:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/XLNEZJJIQNH2LDBJCH2PZI4RFU.jpg)
Heisman finalists: Tide teammates plus Lawrence and Trask
(AP Photo/Brian Blanco, File)Alabama teammates Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith along with Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Florida’s Kyle Trask have been named finalists for the Heisman Trophy. Jones and Smith are the eighth set of teammates to be finalists together since the tradition started in 1982. Smith is trying to become the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Michigan's Desmond Howard in 1991. Jones or Smith would become Alabama's third Heisman winner, but first that is not a running back. Iowa State running back Breece Hall was sixth, followed by Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, BYU quarterback Zach Wilson, Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book and Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JPMDUCRQNFCWDB62VJ67SGE5KQ.jpg)
Wilson carves up UCF in likely final game for No. 13 BYU
13 BYU routed UCF 49-23 in the Boca Raton Bowl on Tuesday night. Wilson, considered a top NFL prospect, completed 26 of 34 in what likely was his final college game. BYU dominated the first half, outgaining UCF 434 yards to 227 despite running 11 fewer plays. After UCF scored early in the second quarter, Wilson threw two more TD passes. UCF: The Knights came in averaging 373 passing yards per game, second in the nation, but managed 217 yards against BYU.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QM66V7S6OJCCBKHT66THFPPLVU.jpg)
No. 13 BYU, UCF bring explosive offenses to Boca Raton Bowl
(AP Photo/George Frey, Pool)Preparing for the Boca Raton Bowl proved a bit of a slippery slope for the Central Florida Knights. All part of Heupel’s plan to bring a dose of fun to the bowl game with some of the customary pageantry halted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “A really good football team,” Heupel said. “Kind of reminds me of why you don’t play football in Provo in December,” Sitake joked. They're 0-3 in Florida bowl games, including losses in the 1976 Tangerine Bowl, 1985 Florida Citrus Bowl and 2014 Miami Beach Bowl.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/EDB243DZBBGVZNHRYA4NW6B7QY.jpg)
No. 14 Coastal Carolina holds off No. 8 BYU 22-17
The Cougars defense, which had allowed less than 90 yards rushing a game coming in, was pounded by Coastal Carolina for 281 yards. But Coastal Carolina linebackers Gunter and Teddy Gallagher kept blocking and hitting Wilson after the interception. Coastal Carolina: The Chanticleers pulled off the latest milestone in a season full of them. POLL IMPLICATIONSCount on Coastal Carolina moving up if there's any room in the rankings. Coastal Carolina travels to Troy next Saturday to make up a game postponed in November.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/S5QJPEX2YBFTBJ2GF3FDEUZM4A.jpg)
Week 14: Ohio State returns and BYU-Coastal square off
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields throws a pass against Indiana during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. 3 Ohio State is playing as much as who will be play playing for the Buckeyes this weekend. Ohio State seems to be on track to play at Michigan State on Saturday after a spike in COVID-19 cases in the program forced a cancellation of last week's road trip to Illinois. If Ohio State has one more game canceled it would be unable to meet the Big Ten's minimum game played to be eligible for the conference title game. UNDER THE RADARNebraska at PurdueNeither team is in the Big West race, but the interesting thing is the Boilermakers (2-3) have won two straight against the Cornhuskers (1-4).
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/72BBYCCI6NGPTK7LDGIO6VWR4Q.jpg)
No. 9 BYU routs No. 21 Boise State 51-17 to remain unbeaten
BYU wide receiver Neil Pau'u (2) waits for a pass during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Boise State on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, in Boise, Idaho. 21 Boise State 51-17 on Friday night. Boise State (2-1) suffered its worst loss since a 64-19 rout by rival Idaho in 1996, the Broncos first year as an FBS program. Wilson, who originally committed to Boise State before signing with BYU, completed 21-of-27 passes and threw TDs of 5 and 20 yards. But BYU took control after Boise State quarterback Jack Sears left with what appeared to be a concussion in the first quarter and never returned.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/EJ6PDE4CKJE5PO5CWTBLL5RJTM.jpg)
AP Top 25: No. 2 Alabama closes gap with Clemson; Liberty in
2 Alabama heading into a huge ACC matchup at fourth-ranked Notre Dame this week. The rest of the top five remained the same, with Ohio State at No. 1 on their ballots had Clemson third behind Ohio State. Penn State had the fourth-longest active streak behind Alabama (205), Ohio State (138) and Clemson (94). 4 Notre Dame: Another “biggest game of the year” — until the next one.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PMX7WF66WFEZNPECV6GVEO3YMM.jpg)
Wilson throws 4 TDs in No. 14 BYU's 43-26 win over Houston
(AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)HOUSTON – Down by double-digits late in the third quarter, BYU did not panic. 14 BYU rallied for a 43-26 win over Houston on Friday night. Wilson gave BYU the lead back with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Masen Wake with 10:35 left to make it 29-26 following a 2-point conversion pass from Wilson to Tyler Allgeier. Wilson threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Milne with three minutes remaining before Allgeier iced it with a 14-yard touchdown run with 1:40 left. Clayton Tune finished 21 of 31 for 310 yards and two touchdowns to lead Houston (1-1).
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7WTQNKNVZVHWVDTKXDLBZ4HW5I.jpg)
College Football Picks: UGA vs. 'Bama and BYU's tough test
Alabama quarterback Mac Jones (10) hands off to running back Najee Harris (22) during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. Alabama won 63-48. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7WTQNKNVZVHWVDTKXDLBZ4HW5I.jpg)
College Football Picks: UGA vs. 'Bama and BYU's tough test
Alabama won 63-48. 2 Alabama in a game that could very well be first of three meetings between the SEC superpowers. A conference title rematch in Atlanta would surprise no one and another meeting in the College Football Playoff would hardly be shocking. UCF (minus 3 1/2) at Memphis — @alanwooten19Knights have won 13 straight against the Tigers; average score in the last three: 50-42 ... UCF 45-44. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at https://westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MZZKGIMDPZF6DGSFQFFB5HULEQ.jpg)
No. 15 BYU, Wilson hold off UTSA 27-20 to stay unbeaten
15 BYU past UTSA 27-20 on Saturday. Allgeier posted his second 100-yard game of his career to help rescue an inconsistent BYU offense. Lowell Narcisse threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns – all after halftime – on 17-of-20 passing to lead the Roadrunners. BYU trailed for the first time this season when UTSA took a 3-0 lead on a 39-yard field goal from Hunter Duplessis in the first quarter. The Roadrunners forced a punt, but BYU was able to run out the clock following a roughing the punter penalty with 15 seconds left.