Category: College Football

Nov 30, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer is upset with officials after a Tide player was called for a personal foul during the second half against the Autumn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 28-14. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

The Alabama Crimson Tide look to be in a good spot to make the 12-team College Football Playoff entering championship weekend.

Alabama was ranked No. 11 in the updated CFP rankings, released Tuesday night. As of the committee’s penultimate rankings, Kalen DeBoer’s team has the final at-large playoff berth after beating the Auburn Tigers 28-14 in last Saturday’s Iron Bowl, and after the Miami Hurricanes fell 42-38 in an upset loss at Syracuse.

But one question seems to be lingering: what happens to Alabama if Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers knock off the SMU Mustangs in the ACC title game Saturday night in Charlotte?

Currently, SMU is the projected ACC champion and No. 3 seed in the committee’s bracket. The Mustangs are No. 8 in the current CFP rankings. But if SMU loses to Cade Klubnik and a Tigers offense that has shown flashes of explosiveness this season, and the debate comes down to a three-loss Alabama team vs. a two-loss SMU team, who would get the nod by the selection committee?

USA TODAY Sports columnist Paul Myerberg called a Clemson win over SMU a “doomsday scenario” for the selection committee. It’s also the only scenario, Myerberg says, that could keep Jalen Milroe and the Crimson Tide from reaching the playoff.

Myerberg explains:

“The Mustangs argument rests on just two losses, both to ranked teams; a nine-game winning streak featuring six wins against bowl teams; only two Power Four wins decided by single digits; and being one of two Power Four teams, along with Oregon, to go unbeaten in conference play.

“Alabama’s case…

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Legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick interviewed for the vacant North Carolina job this week, according to Inside Carolina. This is the first known formal contact between Belichick and a collegiate job since he left the New England Patriots in 2023. 

Belichick has primarily worked in television since separating from the Patriots, but ESPN reported in September that Belichick hopes to get back into coaching in 2025. He previously turned down offers to join the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams as a defensive coordinator. He was a candidate for the Atlanta Falcons job, which ultimately went to Raheem Morris. 

Attempts by CBS Sports to reach Belichick’s longtime agent have not been returned. 

North Carolina is making only its second hire since 2011 after firing championship-winning coach Mack Brown after six seasons. Brown went 113-79-1 over two tenures with the Tar Heels and left as the winningest coach in program history. He turned 73 in August, making him the only coach in the sport in 2024 who was more than 70 years old. 

Of course, that would make Belichick an odd choice for the role; he will also turn 73 in April. Belichick has also never worked in college football. His first job was as a special assistant to Baltimore Colts coach Ted Marchibroda in 1975. However, his father was an assistant at Navy, and he was named after his godfather, Hall of Fame Wittenberg and Vanderbilt coach Bill Edwards. His son, Steve Belichick, joined Washington as a defensive coordinator in 2024. 

But many power brokers at North Carolina want the program to target a big name to elevate the program, similar to Brown early in his tenure. In addition to Belichick, Inside Carolina reports that Tulane coach Jon Sumrall and Georgia defensive coordinator…

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Nov 30, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly looks on against the Oklahoma Sooners during the fourth quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Following LSU’s National Early Signing Day festivities, head coach Brian Kelly shed some light on who he sees ahead of the pack in the class.

The Tigers’ 2025 signing class, headlined by two five-star recruits, ranks ninth in the country and sixth in the SEC according to On3’s industry rankings.

Kelly points to both emotional and physical maturity as separators for who can see the field early in their careers.

In terms of physicality, offensive linemen Carius Curne and Brett Bordelon fit the bill.

“I felt like, physically, [Carius] might be one of the strongest players that I’ve recruited in a long time,” Kelly said. “Bordelon is physically as strong as some of the offensive linemen we have.”

Luckily for Curne and Brodelon, they’ll be blocking for the class’ top running back in Harlem Berry. Him, alongside four-star wide receiver Phillip Wright III, stand out as the skill players who could make an immediate impact, according to Kelly.

“Can they make that flip and transition? Because they certainly have the skill to do it,” Kelly said.

On defense, Kelly pointed to Zion Williams as being on par with Curne and Bordelon in terms of size and strength, saying he is “a guy that you could plug in immediately.”

DJ Pickett also received praise from the Tigers’ head coach. A five-star cornerback, Pickett possesses the “length” and “pedigree” to play as a true freshman, according to Kelly.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Brian Kelly on which 2025 class signees can play for LSU as true freshman

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No. 10 Boise State battles with No. 20 UNLV in one of the biggest Group of Five games in college football history. The Broncos have put together a sensational season, exploding to 11-1 with the only loss coming at the buzzer against No. 1 Oregon. Boise State crushed Oregon State 34-18 in its regular-season finale. 

UNLV sits at 10-2 with the only losses — totaling eight points combined — coming to this Boise State team and a 9-3 Syracuse squad. Since a two-point win at Hawaii, the Rebels have been one of the hottest teams in college football. UNLV beat San Diego State, San Jose State and Nevada by a combined 56 points. 

The Rebels and Broncos played a highly competitive game at Allegiant Stadium on Oct. 25. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty scored a fourth-quarter touchdown with 12:38 remaining to send the Broncos to an emotional victory. The winner of the Mountain West Championship Game should earn a trip to the College Football Playoff. 

Boise State vs. UNLV: Need to know

Heisman hopeful: Boise State star running back Ashton Jeanty has the opportunity to make a closing statement for the Heisman Trophy against an outstanding UNLV team. The Rebels held him to only 128 yards, his worst FBS output of the season, but Jeanty still became the first running back since 2019 to clear 2,000 yards. He needs 566 yards to pass Barry Sanders’ all-time record and has at least two games to accomplish the feat. Hitting 200+ against UNLV could get him back into contention against Colorado’s Travis Hunter. 

QB carousel: Former UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka drew headlines after shockingly opting out of the season after only three games. However, Hajj-Malik Williams has been an ascendent star ever since. The Campbell transfer threw for 1,735…

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Oct 19, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns linebacker Ethan Burke (91) tackles Georgia Bulldogs tight end Lawson Luckie (7) in the first half at Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sara Diggins/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

The College Football Playoff unveiled their new set of rankings on Tuesday. Placing the Texas Longhorns at No. 2 taking Ohio State’s spot following their loss to Michigan and placing No. 8.

ESPN can now project that based on Week 15 rankings, Texas, will have a first-round bye. The Longhorns would await a matchup against either No. 10 ranked Indiana and No. 7 ranked Georgia.

Georgia would have to win against Indiana, then, assuming the rankings remain unchanged, with Texas, winning in Atlanta this weekend, Georgia would travel back to Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium. The Longhorns fell to the Georgia Bulldogs at home early October, 30-15.

Could the conference that Just Means More, have a season where two conference opponents meet three times? Each with the stakes being higher. Possibly, only time will tell. Texas takes on Georgia this Saturday from Mercedes Benz stadium in their first Southeastern Conference Championship, a win would leave the Longhorns in the No. 2 spot, while a loss might set them back.

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: ESPN projects Texas and Georgia to play a third time in CFP quarterfinals

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Nebraska is hiring Dana Holgorsen as its full-time offensive coordinator after bringing in the former Houston and West Virginia coach as a consultant on Matt Rhule’s staff last month. 

The school announced Monday that Holgorsen has agreed to a two-year contract that will pay him $1.2 million annually. 

Holgorsen was added to the Nebraska coaching staff as an offensive consultant and was promoted to offensive coordinator and play-caller to replace Marcus Satterfield, who was demoted to tight ends coach. Holgorsen served as offensive coordinator for the final three games of the regular season and helped the 6-6 Huskers reach bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016 with a 44-25 win over Wisconsin on Nov. 23. 

“We are excited that Dana Holgorsen has agreed to be our offensive coordinator moving forward,” Rhule said. “Dana is one of the elite offensive minds in football, and the progress we made in our final three games provides a glimpse of the potential of our offense under his direction. We look forward to Dana leading our offense into the bowl game and building for the 2025 season.”

Nebraska pursued Holgorsen for a role on its staff previously, but he initially opted to work as an analyst at TCU after getting fired from Houston. Holgorsen posted a 92-69 record between head-coaching jobs at West Virginia and Houston and is regarded as one of the top offensive minds in college football. Holgorsen had a hand in coaching Graham Harrell, Case Keenum, Brandon Weeden, Geno Smith, Will Grier and Clayton Tune.

Before his time leading the West Virginia (2011-18) and…

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With its regular season in the books, the OU football team now shifts its focus to the postseason.

OU (6-6, 2-6 SEC) is eligible to compete in a bowl game despite suffering a 37-17 road loss to LSU in Week 14. It’ll learn its destination and opponent during Selection Day, which begins at 11 a.m. CT Sunday on ESPN.

Here are the latest 2024 bowl projections for the Sooners.

More: OU football suffers blowout loss at LSU, awaits bowl destination | 5 takeaways

2024 OU football bowl projections

Athlon Sports: Liberty Bowl vs. TCU

247Sports: Birmingham Bowl vs. North Carolina State

CBS Sports: Frisco Bowl vs. Jacksonville State

College Football Network: Cure Bowl vs. Louisiana

College Football News: Las Vegas Bowl vs. Colorado

ESPN (Kyle Bonagura): Gasparilla Bowl vs. North Carolina State

ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Liberty Bowl vs. TCU

Sporting News: Birmingham Bowl vs. North Carolina

More: Where does OU football’s offense go next? Sooners await OC search, Jackson Arnold decision

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football bowl projections 2024: Where Sooners are after loss vs LSU

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Purdue has fired coach Ryan Walters after two seasons, the school announced on Sunday. The Boilermakers finished their season with a 66-0 loss to rival Indiana on Saturday to finish the season 1-11 without a win against FBS competition. The loss dropped the Boilermakers to 5-19 throughout Walters’ two seasons at the helm, including a mark of 3-15 in Big Ten play. CBS Sports first reported the news of Walters’ firing on Sunday morning. 

Walters was hired to replace Jeff Brohm prior to the 2024 season. He’s spent the previous two seasons as defensive coordinator at Illinois and led one of the best defenses in the country in 2022, which helped the Illini go 8-5, their best season since winning nine games in 2007. Unfortunately, Walters was not able to bring that same defensive performance with him east to West Lafayette, Indiana.

In his two seasons, the Boilermakers allowed an average of 35.2 points per game and allowed at least 40 points in eight of 24 games. This season alone Purdue has played five games against teams likely to be selected for the College Football Playoff (Indiana, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State) and was outscored 261-17 in those five games.

It’s a deficit that may have been more acceptable, but the Boilermakers didn’t fare much better against the rest of their schedule, either. Of their 19 losses under Walters, only five came by fewer than two scores.

While the defense was a serious issue, there wasn’t any success on the offensive side of the ball to offset it, either. Walters fired offensive coordinator Graham Harrell earlier this season and took over playcalling duties on offense himself initially. While there was early success as the Boilermakers put up 49 points against Illinois in defeat, it was…

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