Sacramento State is reportedly talking with former NFL star quarterback Michael Vick to be its next head football coach.

The Hornets, who are building a new football stadium and are planning to move up to FBS, are in discussions to lure Vick to their program, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Meanwhile, the 44-year-old Vick is also in talks with Norfolk State, which also has a head coach opening. Should Vick land either job it would be his first experience coaching in college football.

Schefter also reported Sacramento State has more than $50 million in NIL funds, which puts the school in good financial shape to build up its football program.

The Hornets have been searching for a head coach since former head coach Andy Thompson left two weeks ago to join Stanford’s staff as an associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator for head coach Troy Taylor, whom Thompson replaced two years ago. Sacramento State had an 11-14 record during Thompson’ two years in Sacramento.

The Virginian-Pilot reported Monday that Vick, who served 18 months in prison for dog fighting while in the prime of his career, told the newspaper he has spoken with university president Javaune Adams-Gaston and athletic director Melody Webb about the position and expects resolution “soon.”

Norfolk State fired coach Dawson Odums in November after a 4-8 season. In Vick, the Spartans would be getting a coach without experience, but one who redefined the quarterback position at Virginia Tech and with the Atlanta Falcons, combining a powerful throwing arm with deft feet and speed.

“I know how to lead and I know what it takes,” Vick told the paper.

Vick carried the Hokies to the 1999 national title game, where they lost to Florida State 46-29. The Falcons made him the first Black quarterback to be chosen with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft.

He said the HBCU school reached out to him about the position.

Vick was released from federal prison in 2009 after pleading guilty and serving his sentence for his role in a dog-fighting ring. The case upended his stardom on the field at a time when he was the posterchild for modern football.

Vick made a comeback after he was released with the Philadelphia Eagles, but his prime years were behind him. He officially retired from the league in 2017, and has made advocating against animal cruelty a part of his mission.

He’s been an NFL analyst for Fox Sports since his retirement.

Spartans’ Nash makes All-America team >> San Jose State star Nick Nash was named to the AP All-America first team after a stellar senior season.

Nash led the country in receptions (104), receiving yards (1,382) and receiving touchdowns (16), becoming the fourth player ever to achieve the receiving triple crown.

He finished as a runner-up in the Biletnikoff Award for the top receiver to eventual Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, an AP first-team selection at two spots and a second-team pick at another.

Nash, a former Spartans quarterback, is set for his San Jose State finale next week in the Hawaii Bowl.

Hunter and Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts were repeat first-team selections, and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty was the only unanimous pick after he posted one of the highest single-season rushing totals in college football history.

Hunter, named the AP player of the year last week, is regarded as one of the greatest two-way college athletes since football shifted away from such players in the 1940s. He was named first-team cornerback, first-team all-purpose player and second-team receiver.

Hunter, who announced last month he would enter the 2025 NFL draft, said he would play in Colorado’s game against BYU in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28.

Ex-Stanford QB Daniels joins Auburn >> The Auburn Tigers have picked up a second transfer quarterback, with the addition of two-year Stanford starter Ashton Daniels.

Daniels, who announced his new school on Instagram, joins ex-Oklahoma starter Jackson Arnold in heading to the quarterback-starved Tigers.

Auburn must replace starter Payton Thorne, and two backups have entered the transfer portal. Daniels passed for 3,986 yards, 21 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in three seasons at Stanford. He also ran for 1,117 yards and nine touchdowns.

Women’s basketball

Cal returns to Top 25 poll >> Cal entered The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2019, coming in at No. 24.

Cal beat rival Stanford by 20 points last Friday, snapping a 12-game losing streak in the series. The 20-point win was the third largest in the series history and the most since a win during the 1981-82 season.

The Bears (12-1) had their only loss against No. 15 Michigan State.

Notre Dame jumped to No. 3 after beating rival UConn last week while the Huskies dropped to fourth after their 79-68 loss.

UCLA remained the No. 1 team, receiving 30 of the 32 first-place votes. South Carolina was second.

Harriel helps Stanford hold on for win >> Elena Bosgana had her first career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds and Jzaniya Harriel made a game-sealing steal to lead Stanford to a 62-57 victory over UTSA at home.

Stanford (8-3) led by three with 13 seconds remaining after Bosgana split a pair of free throws. UTSA (7-2) inbounded the ball when Harriel stole the ball and dropped in a fastbreak layup as time expired.

Women’s football

San Jose bids for team in women’s league >> San Jose could soon join Chicago and Jersey Shore as expansion teams in the Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC).

Silicon Valley tech executive Jake Langner is leading a small group of investors who are exploring the opportunity to bring a San Jose team to the growing league. The Bay Area group includes leaders with experience from locally headquartered companies and brands such as Google, Apple and Nest.

If this effort succeeds, the Bay Area will join other WNFC cities like Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas and Seattle.

Golf

Americans now paid to play in Ryder Cup >> Americans will be paid to play in the Ryder Cup for the first time under a PGA of America program that gives each player a $200,000 stipend and $300,000 to distribute to charity.

The $500,000 directed to each of the 12 players and the captain is an increase from the $200,000 that was designated only for charity. That started in 1999 when the pay-for-play issue first surfaced.