ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Top-ranked Michigan has shown during its journey to the College Football Playoffs that whatever obstacles are put in its way, it ends up galvanizing the team. That included two suspensions to coach Jim Harbaugh that ended up being a total of six games. The unbeaten Wolverines face Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Monday. Even though Harbaugh’s suspensions have ended, questions about his future at his alma mater remain. When asked if he would entertain offers from the NFL during the offseason, including one from the Los Angeles Chargers after they fired Brandon Staley on Dec. 14, Harbaugh deflected both questions and said his singular focus is on the upcoming game.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton has opted out to prepare for the 2024 NFL draft and freshman Nico Iamaleava will make his first career start for the 25th-ranked Volunteers in Monday’s Citrus Bowl against Iowa. Milton announced his decision Wednesday on social media. He started his career with three seasons at Michigan before transferring to Tennessee in the spring of 2021. Milton led the Vols to a win in the Orange Bowl a year ago and went 8-4 as a starter this season. He has been with Tennessee through its bowl preparation and will stick around. Coach Josh Heupel said the Vols are excited to play with Iamaleava.
UNDATED (AP) — The final four-team College Football Playoff promises to be one of the closest in the 10-year history of the event. The combined spread of the two New Year’s Day semifinals is just six points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. No. 1 Michigan is a 1 1/2-point favorite against fourth-seeded Alabama in the Rose Bowl. No. 3 Texas is a 4 1/2-point favorite over No. 2 Washington in the Sugar Bowl. AP College Football Writer Ralph Russo thinks Alabama and Texas will advance to the national title game.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Two-time AP All-America receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is with Ohio State as the seventh-ranked Buckeyes prepare for the Cotton Bowl. There still are no indications that he will play Friday night against Missouri. Harrison again Wednesday wasn’t a full participant and didn’t have his helmet with him during the portion of practice that was open to reporters. He also didn’t take part in interview sessions afterward with other top offensive players. A day earlier, Harrison rode a stationary bicycle on the sideline while the rest of the team stretched and began practice. Buckeyes leading rusher TreVeyon Henderson said Wednesday that he will play in the game.
UNDATED (AP) — When it was introduced 75 years ago, the purpose of the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was to foster discussion and debate. That has not changed. Whether the controversy is over which team a national panel of 63 voters installs at No. 1 each Monday, or whether certain teams should be included at all, the poll continues to produce talking points that have spilled from water coolers of yesterday to the social media of the modern age.
UNDATED (AP) — Mario Cristobal remembers the task like it was yesterday. He was a graduate assistant at Miami in the late 1990s, told one day to drive to the airport and pick up someone who was arriving to interview for the Hurricanes’ defensive coordinator job. That someone was Greg Schiano. They hit it off quickly, Cristobal marveling at Schiano’s work ethic, Schiano raving about Cristobal’s willingness to learn. They’ve been close ever since. And now, they’ll go head-to-head in Thursday afternoon’s Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium, with Miami (7-5) seeking its first bowl win since 2016 and Rutgers (6-6) seeking its first winning season since 2014.
ATLANTA (AP) — Penn State has new offensive and defensive coordinators as the No. 10 Nittany Lions prepare for Saturday’s Peach Bowl against No. 11 Mississippi. Even though neither new hire is officially in charge of his unit yet, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin is worried about the unknown. Kiffin says he doesn’t have “any idea” if the Nittany Lions will debut new looks in the bowl game. He says the unknown is a “really big challenge.” Penn State’s new hires are defensive coordinator Tom Allen and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. Assistants are still in charge for the bowl game.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Mike Sainristil played receiver in his first three years at Michigan. Coach Jim Harbaugh had another idea entering spring football last year, suggesting Sainristil switch to defensive back. The AP All-Big Ten cornerback is about to face a tough test in his third straight College Football Playoff appearance. Michigan plays Alabama on New Year’s Day at the Rose Bowl to compete for a shot at the national championship. The Wolverines’ season included a sign-stealing scandal that led to the Big Ten suspending Harbaugh for three games.
