UNDATED (AP) — The Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis on Saturday marks what No. 3 Ohio State hopes is the final step on the path to the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes’ meeting with No. 15 Northwestern is a rematch of the 2018 game. The Buckeyes won that one 45-24. The Buckeyes have won 32 of the last 33 meetings. The Champions Week undercard begins Friday night with Nebraska visiting Rutgers. Minnesota visits Wisconsin on Saturday in the Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe. Illinois goes to Penn State and Michigan State visits Maryland.
UNDATED (AP) — The game of the weekend in the Big Ten, and nation, pits No. 3 Iowa against top-ranked Gonzaga of the West Coast Conference. The game is set for Saturday in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Iowa and Gonzaga are the top two teams in the Kenpom.com offensive rankings. Iowa’s Luka Garza will go against Drew Timme in a matchup of the nation’s top two big men. The Zags haven’t played since Dec. 2 because of COVID-19 issues.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Trevion Williams had 16 points, nine rebounds and a career-high eight assists to help Purdue beat No. 20 Ohio State 67-60. Eric Hunter Jr. added a season-best 15 points for the Boilermakers as Matt Painter won his 50th game over a ranked opponent since becoming Purdue’s coach 16 seasons ago. The Buckeyes were led by Justice Sueing with 14 points but lost for the first time season. Ohio State played its second straight game without top scorer and rebounder E.J. Liddell, who was out with an illness not related to COVID-19.
UNDATED (AP) — As Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, Oregon, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Florida prepared to play for conference championships, they signed 2021 top-10 recruiting classes they hope to fuel their next title teams. The most unusual college football season in memory brought the convergence of the early signing period with the end of the regular season, which includes 10 conference championship games this weekend. he pandemic has altered much about the college football season and recruiting this year, but somethings never change. Alabama is on the way to having the highest-rated class in the country. Ohio State is not far behind.
WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first time in more than three decades, the Supreme Court will hear a case involving the NCAA and what it means to be a college athlete. The court will review a decision in an antitrust lawsuit. The NCAA says the case has “the line between student-athletes and professionals” because it removed caps on compensation that major college football and basketball players can receive. The case was brought by former West Virginia football player Shawne Alston and others. A decision is expected before the end of June.
UNDATED (AP) — The championship weekend upsets that would trigger College Football Playoff chaos hardly ever come. AP College Football Writer Ralph Russo says it is still fun to consider the possibilities. He says the College Football Playoff selection committee would be busy if Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State lose their conference title games Saturday. Russo is picking all three to win this weekend.
UNDATED (AP) — The NCAA’s Division I Council has granted blanket waivers for all athletes to play immediately. The NCAA’s announcement includes all Division I sports, but is contingent on certain criteria being met. Transfers previously were required to sit out a season unless granted a waiver by the NCAA. The NCAA had decided on waivers on a case-by-case basis, but had been more lenient during the coronavirus pandemic. The decision should have an immediate impact on basketball programs, with some transfers becoming eligible for games on Wednesday