RALPH D. RUSSO
Fans celebrate with Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., center, after an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
AP Top 25: Washington moves in; Penn State, Oregon move up

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 18, 2022 01:53 PM EDT
Washington made its season debut in The Associated Press college football on Sunday

Penn State offensive lineman Juice Scruggs (70) celebrates with Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford (14) after he scored a touchdown against Auburn during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
AP Top 25 Takeaways: Veteran QBs Clifford, Nix deliver big

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 17, 2022 09:24 PM EDT
Being a good, but definitely not great, quarterback can be a rough ride in college

FILE -Notre Dame and Marshall play during the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Sept. 10, 2022. The athletic directors who lead the schools that play Division I college football at the highest level want the sport to continue be governed by the NCAA — if that governance can be streamlined. LEAD1, an association of Football Bowl Subdivision ADs, convened 105 of its 131 members Wednesday, Sept. 14, for a meeting that focused mostly on how best to govern major college football. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
FBS ADs urge college football reform, but not NCAA breakaway

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 14, 2022 07:09 PM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) — The athletic directors who lead the schools that play Division I

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, right, argues a call with Field Judge Jake Dishaw during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Miss, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
College Football Picks: Texas A&M welcomes hungry Hurricanes

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 14, 2022 11:19 AM EDT
Last week was a good reminder to never shrug off a Saturday slate of college football

Marshall defensive back Steven Gilmore (3) jumps into the stands after returning an interception for a score against Notre Dame during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in South Bend, Ind. Marshall won 26-21. (Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP)
AP Top 25 Reality Check: Sun Belt gets slighted in rankings

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 12, 2022 02:05 AM EDT
The greatest weekend in the history of Sun Belt football was not enough to push any

Georgia wide receiver Kearis Jackson (10) tries to outrun Samford cornerback Kourtlan Marsh (1) after a catch during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022 in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
AP Top 25: UGA reclaims No. 1; Kentucky, Arkansas in Top 10

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 11, 2022 02:05 PM EDT
Georgia reclaimed the top spot in The Associated Press college football poll on

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (9) celebrates against Texas during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
AP Top 25 Takeaways: Bryce saves 'Bama; A&M, ND Sun Belted

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 10, 2022 09:39 PM EDT
The college football offseason is mostly spent trying to figure what's going to

FILE - The College Football Playoff logo is shown on the field at AT&T Stadium before the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Alabama in Arlington, Texas, Jan. 1, 2021. The university presidents who oversee the College Football Playoff voted Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, to expand the postseason model for determining a national champion from four to 12 teams no later than the 2026 season. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman, File)
CFP committee digs into feasibility of early expansion to 12

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 08, 2022 06:20 PM EDT
DALLAS (AP) — In a meeting room just down the hall from where the plan for a 12-team

Southern California running back Austin Jones (6) celebrates with wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) after scoring during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Rice in Los Angeles, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
College Football Picks: Future Big 12 showdown, USC's test

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 07, 2022 11:33 AM EDT
Week 2 is a quick turnaround for college football fans. With the Labor

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) throws under pressure from Oregon defensive lineman Taki Taimani (55) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
AP Top 25 Reality Check: Should Georgia be No. 1?

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 07, 2022 01:33 AM EDT
Florida entered The Associated Press college football poll with a jolt.

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young throws a pass during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Utah State, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
AP Top 25: Georgia moves up to No. 2, passing Ohio State

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 06, 2022 02:17 PM EDT
Georgia moved up to No. 2 in the first Associated Press college football poll of the

FILE - The national championship trophy is seen before a new conference for the NCAA college football playoff championship game between Clemson and Alabama, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. The university presidents who oversee the College Football Playoff voted Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, to expand the postseason model for determining a national champion from four to 12 teams no later than the 2026 season.(AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
Analysis: Will a bigger College Football Playoff be better?

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 04, 2022 02:19 PM EDT
While enthusiastically announcing plans to expand the College Football Playoff, those

Ohio State wide receiver Xavier Johnson, center, is tackled by Notre Dame cornerback TaRiq Bracy, right, linebacker Bo Bauer, top, and linebacker Jack Kiser during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
No. 2 Ohio State wears down No. 5 Notre Dame 21-10

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 03, 2022 11:11 PM EDT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — With its vaunted offense bogged down, No. 2 Ohio State leaned

Georgia tight end Darnell Washington (0) runs past Oregon linebacker Jeffrey Bassa, bottom, after a catch in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
AP Top 25 Takeaways: Georgia underrated? Pac-12 dumped again

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 03, 2022 08:03 PM EDT
Maybe Georgia was underrated. The defending national champions came

FILE - Alabama's James Burnip warms up before the College Football Playoff championship football game against Georgia on Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. The university presidents who oversee the College Football Playoff are scheduled to meet Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, to discuss expanding the four-team format, re-opening the possibility that a new model for crowning a champion could be implemented as soon as the 2024 season. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
College Football Playoff to expand to 12 teams by '26 season

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 02, 2022 03:24 PM EDT
After 14 1/2 months of haggling over details and questioning motivations, a plan to

FILE - Alabama's James Burnip warms up before the College Football Playoff championship football game against Georgia on Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. The university presidents who oversee the College Football Playoff are scheduled to meet Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, to discuss expanding the four-team format, re-opening the possibility that a new model for crowning a champion could be implemented as soon as the 2024 season. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
AP sources: Presidents meeting to discuss CFP expansion

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 31, 2022 08:35 PM EDT
The university presidents who oversee the College Football Playoff are scheduled to

FILE - Utah quarterback Cameron Rising (7) runs for a touchdown during the first half in the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Ohio State Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Pasadena, Calif. Rising isn’t facing a battle to be Utah’s starting quarterback heading into a new season. Rising cemented his spot atop the depth chart when he led the Utes to their first ever Pac-12 championship and Rose Bowl berth a season ago. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
College Football Picks: Pac-12 contenders head down South

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 31, 2022 10:37 AM EDT
Now the college football starts for real. Well, not that it didn't

FILE - Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman holds a helmet while posing for a portrait with University president John I. Jenkins, left, and Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick during a news conference on Dec. 6, 2021, at the Irish Athletic Center in South Bend, Ind. Swarbrick told The Associated Press on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, that the Fighting Irish's position is even stronger now than when he stepped into the job in 2008, bolstered by success on the football field and investments in the program. (Michael Caterina/South Bend Tribune via AP, File)
Recent success secures Notre Dame's treasured independence

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 30, 2022 06:24 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame is as confident as ever that the treasured

FILE - Jackson State football coach Deion Sanders calls out a play in the first half of Jackson State's Blue and White Spring NCAA college football game April 24, 2022, in Jackson, Miss. Last season, Sanders' second as Jackson State head coach, the Tigers went 11-2 and won the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Then Sanders signed two Power Five-level recruits to the HBCU, an unprecedented recruiting feat. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
On Football: Could Coach Prime jump from SWAC to big-time?

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 30, 2022 10:30 AM EDT
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Sitting on a metal folding chair just beyond the end zone of

FILE - Notre Dame offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson (55) plays during the second half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz. Patterson was named to The Associated Press preseason All-America team, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
All-America OL Patterson questionable for Irish at No. 2 OSU

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 29, 2022 02:43 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said Monday that offensive