A day after the conclusion of the NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend, all eyes shifted to the College Football Playoff National Championship between No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Ohio State. Led by an all-star cast of wide receiver DeVonta Smith, running back Najee Harris and quarterback Mac Jones, the Crimson Tide rolled to a 52-24 win over the Buckeyes […]

Senior college football writer Author of seven books on college football Graduate of the University of Georgia Even in a 2020 college football season that featured more starts and stops than Los Angeles traffic, there were a handful of near certainties, such as Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State reaching the College Football Playoff. Even a pandemic couldn’t balance power in […]

It was quite the night for Alabama WR DeVonta Smith, who caught three touchdowns in the first half of the College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T against Ohio State. The Heisman Trophy winner’s first-half stats Monday say it all — 12 receptions for 215 yards and three touchdowns. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Smith had more […]

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Bars in Tuscaloosa had lines of people packed together Monday hours before kickoff of the College Football Playoff championship, which features Alabama and Ohio State.  Face masks were scarce as well, although the Alabama state health officer renewed an order Dec. 9 that people "shall wear a mask" unless seated at a restaurant, eating or drinking. That same order limited groups to […]

Covered Packers for Green Bay Press-Gazette from 1997-2013 Two-time Wisconsin Sportswriter of the Year as selected by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association GREEN BAY, Wis. — Jared Veldheer saved the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs last year, and he could do it again this year — and would make NFL history in the process. The veteran offensive tackle […]

"Black Monday" had become known as the day on the NFL calendar when the turk came calling for head coaches who'd just concluded dismal regular seasons. In recent years, the terminal ax has been falling hours and even weeks earlier – basically once a move becomes inevitable. But in the case of the Eagles' Doug Pederson, "Black Monday" came a […]

Many viewers did not like ESPN’s color choice for the network’s broadcast of Friday night’s College Football Playoff games. ESPN introduced a new score bug for the special occasion, featuring a new design for the score, down marker and more. While the overall presentation was fine, viewers had a complaint with one item in particular: the down-and-distance graphic. The graphic […]

The Philadelphia Eagles have fired coach Doug Pederson less than three years after he led them to the franchise’s only Super Bowl title. Pederson led the Eagles to two division titles and three playoff appearances before going 4-11-1 in 2020. His overall record with the franchise, whom he joined in 2016, was 42-37-1 over five seasons. After winning a Super […]

Not all jobs are created equal. As of Black Monday, the number of open head-coaching jobs across the NFL sat at six: the Jaguars, Jets, Lions, Texans, Falcons and Chargers will all be looking for new bosses come the 2021 season. The Eagles opened up their head coaching job a little bit later, firing Doug Pederson two weeks after Black […]

A national championship coach, a former Heisman Trophy winner and an FCS legend are among the latest selections to the College Football Hall of Fame.   The National Football Foundation announced its 2021 class on Monday. Former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, USC quarterback Carson Palmer and Eastern Illinois quarterback Tony Romo are among the selections.   Stoops had a 190-48 record with the Sooners from 1998 to 2016. […]