RALPH D. RUSSO
Northwestern University Athletic Director Jim Phillips poses outside his home in Wilmette, Ill., in this Oct. 9, 2008, photo. The Atlantic Coast Conference is finalizing a deal to make Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips the league's next commissioner. Two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press they expected an agreement to be reached with Phillips and the conference soon. (John J. Kim/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)
ACC hires Northwestern AD Phillips as new commissioner

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 14, 2020 11:19 AM EST
The Atlantic Coast Conference hired Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips

FILE - In this Oct. 25, 2020, file photo, Detroit Lions linebacker Jamie Collins signals touchdown as Atlanta Falcons running back Todd Gurley tries to stop short of the end zone to control the final minutes of the clock in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Atlanta. Against a conceding opponent, whose only hope was to take advantage of a ballcarrier's natural inclination to find the end zone, Penn State and the Falcons inadvertently took the bait and ended up losing games they pretty much had wrapped up. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)
Do Not Score! How to avoid touchdowns defenses celebrate

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 30, 2020 02:06 AM EDT
When the defense is celebrating having allowed a touchdown, something has most

FILE - In this March 12, 2020, file photo, Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren addresses the media in Indianapolis after it was announced that the remainder of the Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament had been canceled. Warren, the first black commissioner of a Power Five conference, is creating a coalition to give the league's athletes a platform to voice their concerns about racism. Warren announced Monday, June 1, 2020, the formation of the Big Ten Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition, with athletes, coaches, athletic director and university chancellors and presidents. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Big Ten Commissioner Warren creates anti-racism coalition

By Ralph D. Russo Jun. 01, 2020 09:06 PM EDT
The Big Ten's Kevin Warren, the first black commissioner of a Power Five

Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm (11) passes in the first half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game against Baylor in New Orleans, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Pick-Six: Most intriguing players left after Day 2 of draft

By Ralph D. Russo Apr. 25, 2020 02:53 AM EDT
The quarterbacks are waiting. After four quarterbacks went

FILE - In this Oct. 5, 2019, file photo, Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa (94) plays against Michigan during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich. Patrick Queen of LSU and Epenesa are potential picks by the Baltimore Ravens if GM Eric DeCosta chooses to address the linebacker position early in the draft. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Pick-Six: Intriguing players available on Day 2 of NFL draft

By Ralph D. Russo Apr. 24, 2020 02:37 AM EDT
Six wide receivers were taken in the first round of the NFL draft and another

FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2019, file photo, Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (4) scores on a pass reception against Arkansas during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Denver Broncos selected Jeudy in the first round of the NFL draft. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
NFL Draft: Player profiles for first-round selections

By Ralph D. Russo Apr. 23, 2020 10:48 PM EDT
Players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night (x

NFL Draft: Ohio State's Young top defensive player in draft

By Ralph D. Russo Apr. 20, 2020 11:30 AM EDT
Top defensive players available in the NFL draft (x-entered draft with college

NFL Draft: QB Joe Burrow, WRs and tackles headline draft

By Ralph D. Russo Apr. 20, 2020 11:27 AM EDT
Top offensive players available in the NFL draft (x-entered draft with college

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) listens to instructions from head coach Nick Saban during a timeout in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
AP Top 25 Takeaways: Don’t play blame game with Tua’s injury

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 16, 2019 10:20 PM EST
The only foolproof way to avoid being injured playing football is to not play

FILE - In this Aug. 5, 1965, file photo, Otto Graham, center, coach of the College All Stars football team, talks with co-captains Dick Butkus (50) of Illinois and Roger Staubach (12) of Navy as the team worked out under lights at Soldier Field in Chicago. In the early days of the NFL, college football was king and playing the game professionally was not necessarily something players aspired to do. By planting its flag in large cities, embracing television exposure and playing a more entertaining style, the NFL surged in popularity in the middle of the 20th century and helped turn college football into a means to an end for many players. (AP Photo/Edward Kitch, File)
NFL at 100: How college football became the pipeline to NFL

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 08, 2019 03:49 PM EDT
Jay Berwanger won the inaugural Heisman Trophy in 1935 for the University of Chicago

NFL Draft: Top offensive players available by position

By Ralph D. Russo Apr. 20, 2019 01:00 PM EDT
Some of the top offensive players, by position, available in the NFL draft, which

FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2018, file photo, Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Army, in Norman, Okla. Kyler Murray, the first-round Major League Baseball draft pick and Heisman Trophy-winning Oklahoma quarterback, says he is declaring himself eligible for the NFL draft. Murray announced his decision Monday, Jan. 14, 2019, in a tweet. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
Record 135 forgo college eligibility to enter NFL draft

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 18, 2019 01:54 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — A record number of college football players will bypass their