Shedeur Sanders didn’t have time to be sad while his father battled bladder cancer during the spring.

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders said on Friday that it is out of his control and not his place to answer why he has worked mainly with the third and fourth teams during the first three days of practice.

The NFL often sees last-place teams bounce back to win their division, with 25 teams achieving this since 2002.

Contract squabbles.

The Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions already have kicked off training camp.

Shedeur Sanders had the best throw of the day during organized team activities with the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday.

Shedeur Sanders reached his next NFL milestone on Monday as he signed his rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns.

Trying to get his jersey number back is the least of Shedeur Sanders’ worries.

Shedeur Sanders began the process Friday of trying to show he can be a factor in the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition.

Shedeur Sanders’ slide down the NFL draft was the dominant story of the weekend with one of college football’s most high-profile players lasting until the fifth round.

Wide receiver Diontae Johnson agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns on Monday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

NFL draft picks can make an instant impact on a team’s immediate success.

The Cleveland Browns shocked many observers around the NFL when they didn’t take Shedeur Sanders during the first two days of the draft.

Shedeur Sanders’ wait finally has ended.

Shedeur Sanders was among the best available players remaining after his Round 1 snub and as the draft heads into its final four rounds Saturday, the former University of Colorado star is still waiting to hear his name called.

Cam Ward knew every set of eyes in the building was on him.

Cam Ward says not playing in the second half of Miami's bowl game was a predetermined decision and that he'd do it the same way again.

Smothering defenses have carried the last four teams still in the hunt for the national championship.

Oregon withstood many challenges en route to being the only unbeaten team and the top seed in the College Football Playoff.

No. 6 Ohio State roared into the College Football Playoff semifinals with a 41-21 victory over No. 1 Oregon in the 111th Rose Bowl.

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel is in his sixth season with his third top program.

The Rose Bowl between eighth-seeded Ohio State and top-seeded Oregon in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal has many subplots for Chip Kelly.

Cam Ward has made NCAA history in his final college game.

Cam Ward has made NCAA history in his final college game.

Oregon and Ohio State have already produced one heck of a game this season.

Ohio State players had been thinking about a rematch with Oregon long before the Buckeyes crushed Tennessee in a first-round playoff game.

SMU's Kevin Jennings is the only quarterback starting for his hometown team in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti pursued Kurtis Rourke in the transfer portal because he wanted a proven winner.

Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter of Colorado and Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts are repeat first-team selections on The Associated Press All-America team.

Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and Miami’s Cam Ward have been announced as the Heisman Trophy finalists.

The college football transfer portal has opened a day after the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff field was released.

Dillon Gabriel threw four touchdown passes and No. 1 Oregon outlasted No. 3 Penn State 45-37 on Saturday night in the Big Ten championship, giving the Ducks a first-round bye and almost certainly the top seed in the College Football Playoff.

Oregon and Penn State piled up seven touchdowns, 537 yards, 28 first downs and 55 points in the Big Ten title game.

The first season of major conference expansion has produced an intriguing set of championship games this week, and not just because they'll determine which teams get automatic bids and first-round byes in the College Football Playoff.

The expanded Big Ten is poised to be a major player in this season’s College Football Playoff.

Oregon remains the unanimous No. 1 team in The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll after its close call at Wisconsin.

Atticus Sappington broke a tie with a 24-yard field goal with 2:36 remaining and No. 1 Oregon rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Wisconsin 16-13 on Saturday night.

Oregon stayed on top in the second batch of College Football Playoff rankings, while the new poll shoved Georgia completely out of the bracket after its lopsided loss to Mississippi.

Undefeated Oregon got top billing in the first set of rankings on the road to college football's new, 12-team playoff.

Dillon Gabriel threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score in another efficient performance from the Heisman Trophy front-runner to lead No. 1 Oregon to a 38-17 win over Michigan.

Jordan James ran for two scores and Dillon Gabriel threw for two more, leading No. 2 Oregon to a 35-0 rout at Purdue.

Dillon Gabriel threw two touchdown passes and ran for another late score to help third-ranked Oregon hand No. 2 Ohio State its first loss of the season, 32-31 on Saturday night.

The Big Ten has become a landing zone for quarterbacks on the move.

Dillon Gabriel threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another to help No. 6 Oregon remain undefeated with a 31-10 victory over Michigan State on Friday night.

Atticus Sappington kicked a 25-yard field goal as time expired to give No. 7 Oregon a 37-34 victory over resilient Boise State on Saturday night.

The Big Ten kicked off its season with four new teams, five new coaches and 13 schools featuring new starting quarterbacks.

Missouri and Tennessee typically aren’t confused for Georgia and Ohio State when it comes to college football’s powers.

Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is one of the second-ranked Buckeyes’ high-profile transfers.

College recruiting more than ever never really stops once the players are on campus.

The Heisman Trophy race is looking wide open for 2024.

Former Oklahoma and UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel has announced he is transferring to Oregon for a sixth season of college football.

Ohio State’s Kyle McCord, Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel and Oregon State's Aidan Chiles led a parade of quarterbacks into the transfer portal on the first day of a 30-day window football players can put their names out in search of another opportunity.

Dillon Gabriel accounted for a school-record eight touchdowns to help No. 17 Oklahoma roll past West Virginia 59-20.

Ollie Gordon II ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns, and Oklahoma State defeated No. 10 Oklahoma 27-24 in the last Bedlam rivalry game before Oklahoma leaves the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference next year.

More than bragging rights are on the line in the final matchup between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State before Oklahoma leaves the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference.

Devin Neal ran for 112 yards and the go-ahead touchdown for Kansas with 55 seconds left, and Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel threw incomplete to the end zone on the final play of the game, as the Jayhawks beat the sixth-ranked Sooners 38-33 on Saturday.

3 key takeaways from the state’s football scene -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

Oklahoma and Texas might not be done playing each other in the Big 12 before going to the Southeastern Conference next year.

The final Red River Rivalry in the Big 12 before it moves to the Southeastern Conference felt like a chance for No. 3 Texas to lay claim to being the best team in the country.

Dillon Gabriel threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Nic Anderson with 15 seconds left and 12th-ranked Oklahoma remained undefeated with a 34-30 win over No. 3 Texas.

Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel is second among active FBS players with nearly 13,000 career yards passing.

Dillon Gabriel completed 19 of 22 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns in the first half and No. 20 Oklahoma defeated Arkansas State 73-0.

Dillon Gabriel passed for 403 yards and Oklahoma defeated No. 19 Kansas 52-42 to end its losing skid at three games.

Max Duggan ran 67 yards for one of two touchdowns and threw for three scores, leading TCU to a 55-24 rout of No. 18 Oklahoma on Saturday.

Dillon Gabriel threw for two touchdowns and ran for another and sixth-ranked Oklahoma hammered Nebraska 49-14 in the Cornhuskers’ first game following the firing of Scott Frost.

Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams says he is entering his name in the transfer portal so he can speak with other schools.

Isaiah Bowser ran for 155 yards and two touchdowns, Ryan O’Keefe had 85 yards on seven receptions, and Central Florida earned Sunshine State bragging rights by beating Florida 29-17 in the Gasparilla Bowl on Thursday night.

UCF’s long wait for another shot at Florida is over.

Jerome Ford rushed for a career-high 189 yards and four touchdowns to help No. 3 Cincinnati roll past UCF 56-21.

Huddle up! Here’s a look back at this weekend on the gridiron, with three key takeaways from the state’s football scene.

Central Florida quarterback Dillon Gabriel will be out indefinitely after suffering a broken clavicle on the final play of the Knights' loss to Louisville.

The Big 12 Conference is moving quickly to add new schools.

(AP Photo/George Frey, Pool)Preparing for the Boca Raton Bowl proved a bit of a slippery slope for the Central Florida Knights. All part of Heupel’s plan to bring a dose of fun to the bowl game with some of the customary pageantry halted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “A really good football team,” Heupel said. “Kind of reminds me of why you don’t play football in Provo in December,” Sitake joked. They're 0-3 in Florida bowl games, including losses in the 1976 Tangerine Bowl, 1985 Florida Citrus Bowl and 2014 Miami Beach Bowl.

Cincinnati tight end Leonard Taylor (11) is stopped by Central Florida defensive back Richie Grant (27) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Tulsa players pose on the middle of the field after a win over Central Florida during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. Tulsa's win snapped UCF's 21-game home winning streak. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Tulsa players pose on the middle of the field after a win over Central Florida during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. Tulsa's win snapped UCF's 21-game home winning streak. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)ORLANDO, Fla. – There is something about UCF that brings that best out of Tulsa. Zach Smith threw three touchdown passes and Tulsa erased an 18-point first-half deficit to beat No. 11 UCF 34-26, snapping the Knights' 21-game home winning streak Saturday night. “Turnovers were huge in the football game,” UCF coach Josh Heupel said.

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher, left, talks with quarterback Kellen Mond (11) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

including the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry, highlights the fifth week of the college football season. 4 Georgia on Saturday night as the second month of the season starts, but only the second week of SEC play. The first of three games that decide the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy might have sneaked up on college football fans. The Falcons will play six conference games to go along with Navy and Army. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Most notable on the Big Ten's schedule was how Nebraska will start the season: at Ohio State and home for Wisconsin. Nebraska had both Ohio State and Penn State on its original nine-game, pre-pandemic conference schedule, along with Rutgers. Nebraska has lost five straight against Ohio State, which has became a yearly rivalry since the Big Ten went to an East-West division structure. It might not have been the plan to cut Ohio State, the league's clear favorite and defending champ, some slack. When the SEC redid its schedule to make it 10 conference games, the league ended up feeding its weaker teams to its powerhouses.