Top 100 teams in college football

Manie Robinson The Greenville News Published 12:33 PM EDT Apr 26, 2019 Rings and trophies are not the only awards for national championships. After leading Clemson to its second College Football Playoff national title in three years, coach Dabo Swinney earned his second contract extension in three years. The Clemson Board of Trustees Compensation Committee approved a 10-year, $93-million deal for Swinney on Friday morning. Swinney holds the largest contract in college football history, eclipsing the eight-year, $74-million deal Alabama awarded Nick Saban last year. Swinney will earn $9.25 million in the first year of the contract, including $8.25 million in total salary and $1 million for a split-dollar life insurance premium. That figure pushes Swinney ahead of all Division I bowl subdivision coaches for the 2019 season. “I am grateful and humbled by the incredible commitment Clemson has made to me, my family and our football program,” … [Read more...] about Clemson coach Dabo Swinney tops college football with $93 million deal

Pete Fiutak Collegefootballnews.com Published 6:57 AM EST Jan 1, 2019 Nothing says college football like New Year's Day bowl games. Here's what you need to know about today's five matchups:  OUTBACK BOWL Iowa (8-4) vs. Mississippi State (8-4) Time, TV: Noon ET Tuesday, ESPN2 Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida Reasons to watch Iowa was really, really close to a massive season. It came up with a win over Iowa State. However, it lost to Wisconsin 28-17, and it had a stretch of three losses in a row by six points or fewer and a total of 12 points. Beating Mississippi State would be the signature moment.  Last year’s Mississippi State team went 9-4. This year’s team can do that with a win, showing off a seamless transition from the Dan Mullen era to Joe Moorhead. The offense was solid, but it was the defense that defined the year.  Players to watch QB Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State: He was OK throwing the ball, completing 53 percent of … [Read more...] about College football bowl schedule: Five matchups on New Year’s Day

AP Updated 2:02 AM EST Dec 25, 2018 Trent Dilfer has been head coach for the national high school quarterback competition known as Elite 11 since 2011, and even in that short period of time the quality of players coming through the program has drastically improved. "We've always had our handful of clearly the best," said Dilfer, the former first-round NFL draft pick and Super Bowl-winning quarterback with Baltimore. "One through three, one through five basically have kind of been the same every year. You just know they're going to make it. But five through 50 is 50 percent better now than it was when I started." Generation Z quarterbacks who grew up with personal coaches, 7-on-7 spring leagues and all they ever wanted to know about two-deep coverage on YouTube have taken over college football. Combined with offensive innovation that many of these young QBs have seen since middle school, the passing game has reached new heights this season. With 25 bowls and the College Football … [Read more...] about Kyler, Tua and ‘Generation Z’ QBs take over college football

Paul Myerberg USA TODAY Published 4:24 PM EST Dec 19, 2018 Good news — no, great news. Your team's head coach believes this year's signing class is chock full of difference-making talent, with a steady mix of plug-and-play athletes and developmental prospects set to contribute once they acclimate themselves to the college game. That quarterback your team signed? Well, he's a future star. Likewise with the rest of the future student-athletes, including that two-star recruit — he's a diamond in the rough. Hope springs eternal during the early signing period. Instituted a year ago in the Bowl Subdivision, this change now gives a prospective recruit a second window to sign his letter of intent, joining the traditional signing day in early February. A year ago, nearly 75 percent of prospects signed in the early period. Some big-name recruits will wait until February to announce their decisions. However, most classes will essentially be complete by the end of … [Read more...] about National signing day: Winners and losers among college football teams

Tom Schad USA TODAY Published 6:55 PM EST Dec 18, 2018 There was historic dominance in baseball, and a historic first-year run in the NHL. An NBA megastar decided to move west. An iconic college football coach was forced to hang up his whistle. There were redemption stories, Olympic firsts, a memorable new advertising campaign, a $9-million made-for-TV golf exhibition — and a 98-year-old nun who suddenly found herself thrust into the national spotlight.  It was another fascinating year in the world of sports. But with 2019 around the corner, let's pause to take a look in the rearview mirror at the stories that made 2018 memorable. Here are the 10 story lines that defined the year in sports, as evaluated by the USA TODAY Sports staff.  10. A year of U.S. Olympic firsts The Americans finished a disappointing fourth in the medal count at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, but the latest Games did bring a series of … [Read more...] about LeBron James, Tiger Woods, Urban Meyer: Top sports story lines of 2018