RALPH D. RUSSO
FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2017, file photo, Samford quarterback Devlin Hodges (8) throws a pass in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia, in Athens, Ga. Hodges was selected to The Associated Press FCS All-America team, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Stick, North Dakota State highlight AP FCS All-America team

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 11, 2018 12:16 PM EST
North Dakota State quarterback Easton Stick was one of three Bison players selected

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, Alabama defensive back Deionte Thompson (14) celebrates after Mississippi State place kicker Jace Christmann (47) missed a field goal-attempt during the first half of a game, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Thompson was named to the 2018 AP All-America NCAA college football team, Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
AP All-America team: Tide leads with 4 of 10 CFP players

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 10, 2018 12:00 PM EST
The College Football Playoff semifinalists combined to place 10 players on The

Heisman Trophy finalists, from left, Dwayne Haskins, from Ohio State; Kyler Murray, from Oklahoma; and Tua Tagovailoa, from Alabama, pose with the trophy during a media event Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Who will challenge Tagovailoa for Heisman Trophy in 2019?

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 09, 2018 11:31 AM EST
Tua Tagovailoa will be the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy next season

Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray holds the Hesiman Trophy after winning the award Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Oklahoma's Murray beats Alabama's Tagovailoa for Heisman

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 08, 2018 09:11 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Kyler Murray waited three years to fulfill the five-star potential he

Heisman Trophy finalists, from left, Dwayne Haskins, from Ohio State; Tua Tagovailoa, from Alabama; and Kyler Murray, from Oklahoma, answer questions during a media event Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Tagovailoa out of boot to treat surgically repaired ankle

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 08, 2018 06:56 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was not wearing the walking boot

Georgia defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter (13) goes in for a sack on Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) in the second half of the Southeastern Conference Championship game between Georgia and Alabama in Atlanta, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018. Georgia lost 35-28. (Joshua L. Jones/Athens Banner-Herald via AP)
Heisman Trophy: Stock soared for 1st-time starting QBs

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 07, 2018 06:06 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa rolled across the floor of the New York Stock Exchange

AP Source: Temple coach Collins meets with GTech officials

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 06, 2018 06:17 PM EST
Temple coach Geoff Collins has met with Georgia Tech officials about the Yellow

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2017, file photo, Southeastern Conference (SEC) Commissioner Greg Sankey speaks with the media during an NCAA college football news conference for the SEC championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Sankey says UCF should look "inward" to address strength of schedule issues that have held back the Knights in the College Football Playoff rankings. UCF athletic director Danny White says Knights can do nothing to fix an “inadequate postseason.” (Joshua L. Jones,/Athens Banner-Herald via AP, File)
SEC's Sankey: UCF should look 'inward' to address CFP issues

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 06, 2018 05:05 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey recommended UCF look

Georgia running back D'Andre Swift (7) drives passed Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) in the first half of the Southeastern Conference Championship game between Georgia and Alabama in Atlanta, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018. (Joshua L. Jones/Athens Banner-Herald via AP)
AP Top 25 Podcast: Bowl preview from Cure to Sugar

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 05, 2018 05:55 PM EST
Get ready for the bowl season with a preview from the Cure Bowl to the Sugar Bowl.

Ohio State NCAA college football head coach Urban Meyer answers questions during a news conference announcing his retirement Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Column: Meyer will not coach in college again. Believe it

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 05, 2018 02:15 AM EST
After leading Utah to an unbeaten season in 2004, Urban Meyer had a choice to make.

FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2018, file photo, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) scrambles for a first down against Texas A&M during the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Tagovailoa is the offensive player of the year and one of five members of the top-ranked Crimson Tide to earn first-team honors on The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference team, announced Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
Heisman 3: Tua Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 03, 2018 07:01 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa, Oklahoma's Kyler Murray and Ohio State's

Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) celebrates after scoring the during the fourth quarter against Georgia during an NCAA college football game for the Southeastern Conference championship Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in Atlanta. (AJ ReynoldsAthens Banner-Herald via AP)
Column: Steady dose of same reason for playoff expansion

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 03, 2018 02:09 AM EST
Alabama? Always. Clemson? Four years running. Oklahoma? Make it three of the last

Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley hoists the Big 12 Conference championship trophy after beating Texas 39-27 in the Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
AP Top 25: Oklahoma No. 4 behind Alabama, Clemson, Irish

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 02, 2018 11:30 AM EST
The Associated Press poll voters have put Oklahoma at No. 4 in the final regular

Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray hoists the Most Outstanding Player trophy after beating Texas 39-27 in the Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Oklahoma is in: Sooners snag 4th spot in playoff semifinals

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 02, 2018 02:43 AM EST
Faced with a tricky choice, the College Football Playoff selection committee played

Georgia running back D'Andre Swift (7) drives in for a touchdown against Alabama during the first half of an NCAA college football game for the Southeastern Conference championship Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in Atlanta. (Joshua L. Jones/Athens Banner-Herald via AP)
Column: Oklahoma or Georgia for CFP? Simple, who won?

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 01, 2018 02:56 AM EST
Championship Saturday produced edge-of-the-seat drama and something for the College

Championship Weekend: SEC play-in; Murray's Heisman push

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 30, 2018 01:38 AM EST
College football closes its regular season with championship weekend, leading to

FILE- In this Sept. 22, 2018, file photo, Army head coach Jeff Monken shouts in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. For all the complaints about too many bowls, this is the second straight season there will be more bowl eligible teams (at least 81) than available bids (78). That has put No. 23 Army and fellow football independent BYU (6-6), another school with a large national following, in the strange position of tracking results from all over the country in recent weeks and heading into college football's selection Sunday with postseason plans more uncertain than most. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
Not enough bowls: Army, BYU unsure of postseason destination

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 29, 2018 03:14 PM EST
Army is ranked for the first time in 22 years and the Cadets would win 11 games for

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) runs in for a touchdown ahead of Oklahoma State cornerback Tanner McCalister (2) in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla. The Sooners and Longhorns are loaded with playmakers on the outside, but the ones with the best case to be All-Americans are Oklahoma’s Marquise Brown and Texas’ Lil’Jordan Humphrey. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams, File)
College Football Picks: Can OU avoid Big 12 champ upset?

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 28, 2018 02:13 PM EST
There was a time when the Big 12 championship game was routinely a dream-wrecker for

Mack Brown, center, is introduced by University of North Carolina Chancellor Carol Folt, left, as the school's new NCAA college football coach during a news conference, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018, at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Brown spent 10 seasons at UNC from 1988-97 before leaving for Texas. He left there in 2013 and has been in broadcasting in the years since. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP)
AP Top 25 Podcast: Coaching moves and playoff positioning

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 28, 2018 01:19 PM EST
From Mack Brown to Neal Brown, college football's silly season of coaching moves is

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, file photo, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer instructs his team during an NCAA college football game against Michigan in Columbus, Ohio. How far will Ohio State move up the latest College Football Playoff rankings? Can the Buckeyes pass Oklahoma? The updated CFP rankings are released Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)
Oklahoma ahead of Ohio State in pivotal playoff rankings

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 27, 2018 07:34 PM EST
Oklahoma is on the doorstep of the College Football Playoff. The