Ohio tops Central Michigan

ATHENS — Jackson Paveletzke scored 22 points and Shereef Mitchell made two free throws with 16 seconds remaining as Ohio defeated Central Michigan 84-82 on Tuesday night.

Paveletzke also contributed six rebounds for the Bobcats (14-12, 8-5 Mid-American Conference). AJ Brown scored 20 points and added seven rebounds. Mitchell shot 5 of 16 from the field, including 3 for 6 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 7 from the line to finish with 18 points.

Jakobi Heady finished with 35 points for the Chippewas (11-15, 4-9). Ugnius Jarusevicius added 25 points and six rebounds.

Paveletzke put up 20 points in the second half.

Both teams play again on Saturday. Ohio hosts Akron and Central Michigan travels to play Western Michigan.

Panthers re-sign QB Dalton

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers re-signed quarterback Andy Dalton on Tuesday to a two-year contract, giving them a veteran presence behind starter Bryce Young heading into the 2025 season.

The 37-year-old Dalton, who threw for 989 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions in five starts last season, was set to become an unrestricted free agent next month. Dalton joined the Panthers in 2023 and spent the past two seasons mainly backing up Young, the No. 1 overall pick that year.

However, Dalton was thrust into a starting role in Week 3 last season when first-year head coach Dave Canales benched Young after the Panthers started 0-2 and were outscored 73-13. Canales said at the time he turned to Dalton because he felt he “gave the Panthers the best chance to win.”

Dalton responded by throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns in his first start, a 36-22 road win at Las Vegas. However, he lost his next four starts before being sidelined with a sprained thumb following a car crash in Charlotte.

Young regained the starting job and never looked back.

Following a loss to Denver, Young responded with two wins and showed steady improvement the rest of the season.

Young went 4-6 as a starter down the stretch for Carolina and finally appeared to figure things out in Week 18 when he threw for 251 yards and combined for a career-high five touchdowns in a 44-38 overtime road win against the Atlanta Falcons, cementing his role as a starter heading into the next season.

Dalton has thrown for 39,500 yards with 253 touchdowns and 150 interceptions during his NFL career. A second-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011, Dalton has played for five teams during his 14-year career and been selected to the Pro Bowl three times.

Notre Dame hires new RB coach

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame has hired running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider away from Penn State to do the same job for the Irish, coach Marcus Freeman announced Tuesday.

Seider had been the Nittany Lions’ running backs coach since 2018 and was promoted to co-offensive coordinator in 2022 and assistant head coach in 2023.

He coached 1,000-yard rushers Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen this past season, and this year he will work with one of the nation’s top returning backs in Notre Dame 1,100-yard rusher Jeremiyah Love. He takes over for Deland McCullough, who left to coach the Las Vegas Raiders’ running backs.

“Ja’Juan is a great offensive mind,” Freeman said. “He has coached multiple offensive positions, but his ability to recruit and develop high level running backs is exceptional. His experience utilizing multiple running backs effectively within the offense and simultaneously turning them into NFL talent is one of several reasons why he is a great fit for our program.”

Seider was named the 247Sports Big Ten Recruiter of the Year in 2023 and was named a national top-10 recruiter by On3 in 2022 and 2019.

Seider also has coached running backs at Florida (2017), West Virginia (2013-16) and Marshall (2010-12).