UNDATED (AP) — The arrival of an early signing period in college football recruiting has unquestionably impacted the timing of coaching changes. We are about to find out if the reverse is also true. The early signing period begins Wednesday as plenty of verbally committed prospects and their prospective coaches are still getting to know one another. In all, 28 Football Bowl Subdivision programs have made coaching changes. Nearly all high school prospects have opted to finalize their college plans in December rather than waiting for the traditional February signing date ever since the early signing period began in 2017.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Zia Cooke scored 20 points including a layup with 5:13 left that put No. 1 South Carolina ahead to stay in a 66-59 victory over No. 8 Maryland in the Jimmy V Classic on Sunday. Aliyah Boston had 16 points, 16 rebounds and seven rebounds for the Gamecocks, who improved to 10-0 for the first time in six years. It was South Carolina’s fourth win over a top-10 opponent this season. Cooke tied the game at 55-all midway through the final quarter. Then she followed with a layup and a steal. Angel Reese led Maryland with 20 points.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Aidan Hutchinson of Michigan has won the Lott IMPACT Trophy as the college defensive player having the biggest influence on his team. The senior defensive end earned the honor a night after finishing runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott presented Hutchinson with the award at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. It goes to a player with strong academic work, community involvement and team leadership. Hutchinson helped the second-ranked Wolverines to the Big Ten title. They’ll play No. 3 Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Dec. 31 in Miami.
UNDATED (AP) — The Associated Press will increase the number of players honored on its annual All-America teams to include a third wide receiver and fifth defensive back. The move is being made to more accurately reflect the evolution of college football offenses and defenses. The AP has named All-America teams since 1925 based on voting by a national media panell. The change in structure this year is the first since 2006 when the generic categories of linemen on both sides of the ball and defensive backs were broken down by specific positions. The 2021 teams will be announced Monday.
NEW YORK (AP) — Alabama quarterback Bryce Young will try to become just the second player to win the Heisman Trophy twice. Ohio State running back Archie Griffin is the only two-time winner of college football’s top player award, taking it in 1974 and ‘75. Young is the fifth sophomore to win the Heisman and sixth player in his second year of college. None of the previous second-year players to win a Heisman have come particularly close to doing it again. What players will go into 2022 with Heisman hype and a chance to challenge Young? AP College Football Writer Ralph Russo suggests Oklahoma’s Caleb Williams, USC’s Jaxson Dart, Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen, Syracuse’s Sean Tucker, Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. and Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba in addition to 2021 finalist C.J. Stroud.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Naz Hillmon scored 17 of her 25 points in the second half and No. 13 Michigan defeated Minnesota 73-61. Leigha Brown scored 10 of her 19 after the break to help the Wolverines pull away. Jasmine Powell scored 19 points and Sara Scalia 13 for the Golden Gophers. Powell had 13 in the first half when Minnesota used a 22-12 second quarter to take a 33-29 lead. After a Gadiva Hubbard 3-pointer increased the Golden Gopher lead to seven, Laila Pelia made a layup and then Hillmon and Brown took over. The duo combined for the last 15 Michigan points of the third quarter for a 46-42 lead.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 16 points and Race Thompson added 14 on 6-for-6 shooting as Indiana broke away from Merrimack 81-49, remaining unbeaten in eight games at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Jackson-Davis added nine rebounds and blocked three shots, punctuating a 13-0 breakaway run by Indiana with a fastbreak layup off a block and then an alley-oop dunk on a feed from Rob Phinisee. Jordan Geronimo had 13 points with 13 rebounds for his first career double-double. Merrimack trailed 36-30 at halftime, but scored just 19 points in the second half. Jordan Minor scored 13 to lead Merrimack with Ziggy Reid and Malik Edmead each adding 11.
