backfield. penalty is declined. second down. >> rece: that's three of those tonight for anthony belton as we go down to holly. lrl >> holly: you can see mckenzie melton, he had a horrific leg injury, here he is going into the coaching profession. he has been sitting right by nico all night long. they are watching the tablet together. they have a shared connection, i'll tell you after the play. >> rece: remember mckenzie that night coming off the bench. holly? >> holly: remember, mckenzie melton is from hawaii, he shares that polynesian heritage with nico. and they have connected on a really different level. coaches, people inside the tennessee program tell us that mckenzie has been fabulous for him. he trusts him, he's a guy that just barely finished playing, so, they have a lot in common. and they can really speak the same language on many levels.

ed mor >> rece: mckenzie melton, he was just scintillating at ucf, some of those great ucf teams. suffered that terrible injury, went to florida state, had a moment against notre dame, and -- c.j. bailey puts it on the deck. the youngster getting some experience here at the end of the blowout. so, melton came off the bunch and warmed the hearts of everyone, not just college football fans, but sports fans, because it looked as if his career might be over. had to struggle to learn to walk again. came back out, led that comeback that night. >> kirk: that was special. we were just -- forget football, is he going to be okay? is he going to be able to walk? then to come out and play the way he did that night, very memorable evening. >> rece: 6:30 to go, nc state will have to punt it away. and you start to wonder now in nico's night will come to an

end. i know he's young, needs reps and so forth, but -- >> kirk: no, no. >> rece: might be time to pull the plug on that. there's squirrel white. squirrel white looking for room. let's see if he's got enough to get to the corner. across the 45, to the 50, 45 -- not quite enough real estate to turn the corner and take that one all the way back. okay, so, josh heupel, came from junior college, the lefty, led bob stoops team to a national championship in 2000. >> kirk: that was a special team. they were really underdogs for much of the year. ended up getting into the national championship down in miami against florida state, and chris wine key and they won that game 14-2 or something -- 13-2. >> rece: that was a dynamic florida state team. man, that oklahoma defense was strong and heupel was the quarterback they needed. and that -- >> kirk: they're going to update

that oklahoma chance to win, i think. all those are going to need to be updated. can you throw that up again, billy? let me just look at that based on just watching the first couple weeks. doesn't mean oklahoma is a bad team. the fact that they're in a battle with houston. alabama at home, again, that seems to be very low to me. georgia -- forget about for a second. that's -- they're just a different team. >> rece: worry about that one later. >> kirk: worry about that one later. the rest of them -- but i think they're going to have a chance in every single one of these games they're going to play. georgia, of course, on the road in athens will be a very, very tough game, but by then, this young team will have grown up. you know? >> rece: things may have changed by then. gaston moore is playing quarterback. nico's night is done. >> kirk: when i say young team, the young secondary, you know, nico getting more and more reps, just continuing to gel and grow, but --

>> rece: that's part of it. there are enough inexperienced parts on this team, certainly not a finished product. but i can't imagine a better start, these first two weeks. and they look like -- they have the look of a team that can develop and be a contender in the s.e.c. what we saw from texas today, and what we saw from georgia last week -- three of the most impressive performances by s.e.c. teams. conference that has struggled overall, some of the other teams. >> kirk: yeah. would you put miami in there? just talking about impressive teams. >> rece: yeah. for sure. >> kirk: we really only had a chance to see them in that one game. and it was on the road in an s.e.c. stadium and they, i think, wowed everybody with cam ward and damian martinez coming over, both are transfer portal guys. that was a wow moment. georgia last week was a wow moment. i think usc really impressed a lot of people.

you know, going and taking on lsu, who, by the way, played good football, but usc found a way to win the game. you mentioned texas, with a big statement. say whatever you want about michigan being a young team, after they lost so much, but -- you and i were standing on the sideline in that atmosphere. >> rece: woo. >> kirk: that was a hyped up atmosphere against the defending national champions. i don't know, there was just something about -- sark is building something special there. when they went last year to alabama, they went into that game expecting to win, you know? and i think these last three years, it's just been growing and growing. they came close last year, and they look like a team that's for real. georgia/texas down the road in okay, that's going to be massive. >> rece: yeah. f-1 race in austin that week. it will be up for grabs. back to the big house this afternoon, michigan, early in the game, before the thing got out of hand, said, this is ohio

state-level noise. it was a cauldron of intensity that texas just went in there and quieted. long field goal attempt for the young kicker, and -- gilbert couldn't get that one to go through. that was a 53 yarder. my buddy mike black does such a great job spotting, kicking expert. said young kicker needs some reps, give him a shot at it, just to let him take a swing. so, 51-10, inside four minutes to play. program timeline for the big orange. phillip fulmer, over a 12-season span, mixed bag there with a number of coaches. but josh heupel stabilized things. had the 11-win season and

perhaps if not for the jury to hendon hooker, maybe they wind up in the playoff that year. >> kirk: 11-2 with hendon hooker. 9-4 last year. 20 wins. that's the best two-year run since going all the way back 20 years ago, '03-04. that's unreal. >> rece: it's been awhile. they wandered in the wilderness for awhile. they seem to have found their way now. and they are playing hungry until the end. >> kirk: this is the backup defense. and they're doing the exact same thing, running to the football, hitting people. and enjoying it. just flying around right now. >> rece: the freshman farooq was in there. wanted to get some of the action. >> kirk: this tennessee defense, it's not over yet, 134 yards they've allowed tonight. earlier in the game, they allowed -- remember that opening drive. nc state was 3 of 3 on third down. since then, they're 0 for 8, and

they've not allowed a touchdown. remember, it was a six pick. no touchdowns for this defense in the last 12 quarters. >> rece: and their defense scored a touchdown of their own to match it. they had a pick six themselves. two pick sixes, one 85 yards, one 87. of course, three turnovers to 12 tackles for loss. it seems like twice that many. i'm sure it does to dave doeren. robert anae and that north carolina state offense, who had hopes of being able to control the ball, slow the game down, shorten it. tim banks and crew would have none of it. third and 12. quarterback will keep it, as nc state's getting its young quarterback some action, and c.j. bailey makes a nice run. bailey, a freshman from miami.

it will be a fourth down. need one. they haven't had much success, fourth and short tonight. two-minute time-out. tennessee on its way to its second victory of the season. we'll wrap it up from charlotte when you come back. rlotte as a member of navy federal credit union, frank feels financially at ease. which means he can worry about other things like... ...if he should look at a text

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like how aflac pays people money for the expenses health insurance doesn't cover. aflac! health insurance does leave a gap. but aflac gives people money to help close that gap. aflac! oh! coach prime got one on the line too baby! uh huh! see that's how you hold up a trophy. trust me. get help with expenses health insurance doesn't cover. aflac is an official sponsor of espn college gameday. i hope you're hungry. i'm glad i brought my own dinner. uh huh. >> rece: aerial coverage provided by goodyear, celebrating the challenge of road games everywhere. are you ready for the road? goodyear is more driven. the lights might be sort of maize and blue, but they've painted the town of charlotte orange tonight. two minutes to play, tennessee on top 51-10. nc state waving the white flag.

punting on fourth and two. tennessee will make the fair catch. and from here, they'll be able to run it out. this tennessee defense has just been stifling. >> kirk: it's been beautiful to watch. i mean, just -- if you like defense, you know, in this era of spread and offense and firepower, i -- i find it refreshing to watch a defense fly around. didn't have to blitz very often. they brought it when they needed to, but mixed it up. knew coming it would be a battle for nc state. i love how they fly to the ball. play with that reckless abandon confidence. it's going to be fun to watch them grow. they have kent state, they have a bye, then they go to norman, oklahoma, who incidentally, oklahoma survived a scare from houston. they ended up winning 16-12, so, they remain unbeaten. plenty of work to do for the sooners. >> rece: when you have more and more admiration for the teams who do out and take care of their business, because it's more difficult to do now, because you have some older teams spread around the country

with all of the transfers, but at the same time, when you do it, you deserve the praise for it. notre dame wasn't able to do it, alabama pulled away late, oklahoma survived. but tennessee came here against a good, solid team and flexed. >> kirk: yeah, they did. you vote in the ap? where did you have them last week? >> rece: i'd have to look to see, 15, 16, 17, somewhere in the area. >> kirk: now? >> rece: i imagine they'll be in the top ten. maybe even a little bit higher. i'm trying to -- you try to reward the teams early on, you know, because -- it's going to be wild fluctuation. i've had notre dame -- >> kirk: volatile early. >> rece: penn state in the top five or six after their wins last week, then penn state -- haven't even mentioned that, you know, they scuffled around, so -- >> kirk: yeah, the bowling green state falcons gave them all they could handle there.

almost upset them. kansas state -- they ended up winning against tulane, they found a way? mark, appreciate it. >> rece: pulled it out. oklahoma state, we mentioned earlier, against arkansas. pretty good day for the big 12. and arizona state is off to a good start against mississippi state, too. early going. >> kirk: that's my super dogs, right? >> rece: how many are you getting there? >> kirk: i think 5 1/2. great job, kid. love calls the games with you. >> rece: likewise. chris fowler will be back next week. got the u.s. open men's championship coming up on sunday. and the clock winds down, and will strike zeros. a disappointing night for dave doeren and a really impressive one for tennessee and josh heupel. doeren finds josh there, and the two share a word, and boy oh boy, tennessee has been rolling. holly rowe has the star young quarterback of the volunteers, nico iamaleava.

>> holly: this was one of your first big true tests -- he's too nice. he wants to say hello to everyone. this is one of your first big tests. how do you feel you passed so far tonight? >> played a little sloppy in the beginning. i thought we did a good job in finishing strong in the second half. >> holly: the coaches talked to us about your poise and composure. you were able to get out and have good drives. how do you move quickly past those mistakes? >> i think that's just something that's stuck with me when i was young chl young. my dad instilled in me to move on quick. we had a bad play in the second quarter, i had to bounce back. >> holly: you ran for some key first downs, showed your athleticism. how were you able to show your skill set tonight? >> yeah, i think i was just taking what the defense was giving me. when they drop eight, you know, i had so many answers, and i was just trying to force stuff. so, i think second half, i settled down well. >> holly: over 100 points in

your last two games. what's next for this offense that you can continue to connect on and improve with? >> i think everything. we got to continue to get better this year. you know, we know what our goal in mind is, so, every day, we're pushing fur our goal. >> holly: i see your folks in the crowd. what does that mean to you? >> means everything. i love having my parents here. have some family out here from north carolina come out. i love having my family here supporting me. >> holly: thank you, nico. >> appreciate you. >> rece: seven siblings. nico iamaleava is the guy tennessee has been waiting on, their fans, and they've got an opportunity to have a big year. final score from charlotte, 51-10. tennessee wins over nc state. tonight's game was produced by -- equally great now. except on the west coast, stay tuned for your late local news over most of these abc stations. a victorious night for heupel and the big orange. for kirk herbstreit and holly

rowe, i'm rece davis saying good night from the duke's mayo classic in charlotte, where tennessee rolled to victory.

the game. cal taking on auburn down in alabama and throw out all the predictions because they were all wrong. dead wrong. golden bears now in the acc. first of several cross country trips today. this one in sec territory. auburn's mascot, the fearsome and majestic war eagle. first quarter we go. fernando mendoza, looking and finding isaiah hunter. 19 yards out, seven seven early on. second quarter. we go mendoza. he's rolling. he's looking. he's firing to hunter. their second touchdown of the day. third quarter we go. we love this teddy buchanan with a sack o payton thorne got payton thorne

down two sacks on the day. look at the muscles he had. fourth quarter we go. jaquan hunter up the middle. look at the d though. they rip the ball right out of their bundle. fumble. that is buchanan with the strip craig woodson with the recovery momentum. swing right there. two plays later jayvian thomas 32 yard run out of the house. a bolt of speed right there. golden bears up two touchdowns, but auburn wasn't done yet. thorne keeps it on the read option. he's in the end zone. back to a one score game late. fourth we go thorne. he's looking deep down the sidelines. no. williams with the huge interception. his second interception of the game and third of the season. cal's defense outstanding all day long. how about another i-n-t right there. that's major hurns the third. cal's defense with five takeaways a huge road win 2114. cal is two and oh on the season. our toyota let's go places player of the day is the guy who helped hold the bears defense together all day long. we really could have gone with

fernando mendoza, who threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns, or noelle williams with his two interceptions. but today's toyota let's go places. player of the day goes to teddy buchanan 11 tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss and the key forced fumble in the fourth quarter. and he had those huge muscles. we kept seeing in this game. teddy ballgame might be his new nickname if this keeps up. congrats to teddy buchanan, the san francisco native. our toyota let's go places. player of the day. all this college football probably has you thinking about that one football team. we always talk about the san francisco 40 niners, t -48 hours until kickoff. will they bounce back from the dreaded super bowl hangover? we'll begin to find out monday night against the jets right here on abc seven. only one team this century has lost the super bowl one year and returned to play for the lombardi trophy the following year. the patriots, in zero eight and oh 940 niners have reached the super bowl twice in the past four years,

losing to kansas city both times. 40 niners quarterback brock purdy not worried about any hangover. he's focused on a new season. >> we've done so much. i feel like as a team, whether it was guys leaving, guys joining our team and growing together with the squad that we have this yea, and that's where our mindset is at, man, it's about 2020 for us. you know, we just played we played in that game in february and now it's already a new season. so for us it is. and it's been like that since you know we got back for otas and camp. just in terms of flipping the page and getting after it for this year, man. so it's a long season. it's a marathon, but we know what it takes. and, you know, monday night for us it's the start of a whole new journey. so one more reminder. >> we've got the 40 niners and jets live from levi's stadium here on monday night. we'll have all the highlights and interviews after the game. i will be live in our 4 p.m. show prior to the game. our official pregame coverage starts at 5:00. kickoff at 515 here on abc seven. that is it for sports.

dion, get your red out and get ready for football on monday. >> i feel you're jazzed up. what a great assignment for you. come monday look forward to. all right j.r. thank you thank you. well coming up tonight on abc seven news a new approach to fighting wildfires before they start. first responders are turning prevention into a celebration with a unique festival helping neighbors be safer before a wildfire emergency. >> and the fog and onshore flow cooled things down for many neighborhoods. here's a live shot. the golden gate bridge, a bigger cooldown though on the way, and i'l

after someone shot five people on a highway. it all happened in a rural stretch of interstate 75 of laurel county, kentucky that is south of lexington. it's not clear right now how badly the five people are hurt, but

deputies say they are stable. the mayor in the nearby city of london says two others were hurt in a car crash. police are searching for a 32 year old man they say is a person of interest. drivers have been stuck on the highway there for hours as police investigate. and we are also tracking some breaking news closer to home. police in oakland are investigating a shooting near 23rd street and mlk, not far from 980. those calls started coming in at about 430 today. two people were hurt. we don't know how badly police have the area blocked off as they investigate. fir building in the north bay. set to help others be safer. neighbors and firefighters are getting together this weekend to face wildfires together. as we head into prime wildfire season. thousands came out for a unique festival in the north bay. ahead on abc seven news at 11. abc seven news reporter cornell bernard takes us to marin

county's ember stomp and shows us why there is so much interest this season. all right. speaking of wildfire season winds, not a concern, at least for now. >> not this weekend, but they will be towards the middle of the week. right now we're dealing with some clouds off the coast, some clear skies around everywhere else, and temperatures range from upper 50s in san francisco to upper 70s for inland areas. and tonight the fog and low clouds roll in temperatures. generally in the 50s, we could even see some patchy drizzle, especially near the coast. tomorrow's highs will actually be very similar to today's highs, so look for beaches to reach the mid 60s. inland areas. the mid 90s san francisco 70 oakland 78 san jose 88. and then here's the accuweather seven day forecast. so not too much change over the next couple of days. but temperatures really tumble on tuesday for many areas 5 to 10 degrees cooler tuesday and wednesday with that stronger onshore flow then a gradual warming trend for next weekend.

>> all i know is i'm the season of football means i won't see my husband for the next couple of months. >> a holiday season for th

"wheel of fortune" fans, get ready. this is a new era that we're starting. ryan seacrest joins vanna white beginning monday. this is pop culture. this is not just a tv show. this is part of american culture. we're talking with ryan and vanna about the new season, their new partnership, and the new sets.