Urban Meyer
FILE - Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell walks onto the field before the Cotton Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game against Alabama, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. Fickell has received a two-year contract extension through 2028 and a raise to $5 million per year after leading the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff. The university board of trustees approved the contract extension Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, also increasing the football staff salary pool to $5.2 million per year. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Key players gone, but Cincy's Fickell says 'run is not over'

By Mitch Stacy Mar. 09, 2022 02:59 PM EST

Clemson running back Kobe Pace (7) runs after catching a pass during the first half of the Cheez-It Bowl NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Clemson tops Iowa State in Cheez-It Bowl for Swinney's 150th

By John Denton Dec. 29, 2021 09:33 PM EST

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski, left, and quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrate after the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Tampa, Fla., Feb. 7, 2021. Brady's fifth Super Bowl title, at 43 no less, was one of the best moments of 2021, when a continuing pandemic could not dim the brightest of stars of the sports world.(AP Photo/Steve Luciano, File)
Ode to Sports: A year when games and fans came off the bench

By Fred Lief Dec. 23, 2021 12:24 PM EST

FILE - Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell prepares to take players onto the field prior to an NCAA college football game against Miami (Ohio) Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Cincinnati. For Cincinnati (13-0), a member of the second-tier American Athletic Conference, the planets aligned. The Bearcats landed as the No. 4 seed in the CFP, invading the domain of college football's blue bloods. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)
Cincinnati climbs CFP mountain, but can it stay there?

By Mitch Stacy Dec. 23, 2021 11:34 AM EST

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Dec. 06, 2021 10:00 AM EST
Dec. 7 1973 — Jerry West of Los Angeles sets an NBA record with 10 steals in the Lakers’ 115-111 loss to the Seattle Supersonics. ...

Utah quarterback Cameron Rising (7) scores a 2-point conversion against Oregon during the second half of the Pac-12 Conference championship NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)
Utah's 1st Rose Bowl to be against Pasadena veteran Ohio St

By Joe Reedy Dec. 05, 2021 03:34 PM EST

Oklahoma State running back Dezmon Jackson (27) is stopped short of the goal line by Baylor defensive lineman Gabe Hall (95) and safety Jalen Pitre (8) in the second half of an NCAA college football game for the Big 12 Conference championship in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Tim Heitman)
The Latest: Notre Dame, Oklahoma St to clash in Fiesta Bowl

By The Associated Press Dec. 05, 2021 12:40 PM EST

Michigan tight end Luke Schoonmaker (86) celebrates with teammates at the end of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Indianapolis. Michigan won 42-3. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Historic playoff: Alabama-Cincinnati, Michigan-Georgia

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 05, 2021 12:34 PM EST

Colorado State head coach Steve Addazio watches his team warm up before the NCAA college football game against Hawaii, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Darryl Oumi)
Colorado State fires Steve Addazio after 2 bumpy seasons

By Pat Graham Dec. 02, 2021 12:58 PM EST

FILE - SEC Nation host Tim Tebow listens to his co-hosts during the SEC Nation broadcast in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. Tebow was visiting with Auburn athletic director Allen Greene along with fellow members of ESPN’s SEC Nation crew when he got a text message from a friend last week congratulating him on becoming the head coach at Florida. The confusion began when former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III said the Gators should hire Tebow to replace Dan Mullen, who was fired on Nov. 21. (AP Photo/Michael Clubb, File)
Tim Tebow would 'love' to coach but focused on charity work

By Rob Maaddi Dec. 02, 2021 12:36 PM EST

FILE - Auburn cornerback Chris Davis (11) returns a missed field goal-attempt 100-plus yards to score the winning touchdown as time expires in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against No. 1 Alabama in Auburn, Ala., Nov. 30, 2013. Davis returned the Alabama field goal-attempt that came up short from the back of his own end zone for a touchdown on the final play to send the fourth-ranked Tigers to the 2013 Southeastern Conference title game and eventually the BCS championship game. (AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)
Top rivalries: Iron Bowl, The Game, Army-Navy, Red River

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 23, 2021 03:02 PM EST

Florida quarterback Emory Jones sits in his end zone after an incomplete pass during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Florida fires coach Dan Mullen, completing stunning fall

By Mark Long Nov. 21, 2021 01:33 PM EST

Missouri defensive lineman Trajan Jeffcoat, left, celebrates with teammates after he recovered a fumble for a touchdown during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won 31-28.(AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Gators coach Dan Mullen on hot seat heading to Mizzou

By Dave Skretta Nov. 18, 2021 03:10 AM EST

Purdue wide receiver David Bell (3) makes a catch for a touchdown against Michigan State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Purdue seeks spoiler role again against No. 6 Buckeyes

By The Associated Press Nov. 11, 2021 07:11 PM EST

The Cincinnati student section reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Temple, Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Clifton Style: Blue-collar Bearcats pushing CFP ceiling

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 29, 2021 03:38 AM EDT

Cincinnati running back Jerome Ford, left, takes the hand off from quarterback Desmond Ridder during the first half of an NCAA college football game against UCF, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
UCF at Cincinnati 10/16/2021

Oct. 16, 2021 01:53 PM EDT

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud drops back to pass against Tulsa during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
No. 11 Ohio State is facing a possible test from Rutgers

By Tom Canavan Sep. 30, 2021 01:42 PM EDT

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud looks to throw a pass against Tulsa during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Growing pains frustrate No. 10 Ohio St as Akron visits next

By Mitch Stacy Sep. 23, 2021 12:12 PM EDT

Florida running back Dameon Pierce, center, scores a touchdown past the Alabama defense including linebacker Henry To'oTo'o (10) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
No. 11 Florida finds success despite dumping pass-happy ways

By Mark Long Sep. 21, 2021 02:41 PM EDT

Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) gets past South Florida linebacker Brian Norris (29) on an 80-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Week 3 Preview: Tide visits The Swamp; Rare SEC-B1G game

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 17, 2021 03:09 AM EDT