By RALPH D. RUSSO Ohio State coach Ryan Day said he expects Justin Fields to play in the College Football Playoff national championship game against Alabama after the quarterback was banged up during the semifinals. Day declined to detail Fields’ injury on Monday during a Zoom news conference. “We don’t get into specifics on injuries,”…… read more »
By RALPH D. RUSSO DeVonta Smith would be a Heisman Trophy winner unlike any other. The Alabama star receiver is considered the favorite to win the award Tuesday night over three quarterbacks: Crimson Tide teammate Mac Jones, Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Florida’s Kyle Trask. Smith would be the fourth wide receiver to take home the…… read more »
By PAUL NEWERRY ATLANTA (AP) — Julius Randle scored 28 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, Austin Rivers hit a huge 3-pointer and the New York Knicks kept up their strong start with a 113-108 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night. The Knicks capped a four-game road trip with their third win, improving to…… read more »
By JOHN ZENOR Alabama breezed through the regular season and college football’s semifinals, surviving a solitary scare in the Southeastern Conference championship game to reach its expected destination. Ohio State wasn’t exactly a shoo-in with its abbreviated schedule but resoundingly proved it belonged in the College Football Playoffs with a semifinal thrashing of Clemson. The…… read more »
By STEVE REED CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — While the Saints didn’t get the first-round bye in the NFC playoffs they coveted, they proved again they can win big games without star players. And that could come in handy in the postseason. Drew Brees threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns, the Saints had five interceptions…… read more »
By The Associated Press Two Alabama teammates, quarterback Mac Jones and wide receiver DeVonta Smith, join Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Florida quarterback Kyle Trask as the finalists for the 86th annual Heisman Trophy. The winner will be announced Tuesday. A rundown of the finalists: MAC JONES, junior, QB, Alabama BIO: The relatively unheralded recruit…… read more »
By BARRY WILNER From the rested in Kansas City and Pittsburgh to the relieved in Cleveland, Chicago and Los Angeles, the field for the Super Bowl chase is set. There are some powerhouses and some pretenders — and a team with a losing record. The reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs (14-2) and Green Bay (13-3)…… read more »
By FRED GOODALL TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heating up at the right time. Hardly surprising where Brady is concerned. The six-time Super Bowl champion threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns Sunday, helping the playoff-bound Bucs clinch the fifth seed in the NFC with a 44-27 regular…… read more »
By JIM VERTUNO AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas was tired of waiting for Tom Herman to deliver a Big 12 title and turn the Longhorns back into national championship contenders. Next up: Steve Sarkisian, the architect of the Alabama Crimson Tide’s offense and its tsunami of points this season. Texas fired Herman on Saturday after…… read more »
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Iowa State had a year of highs in the dark days of a pandemic. The Cyclones capped it with a dominating performance under one of college football’s brightest spotlights. Breece Hall ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns, Brock Purdy accounted for two scores and No. 12 Iowa State grinded out…… read more »
