RALPH D. RUSSO
Miami head coach Manny Diaz, center, consoles quarterback Tyler Van Dyke (9) following an NCAA college football game against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
AP Top 25 Takeaways: Mullen faces scrutiny; No. 2 Iowa upset

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 16, 2021 08:37 PM EDT
In the Southeastern Conference, the coach on the hot seat can change from week

Kentucky quarterback Will Levis (7) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against LSU in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Clubb)
Week 7 preview: UGA looks to avoid another upset of No. 1

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 15, 2021 02:58 AM EDT
No. 1 has been a particularly secure position during the College Football

FILE - President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper cross the field after the first half of an NCAA college football game between Army and Navy in Philadelphia, in this Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, in file photo. Bump Army-Navy or go head-to-head with NFL? That's the choice facing those in charge with expanding the College Football Playoff if they want to take the format from four to 12 teams. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
CFP expansion: Bump Army-Navy or go head-to-head with NFL?

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 14, 2021 01:21 PM EDT
If a 12-team format is the future of the College Football Playoff —- and odds

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day watches warm ups before an NCAA college football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
AP Top 25 Podcast: Ryan Day on Ohio State; Previewing Week 7

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 14, 2021 10:41 AM EDT
Ohio State has righted itself after an early loss to Oregon, winning four

Georgia running back Kendall Milton (2) carries the ball as he splits Auburn safety Bydarrius Knighten (19) and linebacker Chandler Wooten (31) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
College Football Picks: No. 1 Dawgs face another 'big' game

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 13, 2021 11:28 AM EDT
Sometimes a big game really isn't. No. 1 Georgia faces No.

Texas A&M wide receiver Demond Demas (1) gets away from Alabama linebacker Christian Harris (8) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
AP Top 25 Reality Check: UGA joins No. 1 club; Tide slips

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 11, 2021 02:21 AM EDT
The No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press college football poll has been in the

Georgia running back Zamir White (3) celebrates after a touchdown against Auburn during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
AP Top 25: Georgia is No. 1, Big Ten grabs half of top 10

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 10, 2021 02:10 PM EDT
Georgia was the new No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll Sunday

Iowa defensive back Jack Koerner (28) trips up Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford (14) on a run in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
AP Top 25 Takeaways: A&M's upset sends season into full tilt

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 09, 2021 09:27 PM EDT
The last time the No. 1 team in the country lost to an unranked team was 2008.

FILE - Iowa defensive back Kaevon Merriweather (26) reacts after making an interception on a pass from Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, not visible, during the second half of an NCAA college football game in College Park, Md., in this Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, file photo. Iowa defensive end Joe Evans (13) and linebacker Jay Higgins (34) look on. The key matchup in fourth-ranked Penn State's showdown with No. 3 Iowa pits the Nittany Lions' passing combo of Sean Clifford and Jahan Dotson against a defense that leads the nation with 12 interceptions. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
Week 6 Preview: Top-5 matchup in Big Ten; Texas-OU in Big 12

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 08, 2021 02:47 AM EDT
The last time UConn faced UMass was 2019 and it was a wild game.

FILE - Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross (8) plays during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Ohio State in Glendale, Ariz., in this Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, file photo. Florida State quarterback McKenzie Milton and Clemson receiver Justyn Ross, both of whom faced potential career-threatening injuries, are among the nominees for college football's Comeback Player of the Year award. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
FSU's Milton among nominees for Comeback Player of Year

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 07, 2021 04:29 PM EDT
Florida State quarterback McKenzie Milton and Clemson receiver Justyn Ross,

FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2021, file photo, the trophy for the College Football Playoff championship NCAA college football game is displayed along Ocean Drive, in Miami Beach, Fla. The College Football Playoff management committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, to discuss the feedback members have received from campuses since a 12-team expansion plan was unveiled in June. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Column: 8 won't be enough for the College Football Playoff

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 07, 2021 03:07 PM EDT
When it comes to College Football Playoff expansion, the odds are stacked

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh leads his team on the field before an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
AP Top 25 Podcast: Harbaugh's stock up; Orgeron's stock down

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 07, 2021 11:11 AM EDT
Jim Harbaugh’s stock is up at Michigan and Ed Orgeron’s stock is down at LSU

Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder runs from Notre Dame's JD Bertrand (27) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
College Football Picks: Cincinnati rooting for Notre Dame

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 06, 2021 01:05 PM EDT
Nobody should be rooting harder for Notre Dame the rest of the season than

Penn State returner Jahan Dotson (5) breaks away from Indiana's Jonathan Haynes (17) on a punt return during the fourth quarter of their NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. Penn State defeated Indiana 24-0. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
AP Top 25 Reality Check: Big Ten powers surge into October

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 04, 2021 03:14 AM EDT
The Big Ten is set up to be the most interesting conference in the country over

Georgia running back Zamir White (3) breaks through the Arkansas line as he runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
AP Top 25 Takeaways: Amid chaos, 'Bama, UGA are drama-free

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 02, 2021 11:46 PM EDT
No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Georgia are not here for the chaos.

Cincinnati's Leonard Taylor (11) is chased by Notre Dame's JD Bertrand (27) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in South Bend, Ind. Cincinnati won 24-13. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Desmond Ridder, No. 7 Cincinnati beat No. 9 Notre Dame 24-13

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 02, 2021 06:10 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — The last pass of the day by Desmond Ridder was a

Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson scrambles out of the pocket before throwing a pass in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Week 5 preview: Will chaos come to Southeastern Conference?

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 01, 2021 11:52 AM EDT
The first month of the college football season has produced plenty of surprises

North Carolina State's Jaylon Scott (2) and Savion Jackson (90) tackle Clemson's Will Shipley (1) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
AP Top 25 Podcast: Clemson's problems; Previewing Week 5

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 30, 2021 05:36 PM EDT
Clemson has already lost twice and currently ranks between North Texas and

Alabama wide receiver Javon Baker (5) and Alabama running back Jase McClellan (21) celebrates after a win over against Southern Mississippi after an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
College football picks: 'Bama, Dawgs try to stay above fray

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 29, 2021 12:00 PM EDT
The road to a Southeastern Conference championship showdown between No. 1

FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2021, file photo, the trophy for the College Football Playoff championship NCAA college football game is displayed along Ocean Drive, in Miami Beach, Fla. The College Football Playoff management committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, to discuss the feedback members have received from campuses since a 12-team expansion plan was unveiled in June. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
For CFP to expand by 2024, plans need approval in 4 months

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 28, 2021 07:47 PM EDT
ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — The college sports leaders who run the College Football