LINCOLN RILEY

Alabama coach Nick Saban is concerned about the current state of college football.

Nick Saban's willingness to adapt and often be a catalyst for change in college football, both on the field and off, has propelled Alabama to six national championships in 13 seasons. The 70-year-old coach is confident his program will continue to thrive during this new era of college athletics, with players having more opportunities to earn money than ever before and more power to determine where they play. “I don’t think what we’re doing right now is a sustainable model,” Saban told The Associated Press in a recent interview.

If Alex Grinch’s Oklahoma defense had been able to make a few more stops, he might not be the new coordinator at Southern California under ex-Sooners coach Lincoln Riley. The irony of the situation isn’t lost on Grinch, who went from lamenting a rivalry loss he is “still not over” to expressing his delight at teaming up with Riley once again.

Lincoln Riley says he didn't — and couldn't — talk to Caleb Williams between the day the coach left Oklahoma and the day his once-and-future star quarterback entered the transfer portal five weeks later. “There's a long period of time where there's zero communication,” Riley said Wednesday while announcing his February signing period class.

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher is angry about rumors that booster-funded NIL deals are fueling the Aggies’ recruiting success.

Caleb Williams is transferring to Southern California, following his former coach Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma to the Trojans.

Alamo Bowl Football Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams runs against Oregon during the first half of the Alamo Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in San Antonio. Riley left Oklahoma to become coach at Southern California the day after the Sooners ended their regular season with a loss to Oklahoma State. Williams led the Sooners to a victory last week against Oregon in the Alamo Bowl. Venables and Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione released a statement saying they would "continue to be engaged" with Williams. ___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25Copyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams says he is entering his name in the transfer portal so he can speak with other schools.

Kennedy Brooks ran for 142 yards and three touchdowns as No. 14 Oklahoma rode a dominant first half to beat No. 15 Oregon 47-32 in the Alamo Bowl.

Oklahoma Baylor Football Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler looks to throw down field against Baylor during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Waco, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Ray Carlin) (Ray Carlin)COLUMBIA, S.C. — (AP) — Highly touted quarterback Spencer Rattler will try to restart his college career with South Carolina in a major acquisition for Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer. The post showed Rattler in a South Carolina uniform with the Gamecocks' logo in the background with the words, "COMMITTED." South Carolina went 6-6 this year, its first season under Beamer, who spent three years at Oklahoma under former coach Lincoln Riley as assistant head coach for offense. One of Rattler's targets at Oklahoma, tight end Austin Stogner, also tweeted he was heading to South Carolina.

Highly touted quarterback Spencer Rattler will try to restart his college career with South Carolina in a major acquisition for Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer.

Brent Venables agreed to a six-year contract with OU, with an average annual value of $6.65 million.

With Lincoln Riley coming in to coach USC, some players are announcing their intentions to enter the transfer portal or declare for the NFL draft.

NORMAN, Okla. — (AP) — Brent Venables already has received two Oklahoma welcomes fit for a king. A day later, Oklahoma introduced Venables to a throng of energized fans at the Sooners’ indoor practice facility. Just because you become the head coach doesn’t mean you can’t keep things simple. I’m passionate about winning the right way, never compromising those values.”Venables said he had considered becoming a head coach before, most seriously last year. I haven’t been a coach that’s just jumped all over.”Venables said when he left Oklahoma 10 years ago, he never expected to return as head coach.

Oklahoma has introduced Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables as its head coach.

Oklahoma Venables Football FILE -Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables, center, speaks to his players during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh in Clemson, S.C., Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that Oklahoma is targeting Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables to be its new head coach. The 50-year-old Venables was on Oklahoma's staff under Bob Stoops as co-defensive coordinator from 1999 to 2003 and defensive coordinator from 2004 to 2011. “The OU logo has never been stronger.”Under Venables, Clemson led the nation in scoring defense in 2018, and his 2020 unit tied for the lead in sacks. “We couldn’t be more excited for Brent to return to OU as our head coach.”___AP College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo contributed to this report.

Oklahoma hires Clemson's Brent Venables as head coach, reports say Defensive coordinator Brent Venables of the Clemson Tigers speaks to the media during the College Football Playoff National Championship Media Day on January 7, 2017, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. >> Read more trending newsJUST IN — Clemson DC Brent Venables to be named the new head coach at Oklahoma, a source tells @BruceFeldmanCFB. Venables coached at Oklahoma for 13 years as an assistant from 1999 to 2011, including the 2000 national championship. He will replace former Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley, who was recently hired by the USC Trojans, according to KOKI-TV. Although Oklahoma has not confirmed it has hired Venables, Sooners athletic director Joe Castiglione tweeted a padlock emoji Sunday following a visit to Venables’ home, KOKI reported.

(AP Photo/Sean Rayford) (Sean Rayford)A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that Oklahoma is targeting Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables to be its new head coach. Venables was on Oklahoma's staff under Bob Stoops as co-defensive coordinator from 1999 to 2003 and defensive coordinator from 2004 to 2011. He left Oklahoma for Clemson in 2012 and won the Broyles Award in 2016 as the nation's top assistant coach. Venables' Clemson defense led the nation in scoring defense in 2018, and his 2020 unit tied for the nation's lead in sacks. Many had hoped the Sooners could lure him back from Clemson as defensive coordinator after the Sooners fired defensive coordinator Mike Stoops in 2018.

Oklahoma has hired Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables as its head coach to replace Lincoln Riley.

Trey Paster scored on a 55-yard fumble return in the second quarter, California’s defense made a clutch stop near the goal line, and the Golden Bears held off Southern California 24-14 in the season finale for both teams. Christopher Brooks added a pair of short scoring runs on a day when Cal’s offense struggled reaching the end zone to help the Golden Bears (5-7, 4-5 Pac-12) to their first home win against the Trojans since 2003. “It means a lot to end the season with a victory,” said Cal quarterback Chase Garbers, who was 18 of 21 for 177 yards.

Dick Vitale thinks Alabama football coach Nick Saban would be 'a steal' at $500 million in comparisons to other coaches new deals.

Gary Patterson going to Texas as an assistant in any capacity is a win-win for both parties

New Southern California coach Lincoln Riley watched the Trojans practice Tuesday, getting a look at his next team following his surprise departure from Oklahoma.

LSU and newly hired coach Brian Kelly have agreed to a 10-year contract worth $95 million plus incentives.

LSU football pulling Brian Kelly out of Notre Dame one-upped USC's hiring of Lincoln Riley in a manner that should be shocking for college football.

LSU is hiring Brian Kelly away from Notre Dame.

LSU is hiring Brian Kelly away from Notre Dame, a stunning move by one of the most accomplished coaches in college football jumping from the sport's most storied program to an Southeastern Conference powerhouse. A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Monday night that Kelly was leaving Notre Dame for LSU. It was the second bombshell in college football in as many days, coming a little more than 24 hours after Southern California lured Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma.

Lincoln Riley arrived at Southern California on Monday with a determination to restore the Trojans to their former place atop the college football world.

Bob Stoops spoke Monday, a day after being called off the golf course to take over as interim coach after Lincoln Riley left to take over at USC.

Former Pinnacle quarterback Spencer Rattler announces he has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Taking a look at five candidates to replace Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley.

Southern California has hired Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley to be its next coach in a stunning and rare move of one traditional college football powerhouse swiping the another’s highly accomplished head coach.

USC is expected to announce the hire of Lincoln Riley as the Trojans' new head coach, luring him away from Oklahoma after a three-month search.

Gerry Bohanon threw a touchdown and ran for two more scores as 18th-ranked Baylor won 27-14 to end fourth-ranked Oklahoma's FBS-best 17-game winning streak.

Texas Tech Oklahoma Football Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams (13) passes during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas Tech, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Norman, Okla. Oklahoma won 52-21. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams) (Alonzo Adams)Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley made a quarterback switch that put a Heisman Trophy hopeful on the bench and a freshman at the helm of a top-10 team. On the latest AP Top 25 Podcast, Riley joins the AP's Ralph Russo to discuss making the move from Spencer Rattler to Caleb Williams. And is there room to be delicate with the handling of players in college football? ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25Copyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley made a quarterback switch that put a Heisman Trophy hopeful on the bench and a freshman at the helm of a top-10 team.

Caleb Williams threw for 402 yards and six touchdowns and No. 4 Oklahoma finally put together a complete game, rolling past Texas Tech 52-21 on Saturday.

Caleb Williams threw two touchdown pass, ran 40-yards for a score on a pivotal fourth down and No. 3 Oklahoma rallied to beat Kansas 35-23 and avoid an enormous upset.

Caleb Williams had a big starting debut for No. 4 Oklahoma, throwing for 295 yards and four touchdowns and running for another score in the Sooners’ 52-31 victory over TCU on Saturday night.

APTOPIX Oklahoma Texas Football Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams (13) puts on the Golden Hat after coming off the bench to lead Oklahoma to a 54-48 win over Texas in an NCAA college football game at the Cotton Bowl, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Dallas. The Oklahoma quarterback had everything going for himself two months ago. Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley wouldn’t say how he will play his quarterbacks heading into the fourth-ranked Sooners’ game against TCU (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) on Saturday. TCU coach Gary Patterson said he doesn’t see Oklahoma changing much with Williams, but he will review past examples of Oklahoma using the quarterback run game to prepare. “Some really, really good things and some really, really bad things.

Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler was a preseason Associated Press first-team All-American.

Oklahoma Texas Football Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley talks to quarterback Spencer Rattler before sending Rattler in for a two-point conversion during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas at the Cotton Bowl, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter) (Jeffrey McWhorter)Last year, Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler’s benching against Texas was temporary. Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley went to true freshman Caleb Williams, who rallied the sixth-ranked Sooners to a 55-48 win over the 21st-ranked Longhorns. Rattler returned for one play — a 2-point conversion pass that he completed to Drake Stoops in the fourth quarter. Marvin Mims, who caught five passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns for Oklahoma, said Rattler handled the situation well.

Last year, Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler’s benching against Texas was temporary.

Kennedy Brooks ran for 217 yards and two go-ahead touchdowns in the fourth quarter as sixth-ranked Oklahoma beat No. 21 Texas 55-48.

Alabama looked beatable.

Big 12 coaches feel the league is solidified for the long haul after the conference's swift action to expand.

Spencer Rattler passed for 304 yards and a touchdown and No. 2 Oklahoma, playing a road game on its home field, narrowly avoided a shocking upset by holding on for a 40-35 victory over Tulane on Saturday.

Texas and Oklahoma will move to the SEC no later than July 2025. Players, coaches, fans and administrators of the eight other Big 12 schools face uncertainty with the eventual loss of Texas and Oklahoma. “This is a great school, a great program, a great team, so it definitely fits in that league. This team is a SEC team. The coaching staffs at Oklahoma and Texas can’t think about the SEC — yet.

Steve Sarkisian has yet to make his debut in the Big 12, but the new Texas coach was asked on Thursday to ponder life in his next league, the Southeastern Conference.

Big 12 Media Days Football Oklahoma head football coach Lincoln Riley speaks from the stage with mannequins in the back ground during NCAA college football Big 12 media days Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero)Oklahoma and Texas took the first formal step toward moving to the Southeastern Conference, notifying the Big 12 that they would not be renewing an agreement than binds the league’s members through 2025. Revenue from the Big 12's TV deals make up the bulk of the $34.5 million the league distributed to its members this year. Texas and Oklahoma have been in discussions with the SEC about joining the league, though neither school nor the powerhouse conference has acknowledged that publicly. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Oklahoma and Texas took the first formal step toward moving to the Southeastern Conference.

College coaches are trying to get a handle on the recruiting impact of athletes' ability to profit off their fame.

Players who don’t get vaccinated likely face multiple COVID-19 tests weekly, just like last season. “But, you know, the reality of the matter is we’re football coaches and we’re football players,” Riley said. “What it’s really about is being able to save our season, being able to keep our players safe,” he said. He said the Hurricanes, who open Sept. 4 against Alabama, will be above 85% vaccinated once some players get their second shot. “Whatever opinions we have are fine and dandy, but if you want to have a football team with as least disruption as possible, here’s a way to do it," Diaz said.

College football coaches around the country are spending much of the offseason urging their players to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Big 12 Media Days Football Oklahoma head football coach Lincoln Riley speaks from the stage during NCAA college football Big 12 media days Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero)Oklahoma has won six straight Big 12 championships and the Sooners enter the 2021 season with the most well-rounded team coach Lincoln Riley has had. On the latest AP Top 25 College Football Podcast, Max Olson of The Athletic joins AP's Ralph Russo to preview the Big 12. Iowa State is considered the top contender to dethrone Oklahoma, but can the upstart Cyclones find another level of performance under coach Matt Campbell? ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at https://APpodcasts.com___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25Copyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Oklahoma has won six straight Big 12 championships and the Sooners enter the 2021 season with the most well-rounded team coach Lincoln Riley has had.

Big 12 coaches say they like the proposal to expand the College Football Playoff to 12 teams.

(AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) (John Bazemore)A new College Football Playoff with triple the number of teams involved could bring in three times as much money to the conferences and schools that share the wealth. The Chicago-based company said ticket sales and sponsorship deals that currently account for about 15% of College Football Playoff revenue could push the total takeaway to more than $2 billion per year. The proposed expansion creates 11 playoff games per season. Before last season, the six previous College Football Playoff championship games averaged nearly 28 million viewers for ESPN. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at https://APpodcasts.com___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25Copyright 2021 The Associated Press.

A new College Football Playoff with triple the number of teams involved could bring in three times as much money to the conferences and schools that share the wealth.

Trejan Bridges and Seth McGowan are no members of Oklahoma's football team after their names surfaced in an alleged armed robbery investigation.

8 Oklahoma beat 10th-ranked SEC runner-up Florida 55-20 on Wednesday night in the Cotton Bowl. Back in the same NFL stadium where 11 days earlier they won their sixth consecutive Big 12 title, the Sooners (9-2, No. The 55 points were their most ever in a bowl game, while piling up a Cotton Bowl-record 684 total yards. 1 Alabama in the SEC title game, and had averaged nearly 42 points a game. Oklahoma: With Rattler and Mims among the young standouts coming back, the Sooners could again be favored to win another Big 12 title.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Oklahoma is going right back to the stadium where the Sooners just won their sixth Big 12 championship in a row to play SEC runner-up Florida in the Cotton Bowl. During a Gators team meeting on Zoom to discuss their bowl destination, one of the first questions players asked Mullen was where the Cotton Bowl was played. Oklahoma is in the Cotton Bowl for only the third time, its first since a 41-13 loss to Texas A&M on Jan. 4, 2013. The Cotton Bowl will be played two days before Alabama faces No. Pitts announced is turning pro and won't play in the Cotton Bowl.

12 Sooners won their sixth consecutive Big 12 championship. The Sooners got a bit of revenge Saturday when winning another Big 12 title game, with Spencer Rattler throwing a 45-yard touchdown to fellow freshman Marvin Mims and running for another score in a 27-21 victory over the No. Oklahoma still has its 14th Big 12 title overall in the league's 25-season history, and the 50th conference championship in school history. Iowa State played in a conference championship game for the first time in school history, though fifth-year coach Matt Campbell was incensed at times. Clemson also won its sixth conference championship in a row, with a 34-10 win over Notre Dame in the ACC title game later Saturday..

Rattler threw two touchdown passes, and the 13th-ranked Sooners defeated Baylor 27-14 on Saturday night to earn a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game. “It’s a really good accomplishment coming back from what this team has the entire year,” Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said. With the coaching staff short-handed, former Sooners coach Bob Stoops was permitted to help with practice as OU prepared for Baylor. Brewer scored a short rushing touchdown with 59 seconds remaining to close out the scoring. UP NEXTBaylor hosts Oklahoma State on Saturday.

The Oklahoma freshman threw a 25-yard scoring pass to Drake Stoops in the fourth overtime and the Sooners survived a late rally from No. It was just the second four-OT game in 25 seasons of the Big 12, joining Kansas State's 53-50 victory over Texas A&M in 2011. The Longhorns (2-2, 1-2) also left themselves little hope of playing for a Big 12 title, much less being part of the College Football Playoff conversation. “I was kind of surprised when I came out at first,” said Rattler, who was tied for the Big 12 lead with four interceptions coming in. POLL IMPLICATIONSConsecutive Big 12 losses, the first for Oklahoma since 1998, sent the Sooners tumbling from No.

NORMAN, Okla. – A Kansas State squad that lost its opener to Arkansas State two weeks ago, had its roster depleted by COVID-19, and entered Saturday's game against No. Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said he didn't know until Friday if he'd have enough players available at all position groups to play the game. Kansas State upset Oklahoma 48-41 in Manhattan, Kansas, last year, making the loss especially disappointing for the Sooners. Oklahoma outgained the Wildcats 517 yards to 400 but had four turnovers to none for Kansas State. STAT LINESIn the fourth quarter, Kansas State outscored Oklahoma 17-0.

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019 file photo, Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley talks with players during an NCAA college football game between Iowa State and Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. As usual, Riley is taking his time naming a starting quarterback. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

The Sooners are still considered the overwhelming favorite to win their sixth consecutive Big 12 crown overall because nobody has dethroned them with Riley there. Purdy last year set school records with 3,982 yards and 27 TDs passing, leading the Big 12 with 306.3 yards per game. Conference play begins Sept. 26, the start of an 11-week stretch for nine league games before the Big 12 title game Dec. 12 or Dec. 19, if an extra week is needed. Since this is only TCU's ninth season in the league, Patterson technically isn't the longest-tenured Big 12 coach. Former Oklahoma State quarterback Mike Gundy is in his 16th season as head coach for his alma mater.

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)NORMAN, Okla. College athletes across the country added their voices to those calling for an end to racial injustice riday with football players and others marching on campus or stepping away from practices to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. The problems out there are real, said Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley, who led the march and spoke at the event. This shouldnt be a troubling time for college-age persons.Members of the Baylor football team marched around campus Friday. The Ole Miss football team decided not to take to the practice field Friday after a similar demonstration a day earlier at Mississippi State. Football coach Jeremy Pruitt moved practice so his players could attend.

A group of Ohio State football players' parents Saturday joined parents of players at Iowa in calling for the Big Ten to overturn its decision not to play this fall because of the pandemic. Meanwhile, Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said nine Sooners tested positive for COVID-19 after he gave his players a week break from team activities. The Football Parents at Ohio State posted on social media a letter to Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren, calling for the reinstatement of the 10-game schedule the conference unveiled six days before it postponed football until spring. We believe that the protocols put in place by Ohio State Athletics has provided an extremely safe environment for our players to prepare for the season," the letter said. Our sons work extremely hard for the opportunity to play and fully understand the risks involved when they step on the field.

Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard (30) avoids a tackle by Oklahoma linebacker Caleb Kelly (19) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Lynch ranks eighth nationally with his 12 1/2 sacks, which are a single-season Baylor record. RB_u-Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma St., 6-1, 207, So., Sherwood Park, Alberta. G_Josh Rivas, Kansas St., 6-6, 323, So., Hutchinson, Kansas. P_Devin Anctil, Kansas St., 6-1, 234, Sr., Lenexa, Kansas. Offensive player of the year — Chuba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma St.

Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer (12) passes during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Waco, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Ray Carlin)

Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer (12) passes during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Waco, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. When it was all over, Hurts and coach Lincoln Riley were sharing a joyous embrace and the No. 12 Baylor on Saturday night that ended the Bears’ bid for an undefeated season. Oklahoma erased a three-touchdown halftime deficit and tied the game at 31-all on Hurts’ 2-yard TD pass to Willis. That was after the Sooners had opened the second half with Stogner’s second TD catch, a 3-yarder that made it 31-17.