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ATLANTA (AP) — A familiar face was missing as the playoff coaches gathered at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide failed to make the four-team playoff for the first time since it was instituted during the 2014 season. Saban's absence was noted by coaches Dabo Swinney of Clemson and Lincoln Riley of Oklahoma. Both said it was strange to attend a playoff news conference that didn't include Saban. LSU's Ed Orgeron was also back in Atlanta, a few days after winning the SEC title. But Ohio State's Ryan Day was a no-show because of travel delays.
NEW YORK (AP) — Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott says an expanded College Football Playoff would alleviate the pressure it puts on conferences that get left out. He also says there is no urgency to change the four-team format. There are discussions what the playoff might look like in the future. But Scott says he wants to manage expectations about when expansion might actually happen. The Pac-12 has not made the playoff in the past three seasons. He says being left out is “harmful” to the conference.
UNDATED (AP) — LSU quarterback Joe Burrow is The Associated Press college football player of the year in a landslide. He is the first LSU players to win the 21-year-old award. Burrow has led the top-ranked Tigers to an unbeaten season and their first College Football Playoff appearance. He received 51 of 54 first-place votes from AP Top 25 poll voters and a total of 159 points. Ohio State defensive end Chase Young was second with three first-place votes and 69 points. Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields was third with 43 points. Burrow, Young, Fields and Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts are also the finalists for the Heisman Trophy.
COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Dalvin Cook and Derwin James have been close friends since they first met at Florida State. The physical running back and the fearsome safety forged a lifelong bond through countless hours of football practice and football video games. Cook and James spent two years together with the Seminoles before Cook headed to the NFL, landing with the Minnesota Vikings. James followed a year later, joining the Los Angeles Chargers. They'll finally face each other in opposing jerseys this weekend. Cook's Vikings desperately need a win to stay in the NFC wild-card playoff picture when they visit James' Chargers.
UNDATED (AP) — Syracuse has struggled so far this season, losing four of its first eight games to Power Five teams, each by double digits. The 4-4 start was the worst by the Orange in Jim Boeheim's 44 years as head coach. A lopsided victory over Bucknell during that span and another last Saturday against Atlantic Coast Conference foe Georgia Tech on the road puts them at 5-4. Boeheim knows it's a work in progress with no seniors and five freshmen on the roster. He thinks the Orange will get better. Syracuse visits Georgetown on Saturday.
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