Cornell's president called the alleged gang rape of a student at a fraternity house in 2024 “deeply disturbing” Saturday, said it would weigh on the university for years to come and pledged greater transparency amid mounting outrage over the school’s handling of the case.
In an eight-minute video message to the Cornell community, Michael Kotlikoff described the past week as one of the most difficult in the university’s history and acknowledged troubling questions about the investigations that followed the allegations.
“My heart aches when I think of what she experienced,” Kotlikoff said. “It raises heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanization and aspects of party culture, alcohol and drug use.”
Kotlikoff reaffirmed his commitment to supporting an independent review of Cornell's handling of the case called for by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and said the school's Board of Trustees would announce details next week. He also expressed support for Hochul’s decision to turn the criminal investigation over to the state attorney general.
“I want to acknowledge something that can be difficult for an institution to say,” Kotlikoff said. “We don’t have all the answers, but we are committed to investigating and finding the answers our community deserves.”
Scrutiny has mounted in recent days over Cornell’s response to allegations that the woman was sexually assaulted by multiple fraternity members in 2024. The woman, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, has sued the university and seven former students.
During a student assembly hearing Thursday that gave students an opportunity to voice concerns and discuss proposals to improve Cornell’s response to sexual assault, several speakers called for Kotlikoff’s resignation.
Hochul, asked at a news conference Friday whether she believed Kotlikoff should resign over the university’s handling of the case, declined to take a position, saying she did not yet have enough information.
Kotlikoff acknowledged frustration that Cornell has not communicated enough, saying that has led to distrust. While citing “real legal and privacy limits” on what the university can disclose, he pledged greater transparency and more opportunities for students, parents and others to engage with university leaders.
He also committed Cornell’s support to legislative efforts to change New York’s sexual assault laws.
The case has renewed scrutiny of a state law that makes it difficult to prosecute sexual assaults involving people who voluntarily consume alcohol or drugs, even if they became too intoxicated to consent.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten cited the law in defending his initial decision not to pursue charges, saying the woman’s original statement to police described voluntary drug use and sexual activity.
Critics have long sought to close what they call the “voluntary intoxication loophole,” which distinguishes between people incapacitated by drugs administered without their consent and those who voluntarily became intoxicated. Hochul has pledged to push for changes to the law.
Kotlikoff also called for a “serious look at the role of fraternities and sororities in campus life,” saying Cornell would engage students, alumni and others in examining how to preserve the benefits of Greek life while strengthening accountability and transparency.
“Being part of a group can never diminish individual responsibility for our own actions, for how we treat others or for speaking up when someone may be at risk,” he said.
Pedestrians walk on the campus at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Georgia, Notre Dame and Alabama remained unbeaten — and mostly untested.
No. 8 Florida came out flat and never recovered, getting drubbed 45-17 at 25th-ranked Missouri on Saturday a week after dismantling then-No. 4 Mississippi 52-28. It was a huge letdown for the Gators, whose apparent turnaround under new coach Jon Sumrall may have been more flukish than formative.
The Gators rose 13 spots in the AP Top 25 after last week's home win against the Rebels. Now, they could see a similar slide in the poll.
No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Notre Dame and seventh-ranked Alabama had no such disappointment.
Gunner Stockton threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns, and the Bulldogs pulled away late to beat Vanderbilt 38-14. The Bulldogs led 21-14 at halftime but got a lucky — Luckie, really — bounce in the third quarter to help create some cushion.
Tight end Lawson Luckie grabbed a tipped pass from Stockton that was nearly intercepted and turned it into a 43-yard reception that set up a touchdown. Georgia also benefited from a blocked field goal and a fourth-down stop that came courtesy of an overturned reception.
Meanwhile, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, CJ Carr threw four TD passes, Jonaz Walton ran for 108 yards and the Fighting Irish handled the Tar Heels 37-26. It was Notre Dame's 15th consecutive victory — all of them by at least 10 points.
The Crimson Tide were supposedly on upset alert in Starkville, Mississippi. But Alabama rolled over Kamario Taylor and No. 16 Mississippi State 56-23, sending a clear statement about the team to beat in the Southeastern Conference.
Keelon Russell threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns, Trae'shawn Brown ran for two scores and the Tide scored at least 45 points for the fifth consecutive game to start the season. It's one short of the team record set in 2018. Alabama plays at Georgia next Saturday.
The Alabama-Mississippi State matchup was expected to be a showcase for Taylor, who had been so impressive through four games. But he threw two interceptions, was sacked five times and headed to the locker room with an injury with 12 minutes to play.
Like Notre Dame and Alabama, No. 5 Ohio State had little trouble on the road. Julian Sayin threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns — two of them to Jeremiah Smith — and the Buckeyes handled Iowa 31-14.
No. 4 Miami (at Clemson) and No. 6 Indiana (at Rutgers) also face road tests later Saturday.
Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith turned in another impressive performance, catching 11 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns against the Hawkeyes. Smith struck a Heisman Trophy pose after a 57-yard TD reception in the third quarter.
Smith became the betting favorite to claim the Heisman following last week's four-touchdown outing against Illinois. His two-week totals: 23 receptions for 423 yards and six TDs.
The Heisman hopes of Florida running back Jadan Baugh and Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor surely took hits in lopsided losses.
Baugh finished with 13 yards on 12 carries at Missouri and was a non-factor all afternoon. He entered the game leading the SEC in rushing and leading the nation in scoring.
Taylor, who appeared limited by an ankle injury, fumbled and threw two interceptions that set up Alabama touchdowns.
Quarterback Bryce Underwood failed to get much going, and Michigan lost its second consecutive Big Ten game to fall to 0-2 in conference play for the first time since 2014.
Underwood completed 10 of 21 passes for 101 yards and ran 10 times for 20 yards for the Wolverines (3-2), who have failed to reach the 20-point mark in four of their five games under new coach Kyle Whittingham.
Michigan would be 2-3 if not for a controversial, 13-12 victory over Western Michigan in its season opener.
Liam Szarka rushed for two touchdowns, and Air Force defeated Navy 14-9 to take an early lead in the round-robin competition for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.
Air Force (3-1) can secure its first trophy since 2022 by beating Army (2-1) on Nov. 7. Army plays Louisiana Tech later Saturday.
Navy (1-3) takes on Army on Dec. 12 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Air Force has won the trophy 21 times, with Navy (18) in second and Army (10) in third.
Syracuse's Amari Odom had five touchdown passes in the team's 42-41 overtime victory against UConn. Odom was making his first start for the Orange. Umari Hatcher finished with 12 catches for 152 yards and three touchdowns.
Florida State quarterback Ashton Daniels ran for five touchdowns, setting a school record in a 38-7 rout of Virginia. Daniels finished with 136 yards rushing and 183 yards passing.
Iowa State's Aiden Flora accounted for five touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 1:57 left, and the Cyclones held off West Virginia 45-42 in a wild game in which the teams combined for more than 1,000 yards of offense.
Wake Forest's Gio Lopez ran for three touchdowns and passed for two more in a 57-3 victory over as Stanford.
In the Big 12 Conference, Cincinnati tries to improve to 5-0 for the first time since 2021 with a visit to Arizona, where Noah Fifita already has thrown for 11 touchdowns to increase his career total to 84, the most among active FBS quarterbacks.
Since a 28-17 loss at BYU, the Wildcats have come back from early deficits of 10-0 to Northern Illinois and 14-0 at Washington State to win both games by double digits.
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Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, right, looks to pass against North Carolina behind the block of offensive lineman Sullivan Absher (75) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Georgia running back Dwight Phillips Jr. (20) high-fives running back Bo Walker (24) after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
Alabama defensive lineman Fatutoa Henry (14) reacts to a play against Mississippi State during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/James Pugh)
Notre Dame wide receiver Jordan Faison (6) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Jaden Greathouse (1) and wide receiver Micah Gilbert (14) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Georgia wide receiver Landon Roldan, left, catches a pass against Vanderbilt cornerback Jordan Matthews, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
