CFB

AP Sports WriterNo. 22 Appalachian State closes regular season at TroyBy JOHN ZENORTROY, Ala. (AP) Appalachian State coach Eliah Drinkwitz wants his players to “clear the clutter” and focus on their regular season finale.The 22nd-ranked Mountaineers have already clinched a spot in the Sun Belt Conference championship game...

AP Sports WriterMatt Luke tries to pull together shattered Ole Miss programBy DAVID BRANDTThe task of pulling together Mississippi's shattered football program is now in the hands of interim coach Matt Luke.The 40-year-old was promoted from co-offensive coordinator on Thursday night in the stunning aftermath of coach Hugh Freeze's...

AP Sports WriterNCAA bans Missouri from postseason after academic misconductBy DAVE SKRETTAKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The NCAA handed one-year postseason bans and other penalties to Missouri's football, baseball and softball programs while placing its entire athletic department on probation Thursday after a two-year investigation revealed academic misconduct involving...

AP Sports WriterAlabama toughest challenge for Oklahoma interim DC McNeillBy CLIFF BRUNTNORMAN, Okla. (AP) Oklahoma interim defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill's unit couldn't slow some of the nation's best offenses during Big 12 play.His toughest challenge yet will come in the national semifinal against Alabama. Led by Heisman Trophy...

Michigan State hires Jay Johnson as offensive coordinatorEAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) Jay Johnson followed head coach Mel Tucker and fellow assistant Chris Kapilovic to Michigan State from Colorado, joining the Spartans on Thursday as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.Johnson filled roles last season at Colorado under Tucker.The Spartans...

AP Sports WriterKelly: Desire to win, not fear of losing, motivates IrishBy TOM COYNESOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) Coach Brian Kelly isn't interested in talking with his players about a history lesson as Notre Dame tries to avoid one of the school's worst finishes in 128 seasons of playing...

AP Sports WriterJustin Herbert provides hope for the Ducks vs Arizona StateBy ANNE M. PETERSONEUGENE, Ore. (AP) With a five-game losing streak, Oregon is in danger of missing out on a bowl game for the first time since 2004. Yet the Ducks are looking for positives, and they've...

AP Sports WriterNo. 15 UCF eager for chance to make statement vs. PittBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) Josh Heupel calls the growing groundswell of support for 15th-ranked UCF ''outside noise.'' The coach stressed he can't control it and orders his players to tune it out even as the weeks...

Air Force mascot falcon improving after injury at West PointAIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) An Air Force falcon injured at West Point during an apparent prank before Saturday's annual rivalry game between the two service academies is back home and showing signs of improvement.The 22-year-old bird named Aurora...

Saban: Tagovailoa's ankle 'probably ahead of schedule'TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Alabama coach Nick Saban says quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is ''probably ahead of schedule'' in recovering from ankle surgery.The Heisman Trophy runner-up has been practicing for the top-ranked Crimson Tide, which began preparations Friday for an Orange Bowl semifinal matchup...

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) San Jose State has dismissed incoming freshman defensive back Bomani Bassette-Hairston from the program following an undisclosed on-campus incident.Coach Ron Caragher said Friday that after a thorough review he decided it was best that Bassette-Hairston leave the program.Caragher said he wishes Bassette-Hairston the best...

Ex-Vandy player's sentence unchanged after rape case appealNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A Tennessee appeals court has upheld most of the convictions against a former Vanderbilt football player in the rape of an unconscious female student.News outlets report the 17-year sentence for 26-year-old Brandon Vandenburg was unchanged Thursday in Nashville....