RALPH D. RUSSO
LSU celebrates after winning a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game against Clemson, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, in New Orleans. LSU won 42-25. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
TV audience up slightly from last year for CFP championship

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 14, 2020 04:13 PM EST
LSU's national championship game victory against Clemson drew nearly 26 million

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields throws a pass against Clemson during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
AP Top 25 Reality Check: A familiar top 10 looking to 2020

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 14, 2020 02:22 PM EST
The final Associated Press Top 25 of the season has a familiar look.

FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2019, file photo, LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates his touchdown reception during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Texas A&M, in Baton Rouge, La. Chase was selected to The Associated Press All-America team, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
Trevor vs Justin; Bama vs LSU and other top stories in 2020

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 14, 2020 04:39 AM EST
Six story lines that will define 2020: TREVOR VS. JUSTIN

LSU celebrates after their win against Clemson in a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Champs! LSU finishes No. 1 in AP Top 25 for third time

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 14, 2020 01:43 AM EST
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — LSU finished No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the third time in

LSU head coach Ed Orgeron, left, and quarterback Joe Burrow, center, hold the trophy beside safety Grant Delpit after a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game against Clemson, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, in New Orleans. LSU won 42-25. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Burrow, LSU cap magical season, beat Clemson 42-25 for title

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 14, 2020 12:27 AM EST
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — From small-town Ohio kid to Louisiana legend, Joe Burrow

LSU head coach Ed Orgeron, left, and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney pose with the trophy after a news conference for the NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in New Orleans. Clemson is scheduled to play LSU on Monday. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Analysis: Expansion could help balance college football

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 13, 2020 03:36 AM EST
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — College football has never had real parity.

Clemson co-offensive ordinator Tony Elliott speaks during media day for NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in New Orleans. Clemson is scheduled to play LSU on Monday. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip).
LSU's Brady intends to stay; Orgeron believes he will

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 11, 2020 07:34 PM EST
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — LSU assistant Joe Brady, credited as the catalyst to the

FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2019, file photo, LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates his touchdown reception during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Texas A&M, in Baton Rouge, La. Chase was selected to The Associated Press All-America team, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
LSU, Clemson put Golden Age of wide receivers on display

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 11, 2020 05:51 PM EST
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher calls them erasers.

FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2019, file photo, Washington State head coach Mike Leach looks on during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado, in Pullman, Wash. Two people with knowledge of the decision says Mississippi State has hired Washington State's Mike Leach as its new head coach. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020, because the school has not yet officially announced the move. Leach will replace Joe Moorhead, who was fired last week after two seasons. (AP Photo/Young Kwak, File)
Mississippi State hires Mike Leach away from Washington St

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 09, 2020 01:55 PM EST
Mississippi State hired Washington State's Mike Leach as its new head coach

FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2019, file photo, Clemson's Isaiah Simmons (11) and Denzel Johnson react after making a defensive play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida State, in Clemson, S.C. Simmons was selected to The Associated Press All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team, and named Defensive Player of the Year, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)
Can Clemson's versatile defenders flummox LSU and Burrow?

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 08, 2020 06:02 PM EST
Top-ranked LSU and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow head into the national

FILE - In this Dec. 28, 2019, file photo, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow (9) works against Oklahoma during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA semifinal college football playoff game, in Atlanta. LSU’s Joe Burrow and Justin Jefferson were easy selections for The Associated Press all-bowl team. The two connected for four first-half touchdowns in a College Football Playoff semifinal blowout of Oklahoma. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)
AP Top 25 Podcast: LSU vs. Clemson in CFP title preview

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 08, 2020 04:11 PM EST
For No. 3 Clemson to repeat as national champions, the Tigers will need to

In this photo provided by Mike Pettus, Central of Clay County High School's J.D. McNealey (21) tackles a Sardis High School player during a football game in Lineville, Ala., Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. At Central of Clay County High School in Alabama, small-town football is thriving. The team has helped bond two communities that were once fierce rivals, then reluctant partners, and now proud supporters of a two-time Class 5A state football champions. (Mike Pettus via AP)
Game of Regions: Contentious school merger spawns champion

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 08, 2020 01:45 PM EST
LINEVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Fans are encouraged to come on the field before the

Georgia wide receiver Tyler Simmons (87) cannot pull in a pass against the defense of LSU safety Grant Delpit (7) during an NCAA college football game for the Southeastern Conference championship Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Atlanta. (C.B. Schmelter/Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP)
Delpit caps unusual season for LSU with trip to title game

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 02, 2020 05:13 PM EST
Grant Delpit has had an unusual season. LSU's star safety

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, file photo, Maryland head coach DJ Durkin stands on the sideline during an NCAA college football game against Towson in College Park, Md. Former Maryland coach D.J. Durkin, who was fired during the 2018 season following the death of a player who had collapsed during offseason conditioning drills, was hired Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, as an assistant by Mississippi. Durkin, who spent last season as a consultant with the Atlanta Falcons, will join new Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin's defensive staff. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
Ole Miss hires former Maryland coach Durkin as assistant

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 02, 2020 11:46 AM EST
Former Maryland coach D.J. Durkin, who was fired during the 2018 season

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney celebrates after Clemson defeated Ohio State 29-23 in the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Waiting game: 15 days between CFP semifinals, championship

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 29, 2019 02:47 PM EST
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The matchup is set for a tantalizing College Football

Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade, right, tackles Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. Wade was ejected from the game for targeting. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Fiesta referee explains crucial calls that flipped semifinal

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 29, 2019 03:14 AM EST
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Fiesta Bowl referee defended two key calls that went

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) is congratulated after Clemson defeated Ohio State 29-23 in the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Clutch Clemson: No. 3 Tigers beat No. 2 Ohio State 29-23

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 29, 2019 12:15 AM EST
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Blaring from the Clemson locker room after yet another

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney speaks during a news conference ahead for the College Football playoffs Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, in Atlanta. Ryan Day of Ohio State was unable to attend. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Suspended Clemson TE returns for College Football Playoff

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 27, 2019 05:47 PM EST
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Braden Galloway, one of three Clemson players

FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2019, file photo, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day waits with his players before taking the field for an NCAA college football game against Nebraska, in Lincoln, Neb. A year ago, Day was a relatively unknown Ohio State assistant. This December he's reigning Big Ten coach of the year and is eyeing a national title after leading the Buckeyes to a 13-0 record as the successor to the retiring Urban Meyer. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)
Superpower semifinal: Ohio State, Clemson meet in Fiesta

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 27, 2019 03:51 PM EST
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney grew up an Alabama fan,

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) is seen following the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. Clemson won 62-17. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Finally, Fields vs Lawrence: 'This is the future of the NFL'

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 26, 2019 06:30 PM EST
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence went to high school