MORE FROM Bill Trocchi

Caitlin Clark nears record with 31 points, but Nebraska rallies to stun No. 2 Iowa

It may be Super Bowl Sunday, but the sports world is keeping an eye on Caitlin Clark in the run-up to Chiefs-49ers. Sporting News is tracking live stats and highlights as the Iowa star closes in on the NCAA women's basketball scoring record.

Grading the new college football coaching hires, from Mike Elko to Fran Brown

The college football coaching carousel was not as splashy this go-around as it was in the last two years, when names such as Lincoln Riley, Brian Kelly and Deion Sanders were on the move.

Why Heisman-winner Charlie Ward stands among Bo and Deion as two-sport legends

Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders are the first two two-sport stars that come to mind for sports fans. But what Charlie Ward did 30 years ago hasn't been done since, and may never happen again.

Here's what a 12-team CFP would look like after final 2023 rankings

Florida State and Georgia just missed a chance to compete for a national title this season. That would not have been the case if a 12-team field was in place.

Loaded championship weekend bodes well for the future of college football

This college football championship weekend will be the best in the 10-year history of the college football playoff.

Here's what a 12-team College Football Playoff would look like after Week 10

Louisville is ranked No. 11 in the latest CFP rankings, which means they would enter a 12-team field college football will use in 2024.

What a 12-team College Football Playoff bracket would look like after Week 9

Each week at Sporting News, we will take a look at what a 12-team playoff would look like using the selection committee’s rankings.

Lee Corso misses ESPN's College GameDay broadcast in Salt Lake City

Here's what a 12-team College Football Playoff would look like after Week 8

We are looking ahead and picturing what a 12-team playoff would look like.

If Michigan illegally stole signs, what should be the punishment?

If this Michigan team gained a competitive advantage by breaking rules, it needs to be put at a competitive disadvantage.

What a 12-team College Football Playoff bracket would look like after Week 7

How does a first-round matchup of Alabama and Oklahoma sound?

What a 12-team College Football Playoff bracket would look like this year

This is shaping up to be a perfect year for the 12-team playoff, but we will have to wait until 2024.

Jonathan Taylor, Colts agree to 3-year, $42 million extension

Running back Jonathan Taylor reportedly agreed to a 3-year, $42 million extension with the Colts and will make his 2023 debut Sunday night against the Titans.

What time will Orioles-Rangers Game 1 of ALDS start?

Rain in the Baltimore area has delayed Game 1 of the Orioles-Rangers series

Here's what a 12-team College Football Playoff bracket would look like after Week 5

The final iteration of the four-team playoff is here, but this is the perfect season to look ahead to next season when there will be a 12-team field.

Hey, college football poll voters - stop voting Georgia No. 1

What are we pointing to after five weeks that Georgia is the best team in the nation? After losing 25 players to the NFL Draft the last two years and five underwhelming games, maybe, just maybe, we shouldn't still be voting them No. 1.

Here's what a 12-team College Football Playoff bracket would look like after Week 4

The 12-team playoff era is one year away, and the format is still being debated, but we’re ready to look ahead and project what an expanded bracket would look like if there was one in place for the conclusion of this season.

College football hot seats 2023: Four coaches in danger, more on the brink

College football hot seat lists are getting shorter and shorter, mostly because trigger fingers among colleges are getting quicker and quicker.

Big Ten is to blame for devastating round of college football realignment

When former Big Ten commissioner spearheaded an effort to poach USC and UCLA from the Pac-12, he knocked over a domino that is leading to unprecedented chaos across the sport.

Sporting News GOAT Mountains: See the iconic athletes from 9 cities

Northwestern finds its scapegoat in Pat Fitzgerald

Northwestern went from barely issuing a punishment to issuing the most severe punishment it could on Pat Fitzgerald. The question is, why has only one person been punished?

Big Ten whiffs by not permanently pairing USC, Ohio State

A billion dollars a year, and you can’t pair Ohio State and USC on an annual basis?

Ranking the ACC QB situations: UNC, FSU at the top

The ACC saw eight starting quarterbacks transfer in the offseason, giving the league plenty of new faces at the game's most important position.

Bronny James commitment the latest coup for USC basketball

USC has long been known as a football school, but its basketball program has been sneaky good under coach Andy Enfield at producing NBA players and earning NCAA Tournament appearances.

College Football Playoff: Why 2024, 2025 dates are doomed to fail

The CFP announced a confusing mixture of Friday, Thursday, Tuesday and Monday games to get through its new 12-team format for 2024 and 2025. There is a solution for 2026 and beyond.

Which schools best convert five-stars to first-round NFL Draft picks?

The Sporting News conducted a study of the recruiting classes from 2010 to 2019 to see how often five-star signees get picked in the first round, and which school seems to best develop those elite prospects. The short answer: Alabama.

College football prospects no longer limited to five official visits

The NCAA lifted the cap of official visits a prospect can take starting with this recruiting cycle. A player can still only have a visit paid for by a school once, but he can visit as many schools as he wants. Insiders aren't sure exactly how this will shake up the recruiting cycle.

It's time to make college football spring games actual games

Who says no to teams scrimmaging other teams at the end of spring practice? Seems like a no-brainer for coaches, players, fans, athletic departments and TV partners.

Crying Northwestern Kid looks back at his infamous meme

Twelve-year-old John Phillips was the symbol of March sadness when the Crying Northwestern Kid meme took off. Now he's a freshman at Harvard, still following his Wildcats, and unashamed of his 15 minutes of fame.

What's next for Rick Pitino? Iona coach linked to St. John's job during March Madness run

Pitino has emerged as a leading candidate for the vacant St. John’s job, which became open when Mike Anderson was fired on March 10.

No. 1 seed Kansas aims for rare NCAA tournament repeat

No reigning champion has repeated since Florida pulled it off in 2007. In fact, no reigning champ has even returned to the Final Four in the past 16 years.

NCAA Jam: Championship game pits top seeds UNC, UCLA

Michael Jordan and Vince Carter will take on UCLA legends Bill Walton and Lew Alcindor for the Sporting News "NCAA Jam" 2-on-2 title. Cast your vote today!

NCAA Jam: Final Four features Duke-UCLA, North Carolina-Kansas

The Sporting News NCAA Jam tournament has just four duos standing, and they represent some of the game's legendary players.

NCAA Jam: Elite Eight field features three NCAA title game rematches

North Carolina (Michael Jordan, Vince Carter) vs. Georgetown (Patrick Ewing, Allen Iverson) highlights four spectacular 2-on-2 matchups as The Sporting News' "NCAA Jam" tournament marches on.

CBI considering giving Antoine Davis shot at NCAA record

CBI president Rick Giles told Sporting News his tournament considers special circumstances and is evaluating whether it will invite Detroit Mercy to its postseason event.

Top 10 returning college QBs who passed on NFL Draft

There will be a lot of veteran talent calling signals during the 2023 college football season.

How to fix CFB's postseason scheduling problem

For far too long, college football’s regular season has outshined its postseason. Here are some simple steps to fix it.

Parity in college football? TCU, Tulane, Cincinnati show change is coming

College football can produce unexpected seasons, and the ceilings of those seasons are as high as they have ever been.

Georgia rides the roller-coaster past Ohio State and into title game

Kirby Smart's clutch timeout and Stetson Bennett's clutch fourth quarter pushed Georgia past Ohio State and into the College Football Playoff title game against TCU.

What's it like to play for Kirby Smart? 'He's going to coach you hard'

Kirby Smart has the reputation of eating, drinking and sleeping football 24 hours a day, and those within the Georgia program this week did nothing to dispel that notion.

Grading college football's coaching hires: Deion Sanders, Luke Fickell get high marks

Colorado needs a big turnaround, while Wisconsin looks to regain its spot as a top 10 program.

Deion Sanders loses Celebration Bowl, but his hype train isn't slowing down

Jackson State lost a thriller in OT, but Deion's son Shedeur put on a show at quarterback that will have Colorado fans salivating.

Sonny Dykes wins Sporting News Coach of the Year

Sonny Dykes lifted a program that had slipped in recent years all the way to the College Football Playoff in Year 1 at TCU.

The grades are in for college football's 14 first-year coaches

This crop of first-year coaches raised the bar, with six finishing in the Top 25 in Year 1 and one reaching the College Football Playoff.

With 12-team field, CFP bracket would be loaded with must-see matchups

USC would visit Alabama and Ohio State would host Penn State as two of the first-round matchups if the 12-team format were in place for 2022.

Ohio State needs to be on upset alert this weekend

Will there be big upsets in the biggest games of rivalry week?

Texas, Oklahoma and Army need to be on upset alert this weekend

The Longhorns have already been upset three times this season.

Texas, Wake Forest need to be on upset alert this weekend.

TCU and North Carolina are popular underdog selections by our panel this week.

What a 12-team CFP bracket would look like with latest rankings

There are four remaining undefeated teams after Clemson and Tennessee went down last Saturday. Soon enough, however, one loss will not mean you need to fret about your spot in the college football playoff.

Brian Kelly's two-point call lifts LSU and sets up possible clash with Georgia

Brian Kelly shook up the College Football Playoff race and rehabbed his image from the man Twitter loves to mock to the man Twitter loves to love after a gutsy overtime decision that will go down in Death Valley lore.

Predicting the underdogs who will pull upsets in Week 10

Texas needs to be on upset alert against Kansas State this weekend.

Coastal Carolina's Grayson McCall: The man who pisses teal

McCall has quarterbacked an inexperienced Chanticleers team to the fringe of the AP Top 25 poll and into first place in the Sun Belt East division at 7-1 heading into Thursday night’s ESPN game against Appalachian State.

What a 12-team College Football Playoff would look like

First-round matchups would include Ole Miss-Michigan, LSU-Alabama.

Kansas State, Tennessee need to be on upset alert this weekend

There were 15 upsets last weekend in college football. Where will they come from this weekend? Our experts make their picks.

What a 12-team College Football Playoff field would look like after Week 8

In the world of a four-team College Football Playoff, regular-season losses are costly, but they will be less so when the field expands to 12 teams.

College football upset alert: Expert picks for Week 8 underdogs with the best odds to win

Texas and LSU need to be on upset alert against fellow ranked teams this weekend.

Wondrous Week 7 showed exactly why CFP games need to be on campus

Do not suck the magic out of the sport. Enhance it. Bring this regular season pandemonium into the postseason.

Oklahoma, Utah need to be on upset alert this weekend

Kansas and USC are popular underdogs among our panel of experts.

Hey, Alabama: Tennessee is primed to seize the moment

Tennessee’s time is now. It best take advantage.

Miami, Wisconsin need to be on upset alert this weekend

Where will the upsets come this week?

Upset alert for Mississippi State, Florida State this weekend

Where will the big upsets come this weekend? Our panel of experts weighs in.

New college football coaches September report cards

As a whole, this class of coaches is off to a pretty strong start taking over new college programs.

These CFB teams need to be on upset alert this weekend

Rutgers, Duke, Washington State and Arkansas are popular picks to pull upsets this week.

Underdogs we predict to win in college football's Week 3

Michigan State, Miami and LSU are all popular upset picks by our panel of experts.

Horror film on loop: Scott Frost's 22 one-score losses at Nebraska

Scott Frost's inability to win close games, which included 22 one-score losses in just four-plus seasons, was a nightmare no Nebraska fan will soon forget.

Trocchi: Texas A&M fans know exactly who they're rooting for in Alabama-Texas game

When Alabama’s Nick Saban casually but pointedly mentioned that "A&M bought every player" in its No. 1-rated recruiting class, the fury from College Station could be felt across the Texas plains. But all seems to be forgiven this weekend.

Underdog Challenge: Panel of experts picks Week 2 upsets

Iowa State finally knocking off Iowa is a popular selection by our panel.

DJ Uiagalelei navigates 'perfect scenario' to open Season 2 as Clemson's QB1

The incumbent starter overcame early "adversity," as head coach Dabo Swinney put it, in leading the No. 4 Tigers to a season-opening win.

College football upset alert: Expert picks for Week 1 underdogs with the best odds to win

The Sporting News Underdog Challenge is back for Year 2, my friends, and we are going to find the upsets before they happen like never before.

It may be a bumpy Year 1 for Marcus Freeman, but Notre Dame's outlook is still bright

Kirby Smart's transition from defensive coordinator to head coach was tough at first, but his recruiting eventually got him to the top. Marcus Freeman may follow a similar path.

Andy Roddick hoping Serena Williams soaks in US Open farewell

Andy Roddick says Serena Williams 'ticks a little differently', and he hopes the 23-time grand slam champion can enjoy her final tournament at the US Open.

'That would be scary'- Roddick's advice for Kyrgios ahead of US Open

Nick Kyrgios stood on Centre Court at Wimbledon following his four-set loss to Novak Djokovic in July and was asked by the BBC’s Sue Barker if reaching his first grand slam final made him hungry for more.

Portal Passers: Take the College Quarterback Transfer Quiz

College QBs have been in the move since last season. Have you kept up? Test your knowledge for the season kicks off in a few days to see if you know where these quarterbacks will be playing this fall.

Six college football coaches who are under pressure to win this season

Last year's coaches who entered the year on the hot seat ranged from Jim Harbaugh, who reached the College Football Playoff, to Clay Helton, who was fired after two games.

Boston's Mount Rushmore of Sports: Tom Brady, Bill Russell, Ted Williams, Bobby Orr voted best of the best

Four men from four teams in one fiercely proud sports town create a sports Mount Rushmore made up of athletes who can be argued are among the ‘best evah’ in their respective sports.

Alabama's Bryce Young has shot at second Heisman, but that's not his focus

QB Bryce Young should be even better in his second year as Alabama's starter, but history says he will not be a repeat Heisman winner.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey says conference is already a 'super league'; will be cautious about expansion

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey kicked off SEC Media Days by addressing expansion, the College Football Playoff and scheduling.

Potential No. 1 pick Druw Jones looks like second coming of Andruw

Andruw Jones was hitting home runs in the World Series at age 19. His son Druw may be the No. 1 pick in the draft at age 18.

Delaware's Jameer Nelson Jr. knows he's making college hoops fans suddenly feel old

Delaware's leading scorer reaches the NCAA tournament, a place where his father earned a No. 1 seed not all that long ago.

What the College Football Playoff could learn from March Madness

College basketball has its postseason figured out. If only college football could do the same.

Alabama's Nick Saban laments NIL bidding war for recruits: 'That's where I draw the line'

When college football coaches get together nowadays, the issues of the transfer portal and Name Image and Likeness dominate the conversations. It was no different at the Senior Bowl on Tuesday night. 

Trocchi: Can Caleb Williams lift USC, Pac-12?

With Caleb Williams in tow, Lincoln Riley's revival at USC is off to a fast start. Will he be able to lift not only USC but the Pac-12 and Western football as well?

Medvedev spoils Auger-Aliassime's upset bid at Aussie

Felix Auger-Aliassime was unable to close out No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev after taking a two-set lead in the Aussie quarterfinals.

Trocchi: Spurrier talks keys to winning title-game rematch

Steve Spurrier feels like Georgia needs to mix things up in the title game against Alabama, similar to how his Florida team did against Florida State in 1996.

Trocchi: Why isn't America rooting for Cincinnati?

American sports fans usually pull for the underdog, but when it comes to the College Football Playoff, Cincinnati feels like an unwelcome Cinderella.

Trocchi: Best may still be to come for Michigan State

Michigan State finished a top-10 season with a win in the Peach Bowl, and there's no reason to think it won't be challenging for a Big Ten championship next year.

Trocchi: Report card on the new hires in college football

Schools turned to sitting Power 5 coaches and Power 5 coordinators to fill openings during this carousel.

Trocchi: Texas A&M on brink of historic class

Texas A&M has elbowed its way near the top of the recruiting rankings, and may edge out Georgia and Alabama for No. 1.

Trocchi: Is America suddenly rooting for Notre Dame?

Notre Dame is one of the most disliked programs in the nation. But fans may want to see the Irish get back at Brian Kelly, who quit on them and became even more disliked than the program.

Trocchi: The secret to securing a 'home run' hire

Where should ADs look to fill open Power 5 jobs? Oftentimes, the answer is already on campus.

Trocchi: Cincinnati was impressive, for a half; will that be enough?

The Bearcats looked on their way to a blowout, but a sluggish second half leaves unease as Selection Sunday nears.

Florida, NC State should be on upset alert in Rivalry Week

There will be extra emotions in stadiums across the nation this week. Will that lead to some surprising results?

Cincinnati, UCLA should be on upset alert in Week 12

No. 5 Cincinnati faces a challenge to remain unbeaten this weekend.

Trocchi: The 12 best games of the season thus far

There's been a lot to choose from in the season's first two months.

Trocchi: Who can count on playoff spot if they win out?

After the selection committee's initial rankings, very few teams should feel like the road ahead is secure.

Trocchi: First CFP rankings can foreshadow playoff field

How much do the initial CFP rankings foreshadow the eventual playoff field? More than you think.

Trocchi: Ranking the remaining unbeatens, from UGA to UTSA

10 unbeaten teams remain, and most have needed a fantastic finish to stay perfect.

Iowa State, Pitt need to be on upset alert for Week 8

No. 8 Oklahoma State is an underdog this week at Iowa State. Our panel likes the Cowboys to win.

Trocchi: Advice for James Franklin on the LSU, USC openings

There's a good chance LSU and USC are going to coming calling for James Franklin. Which is the better job?

It is upset alert for Texas, Baylor and Pitt in Week 7

A week after No. 1 Alabama went down, what upsets can we expect this week?

Trocchi: College football's Week 6 truly had it all

Starting with a record comeback in the Red River Shootout, college football's Week 6 never slowed down, and it ended with a stunning upset of No. 1 Alabama.

It's upset alert time for Oklahoma and Iowa this week

The underdogs in the two biggest games of the weekend are in prime position to pull an upset.

Trocchi: Time for Cincinnati fans to grab blue and gold pom-poms

If Cincinnati wants an invitation to the College Football Playoff, it desperately needs Notre Dame to register as a quality win.

Iowa, Cincinnati need to be on upset alert in Week 5

Our panel of experts has hit on over 50 percent of its underdog predictions thus far.

Trocchi: Five biggest surprise teams in September

Several teams picked to finish low in the standings at Media Days this summer are off to hot starts.

Trocchi: Arch Manning stays grounded amid hype, expectations

Junior quarterback Arch Manning, who will be in Alabama this weekend, is starting a tour of schools that will impact where he commits.

Notre Dame a popular upset pick vs. No. 18 Wisconsin

The Irish enter with a better record and higher ranking, but are almost a touchdown underdog to the Badgers.

Boss Hog: Sam Pittman leads unlikely Arkansas revival

Sam Pittman has made the most of his first chance to be a head coach, landing Arkansas in the top 25 before a showdown with No. 7 Texas A&M.

Miami, Penn State should be on upset alert

Picking upsets hasn't been as difficult as it sounds through two weeks for our expert panel.

Underdog Challenge: Iowa a hot upset pick

The Iowa Hawkeyes are road underdogs vs. Iowa State this week.

Trocchi: Mercer is as big a bully as Alabama

Alabama's Week 2 opponent put up some astronomical numbers in Week 1. The competition, however, wasn't great.

Trocchi: Grading the Power 5 coaching debuts

Eight Power 5 coaches made debuts last week, and most offered some hope for the future.

Penn State a popular upset pick in Week 1

Looking for an upset pick? The Sporting News staff makes its predictions in the Underdog Challenge.

Trocchi: Bobby Bowden laps the field in one coaching metric

Florida State's Bobby Bowden, who died Sunday, has every college coach beat when it comes to consecutive top-five finishes.

SEC is about to welcome one superpower, not two

When you look at the on-field performance, Texas isn't really among college football's elite.

How would SEC schools vote on membership for Texas, Oklahoma?

The SEC needs 11 votes from its membership to invite Texas and Oklahoma to join. Would commissioner Greg Sankey have the votes?