By RALPH D. RUSSO College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock said Tuesday the national championship game between Alabama and Ohio State is still a go for Monday night amid a report that the Buckeyes are having COVID-19 issues. AL.com reported that Ohio State has been in contact with CFP officials about possible player availability…… read more »
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 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 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 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 »
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 »
By RALPH D. RUSSO Coastal Carolina’s Jamey Chadwell is The Associated Press college football coach of the year after leading the Chanticleers to a surprising, near-perfect season. Chadwell received 16 first-place votes and 88 points from the AP Top 25 panel to finish ahead of Indiana’s Tom Allen, who was second with 14 first-place votes…… read more »
By JOHN FINERAN SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Brian Kelly isn’t holding back on one of the primary goals for Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Alabama on Friday. “We want to run the ball, we need to run the football,” Kelly said. “Based upon who we are and how we have…… read more »
By STEPHEN WHYNO Washington released 2019 first-round pick Dwayne Haskins on Monday, less than 24 hours after he committed three turnovers in a loss to Carolina and in the aftermath of another violation of pandemic protocols. Haskins started in place of injured quarterback Alex Smith despite being disciplined for breaking COVID-19 rules by partying with…… read more »
By MARK LONG By MARK LONG JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars seemingly locked up No. 16 in Week 16. It was winning by losing, and it was 14 games in the making. Getting the opportunity to draft Clemson star quarterback Trevor Lawrence became as close to a reality as possible for the small-market…… read more »
