RALPH D. RUSSO
FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, file photo, Texas wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey (84) leaps over Iowa State defensive back Richard Bowens III (17) to score a touchdown on a 27-yard pass play duinring the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas. 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/Eric Gay, File)
AP All-America Watch: Star matchups for championship weekend

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 27, 2018 12:37 PM EST
The Associated Press has been honoring college football's best with an All-America

Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray (1) runs the ball for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against West Virginia on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Raymond Thompson)
AP Top 25 Heat Check: Voters pick Oklahoma over Ohio State

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 26, 2018 02:38 AM EST
In college football's current great debate — Ohio State or Oklahoma? — AP Top 25

Ohio State defensive back Brendon White celebrates after making a tackle against Michigan during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State beat Michigan 62-39. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
AP Top 25: Ohio State up to No. 6 after stomping Michigan

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 25, 2018 02:04 PM EST
Ohio State moved up to No. 6 in The Associated Press college football poll after

Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley yells after the team's 59-56 win over West Virginia during an NCAA college football game in Morgantown, W.Va., Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Oklahoma earned a spot in the Big 12 championship game. (Ian Maule/Tulsa World via AP)
AP Top 25 Takeaways: Ohio State twists CFP race; ND is in

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 24, 2018 09:46 PM EST
The twist the playoff race has been waiting for came Saturday. The debate, for now,

Michigan linebacker Devin Gil, right, tackles Ohio State running back Demario McCall during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Buckeye blitz: No. 10 Ohio State blows out No. 4 Michigan

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 24, 2018 04:24 PM EST
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — This season for Ohio State has been anything but normal,

FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2013 file photo Mack Brown speaks during a news conference at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. Brown had his an Oklahoma problem when he was coach at Texas. By then the Big Eight had morphed into the Big 12 and the Longhorns and Sooners were playing for pole position in the Big 12 South every October. Texas lost five straight to the Bob Stoops’ Sooners from 2000-04, while going 52-6 against everybody else. Some of college football’s most successful coaches have been labeled with the dreaded ‘Can’t win the big one’ tag because of a string of failures against rivals. Coming up short in the game that matters most to your fans can tempt a coach to question everything _ from his Xs and Os to his Jimmys and Joes. (AP Photo/Jack Plunkett)
Chasing rivals can tempt coaches to question everything

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 22, 2018 09:48 AM EST
Tom Osborne began one of the great coaching careers in college football history with

FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2018, file photo, Michigan linebacker Devin Bush follows the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, in East Lansing, Mich. No. 4 Michigan might be without defensive star Chase Winovich for Saturday's showdown with No. 10 Ohio State because of an apparent shoulder injury. If he can't play, the Wolverines have so much depth they may be able to overcome it. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, have struggled on defense for much of the year. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
AP Top 25 Podcast: Playoff talk, tough choices for committee

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 21, 2018 12:15 PM EST
The College Football Playoff race has been boring, with the same four teams holding

FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2018, file photo, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer looks on during a break in the second half of an NCAA football game against Maryland, in College Park, Md. No. 4 Michigan might be without defensive star Chase Winovich for Saturday's showdown with No. 10 Ohio State because of an apparent shoulder injury. If he can't play, the Wolverines have so much depth they may be able to overcome it. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, have struggled on defense for much of the year. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
College Football Picks: Rivalry weekend brings big prizes

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 21, 2018 01:47 AM EST
Cups, trophies, bowls and championships. Big games and The Game. Rivalry week always

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) carries the ball as he tries to get around Citadel linebacker Willie Eubanks III (9) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
For 3rd week, 'Bama, Clemson, ND, Mich top CFP; UCF's path

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 20, 2018 07:32 PM EST
Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Michigan were at the top of the College Football

AP source: UMass parting ways with Whipple after 6 seasons

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 20, 2018 03:08 PM EST
A person familiar with the decision says Massachusetts is working on parting ways

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) carries the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Citadel, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
AP All-America Watch: Tua's stretch run; Tenacious D-ends

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 20, 2018 02:51 AM EST
The Associated Press has been honoring college football's best with an All-America

Missouri quarterback Drew Lock (3) celebrates with fans after his team defeated Tennessee 50-17 in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
AP Top 25 Heat Check: Why not Missouri and Oklahoma State?

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 19, 2018 02:19 AM EST
There are four teams that have already lost four games in the latest AP Top 25, about

FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2018, file photo, Army coach Jeff Monken stands with his team after an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. Army is ranked for the first time since 1996, moving into The Associated Press college football poll at No. 23 on Sunday, Nov. 18, as it begins preparations to face rival Navy on Dec. 8. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
AP Top 25: No. 23 Army ranked for 1st time since 1996

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 18, 2018 02:07 PM EST
Army is ranked for the first time since 1996, moving into The Associated Press

Oklahoma State wide receiver Tyron Johnson (13) catches a touchdown pass while under pressure from West Virginia cornerback Josh Norwood during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Oklahoma State upset West Virginia 45-41.(AP Photo/Brody Schmidt)
AP Top 25 Takeaways: Can Urban Meyer endure at Ohio State?

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 17, 2018 09:20 PM EST
As nerve-wracking as it must have been for Ohio State fans to watch the wild, back

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly stands with his team before an NCAA college football game against Syracuse, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Howard Simmons)
No. 3 Notre Dame slams Syracuse 36-3 at Yankee Stadium

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 17, 2018 06:01 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — The band was an Aaron Judge moon shot away from the field, way up in

AP Source: Houston QB King out for season with torn meniscus

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 16, 2018 09:24 PM EST
Houston quarterback D'Eriq King is expected to miss the rest of the season after

FILE - In this Feb. 28, 2018, file photo, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick stands under a basket following an NCAA college basketball game against Pittsburgh, in South Bend, Ind. Army vs Notre Dame football at Yankee Stadium is part of Notre Dame’s Shamrock Series, an almost annual off-site home game the Fighting Irish have played since 2009. It’s a nod to Notre Dame’s history of adventurous independence and the vision Jesse Harper, the coach of Notre Dame’s first great teams, had for turning a small Catholic school in the Midwest into a national powerhouse. “It's born of that, but I think it has current value,” Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said. (AP Photo/Robert Franklin, File)
Big game on any stage: No. 3 Notre Dame vs. No. 12 Syracuse

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 16, 2018 01:17 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Pinstripe uniforms. The Empire State Building shining blue and gold .

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 1946, file photo, Notre Dame's Emil Sitko (14) grabs a pass intended for Army's Bill West, center right, during the fourth quarter of a college football game at Yankee Stadium in New York. At left, Notre Dame quarterback John Lujack (32) holds out his hands for a possible lateral. The game ended in a scoreless tie. The Fighting Irish were regular visitors to the New York area during the first half of the 20th Century, when their wanderlust turned Notre Dame football into America’s team. (AP Photo/Harry Harris, File)
Subway alums on board for Notre Dame return to New York City

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 15, 2018 01:15 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Joe Delaney grew up in New Jersey listening to Notre Dame games on

FILE - In this Oct. 13, 2018, file photo, Central Florida running back Taj McGowan (4) scores a touchdown on a 2-yard run against Memphis during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Memphis, Tenn. No. 11 Central Florida has won 22 straight games and is making a run at another major bowl bid. ESPN’s “College GameDay” is coming to the schools’ Orlando, Florida, campus this week. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski, File)
College Football Picks: UCF and race to be top G5 champion

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 14, 2018 02:26 PM EST
With limited intrigue among the Power Five conference playoff contenders this week,

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, Central Florida linebacker Gabriel Luyanda, left, and linebacker Nate Evans celebrate after the team recovered a fumble during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Navy, in Orlando, Fla. No. 11 Central Florida has won 22 straight games and is making a run at another major bowl bid. ESPN’s “College GameDay” is coming to the schools’ Orlando, Florida, campus this week. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
AP Top 25 Podcast: UCF forces its way to national prominence

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 14, 2018 12:41 PM EST
No. 11 Central Florida has won 22 straight games and is making a run at another major