Micah Parsons
FILE - Oklahoma running back Kennedy Brooks (26) carries during an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., in this Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, file photo. Most of the top college football players who opted out of the 2020 season due to the pandemic decided to leave school and launch their pro careers. But plenty of other players who opted out of last season chose to continue their college careers either at their original school or opted to transfer. The list of notable players back this season after opting out last year features two-time, 1,000-yard rusher Kennedy Brooks of Oklahoma.(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
PICK SIX: Brooks tops list of players back after opting out

By Steve Megargee Aug. 20, 2021 02:20 AM EDT

Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford reacts after a touchdown against Rutgers during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Piscataway, N.J. Penn St. won 23-7. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Penn State, Michigan State close out tough regular seasons

By Travis Johnson Dec. 10, 2020 05:12 PM EST

Michigan wide receiver Ronnie Bell (8) breaks through the Penn State defense during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Penn State's defense hopes to keep positive momentum going

Travis Johnson Dec. 02, 2020 05:36 PM EST

Penn State quarterback Will Levis (7) looks to pass as Iowa defensive lineman Chauncey Golston (57) closes in during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Iowa beats Penn State; Nittany Lions 0-5 for first time

Travis Johnson Nov. 21, 2020 07:22 PM EST

Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey (7) throws an interception while under pressure from Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh (28), defensive end Shaka Toney (18) and linebacker Ellis Brooks (13), during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. Nebraska won 30-23. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Winless Penn State searching for defensive answers

By Travis Johnson Nov. 18, 2020 05:50 PM EST

Stanford head coach David Shaw walks on the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
AP Top 25 Takeaways: Is time right for USC to hire Franklin?

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 14, 2020 09:47 PM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 26, 2018, file photo, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh leads his players and fans in singing "Hail to the Victors" after a practice session by the NCAA college football team at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. Jim Harbaugh enters his sixth season as Michigan's coach with just two years left on his contract, adding another layer of interest in the 18th-ranked Wolverines as they kick off the season this week at No. 21 Minnesota.(AP Photo/Tony Ding, File)
Harbaugh, No. 18 Michigan face stiff test vs No. 21 Gophers

By Eric Olson Oct. 22, 2020 02:55 AM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2020, file photo, Penn State head coach James Franklin speaks during an NCAA college football news conference, in State College, Pa. It hasn’t been an ideal time for No. 9 Penn State to install a new offense, but the Nittany Lions believe they have the pieces in place to be one of the better teams in the country. (Joe Hermitt/The Patriot-News via AP, File)
Clifford, No. 9 Penn State look to keep offense rolling

By Travis Johnson Oct. 14, 2020 03:22 PM EDT

Alabama quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Miller Forristall (87) as Mississippi linebacker Daylen Gill (14) defends during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. Alabama won 63-48. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
AP Top 25 Reality Check: Can 2 vs. 3 be Game of the Century?

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 12, 2020 02:38 AM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2019, file photo, Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman (13) runs the ball down the field for a touchdown against Penn State during an NCAA college football game, in Minneapolis. Bateman has decided to opt back in to the 2020 football season in light of the Big Ten’s resumption of fall competition. That's contingent on the star junior gaining the necessary eligibility clearance. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs, File)
Bateman back for Minnesota, but no Parsons for Penn State

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 30, 2020 04:57 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 28, 2019, file photo, Clemson running back Travis Etienne scores a touchdown against Ohio State during the second half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal, in Glendale, Ariz. Etienne was selected to The Associated Press preseason All-America first-team, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
AP Preseason All-America Team

By The Associated Press Aug. 25, 2020 12:01 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2019, file photo, LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) intercepts the ball from Georgia wide receiver George Pickens (1) during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game in Atlanta. Stingley Jr. was selected to The Associated Press preseason All-America first-team, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Parsons, Sewell among AP preseason All-Americans not playing

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 25, 2020 12:00 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2019, file photo, Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields rolls out to throw against Michigan during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich. Ohio State opens preseason training camp on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, with strict coronavirus protocols in place and under a cloud of uncertainty about whether a revised 10-game season will even be played at all. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Postponing season puts NFL prospects in a holding pattern

By Mitch Stacy Aug. 13, 2020 02:58 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell (58) looks on as Oregon plays Auburn in an NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas. After the Power Five conference commissioners met Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, to discuss mounting concern about whether a college football season can be played in a pandemic, players took to social media to urge leaders to let them play. to discuss mounting concern about whether a college football season can be played in a pandemic, players took to social media to urge leaders to let them play. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins, File)
College football in the spring: When? How much? Who plays?

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 12, 2020 03:26 AM EDT

Star Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons opts out of season

By The Associated Press Aug. 06, 2020 02:29 PM EDT
Penn State All-American Micah Parsons is opting out of the 2020 season because of concerns about COVID-19. The junior linebacker made his...

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

Penn State celebrates following the team's 53-39 win over Memphis in the NCAA Cotton Bowl college football game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
No. 1 LSU, No. 3 Clemson advance to championship game

By The Associated Press Dec. 28, 2019 08:27 PM EST

Memphis running back Kenneth Gainwell (19) carries the ball against the Penn State in the first half of the NCAA Cotton Bowl college football game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Memphis finishes whirlwind stretch with Cotton Bowl loss

Stephen Hawkins Dec. 28, 2019 07:15 PM EST

Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford (14) looks to throw against Memphis in the first half of the NCAA Cotton Bowl college football game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
No. 13 Penn State tops No. 15 Memphis 53-39 in Cotton Bowl

Stephen Hawkins Dec. 28, 2019 04:13 PM EST

Penn State head coach James Franklin reacts to a score against Rutgers in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. Penn State defeated Rutgers 27-6. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Big-play G5 Memphis offense, Big Ten Penn State D in Cotton

Stephen Hawkins Dec. 27, 2019 03:31 PM EST