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Football Preview 2016

Franklin Still Trying Get Penn State on Top

By TRACY WATSON STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State is a team in the Big Ten that could really make some noise in 2016,. But Coach James Franklin’s squad is also one that could struggle and fall by the wayside early on. Franklin has guided the Nittany Lions to a 14-12 record during his first two seasons, but has only a 6-10 conference record, something that needs to improve quickly. Penn State had a five-game winning streak in 2015, winning seven of eight games at one point, but dropped its final three regular-season games before falling to Georgia by a 24-17 margin in the ...

Alabama, SEC Trying to Stay in NCAA Penthouse

JOHN ZENOR AP Sports Writer A postseason rampage put both Alabama and the Southeastern Conference back on top in college football last season. Now, the trick will be staying there with three new coaches in the East and quarterback uncertainty across much of the league, including at ‘Bama. The Crimson Tide is once again the team to beat in the league, and perhaps nationally, after claiming the SEC’s eighth national title in 10 seasons. That broke a two-year drought for the league, which went 9-2 in the postseason counting the Tide’s playoff wins over Michigan State and ...

Healthy Hilltoppers Ready to Turn Up the Heat

By DON CLEGG WEST LIBERTY — A West Liberty University team that suffered third-degree burns from injuries a year ago is ready to turn up the heat on its Mountain East Conference opponents this fall. Coach Roger Waialae welcomes back 15 starters and 42 lettermen from his 2015 Hilltoppers squad that opened with a victory against a Top-10 opponent only to see its season derailed by mounting injuries along the offensive line and in the defensive secondary. Despite the adversity, the Black and Gold still finished with a 5-6 mark, 5-5 in the MEC. Adding to the frustration ...

C-USA Coaches in Favor of 13-Team League

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer IRVING, Texas — Conference USA goes into a new season with no changes in its lineup of teams for the first time since 2012. The league has the same 13 teams that competed for the title last season, including defending champion Western Kentucky. There will be at least one change in 2017 with UAB’s return after a two-season hiatus, and who knows what happens if there is another national shift of teams. The Big 12, a Power Five conference headquartered just around the corner from the C-USA office, is considering expansion of its ...

Shepherd, MEC are Strong

By DON CLEGG The Mountain East Conference may be the youngest league on the NCAA Division II landscape but the needle is definitely pointing up as it kicks off its fourth year on the gridiron. Shepherd got the ball rolling in 2013 when it won the first MEC championship and advanced to the national quarterfinals. Concord topped that a year later when the Mountain Lions followed up an undefeated conference title with a Region One crown and made it to the national semifinals. Two MEC teams earned playoff berths last year with Charleston joining unbeaten regular ...

The Power Remains In Big Ten East Division

ERIC OLSON AP College Football Writer The big change in the Big Ten is the move to the nine-game conference schedule. What doesn’t figure to change is the dominance of the East Division. Ohio State, Michigan and defending champion Michigan State all are positioned to make runs at being national top-10 teams, if not College Football Playoff contenders. Iowa’s amazing 12-0 regular season in 2015 notwithstanding, this looks like another year when the West will play in the East’s considerable shadow. The Big Ten attempted to create balance when it split into ...