Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be playing to win the NFC South in Week 18, which means there’s plenty left to play for — good news for fantasy football managers. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) Congrats, fantasy football manager! You did it! You made it to the final week of the fantasy season, which means you’re just …

GLENDALE, Ariz. − Much of this Penn State football Fiesta Bowl locker room was a back-slapping, photo-posing, cigar-smoking celebration deep in this desert night. The Nittany Lions, indeed, had just reserved their place in the College Football Playoff semifinals, winning for a school-record 13th time. They earned their shot at another big-time opponent, on a grand stage next week in …

Yes, Jon Gruden’s name has been percolating for weeks as a potential candidate in the coming coaching carousel. At one level, it’s no surprise. Beyond Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and former Titans coach Mike Vrabel, there are no no-brainer candidates for 2025. At another level, it’s stunning. Gruden has an active lawsuit against the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell. …

No. 11 Alabama faces off against Michigan in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl, which serves as a rematch of the 2024 Rose Bowl Game. When these teams last played, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy diced Alabama to the tune of 221 yards and three touchdowns to win 27-20 in overtime en route to a national championship. Both teams are quite different than …

The Steelers brought three players back to practice on Tuesday. The team announced that they have designated linebacker Cole Holcomb, defensive lineman Logan Lee, and wide receiver Roman Wilson for return. Holcomb is on the physically unable to perform list and the other two players are on injured reserve. Holcomb is recovering from a 2023 knee injury. He had 54 …

Texas football returns to Atlanta after competing in the SEC championship game there on Dec. 7, and this time the fifth-seeded Longhorns are playing in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal against No. 4 Arizona State, the Big 12 champion. Can the Longhorns (12-2) cool off a red-hot Sun Devils squad that has soared to rare heights under second-year coach Kenny Dillingham? Arizona …

49ers quarterback Brock Purdy’s right elbow injury will likely end his 2024 season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said on a Tuesday conference call that Purdy will probably not play against the Cardinals in Week 18. Purdy injured his elbow in Monday night’s loss to the Lions and had an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. Shanahan described the …

Two of the most productive passing offenses in the country clash at the historic Sun Bowl as Washington faces off against Louisville on New Year’s Eve. The Huskies turned over much of the roster after a trip to the CFP National Championship a year ago but managed to reach bowl eligibility after beating USC and UCLA in the final weeks …

49ers kicker Jake Moody will remain the team’s kicker in Week 18 despite his struggles. “He’s going to kick this week,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday. The 49ers are out of playoff contention and won’t have starting quarterback Brock Purdy as they limp to the finish line, so there is little reason to tryout kickers this week. Moody, though, …

Penn State advances to the CFP semifinals after defeating Boise State 31-14 in the Fiesta Bowl. Caroline Fenton, Jason Fitz and Adam Breneman break down the game and discuss what went right for Penn State and where it all fell apart for Boise State. In the spirit of New Year’s Eve, the trio discuss who ‘dropped the ball’ for Boise …

49ers owner Jed York was clear when he said on Monday that head coach Kyle Shanahan and General Manager John Lynch aren’t going anywhere in the coming offseason. During his Tuesday news conference, Shanahan was asked about those comments and downplayed them, noting his strong relationship with York. “I’ve got a good relationship with Jed, and we speak almost every …

No. 15 South Carolina faces No. 20 Illinois in the Citrus Bowl in the first all-time meeting between the programs. Illinois is looking for its first bowl win since the 2011 season, while South Carolina seeks its second bowl game win in four seasons under coach Shane Beamer. The Gamecocks ended the regular season on a hot streak. Since losing …

Here’s the latest news and buzz as the Jets search for a new head coach… Dec. 31, 3:35 p.m. Former Washington and Carolina head coach Ron Rivera will interview for the Jets’ vacant head coaching job on Thursday, according to multiple reports. Rivera, 62, will become the first candidate to interview. It was reported earlier this week that the Jets …

NEW ORLEANS — Anthonie Knapp did not need the extra motivation this week, but the Notre Dame offensive tackle’s coach still tried to push the Georgia native’s buttons leading up to a Sugar Bowl showdown against Georgia in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff. After all, it’s Marcus Freeman’s job to get the best out of his players when practices …

The Steelers are expecting to give up a home game to play in Ireland in 2025, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. It will be the Steelers’ first international game in 12 years. The Steelers played the Vikings in London in 2013. Pittsburgh plays nine home games next season, hosting the division opponents, the Bills, Dolphins, Packers and Vikings …