The College Football Playoff may be expanding to 12 teams this season, but there will be plenty of scrutiny over who gets in, who gets left out, and where teams are seeded by the selection committee. Penn State’s situation, for instance, could go a number of different ways after losing in the Big Ten championship game to Oregon. Trying to …

INDIANAPOLIS — The season basically began for Oregon here in Indy five months ago. The school kicked things off by inflating a 1,600-pound Duck (capital D) that floated ominously on the White River during Big Ten media days in July.  The obvious message from the new birds on the block: Game on, Big Ten. Its latest game ended Saturday night …

Conference Championship weekend is the books and the College Football Playoff Selection Day is imminent. Caroline Fenton, Jason Fitz & Adam Breneman break down the biggest conference title games with the greatest impact on the playoff picture. In the SEC title game, Georgia takes down Texas for the second time this season but what made the difference for them defensively …

CHARLOTTE — SMU coach Rhett Lashlee was adamant near the start of his nearly 16-minute press conference following his team’s 34-31 loss to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game that he did not have a message for the College Football Playoff selection committee. In his own words: “They don’t care what I say.” Lashlee then made calculated remarks about SMU’s …

After 15 weeks of thrilling action and shocking upsets, the College Football Playoff (CFP) is just about here. And it comes with added anticipation this year as, for the first time ever, 12 teams will be competing for a place in the College Football Playoff Championship Game instead of four. On Sunday, a 13-person committee will release its final rankings, …

The SMU versus Alabama debate for the final at-large bid in the 2025 College Football Playoff has understandably stolen the spotlight entering Selection Sunday. There is also significant consternation about how the first few teams outside the top four conference champions will be decided. Ultimately, how the committee interprets those league title game results will have ripple effects throughout the …

Palo Verdes quarterback Ryan Rakowski leans back to pass during the Sea Kings’ win over Bakersfield Christian in a Southern California Regional Division 2-A bowl game on Saturday at South Torrance High. (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times) Jace DeMoss picked the perfect time for his first interception of the season, returning it 65 yards for a touchdown with 2:09 …

USATSI It’s all over but the crying for now. The regular season has been played, conference championships have been decided and now all that’s left is for the College Football Playoff Selection Committee to release their final rankings ahead of the first-ever 12-team bracket reveal.  There has been a lot of discourse the last couple of weeks from conferences and …

Getty Images Just as was the case when they got off to a 4-2 start, the Atlanta Falcons currently lead the NFC South and are in a position to win their first division title since 2016. Their position, however, is not nearly as strong nor is their path as clear. A 2-4 stretch has dropped Atlanta to 6-6, with their …

INDIANAPOLIS – Tony Petitti has been noticeably quiet lately. In recent weeks, as his peers from coast to coast rushed to microphones, television sets and social media to voice their Very Serious Opinions, the Big Ten’s second-year commissioner has kept his own counsel. Even Saturday night, standing on the trophy stage erected at the south end of the Lucas Oil …

Getty Images On Thanksgiving, before the eyes of the nation, the Chicago Bears were responsible for as baffling an example of situational football mismanagement as has been seen in the entire 2024 NFL season. Well in range for a game-tying field goal in the final minute of regulation, the Bears inexplicably did not call a timeout — despite having one …

USATSI With the regular season over and conference championship decided, college football’s bowl season is just around the corner. The new 12-team College Football Playoff format made this one of the most intense seasons in recent memory, but now things are coming down to the wire as the CFP Selection Committee makes its final deliberations on the most robust field …

Clemson is in the College Football Playoff after freshman Nolan Hauser kicked a game-winning 56-yard field goal to beat SMU in the ACC title game. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images) CHARLOTTE — Dabo Swinney glared into an ESPN camera and gave a warning to the College Football Playoff selection committee, not about his team but the one his team just beat. “Listen,” …

Another thrilling Championship Week in college football has come and gone, which means it’s time for one final College Football Playoff projections before the first-ever 12-team bracket is released on Sunday. Let’s start at the top.   Oregon has been the No. 1 team in the College Football Playoff Rankings since the very beginning, and the Ducks will enter the …

. From Big Ten West to Big Ten best, in their first year as members of the conference the Oregon Ducks are champions of the Big Ten. The No. 1 team in the country showed their mettle on Saturday night, holding off a valiant effort by Penn State, 45-37. Oregon was likely headed to the College Football Playoff no matter …