CFB: Breaking News Updates
The 2017-18 college football season is winding down, but there is still a ton of information coming out, as always. All across the country, coaches are being hired and fired, players are deciding to transfer to other schools, National Signing Day is just weeks away, and not to mention, bowl season is about to kick off. We have already seen a lot of coaches on the move including Scott Frost to Nebraska and Jimbo Fisher to Texas A&M, but much more is to come. Our CFB Staff is here to produce every aspect of breaking news that comes out over the next couple of months in the world of college football.
Shea Patterson is transferring to Michigan (December 11, 2017): Shea Patterson, former Ole Miss quarterback and No. 1 recruit in the class of 2016, has announced that he will transfer to Michigan and play for Jim Harbaugh after his sophomore year for the Rebels. He, like many Ole Miss players, are on their way out after sanctions were handed out due to the previous regime and their mistakes. Patterson grew up in Toledo, Ohio, and dreamed of playing for Michigan, according to MLive. He threw for 2,259 yards and 17 scores in just seven games last year before getting injured. Patterson has the talent to put the Wolverines over the top if all things go well in the coming months. For normal transfers, the player is required to sit out a year, but because of the circumstances, Patterson's lawyer is appealing the rule. If he is able to take the field next season, Michigan could jump from an 8-4 record to legitimately competing for the Big Ten title.
Lane Kiffin wins Boca Raton Bowl, and signs an extension (December 19, 2017): Lane Kiffin, who just finished his first year at Florida Atlantic with a 50-3 route over Akron in the Boca Raton Bowl, has also signed an extension with the school. After leading 7-0 at the end of the first quarter, they went to the break with an 18-point lead. The Owls also outscored the Zips 29-0 in the second half. Jason Driskel threw for 270 yards on 19-25 for two touchdowns. Kato Nelson, for Akron, threw for 80 yards. That wasn't the end all be all for Kiffin's day, though, as he also signed a contract extension. According to the Sun Sentinel, Kiffin has agreed to a 10-year extension with Florida Atlantic through the 2027 season. This year was just the second time in school history that the program surpassed the 10-win plateau, going 11-3, including winning the Conference USA title. Kiffin has also led the Owls to their first bowl game appearance since 2008.
Pac-12 and Big 12 trade bowl victories (December 26, 2017): The day after Christmas is when bowl games start to really kick up a notch as it is the first day that Power Five teams take the field. In the first game of the day, the Utah Utes won (another) bowl game, 30-14, over West Virginia. Tyler Huntley threw for 165 yards on 12/26 passing, but added 57 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Zack Moss ran for 150 yards on the ground, on 20 carries, including a 58-yard score in the first quarter. Kyle Whittingham improved to an incredible 11-1 in bowl games at Utah. Later on in the day, the Kansas State Wildcats defeated UCLA, 35-17, as the Big 12 got their first victory of bowl season. Even though Josh Rosen was out for the Bruins with a concussion, and he's likely off to the NFL Draft now, they jumped out to a 17-7 lead at halftime. And then the Wildcats came out in the second half, ran off 28 straight scores, and earned their eighth win of the year.
Texas beats Missouri in the Texas Bowl (December 27, 2017): Texas had an up-and-down season, but it ended on a high note as the Longhorns grabbed their first bowl victory since 2012. After having four straight seasons without a bowl victory, three of which were coached by Charlie Strong, Texas moved on to Tom Herman. In his first campaign, he led Texas to seven wins and a Texas Bowl victory over former Big 12 foe, Missouri, 33-16. Sam Ehlinger threw for 112 yards on 11-15 passing to close out his freshman season, but as weird as it sounds, the real story was the kicking game. Michael Dickson, the Ray Guy award winner, earned the Texas Bowl MVP. He became just the second punter to ever win an MVP in a bowl game. He had 11 punts for 425 yards, and 10 of the punts landed inside of the 20-yard line, as well as having eight inside of the 10-yard line. Texas also forced four turnovers and a safety. It was a successful end to Herman's first year.
Big 12 wins a pair of ranked-vs.-ranked bowl games (December 28, 2017): Oklahoma State earned their third 10-win season in a row to close out Mason Rudolph and James Washington's careers, with a 30-21 win in the Camping World Bowl, despite trailing 7-3 at the end of the first quarter. Rudolph went 21-32 for 351 yards and two touchdowns, and Washington had five catches for 126 yards and one touchdown. Their three-year stint included the most wins in school history. Later in the night, in the Alamo Bowl, TCU completed another memorable comeback, as they defeated Stanford, 39-37, behind a +10 point differential in the fourth quarter. Kenny Hill Jr., who has had a memorable career beginning at Texas A&M, threw for 314 yards and totaled four touchdowns. TCU improved to 11-3 on the season and the seniors graduated with a great 40-13 record. Gary Patterson is now 6-0 against Pac-12 teams. The Big 12 is now 4-2 in bowl games.
Ohio State rocks USC, 24-7, in the Cotton Bowl (December 29, 2017): On USC's first drive, Ohio State forced a fumble which led to a J.T Barrett one-yard touchdown run, putting Ohio State up 7-0, and it was pretty much over from there. After adding a field goal at the start of the second quarter, on USC's next drive, Damon Webb intercepted Sam Darnold and returned it for a touchdown putting the Buckeyes up 17-0. Even though it was only the second quarter, it looked like Ohio State had the game in their full control, and they weren't going to let up. On the next drive, Barrett had a 27-yard run for a TD putting them up 24-0. Right before the end of the first half, Ohio State fumbled a punt and USC capitalized, making it 24-7. In the fourth quarter, Barrett passed Drew Brees for the most yards in Big Ten history. He threw for 9,434 yards and rushed for 3,263 yards in his amazing career, totaling 147 touchdowns, and clinching two Big Ten titles and a 48-6 record.
Penn State squeaks by Washington, 35-28, in the Fiesta Bowl (December 30, 2017): With the final playoff rankings being set, No. 9 and No. 11 squared off in the Fiesta Bowl. Penn State and Washington battled in Glendale, Arizona. Whether it is Boise State's giant upset over Oklahoma or Malcolm Butler's interception at the one-yard line, University of Phoenix Stadium has seen some great games and this one did not disappoint. Backed by reliable quarterback Trace McSorely and outstanding running back Saquon Barkley, Penn State jumped out to a 28-7 lead. In full desperation mode, a turnover allowed Washington to score on a beautiful Jake Browning delivered pass. From then on, Washington would score again cutting it to a 28-21 game. After a Nittany Lions touchdown, Washington answered back and had a chance to tie the game with under a minute to go. Three straight incompletions set up a crucial fourth down with 15 seconds. In Boise State style, Browning completed a hook and lateral for a first down leading to an incredible poor decision by receiver Dante Pettis. Instead of stepping out of bounds around the Penn State 45-yard with around five second left, Pettis threw it to a crowd of Nittany Lions, ending any chance at a comeback. Washington finished the season 10-3, their second 10+ win year in a row. Meanwhile, Penn State went 11-2, their second consecutive 11-win year, after going 11-3 and losing in the Rose Bowl last season.
Wisconsin comes back to beat Miami, 34-24, in the Orange Bowl (December 30, 2017): The Hurricanes jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the first half, but then the Wisconsin defense woke up and made the difference in this one. After getting in interception to shorten the field, the Badgers scored and then subsequently ran off 21 points, taking a 24-14 lead into the break. Miami came out of the second half on fire, but Wisconsin settled in once again, weathered the storm, and went on to intercept Malik Rosier two more times. The Badgers finished the season 13-1, the most wins in school history, after they started playing football in 1889. It's Paul Chryst's third year, and in those campaigns, he has led the team to a combined 34-7 record, including two Big Ten title appearances and a pair of New Year's Six victories. Jonathan Taylor ran for 130 yards on 26 carries. Alex Hornibrook threw for 258 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
Photo Credit: Sporting News.
