NFL Playoffs
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)
Delay of game: National title on hold amidst 2-week wait

By Pete Iacobelli Jan. 07, 2020 05:02 PM EST

AP Sportlight

Compiled By Paul Montella Jan. 01, 2020 09:47 AM EST
Jan. 2 1961 — George Blanda passes for three touchdowns and kicks a field goal and the extra points to give the Houston Oilers a 24-16...

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

AP Sportlight

Compiled By Paul Montella Dec. 29, 2019 09:25 AM EST
Dec. 30 1956 — The New York Giants win the NFL title with a 47-7 rout of the Chicago Bears. 1962 — The Green Bay...

FILE- In this June 12, 2019, file photo, St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube carries the Stanley Cup after the Blues defeated the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
Some of 2019's most memorable games decided by blown calls

By Paul Newberry Dec. 22, 2019 09:52 AM EST

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards celebrates with his wife Donna Edwards as he arrives to address supporters at his election night watch party in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Did Louisiana football success boost Edwards? Couldn’t hurt.

By Melinda Deslatte Nov. 17, 2019 06:51 PM EST

North Carolina's Sam Howell (7) gets stopped on a two-point conversion by Clemson's James Skalski (47) and Xavier Thomas (3) in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
All-America Watch: No. 2 Clemson reloads on D-line

By Pete Iacobelli Oct. 08, 2019 02:45 PM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 file photo ,Oregon running back C.J. Verdell, center, and Oregon State safety Jeffrey Manning Jr. (15) during an NCAA college football game in Corvallis, Ore. College football starts better than it ends. The sport has evolved through numerous postseason systems that have clumsily crowned champions, and while the College Football Playoff does a better job than its predecessors it has also spawned a month’s worth of tedious debate over the meaningfulness of bowl games. (AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez, File)
No. 11 Oregon-No. 16 Auburn opener 9 years after title game

By Stephen Hawkins Aug. 30, 2019 03:33 AM EDT

In this photo taken Aug. 7, 2019, Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) leaps over a player during NCAA college football preseason practice in Lincoln, Neb. Martinez, the most productive freshman quarterback in the nation last season, averaged 371 yards of total offense against West Division opponents and 295 overall. He led an offense that ranked second in the Big Ten and scored 30 points per game. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Michigan, Nebraska look set to make breakthroughs in Big Ten

By Eric Olson Aug. 13, 2019 01:28 PM EDT

Big 12 Conference commissioner Bob Bowlsby takes the stage on the first day of Big 12 Conference NCAA college football media days Monday, July 15, 2019, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David Kent)
Big 12 is a 10: Bowlsby says no talk of expanding league

By Stephen Hawkins Jul. 15, 2019 04:03 PM EDT

Agent Yee, McCaffrey to lead Pacific Pro Football league

By Bernie Wilson Jan. 07, 2019 02:26 PM EST
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Don Yee, the agent for Tom Brady and other NFL stars, and three-time Super Bowl champion Ed McCaffrey will head Pacific Pro Football, a league that...

Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney pose with the trophy at a news conference for the NCAA college football playoff championship game Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Column: Bay Area no place for college football championship

By Paul Newberry Jan. 07, 2019 04:52 AM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2018, file photo, Clemson's Clelin Ferrell (99) rushes into the backfield during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Georgia Southern in Clemson, S.C. Clemson’s defensive line came into the season with a ton of hype after Christian Wilkins, Austin Bryant and Ferrell all bypassed the chance to go to the NFL after 2017. Ferrell, an explosive pass rusher, has the most NFL upside. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)
Bama-Clemson loaded with NFL draft picks along D-line

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 05, 2019 02:40 AM EST

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2018, file photo, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney directs his team against Pittsburgh in the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game, in Charlotte, N.C. The Tigers are set to square off against the Crimson Tide for the fourth straight year in the College Football Playoff in Monday night's, Jan. 7, 2019, title game. While most of the players have changed since Alabama won the first meeting for the championship in January 2016, the coaches have remained the same. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
Clemson-Alabama IV has precedents in other sports

By Josh Dubow Jan. 04, 2019 03:21 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2018, file photo, Clemson defensive lineman Christian Wilkins (42) warms up before the first half of an NCAA college football game between Georgia Tech and Clemson, in Atlanta. Wilkins is grateful for the journey he has taken during his final college season. But he says he hasn’t reached his destination yet. The second-ranked Tigers take on No. 1 Alabama for the national title on Monday night, Jan. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Jon Barash, File)
Clemson's NFL prospects step closer to championship goals

By Pete Iacobelli Jan. 03, 2019 01:56 PM EST

FILE - This is a Nov. 4, 2015, file photo showing College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock speaking during a press conference, in Rosemont, Ill. When talking about possible College Football Playoff expansion, the word momentum gets tossed around a lot as those who cover and follow the sport search for insight from experts and hints about what is next from power brokers. The postseason system is not quite halfway through a 12-year contract with ESPN that runs through 2026. The fifth College Football Playoff national champion will be crowned Monday night when No. 1 Alabama faces No. 2 Clemson at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Expansion seems inevitable. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
A bigger college football playoff faces series of obstacles

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 02, 2019 04:23 PM EST

FILE - In this March 16, 2018, file photo, UMBC players celebrate a teammate's basket during the second half against Virginia i a first-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
Most memorable games of 2018 required working overtime

By Paul Newberry Dec. 28, 2018 10:57 AM EST

File-This Oct. 6, 2018, file photo shows Wake Forest's Sam Hartman (10) looking to pass under pressure from Clemson's Christian Wilkins (42) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C. Wilkins is here to put a smile on your face, whether you like it or not. For four seasons, Wilkins has been bringing the jokes, zingers and sneaky pinches on the bottom at Clemson. The 300-pound All-America defensive tackle famously celebrated the Tigers’ 2016 national championship with a split and flashed a Heisman pose after a touchdown run this season. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
Wilkins leaves legacy of laughter and leadership at Clemson

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 27, 2018 05:11 PM EST

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay talks to Los quarterback Jared Goff (16) before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
McVay, Rams look to respond after rare offensive misfire

By Dan Greenspan Dec. 10, 2018 10:03 PM EST

FILE - In this combination of 2018 file photos Michigan defensive lineman Chase Winovich, left, reacts after a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State , on Oct. 20, 2018, in East Lansing, Mich., and at right, Conor McGregor reacts after losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov in a lightweight title mixed martial arts bout at UFC 229 in Las Vegas, on Oct. 6, 2018. Winovich chose to stay in college to chase championships and improve his standing for the NFL draft. No. 5 Michigan has a path to a Big Ten title and the defensive end appears to be improving his stock for the pros. Winovich is also having a lot of fun along the way and is trying to live life like UFC star McGregor, who he calls a big brother. (AP Photo/Files)
Michigan's Chase Winovich calls Conor McGregor big brother

By Larry Lage Oct. 29, 2018 07:03 PM EDT