When coach Jim McElwain took over at Florida, he inherited one of the Southeastern Conference’s stingiest defenses. The unit got even better during McElwain’s first two seasons in Gainesville. The Gators finished eighth in yards allowed in 2015 and fifth last year, no question the main reason they played for back-to-back conference championships.
Most of the Miami, Florida State and Florida players were chosen at or near their projections in the NFL Draft with two glaring exceptions. Yes, Dalvin Cook was thought to be a first-rounder, but the other state players drafted in the second or third round went as expected. The exceptions were Florida defensive tackle Caleb Brantley and Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya. Brantley was not taken until the first pick of the 6th round by the Cleveland Browns while Kaaya lasted…
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly is confident he will be back next year after the Fighting Irish wrapped up a disappointing season with a blowout loss at Southern California on Saturday. Kelly won at least eight games in each of his first six seasons, but the Irish finished 4-8 this season, culminating in a 45-27 loss to the No. 12 Trojans. Kelly scrapped his usual late-November itinerary of recruiting in California after facing the Trojans to return to South Bend,…
The fifth week of the season was supposed to provide some separation from contenders and pretenders. It certainly did in the Pac-12 North and SEC East. In the ACC Atlantic, just little. Thoughts, takedowns and takeaways from the first college football weekend in 14 seasons with three games matching top-10 teams: 1. No. 5 Clemson won what could end up being the game of the year, but you can start engraving Lamar Jackson‘s name on the Heisman Trophy. He has…
Florida State will be featured on this season’s all-access football series on Showtime. The premium cable channel announced Tuesday that “A Season with Florida State Football” will debut on Sept. 6 at 10 p.m. EST. That is the night after the Seminoles season opener against Mississippi in Orlando. Stephen Espinoza, the executive vice president of Showtime Sports, said Florida State was one of the programs they were considering last year before deciding on Notre Dame. This year the network was…
Defending national champion Ohio State finished its season looking as if it should have been a contender again. The Buckeyes drilled Notre Dame, 44-28, in Friday’s Fiesta Bowl. Star running back Ezekial Elliot rushed for 149 yards and four scores to lead Ohio State, which led 28-14 at the half and coasted. Quarterback J.T. Barrett added 211 yards passing and another touchdown. For Notre Dame, DeShone Kizer threw for 284 yards and two scores. Will Fuller caught six passes for…
