Barry Alvarez
University of Illinois' new football coach Bret Bielema and his family were introduced to the media outside the Smith Center on UI campus in Champaign, Ill. on Sunday, Dec. 20 , 2020. (Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette via AP)
New Illinois coach to make homegrown talent a priority

By Terry Towery Dec. 21, 2020 05:45 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov 24, 2017 file photo, Bret Bielema speaks with reporters beneath Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark. Bielema is returning to the Big Ten and his home state to coach Illinois. Illinois hired the former Wisconsin and Arkansas coach, hoping he can turn around a program with nine straight losing seasons. (AP Photo/Kelly P. Kissel)
Illinois hires Bielema as coach to lift struggling program

By Andy Seligman Dec. 19, 2020 09:13 AM EST

Wisconsin wide receiver Chimere Dike (13) runs from Iowa linebacker Barrington Wade (35) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Wisconsin trying to find ways to spark sputtering offense

By Steve Megargee Dec. 15, 2020 06:12 PM EST

BYU's Dax Milne (5) and Coastal Carolina's Grayson McCall (10) walk off the field after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Conway, S.C. Coastal Carolina won 22-17. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
AP Top 25 Takeaways: More games like BYU-Coastal Carolina?

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 05, 2020 10:42 PM EST

Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck looks at the scoreboard during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
COVID-19 causes Gophers to cancel game with No. 18 Wisconsin

Nov. 24, 2020 06:29 PM EST

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, left, watches as quarterback Cade McNamara (12) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Indiana, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
No. 13 Wisconsin to play at Michigan after canceling 2 games

By Larry Lage Nov. 13, 2020 07:34 PM EST

Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst talks to players during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
No. 13 Wisconsin confident it will play Saturday at Michigan

By Steve Megargee Nov. 09, 2020 01:19 PM EST

Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst talks to players during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Wisconsin-Purdue game off amid Badgers' coronavirus outbreak

By Steve Megargee Nov. 03, 2020 12:36 PM EST

Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters runs during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin won 45-7. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Column: Lawrence just wanted to play, now he must watch

By Paul Newberry Oct. 31, 2020 12:24 PM EDT

Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst talks to his players during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Athletic director: Wisconsin has 22 positive COVID-19 cases

Oct. 31, 2020 11:41 AM EDT

Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst talks to players during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Wisconsin reports 3 more cases of positive COVID-19 tests

Oct. 29, 2020 06:15 PM EDT

Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst talks to players during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
No. 9 Wisconsin cancels Nebraska game; Chryst tests positive

By Steve Megargee Oct. 28, 2020 11:34 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 12, 2020, file photo, Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren addresses the media in Indianapolis. The Big Ten’s plan to play football this fall includes trying to save lives in the future. The conference announced Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, it would have a football season this fall. The Big Ten is setting up a cardiac registry to study the effects COVID-19 has on student-athletes' hearts. Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren said it will help all students, surrounding communities, and the entire nation. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Big Ten teams start sprint toward unusual football season

By Michael Marot Sep. 17, 2020 03:01 AM EDT

The Husker Hounds sports apparel store in Omaha, Neb., shows on television screens Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, a Big Ten virtual news conference to discuss the reopening of the football season. President Donald Trump was quick to spike the ball in celebration when the Big Ten announced the return of fall football at colleges clustered in some of the Midwest battleground states critical to his reelection effort. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
With Big Ten reversal, Trump aims to score in battlegrounds

By Aamer Madhani Sep. 17, 2020 12:18 AM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2019, file photo, Minnesota football players hold up the Governor's Victory Bell after winning 31-26 against Penn State during an NCAA college football game in Minneapolis. Big Ten is going to give fall football a shot after all. Less than five weeks after pushing football and other fall sports to spring in the name of player safety during the pandemic, the conference changed course Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, and said it plans to begin its season the weekend of Oct. 23-24. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs, File)
Column: College football whiffs in tackling the coronavirus

By Paul Newberry Sep. 16, 2020 06:57 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 4, 2019, file photo, Rutgers NCAA college football head coach Greg Schiano speaks at an introductory news conference in Piscataway, N.J. Big Ten is going to give fall football a shot after all. Less than five weeks after pushing football and other fall sports to spring in the name of player safety during the pandemic, the conference changed course Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, and said it plans to begin its season the weekend of Oct. 23-24. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Reverse: Big Ten will try to play fall football after all

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 16, 2020 09:28 AM EDT

Real Salt Lake fans wearing masks wait for the team's MLS soccer match against Los Angeles FC on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The Latest: 2 South Carolina football players test positive

By The Associated Press Sep. 10, 2020 05:50 PM EDT

John Stanton, owner of the Seattle Mariners, wears a mask he he sits next to cutout photos of fans in the stands while watching the team's baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
The Latest: Wisconsin football, hockey taking 2-week break

By The Associated Press Sep. 09, 2020 04:42 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, file photo, Georgia Tech wide receiver Ahmarean Brown runs for yardage during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Miami, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Yellow Jackets will need big years from their receivers if they are to improve upon last season's unit, which finished 124th in scoring and fourth-worst among FBS schools in total offense.(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
Column: Still time for college football to avoid a real mess

By Paul Newberry Aug. 14, 2020 04:58 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