RALPH D. RUSSO

AP College Football Writer
Florida State tight end Kyle Morlock reacts after dropping a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Colin Hackley)
Florida State drops out of AP Top 25 after 0-2 start. Texas up to No. 3 behind Georgia, Ohio State
Florida State has fallen out of The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll after starting the season 0-2.
 
Oregon State running back Anthony Hankerson (0) finds the end zone for a touchdown during an NCAA college football game against Idaho State in Corvallis, Ore., Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (Sean Meagher/The Oregonian via AP)
Deadline passes for Mountain West, Washington State, Oregon State to renew football scheduling deal
The deadline for the Mountain West and Washington State and Oregon State to renew their football scheduling agreement passed without a deal being struck.
 
FILE - The College Football Playoff logo is printed across a backdrop during a news conference where the 13 members of the committee were announced, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
12-team College Football Playoff puts even more emphasis on schedule strength, for better or worse
Debates about strength of schedule are part of the fabric of the college football, like marching bands, cheerleaders and tailgating.
 
Florida State's DJ Uiagalelei throws the ball during the NCAA college football game between Georgia Tech and Florida State at the Aviva stadium in Dublin, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
College athlete advocacy group opposes NCAA lawsuit settlement, says it limits potential earnings
A prominent advocacy group for college athletes says it opposes a settlement agreement of federal antitrust lawsuits facing the NCAA and major college conferences.
 
FILE - Florida head coach Billy Napier roams the sidelines during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
College football picks: Angsty matchups No. 19 Miami-Florida, No. 13 LSU-No. 23 USC highlight Week 1
After a brisk Week 0 warmup, Week 1 arrives with dozens of games from Thursday through Monday, including a few tasty matchups: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 14 Clemson; No. 7 Notre Dame at No.20 Texas A&M; No. 19 Miami at Florida; No. 13 LSU vs.
 
FILE - Then-Duke quarterback Riley Leonard (13) looks for a receiver during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Florida State, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
Recommendation to eliminate 15-day spring transfer portal window for football players moves forward
The NCAA Division I Council will consider eliminating the 15-day spring transfer window for football as part of a move to decrease the overall number of days from 45 to 30 that players can declare their intentions to switch schools while maintaining immediate eligibility.
 
FILE - Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark addresses the media, Oct. 17, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Analysis: Big 12 must ask not only why UConn, but why now as Yormark remains open for business
As Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark steps up discussions in the conference about adding UConn, the question isn’t so much why add the Huskies as why add them now?
 
FILE - Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore speaks during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days at Lucas Oil Stadium, July 25, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Michigan receives notice of allegations from NCAA related to sign-stealing investigation
Michigan has received the final version of a notice of allegations from the NCAA related to an investigation into an in-person scouting and sign-stealing operation being run by a football staffer.
 
FILE - UConn center Donovan Clingan (32) celebrates cutting the net after their win against Purdue in the NCAA college Final Four championship basketball game, April 8, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
Big 12 leaders to discuss potentially inviting UConn after school makes pitch, AP sources say
Big 12 presidents are scheduled next week to discuss potentially inviting UConn to the conference after school officials recently made an in-person pitch to the league, two people familiar with the discussions tell The Associated Press.
 
FILE - Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) runs past Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant (78) and linebacker Michael Barrett (23) during the first half of the Rose Bowl CFP NCAA semifinal college football game Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
Bulked-up Big Ten and SEC set to dominate college football on and off the field
In the new era of college football, there are three categories: Being a member of the Big Ten or the Southeastern Conference; Pondering how to get into the Big Ten or SEC; Wondering if you’re in danger of being left behind by the Big Ten and SEC.
 
FILE - Florida State defensive lineman Patrick Payton reacts after a play during the second half of the team's Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game against Louisville, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco, File)
Florida State, ACC complete court-ordered mediation as legal fight drags into football season
Florida State and the Atlantic Coast Conference completed mediation mandated by a Florida judge, according to a court filing, as the legal battle between the school and league appears poised to drag into the football season and beyond.
 
FILE - Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, center, reacts on the sideline during the second half of the Cotton Bowl NCAA college football game against Missouri, Dec. 29, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
Predicting the first 12-team playoff from Ohio State to Memphis with 4 SEC teams -- but no Alabama
Superconferences and a 12-team College Football Playoff make this season more difficult to predict than ever, but we’ll give it a shot anyway. Georgia and Ohio State appear to be the closest thing to locks.
 
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer tracks his team during NCAA college football practice, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama gave a big contract to its GM. Why college football teams are operating more like pros
Alabama has given one of Kalen DeBoer’s key behind-the-scenes staffers, general manager Courtney Morgan, a new three-year contract worth nearly $2.5 million.
 
FILE - Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson (5) tries to break away from TCU safety Millard Bradford (28) as he runs the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Who wins the Heisman Trophy? Can a veteran QB or 1st-year starter break through the transfer trend?
The Heisman Trophy race appears wide open this season. The top five players in last year’s Heisman voting, won by LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, and eight of the top 10 are currently in NFL training camps.
 
FILE - Then-Alabama defensive back Caleb Downs (2) sets up for a play against Auburn during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File, File)
Caleb Downs leads 4 Ohio State players selected to Associated Press preseason All-America first team
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is one of the second-ranked Buckeyes’ high-profile transfers. He and three of his new teammates have been selected to The Associated Press preseason All-America team.
 
Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer, left, and former Alabama coach Nick Saban chat after appearing on the set of ESPN's SEC Now during the Southeastern Conference NCAA college football media days Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Season of change: Ranking the top 25 changes coming to college football in 2024
 
Oregon running backs football coach Ra'Shaad Samples works with the team during the Ducks' fall camp on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex in Eugene, Ore. (Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard via AP)/
As college football evolves, so does the relationship between players and their CEO-like coaches
This tumultuous and uncertain period of college football, with rules about player compensation and transfers seemingly changing every six months, has made more than a few coaches — including Nick Saban — question whether the job is really for them anymore.
 
FILE - Pete Bevacqua, then-CEO of the PGA of America, gestures during a news conference at The Players Championship golf tournament, May 6, 2015, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Notre Dame suspends men’s swim team for one year after review finds NCAA gambling violations
Notre Dame has suspended its men’s swimming program for at least one year after an external review found members of the team violated NCAA rules by wagering among themselves on results of their competitions.
 
FILE - Tennessee players run onto the field at Neyland Stadium before an NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Texas A&M Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)
Tennessee reaches long-term deal with Knoxville-based Pilot to preserve name of Neyland Stadium
Tennessee has announced a long-term deal with travel-center giant Pilot that preserves the names of Neyland Stadium and Shields-Watkins Field while giving the Knoxville-based company prominent signage throughout the stadium, including on the playing surface.
 
FILE - Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore speaks during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days at Lucas Oil Stadium, July 25, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Why seeding for the expanded College Football Playoff isn’t as simple as counting from 1 to 12
The College Football Playoff expands to from four to 12 teams this season, a massive change that will profoundly impact the sport and how success is defined. The system is also quirky.
 
Ole Miss head football coach Lane Kiffin speaks during Southeastern Conference NCAA college football media days Monday, July 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Ohio State extends record AP Top 25 streak; Ole Miss has best preseason ranking since Archie Manning
No. 2 Ohio State has extended its record streak of appearances in the AP Top 25 preseason college football rankings to 36 straight seasons. No. 6 Mississippi has its best preseason ranking since Archie Manning was the Rebels’ quarterback.
 
FILE - Ohio State's Jack Sawyer (33) celebrates a win after an NCAA college football game against Notre Dame on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina, File)
Who will make an expanded College Football Playoff? A potential bracket, using the Top 25 as a guide
The preseason AP Top 25 is — to some degree — a projection for the season to come. So with the College Football Playoff field about to triple in size from four to 12 teams, how will the preseason poll do as a playoff predictor?
 
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart speaks during Southeastern Conference NCAA college football media days Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Georgia No. 1 in preseason AP Top 25 and Ohio State No. 2 as expanded SEC, Big Ten flex muscles
Georgia is No. 1 in The Associated Press preseason college football poll for the second straight year. The Bulldogs received 46 first-place votes to finish comfortably ahead of No. 2 Ohio State, which got 15 top votes.
 
Arkansas head football coach Sam Pittman reaches into his pocket while speaking during the Southeastern Conference NCAA college football media days Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Pick-Six: Sam Pittman, Billy Napier, Dave Aranda are coaches in need of change of trajectory in ’24
Sam Pittman knows he’ll be included on lists like these. The Arkansas coach is among those in major college very much in need of a winning season to retain their job beyond 2024.
 
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore speaks during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days at Lucas Oil Stadium, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Michigan’s Moore faces allegations of NCAA violations in sign-stealing investigation, AP sources say
Michigan coach Sherrone Moore faces allegations that he violated NCAA rules related to an investigation into impermissible scouting and sign-stealing that hung over the program through its run to last season’s national title.
 
FILE - Wisconsin's Traevon Jackson dribbles past the NCAA logo during practice at the NCAA men's college basketball tournament March 26, 2014, in Anaheim, Calif. A federal judged has denied the first objection to a $2.77 billion settlement of antitrust lawuits facing the NCAA and five power conferences, ruling against Houston Christian University’s motion to intervene. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
Boosters and collectives would be targeted by mandatory disclosure of NIL deals. Is that legal?
 
Players and coaches talk with reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days at Lucas Oil Stadium, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Damages to college athletes to range from a few dollars to more than a million under settlement
Thousands of former college athletes will be eligible for payments ranging from a few dollars to more than a million under the $2.78 billion antitrust settlement agreed to by the NCAA and five power conferences.
 
FILE - In this April 25, 2018, file photo, the NCAA headquarters is shown in Indianapolis. Houston Christian University's U.S. district court case might be just the beginning of the challenges the NCAA and the major conferences will face as they sort out how their schools will be able to potentially pay athletes. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Judge denies Houston Christian’s objection to NCAA’s $2.77 billion antitrust settlement agreement
A federal judged has denied the first objection to a $2.77 billion settlement of antitrust lawuits facing the NCAA and five power conferences, ruling against Houston Christian University’s motion to intervene.
 
Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti speaks during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days at Lucas Oil Stadium, Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Attorney: Full settlement agreement of antitrust lawsuits involving NCAA expected to be filed Friday
An attorney for the defendants tells The Associated Press the full settlement agreement of antitrust lawsuits involving the NCAA and college sports’ wealthiest conferences is expected to be filed with a federal court by Friday.
 
FILE - Ed O'Bannon arrives at the world premiere of "Air" on March 27, 2023, at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles. O'Bannon challenged the NCAA's right to make money off the name, image and likeness of athletes in college sports video games. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
How college sports video games became the entry point to dismantle the NCAA’s amateurism rules
More than a decade ago, college sports video games were identified as an entry point to challenge NCAA rules that prevented college athletes from being compensated.
 
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