NORMAN — As you walk into work every day, imagine passing by statues of legends who once held your very job. Cast in their shadows is the standard for success. That’s life for Jackson Arnold. That’s the pressure that comes with being OU’s quarterback. “I feel like you have to embrace it a little bit,” Arnold said Monday after practice. “It’s …
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Mid-South Spotlight: Four prospects on flip watch
Rivals national recruiting analyst Marshall Levenson takes a look at four prospects in the Mid-South Region that could be at risk to flip their commitments before the end of the 2025 recruiting cycle. THIS SERIES: Four Midwest prospects on flip watch | Four Southeast prospects on flip watch ***** CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State …
Read More »Iowa true frosh WR Reece Vander Zee expected to garner early playing time
It isn’t often that true freshmen grace the two-deep at Iowa. When it happens, it means an individual has been incredibly impressive early on. It can also indicate that the situation presented an opportunity. Both are true in the case of true freshman wide receiver Reece Vander Zee. The 6-foot-4, 207 pound freshman out of Central Lyon High School has …
Read More »Who will back up Oklahoma State football RB Ollie Gordon? Sesi Vailahi awaits opportunity
STILLWATER — Through the first 12 games of last season, Sesi Vailahi prepared like he was going to play, but never expected it. As Oklahoma State’s fourth-string running back, he knew his time would only come in a massive blowout. So the freshman watched and waited. Then, as the Cowboys prepared for the Big 12 Championship Game against Texas, attrition …
Read More »How a decade of transition led to college football’s new 12-team playoff format
From the very beginning, the brains behind the development and implementation of the College Football Playoff wanted to hit the sweet spot of “a generic name that was catchy,” said playoff executive director Bill Hancock. One suggestion was “College Bowl,” which was discarded for any possible confusion between the longtime radio and television quiz show of the same name. Another …
Read More »USA TODAY Sports projects Auburn’s bowl destination ahead of week one’s action
Sept 19, 2009; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers receiver Darvin Adams (89) catches a touchdown pass as West Virginia Mountaineers defensive back Robert Sands (2) makes the tackle during the second half at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports College football, in its entirety, gets underway this weekend. To celebrate, USA TODAY Sports’ Erick Smith has …
Read More »Michigan State football vs. Florida Atlantic: 5 determining factors and a prediction
Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch breaks down Michigan State’s football opener vs. Florida Atlantic, 7 p.m. Friday. TV: Big Ten Network. Betting line: MSU 14 1. Aidan Chiles There are a lot of factors that’ll determine this MSU football season beyond Aidan Chiles. But if the Spartans are going punch up this fall, it’ll likely mean their sophomore quarterback …
Read More »Michigan football has ‘target’ on its back, says it won’t sleep on Fresno State
College football made it just one game into the 2024 season before a top-10 team went down. Georgia Tech pulled off an upset to open the college football season on Saturday, when it beat ACC foe and No. 10 ranked Florida State, 24-21, with a game-winning 44-yard field goal as time expired in Dublin, Ireland. It added insult to injury …
Read More »Watch Ohio State commit Jake Cook live on NFHS Network: Westerville North vs. Orange
Offensive linemen usually aren’t the high school football players who receive the most attention, but there are times when one sets himself apart. That is the case for Westerville North’s Jake Cook, a senior who has committed to Ohio State. Cook originally committed to Louisville, but Ohio State hosted him for multiple summer recruiting camps. When he announced his commitment …
Read More »Mike Bianchi: Get ready for a college football season like no other in history
The cover of this football special section has an obvious musical concept with illustrations of LPs, CDs and even an old-school cassette tape. If you were to plug that cassette into your tape deck, you would undoubtedly hear David Bowie singing the theme song for the 2024 college football season. “Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes, Turn and face the strange ch-ch-changes.” The chorus of …
Read More »UCF football’s 2025 recruiting class: See how commits are performing in senior seasons
UCF, as it stands now, has its highest-rated class in Gus Malzahn’s tenure. Currently ranked 28th overall by 247Sports for the 2025 recruiting cycle, the Knights boast four, four-star recruits and have flipped high-level talent from other Power Four schools. Now in their second year in the Big 12, the Knights are looking to finish in the top-25 for the …
Read More »Purdue football predictions 2024: Our game-by-game picks are in for Boilers
INDIANAPOLIS – Purdue football improved since last season, raising its across-the-board talent level — and by extension its depth — and further buying into Ryan Walters’ system. Will its record improve? On the eve of the season, those two questions seem only marginally related. Based on historical precedent, the Boilermakers face understandable skepticism as to whether they can beat projected …
Read More »Missouri football vs. Murray State: Scouting report, score prediction for 2024 season opener
There’s a problem with playing Murray State in your opening game of the season. Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz addressed it Sunday, as he previewed the Tigers’ opening game of the season, which comes Thursday evening in Columbia against the FCS Racers. There just ain’t a whole bunch of tape for this new-look Murray State team. More: How to buy …
Read More »Michigan football’s once spotless reputation in tatters after decisions to win at all cost
Let me take you to a more realistic time, when hoity-toity Michigan football was beside itself over a coach steering the spotless football program deep into NCAA violation waters. By practicing too much. Now here we are, some 15 years and what seems like a lifetime of mediocre football later, and Michigan is protecting its long-awaited national championship of 2023 …
Read More »5 takeaways from Ohio State football’s press conference
The opening week of Ohio State’s season has finally arrived. The Buckeyes are a 50-point favorite over Akron for Saturday afternoon’s game at Ohio Stadium, so the level of anticipation is nothing like the 2022 opener against Notre Dame or even last year’s opener at Indiana. Aug 27, 2024; Columbus, OH, United States; Ohio State football coach Ryan Day speaks …
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