RALPH D. RUSSO
Notre Dame running back Dexter Williams, above, is lifted by teammate long snapper Michael Vinson after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Navy Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Heat Check: Comparing AP Top 25 with 1st CFP rankings

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 29, 2018 03:19 AM EDT
Something to keep in mind as the College Football Playoff selection committee

Virginia's wide receiver Joe Reed (2), wide receiver Hasise Dubois (8) and wide receiver Tavares Kelly (27) celebrate with fans after Virginia's win in an NCAA college football game against North Carolina, on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in Charlottesville, Va. Virginia beat North Carolina 31-21. (Zack Wajsgras /The Daily Progress via AP)
AP Top 25: Record changes in Top 25 after 11 ranked losses

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 28, 2018 02:04 PM EDT
No. 22 Syracuse and No. 23 Virginia broke long runs of being unranked and were among

Penn State's Robert Windsor (54) sacks Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley (4) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Knight)
AP Top 25 Takeaways: Before 1st CFP rankings, field trimmed

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 27, 2018 11:28 PM EDT
The last weekend before the College Football Playoff rankings debut shook loose some

Penn State's KJ Hamler (1) runs out of bounds after a catch as Iowa's Amani Hooker (27) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Knight)
No. 17 Penn State escapes No. 18 Iowa 30-24 with late stands

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 27, 2018 07:50 PM EDT
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Trace McSorley visited the injury tent. Not much in there,

PSU's McSorley misses 2 series vs Iowa after getting sacked

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 27, 2018 04:55 PM EDT
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley missed two series

FILE - In this Sept. 23, 2017, file photo, Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) runs with the ball as Iowa defensive lineman Cedrick Lattimore defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, in Iowa City, Iowa. The 17th-ranked Nittany Lions begin the three-game gantlet of Iowa (home), Michigan (road) and Wisconsin (home) and will need to keep their offense chugging to get through it. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
No. 18 Penn St starts string of contenders with No. 18 Iowa

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 26, 2018 01:30 PM EDT
No. 17 Penn State will have a say in who plays for the Big Ten championship even if

Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury shakes hands with Kansas coach David Beaty after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. (Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal via AP)/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal via AP)
AP Top 25 Podcast: Hot-seat season's here; Who's in trouble?

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 25, 2018 04:16 PM EDT
The back half of the college football season means playoff races and coaching changes

FILE- In this Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, file photo, Army quarterback Kelvin Hopkins Jr., center, celebrates with teammates Calen Holt (22) and Camden Harrison, right, after scoring against Oklahoma in the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Norman, Okla. Major college football teams are on a record scoring pace this season and a more aggressive approach on fourth down is helping to fuel the surge. Army is college football’s current king of fourth down. The Black Knights have gone for it 48 percent of the time and converted 88 percent (22 for 25). (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
Going for it: 4th-down makes fuel football scoring surge

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 25, 2018 03:42 PM EDT
Major college football teams are on a record scoring pace this season and a more

FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney talks to his team during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Wake Forest in Charlotte, N.C. Thirteen ranked teams are playing road games this weekend, from No. 2 Clemson to No. 25 Appalachian State, and only two are playing other ranked teams. The Tigers take on Florida State on Saturday. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
College Football Picks: Road tests before first CFP rankings

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 24, 2018 04:54 PM EDT
For many ranked teams, the last chance to influence the College Football Playoff

FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2018, file photo, Kent State wide receiver Antwan Dixon (89) dives for an incomplete pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game Mississippi in Oxford, Miss. After missing two whole seasons, Dixon is back with Kent State and one 15 nominees so far for the college football’s new Comeback Player of the Year Award. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Comeback player of year: Kent State's Dixon leads nominees

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 24, 2018 01:09 PM EDT
Antwan Dixon couldn't eat, his mouth too sore for even soup after several teeth were

FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2018, file photo, Florida State's Brian Burns, center, celebrates sacking Wake Forest's quarterback with teammates Marvin Wilson, left, and Leonard Warner during an NCAA college football game, in Tallahassee, Fla. Burns has nine sacks on the season and 7½ in the last three games. According to Pro Football Focus, Burns leads the nation in quarterback pressures with 46 on the season.(AP Photo/Steve Cannon, File)
AP All-America Watch: Sooner Heisman hopeful, FSU sackmaster

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 23, 2018 01:15 PM EDT
The Associated Press has been honoring college football's best with an All-America

Alabama running back Najee Harris (22) hurtles over Tennessee defensive back Nigel Warrior (18) as he runs toward the end zone during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Knoxville, Tenn. Alabama won 58-21. (Joy Kimbrough /The Daily Times via AP)
AP Top 25 Heat Check: Alabama becomes unanimous No. 1

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 22, 2018 03:04 AM EDT
Alabama is finally a unanimous No. 1 in The Associated Press college football.

Clemson's Travis Etienne (9) celebrates with Milan Richard after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
AP Top 25: Clemson back to 2; App State ranked for 1st time

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 21, 2018 02:03 PM EDT
Clemson is back at No. 2 in The Associated Press college football poll behind top

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
AP Top 25 Takeaways: Michigan is B1G's best; Tide-Tigers IV?

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 20, 2018 09:45 PM EDT
There is no more reason to hedge on Jim Harbaugh's team. No. 6 Michigan

FILE - In this Oct. 13, 2018, file photo, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) throws a pass during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Missouri in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The front-runners have clearly been established in the Heisman race, but the question now is who else can emerge with a late rush? (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
Week 8 Preview: ACC showdown; Heisman Herbert; Auburn slump

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 19, 2018 02:37 AM EDT
Follow-ups can be difficult in college football. Backing up a big

FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, file photo, Maryland's offensive line gets set to to snap the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Rutgers in College Park, Md. The best offensive lines are greater than the sum of their parts. Former Notre Dame star offensive lineman Aaron Taylor, now an analyst for CBS Sports, is one of the driving forces behind the Joe Moore Award, which honors the best offensive line in the college football. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
AP Top 25 Podcast: Best offensive lines in college football

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 17, 2018 02:32 PM EDT
The best offensive lines are greater than the sum of their parts.

FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2017, file photo, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, left, and North Carolina State head coach Dave Doeren shake hands before an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C. The Atlantic Coast Conference has yet to have a big game this season, and might not have another one after Saturday until its conference championship game. No. 16 North Carolina State visits No. 3 Clemson in matchup of the only remaining unbeaten teams in the ACC. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
College Football Picks: ACC showcase could be first and last

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 17, 2018 02:01 PM EDT
The Atlantic Coast Conference has yet to have a big game this season and might not

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 was named to The Associated Press Midseason All-America NCAA college football team, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
Midterms! Who's hot so far in college football, CFP forecast

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 16, 2018 02:06 PM EDT
The midpoint of another season has arrived and the burning question is — yet again —

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) throws a pass during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Tagovailoa one of 5 Alabama midseason AP All-Americans

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 16, 2018 12:06 PM EDT
Tua Tagovailoa and four of his Alabama teammates highlight The Associated Press

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn looks on during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Overextended: Why schools rush to extend coach contracts

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 15, 2018 07:04 AM EDT
Coming off a division title that included a victory against its archrival, Auburn