With players making their NFL draft declarations and many programs shuffling their coaching staffs, our second Way-Too-Early Top 25 looks a lot different than a month ago, as the offseason challenges mount for defending champ LSU, among others.
Despite considerable interest from Michigan State, Luke Fickell has decided to remain with the Cincinnati Bearcats.
Youngstown State is expected to hire Cincinnati assistant Doug Phillips as its next head coach, a source told ESPN.
Can transfer QB Jamie Newman jump-start Georgia's offense? Who will play QB for Michigan? Even the best teams have questions heading into next season.
Feel like celebrating next January? Here's what each of the nation's best teams needs to win it all next season.
In this second installment, we're focusing on the most exciting upsets and near upsets of the year, from Georgia State's shocking win over Tennessee to Notre Dame's escape against Virginia Tech.
These are the players, led by No. 1 Clemson's WR Joe Ngata, who are expected to make big leaps next season.
Will we get a Trevor Lawrence vs. Justin Fields rematch? Which team could be the next LSU? These are the games, storylines and players we can't wait to see.
Desmond Ridder ran for 105 yards and three touchdowns and threw a scoring pass to lead No. 23 Cincinnati to a 38-6 victory over Boston College on Thursday in the weather-delayed Birmingham Bowl.
John Cunningham will take over for Mike Bohn as athletic director at Cincinnati.
Here are the key players and storylines for every college football bowl game, including the playoff.
See how our experts envision the entire bowl schedule with the final selections so close to being announced.
Antonio Gibson caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Brady White with 1:14 left and No. 16 Memphis defeated No. 21 Cincinnati 29-24 in the American Athletic Conference championship game on Saturday.
| EAST | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | 7-1 | 11-3 |
| UCF | 6-2 | 10-3 |
| Temple | 5-3 | 8-5 |
| South Florida | 2-6 | 4-8 |
| East Carolina | 1-7 | 4-8 |
| UConn | 0-8 | 2-10 |
| WEST | CONF | OVR |
| Memphis | 7-1 | 12-2 |
| Navy | 7-1 | 11-2 |
| SMU | 6-2 | 10-3 |
| Tulane | 3-5 | 7-6 |
| Houston | 2-6 | 4-8 |
| Tulsa | 2-6 | 4-8 |
| CFP RANKINGS | AP | COACHES |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | 21 | 21 |
| NAME | POS | STATUS | GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evan Prater | QB-PP | Signed | 80 |
| Jadon Thompson | WR | Signed | 80 |
| Jaheim Thomas | OLB | Signed | 77 |
| Marquez Bell | WR | Signed | 77 |
| Sammy Anderson | S | Signed | 77 |
| YEAR | PLAYER | AWARD |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | J. Ruffin | Lou Groza Award |
