AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Money is pouring in by the millions as name, image and likeness efforts spring up around major college athletic programs eager to aid the marketing of athletes and bring wealthy alumni into the game. College football will have its first national signing day on Wednesday in this new money era. With few rules governing how it all works, the push to dangle cash in front of players has created a new, rapidly expanding frontier in college sports with “collectives” and even nonprofits popping up to play ball.
UNDATED (AP) — Last year’s bowl season felt a little sad with so many games canceled by the pandemic. College football fans were grateful for the 25 bowls they got, but it just wasn’t the same. The full bowl lineup is back this season. There will be 43 bowl games and all but one of them involves FBS teams at the top level of college football. AP College Football Writer Ralph Russo says there is a reason to watch every one of them. He is also picking Alabama and Georgia to win their playoff semifinal games and advance to the national championship.
UNDATED (AP) — Alabama and Georgia are competing for the honor of having the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class. A third Southeastern Conference program is assembling an equally impressive recruiting class. Texas A&M has joined its two SEC rivals atop the team recruiting rankings heading into Wednesday’s early signing date. The race is close enough that the unofficial team recruiting champion might not be determined until the later signing date on Feb. 2. Experts say all the coaching changes this year have also added more uncertainty about where prospects wind up.
UNDATED (AP) — Southeastern Louisiana quarterback Cole Kelley, East Tennessee State running back Quay Holmes and Montana State linebacker Troy Andersen highlight The Associated Press FCS All-America team. Kelley and Holmes are among the finalists for the Walter Payton Award, given to the most outstanding player in the Championship Subdivision. Andersen is a finalist for FCS defensive player of the year, the Buck Buchanan Award. Montana State was one five schools to place two players on the All-America first team.
