CFB

Associated PressUSC's defense feels refreshed for No. 9 Notre DameBy DAN GREENSPANLOS ANGELES (AP) Christian Rector really needed a week off.Sure, Rector played in Southern California's last game against Washington, but the defensive end never felt like himself because of an injured ankle, finishing with one tackle. He...

AP College Football WriterBig Ten places 3 in AP top 5 for 1st time in 56 yearsBy RALPH D. RUSSOThe Big Ten placed three teams in the top five of The Associated Press college football poll for the first time in 56 years, setting up a No. 2 vs....

AP Sports WriterMississippi State embraces change with new coordinatorBy DAVID BRANDTSTARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) Bob Shoop is Mississippi State's fifth defensive coordinator in five seasons.That lack of continuity in a football program usually isn't ideal, but the 51-year-old Shoop said he's been pleasantly surprised to discover that Mississippi State's...

Associated PressAP source: Taggart to be next Florida State football coachBy JOE REEDYTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) A person with direct knowledge of the situation says Willie Taggart has agreed to become Florida State's next football coach.The person says Taggart has called a team meeting to inform his Oregon players...

STATS FCS Senior Editor=2019 MEAC spring outlookBy CRAIG HALEY(STATS) - South Carolina State fans are thrilled coach Buddy Pough was retained for an 18th season.A lot of the other MEAC coaches may want to lean on him for guidance.Pough is the true dean of the conference with his experience...

AP Sports WriterSooners and Buckeyes gear up for slobberknocker in trenchesBy MITCH STACYCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Ohio State's game against Oklahoma on Saturday will feature two potential Heisman Trophy candidates in quarterbacks J.T. Barrett and Baker Mayfield. TThe marquee battle will likely be in the trenches when the Sooners...

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) Gabe Marks idolized Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree when he was growing up.So when he got the opportunity to play for Crabtree's former coach Mike Leach at Washington State, he was on board quickly.''He (Crabtree) was the best college receiver ever,'' Marks said. ''When I...

AP Sports WriterNo. 3 Ohio St. runs past No. 15 Wildcats for Big Ten crownBy MICHAEL MAROTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) Trey Sermon ran for a school-record 331 yards and two second-half touchdowns Saturday, helping No. 3 Ohio State rally for a 22-10 victory over Northwestern for a fourth consecutive Big...

AP College Football WriterLSU QB Joe Burrow wins Heisman Trophy in landslide voteBy RALPH D. RUSSONEW YORK (AP) Born into a family of Cornhuskers and raised in the Buckeye state, Joe Burrow left his roots behind and became a Heisman Trophy winner at LSU.The quarterback won the Heisman...

AP Sports WriterAuburn's Johnson could carry even bigger load in stretch runBy JOHN ZENORAUBURN, Ala. (AP) Kerryon Johnson has already been perhaps the Southeastern Conference's busiest and most productive runner - when healthy.Now, No. 16 Auburn could lean even more heavily on the tailback.The Tigers' latest backfield injury...

Wofford's Ayers retires after 30 years as Terriers coachSPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) Wofford coach Mike Ayers has retired after 30 seasons as the Terriers' football coach.Ayers, 69, announced his decision Wednesday. He leaves with 207 wins at Wofford, the most in program history.Ayers took the school from NAIA into...

STATS FCS Senior Editor=Five takeaways from FCS Week 1By CRAIG HALEY(STATS) -The FBS must be getting wiser to facing Cinderella, so the FCS "upsets" weren't as scintillating in this year's first full week of college football as in past years.All the cheerleading in the world by FCS fans can't...