RALPH D. RUSSO
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

North Carolina State's Savion Jackson (90) tackles Clemson's D.J. Uiagalelei (5) as the left leg of Clemson running back Will Shipley (1) gets caught with North Carolina State's Tanner Ingle (10) also defending 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 Reality Check: Preseason perception v small sample

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 27, 2021 03:30 AM EDT
A month into the season, 12 teams that were ranked in the preseason are

Georgia Southern coach Chad Lunsford watches his team during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Georgia Southern fires coach Chad Lunsford after 1-3 start

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 26, 2021 08:25 PM EDT
Georgia Southern fired coach Chad Lunsford on Sunday after the Eagles got off

North Carolina State's Jaylon Scott (2) and Savion Jackson (90) celebrate a sack during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Clemson in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Clemson falls to No. 25 in AP poll, snapping top-10 streak

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 26, 2021 02:07 PM EDT
Clemson tumbled to No. 25 in The Associated Press college football poll on

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 Takeaways: Clemson falls during frenetic afternoon

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 25, 2021 10:54 PM EDT
For about 45 minutes late Saturday afternoon, college football was on overload.

Notre Dame quarterback Jack Coan, right, scrambles away from pressure by Wisconsin linebacker Jack Sanborn during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
With QB Coan out, No. 12 Irish beat No. 18 Badgers 41-13

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 25, 2021 04:12 PM EDT
CHICAGO (AP) — To win more games than any coach in the storied history of Notre

Wisconsin defensive end Matt Henningsen sacks Notre Dame quarterback Jack Coan during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Coan limps off for No. 12 Notre Dame against Wisconsin

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 25, 2021 02:49 PM EDT
CHICAGO (AP) — Quarterback Jack Coan went to the locker room with what appeared

Wisconsin's Chez Mellusi celebrates his touchdown run during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Penn State Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Madison, Wis. Penn State won 16-10. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
No. 12 Irish face No. 18 Wisconsin with OL work in progress

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 23, 2021 01:30 PM EDT
When it comes to producing NFL-quality offensive linemen, Notre Dame and

Alabama running back Jase McClellan (21) returns a blocked punt for a touchdown against Mercer during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
College Football Playoff expansion enters negotiation stage

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 23, 2021 03:28 AM EDT
College Football Playoff expansion has entered the negotiation stage.

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)
CFP expansion stalls as commissioners sort through issues

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 22, 2021 04:04 PM EDT
A plan to expand the College Football Playoff stalled Wednesday when the

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)
Commissioners to share feedback on CFP expansion proposal

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 20, 2021 06:44 PM EDT
The College Football Playoff management committee is scheduled to meet

Georgia quarterback JT Daniels (18) throws a pass against South Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
AP Top 25 Reality Check: No. 1 rarely slips after ranked win

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 20, 2021 03:35 AM EDT
The teams that started the season ranked in the top four all won Saturday, none

Ohio State running back Master Teague (33) tries to run past Tulsa defensive back Kendarin Ray during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
AP Top 25: Clemson, Ohio State slip; Penn State jumps to 6th

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 19, 2021 02:04 PM EDT
Clemson and Ohio State slipped to the back of the top 10 in The Associated

Alabama wide receiver John Metchie III (8) hurdles past Florida defensive players cornerback Kaiir Elam (5), linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper and safety Trey Dean III during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
AP Top 25 Takeaways: Not-so-super superpowers show cracks

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 18, 2021 10:02 PM EDT
Alabama looked beatable for the first time. Ohio State's

Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) gets past South Florida linebacker Brian Norris (29) on an 80-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Week 3 Preview: Tide visits The Swamp; Rare SEC-B1G game

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 17, 2021 03:09 AM EDT
The last time Florida beat Alabama, Tim Tebow was the Gators' quarterback and

FILE - In this Thanksgiving Day 1971 file photo, Nebraska's Johnny Rodgers (20) returns a punt for a touchdown as teammate Joe Blahak (27) delivers a block in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma, in Norman, Okla. The game, which Nebraska won 35-31, is widely remembered as "The Game of the Century." Fifty years later, Rodgers still gets asked about the play. (Bob Gorham/Lincoln Journal Star via AP, File)
Best of the best: AP ranks the top Games of the Century

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 16, 2021 12:06 PM EDT
The mere idea of trying to rank the greatest “games of the century” doesn't

Southern California head coach Clay Helton walks on the sideline during an NCAA college football game against San Jose State Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
AP Top 25 Podcast: USC's makes change; FSU hits new low

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 15, 2021 01:05 PM EDT
Southern California finally made the coaching change that seemed to be on the

Michigan State running back Jordon Simmons runs against Youngstown State during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 42-14. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
College Football Picks: Big Ten gets 5 big tests in Week 3

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 15, 2021 10:46 AM EDT
This week it is the Big Ten that gets an opportunity to make a statement.

Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell speaks with quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) prior to an NCAA college football game against Miami (Ohio), Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Analysis: USC coaching search casts shadow over season

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 14, 2021 02:31 AM EDT
Southern California is about to embark on a coaching search that will cast a