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(STATS) -- Morehead State posted its first winning season in eight years in 2015, but that campaign began with a blowout loss at James Madison. The Eagles return to the scene of that defeat Saturday night when they take on the 12th-ranked Dukes, one of two matchups for Pioneer Football League teams against STATS FCS Top 25 squads in Week 1.The Eagles went 7-4 last season, their most wins since matching that record in 2007, and finished third in the 11-team PFL. Theyre picked to finish fourth in 2016 despite being led by senior quarterback Austin Gahafer, the reigning PFL Offensive Player of the Year and active FCS leader with 8,514 passing yards.Gahafer, on the STATS FCS National Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Watch List, set career highs with 291 completions, 3,244 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. His worst game -- and Morehead States -- came at James Madison in the opener.Gahafer had season lows of 18 completions and 173 yards in a 56-7 loss Sept. 5, one of two games in 2015 in which he didnt throw a touchdown pass. The Eagles were held to season lows in points and total yards (252), while James Madison established a then-school record with 713 yards.Still, first-year Dukes coach Mike Houston knows his team is in for a challenge.Weve got to do a good job of putting pressure on (Gahafer), making him uncomfortable in the pocket, Houston said. Weve got to do a good job of making him move around in the pocket. And weve got to do a great job in the secondary of being disciplined in our coverages and not give up the big play.Fourth-year Morehead State coach Rob Tenyer is hoping his team puts on a better performance in this years opening game with the Dukes, who finished in a three-way tie for first place in CAA Football last season before being eliminated in the second round of the FCS playoffs.I told our team that we want to eat Thanksgiving dinner here in Morehead because that will mean we are getting ready for the FCS playoffs, Tenyer said. ... We have the makings to be a very successful team this year because of our depth. We do need to clean up some areas, and I feel like both sides of the ball need to play with a little more urgency and well be OK.Valparaiso, which visits the defending back-to-back Missouri Valley Football Conference champion in No. 10 Illinois State on Saturday night, isnt in the FCS playoff conversation.The Crusaders lost their last six games in 2015 to finish 1-9, are 9-68 overall since 2009 and have dropped 51 of their last 57 PFL contests. The Redbirds, meanwhile, reached the FCS championship game in 2014 and lost in the quarterfinals of the playoffs last season.Our players relish that opportunity to play against a Division I scholarship program, Valparaiso coach Dave Cecchini said Tuesday. The better the team, the bigger the challenge, the more excited they are to prove that they belong on that field. So theyve got a little bit of a chip on their shoulders.Valparaiso and Illinois State are playing for the first time since 1948. The Crusaders won the first two matchups in 1933 and 34 before the Redbirds took the last meeting.James Madison has won three in a row against Morehead State to improve to 6-2 in the all-time series, including a 5-0 mark at home.Were in year four, Tenyer said. Our goal ultimately is to take the next step and I think we made some tremendous progress in our first three years.A win over a James Madison program thats won 16 of its last 18 regular-season games would certainly be a step in the right direction. Pascal Siakam Jersey . Now that hes hitting streaking teammates with pin-point passes for easy layups, Love is asserting himself as one of the true superstars in the league. Tracy McGrady Jersey . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. 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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee coach Butch Jones has faced one eventual national champion, two other College Football Playoff semifinalists and another team that reached the BCS championship game since his arrival in Knoxville.But he doesnt believe any of his Tennessee teams have ever matched up against a defense as potent as the one theyll encounter Saturday when the 14th-ranked Volunteers (3-0, 0-0 SEC) host No. 19 Florida (3-0, 1-0).This is probably the best defense we have faced since I have been here, Jones said. They make you earn everything that you get.Florida is allowing the fewest points (4.7) and yards (129.7) per game of any Football Bowl Subdivision team. The Gators also have an FBS-leading 16 sacks.The Gators havent given up a touchdown pass all season and are allowing opponents to complete just 34 percent of their pass attempts. In a 32-0 victory over North Texas last week, Florida gave up 53 total yards, the lowest total the Gators have ever allowed in a single game.Weve just been motivated to really hold ourselves to a higher standard and just show everybody across the nation that were not coming to play any funny games, Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis said. Were coming to really do what we do and dominate and put ourselves out there as the best defense and the best team in the nation.Tennessee had some success last year moving the ball in a 28-27 loss to Florida , which finished the 2015 season ranked eighth nationally in total defense. The Vols outrushed Florida 254-109.But the Vols realize theyll be facing a much stronger defense this time.I dont want to take anything away from last years (Florida) defense, but I believe this defense is a lot better, Tennessee offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said. I believe that not only have they got great players over there, but I think theyre playing more physical over there.Floridas defense has no apparent weaknesses.Up front, Florida is allowing just 1.3 yards per carry and has five different players with at least two sacks. Jones ccalls Davis one of the nations best linebackers.dddddddddddd Jalen Tabor and Quincy Wilson are exceptional cover corners who can cover just about anyone one-on-one.The numbers, they speak for themselves, Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs said. Theyre physical up front, and they play a lot of man in the back end. They run to the ball really well.Florida coach Jim McElwain credits predecessor Will Muschamp, now at South Carolina, for assembling many of the players who comprise this defense.What I like is how hard theyre playing, but more than that, how disciplined and how well theyre playing together, McElwain said. Its just great to see.That defense has spent much of the week focusing on how it can better contain Dobbs.In last years meeting with Florida, Dobbs only threw for 83 yards, but he ran for 136 yards and also had a 58-yard touchdown reception. Dobbs became the first FBS player since 2003 to lead his team in passing, rushing and receiving in a single game.We had guys trying to do too much, McElwain said. And, not as an excuse, this guy is a good player, so he makes you look bad. Hes a great player, and we never stopped him an ounce last year.Tennessees task will be making sure Dobbs gets enough protection. The Vols offensive line has struggled thus far and now faces its toughest test of the season.The Vols had guard Jack Jones replace Drew Richmond in the starting lineup and had three other linemen switch positions last week, but they still gave up three sacks in a 28-19 victory over Ohio. Tennessees line could get a boost this week from the anticipated return of Chance Hall, who started the Vols final seven games at right tackle last season but hasnt played since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery last month.---AP Sports Writer Mark Long in Gainesville, Florida, contributed to this report.---Online: AP College Football website www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '