Category: College Football

Three young Auburn Tigers have received All-SEC Honors.

Kicker Alex McPherson, edge rusher Keldric Faulk, offensive lineman Connor Lew were all named to the All-SEC Freshmen team on Thursday.

McPherson was not only one of the best place-kickers in the country this season, but one of the best kickers period.

The younger brother of Bengals’ kicker Evan McPherson, Alex drilled every single one of his attempts this year, including 13-of-13 field goals and 39-of-39 extra points.

McPherson showed accuracy and power throughout his freshman campaign, connecting on a 53-yard try as well as 3 more attempts from 40-plus yards.

The College Football Network Freshman Kicker of the Year seems ready to continue Auburn’s recent run of strong kickers on the Plains.

Unlike McPherson, Keldric Faulk and Connor Lew weren’t major cogs in head coach Hugh Freeze’s lineup until late in the season.

Lew started Auburn’s last five games, earning Freshmen of the week honors in his first start filling in for the injured Avery Jones against Mississippi State.

The freshmen ran with the momentum, usurping Jones as the starting center for the final stretch of the season.

Lew helped a solid Tigers offensive line become great, specifically against Alabama in the Iron Bowl, when Auburn rushed for 244 yards against the SEC’s College Football Playoff representative.

Edge rusher Keldric Faulk was also a late-bloomer for the Tigers in his first season on the plains.

The freshman started the final 7 games of the season for Auburn, collecting 12 of his 32 total tackles in the final three games of the season.

He played an important role in attempting to shut down Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in the Iron Bowl, and did a decent job for the most part.

These three freshman will enjoy the honor before retunring to practice to prepare for the Music City Bowl…

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It’s annually a can’t-miss event when Army and Navy take to the football field, and that’s been especially accurate in recent years as the rivalry has been as competitive as ever. Nine of the last 12 meetings between the service academies have been decided by a touchdown or less, including last year’s 20-17 overtime win for the Black Knights. 

Unmatched is the pageantry and history of this game, as well as the meaning, specifically as it pertains to the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. By virtue of its early-November upset win over Air Force, Army comes into this one with the chance to claim the coveted prize outright for the first time since 2020 if its able to defeat its arch rival. Should Navy emerge victorious, however, the trophy would be shared between the three academies as Air Force defeated Navy earlier this season. 

While last year’s overtime Army victory was a thriller, it doesn’t quite crack the ranks of the rivalry’s most historic games. Considering Army and Navy have been playing since the late 19th century, there have been countless notable moments in their series, some of which stand out among the greatest games in college football history.

The Midshipmen lead the all-time series 62-54-7 as the foes prepare to meet again Saturday on CBS at 3 p.m. ET.

As Army and Navy prepare to play to cap the 2023 college football regular season, here is a look back at the most memorable matchups from the storied rivalry.

5. 1983: Navy 42, Army 13, 

The first and only game played west of the Mississippi — at the Rose Bowl.

The teams combined for just five total wins in 1983, but their game with each other was particularly memorable because of where it took place. For the first and only time in series history, they played west of the…

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Florida State is facing another roster exit, but not into the NCAA transfer portal. Wide receiver Johnny Wilson announced that he is declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported the news on Wednesday and said that Wilson plans to opt out of the Orange Bowl but will play in the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl on Feb. 3, 2024, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.

Wilson battled with injuries throughout the season, missing FSU’s game against Syracuse after suffering an injury the week before against Virginia Tech. He suffered another injury in the Seminoles game against Duke, missing games against Wake Forest and Pittsburgh.

Despite being in and out, Wilson still managed to put up solid numbers, recording 617 yards receiving on 41 receptions for two touchdowns. Two of his first three games of the year, against LSU and Boston College, were 100+ yard games for the redshirt junior.

He transferred in from Arizona State in 2022 and has since been one of the Seminoles’ top wide receivers. In the 2022 season, he recorded 897 yards receiving on 43 receptions for five touchdowns.

Wilson is the first FSU player to declare for the NFL Draft, but not the first to say they won’t be returning. Nine players, including defensive end Patrick Payton and tight end Markeston Douglas, announced they are entering the transfer portal since it opened on Dec. 4.

A handful of other FSU players are expected to declare for the NFL Draft, one of which being wide receiver Keon Coleman. The NFL Draft takes place on April 25–27, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan.

Two other FSU players have accepted invites to play in the Senior Bowl: defensive lineman Braden Fiske and tight end Jaheim Bell.

Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @jackgwilliams.

This…

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USATSI

Middle Tennessee is expected to hire former Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason to replace longtime coach Rick Stockstill, 247Sports reports. Mason led the Commodores from 2014-20 and was the defensive coordinator for Auburn and Oklahoma State before serving as a TV analyst this season.

He will be charged with breathing new life into the Blue Raiders, who made 10 bowl games in 18 seasons under Stockstill but reached 10 wins only once back in 2009. MTSU finished 4-8 (3-5 Conference USA) this season. Athletic director Chris Massaro referred to parting with Stockstill as “one of the most difficult days in my tenure, but one I feel is necessary in our aspiration to compete and win championships.”

Mason announced a coaching sabbatical in January following his lone season as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, saying, “I look forward to spending time with my family to rest and reflect on opportunities within the game I love.” He subsequently spent the 2023 season as a color analyst on ESPN broadcasts.

The 54-year-old Mason is familiar with the local landscape at Middle Tennessee since it’s just 38 miles from the Vanderbilt campus. Though Mason’s recent experience is at the Power Five level and in the NFL, he has some Group of Five experience from his days as an assistant for Ohio and New Mexico State, among others.

Though his time at Vanderbilt ended with a 27-55 record, Mason led the Commodores to bowl appearances in 2016 and 2018. While that fell short of the standard set by predecessor James Franklin, it marked a good tenure by the standard of almost any other coach in program…

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Dec. 4—PULLMAN — Myles Rice’s sizzling start to the season just keeps getting hotter.

The Washington State redshirt freshman was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week in men’s basketball, the conference announced Monday.

In wins over Eastern Washington and Portland State, Rice scored 28 and 19 points respectively, helping the Cougars secure a 6-1 start to the season. Against EWU, Rice nailed each of his first six 3-pointers, and against PSU, he came alive for 13 points in the second half.

Rice, the conference’s highest-scoring freshman, ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in scoring, posting 17.4 points per game.

The honor is Rice’s first from the conference. It is also WSU’s first Pac-12 weekly honor since Mo Gueye was named conference freshman of the week in March 2022.

WSU returns to action on Wednesday, hosting UC Riverside at 7 p.m.

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Dillon Gabriel has entered the NCAA transfer portal after two seasons with the Sooners, the Oklahoma quarterback announced on Monday. Gabriel becomes the second major quarterback name entering the portal on the first day of the winter transfer window, following Ohio State starter Kyle McCord. Both veterans are joining a loaded market that already includes 10 four-star QB prospects in 247Sports’ transfer rankings. 

247Sports has already assigned Gabriel a ranking of 91, making him the No. 4 quarterback available in the transfer portal. Gabriel posted what seems to be a farewell message on social media Monday morning, though he did not confirm his intentions. 

“The past 2 years here at OU as a Sooner I have made memories with friends and family that remind me how blessed I am,” Gabriel wrote. “I have been able to play football for an amazing group of coaches and alongside men who have become my brothers. More than anything I have grown in faith and love. I appreciate and cherish these memories and relationships forever. My time in The Palace was a game time experience I will never forget. Sooner Nation, you held me accountable and I am better for it. 

“Coach BV (Brent Venables), my coaches, and the football staff, I am grateful for your care, knowledge, and insight. Most of all, thanks for your faith in me and the opportunity to lead and be a member of OU’s team 128 and 129.”

The 5-foot-11 Gabriel transferred to Oklahoma — after initially committing to UCLA out of the portal — in 2022 after three years at UCF. He was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year last season and led the Sooners in 2023 with 3,660 yards passing and 30 touchdowns. He also rushed for 373 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

Arnold’s time to shine 

Oklahoma will now hand its…

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Bowlmania

Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

The bowl schedule saw its card finally filled on Saturday. The college postseason starts Dec. 16 and ends Jan. 8 with the CFP championship.

Myrtle Beach Bowl , Dec. 16 (Sat) 11:00 AM (ET)

David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

Matchup: Georgia Southern vs. Ohio.

Venue, Brooks Stadium.

Location: Conway, SC.

Cricket Celebration Bowl, Dec. 16, Noon. ET

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Matchup: Howard vs. Florida A&M.

Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Location: Atlanta, GA.

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Dec. 16, 2:15 p.m. ET

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Matchup: Louisiana vs. Jacksonville State.

Venue: Caesars Superdome.

Location: New Orleans, LA.

Avocados from Mexico Cure Bowl, Dec. 16, 3:30 p.m. ET

USAT

Matchup: Appalachian State vs. Miami (Ohio).

Venue: FBC Mortgage Stadium.

Location: Orlando, FL.

Isleta New Mexico Bowl, Dec. 16, 5:45 p.m. ET

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Matchup: New Mexico State vs. Fresno State.

Venue: University Stadium.

Location: Albuquerque, NM.

LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk, Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m. ET

(Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

Matchup: Boise State vs. UCLA.

Venue: SoFi Stadium.

Location: Los Angeles, CA.

Radiance Technology Indepence Bowl, Dec. 16, 9:15 p.m. ET

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Matchup: Texas Tech vs. Cal.

Venue: Independence Stadium.

Location: Shreveport, LA.

Famous Toastery Bowl, Dec. 18, 2:30 p.m. ET

(Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports)

Matchup: Western Michigan vs. Old Dominion.

Venue: Jerry Richardson Stadium.

Location: Charlotte, NC.

Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl, Dec. 19, 9 p.m. ET

USAT

Matchup: UTSA vs. Marshall.

Venue: Toyota Stadium.

Location: Frisco, TX.

Roofclaim.com Boca Raton Bow, Dec. 21, 8 p.m. ET

Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Matchup: South Florida vs. Syracuse.

Venue: FAU Stadium.

Location: Boca Raton, FL.

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl, Dec. 22, 6:30 p,m.

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY…

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It was a wild Championship Week with Alabama taking down Georgia in the SEC Championship Game punting the Bulldogs from competing for a third straight national championship and putting the Crimson Tide in a head-to-head debate with the one team that defeated them this season, Texas. The Longhorns, which thoroughly took down the Tide by 10 points on the road at Bryant-Denny Stadium back in Week 2, completed their campaign with a dominant 49-21 win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship Game.

With only three undefeated Power Five teams remaining following the Georgia loss — Michigan shut out Iowa and Florida State crawled to victory over Louisville in a rock fight — Texas is now projected as the fourth seed in the playoff over Alabama by virtue of the ‘Horns head-to-head victory back on Sept. 9. 

The CFP Selection Committee will use criteria including championships won, strength of schedule, head-to-head results (if applicable) and comparative outcomes against common opponents in making its determinations. Texas and Alabama both won conference titles Saturday, and while the ‘Horns have a tougher strength of schedule, the Tide have more wins over CFP-ranked teams — four (including over No. 1) vs. three.

The SEC has sent at least one team to every playoff since the event’s inception; however that is trivia, not criteria. Also, no program has made the playoff when ranked No. 7 or lower in the penultimate CFP Rankings; Texas looks like it will buck that trend (theoretically, Alabama could as well).

College Football Playoff

Jan. 8

National Championship
Houston

Title game …..

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