undefeated records since 2006.

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Playing a non-conference schedule as difficult as the one Michigan State is in the midst of comes with its share of risk.

Ideally, if Georgia Tech football makes Brent Key the permanent head coach, it will work out for the Yellow Jackets like it did for Clemson with Dabo Swinney. The comparison might seem absurd because Swinney is one of college football’s more successful coaches. But in 2008, Swinney was a position…

The losses are piling up again, to teams that no ACC team should ever lose to, under any circumstance.