VMI dashed Western Carolina’s playoff hopes with a 27-24 win.

The VMI Football team traveled Cullowhee for its SoCon-opening matchup with Western Carolina on Saturday afternoon, falling to the high-powered Catamounts offense 38-17.

The Southeastern Conference and the Big East eliminated their intraconference transfer policies Thursday, allowing athletes to transfer within the leagues without losing a year of eligibility.

The enterprise of major college football and the NCAA already has a tenuous relationship.

One of the best linebackers in college football, the top defensive tackles and the consensus best safety available are all still on the board heading into the second day of the NFL draft.

Korey Bridy ran for 91 yards and two touchdowns to lead VMI to a 30-7 victory over Western Carolina. It was the second straight win for VMI (2-0, 2-0 Southern Conference), which opened its season with a 14-13 victory over then-No. VMI rushed for 199 yards as a team while Reece Udinski and Seth Morgan combined for 293 yards passing. While as a team, VMI racked up 6 tackles for loss. Saturday’s win was the first time VMI had defeated Western Carolina since 1991 and it was the first ever Keydets win in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI went to halftime with a slim 39-37 lead over Western Carolina. Whatever the halftime speech was, it lit a fire under the Keydets’ playmakers. The Catamounts tied the game at 41 early in the second half before the Keydets responded with a 13-0 run. Myles Lewis got to the rim - overall a very good second half. And DJ Nussbaum had a good impact defensively and was able to score the ball some as well.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The 22nd-ranked Liberty Flames rolled up a season-high 633 yards of total offense on the way to a 58-14 victory over Western Carolina on Saturday at Williams Stadium. Liberty’s Malik Willis passed for 306 yards on 14-of-19 attempts with three touchdowns passes, while adding a team-high 97 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns. Liberty outgained WCU 633-282 for the game, while the Flames totaled a season-high 379 yards passing and 254 yards rushing. Liberty scored on big plays, with six out of the Flames' touchdowns were scored from 34 or more yards out. Liberty scored 13 points off of WCU’s three turnovers, while the Catamounts scored seven points off of the Flames' two turnovers.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – “If you don’t humble yourself you will be humbled so, we’re taking that approach,” said Flames Safety, Ben Alexander. Despite riding high on “Cloud 9” at 7-0 with two ACC victories, they aim to remain true to themselves. “You talk about 2020 being strange, we’re playing our 8th football game and facing an opponent that hasn’t had a game. Now, that’s strange and uncomfortable and not quite sure what to prepare for,” said head coach Hugh Freeze. Lining up in hopes of not letting up when they kickoff at Noon Saturday--as they aim to win their 10th consecutive home game.

LEXINGTON, Va. - LEXINGTON, Va. (AP) - Tyrie Adams threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns, Donnavan Spencer rushed for 137 yards and two scores, and Western Carolina held off VMI 43-35 on Saturday. Now leading 37-35, Western Carolina ran out the final 3:10 on the clock. Adams and Spencer connected on a 78-yard TD pass and Adams also hit D.J. Thorpe for a 13-yard score for a 14-13 Western Carolina lead after one quarter and the Catamounts went on to lead 20-19 at halftime. Western Carolina had 539 total yards.