BY RALPH D. RUSSO
FILE - Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman watches spring NCAA college football practice on March 17, 2022, in South Bend, Ind. The Fighting Irish open the season at No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday, Sept. 3. Freeman understands the intrigue of this matchup better than most. (Robert Franklin/South Bend Tribune via AP)
Born a Buckeye: Ohio State prepared Freeman for Notre Dame

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 31, 2022 03:03 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Marcus Freeman was born and raised a Buckeye and then lived

FILE - Alabama celebrates after their win against Ohio State in an NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Alabama won 52-24. Atlanta and South Florida have been selected to host College Football Playoff national championship games for the second time, the CFP announced Monday, Aug. 15, 2022 (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
CFP championship games to return to Atlanta, South Florida

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 15, 2022 04:49 PM EDT
Atlanta and South Florida have been selected to host College Football Playoff

FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2019, file photo, Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher talks with his team during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas, in Arlington, Texas. The Southeastern Conference spring meetings will be held in person for the first time since 2019 in a little less than two weeks. It is unlikely two of the league's superstar coaches will be chumming around Destin, Florida, together. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins, File)
'We're moving on': Fisher says public spat with Saban done

By Ralph D. Russo Jun. 01, 2022 04:46 PM EDT
DESTIN, Fla. (AP) — The spat between Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher and Alabama's

FILE - Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey watches the first half of an NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Alabama on Oct. 23, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Over the past two years Sankey has helped the conference land a new additional $350 million television rights deal with ESPN and guided it through the uncertainty of the pandemic. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
Power, influence growing for SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 03, 2021 02:47 PM EST
DALLAS (AP) — Greg Sankey recalls a toast former Southeastern Conference

The Cincinnati student section reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Temple, Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Clifton Style: Blue-collar Bearcats pushing CFP ceiling

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 29, 2021 03:38 AM EDT
CINCINNATI (AP) — The bubble that covers Cincinnati's practice field to create

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly, left, daughter Grace, center, and wife Paqui, celebrate Notre Dame's 41-13 win over Wisconsin after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
No. 7 Cincinnati faces 'measuring stick' against No. 9 Irish

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 30, 2021 01:15 PM EDT
The day before one of the most important football games Cincinnati has ever

Notre Dame wide receiver Avery Davis (3) makes a catch on his way to a touchdown against Purdue during the second half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. Notre Dame defeated Purdue 27-13. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
College Football Picks: Neutral sites for 2 ranked matchups

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 22, 2021 11:49 AM EDT
Last week, college football gave fans one of its tastiest, and unfortunately