Get used to it, people: There's no surefire CFP path
Expecting year-to-year consistency from the playoff committee is a fool's errand. As it picks the four best teams, it won't always reward conference titles or challenging schedules.
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W. Kentucky's Brohm takes Purdue coaching job
Jeff Brohm will take over as Purdue coach after winning two conference titles at Western Kentucky.
LSU RB Fournette to enter upcoming NFL draft
All-American running back Leonard Fournette plans to bypass his senior season at LSU and enter the upcoming NFL draft.
Vegas boosts Bama line after early betting flood
By the time the initial rush of money slowed, Alabama had become a 14.5-point favorite at Las Vegas sportsbook operator CG Technology for its CFP semifinal against Washington.
Bowl teams up grad rates; racial gap remains
The four teams in the College Football Playoff all graduated at least 74 percent of their players in 2016, according to The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports.
New Year's 6: CFP also-ran Penn State gets USC
The other New Year's Six matchups: Michigan-Florida State in the Orange Bowl, USC-Penn State in the Rose Bowl, Auburn-Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl, Western Michigan-Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl.
Franklin: PSU 'excited' for bowl despite CFP snub
Despite being left out of the College Football Playoff picture on Sunday, coach James Franklin says his No. 5 Nittany Lions are "humbled and honored" by the opportunity to play in the Rose Bowl.
How Alabama thrived in the face of massive expectations
Despite major NFL defections, the hype in Tuscaloosa was off the charts in 2016. At every turn, the Crimson Tide rose to the occasion, sealing a perfect regular season with an SEC title.
This bowl season, the biggest game is also the most entertaining
The CFP semifinal matchups feature the best game (Ohio State vs. Clemson) and the best coaching matchup (Nick Saban vs. Chris Petersen). Here's what else you should watch for this bowl season.
Bama courts history amid unusual playoff landscape
The Big Ten race made for a very different CFP debate, but the focus belongs on the Tide and their chance to be compared to the sport's greatest teams.
We rate Alabama the strongest team in college football history
The Crimson Tide became the greatest college team of the past 80 years, according to FiveThirtyEight's Elo power rating.
Another racial divide among bowl teams
How do we fix the persistent gap in graduation rates between African-American and white student-athletes?
41 bowl games, 42 predictions
From the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl to the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl, we pick the winners of the 41 bowl games. We even toss in a bonus pick for the CFP National Championship.
Healthy for this CFP, J.T. Barrett's big moment has arrived
Quarterback J.T. Barrett had to watch from the sideline when Ohio State won the 2014 national title. Now he gets a chance to win one on the field.
Purdue hits the jackpot by hiring Jeff Brohm as head coach
Purdue used to be a Big Ten force and fun to watch. Really. The Jeff Brohm hire brings hope of an offensive revival and a return to relevance.
Watson knew Clemson had to put in extra work this season (1:21)
Vote: Which teams deserved spots in the CFP?
The final four is set. Did the committee get it right?
Reaction to the CFP top 4
Reaction to the CFP top 4
Meyer sympathizes with Penn State
Meyer sympathizes with Penn State
Reaction to the CFP top 4
Franklin weighs in on Penn State's nonconference schedule
Franklin weighs in on Penn State's nonconference schedule
Reaction to the CFP top 4
CFP Top 4 picks revealed
CFP Top 4 picks revealed
Reaction to the CFP top 4
P.J. Fleck honored to be in Cotton Bowl
P.J. Fleck honored to be in Cotton Bowl
Reaction to the CFP top 4
Barrett looks forward to playing 'great friend' Watson
Barrett looks forward to playing 'great friend' Watson
Reaction to the CFP top 4
Kanell still has questions about Ohio State
Kanell still has questions about Ohio State
Reaction to the CFP top 4
Did Penn State's schedule hinder its CFP chances?
Did Penn State's schedule hinder its CFP chances?
Reaction to the CFP top 4
Finebaum gives committee credit for top four
Finebaum gives committee credit for top four
Reaction to the CFP top 4
Petersen happy to see Washington get rewarded
Petersen happy to see Washington get rewarded
Reaction to the CFP top 4
Decision for No. 4 was difficult
Decision for No. 4 was difficult
Big Ten can validate dominant regular season in challenging bowl lineup
The Big Ten enjoyed its status as the best conference in the country in 2016. Bowl season offers the chance to keep that title going into 2017.
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Championship Drive
Harbaugh not backing up on criticism of officials
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh spoke for the first time on Sunday about his criticism of officials after the loss against Ohio State that cost him a $10,000 fine and a reprimand from the NCAA.
Champ. Drive: Breaking Down The Final CFP Rankings
Ivan Maisel, Adam Rittenberg and Ryan McGee discuss the final College Football Playoff rankings, debate whether the committee got it right and break down some of the matchups.
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College Football Playoff semifinals
Can Washington dethrone Alabama? (1:08)
Key moments for semifinalists Clemson, OSU (1:24)
A stats-based guide to the College Football Playoff
The College Football Playoff field is set. Can anyone beat Alabama? Here is a look at every team's chance to win the playoff.
Alabama's defense has an insatiable appetite for destruction
"Straight predators" is how LB Tim Williams described his Alabama defense. The Tide are relentless and overpowering -- and they're nowhere near done.
Alabama's real season starts now after rout of Florida
Alabama made short work of Florida in the SEC title game just like it made short work of the rest of the conference this season. But it gets real now.
Despite drama, Clemson likely where it wants to be
Clemson nearly blew a three-touchdown lead against Virginia Tech, but the Tigers held on to presumably punch their College Football Playoff ticket.
Booger says Bama's worst nightmare is Clemson (1:23)
Bama, Clemson, OSU, Washington picked for CFP
In the end, the top four teams entering the conference championship games -- Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Washington -- were selected for the College Football Playoff.
Muschamp: Clemson 'obviously' used racial slur
South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said he believes his players who claim that a racial slur was used on the field at Clemson during last week's rivalry game.
Kiffin: Will stay at Bama at least through playoff
After Alabama cruised over Florida for the SEC title on Saturday, Lane Kiffin addressed his future by saying he would like to stay as the Crimson Tide offensive coordinator through the playoff.
Tide's Hamilton injures knee, season likely over
Alabama linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton injured his right knee in Saturday's 54-16 win over Florida, and coach Nick Saban said he is "probably out for the year."
Top five plays of the college football season (2:07)
Meyer's big day includes CFP bid, first grandchild
With Ohio State's playoff hopes in the air and his oldest daughter making him a grandfather for the first time, Urban Meyer watched Sunday's CFP announcement from the maternity ward.
Cincinnati's Tuberville resigns after 4 seasons
Amid speculation he could be fired, Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville, who went 29-22 over four seasons with the Bearcats, stepped down on Sunday.
LA Tech's Trent Taylor makes a great one-handed catch (0:28)
Report: Wilson investigated twice for IU conduct
IU conducted two investigations into former football coach Kevin Wilson -- one in 2015 and another just weeks before the sides parted ways Thursday -- over his mistreatment of injured players.
Dungy backs USF's Taggart for vacant Oregon job
Ex-NFL coach and Tampa resident Tony Dungy told Oregon officials that USF coach Willie Taggart would be a "good fit" in Eugene. Boise State's Bryan Harsin is also in the mix for the vacant job.
Houston not considering Briles for coaching job
Former Baylor coach Art Briles is not a candidate for the vacant head-coaching position at Houston, the school announced in a statement Saturday.
Temple upsets Navy to take AAC title (1:21)
West Virginia's Holgorsen gets 5-year extension
West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen has agreed to a five-year extension that will keep him at the school through 2021, the school announced Saturday.
Perine clinches Big 12 champ. in unique fashion
After coming back from injury, OU's Samaje Perine decided to kneel at the Oklahoma State 2-yard line on the final play of the game instead of scoring what would've been an easy touchdown.
College football's top 50 players: A new No. 1 flies past Lamar Jackson
The 2016 season has mostly belonged to Louisville's Lamar Jackson. But in our poll of ESPN experts, a new No. 1 player has edged past the Cardinals' Heisman favorite: Oklahoma's Dede Westbrook.
At season's end, Jackson's Heisman stock is trending downward
Lamar Jackson is still on top of the Heisman Watch, but voters are no longer in complete agreement he will win it.
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College football
Now
David Lombardi ESPN Staff Writer
Washington will reunite with former head coach Steve Sarkisian, now an Alabama assistant, in the CFP. Sarkisian recruited several of the Huskies' key players. His last UW recruiting class signed John Ross, Keishawn Bierria, Kevin King, Elijah Qualls, and others in 2013.
David Lombardi ESPN Staff Writer
Washington has won 15 of 16 games since blowing a 17-0 lead at ASU last November. Many Husky players tell me that that loss provided the final fuel necessary to motivate Washington and push it into the realm of the elite -- and now the College Football Playoff.
ESPN CollegeFootball @ESPNCFB
LSU running back Leonard Fournette plans to bypass his senior season and enter the upcoming NFL draft.… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…
David Ching ESPN Staff Writer
Filed to desk: LSU's Leonard Fournette will enter the 2017 NFL draft, but plans to play in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31. Fournette is the nation's No. 1 overall prospect according to ESPN's Todd McShay and No. 2 according to Mel Kiper Jr.
FiveThirtyEight @FiveThirtyEight
Sorry, Penn State, the four best teams got into the College Football Playoff fivethirtyeight.com/features/sorry… pic.twitter.com/goJfUMJGzc
Brian Windhorst @WindhorstESPN
Happy 50th birthday day to Jerome Lane (one day late), one of St. Vincent-St. Mary's finest pic.twitter.com/MWR97Zpykf
ESPN CollegeFootball @ESPNCFB
Purdue nabs Western Kentucky's Jeff Brohm to become new head coach of the Boilermakers. es.pn/2gcrRfB pic.twitter.com/SM6c2Arq7e
Brian Bennett ESPN Staff Writer
Jeff Brohm's passer-friendly offense will have a good building block at Purdue in rising junior David Blough. He led the Big Ten this season with 3,352 passing yards and 25 touchdowns, though he also threw a whopping 21 interceptions. Brohm is an outstanding developer of quarterback talent, and Blough has all the tools to succeed under his tutelage.
Adam Rittenberg ESPN Staff Writer
I've heard Troy coach Neal Brown would have interest in the Western Kentucky job. Brown was Kentucky's offensive coordinator in 2014 and 2014. Idaho coach Paul Petrino should get a look, along with Western Kentucky co-offensive coordinator Tony Levine, the former coach at Houston.
David Payne Purdum @DavidPurdum
"If [Lamar Jackson] wins, it's gong to be like losing a fairly decent NFL game." $50K Heisman ticket pending. es.pn/2gI71W2
Ben Fawkes ESPN Staff Writer
For those wondering: Westgate would've made Washington a 4.5-pt favorite over Penn State on a neutral field.
ESPN Chalk @ESPN_Chalk
"[After] the initial rush of money slowed, the Crimson Tide were 14.5-pt favorites." @DavidPurdum on CFB Playoff: espn.com/chalk/story/_/…
ESPN CollegeFootball @ESPNCFB
There are 41 college football bowl games. Here are 42 predictions: es.pn/2gUoicz pic.twitter.com/B4Ft19aXvF
espnW @espnW
"They played as hard as they can." Urban Meyer sympathizes with @PennStateFball being left out of CFB Playoff. es.pn/2gUcLtu
Darren Rovell ESPN Senior Writer
There are currently 1,473 upper level seats to the Fiesta Bowl (Ohio State-Clemson) selling for below face value.
David Lombardi ESPN Staff Writer
FPI chances to win national title: Alabama 42%, Ohio State 26%, Clemson 19%, Washington 13%
David Lombardi ESPN Staff Writer
Alabama has scored 14 non-offensive TDs this year; Washington one of only 11 teams to not allow a non-offensive TD. (ESPN Stats & Info)
David Lombardi ESPN Staff Writer
Alabama opened as a 14-point favorite over Washington, which would be the biggest spread in the 3-year history of the playoff, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
ESPN CollegeFootball @ESPNCFB
Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville, who went 29-22 over four seasons with the Bearcats, stepped down on Sunday. es.pn/2h3JJaq
David Lombardi ESPN Staff Writer
UNC coach Larry Fedora on Stanford: "Being on this side of the country, we don't get to stay up late enough to watch their games. My wife doesn't let me."
Jared Shanker ESPN Staff Writer
Christian McCaffery quietly rushed for 1,603 yards and led the country with 211 all-purpose yards per game, but he didn't have the same spotlight after Stanford struggled early and he battled injuries. He could jog viewers' memories in the bowl against North Carolina, which is 113th in rush yards per game.
David Lombardi ESPN Staff Writer
Stanford's current run of 8 straight bowl games started at the Sun Bowl in 2009 -- Andrew Luck's first season as QB. David Shaw was Stanford's offensive coordinator then, and his starting QB in that game -- Tavita Pritchard -- is not QB coach.