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East Carolina managed to make it through two wins against ranked opponents in relatively good shape. The 15th-ranked Pirates weren't quite as lucky during their tough conference opener.

Starting linebacker Quentin Cotton is likely out for the season after injuring his right knee during the weekend win at Tulane, robbing the Pirates of one of their most experienced defensive players. The Pirates also will be without starting left tackle Stanley Bryant when they travel to N.C. State this weekend in search of their first 4-0 start in nine years.

Cotton was hurt in the second quarter during a goal-line stand in the 28-24 come-from-behind win Saturday. He had started 15 games over the past two seasons and all three games this year, tallying two interceptions and 1.5 sacks. The injury means versatile reserve Nick Johnson will move into the starting lineup.

Bryant, a senior, hurt his left knee and is out indefinitely.

N.C. STATE: There's plenty of room for improvement for N.C. State's offense. The Wolfpack has the 100th-ranked passing offense, the No. 106 rushing offense, the 109th-ranked scoring offense and the No. 113 total offense. The only other members of that non-exclusive club are a pair of winless teams, Washington State and Florida International.

So far in 2008, the offense hasn't scored a touchdown against a team from what used to be called Division I-A, a humbling span of 13 quarters that dates back to the next-to-last game of the '07 season -- though the Wolfpack (1-2) did manage four TDs two weeks ago against William & Mary of the championship subdivision.

"It is frustrating, but all you can do is just keep working hard, get out to practice each week and try to improve," offensive guard John Bedics said Monday.

BACK ON TOP: Following North Dakota State's 16-13, last-second loss to Wyoming, Appalachian State jumped over the Bison and back into the No. 1 spot in the FCS Coaches Poll, which was released Monday.

The Mountaineers picked up 17 first-place votes and 686 total points to take the No. 1 spot. Appalachian, which had a bye this past weekend, travels to No. 5 James Madison Saturday in a matchup of the last two schools to win a FCS championship. Elon is 18th.

In the The Sporting News FCS poll, Appalachian is No. 1, and Elon is 17th.

WAKE FOREST: Wake Forest's home football game against Navy on Saturday, Sept. 27 has been set for a 3:45 p.m. kickoff at BB&T Field. ESPNU will televise the game.

The 18th-ranked Deacons will travel to Florida State this week in the ACC opener for each team. That game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and will start at 7 p.m. Saturday.

WINSTON-SALEM STATE: The Rams have fired offensive coordinator Nick Calcutta. Head coach Kermit Blount will assume the offensive coordiator duties.

Said Dr. Chico Caldwell, WSSU's athletics director: "In the best interest of the football program, the team, the athletics department and the university, mutual separation was the right thing to do.''

OREGON: Quarterback Justin Roper will be out two to four weeks because of a partially torn ligament in his left knee.

Ducks coach Mike Bellotti said Roper injured his knee late in a 32-26 overtime victory at Purdue on Saturday and that preliminary reports indicate a partial tear of Roper's medial collateral ligament.

TRIAL AVERTED: A trial has been averted in a teenager's lawsuit claiming she suffered psychological trauma from nearly a two-year sexual relationship with former Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick.

Steven Smith, an attorney for the Christiansburg teenager, told The Roanoke Times the parties have agreed in principle to a settlement in the $6.35 million lawsuit. He would not discuss details.

A trial was to begin next week in Montgomery County (Va.) on the lawsuit's charges of sexual battery upon a minor and willful and wanton conduct. The girl, now 19, said in her lawsuit that she and Vick had a sexual relationship that began in January 2004 and lasted through December 2005.