By FRED GOODALL TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Even before Mississippi took the field for the Outback Bowl, the Rebels felt good about the direction they’re headed. Coach Lane Kiffin was rewarded with a new contract despite having only been at the school one season. There also was no guarantee one of the nation’s lowest-ranked defenses…… read more »
By TIM REYNOLDS MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher pulled a hamstring as he tried to avoid the players who wanted to give him a celebratory Gatorade bath. Luckily, Fisher didn’t have to run in the Orange Bowl. Devon Achane did more than enough of that for the Aggies. Achane had…… read more »
By STEPHEN HAWKINS ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Top-ranked Alabama has two Heisman Trophy finalists and is in the College Football Playoff championship game for a record fifth time. Ohio State is back for the first time since winning the inaugural title in the CFP era. After the SEC champion Crimson Tide rolled past Notre Dame…… read more »
By STEPHEN HAWKINS ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — A truly untraditional Rose Bowl setting, a very common result for Alabama in the College Football Playoff. With Heisman Trophy finalists DeVonta Smith and Mac Jones, the top-ranked Crimson Tide rolled into its fifth CFP championship game in six seasons. Smith caught three of Jones’ four touchdown passes…… read more »
By CHARLES ODUM ATLANTA (AP) — Jack Podlesny told Georgia coaches before Friday’s Peach Bowl that he felt confident attempting field goals from as long as 55 yards — a full 4 yards past his career best. Podlesny made good on his claim, kicking a 53-yard field goal with three seconds remaining, and No. 11…… read more »
By RALPH D. RUSSO NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Numbers have fueled Ohio State all year. There was 29-23, the score of last season’s painful playoff loss to Clemson. Six, the number of games the Buckeyes played in this pandemic-altered season, which a lot of people thought was too few for them to deserve a return…… read more »
By CLAY BAILEY MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — West Virginia coach Neal Brown knew he would use reserve quarterback Austin Kendall in the second half. The redshirt senior ended up leading the Moutaineers to a Liberty Bowl victory. Kendall threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Simmons with 5:10 left, and West Virginia held off Army…… read more »
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida quarterback Kyle Trask made his future plans official Thursday, formally announcing he’s declining an opportunity to return to school and entering the NFL draft. No one thought Trask would stick around following a record-breaking season that included being named a Heisman Trophy finalist. Even coach Dan Mullen made it clear…… read more »
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A bowl victory that increased Mississippi State’s win total this season to four and No. 22 Tulsa’s failed attempt to add another unlikely comeback to its impressive collection this season took a back seat to the melee that broke out Thursday shortly after the Armed Forces Bowl ended. True freshman…… read more »
By STEVE REED CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Wisconsin Badgers captured the Duke’s Mayo Bowl and the trophy that came along with it. And then they broke it. While dancing around to celebrate his team’s 42-28 victory over Wake Forest on Wednesday, quarterback Graham Mertz dropped the football-shaped piece of Lenox crystal, leaving it shattered…… read more »
