Ranked teams in college football

Erick Smith USA TODAY Published 5:54 PM EST Dec 29, 2018 The combination of Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and wide receiver Justyn Ross proved to be the difference in the first half of the Cotton Bowl.  The two true freshman connected for two long touchdowns to help the Tigers take a 23-3 lead on Notre Dame at halftime of the day's first College Football Playoff semifinal.  Lawrence first found for Ross a 52-yard score as he beat man-to-man coverage deep down the sideline. The extra point was blocked, making the score 9-3. The second strike of 42 yards came as Ross split the middle of the Irish defense on third-and-14 with 1:44 left in the half.  A late strike from Lawrence to Tee Higgins gave Clemson a commanding lead. Lawrence finished the half 19-of-26 for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Ross had five catches for 137 yards. Defenses had their way early with each team forcing punts on the opening possessions. The Irish got the … [Read more...] about Cotton Bowl: Clemson, Notre Dame tied in College Football Playoff

Erick Smith USA TODAY Published 4:11 PM EST Dec 29, 2018 The College Football Playoff kicked off Saturday afternoon with Clemson and Notre Dame meeting in the Cotton Bowl. One team is on familiar ground as the Tigers are making their fourth consecutive playoff appearance. They won a national title in 2016. It's the first time in the field for the Irish, who last came this close to winning a national title six years ago on the Bowl Championship Series national championship game against Alabama. Both teams entered with unbeaten records. No. 2 Clemson (13-0) cruised through its ACC schedule with ease besides a narrow win against Syracuse in September, which was their first game with Trevor Lawrence starting quarterback in place of Kelly Bryant. No team has come within 20 points of the Tigers in their final eight games. Third-ranked Notre Dame (12-0) beat Michigan in its opener with Brandon Wimbush at quarterback. Brian Kelly then switched to Ian Book after three … [Read more...] about Cotton Bowl: Clemson, Notre Dame meet in College Football Playoff

Paul Myerberg USA TODAY Published 4:52 PM EST Dec 11, 2018 Oklahoma's Kyler Murray and Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa lead the way for the USA TODAY Sports All-America teams for 2018, which include heavy representation from the four teams set to compete in this month's College Football Playoff national semifinals. Nine players from Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Oklahoma earned first-team honors, led by Murray at quarterback and two teammates from the Sooners' record-setting offense. Among this group were two Clemson defensive linemen, Clelin Ferrell and Christian Wilkins, and two stars from the Alabama defense. Another four members of the Crimson Tide earned second-team accolades. The Southeastern Conference led all leagues with 17 selections. Five picks came from Group of Five leagues, with three earning first-team honors. The teams included two freshmen in Syracuse kicker Andre Szmyt and Purdue all-purpose weapon Rondale Moore. FIRST TEAM OFFENSE QB: Kyler Murray, Oklahoma … [Read more...] about USA TODAY Sports postseason All-America college football teams

Paul Myerberg USA TODAY Published 10:05 PM EDT Oct 27, 2018 Just as expected and predicated back in the preseason, the calendar turns to November with Michigan and Northwestern slated to meet to decide the Big Ten Conference championship. Wait, what? That’s true, but only if you substitute Ohio State in for the Wolverines and drop the Wildcats in favor of Wisconsin. Well, here we are: Northwestern just beat the Badgers, 31-10, and the Buckeyes are still licking their wounds after last Saturday’s 49-20 loss at Purdue. So Wisconsin is done, eliminated entirely from the College Football Playoff race and now staring at an uphill climb to win the West Division. Iowa’s in similar trouble after Saturday’s loss to Penn State. Purdue eliminated all of its goodwill by losing to Michigan State. Northwestern is the team that doesn’t make sense. The Wildcats lost to Duke (understandable) and Akron (my goodness) in September but topped the Spartans and Badgers in … [Read more...] about College football winners and losers for Week 9 topped by Northwestern

Paul Myerberg USA TODAY Published 1:44 p.m. UTC Aug 3, 2018 The strongest league in the Football Bowl Subdivision doesn’t house the nation’s best team, since Alabama plays in the Southeastern Conference. That league, once rulers of the sport with an iron fist, is an imitation of its prior self. The idea that LSU made the cut in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll is, in a word, laughable. Ignore the fact that LSU coach Ed Orgeron inspires little confidence. Focus instead on how the Tigers are again pinning their hopes on a graduate-transfer quarterback as they face four teams in the preseason top 10: Alabama, Georgia, Miami (Fla.) and Auburn. So why did LSU make the cut? Helmets. Jerseys. Reputation, both of the program itself and, more importantly, its conference. LSU is here because of the benefit of the doubt extended to the SEC, which goes something like this: The fifth-best team in this conference must be one of the 25 best teams in all of college football. Which … [Read more...] about Amway Coaches Poll shows the Big Ten is new conference king in college football