College Football

The Illinois football team landed a top wide receiver recruit on Thursday. Kenyon Alston, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound receiver out of Bishop Moore Catholic in Orlando, Fla., announced his commitment to the Fighting Illini. The Class of 2026 three-star prospect had 29 offers, and chose Illinois over Florida State, UCF, Arkansas, Missouri, West Virginia, Syracuse, Baylor, Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, Penn …

Benjamin Morrison Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison, a junior who missed most of the season following a hip injury in October, is entering the NFL draft. Morrison announced his decision on social media Thursday, writing, “This is not just the end of one chapter — it’s the beginning of another. I’ll carry the lessons, memories, and love from Notre Dame …

On Thursday, the NFL revealed the finalists for its biggest awards like most valuable player, offensive player of the year and coach of the year. The remaining hopefuls for one honor in particular will look awfully familiar to LSU football fans. Former Tigers standouts accounted for three of the five finalists for offensive rookie of the year, with Washington Commanders …

For the second year in a row, Rod Moore has decided to return to Ann Arbor. On Thursday, the safety, a captain in 2024 despite not playing a game due to injury, announced that he will return to lead the Michigan football defense in the 2025 season. The safety was expected to enter the 2024 NFL draft, but opted to …

WESTWOOD — Xaverian Brothers High School encountered a celebrity sighting this afternoon when legendary New England Patriots coach and current University of North Carolina head coach, Bill Belichick, paid a visit to the Hawks football team. The news was first reported by the Boston Herald’s Danny Ventura. The 72-year-old coach was making a recruiting visit to the two-time defending Division …

Former Wisconsin cornerback Max Lofy transferred to Rice earlier this month. Lofy previously entered the portal on Dec. 17 after five years with the Badgers. He joins the Owls for his final year of eligibility. Related: Recapping Wisconsin football’s winter transfer portal movement The veteran cornerback had an up-and-down career with the Badgers. He redshirted in 2020 after joining the program …

SOUTH BEND — Despite being sidelined over the final 10 games of Notre Dame football’s run to the CFP championship game, junior cornerback Benjamin Morrison lived up to his captaincy by serving as an unofficial assistant coach. Morrison, who announced Thursday his long-expected plan to enter the 2025 NFL Draft, packed his days and nights with rehab from mid-October left …

A week after entering the transfer portal, following Penn State’s season-ending loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals, former Penn State wide receiver Omari Evans has found his new home. The speedy senior receiver will be flipping coasts and committing to Washington, he announced Wednesday evening on Instagram. Evans will have one year of eligibility remaining and, …

USATSI The time and date for Bill Belichick’s official North Carolina debut are set. The Tar Heels will host TCU at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 1 — Labor Day — on ESPN, the ACC announced Thursday.  That means Belichick, who has generated plenty of buzz after embarking on the first collegiate coaching challenge of his career, will be …

STILLWATER — Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy characterized the weeks after his team’s dismal season ended as “the most difficult December in my career,” but continued to explain that his commitment to Cowboy football is stronger than ever. Gundy spoke to the media Thursday, his first such appearance since the Cowboys’ season-ending loss at Colorado that concluded a 3-9 season, …

After 10 years as Neshaminy football head coach, Steve Wilmot believes the time is right for him to step down so that’s what he did Thursday afternoon. “It was not a decision that was easy to make,” said Wilmot, 53, in his resignation letter. “There are not many places in the State of Pennsylvania that are better to coach.” Wilmot …

Following the National Championship, Dan Wetzel, Ross Dellenger and SI’s Pat Forde look ahead to the 2025 college football season, projecting who will be the best teams in the country. They discuss the buzz for Arch Manning at Texas and if Ohio State can reload after losing a large group of key starters. They also cover Penn State returning premiere …

Jan. 23 (UPI) — The Cincinnati Bengals hired Notre Dame’s Al Golden as their new defensive coordinator, the team announced Thursday. “Al is a very highly regarded coach, and we are excited to welcome him back to the Bengals as defensive coordinator,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said in a news release. “He understands football at every level and has had …

The Bengals have made it official with their new defensive coordinator. Cincinnati announced that the club has hired Al Golden for the role. “Al is a very highly regarded coach, and we are excited to welcome him back to the Bengals as defensive coordinator,” head coach Zac Taylor said in a statement released by the team. “He understands football at …

Minnesota football coach P.J. Fleck has promoted Danny Collins to defensive coordinator, filling the vacancy created when Corey Hetherman left to take the same job at Miami (Fla.) last month. Collins has been at Minnesota since 2017 and most recently served as the safeties coach and pass game coordinator. He will still coach the safeties. In addition, Mariano Sori-Marin, a …