North Carolina football’s hiring of Bill Belichick as its new head coach just set a standard of what it will take to be competitive, and the ripple effects will be felt in the commonwealth and all of college football. It has little to do with Belichick’s stature as arguably the greatest coach in NFL history with his six Super Bowl …

The Broncos scored first on Thursday night, but it didn’t take the Chargers long to respond. Gus Edwards powered his way into the end zone on Los Angeles’ second possession, capping an eight-play drive with a touchdown to tie the score at 7-7. Running back Kimani Vidal had one of the big plays on the drive, running 19 yards down …

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football’s defense has left chaos in its wake this season. That’s the biggest takeaway Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman had when scouting the Hoosiers ahead of Friday night’s game in the first round of the College Football Playoff between the teams. The stats back Freeman up — Indiana finished the regular season with the No. 3 rushing defense …

Denver has had two possessions in Los Angeles on Thursday night. So far, the Broncos have executed them perfectly — scoring another touchdown to go back up 14-7. Quarterback Bo Nix tossed a 1-yard score to cap the 12-play, 70-yard drive. Nix prevented a three-and-out and moved the chains with a 10-yard scramble on third-and-9. Then a few plays later, …

SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame’s path to Friday’s College Football Playoff opener against Indiana was lined with a series of teachable moments, if not outright blessings from on high. In several cases, going all the way back to Beaux Collins’ shove at Texas A&M and including Jordan Clark’s headbutt against Louisville, penalty flags for unsportsmanlike conduct could have been thrown, …

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson has won just one of five career starts against Pittsburgh.Photograph: Loren Elliott/Getty Images Game of the week Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) v Baltimore Ravens (9-5) The battle for the AFC North nears its climax with two bitter rivals gutting it out for hallowed home-field advantage in the playoffs. If the Pittsburgh Steelers continue their hot streak and …

Dylan Widger-Imagn Images Nebraska football hired UCF Knights defensive coordinator Addison Wiliams as defensive backs coach. The program made the announcement on Thursday. Williams led a talented Knights secondary in 2023. They allowed the fewest passing yards per game with 196.7. They also allowed only 12 touchdown passes, the fewest allowed since the 2001 season. Williams also worked as the …

It’s been three drives and the Chargers cannot stop the Broncos’ offense. Bo Nix threw his second touchdown of the game — this time to fellow rookie Devaughn Vele for a 6-yard score to give Denver a 21-10 lead midway through the second quarter. With 6:22 left in the second quarter, the Broncos already have 219 yards. They’re averaging 7.8 …

BLOOMINGTON — The first round of this year’s College Football Playoff will bring together neighbors that haven’t seen each other in awhile. Indiana football’s (11-1) matchup against Notre Dame (11-1) in South Bend will be only the second game between the programs since 1958.  The Irish lead the all-time series between the schools with a 23-5-1 record — IU hasn’t beaten Notre …

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (knee) remained a full participant in Thursday’s practice, and he had his best weapons back with him. Running back Kenneth Walker III (calf), receiver DK Metcalf (shoulder) and wide receiver Tyler Lockett (rest) returned to full participation a day after missing practice. Running back Zach Charbonnet (oblique) returned to practice on a limited basis. Tight end …

The Georgia Bulldogs are getting ready to play the College Football Playoff without star quarterback Carson Beck, sources confirmed to ESPN. The sports network said Beck is exploring surgery options to repair an elbow injury on his throwing arm. ESPN said Beck hasn’t practiced with the team since Georgia’s victory against Texas in the SEC Championship game. RELATED STORIES: After …

The Broncos — who will clinch a playoff berth with a win — dominated the first two quarters of Thursday night’s game against the Chargers and enter halftime with a 21-13 lead. Denver scored three touchdowns on its first three possessions, with a sack on the fourth putting the club behind the chains to eventually bring up a punt. But …

Columbus football set the tone by scoring three first quarter touchdowns and rolled to a 48-14 win against Malakoff to capture the Class 3A Division I state championship on Thursday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. It’s the first state championship for the Cardinals, who conclude the season with a 15-1 record. “We played really well as a team and against …

It takes a specific circumstance for an NFL team to try a fair catch free kick. That’s why one hadn’t been made in almost 50 years. On Thursday night, viewers got a lesson on a little-known rule: the fair catch free kick. The Denver Broncos couldn’t run out the rest of the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers so …

Dec. 19—PULLMAN — Like many Washington State players, Djouvensky Schlenbaker didn’t know coach Jake Dickert was leaving the program until Wednesday morning. He doesn’t usually check his phone much past 9 p.m., he said, which means he missed out on any chatter around the possibility. So even early Wednesday morning, when the Cougars’ third-year running back got a text about …