MURRAY, Ky. (AP) -- Preston Rice threw for one touchdown and ran for another and Murray State beat UT Martin 14-10 in a spring opener to give Dean Hood his first win as the Racers' new head coach.

CARBONDALE, IL -- Javon Williams Jr. and Romeir Elliott each had a pair of touchdown runs, and Southern Illinois beat top-ranked North Dakota State 38-14 that ended the Bison's 39-game winning streak.

MARTIN, TN -- Westview junior standout quarterback Ty Simpson finally made it official on Friday afternoon when he announced that he would be committing to the University of Alabama to play college football.

The board also approved more than $21 million in guaranteed contracts for Sarkisian's staff.

Tommy Schuster threw three touchdown passes, Otis Weah had 91 yards rushing and a score, and North Dakota beat Southern Illinois 44-21 in a FCS spring season opener.

With the Ohio Valley Conference scheduled to open their spring football season this Sunday, today the OVC announced the postponement of two conference games due to winter storms. Their statement reads:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Florida coach Dan Mullen finally acknowledged making some "regrettable'' comments last year.

Lawrence is expected to be the No. 1 overall selection in April by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have the top pick.

The College Football Hall of Famer was hired by the program in December and returned to campus Jan. 4.

Though there is still much to be sorted out when it comes to whether and how college players will be permitted to profit from their names, images and likenesses, Electronic Arts has already taken steps to relaunch the popular franchise.

PADUCAH, KY -- Westview junior quarterback Ty Simpson is set to make an announcement on which college he will attend on February 19th.

PADUCAH, KY -- Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State formally announced on Friday afternoon that they would be leaving the Ohio Valley Conference for the Atlantic Sun Conference starting on July 1st.

Bielema has spent much of his time since arriving last month trying to sell experienced older players on returning for the 2021 season.

New athletic director Danny White announced Wednesday that he has hired Heupel as Tennessee's 27th head coach overall.

The league announced the move Tuesday with Nashville now rescheduled to host media days in 2023.

The announcement Thursday comes just three days after the firing of football coach Jeremy Pruitt and athletic director Phillip Fulmer's retirement.

The players all entered their names in a 27-minute span.

Chancellor Donde Plowman said Pruitt was responsible for overseeing the program.

The university has been conducting an internal investigation into allegations of recruiting violations since at least the middle of November.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) -- No. 1 Alabama has won the College Football Playoff national championship game 52-24 against No. 3 Ohio State.

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence says he is leaving school and declaring for the NFL draft in which he will likely be the first overall selection.

Smith broke the monopoly quarterbacks have had on college football's most prestigious award by beating out three of them.

College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock says the national championship game between Alabama and Ohio State is still a go for Monday night.

Tennessee cornerback Bryce Thompson has declared early for the NFL draft, saying he feels ready for the challenge as he tries to fulfill his lifelong dream.

Wilson announced his intention to transfer in an Instagram post in which he thanked his Kentucky coaches and teammates.

A.J. Rose ran for a career-high 148 yards, Chris Rodriguez added 84 yards and two scores, and Kentucky held off No. 24 North Carolina State 23-21 in a chippy TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Alabama is rolling into another College Football Playoff championship game.

Graham Mertz accounted for three touchdowns and Wisconsin turned four second-half interceptions into 21 points to beat Wake Forest 42-28 in the Duke's Mayo Bowl.

The gift comes less than a month after the Board of Curators approved a study for construction of the new practice area.

NASHVILLE, TN -- The Music City Bowl between Missouri and Iowa that was scheduled for Wednesday has been canceled because COVID-19 issues left the Tigers unable to play.

Subbing for the national leader in rushing yards per game, Jaret Patterson, Marks carried 35 time for 138 yards for the Bulls against one of the nation's top run defenses.

The team's next scheduled game was against Louisville on Thursday.

Bryan Harsin got a quick lesson in priorities at Auburn.

The Heisman will be awarded Jan. 5 during a virtual ceremony as the pandemic forced the cancellation of the usual trip to New York that for the presentation that usually comes with being a finalist.

Auburn has hired Boise State's Bryan Harsin as its head football coach, luring him away from his alma mater and into the powerful Southeastern Conference.

Next year's football game between service-academy rivals Air Force and Navy has been moved to Sept. 11 in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Tennessee paused all football activities after Sunday test results.

The seniors voted to keep practicing in case another invitation is offered.

New Illinois football coach Bret Bielema hopes to have a coaching staff in place by early January.

Kentucky Football is headed to warmer temperatures for its fifth straight postseason trip. The Wildcats have accepted a bid to play in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and will face NC State Jan. 2 in Jacksonville, Florida. 

AP College Football Writer -- Notre Dame was picked over Texas A&M for the final College Football Playoff spot and will face Alabama in the semifinals. Clemson will play Ohio State in the CFP for the third time.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Kellen Mond threw for 281 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 59 yards and a score to lead Texas A&M closed its case for inclusion in the College Football Playoff with a 34-13 victory over Tennessee.

The Sun Belt Conference football championship game Saturday between No. 9 Coastal Carolina and No. 17 Louisiana-Lafayette was canceled Thursday because of a positive COVID-19 test within the Coastal Carolina program.

A bill being introduced by four Democratic lawmakers would grant college athletes sweeping rights to compensation and create a federal commission on college athletics.

Check out which local players made their college choices official.

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 first top-10 shakeup in more than a month pushed Coastal Carolina to No. 9 in The Associated Press college football poll.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Sarah Fuller has a football keepsake from her history-making moment.