Alabama Crimson Tide
FILE - Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney watches as his team plays against Pittsburgh during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh won 27-17. Clemson and Iowa State are scheduled to play in the Cheez-It Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
Clemson, Iowa State close down seasons in Cheez-It Bowl

By John Denton Dec. 28, 2021 12:15 PM EST

Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell coaches his players during practice for the Cotton Bowl NCAA football game, Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Breakthrough Bearcats ready for CFP semi against champ Bama

By Stephen Hawkins Dec. 27, 2021 07:37 PM EST

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) runs from Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell (31) during the second half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Blueprint: Can 'Bama's success help Michigan vs. Georgia?

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 27, 2021 03:45 PM EST

FILE - American League pitcher Don Sutton of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the 48th All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium in New York, Tuesday, July 20, 1977. In 2021, baseball lost three notable former players, Hall of Famer Sutton, Ray Fosse and J.R. Richard. Sutton won 324 games with five teams. (AP Photo, File)
Aaron, Elder overcame hate to achieve records, milestones

By Bernie Wilson Dec. 27, 2021 03:41 PM EST

Alabama head coach Nick Saban leaves the field after the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game between Georgia and Alabama, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Atlanta. Alabama won 41-24. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
'Stay focused': CFP games arrive with pandemic raging, again

By Tim Reynolds Dec. 27, 2021 03:27 PM EST

FILE - Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell prepares to take players onto the field prior to an NCAA college football game against Miami (Ohio) Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Cincinnati. For Cincinnati (13-0), a member of the second-tier American Athletic Conference, the planets aligned. The Bearcats landed as the No. 4 seed in the CFP, invading the domain of college football's blue bloods. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)
No. 1 Alabama without OC and No. 4 Cincy arrive for CFP semi

By Stephen Hawkins Dec. 26, 2021 03:29 PM EST

FILE - Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) lines up against Mercer during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Sept. 11, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
Bama's Anderson dominates blockers, but sisters were tougher

By John Zenor Dec. 24, 2021 11:34 AM EST

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski, left, and quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrate after the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Tampa, Fla., Feb. 7, 2021. Brady's fifth Super Bowl title, at 43 no less, was one of the best moments of 2021, when a continuing pandemic could not dim the brightest of stars of the sports world.(AP Photo/Steve Luciano, File)
Ode to Sports: A year when games and fans came off the bench

By Fred Lief Dec. 23, 2021 12:24 PM EST

FILE - Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell prepares to take players onto the field prior to an NCAA college football game against Miami (Ohio) Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Cincinnati. For Cincinnati (13-0), a member of the second-tier American Athletic Conference, the planets aligned. The Bearcats landed as the No. 4 seed in the CFP, invading the domain of college football's blue bloods. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)
Cincinnati climbs CFP mountain, but can it stay there?

By Mitch Stacy Dec. 23, 2021 11:34 AM EST

Workers load cars onto a storage cart after an NCAA college basketball game between Kansas and Colorado was canceled two hours before tipoff, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
ACC, Pac-12 revise forfeit plan for called-off league games

By The Associated Press Dec. 22, 2021 03:21 PM EST

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. If a team is unavailable to play in College Football Playoff semifinals on Dec. 31 because of COVID-19 issues, the game will be forfeited and the available team will advance to the championship game. With COVID-19 cases spiking across the country due to the omicron variant, the CFP announced Wednesday, Dec. 22, contingency plans for the semifinals and national championship game, which is scheduled for Jan. 10 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman, File)
No makeups for CFP semis if team can't play due to virus

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 22, 2021 02:12 PM EST

Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher walks the sideline during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Derick Hingle)
Amid signing day chaos, SEC powers grab top recruits

By Eric Olson Dec. 15, 2021 06:38 PM EST

FILE - Santa Margarita defensive lineman Hero Kanu (45), seen pursuing Servite's Noah Fifita during a Trinity League game at Santa Ana Stadium in Santa Ana on April 15, 2021. American colleges are again tapping the European pipeline for football recruits. The early signing period begins Wednesday when high school kids make their final decisions. Recruits from Germany, Sweden, Denmark and England plan to sign with programs including Michigan, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, Illinois and Texas A&M. At the top of the European list is defensive lineman Hero Kanu of Germany. The 17-year-old Kanu outgrew soccer and only started training for American football two years ago. (Leonard Ortiz/The Orange County Register via AP)
Hero Kanu heads international class of college FB signings

By Ken Maguire Dec. 13, 2021 02:01 PM EST

Iowa State running back Breece Hall (28) carries the ball up field during the first half an NCAA college football game against TCU, Nov. 26, 2021, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, file)
2021 AP All-America Team, List

Dec. 13, 2021 12:13 PM EST

FILE - Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) runs toward the end zone for a touchdown against Georgia during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Dec. 4, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, file)
AP All-America team: Young and Tide lead with 3 1st teamers

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 13, 2021 12:02 PM EST

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) tips the ball away from New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New York, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Balanced Bucks cruise past short-handed Knicks 112-97

By Denis P. Gorman Dec. 12, 2021 02:54 PM EST

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud smiles during a news conference before attending the Heisman Trophy award ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Heisman 2022: Who stands between Bryce Young and 2nd trophy?

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 12, 2021 10:21 AM EST

2021 Heisman Trophy Voting

Dec. 11, 2021 09:37 PM EST
Voting for the 2021 Heisman Trophy with first-, second- and third-place votes and total points (voting on 3-2-1 basis): Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total ...

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young holds the Heisman Trophy at an award ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, in New York. (Todd Van Emst/Heisman Trust via AP, Pool)
Back-to-back: Young gives Alabama consecutive Heisman wins

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 11, 2021 09:04 PM EST

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young wins Heisman Trophy as top college football player

Dec. 11, 2021 08:53 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Alabama quarterback Bryce Young wins Heisman Trophy as top college football player. ...