Ralph D. Russo
WKRG
New York, United States
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Past articles by Ralph:
AP source: Notre Dame OC Tommy Rees heading for Alabama
Alabama is hiring Notre Dame assistant coach Tommy Rees to be its offensive coordinator, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Friday. → Read More
New commissioners thrust into conference realignment chaos
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Conference realignment is back on the table in college sports just as three Power Five conferences are breaking in relatively new commissioners. While the Big 12 is trying to keep Oklahoma and Texas from being poached by the Southeastern Conference, the Big Ten, Pac-12 and Atlantic Coast Conference could be challenged to […] → Read More
Could potential Texas/OU move tip realignment dominos?
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Barry Alvarez lived through the tidal wave of conference realignment that swept over college sports in the early 2010s as Wisconsin’s athletic director, watching the Big Ten grow to 14 teams from the Midwest to the East Coast. Another round of shuffling could be on the horizon, with Texas and Oklahoma initiating […] → Read More
AP Top 25 Podcast: Home or bowl? Tweaking CFP expansion plan
Home games or bowl games? The College Football Playoff expansion plan includes a few games played on campus, while also incorporating the major bowls. Why not play more games on home fields? On the latest AP Top 25 College Football Podcast, Rece Davis, host of ESPN’s “College GameDay,” joins AP’s Ralph Russo to talk about […] → Read More
Commissioners dig into CFP expansion plan, now seek feedback
ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — College Football Playoff expansion took another step forward as the full group of commissioners who manage the postseason system spent about six hours over two days digging into a proposed plan for a 12-team format. “This is the beginning of a long, ongoing process,” Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said Friday […] → Read More
CFP expansion will push conferences to reconsider divisions
ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — The proposed 12-team College Football Playoff would make winning a conference more important than ever, with six spots reserved for league champions. Every major college football conference plays a title game, but how the participants are determined — division winners or best overall records —- differs. On Thursday at the Big […] → Read More
AP Top 25 Podcast: Road to playoff expansion; What’s next?
There is a plan in place to expand the College Football Playoff from four teams to 12. It is a remarkable change for a sport that for decades seemed committed to using any other way possible to determine a national champion than a playoff. How did college football get here? On the latest AP Top […] → Read More
Lawmakers agree NCAA needs NIL help, but how much and when?
A federal law governing how college athletes can earn money off their fame and celebrity seems certain to pass — at some point. There is no real debate among lawmakers on Capitol Hill about whether athletes should be permitted to monetize their name, image and likeness. “There is broad consensus that Congress should pass a […] → Read More
AP Top 25 Podcast: Beware 2020 surprises heading into 2021
Indiana’s breakout was one of the stories of the 2020 football season. Don’t bank on the Hoosiers to top it in 2021. On the latest AP Top 25 College Football Podcast, ESPN’s Chris Fallica, the Bear from “College GameDay,” joins the AP’s Ralph Russo to examine the team win totals set by oddmakers for the […] → Read More
Democrats push bill allowing college athletes to organize
College athletes would have the right to organize and collectively bargain with schools and conferences under a bill introduced Thursday by Democrats in the House and Senate. Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) announced the College Athletes Right to Organize Act. A companion bill was introduced in the House by Reps. Jamaal […] → Read More
AP survey: ADs concerned NIL will skew competitive balance
College athletes will someday soon be permitted to be paid sponsors, social media influencers and product endorsers. Change is imminent, but not everyone in college sports believes it is for the better as athletes get closer to earning money from third parties for use of their name, image or likeness (NIL). In an Associated Press […] → Read More
With NIL reform in limbo, NCAA heading toward busy June
The NCAA’s efforts to allow athletes to earn money from personal endorsement and sponsorship deals are stuck in limbo, and June is shaping up to be a potentially busy and important month for college sports. “My anniversary is June 24. And every year my wife and I take a vacation right around June 24,” NCAA […] → Read More
Stuck in quarantine, Virginia has spot in tournament waiting
Virginia has a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Whether the Cavaliers can get to Indianapolis with enough available players is to be determined. Virginia was forced to withdraw from the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament semifinals Friday because a person with the team tested positive for COVID-19. Coach Tony Bennett said Sunday night there were no […] → Read More
AP Top 25 Podcast: College football’s biggest underachievers
Tennessee’s turmoil. Southern California’s struggles. Nebraska’s search for an identity in a changing college football landscape. What programs are the biggest underachievers and why? On the latest AP Top 25 College Football Podcast, Steven Godfrey of Banner Society joins the AP’s Ralph Russo to take on the task of finding each conference’s most egregious underachiever. […] → Read More
AP Top 25 Podcast: Sarkisian’s road from rehab to Texas
Steve Sarkisian was out of college football five years ago, having lost a dream job because of his struggles with alcoholism. Now Sarkisian is a head coach again, landing the job at Texas after helping Alabama win a national championship as offensive coordinator. On the latest AP Top 25 College Football Podcast, Coach Sark joins […] → Read More
AP Top 25 Podcast: Tennessee’s deep hole; Scott’s legacy
The offseason started but the college football news never stops. Tennessee has made a coaching change and the Pac-12 is looking for a new commissioner. On the latest AP Top 25 College Football Podcast, Andy Staples from The Athletic joins AP’s Ralph Russo to discuss the Volunteers’ tricky situation and Larry Scott’s legacy. The new […] → Read More
After DOJ warning, NCAA to delay vote on compensation rules
MIAMI (AP) — The NCAA is set to delay a potential landmark vote on legislation that would permit college athletes to be compensated for their fame for the first time after the association received a warning from the Department of Justice about potential antitrust violations. NCAA President Mark Emmert on Saturday emailed a letter to […] → Read More
Reported virus issues at Ohio St raise specter of CFP delay
College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock said Tuesday the national championship game between Alabama and Ohio State is still a go for Monday night amid a report that the Buckeyes are having COVID-19 issues. AL.com reported that Ohio State has been in contact with CFP officials about possible player availability problems that could force […] → Read More
Ohio State without starting G Miller, RB Teague vs. Clemson
Ohio State will be without starting guard Harry Miller, second-leading rusher Master Teague and defensive ends Zach Harrison and Tyler Friday in the Sugar Bowl against Clemson on Friday night. Ohio State released a list of 16 players who are unavailable for the College Football Playoff semifinal. As it has done all year, the school […] → Read More
Sacrifice and stress: How players handled season of COVID-19
The Saturday night after winning an afternoon home game is one of the best times to be a college football player. Family and loved ones usually await with congratulatory hugs. Then there is a nice dinner, and maybe more celebrating with teammates and friends. Few things get a college town hopping like a football victory. […] → Read More