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Georgia, Michigan, TCU and Ohio State were chosen Sunday to play in the College Football Playoff, giving the Big Ten multiple teams in the four-team field for the first time. The defending national champion and top-ranked Bulldogs and fourth-seeded Buckeyes will meet Dec. 31 at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta. The second-seeded Wolverines and third-ranked Horned Frogs, the lone first-timer in the final four, will play at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, the same day.

The national championship game is scheduled for Jan. 10 at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and it could a rematch of Big Ten rivals Ohio State and Michigan. The rivalry dates to 1902, but the Buckeyes and Wolverines have never played outside of their annual regular-season game. With some drama, but not much controversy, the CFP selection committee’s top four fell into place over the championship weekend. The most interesting part of the unveiling was whether the committee would pair Michigan and Ohio State in the semifinals and if Alabama might be able to slip in as the first two-loss playoff team. In the end, the committee sprung no surprises. - AP College Football

rSo/2025

QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
News Source: AP College Football
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12/04/22 - DT Jalen Carter, Jr/2024, Georgia + More +

Georgia, Michigan, TCU and Ohio State were the top four in the final Associated Press college football poll of the regular season. The Bulldogs (13-0) are No. 1 for the ninth straight week and 12th time this season in the AP Top 25 presented by Regions Bank. Georgia received 62 first-place votes and Michigan (13-0) received the other one in the poll released Sunday. The final College Football Playoff rankings to set the four-team field for the national championship tournament was scheduled to be released later Sunday. TCU (12-1) remained third, despite losing for the first time this season in the Big 12 title game on Saturday. The Horned Frogs lost in overtime to Kanas State. The Buckeyes moved up a spot to No. 4, ahead of Alabama and Tennessee. Utah was No. 7 after beating Southern California in the Pac-12 championship game. The Trojans slipped four spots to No. 8. Penn State was ninth and Clemson stayed at No. 10 after winning the Atlantic Coast Conference title. - AP College Football

Jr/2024

DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
News Source: AP College Football
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12/04/22 - QB Grayson McCall, rJr/2024, Coastal Carolina + More +

Liberty is hiring Coastal Carolina's Jamey Chadwell to replace Hugh Freeze as the Flames' head coach. A person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Sunday that a deal was done but spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement from Liberty was still in the works. Freeze left Liberty after four years to accept the same position at Auburn. Chadwell has guided the Chanticleers to new heights over the past three seasons, leading them to a 31-6 record and consecutive bowl games.

The Chants appeared at No. 23 in the AP Top 25 but lost 47-7 at James Madison in their regular-season finale with starting quarterback and Sun Belt player of the year Grayson McCall sidelined. They were beat again Saturday, 45-26, by Troy in the Sun Belt Conference championship game. Chadwell also has guided programs at North Greenville, Delta State and Charleston Southern and has a career mark of 99-57 as a head coach. - AP College Football

rJr/2024

QB Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
News Source: AP College Football
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12/04/22 - FB Carson Steele, So/2025, Ball State + More +

The transfer portal is in full swing and Ball State's best player doesn't look like he'll be returning to Muncie next season. Sophomore running back Carson Steele, who finished the regular season sixth in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 1,556 rushing yards, announced his intention to enter the portal Saturday in a tweet, where he thanked God and Ball State's players, coaches and staff. "My family and I have decided that it would be best for me to enter the transfer portal for my remaining years of eligibility," Steele said in a tweet. "Again, I would like to say thank you to Ball State for the last two years and I wish nothing but success for their program as they move on."

Steele recorded 2,447 rushing yards, 323 receiving yards and 22 total touchdowns in his first two seasons. In Ball State single-season records, Steele finished third in rushing yards (1,556) and tied for third in touchdowns (14) this season. Steele is 10th in career rushing yards at Ball State. Steele isn't the first BSU player to enter the portal this season, but his decision is certainly the biggest blow for the Cardinals, who finished 5-7 in 2022, moving forward. - Star Press

So/2025

FB Carson Steele, Ball State
News Source: Star Press
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12/04/22 - RB Harrison Waylee, rSo/2025, Northern Illinois + More +

NIU running back Harrison Waylee announced Friday he was entering the transfer portal, the second year in a row the Huskies will have to replace the team's leading rusher. Last season, running back Jay Ducker ran for over 1,000 yards and was the MAC Freshman of the Year before transferring to Memphis. Coach Thomas Hammock could not be reached for comment. In a statement, Waylee thanked Hammock and the coaching staff for making his time with the Huskies a great experience. "Over the last three years I have grown as a player, student and person as a result of this community," Waylee said in the statement. Waylee played in all but one game this year, rushing for 899 yards and five touchdowns.

He was hurt after five games last year but still ran for 574 yards and four touchdowns, plus was the leading rusher in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. Waylee's injury last year paved the way for Ducker to take over as the lead back, running 218 times for 1,184 yards and three touchdowns. He was named the MAC Freshman of the Year and then transferred to Memphis, where he ran for 461 yards on 97 carries and five touchdowns this season. The Huskies won the MAC last year, but went 3-9 this year. - DeKalb Daily Chronicle

rSo/2025

RB Harrison Waylee, Northern Illinois
News Source: DeKalb Daily Chronicle
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12/04/22 - WR Arland Bruce IV, So/2025, Iowa + More +

Iowa football's busy off-season continued Friday when sophomore wide receiver Arland Bruce IV announced his decision to transfer via his Twitter account. Bruce becomes the fourth Iowa player to enter the NCAA transfer portal, joining quarterback Alex Padilla, wide receiver Keagan Johnson and offensive lineman Josh Volk. On Thursday night, Iowa received its first transfer portal entry when Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara announced his intent to transfer into the program.

Bruce, a former four-star recruit from Ankeny, totaled 44 catches for 396 yards and two touchdowns in addition to 22 rushes for 112 and four touchdowns on the ground over two seasons. He also served as a primary punt returner this season, returning 19 punts for 123 yards. In a season when Iowa's wide receivers were largely hampered by injuries, Bruce was the most consistent presence on the field. He appeared in all but one game and was the only healthy scholarship receiver available through Iowa's first two games. In that regard, he emerged as one of the leaders on Iowa's offense early in the season. - Iowa City Press-Citizen

So/2025

WR Arland Bruce IV, Iowa
News Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen
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12/04/22 - RB NayQuan Wright, rJr/2024, Florida + More +

Florida Gators running backs Nay'Quan Wright and Lorenzo Lingard are the latest two players to announce that they are entering the transfer portal next week. Wright was a starter and team captain in week one during Florida's 29-26 upset of No. 8 Utah, but eventually lost carries to Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne as the season progressed. He finished the season with 47 carries for 190 yards and 2 TDs. Overall, Wright finished with 688 yards and 3 rushing TDs in four seasons with the Gators, with 332 yards and 1 TD receiving. - Gainesville Sun

rJr/2024

RB NayQuan Wright, Florida
News Source: Gainesville Sun
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12/04/22 - QB KJ Jefferson, rJr/2024, Arkansas + More +

University of Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson warmed hearts on a cold day across the state by announcing on Friday he would return for his senior season in 2023. The draft-eligible redshirt junior from Sardis, Miss., has emerged as one of the nation's top quarterbacks in two seasons as the Arkansas starter. The Razorbacks are 15-8 in games Jefferson has started since the 6-3, 242-pounder took the reins in 2021. In the two games Jefferson missed this year, due to a concussion and a shoulder injury, respectively, the Razorbacks averaged 366 yards and 13.5 points in a 40-17 loss at Mississippi State and a 13-10 home loss to LSU.

With Jefferson in the lineup, the Razorbacks went 6-4, lost three games by two points and averaged 471.3 yards and 34.1 points per game. Jefferson has advanced into the top 10 in the UA record books in multiple categories, including fourth in touchdown responsibility with 63. The dual-threat quarterback owns the second- and third-best completion-percentage seasons in Arkansas history with his 68.3% this year and 67.3% in 2021. Feleipe Franks holds the school record with 68.5% completions in 2020. Jefferson can challenge that record with a strong performance in the Razorbacks' bowl game. - Northwest Arkansas Times

rJr/2024

QB KJ Jefferson, Arkansas
News Source: Northwest Arkansas Times
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12/04/22 - DT Jacob Slade, rSr/2023, Michigan State + More +

Jacob Slade decided to bypass an extra year of eligibility to turn pro, and Michigan State football's 2023 roster is beginning to take shape. The senior defensive tackle announced via Twitter on Saturday his plans to enter the NFL draft instead of returning to the Spartans for an extra season of eligibility available to him via NCAA waiver for 2020's COVID-afflicted season. Slade redshirted at MSU in 2018 and played the next four seasons, finishing this year with 20 tackles - 3 1/2 for a loss, plus half a sack - in eight games. The 6-foot-4, 305-pound native of Lewis Center, Ohio, missed four games with a right leg injury. In playing all 13 games last season, Slade had 40 tackles and 2½ sacks among his five tackles for a loss while collapsing the pocket at the point of attack with his strength. He finished his MSU career by starting 26 of his 42 games and getting 88 tackles, 11.5 for a loss, and four sacks. - Lansing State Journal

rSr/2023

DT Jacob Slade, Michigan State
News Source: Lansing State Journal
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12/04/22 - QB Drake Maye, rFr/2026, North Carolina + More +

North Carolina coach Mack Brown said Friday he does not expect quarterback Drake Maye to leave the Tar Heels this offseason through the transfer portal. "I don't think Drake will go anywhere because he's a Carolina family," Brown said at a news conference before Saturday's ACC championship game between Clemson and North Carolina. However, Brown said he had yet to have conversations with his players about their future plans. "This game is really important to us, so our coaches have been hesitant to say, 'Hey Ross, are you leaving, man? I know you've got to play Saturday night, but are you out of here? Are you going to play or are you going to stay?" Brown said. "So we'll have some guys playing tomorrow night that will probably be leaving on Monday, and that discussion will either come Sunday or Monday morning." Maye ranks fourth among FBS players in both passing yards per game (320.6) and passing touchdowns (35). The redshirt freshman is not eligible to enter the NFL draft until after the 2023 season. - Birmingham News

rFr/2026

QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
News Source: Birmingham News
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12/04/22 - WR Jamarye Joiner, rJr/2024, Arizona + More +

After five seasons playing for his hometown team, Jamarye Joiner will explore other opportunities beyond Tucson. The Arizona Wildcats wide receiver and former Cienega High School star announced on Friday that he will enter the NCAA transfer portal. Joiner will have one more season of eligibility as a graduate transfer. The 6-foot-1-inch, 220-pound Joiner was originally recruited by the Rich Rodriguez regime to play quarterback for the Wildcats. Rodriguez's successor, Kevin Sumlin, converted Joiner to wide receiver. Joiner had a breakout season in 2019, leading the Wildcats with 552 receiving yards and five touchdowns. In the second half of Joiner's career at the UA, he endured multiple surgeries for a Jones fracture in the same foot. - Arizona Star News

rJr/2024

WR Jamarye Joiner, Arizona
News Source: Arizona Star News
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12/04/22 - CB Denver Harris, Fr/2026, Texas AM + More +

Texas A&M; quarterback Haynes King and cornerback Denver Harris have entered the transfer portal, according to King's father, John King, and a social media post from Harris. Harris, a 247Sports.com five-star recruit from North Shore, had a short and turbulent stay in Aggieland. Harris was suspended twice during his only year at A&M;, once for the Miami game due to a violation of team rules and then for the remainder of the season after the Aggies' loss at South Carolina. According to the Houston Chronicle, Harris was one of four players suspended indefinitely for smoking a vape pen that contained marijuana inside the locker room and did not play in the final five games of the season. Harris played in five games for the Aggies, recording 14 tackles and three pass breakups. - Bryan/College Station Eagle

Fr/2026

CB Denver Harris, Texas AM
News Source: Bryan/College Station Eagle
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12/04/22 - WR Chase Penry, So/2025, Colorado + More +

Yet another Colorado football player is likely on his way out of Boulder. On Friday, receiver Chase Penry announced his intention to put his name into the NCAA transfer portal when the 45-window opens on Monday. Following a miserable season, the Buffs (1-11, 1-8 Pac-12) have already had five players announce their intention to enter the transfer portal. True freshman quarterback Owen McCown and fifth-year junior guard Casey Roddick announced their decisions earlier this week. Safety Isaiah Lewis and receiver Maurice Bell are also in the portal, but both are sixth-year seniors who need a medical hardship waiver to gain a seventh season and final year of eligibility. Penry played in 11 games a true freshman in 2021, catching eight passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. He also had three punt returns for 53 yards. - Daily Camera

So/2025

WR Chase Penry, Colorado
News Source: Daily Camera
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12/04/22 - WR Justin Shorter, rSr/2023, Florida + More +

Florida Gators wide receiver Justin Shorter announced on social media on Thursday that he will skip the bowl game to prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft. A transfer from Penn State, Shorter finished the 2022 season second on the Gators in receiving yardage with 29 catches for 577 yards and 2 TDs. He caught two long passes for touchdowns from quarterback Anthony Richardson - a 75-yard bomb against Eastern Washington and a 51-yard bomb against LSU. Shorter missed three of Florida's final four games with a hamstring injury. He finished his Florida career with 95 catches for 1,395 yards and 8 TDs. Shorter will take part in the East-West Shrine game, a showcase event for NFL-bound college players. Florida will be down two key receivers, Shorter and Daejon Reynolds, for the bowl game. Reynolds announced Wednesday he is putting his name in the transfer portal. - Gainesville Sun

rSr/2023

WR Justin Shorter, Florida
News Source: Gainesville Sun
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12/04/22 - DE Anthony Goodlow, rSr/2024, Tulsa + More +

The departures continue to pile up among University of Tulsa football players. Two more key defensive players announced their intentions to enter the NCAA transfer portal, while one of the supposed frontrunners to be named the next TU coach was on the verge of being hired elsewhere. Junior defensive end Anthony Goodlow and junior cornerback Kenney Solomon will each be leaving, while former Tulsa quarterback and current coach at Incarnate Word G.J. Kinne was expected to accept the head coaching job at Texas State. "After much consideration and speaking with friends and family, I have decided to enter the transfer portal for my last year of eligibility," Goodlow announced on social media Thursday afternoon. "Thank you Tulsa." Goodlow was a team captain who tied for seventh on the team with 44 tackles, ranking second in tackles for loss with eight and quarterback hurries with four, while also contributing two sacks (third) and two pass breakups. Goodlow was named to the All-AAC Second Team on Wednesday. - Tulsa World

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