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Bowl selection winners and losers: CFP selections reflect coming reality where Big Ten and SEC dominate the sport

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:41:12 GMT

The final year of the four-team College Football Playoff offers two sizzling matchups, one major controversy and a glimpse into college football’s next iteration.The era of SEC and Big Ten hegemony, which officially begins next season when the conferences add a slew of powerhouse programs, is already underway.Who won Sunday with the reveal of the playoff and bowl pairings?The Big Ten, because Michigan is the No. 1 seed.The SEC, because one-loss Alabama snuck in at the expense of undefeated Florida State.The other two teams in the semifinals? Washington, which is leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, and Texas, which is leaving the Big 12 for the SEC.All four participants will be in the two richest conferences at this time next year.The other leagues are left with nothing but frustration and destruction.The Pac-12 (as we know it) is going away.The Big 12 is losing its blue bloods.And the ACC would be concerned about the landscape if it weren’t outraged over Florida State, its 13-...

Instant analysis of 49ers’ 42-19 victorious visit to Philadelphia Eagles

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:41:12 GMT

PHILADELPHIA – Last time here, George Kittle lamented the 49ers’ NFC Championship Game loss with a statement that would essentially define their triumphant 42-19 return Sunday.“You didn’t really get to see all the 49er football that we wanted to put out there on tape,” Kittle said after January’s 31-7 loss. “But life kind of just punches you in the face sometimes.”Sunday, the 49ers scored touchdowns on six consecutive possessions to seize control, and, along the way, Dre Greenlaw punched – or at least poked – the face of the Eagles’ security chief in a sideline scrap that merely paused the 49ers’ momentum.Scoring three of those touchdowns was Deebo Samuel, the 49ers’ most vocal critic of the Eagles after last season’s loss, in which quarterback Brock Purdy sustained a torn elbow ligament that rendered the offense toothless.Purdy added to this vibrant comeback by outperforming his Eagles’ counterpart, Jalen Hurts, who briefly got knocked out of the game ...

49ers Studs and Duds: Offensive perfection, defensive dominance vs. Eagles prove Niners are NFC’s best

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:41:12 GMT

PHILADELPHIA — Let there be no doubt who the top team in the NFC is.It’s the San Francisco 49ers.How couldn’t it be after they have blown out the two top contenders for the crown on their schedule?First, Dallas fell in Week 5.Sunday, the Eagles received the complete treatment from Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers in a rematch of the NFC Championship Game.The 42-19 win was as comprehensive a victory as you will ever see between two great teams.And it feels unfair to limit the “Studs” in this space to anything less than 25. STUDSIn no particular orderRelated ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: The 49ers have unfinished business in Philadelphia. The Eagles have bad blood. This should be epic San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: The Eagles’ ‘Tush Push’ is the NFL’s best play. The 49ers know the secret to stopping it San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: Inside the Brock Purdy-Brandon Aiyuk relationship ...

No. 3 Stanford women lose to Gonzaga in battle of previously unbeaten teams

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:41:12 GMT

By HENRY KRUEGER | Associated PressSPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Brynna Maxwell scored a season-high 27 points, Yvonne Ejim added 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Gonzaga handed No. 3 Stanford its worst loss in nearly four years beating the Cardinal 96-78 on Sunday.The Bulldogs (8-2) won their 24th straight home game and beat the Cardinal for only the third time in 16 games. Gonzaga last beat Stanford in 2018 in what’s become an almost yearly matchup between the private West Coast schools.Stanford’s perfect start to the season came crashing down behind a barrage of hot shooting by the Bulldogs. Gonzaga finished with five players in double figures, shot 54% and hit 10 3-pointers.Maud Huijbens scored 15 points for the Bulldogs, while Kaylynne Truong added 10 points, four assists and four rebounds. Eliza Hollingsworth also finished with 10 points.Courtney Ogden, Hannah Jump and Nunu Agara led Stanford (8-1) with 13 points each. Leading scorer Cameron Brink finished with just 10 point...

Brock Purdy throws 4 TDs as 49ers thump Eagles 42-19

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:41:12 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Brock Purdy threw for 314 yards and four touchdowns, Deebo Samuel scored three TDs and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was checked for a concussion in the San Francisco 49ers’ 42-19 win over Philadelphia on Sunday night.The fiery NFC championship game rematch also featured 49ers' touchdowns on six straight possessions and a pair of ejections that showed this year’s title game might not run again through Philly, after all. 49ers QB Brock Purdy reveals his In-N-Out order The 49ers (9-3) left Philly 10 months ago battered in the NFC championship game behind injuries to Purdy and his backup, and they never stood a chance in a 31-7 loss. The 49ers spent an offseason chirping at the Birds — Samuel called one Eagles cornerback “trash” — and then entered the Linc as a rare betting favorite against a 10-win team at home.The Eagles (10-2) suffered a scare when Hurts jogged off the field in the fourth and went straight to the locker ...

Georgia State, Utah State look to post winning season when they meet at the Potato Bowl

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:41:12 GMT

Georgia State (6-6, Sun Belt) vs. Utah State (6-6, Mountain West), Dec. 23, 3:30 p.m. ETLOCATION: Boise, IdahoTOP PLAYERSGeorgia State: RB Marcus Carroll, 1,350 yards rushing, 13 touchdowns. Utah State: WR Jalen Royals, 68 receptions, 1,023 yards receiving, 14 touchdowns. NOTABLEGeorgia State: The Panthers started the season 6-1 before losing their final five games. After averaging more than 32 points in its first seven game, Georgia State has only averaged 19 during its losing streak. Utah State: The Aggies faced six bowl teams this season including No. 20 Iowa and Mountain West champion Boise State. LAST TIMEFirst meeting. BOWL HISTORYGeorgia State: First appearance in the Potato Bowl, sixth time in the postseason in program history. Utah State: Fifth appearance in the Potato Bowl, 17th bowl trip in school history. ___Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://...

Appalachian State stuns Auburn 69-64 behind clutch shooting from Myles Tate

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:41:12 GMT

BOONE, N.C. (AP) — Myles Tate came off the bench to score a season-high 18 points, including Appalachian State’s final five points in the last minute, and the Mountaineers surprised Auburn 69-64 on Sunday.Tate, a junior in his first season since transferring from Butler, last scored as many as 18 points in his freshman season.Terence Harcum and Donovan Gregory scored 12 points each and CJ Huntley added 10 off the bench for Appalachian State (6-2).Jordan Marsh scored seven points and Harcum and Christopher Mantis hit 3-pointers in an extended 15-7 run that left the Mountaineers with a 60-49 lead with nine minutes left in the game.The Tigers fought back and a 3-pointer by Tre Donaldson got them within 62-59 near the four-minute mark. Auburn got within three again in the final minute before Tate hit a clutch step-back 3-pointer that gave Appalachian State a 67-61 lead with 33 seconds left. Another 3-pointer by Donaldson made it 67-64, then Tate added two free throws for the 69-64...

Streaking Boise State, struggling UCLA to meet in Bruins’ backyard in LA Bowl

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:41:12 GMT

Boise State (8-5, Mountain West) vs. UCLA (7-5, Pac-12), Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m. ETLOCATION: Inglewood, Calif.TOP PLAYERSBoise State: RB Ashton Jeanty, 1,113 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns.UCLA: DL Laiatu Latu, tied for fourth nationally with 13 sacks. NOTABLEBoise State: Spencer Danielson, who guided the Broncos to three straight wins as interim coach after Andy Avalos was fired, was named the new coach Sunday.UCLA: The Bruins led the nation against the run, allowing 69.6 yards per game, and were 11th nationally in total defense, allowing 299 ypg.LAST TIMEUCLA 38, Boise State 7 in Pasadena in 1999.BOWL HISTORYBoise State: First appearance in the LA bowl and their 21st consecutive bowl appearance as an FBS program.UCLA: First appearance in the LA Bowl and 38th bowl appearance overall.___Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-pollSource

College Football: Maryland, Virginia Tech and James Madison all headed to the bowls

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:41:12 GMT

James Madison quarterback Brett Griffis warms up before an NCAA college football game against Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)(AP/Nell Redmond) James Madison quarterback Brett Griffis warms up before an NCAA college football game against Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)(AP/Nell Redmond) Maryland, Virginia Tech and James Madison football all got invitations to play in upcoming bowl games later on this month.Maryland will play in the Music City Bowl against Auburn on Dec. 30 in Nashville, Tennessee, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. It’s the third straight season the Terrapins (7-5) are participating in a bowl game.Ja...

Southern stuns No. 21 Mississippi State, closing with 12-0 run for 60-59 victory

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:41:12 GMT

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Tai’Reon Joseph scored 27 points and blocked Mississippi State’s final shot as Southern closed on a 12-0 run to stun the No. 21 Bulldogs 60-59 on Sunday.Down 59-48 with 4:28 remaining, the Jaguars (2-6) took the lead with 23 seconds left on Brandon Davis’ layup. With three seconds left, Joseph blocked Josh Hubbard’s shot to hand Mississippi State (6-2) its second straight loss.Joseph was 11 of 21 from the field. Davis had 12 points — five during the 12-0 run.The Jaguars have faced a tough nonconference schedule to help finance the athletic department, also playing at No. 2 Arizona, No. 3 Marquette and No. 24 Illinois. Their other victory of the season was at UNLV.Hubbard led Mississippi State with 14 points, and Cameron Matthews had 12. The Bulldogs also lost at Georgia Tech on Tuesday night in the ACC/SEC Challenge.NO. 15 CREIGHTON 89, NEBRASKA 60LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Baylor Scheierman scored 20 of his 24 points in the first half to help Creighton build a 15...