UNDATED (AP) — The Atlantic Coast Conference is making progress toward an expansion that could grab Stanford and California from the sinking Pac-12, a person with direct knowledge of the ACC’s potential move told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the conference was not making its internal discussions public. Two weeks ago, the ACC gathered its full board of university leaders to consider adding Stanford, Cal and possibly SMU, the Dallas-based American Athletic Conference school. They never took an official vote, but Commissioner Jim Phillips and a small group of conference leaders has continued to work on sticking points.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former Southern California running back Reggie Bush plans to file a defamation lawsuit against the NCAA over a statement made by college sports’ governing body about the circumstances of its decision not to restore the Heisman Trophy winner’s records. Bush objects to a statement issued in July 2021 calling the star’s playing career at USC a “pay-for-play” arrangement. That standard was cited as the reason the NCAA wouldn’t restore Bush’s records, a decision that resulted in Bush returning his Heisman Trophy.
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Jaden Rashada was criticized for decommitting from Miami. Same thing when he left Florida after an NIL deal fell through. He eventually arrived at Arizona State and found himself No. 3 in the pecking order as he tried to figure out the Sun Devils’ system and how to play quarterback at the college level. He has since earned the job as Arizona State’s starting quarterback.
UNDATED (AP) — Welcome to the final season of college football as we know it. That might sound extreme, but 2023 has an end-of-an-era feel. Texas and Oklahoma are taking their last lap in the Big 12. The Pac-12 is still a Power Five conference. Will it even be a conference in 2024? The College Football Playoff is a four-team event for the last time this year, before tripling in size. Before the maps are redrawn and the stakes are remade, there is one more season to left to appreciate what is being lost — or long for what’s being gained.
UNDATED (AP) — The Pac-12 appears to be a true football power this season with five ranked teams, topped by No. 6 Southern California. The conference also has perhaps the nation’s best collection of quarterbacks, headlined by the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. It may tun out to be a climactic final act. With eight teams headed out the door next year, the lights could go out for good on Pac-12 After Dark following the 2023 season. The conference will be strong at the top with the Trojans, No. 10 Washington, No. 14 Utah, No. 15 Oregon and No. 18 Oregon State.
UNDATED (AP) — Just like last year, college football has a returning Heisman Trophy winner. This time USC quarterback Caleb Williams is trying to join the sport’s most exclusive club. Ohio State running back Archie Griffin stands alone, winning the Heisman in 1974 and ’75. Williams will have to be even better this year to join Griffin. He faces stiff competition from an Ohio State receiver and a couple of other West Coast quarterbacks.
UNDATED (AP) — During the final season of the College Football Playoff’s four-team format, the empires will strike back. Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Oklahoma dominated CFP appearances and their conferences for seven years, but combined to earn two playoff bids the past two seasons while Georgia and Michigan have been on the rise. To predict a national title for anyone other than the two-time defending champion Bulldogs feels like just trying to be different. Then again, no team has ever won three straight. And Alabama has never gone more than three seasons without a title under Nick Saban.
UNDATED (AP) — Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams of USC, Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michigan running back Blake Corum are among the returning first-team All-Americans who were selected to The Associated Press preseason All-America team. Notre Dame offensive tackle and Miami safety Kam Kinchens also followed up their All-America 2022 seasons by being named preseason All-Americans by AP Top 25 voters. Two-time defending national champion and No. 1 Georgia has the most players on the first team with four, including tight end Brock Bowers. Ohio State is next with three.
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