The SEC will be its own worst enemy when no one—not even No. 1 Alabama—goes undefeated, writes Matt Hayes. Because of that, the conference's dominating seven-year BCS title streak will end.
Matt Hayes
This embarrassing Miami case proves that if you cheat, admit it to the NCAA—because the reward far outweighs the risk.
This long, drawn-out, embarrassing investigation of Miami athletics proves one thing: If you cheat, at least admit it when the NCAA asks, because the reward of rule-breaking will far outweigh the risk, writes SN's Matt Hayes.
Alabama and Florida State occupy the top spots in the season's first standings. They are the two best teams right now.
Alabama and Florida State occupy the top two spots in the season's first set of standings. SN's Matt Hayes' reaction? Sounds about right; the Crimson Tide and Seminoles are the two best teams in the nation right now.
Who can challenge No. 1 Alabama? FSU—which polished off the season's most-dominating performance in whipping Clemson.
Want a team that can stand toe to toe with top-ranked Alabama? SN's Mat Hayes says that team resides in Tallahassee, where Florida State looks like the big, bad team it was more than a decade ago after dismantling Clemson.
Art Briles brought a new attitude and has Baylor on top of the Big 12 three years after it was nearly stranded in realignment.
UCLA QB Brett Hundley can enter the Heisman mix and get his team in the BCS picture, and FSU can return to the top tier.
When Art Briles arrived at Baylor in 2008, the Bears' last winning season was 1995. Briles brought a new attitude and has the team on top of the Big 12 three years after it was nearly stranded in conference realignment.
Just when it looked like Johnny Manziel's offseason wild ride would send him spiraling on the field, he's better than ever.
Just when it looked like Johnny Manziel's offseason wild ride would send him spiraling on the field, he's even better than his Heisman winning season, writes Matt Hayes. Could LSU be the game he locks in Heisman No. 2?
Jim Mora's goal is to make the Bruins special. Here's his chance, with UCLA facing a desperate Stanford team.
Jim Mora's goal is to make UCLA "special." Here's his chance, with the Bruins facing a desperate Stanford team. In the ACC, the best of the class are set to prove themselves—and prove their conference is no pushover.
The Longhorns' coach isn't one to say "I told you so," but Texas' 36-20 Red River Rivalry win over Oklahoma did just that.
He's heard the talk and the rumors. Every week, Mack Brown's been coaching for his job they say. The Longhorns coach isn't one to say 'I told you so' but his team's win against rival Oklahoma did just that.
Reality checks, rivalries, statement games. How does Florida's Tyler Murphy react. Will Bob Stoops face a dilemma?
Oregon has dealt with drama before, but TE Colt Lyerla's departure is Mark Helfrich's first taste of it as head coach.
Distraction and drama: No. 2 Oregon has experienced this before. Tight end Colt Lyerla's departure is Mark Helfrich's first taste of it as coach. Don't expect the Ducks to skip a beat, Matt Hayes writes.
Only Jadeveon Clowney knows how injured he is, but scouts have cause for concern, and that could affect his draft status.
Only Jadeveon Clowney knows how hurt he is and when (or if) he will return to the field for South Carolina. But red flags are popping up and it could affect his NFL draft status, scouts tell SN's Matt Hayes.
With rival Oregon coming in this weekend, Washington is rising and gain confidence in an unusual way.
With rival Oregon coming in this weekend, Washington will present a challenge. SN's Matt Hayes says the Huskies are rising and gain confidence in an usual way. Plus: LSU-Florida, Texas-Oklahoma.
Carlos Hyde ran for 168 yards and 3 touchdowns, but he shouldn't have even been on the field after an offseason incident.
Carlos Hyde was a difference-maker Saturday night against Northwestern. He ran for 168 yards and three touchdowns, but he shouldn't have even been on the field after an offseason incident, writes Matt Hayes.
Maryland presents a tougher-than-expected test for the 'Noles; plus, intriguing games await Stanford and Ohio State.
Washington coach Steve Sarkisian is meeting the USC rumors head on. His Huskies are as good as anyone and if they beat Stanford this week and Oregon next, he'll have a national power, says SN's Matt Hayes.
Perfect timing for Southern Cal search; priming for a Texas coup of Mack Brown, and Florida State's great mistake eraser.
USC has a big decision ahead: finding its next coach with most of the season remaining. But AD Pat Haden shouldn't worry. This gives candidates time to reach out (and they will) and do their own legwork, Matt Hayes says.
Who will USC turn to as its next coach? Vanderbilt's James Franklin is a good choice, writes Matt Hayes, who points to two NFL coordinators and two Pac-12 coaches Trojans AD Pat Haden should consider.
Georgia's fun-filled win against LSU on Saturday was entertaining. But it shows a trend in the SEC: scoring points is all the rage. It's the new look of a league built on suffocating defense, writes Matt Hayes.
What's it like at SEC headquarters on Saturdays in the fall? It's a lot about officiating and social media, says SN's Matt Hayes, who spent last Saturday in Birmingham with SEC commissioner Mike Slive. Find out what went on.
Don't be fooled by what "All Players United" really stands for -- it's pay for play, writes Matt Hayes. In this week's First-and-10, he discusses that, Johnny Manziel's rating and Mack Brown's only hope.
The NCAA restores some of the lost scholarships to Penn State. Is a reduced bowl ban ahead with more progress? Either way, it points to one thing: Bill O'Brien is more likely to stay as the storm clears, writes Matt Hayes.
Considered a finesse league not too long ago, the Pac-12 has clearly established itself as the nation's No. 2 conference. With Oregon, Stanford, UCLA and Washington, the conference is closing in on the SEC.
With Jeff Driskel out for the season with a broken leg, Tyler Murphy steps in and looks like the lift the Gators needed. He's dynamic and exciting -- something the Gators haven't seen since Tim Tebow.
In 16 seasons at Texas, Mack Brown has won a lot of games and led the Longhorns to their first national title in nearly four decades. But it's all about today and things aren't going his way at the moment, writes Matt Hayes.
The best coaching hire this offseason? LSU's Cam Cameron as offensive coordinator. With a much-improved Zach Mettenberger, the Tigers look like a team ready to impact the BCS race, writes Matt Hayes in First-and-10.
Oregon sophomore QB Marcus Mariota looks better than ever in 2013. If you're not going to pay attention to the Ducks until the Stanford game, you're ignoring one of the two can't-miss players in the game, SN's Matt Hayes writes.
Alabama gave up big plays, missed tackles, fumbled near the goal line and had too many mental mistakes. Regardless, Nick Saban's process rolls on toward another BCS title, writes Matt Hayes.
In one corner, there's the king of college football Alabama with its fan base -- Updyke included -- and stash of BCS titles. In the other is Johnny Manziel and his larger-than-life self. Which one do you want to lose more?
Still waiting for an NCAA investigation resolution, Al Golden and his Hurricanes downplay what a win would do against Florida on Saturday. But SN's Matt Hayes is clear: A win has more impact that anything the NCAA can say or do.
Johnny Manziel returns to the field and that's how he behaves? Everyone who stuck their neck out for Manziel at Texas A&M is making a mockery of the Aggie Code of Honor, writes Matt Hayes.
With Joe Southwick at QB, Boise State has gone away from what it does best offensively, writes SN's Matt Hayes in this week's Pre-Snap Read. And as far as Georgia, Bulldogs can't forget about Todd Gurley.
Don't say Lane Kiffin wasn't ready to coach in the SEC. He was building something special at Tennessee before leaving for USC. The truth is this: Kiffin should have never left Knoxville for L.A., writes Matt Hayes.
If two teams from the four non-SEC power conferences can run the table while the SEC beats up on itself, the run of seven straight BCS titles could end, writes SN's Matt Hayes. Oregon, Ohio State, Stanford lead list of candidates.
The Pac-12 is stacked from top to bottom. Stanford and Oregon could win it all and a host of other schools help make the league one of the best in the nation, writes SN's Matt Hayes.
The SEC released its 2014 schedule this week and we discovered at least one thing: complaining works. Les Miles got his way. SN's Matt Hayes looks at the winners and losers around the SEC.
Bryn Renner is eager for his shot against Jadeveon Clowney and South Carolina and his Tar Heels get it next Thursday. Could UNC follow Clemson's lead vs. LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl and upset the Gamecocks?
Tommy Rees isn't the same player he was two years ago when he committed 19 turnovers. The forgotten player at Notre Dame is now the player the Irish need most after Everett Golson flunked out, writes SN's Matt Hayes.
Oregon's punishment for major recruiting violations amounted to a slap on the wrist. With such a precedent, Miami's sanctions should be no worse, says SN's Matt Hayes. Cover 4 hits that, Stanford recruiting and Mack Brown's future, too.
