CFB

AP Sports WriterSarkisian: Time away showed me I loved coaching footballBy JOHN ZENORTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Steve Sarkisian has been cramming for a final exam he didn't know he'd have to take.The newly elevated Alabama offensive coordinator had all of a week after his earlier-than-expected promotion to prepare and...

Clemson's Scott skips media day to attend granddad's funeralTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Clemson receiver Artavis Scott missed national championship media day Saturday because he was serving as a pallbearer in his grandfather's funeral.Coach Dabo Swinney says Scott, a junior from nearby Clearwater, is expected to rejoin the Tigers for...

STATS FCS Senior Editor=FCS championship game reviewBy CRAIG HALEYFRISCO, Texas (STATS) - The wins in September and October were nice, but none was against a nationally ranking, so when James Madison beat Richmond and Villanova in back-to-back road games to open November, coach Mike Houston gained a new feeling.Those...

AP National WriterFor Nick Saban and Alabama, it all starts with the defenseBy PAUL NEWBERRYTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Nick Saban goes through an exhausting checklist when discussing what it takes to have the nation's best defense.The Alabama coach starts with some of the basics: being physical, playing with toughness,...

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) They are the coaches behind the coaches, pouring over hours of video and logging plays. They spot trends and make suggestions. Their work produces the building blocks of a game plan. They have duties similar to graduate assistants, but without having to juggle all that school work....

AP Sports WriterUSC transfer QB Browne gets early start at PittBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) Max Browne spent four years at Southern California constantly competing for the starting quarterback job, with mixed results at best. The big-armed 21-year-old will get one last shot 2,500 miles away.Sure, it's not quite...

Alabama, Clemson arrive for playoff rematchBy The Associated PressTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Alabama and Clemson are back at the College Football Playoff championship game, and ready for a rematch.The Crimson Tide landed about noon on Friday at Tampa International Airport. The Tigers weren't far behind , touching down around...

AP Sports ColumnistColumn: Amid abuses, college sports sometimes gets it rightBy PAUL NEWBERRYTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Deshaun Watson wanted to be first.We're not talking about anything he's done on the football field.The Clemson quarterback may be going for a national championship Monday night, but he's already scored one of...

AP Sports WriterJust go dark? Playoff teams confront Twitter pot shotsBy JOHN ZENORClemson linebacker Ben Boulware is the team's top tackler and a lightning rod for criticism on Twitter. Some of the tweets cuss him out, others he laughs off.But one was way out of line: His father had...

The Clemson Tigers and the Alabama Crimson will both be gunning for a victory on 1/9/2017 at 8:00 PM when they battle at Raymond James Stadium.. Clemson Tigers vs Alabama Crimson Tide When: 8:00 PM ET, Monday, January 9, 2017 Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida ROT TEAM PS OU ML 151 CLEMSON -6.5 (-110) 51 (-110) 210 -270 152 ALABAMA TV: 8:17 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Alabama -6.5 PREDICTION:...

AP National WriterGroup of Five schools make investments with big-time in mindBy EDDIE PELLSFORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) The snow-covered construction site is thousands of miles and more than a few degrees removed from Monday night's national-title game.In six months, though, the hard hats will be gone, and in...

Ex-Florida QB Harris planning transfer to Tennessee StateNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Former Florida quarterback Treon Harris plans to transfer to Football Championship Subdivision program Tennessee State.Tennessee State athletic department spokesman Jose Garcia said Friday via email that ''I can inform of his intention to enroll at Tennessee State, but...