TREY SERMON

The ground-oriented, weather-proof offense has long been preferred by Big Ten teams.

Jimmy Garoppolo threw one touchdown pass and ran in for a score, leading the San Francisco 49ers to a 17-11 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Rookie running back Elijah Mitchell, a sixth-round pick, had a 38-yard, tiebreaking touchdown in the second quarter to put the Niners ahead 14-7. The Tennessee Titans’ vaunted offense is stumbling to start the season. — Teresa M. Walker reporting from Nashville, Tennessee___1:45 p.m.Maia Chaka is making history today, becoming the first black woman to officiate an NFL game. The Tennessee Titans honored Staff Sgt. The first full Sunday of the NFL season is about to begin with seven new head coaches making debuts with their respective teams.

The proposed 12-team College Football Playoff will make winning a conference more important than ever before, with six spots reserved for league champions. Every major college football conference plays a title game, but how the participants are determined — division winners or best overall records —- differs. The Wildcats won the Big Ten West and played Ohio State in the conference title game twice in the last three years. Pac-12 — 3 (2104, ’16, ’19)Big 12(asterisk) — 2 (2019-20)-(asterisk)Big 12 title game was restored in 2017. __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.

Officials in charge of the College Football Playoff have opened two days of meetings in suburban Chicago.

DeVonta Smith was uncoverable, Najee Harris unstoppable and Mac Jones impeccable as the top-ranked Tide won the College Football Playoff national championship game 52-24 against No. 7 overall, breaking a tie with Alabama great Paul “Bear” Bryant for the most by a major college coach. "To me this is the ultimate team,” Saban said. “To me this team accomplished more than almost any team," Saban said. “Heaven knows what he would have done if he played the whole game,” Saban said.

Ohio State won 49-28. “This team, this program, we persevered through so much,” Ohio State running back Trey Sermon said Monday. In addition to Sarkisian's imminent departure, Alabama has to take care of some Heisman Trophy business while preparing for the matchup with Ohio State. Ohio State (7-0) won that meeting en route to the national title. OHIO STATEOverview: Like many teams, Ohio State faced major obstacles during the pandemic.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day hugs quarterback Justin Fields after their win against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, in New Orleans. Ohio State won 49-28. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)Ohio State coach Ryan Day says he expects Justin Fields to play in the College Football Playoff national championship game against Alabama after the quarterback was banged up during the semifinals. Fields missed only one play and finished with six touchdown passes in Ohio State’s 49-28 victory. Buckeyes running back Trey Sermon took Fields' place on the call.

3 Ohio State (6-0, No. ... Clemson beat Ohio State 29-23 in a Fiesta Bowl CFP semifinal last season. ... All of Clemson's victories over Ohio State have come in bowl games, including the Orange Bowl at the end of the 2013 season and the 1978 Peach Bowl. ... Clemson is making its third Sugar Bowl appearance and is seeking its first Sugar Bowl win. ... Ohio State is making its sixth Sugar Bowl appearance and has won its last three, including a 42-35 triumph over Alabama in the first CFP semifinal on Jan. 1, 2015.

Both teams flexed their muscles in winning their respective conference championship games. The last time Alabama was held below 35 points came in a 44-16 loss to Clemson in a CFP championship game to cap the 2018 season. Clemson’s 34-10 Atlantic Coast Conference championship game rout of Notre Dame improved Trevor Lawrence's record as a starting quarterback to 34-1. San Jose State and Ball State will face off in the Arizona Bowl on Dec. 31. San Jose State is seeking to complete its first unbeaten season since a 13-0 finish in 1939.

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)COLUMBUS, Ohio – Shortened schedule and all, Ohio State is headed back to the College Football Playoff and a familiar foe will be waiting. Barta, the Iowa athletic director, said “there was no dissension in the room” over putting Ohio State in. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he wasn't surprised Ohio State got in with fewer games “because that’s what the committee has demonstrated over the past few weeks. We all know Ohio State is an incredibly talented team.”The loss to Clemson in the playoff last year landed hard and lingered for the Buckeyes, Ohio State coach Ryan Day said on ESPN. It'll be different this time with less than two weeks between the conference championship game and the semifinal.

3 Ohio State banked some style points during its rout of Michigan State, but the next step toward any kind of championship for the Buckeyes this season could be out of their control. Ohio State has had its own problems with the coronavirus. Among those taken out of action was coach Ryan Day, who had to stay home and watch the Michigan State game on TV. So would another loss to the Buckeyes, who have won the rivalry game in each of Harbaugh's first five years at Michigan. Day said he was proud of how the Buckeyes moved past the rough, uncertain week to dominate Michigan State.

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields throws a pass against Rutgers during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)COLUMBUS, Ohio – Justin Fields threw five touchdown passes and ran for another score to help No. 3 Ohio State beat Rutgers 49-27 on Saturday night. Wilson caught six passes for 104 yards for Ohio State, and Fields completed passes to eight other receivers, and his average completion went for 13 yards. Ohio State: The Buckeyes were sloppy and got stuck in the mud at times, but Fields can make things happen.