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Ohio State's Ryan Day earns vindication along with Buckeyes' first national championship since 2014
Read full article: Ohio State's Ryan Day earns vindication along with Buckeyes' first national championship since 2014Ryan Day deserved to feel vindication when he won a national championship less than two months after it seemed his Ohio State job was on the line.
AP Top 25: Ohio St, Notre Dame are 1-2 in final poll; Mississippi and BYU ahead of playoff teams
Read full article: AP Top 25: Ohio St, Notre Dame are 1-2 in final poll; Mississippi and BYU ahead of playoff teamsOhio State is No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 football poll of the season after beating Notre Dame for its first national championship since 2014.
Late Ohio State field goal is a win for Buckeyes bettors in CFP title game victory over Notre Dame
Read full article: Late Ohio State field goal is a win for Buckeyes bettors in CFP title game victory over Notre DameJayden Fielding’s 33-yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining did more than secure Ohio State’s 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff title game on Monday night.
Notre Dame's Leonard can't keep do-it-all pace set in monstrous opening drive of loss to Ohio State
Read full article: Notre Dame's Leonard can't keep do-it-all pace set in monstrous opening drive of loss to Ohio StateRiley Leonard opened the national championship game with a do-it-all drive that made it appear the Notre Dame quarterback could win the title by himself.
Ohio State QB Will Howard played his best in run to national title, and set a record along the way
Read full article: Ohio State QB Will Howard played his best in run to national title, and set a record along the wayWill Howard transferred to Ohio State to win a national championship, and he reached that goal by playing the best football of his career throughout the Buckeyes’ four games in the College Football Playoff.
Tough, old school defense a calling card for all four teams left in the national championship hunt
Read full article: Tough, old school defense a calling card for all four teams left in the national championship huntSmothering defenses have carried the last four teams still in the hunt for the national championship.
Jeremiyah Love is expected to be ready for 7th-seeded Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl
Read full article: Jeremiyah Love is expected to be ready for 7th-seeded Notre Dame in the Orange BowlNotre Dame coach Marcus Freeman expects running back Jeremiyah Love to play in Thursday's College Football Playoff semifinal game and the Fighting Irish ground game to be at full strength against sixth-seeded Penn State.
CFP head tells ESPN that Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl won't swap kickoff times, dates
Read full article: CFP head tells ESPN that Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl won't swap kickoff times, datesThe College Football Playoff won’t swap kickoff dates and times for the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl to give Notre Dame more time between games.
Georgia's Kirby Smart defends aggressive but ill-fated play calls in CFP loss to Notre Dame
Read full article: Georgia's Kirby Smart defends aggressive but ill-fated play calls in CFP loss to Notre DameGeorgia coach Kirby Smart says he doesn't regret aggressive offensive play calls that backfired during the Bulldogs' College Football Playoff quarterfinal loss to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.
Defense and special teams lift Notre Dame to 23-10 win over Georgia in Sugar Bowl CFP quarterfinal
Read full article: Defense and special teams lift Notre Dame to 23-10 win over Georgia in Sugar Bowl CFP quarterfinalRiley Leonard passed for a touchdown, Jayden Harrison returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score, and Notre Dame’s defense made it hold up in a 23-10 victory over No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl that sends the third-ranked Fighting Irish into the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.
Big 12 commissioner calls for 'national standards' for calling targeting after controversial play
Read full article: Big 12 commissioner calls for 'national standards' for calling targeting after controversial playBig 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is calling for more consistency on what constitutes a targeting penalty after no call was made on Texas safety Michael Taaffe’s high hit on Arizona State receiver Melquan Stovall late in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Peach Bowl.
Targeting no-call at Peach Bowl raises more question about disputed rule
Read full article: Targeting no-call at Peach Bowl raises more question about disputed ruleThe Peach Bowl referee declined to call a targeting penalty late in the fourth quarter for a helmet-to-helmet hit by Texas safety Michael Taaffe that could’ve given Arizona State a chance to kick a winning field goal in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Depleted Notre Dame defense hopes to make an impact against Georgia in CFP quarterfinals
Read full article: Depleted Notre Dame defense hopes to make an impact against Georgia in CFP quarterfinalsSeventh-seeded Notre Dame faces the task of replacing another key defensive player as it prepares for second-seeded Georgia and a Bulldogs' quarterback the Fighting Irish know little about.
Boise State's Jeanty is the best back in the nation. Penn State's duo could be right behind him
Read full article: Boise State's Jeanty is the best back in the nation. Penn State's duo could be right behind himThe running game will be front-and-center when third-seeded Boise State meets sixth-seeded Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game.
Howard throws 2 TD passes to Smith to help Ohio State rout Tennessee 42-17 in CFP
Read full article: Howard throws 2 TD passes to Smith to help Ohio State rout Tennessee 42-17 in CFPWill Howard threw two touchdown passes to freshman Jeremiah Smith and Ohio State routed Tennessee 42-17 on Saturday night in a first-round College Football Playoff game, setting up a New Year’s Day rematch with No. 1 Oregon at the Rose Bowl.
Texas beats Clemson 38-24, advances to face Arizona State in College Football Playoff quarters
Read full article: Texas beats Clemson 38-24, advances to face Arizona State in College Football Playoff quartersJaydon Blue ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns, the last a 77-yard burst in the fourth quarter, and Texas beat Clemson 38-24 on Saturday in the first round of the expanded College Football Playoff.
Notre Dame protects home field in new postseason era with 1st playoff win, 27-17 over Indiana
Read full article: Notre Dame protects home field in new postseason era with 1st playoff win, 27-17 over IndianaJeremiyah Love tied the Notre Dame record with a 98-yard touchdown run, Riley Leonard added two more scores and the Fighting Irish shut down the highest-scoring team in the College Football Playoff, overwhelming Indiana 27-17 on Friday night.
UNLV hires former Florida and Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen as its new football coach
Read full article: UNLV hires former Florida and Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen as its new football coachUNLV is reaching into the Southeastern Conference to keep momentum going for its 24th-ranked football team by hiring former Florida and Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen on Thursday.
College Football Playoff's first 12-team bracket is set with Oregon No. 1 and SMU in, Alabama out
Read full article: College Football Playoff's first 12-team bracket is set with Oregon No. 1 and SMU in, Alabama outSMU captured the last open spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, bumping Alabama to land in a bracket that placed undefeated Oregon at No. 1.
In 12-team College Football Playoff, strength of schedule will go a long way in deciding bracket
Read full article: In 12-team College Football Playoff, strength of schedule will go a long way in deciding bracketThe executive director of the new 12-team College Football Playoff suggested that while wins and the age-old “eye test” will play a role in determining who makes the bracket, strength of schedule also will be a major factor in the selection committee’s deliberations.
Why seeding for the expanded College Football Playoff isn't as simple as counting from 1 to 12
Read full article: Why seeding for the expanded College Football Playoff isn't as simple as counting from 1 to 12The College Football Playoff expands to from four to 12 teams this season, a massive change that will profoundly impact the sport and how success is defined.
With CFP snub still stinging, Atlantic Coast Conference ponders how to boost football perceptions
Read full article: With CFP snub still stinging, Atlantic Coast Conference ponders how to boost football perceptionsThe College Football Playoff snub of unbeaten Florida State is still a fresh wound for the entire Atlantic Coast Conference.
Paying college football players could reverse trend of bowl game opt-outs, boost non-CFP postseason
Read full article: Paying college football players could reverse trend of bowl game opt-outs, boost non-CFP postseasonWith the expanded College Football Playoff locked in through 2031, questions still remain about what the rest of the postseason will look like.
ESPN will remain the home of the College Football Playoff through 2031 under $7.8 billion deal
Read full article: ESPN will remain the home of the College Football Playoff through 2031 under $7.8 billion dealThe College Football Playoff and ESPN have announced a deal that will give the network exclusive rights to the expanded postseason through the 2031 season.
Conferences and Notre Dame agree on 6-year deal to continue College Football Playoff through 2031
Read full article: Conferences and Notre Dame agree on 6-year deal to continue College Football Playoff through 2031The nine Bowl Subdivision conferences and Notre Dame have reached an agreement on a six-year deal to continue the College Football Playoff through the 2031 season.
CFP discussing 14-team model with 3 automatic bids each for Big Ten, SEC, AP sources say
Read full article: CFP discussing 14-team model with 3 automatic bids each for Big Ten, SEC, AP sources sayCollege Football Playoff officials are considering a 14-team model that would guarantee multiple automatic bids for each of the four power conferences, starting in 2026.
College Football Playoff approves 5+7 format and reduces spots for conference champions
Read full article: College Football Playoff approves 5+7 format and reduces spots for conference championsThe field for the 12-team College Football Playoff will comprise five conference champions and seven at-large selections after the university presidents who oversee the CFP voted unanimously to tweak the format.
ESPN, College Football Playoff agree on 6-year deal worth $1.3 billion annually, AP sources say
Read full article: ESPN, College Football Playoff agree on 6-year deal worth $1.3 billion annually, AP sources sayTwo people with knowledge of the agreement say ESPN and the College Football Playoff have agreed to a six-year deal worth $1.3 billion annually that will allow the network to keep exclusive rights to the 12-team playoff through the 2031 season.
Texas gives coach Sarkisian a four-year contract extension after Big 12 title and CFP appearance
Read full article: Texas gives coach Sarkisian a four-year contract extension after Big 12 title and CFP appearanceTexas will give football coach Steve Sarkisian a four-year contract extension through 2030.
CFP championship game participants Michigan, Washington each have 2 players on AP's all-bowl team
Read full article: CFP championship game participants Michigan, Washington each have 2 players on AP's all-bowl teamWashington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s wizardry in the Sugar Bowl got the Huskies into Monday’s College Football Playoff championship game.
Washington gives Pac-12 chance to be conference of champions in football 1 more time before leaving
Read full article: Washington gives Pac-12 chance to be conference of champions in football 1 more time before leavingThe curtain will close on the Pac-12’s final season as a Power Five football conference on the biggest stage in the sport.
Kirby Smart says 'no question' Georgia belongs in College Football Playoff after loss to Alabama
Read full article: Kirby Smart says 'no question' Georgia belongs in College Football Playoff after loss to AlabamaGeorgia coach Kirby Smart challenged the College Football Playoff selection committee to believe what that see when judging his No. 1 Bulldogs following the end of their 29-game winning streak.
Oregon defeats Oregon State 31-7 for a spot in the Pac-12 title game as rivalry ends for now
Read full article: Oregon defeats Oregon State 31-7 for a spot in the Pac-12 title game as rivalry ends for nowBo Nix threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, securing No. 6 Oregon a spot in the Pac-12 championship game with a 31-7 victory over No. 15 Oregon State in the final scheduled matchup between the in-state rivals.
With Pac-12 unsettled, CFP managers meet to make difficult decision on number of reserved bids
Read full article: With Pac-12 unsettled, CFP managers meet to make difficult decision on number of reserved bidsCollege Football Playoff managers will meet this week at the Big Ten offices outside Chicago.
12-team CFP schedule includes New Year's Day tripleheaders
Read full article: 12-team CFP schedule includes New Year's Day tripleheadersThe College Football Playoff released a schedule for the 12-team format that will be used in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, which will feature New Year’s Day quarterfinal tripleheaders but no games played on Saturday.
Dawgs for 3?: Georgia has chance to make football history
Read full article: Dawgs for 3?: Georgia has chance to make football historyKirby Smart didn't really want to discuss his Georgia Bulldogs' chances for a three-peat on the morning after they won their second straight College Football Playoff championship game.
Ohio State, Georgia reloaded after losing stars to NFL draft
Read full article: Ohio State, Georgia reloaded after losing stars to NFL draftOnly months after Georgia defensive linemen and Ohio State wide receivers combined to fill five first-round slots in the NFL draft, those positions again boast top talent for the teams preparing to meet in the College Football Playoff Peach Bowl semifinal.
CFP expansion talks head toward October after 7-hour meeting
Read full article: CFP expansion talks head toward October after 7-hour meetingThe conference commissioners who manage the College Football Playoff have met for almost seven hours to work on expanding the postseason system from four to 12 teams as soon as the 2024 season.
NIL expert predicts $50,000 minimum pay for Power 5 players
Read full article: NIL expert predicts $50,000 minimum pay for Power 5 playersCollege football and men’s basketball players on scholarship in one of the major conferences can expect to soon earn a minimum of $50,000 each year he plays because of the influx of cash from booster collectives brokering name, image and likeness deals.
AP source: SEC, Pac-12 leaders to push for NIL law in DC
Read full article: AP source: SEC, Pac-12 leaders to push for NIL law in DCThe commissioners of the Southeastern Conference and the Pac-12 are scheduled to meet with lawmakers in Washington They will lobby for federal legislation to regulate name, image and likeness compensation to athletes.
Top colleges accused of violating Black athletes' rights
Read full article: Top colleges accused of violating Black athletes' rightsThe National College Players Association says NCAA Division I schools are violating the civil rights of Black basketball and major college football players by prohibiting compensation.
Young, Alabama can't summon comeback minus 2 best receivers
Read full article: Young, Alabama can't summon comeback minus 2 best receiversWith Jameson Williams and John Metchie III sidelined by injuries, Bryce Young had his Heisman Trophy-winning season effectively ended by a last-minute pick six in the College Football Playoff championship game.
No makeups for CFP semis if team can't play due to virus
Read full article: No makeups for CFP semis if team can't play due to virusIf a team is unavailable to play in College Football Playoff semifinals because of COVID-19 issues, the game will be forfeited and the available team will advance to the championship game.
Big 12's Bowlsby: CFP expansion for 2024 'in some jeopardy'
Read full article: Big 12's Bowlsby: CFP expansion for 2024 'in some jeopardy'Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby says expanding the College Football Playoff as soon as the 2024 season is "in some jeopardy" if an agreement on a new format cannot be reached soon.
AAC commish 'vigorously' opposed to P5 protection in CFP
Read full article: AAC commish 'vigorously' opposed to P5 protection in CFPAmerican Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco says he will oppose a College Football Playoff expansion model gives automatic access only to Power Five conference champions.
Looking ahead to the College Football Playoff? This ‘RSVP’ concept is brilliant
Read full article: Looking ahead to the College Football Playoff? This ‘RSVP’ concept is brilliantAttending a major sporting event can be overwhelming: You might have to fly or embark on a road trip just to get there, depending on the location of course, and consider your accommodations and where you’ll stay, eat and how you’ll get around.
For CFP to expand by 2024, plans need approval in 4 months
Read full article: For CFP to expand by 2024, plans need approval in 4 monthsThe college sports leaders who run the College Football Playoff have about four months to come to an agreement on a new format if expansion is to be implemented for the 2024 season.
Jones, Smith, Harris reconnect at Alabama's pro day No. 2
Read full article: Jones, Smith, Harris reconnect at Alabama's pro day No. 2Patrick Surtain II and Mac Jones had the spotlight at Alabama's Pro Day, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)DeVonta Smith was there for quarterback Mac Jones once again, this time it was at Alabama's latest pro day. “He didn't have to do that,” Jones told the SEC Network, which aired the pro day. '”Jones showcased his arm strength a week after participating in the Crimson Tide's first pro day. “Mac was just on me like, ‘Bro, come catch, come catch, come catch,’” Smith told the network.
Video game maker EA Sports announces return of NCAA Football
Read full article: Video game maker EA Sports announces return of NCAA FootballThere is no timetable in place for the next release of a college football game, the company said. “We’ve heard from the millions of passionate fans requesting the return of college football video games,” EA Sports executive vice president and general manage Cam Weber said in a statement. “We love the energy, tradition and pageantry of college football and I am beyond thrilled to say we are back in development." The NCAA Football video game did not identify players by name, but the game simulated teams and players as they played in real life. The video game was part of a broad legal challenge and a judge ruled the NCAA had been inappropriately using the names, images and likenesses of college athletes.
Brian Flores says Dolphins have had conversations with WR DeVonta Smith
Read full article: Brian Flores says Dolphins have had conversations with WR DeVonta SmithThe Alabama wide receiver is the first player at his position to pick up that honor since Desmond Howard at Michigan. On Wednesday, head coach Brian Flores was interviewed at the Senior Bowl. But it’s good to meet him, spend time with him and find out what kind of person he is. The football character, the toughness, the competitiveness, he’s a very good player.”If the Dolphins draft Smith, it would be a reunion with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. During Tagovailoa’s freshman year, he threw the game-winning pass in the National Championship game, it was caught by Smith.
NFL draft early entry list has 3 national title-winning QBs
Read full article: NFL draft early entry list has 3 national title-winning QBsThose 128 players, plus three more who inquired about their draft status but didn't need special eligibility, were on the NFL's official list released Friday as available to be drafted after giving up their remaining college eligibility. The 30 players with college eligibility remaining after completing their degree requirements had to notify the NFL of their intentions for the draft. As for those 98 players granted special eligibility without yet finishing their degrees, that was one fewer than last year and the lowest total since 95 in 2017. Players less than four years removed from high school who have not completed a degree need to be granted special entry to the draft by the NFL. Southern California has the most players leaving early for NFL draft eligibility with six.
Thousands party in streets after Alabama win, despite virus
Read full article: Thousands party in streets after Alabama win, despite virusDr. Scott Harris, the head of the Alabama Department of Public Health, said he expected more cases of COVID-19 to result from the street party. “It’s disappointing to see people not paying attention to the guidance that we try to give to keep them safe. Students and workers also are required to complete online training about reducing the risk of spreading the illness. More than 5,500 people have died in Alabama from the illness caused by the coronavirus, and about 408,000 have tested positive. People lined up to get into the bars an hour before kickoff despite the warnings, The Tuscaloosa News reported.
Perfect Alabama finishes No. 1 in AP Top 25 for 12th time
Read full article: Perfect Alabama finishes No. 1 in AP Top 25 for 12th time(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Alabama finished the season No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the 12th time, extending its record by completing the program’s first perfect season since 2009. With 12 AP titles overall — Paul “Bear” Bryant was coach for five and Gene Stallings for one — Alabama has four more than Notre Dame, in second place with eight. The Big 12 finished with a perfect record in five bowl games. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at https://westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25___This story has been updated to correct the number of national titles for Alabama to 12, not.