UNDATED (AP) — The woman who told police she was the ex-girlfriend of Georgia wide receiver Colbie Young has retracted statements which led to his arrest on misdemeanor charges of battery and assault on Oct. 8. Young was suspended by Georgia coach Kirby Smart following his arrest by Athens-Clarke County Police after the altercation with the 20-year-old woman. Young’s attorney, Kim Stephens, on Thursday released an affidavit to The Associated Press provided by the woman who said she wanted “to make clear my desire to have all charges against Colbie Young dismissed.” No. 2 Georgia plays at No. 16 Mississippi on Saturday.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Alex Condon scored a career-high 23 points, Alijah Martin added 15 and No. 21 Florida beat Jacksonville 81-60 in its home opener. Will Richard chipped in 11 points, five rebounds and three steals for the Gators. Florida hit 21 of its first 30 shots and built a 20-point lead early in the second half. The Gators cooled off down the stretch but were still too much for the Dolphins on both ends of the floor.  With the victory, Florida extended its winning streak in home openers to 34. Robert McCray, who averaged a team-leading 18.4 points a game last season, set the pace for Jacksonville with 20 points.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas coach Steve Sarkisian says Longhorns wide receiver Johntay Cook II has left the program. Sarkisian on Thursday called a mutual decision between himself and the player who was a top recruit in 2023 but who struggled to get playing time in a talented Longhorns receiving corps. Sarkisian did not elaborate on what prompted the move. Cook had eight catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns this season but none since the Mississippi State game on Sept. 28. The No. 5 Longhorns host Florida on Saturday.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Sarah Ashlee Barker scored 19 points, Zaay Green added 14 and No. 24 Alabama rolled to an 84-59 win over Alabama A&M. Barker was 9-of-11 shooting with seven rebounds for the Crimson Tide. Green had six rebounds, five assists and three steals against Dawn E. Thornton, her former coach at Arkansas Pine Bluff who is in her first year with the Bulldogs. Aaliyah Nye contributed 12 points. Kaila Walker scored 13 points to lead Alabama A&M. Barker and Green combined for 25 points in the first half as the Crimson Tide went up 46-25. They made 12 of 16 shots in the second quarter to 4 of 17 for A&M to stretch a 20-15 lead to 19. Despite going 5 of 16 in the fourth quarter, Alabama shot 56.5% (35 of 62), going 8 of 15 from 3-point range.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Billy Napier is getting a fourth season to try to get the Gators back to their winning ways. Athletic director Scott Stricklin told fans in a letter that the team is “building a foundation that promises greater success next season and beyond.” Stricklin stopped short of saying Napier definitely will be back in 2025. But a person close to the program says the statement was intended to send a message of stability for next year, not just the upcoming recruiting season.

UNDATED (AP) — Neither No. 11 Alabama (No. 11 CFP) nor No. 14 LSU (No. 15 CFP) can afford a third loss when they square off Saturday night in Baton Rouge. The Crimson Tide are in the first playoff bracket released Tuesday night and feeling rested after shutting out Missouri two weeks ago. The Tigers had a week off to regroup from a loss to Texas A&M and will have to run the table to remain in SEC and playoff consideration. Also, No. 2 Georgia (No. 2 CFP) visits No. 16 Ole Miss (No. 16 CFP), with the Bulldogs looking to maintain their playoff seeding that carries a first-round bye.

UNDATED (AP) — Lane Kiffin typically steers clear of talk about playoffs and championships. This week is an exception. There’s no sugarcoating the situation facing Kiffin and No. 16 Mississippi: They have to win out to keep those postseason hopes alive, starting Saturday with powerhouse No. 2 Georgia. Kiffin reminded his players that they have all those goals still intact at this point. Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart is coming off a school-record passing performance against Arkansas. Georgia has won four straight games, but Carson Beck has been intercepted eight times in the past three games.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The annual Alabama-LSU rivalry is Exhibit A this weekend for how the expanded College Football Playoff has changed what constitutes a high-stakes game in November. Both teams have two losses and neither has a top-10 ranking, yet the winner of Saturday night’s clash in Tiger Stadium will remain on track to become one of the 12 teams who’ll compete for a national title in January. The 14th-ranked Tigers have a CFP ranking of No. 15 while No. 11 Alabama is also 11th in the CFP. This matchup marks the first time since 2006 that retired coach Nick Saban won’t be on Alabama’s sideline.