Dec. 20—Tom Allen didn’t know when he would receive his next professional opportunity after Indiana fired him late last month, but he knew he wanted to coach football again. When Penn State’s James Franklin approached him a few weeks later, he was receptive. “I’m a football coach and I love what I do,” Allen said. “This opportunity that presented itself …

(Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports illustration) You’re now an NFL general manager. Congratulations! Your team owner has only one job for you: Get a franchise quarterback. You have the choice of any quarterback who joined the league in the past five years. (Hey, if we’re already in fantasyland making you a GM, might as well go all the way.) Which way do …

Dec. 20—Del City defensive back LaDainian Fields flipped his commitment from TCU to Oklahoma State hours before the early signing period opened Wednesday. Fields is ranked the No. 95 defensive back in the nation and the 16th in Oklahoma by 247Sports. He committed to the Horned Frogs on Aug. 5 and received an offer from OSU on Dec. 12. His …

The Falcons announced the addition of a defensive lineman to their active roster on Wednesday. They have signed Tommy Togiai off of the Browns’ practice squad. No corresponding move was needed because the Browns waived defensive lineman Travis Bell on Tuesday. Cleveland drafted Togiai out of Ohio State with the 132nd pick in the 2021 draft. He had 29 tackles, …

Another busy National Signing Day is in the books and with that are winners and losers on the day. Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney takes a look: WINNERS Alabama Aeryn Hampton (Rivals.com) The Crimson Tide surged to third in the team rankings after a phenomenal – and busy – day for coach Nick Saban as it was predicted things …

The Saints were able to win without wide receiver Chris Olave last Sunday, but they won’t have to try to do it again on Thursday night. Head coach Dennis Allen said on Wednesday that Olave is good to go for the team’s Week 16 game against the Rams. An ankle injury caused Olave to miss his first game of the …

Last week, Greg Schiano agreed to a contract extension with Rutgers football, extending the Scarlet Knights’ head coach to 2030. After returning to Rutgers football in 2020, Schiano has guided the Scarlet Knights to an 18-28 record through 46 games. Rutgers has made small strides in the past four seasons with the program’s all-time wins leader at the helm. Schiano …

Jaylon Johnson’s firm desire to stay with Bears should make Ryan Poles’ next step easy originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Jaylon Johnson and the Bears have been unable to find common ground on a long-term contract extension. That stalemate led to Johnson asking for and being granted permission to seek a trade at the deadline. …

Matchups determine games. This season’s College Football Playoff will be no different than others in that respect. It’s possible to have a favorable matchup in one round and be severely outmatched in the next. Last year’s national runner-up TCU is the perfect example. After defeating Michigan in the playoff semifinal the Horned Frogs gave us the most lopsided national title …

Subscribe to the Yahoo Fantasy Football Show This embedded content is not available in your region. It’s another jam packed edition of ‘Stat Nerd Thursday’ with Dalton Del Don and Matt Harmon. The two provide one stat you need to know for every team in the NFL heading into Week 16. Del Don and Harmon also preview the TNF matchup …

AUBURN — A three-star offensive lineman has joined the 2024 Auburn football recruiting class. The Tigers added a commitment late Wednesday evening from Favour Edwin, who is tabbed my the 247Sports Composite as the No. 680 senior recruit in the country and the No. 52 offensive tackle. Out of Eagles Landing Christian Academy in McDonough, Georgia, Edwin is ranked as …

Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz, Jori Epstein and Charles Robinson discuss the race for the NFL MVP this season and if standout, non-quarterback players like Christian McCaffrey and Tyreek Hill have a chance to win. Hear the full conversation on “Inside Coverage” – part of the “Zero Blitz” podcast – and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen. Video …

Florida football coach Billy Napier confirmed Wednesday that associate coach/director of football strength and conditioning Mark Hocke has been demoted. Hocke spent two seasons as the strength and conditioning coach for the Florida Gators under Napier (2022-23) and four more seasons under Napier in the same role at Louisiana (2018-21). He also had strength and conditioning coach stints at Texas …

“Deflategate” is back. Certain footballs during the Kansas City Chiefs’ 27-17 win over the New England Patriots last weekend were underinflated by two pounds, according to MassLive’s Mark Daniels. After complaints were made, officials took balls meant for each team’s kicking units into the locker room at Gillette Stadium at halftime Sunday. There, officials reportedly discovered the balls weighed 11 …

Chaminade Madonna wide receiver and 5-star Ohio State commit Jeremiah Smith competed in the FHSAA Class 1M state championship on Dec. 7, 2023, at Bragg Memorial Stadium. Wednesday marked early signing day for high school recruits across the country. Highly-touted future college football players signed to play for the likes of Georgia, Alabama, Texas, and other top programs. By Wednesday …