College Football

TAMPA — If you’re facing a team coached by Jim Harbaugh, you’d better attack the day with enthusiasm unknown to man. That’s been the mantra of the Harbaughs — Jim with the Chargers and John as head coach of the Ravens since 2008 — inherited from their coaching father, Jack. “He’s a great coach. A great leader,” said Bucs guard …

Oct 28, 2023; Boise, Idaho, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the first half against the Wyoming Cowboys at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports The legitimacy of the Heisman Trophy is called into question on a fairly regular basis so no one should be shocked that this year is no different. The Heisman …

Nov 30, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) is tackled by LSU Tigers defensive end Sai’vion Jones (35) during the second quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images When former Oklahoma Sooner quarterback Jackson Arnold entered the transfer portal, he received a lot of interest from top college football teams, including the Georgia …

Though their paths haven’t yet crossed, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said he has been impressed by the Purdue Boilermakers’ new head football coach. Purdue recently hired Barry Odom, 48, as its new head football coach. Odom orchestrated one of the more impressive coaching jobs over the past two seasons as he guided UNLV to back-to-back Mountain West championship …

The Oregon football team is undefeated and the top seed heading into the College Football Playoff’s first-ever 12-team bracket. The Ducks (13-0) have a first-round bye and will play Ohio State or Tennessee on Jan. 1 in a CFP quarterfinal in the Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, California. Celebrate Oregon football’s first Big Ten season with our commemorative book Here’s …

EDMOND — Maddox Wilkerson moved through the post-game handshake line with tears streaming down his cheeks. These weren’t tears of happiness after Carl Albert High School won yet another state championship. They weren’t tears of joy shed in the moments after the final game of his senior season either. No, these were tears of abject sadness, painful and hot and …

Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish players enter the field wearing gold helmets during the game against the Southern California Trojans at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Notre Dame has a long and storied history, but never has it played in a game like the one it’s …

MIAMI — When American Heritage needed to try to regain control of the Class 4A state championship game, it put the ball in the hands of star senior running back Byron Louis. Jones had just rallied from a 14-point deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter. All the momentum was on the Tigers sideline. It didn’t last long. …

HOWELL — Bobby Kanka has spent the last couple weeks reflecting on his final high school football season at Howell, but his focus is about to shift quickly. At 3:20 p.m. next Friday, Kanka will no longer be a high school student. The following day, he will move to the University of Michigan campus to begin his college football journey. …

Have more comments, questions? Reach out to me at bwhite1@dispatch.com. Letters are lightly edited for clarity. On Ohio State football To the editor: For full disclosure, I am a supporter of coach Day. I hope that he stays at OSU for as long as he wishes because he is a very good coach. Nevertheless, in paraphrasing an adage in athletics, it …

SOUTH BEND — As the days and hours tick down to Dec. 20 and the first-ever on-campus College Football Playoff game, a three-word mantra will drive Notre Dame football’s top-three scoring defense in its preparation for Indiana. “All chips in.” That’s been the reminder for coordinator Al Golden’s group ever since the calendar flipped to November and the seventh-seeded Irish …

Nov 16, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack calls defensive plays during the game with Mercer Bears at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images Aside from only a few assistants, this was an all-around new coaching staff for the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2024. With a coaching change at the very top in Kalen DeBoer, …

Oct 5, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive lineman Ty Robinson (9) celebrates after a sack against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images Nebraska football defensive lineman Ty Robinson was named to the Associated Press All-Big Ten second team. The announcement was made on Friday morning. Robinson put together …

ORLANDO, Fla. — Scott Frost never wanted to coach at Nebraska. He had to coach at Nebraska. And maybe, in a strange way, that’s why he failed beyond comprehension. Frost’s departure from UCF after the euphoric, historic undefeated season in 2017 to return to his home state and coach at his alma mater is a cautionary tale — a story …

WACO — Vandegrift is one win away from a state title. Overcoming an early 14-0 deficit and making clutch play after clutch play, the Vipers became the second Austin-area team to send shockwaves through the Texas high school football landscape on Saturday when they defeated Houston Summer Creek 34-31 in a Class 6A Division II state semifinal at McLane Stadium. …