Maybe, just maybe, it’s time to give the one thing that brings us all together a chance to fix the one thing that drives us apart.
Matt Hayes
With a suffocating defensive effort that limited Leonard Fournette to 31 yards, the Crimson Tide finally put together the game Nick Saban was searching for this season.
Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer has a tall task this weekend — don't get embarrassed by Trevone Boykin and TCU's offense. But it's a
On-field (Duke-Miami instant replay) and off-field (Barrett suspension) from last week means one thing: this perfectly imperfect sport must move closer to the look and feel of the cold, antiseptic NFL to save it from itself.
We have our first four, but remember: We still have a few weeks to go before the rankings that matter are announced.
If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a thousand times: a coach’s job is to win games and make money for their families. Anything else is background noise. Urban Meyer is no exception.
Alabama and LSU play in the Game of the Century, Clemson and FSU meet in the ACC's biggest game and the Big 12 is in a weekly shootout for survival. Here are the four teams most playoff worthy entering Week 10.
After going 4-8 and 7-6 the past two seasons, Florida is 7-1 in its first season under Jim McElwain and the players are developing the mindset to keep winning.
Get ready, Alabama, the committee may or may not use those five turnovers in a loss to Ole Miss against you. Watch out, Michigan State, the committee may or may not think that Michigan win is tainted. Playoff talk and more in this week's First-and-10.
Seth Russell went down just as the Baylor Bears rose to the top. What will that mean going forward? And who else looms in the College Football Playoff picture?
The Trojans played their best game in beating No. 4 Utah on Saturday night, giving interim coach Clay Helton a big win and the program a huge lift.
After Tennessee had done all it could to slow Derrick Henry and when Alabama needed a game-winning drive, QB Jake Coker was up to the challenge.
Art Briles has a QB who can do it all, crazy talent at the skill positions and his best offensive line. That adds up to a juggernaut on offense that has changed how titles will be won.
Les Miles and the Tigers gutted out a big top 10 win over Florida to solidify its place in the top four.
If we’ve learned one thing from this Alabama team halfway through the season it is this: They’re not the best team in coach Nick Saban’s nine years in Tuscaloosa, but they might be the most resilient.
It's midseason and USC and Maryland have fired their coaches and South Carolina's resigned. Imagine the cause and effect if some of the nation's best jobs also are vacated.
From putting the SEC commissioner on the spot about a playoff or taking a dig at Phil Fulmer or Bobby Bowden, Steve Spurrier was always competitive and that just might be the reason he's decided to stop coaching.
One thing jumps out more than anything: why in the world would Grier not check with the Florida staff to make sure the supplement was legal?
It's easy to point the finger at Sarkisian, but athletic director Pat Haden holds just as much blame, if not more, for what has transpired at USC.
The Utes have the look of an SEC team, winning with defense and a running game. LSU and Clemson answered some questions Saturday and Florida's defensive look championship level.
The Utah quarterback's career has been littered with ups and downs, much like his performance Saturday night in the win over Cal. "I made too many mistakes," Wilson said. "I can't play like that."
Iowa is 5-0, and that the Hawkeyes are unbeaten is a testament to a coach who in January saw a program veering toward unsavable — and jerked a reinvented wheel toward change. Real, significant change.
Take a step back Texas, Tennessee fans and remember what led your program to this point. Firing your coaches is not the answer.
Baylor is proving it belongs in the college football playoff. Defending champ Ohio State, meanwhile, is not.
The way the game is played in the SEC, playing like Coker did Saturday against Georgia, gets you praise from the head coach. "Jake did a great job," Saban said following the 38-10 rout.
What do people say about Baylor? Long on offense, short on defense, crumbles in big moments. Art Briles knows what it's like to not be in control and it's not a good feeling.
The College Football Playoff field features surprises as the SEC and the Pac-12 – the nation’s two best conferences – have the two best teams. And neither were the team we expected.
Despite losing its two best defensive players this season and starting a freshman quarterback, UCLA never gave Arizona a chance Saturday night.
Not since Tim Tebow played at Florida have the Gators rolled out a quarterback who can make plays and win games the way Will Grier did against Tennessee.
The Tigers need QB Brandon Harris to progress so opponents — like the four-game stretch vs. Alabama, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Texas A&M — can't focus solely on Fournette.
Florida has beaten Tennessee 10 consecutive seasons. From Phil Fulmer to Lane Kiffin to Derek Dooley to current Vols coach Butch Jones, Tennessee has lost every way imaginable.
Mississippi State is in a familiar spot. It isn't getting much love in the SEC, but this program has climbed a massive mountain that it doesn't plan on descending from soon.
Is the SEC good? Of course. Is there an elite team ready to take hold of the playoff race? No. The lack of top-tier talent at the most important position is what will keep the league out of the playoff.
Ole Miss moves to the top of the Four In/Four Out College Football Playoff field after toppling Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
This is not the Alabama team that dominates and suffocates and eviscerates. This program, since late last season, stumbles and eventually crumbles in big games as it did Saturday in a 43-37 loss to Ole Miss.
The best thing for LSU QB Brandon Harris is getting reps in key games while Fournette and the Tiger rushing attack dominate opponents. That could lead to bigger things for LSU.
One NFL scout is big on Cal QB Jared Goff. Two huge matchups Saturday in the SEC: Is Chad Kelly enough to lift Ole Miss past Bama and is Will Muschamp the determining factor in Auburn-LSU?
If BYU wins at UCLA and Michigan the next two weeks, and keeps winning until the first playoff rankings are released, it will have a better resume than a lot of contenders from Power 5 schools.
The similarities between this year's defending champion Ohio State team and Meyer's 2009 Florida team are there, from early suspensions, to QB drama to a new OC.
Tom Jurich has been AD at Louisville since 1997 and is what Texas needs: someone who knows the value of football over all else. He also hired current Longhorns coach Charlie Strong at Louisville.
Ohio State and Michigan State have been impressive early. If this continues a November matchup in Columbus will be more about College Football Playoff placement than an elimination game.
While TV cameras caught Jim Harbaugh's every move in Ann Arbor, Michigan State was off doing something more important — aiming for those games on New Year's Eve.
Jeremy Johnson is not Cam Newton and Will Muschamp's defense isn't any different from last year's Auburn defense. A preseason playoff pick? Oops.
Matt Hayes details five things he's watching on the second weekend of the college football season.
You want to blame someone, Texas fans? Blame Charlie Strong. Because that’s exactly who he’s blaming. Who doesn’t want a coach like that?
Six playoff contenders (Florida State, Alabama, Ole Miss, Georgia, Oklahoma and Oregon) are using transfer quarterbacks. The days of waiting your turn to start are gone.
Urban Meyer goes with his head, not his heart, in starting Cardale Jones over JT Barrett. After all, Jones led the Buckeyes to the championship last season — and then a win Monday against Virginia Tech.
With a week's worth of sample sizes, Matt Hayes takes his first crack at selecting the four teams destined for the College Football Playoff.
After watching Blake Sims a season ago, Jake Coker got the start in the season opener against Wisconsin and was sharp, throwing for 213 yards and a touchdown.
The impact of veteran defensive coordinator John Chavis was obvious in Saturday night's win against Arizona State, while Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray showed their flaws.
Jeremy Johnson threw three interceptions (could have been worse) and Auburn's defense made big mistakes in the second half of Will Muschamp's debut — but the Tigers held on.
From Alabama's QB situation to Auburn's backfield, here are five things you need to know this weekend.
Trevone Boykin didn't look like the quarterback who ran up monster numbers in 2014, but the Horned Frogs found a way to pick up the road victory.
Virginia Tech created a stir with a list of potential player fines, but is that such a bad thing? That, along with Everett Golson and coaches who need to produce are discussed in First-and-10.
From Steve Sarkisian to Dalvin Cook to Art Briles and Chris Petersen, Bruce Springsteen was right when he wrote "Born to Run" 40 years ago — "there's no place left to hide."
There's outrage over Baylor's handling of Sam Ukwuachu's sexual assault, but this isn't a new issue. Coaches have been giving dangerous, reckless and violent players second chances for years.
Vernon Adams' Oregon arrival in many ways mirrors Jeremiah Masoli's Oregon departure, five years ago. Two QBs. Two graduate transfers. And a burden too big for most to bear.
Leaving Wisconsin wasn't easy for Bielema. He and Alvarez haven't spoken since Bielema left for Arkansas in 2012. "I know I hurt him," he says. "He hurt me a little bit."
After Bobby Petrino and John L. Smith, Bret Bielema stepped into a job with all sorts of problems on and off the field. Three years later, attitudes have changed in Fayetteville.
It's been an offseason to forget for Jimbo Fisher and the Florida State football program. But next week the Seminoles start practice and that's where Fisher has excelled for so long – finding ways to win games.
Mark Richt is ready for something more at Georgia. “Let’s get the job done when we get (to Atlanta) and move on to the playoff. That’s what it’s all about.”
As a 10-year-old in New Orleans, Leonard Fournette lived on an overpass for five days and four nights after Katrina tore through the city. "Makes you realize there's nothing more important in the world than family," the LSU RB says.
Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze is from the state of Mississippi and spoke strongly about the flag. But earlier this week, Dan Mullen was reluctant to publicly choose a side.
After two seasons in the SEC, Bret Bielema has Arkansas moving in a good place. “The number one thing that our players have bought into is they realize what I’m saying is really going to get them where they want to be," he says.
Overlooked since joining the SEC, Missouri continues proving doubters wrong (the Tigers were picked 6th and 4th in the East the last two years) by focusing on themselves.
The Alabama coach says players worrying about their NFL futures is affecting the game. "Somewhere between the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff we lost something," he says.
Teammates call him Astro; coach Butch Jones calls him the CEO. Tennessee QB Josh Dobbs is driving on and off the field.
The curious case of Auburn and Texas A&M: they are nearly identical teams. And Texas A&M beat Auburn last season. On the road.
The 70-year-old South Carolina coach contemplated retirement after going 7-6 last season, but after beating Miami in a bowl game, Spurrier said Tuesday "that retirement thing" doesn't suit him well yet.
The way some teams are doing it, you wonder why schools schedule tough nonconference games. Then again, without them, we would have some of the nation's best matchups in 2015.
Gus Malzahn gushed about Jeremy Johnson a year ago at SEC Media Days. Fast forward a year and possibilities Johnson's arm opens up for Auburn's offense could be devastating.
Florida's had eight scholarship quarterbacks play the past five seasons — two switched positions, four transferred and none won a championship.
In light of more bad player behavior, the SEC's new commissioner addresses the issue and how the conference will tackle it moving forward.
Who gives the Buckeyes the best chance to win? A closer look at the Ohio State quarterback situation reveals the best possible football answer.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey indicates there's a chance underclassmen could be allowed to come back to school if the NFL passes on them.
Jimbo Fisher and his wife, Candi, have separated and could be heading toward divorce. Meanwhile, social media assigns blame and hopes it doesn't affect Fisher when football season starts.
He's on Twitter, he's shirtless, he's rescuing people from a vehicle accident. Jim Harbaugh is doing it all and that includes impressing recruits and breathing life into Michigan football again.
For the most part, Texas A&M's transition to the SEC has been a success. Despite that success, defense has been a problem. So Kevin Sumlin went out and hired one of the best in John Chavis.
Everett Golson shouldn't be concerned with finding the right team. Instead, the former Notre Dame QB should find a coach who can make him better.
A better thrower than Bryce Petty and Robert Griffin III? That's what Baylor QB Seth Russell can be. On top of that, he might be the team's best athlete.
Charlie Strong was done interviewing for head coaching jobs. But a friend convinced him to persevere, an AD believed in him and now he's running college's biggest program.
Arizona's young quarterback overcame the adversity of a rough childhood. Now, even after a breakout freshman season, Solomon must overcome more challenges for Rich Rodriguez's Wildcats.
Nick Saban should have handled his press conference after Jonathan Taylor was charged with domestic violence much differently. Instead, he made the situation worse.
So much for Aaron Rodgers being considered a 'big gamble' as a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. He turned into be a sure thing as the Packers' absolute steal at No. 24.
The Nittany Lions QB feeds off challenges. He's facing one of his biggest this spring: become the player he and everyone else expects him to be following a tough sophomore season.
The Cinderella run is over for Georgia State, but fans won't soon forget the incredible moments Ron Hunter and his players gave them during March Madness.
Georgia State's upset strengthened the bond between Ron Hunter and his son R.J. and kept the Panthers dancing.
Chris Borland's coach at Wisconsin, Bret Bielema, has spoken out about slowing down the game. “For him to decide he has had enough," Bielema said of Borland, "it’s a very sad situation.”
Bob Stoops' football team is caught in the middle of the racial issues that hit the Oklahoma campus this week. And Stoops just might be the best person to guide the Sooners through the ugly mess.
Last season, Ezekiel Elliott was the best player for the three biggest games and didn't receive a single vote. It's time the Downtown Athletic Club changed to make the award more significant again.
The QB situation in Columbus hinges on the development of Cardale Jones. That, and Michigan's toughness, Auburn's defense with Muschamp and life after Jameis Winston and Bryce Petty highlight spring practice.
Freshman ineligibility isn't happening, but change still is coming. Players will get their stipends and their guaranteed scholarships, but that shouldn't come without tougher education-first guidelines.
The NCAA hired Oliver Luck in December to be the No. 2 person in charge behind Mark Emmert. This week, the NCAA placed Luck's former school on two years probation for violations in 14 sports.
Like it or not, some young kids aren't equipped to deal with attention like Rivals and colleges are giving them at a young age and there are plenty of examples of that not working out well.
If coaches can leave the school they just convinced recruits to sign with, then the players should be able to leave without penalty if they choose.
While stockpiling all these recruiting championships, why isn't Alabama winning more titles on the field? SN looks at that along with USC, UCLA, Penn State and the SEC in the aftermatch of Signing Day.
From Byron Cowart's delay in signing his letter of intent to CeCe Jefferson's declaration, Auburn and Florida had interesting head-to-head battles with Will Muschamp right in the middle of it all.
Steve Sarkisian has the Trojans pushing Alabama for the No. 1 recruiting class. But paper championships aren't the goal — it's putting USC back on top of college football.
Hire a coach with few ties to talent-rich Florida to replace a popular, well-liked coach and you get what the Gators are experiencing with National Signing Day around the corner.
Elite quarterbacks help their teams win championships and the SEC has one QB of significance (Dak Prescott) entering the 2015 season. Could there be hope ahead for the league?
Ohio State turns the table on everyone else. Now the Buckeyes — from the Big Ten — are the team with the best athletes everywhere, making opponents look overmatched and slow.
Just months after leaving Florida for 'medical reasons,' Meyer was on the Oregon campus, given full access by Chip Kelly. Now leading the Buckeyes, Meyer meets the Ducks for the title.
Visionary Mike Slive is fighting prostate cancer again and it will keep him away from Dallas as the championship game is played. He should be applauded for all he's done for the game.
Ohio State is banking on a one-time screw-up to win a national title. And he can do it. You can't make this stuff up.
It's been 30 months since the NCAA punished Penn State and, through Bill O'Brien and now James Franklin, Penn State is climbing out of Mark Emmert's reach.
There's no doubt that momentum is shifting away from the SEC, but to say the conference that dominated the BCS era is dead is laughable.
With a third-string quarterback leading the way, Ohio State reached the playoff title game by playing the type of football Urban Meyer brought to the SEC years ago.
Forget about statement games or motivation in bowl games. The biggest takeaway from TCU’s emasculation of Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl is this: the Horned Frogs might just be the team to beat in 2015.
Meyer said Wednesday morning that he expects Miller, Ohio State’s injured quarterback, to return to Columbus next fall and not transfer to another school. Because he graduated two weeks ago, Miller can transfer as a graduate student and play immediately in 2015.
As Alabama OL Ryan Kelly says, "America loves winners, until they win too much." That's the case with the semifinal matchup between Saban and Meyer on Thursday.
If Alabama struggled in the secondary against Auburn and Missouri, then the Buckeye receivers Devin Smith, Michael Thomas and Jalin Marshall could give Alabama fits.
He did it at Utah and Florida and now Urban Meyer's done it again: He's forced his biggest rival to make big changes and that's what Michigan did in hiring Harbaugh.
The All-American defensive lineman was all set to play for Nick Saban. Then Urban Meyer showed up.
SN looks at how the second season of the BCS could have ended had the playoff been in place and included FSU, Nebraska, Virginia Tech and Alabama.
After stumbling and stepping on feet in Oakland, Knoxville and LA, Lane Kiffin found himself working for college football's best coach. The arrangement has worked pretty well so far.
Uprooted by Hurricane Katrina, Collins comes home to prepare for the Sugar Bowl and a national title semifinal game.
With Jameis Winston cleared in the code of conduct hearing, the Seminoles are free of distraction for the first time since early last season.
So Michigan is throwing a lot of money at Jim Harbaugh. Big deal, the NFL can do that, too. His decision comes down to which game he prefers: the NFL or college?
It only took him three seasons, but Ohio State coach Urban Meyer has created an SEC-like team in the Big Ten and we get to see how it fares when the Buckeyes meet Alabama in the playoff semifinals.
A season after finishing 4-8 with a woeful offense, Gary Patterson changed philosophies and had one of the nation's best offenses and the Horned Frogs just missed making the first playoff.
The SN Player of the Year and Heisman-winning quarterback has the first College Football Playoff remaining to add to his lengthy list of accomplishments at Oregon.
In this week's First-and-10, Matt Hayes says the playoff committee hit it out of the park in Year 1. Also, he questions why would Les Miles consider leaving for Michigan when he has a future championship team at LSU.
Ohio State's prime-time blowout trumps Big 12 teams' resume. Good night, everyone.
The College Football Playoff committee has some work to do to figure out the four teams. Three picks are easy, but will they drop TCU and elevate the Buckeyes?
Alabama wins another SEC title, looks like the favorite to win a fourth national title in six seasons and, at some point, will Saban reach saturation or burnout?
Championship weekend began Friday. Check the biggest story lines before games begin.
If for no other reason, the Gators got the man they need to solve their sucking gap at quarterback.
Money spread evenly across the landscape now means schools can fend off national powers who come prowling for strong coaches.
Why is Florida State No. 4 this week? "Just because we think that's where they should be," the voters seem to be saying.
Next season there won't be room for J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller to play. They're both too good. That leaves Miller the likely choice of transferring and immediately playing at a school that can compete for a championship.
Winning is everything, and we have proof from Sunday's shakeup at Nebraska.
This season has been Nick Saban's best coaching job. He brought on Lane Kiffin as OC and matched him with QB-turned-RB-turned-QB Blake Sims. The result: An Iron Bowl win and playoff spot within reach.
The question for both schools after the Egg Bowl is whether or not they can keep their coaches.
It's clear: If Ohio State beats Michigan and wins the Big Ten championship, the Buckeyes will be one of the four playoff teams and there's nothing the Big 12 or Mississippi State can do about it.
Even though the committee's criteria seem to be changing late in the season, their results remain the same. Mississippi State
The ACC commissioner is already talking a bigger playoff? Matt Hayes discusses this, along with Hugh Freeze's future and the stretch run for six playoff-contending teams in this week's First-and-10.
Behind Marcus Mariota, the Ducks are playing well in all phases. That is why Matt Hayes places Oregon in the top spot this week.
With a win next week against surging Arkansas, Missouri reaches the SEC title game where it could spoil the party for the SEC West.
Bret Bielema's Maul Ball is taking shape and the Hogs are dominating opponents on both lines — a sign they are going to be a tough out in 2015.
After a second straight loss and back-to-back losses to Minnesota, Nebraska has a decision to make and should look at what Kill's done with the Gophers.
Comparing schedules becomes a fool's errand in determining College Football Playoff teams. Just look at the Bears' body of work compared to, say, Ohio State.
In this week's First-and-10, Matt Hayes discusses Bo Pelini's tenuous position, how Ohio State figures into the playoff race and why Arkansas just might be primed for a big 2015 season.
