Heisman winner Williams watches decisive score in USC loss
Caleb Williams said he wasn't limited by a hamstring injury that plenty of people thought would keep the Heisman Trophy winner out of the Cotton Bowl. The pick gave Tulane an early spark in the Green Wave's 46-45 victory Monday. A late safety from an offense that didn't punt gave No. 14 Tulane the opening to finish a frantic rally, and the same defense that gave up an 87-yard touchdown pass right after Williams' pick couldn't get the final stop.
news.yahoo.comSaban: Current state of college football not 'sustainable'
Nick Saban's willingness to adapt and often be a catalyst for change in college football, both on the field and off, has propelled Alabama to six national championships in 13 seasons. The 70-year-old coach is confident his program will continue to thrive during this new era of college athletics, with players having more opportunities to earn money than ever before and more power to determine where they play. “I don’t think what we’re doing right now is a sustainable model,” Saban told The Associated Press in a recent interview.
news.yahoo.comAfter abrupt OU exit, Grinch focused on fixing USC's defense
If Alex Grinch’s Oklahoma defense had been able to make a few more stops, he might not be the new coordinator at Southern California under ex-Sooners coach Lincoln Riley. The irony of the situation isn’t lost on Grinch, who went from lamenting a rivalry loss he is “still not over” to expressing his delight at teaming up with Riley once again.
news.yahoo.comUSC's Riley details recruiting coups, reunion with Williams
Lincoln Riley says he didn't — and couldn't — talk to Caleb Williams between the day the coach left Oklahoma and the day his once-and-future star quarterback entered the transfer portal five weeks later. “There's a long period of time where there's zero communication,” Riley said Wednesday while announcing his February signing period class.
news.yahoo.comCal's defense rises up, hands USC fourth straight loss
Trey Paster scored on a 55-yard fumble return in the second quarter, California’s defense made a clutch stop near the goal line, and the Golden Bears held off Southern California 24-14 in the season finale for both teams. Christopher Brooks added a pair of short scoring runs on a day when Cal’s offense struggled reaching the end zone to help the Golden Bears (5-7, 4-5 Pac-12) to their first home win against the Trojans since 2003. “It means a lot to end the season with a victory,” said Cal quarterback Chase Garbers, who was 18 of 21 for 177 yards.
news.yahoo.comLSU hires Kelly away from Notre Dame to be Tigers next coach
LSU is hiring Brian Kelly away from Notre Dame, a stunning move by one of the most accomplished coaches in college football jumping from the sport's most storied program to an Southeastern Conference powerhouse. A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Monday night that Kelly was leaving Notre Dame for LSU. It was the second bombshell in college football in as many days, coming a little more than 24 hours after Southern California lured Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma.
news.yahoo.comFlorida-Oklahoma in Cotton Bowl dozen years after title game
That BCS National Championship game 12 seasons ago was the only meeting between the No. While outside of the College Football Playoff, it will be the first New Year's Six bowl game played in this pandemic-affected season. 6 CFP) are back in the NFL stadium where they won their sixth consecutive Big 12 championship earlier this month. 12 Iowa State in the Big 12 title game on Dec. 19, opted out to focused on the NFL draft. Rattler was the first-team AP All-Big 12 quarterback after throwing for 2,784 yards and 25 TDs, the most nationally for a freshman.
Facing Florida in bowl, Oklahoma defense sees an opportunity
Florida head coach Dan Mullen speaks with players before the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game between Florida and Alabama, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Atlanta. 8 Sooners (8-2) will again end the season in a New Year's Six bowl game against a high-powered SEC offense. 10 Florida, which leads the nation in passing though its offense suddenly looks quite different because of some late departures. The Sooners go into the Cotton Bowl game at AT&T Stadium having allowed only a combined 57 points their last four games — their best such stretch in six seasons. They have recorded nearly five sacks a game in that span while holding opponents to 303.8 total yards per game.
Cotton Bowl: Big 12 champ Oklahoma vs SEC runner-up Florida
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)ARLINGTON, Texas – Oklahoma is going right back to the stadium where the Sooners just won their sixth Big 12 championship in a row to play SEC runner-up Florida in the Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma is in the Cotton Bowl for only the third time, its first since a 41-13 loss to Texas A&M on Jan. 4, 2013. The Cotton Bowl will be played two days before Alabama faces No. Pitts announced is turning pro and won't play in the Cotton Bowl. Tim Tebow was the Florida quarterback for the national championship win over Oklahoma on Jan. 9, 2009, in Miami.
No. 12 Sooners win 6th B12 title in row, 27-21 over Iowa St
12 Sooners won their sixth consecutive Big 12 championship. The Sooners got a bit of revenge Saturday when winning another Big 12 title game, with Spencer Rattler throwing a 45-yard touchdown to fellow freshman Marvin Mims and running for another score in a 27-21 victory over the No. Oklahoma still has its 14th Big 12 title overall in the league's 25-season history, and the 50th conference championship in school history. Iowa State played in a conference championship game for the first time in school history, though fifth-year coach Matt Campbell was incensed at times. Clemson also won its sixth conference championship in a row, with a 34-10 win over Notre Dame in the ACC title game later Saturday..
No. 13 Oklahoma tops Baylor, earns trip to Big 12 title game
Rattler threw two touchdown passes, and the 13th-ranked Sooners defeated Baylor 27-14 on Saturday night to earn a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game. “It’s a really good accomplishment coming back from what this team has the entire year,” Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said. With the coaching staff short-handed, former Sooners coach Bob Stoops was permitted to help with practice as OU prepared for Baylor. Brewer scored a short rushing touchdown with 59 seconds remaining to close out the scoring. UP NEXTBaylor hosts Oklahoma State on Saturday.
Rattler TD pass in 4th OT sends OU past No. 22 Texas 53-45
The Oklahoma freshman threw a 25-yard scoring pass to Drake Stoops in the fourth overtime and the Sooners survived a late rally from No. It was just the second four-OT game in 25 seasons of the Big 12, joining Kansas State's 53-50 victory over Texas A&M in 2011. The Longhorns (2-2, 1-2) also left themselves little hope of playing for a Big 12 title, much less being part of the College Football Playoff conversation. “I was kind of surprised when I came out at first,” said Rattler, who was tied for the Big 12 lead with four interceptions coming in. POLL IMPLICATIONSConsecutive Big 12 losses, the first for Oklahoma since 1998, sent the Sooners tumbling from No.
No. 5 Oklahoma still Big 12 favorite with inexperienced QB
FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019 file photo, Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley talks with players during an NCAA college football game between Iowa State and Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. As usual, Riley is taking his time naming a starting quarterback. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)