CFB

AP Sports WriterPenny, No. 19 San Diego State eager to face Boise StateBy BERNIE WILSONSAN DIEGO (AP) It's been a long time since San Diego State has played a game this meaningful.Beating Stanford and Arizona State of the Pac-12 in consecutive weeks was a nice accomplishment.Beating Boise State...

AP Sports WriterClay Helton embracing his make-or-break season at USCBy GREG BEACHAMLOS ANGELES (AP) Clay Helton is still in charge at Southern California after its first losing season in 18 years. The folksy head coach realizes he probably won't be for much longer if he can't get the...

Alabama releases contracts for football assistantsTUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) New Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley will make $1.2 million annually and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi is set to earn $1.1 million.Trustees approved deals for 10 Crimson Tide assistants Monday, with only offensive line coach Brent Key remaining in the...

AP Sports WriterFast-healing Blough returns in time for Purdue's spring gameBy MICHAEL MAROTWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) Purdue quarterback David Blough savors every moment a little more these days.He's happy to be back for his fifth and final season with the Boilermakers following an offseason full of questions, rehab...

Vikings player Floyd denies reports of flagged alcohol testsMINNEAPOLIS (AP) Police say Vikings wide receiver Michael Floyd has been flagged for failed alcohol tests that are part of his monitoring for house arrest in Minnesota.Police records obtained by the Star Tribune show that Floyd flagged his alcohol monitoring...

AP Sports WriterSmith, Pitts are the real stars of SEC's Alabama, FloridaBy MARK LONGGAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) The Southeastern Conference championship game features two of the nation's top playmakers, and neither is a quarterback.Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith and Florida tight end Kyle Pitts are the real stars of the...

Tennessee State's Abercrombie moving to Atlanta hospitalNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tennessee State linebacker Christion Abercrombie will be discharged from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and transferred to an Atlanta facility as he continues his recovery from a serious head injury.School officials tweeted Tuesday that Abercrombie will be transported to the...

AP Sports WriterOklahoma RBs Adams, Sermon fill void for NFL departeesBy CLIFF BRUNTNORMAN, Okla. (AP) They aren't quite Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, but Oklahoma running backs Abdul Adams and Trey Sermon are getting the job done for the third-ranked Sooners.When Perine and Mixon left early for the...

New Sugar Bowl CEO Hundley taking over July 1NEW ORLEANS (AP) Sugar Bowl officials say the organization is set to welcome Jeff Hundley as new chief executive officer on July 1.Hundley will succeed Paul Houlahan, who is retiring after 23 years running one of college football's premier postseason...

AP Sports WriterPetersen backs Browning as Huskies seek offensive answersBy TIM BOOTHSEATTLE (AP) Chris Petersen tried to make it clear Monday that his decision to bench quarterback Jake Browning during Washington's loss to California was an attempt to spark the Huskies' sluggish offense and not an indictment of...

AP Sports WriterAP source: LSU, Orgeron in extension talksBy BRETT MARTELA person familiar with the situation says LSU and coach Ed Orgeron have begun work on the framework of a contract extension with the hope of putting it before the university system's board of supervisors in March.The person spoke...

AP Sports WriterPanthers believe defense is ready for big step in 2018By WILL GRAVESPat Narduzzi built his coaching resume by building no-frills defenses that made up in swaggers and fundamentals what it lacked in bells and whistles.After three years at Pittsburgh, Narduzzi might be able to say the same...