College Football News Roundup – December 30


A college football news roundup that includes a coaching legend passing away and Jim Leavitt having an interesting clause in his Oregon contract.


This is my last roundup of 2016, and I’m starting to get emotional. You all have put up with my one paragraph ramblings this whole time – and it will continue into 2017 – and it feels like I am writing to people I know. It is either that, or the bourbon has really started to kick in tonight.

In college football news, CI’s Robert Judin tells us his thoughts before the big Under Armour All-America Game, our Jeff Bartl tells us why Brian Kelly leaving Notre Dame would be better for the Irish, and we take a look at why Monday’s Sugar Bowl could be the last time Sean White starts at quarterback for Auburn. Here are some other newsworthy notes in the latest college football news roundup.

Dabo Speaks Up – After Clemson safety Jadar Johnson had some words to say about Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett, mostly that he isn’t the best quarterback the Tigers have faced this season, head coach Dabo Swinney said that move might not be so intelligent.

“Not real smart,” Swinney said. “He better play well.”

R.I.P. – In a year that has taken way too many, a college football legend left us on Thursday as former BYU head coach LaVell Edwards passed away at the age of 86. During his almost 30 years in Provo, the Cougars went 257-103-3 and won the 1984 national championship. The stadium is currently named for Edwards.

Bill Snyder’s Replacement? – Maybe this is reading too deeply into the tea leaves, but is Jim Leavitt set replace Bill Snyder when The Wizard retires? A clause in Leavitt’s new contract as Oregon’s defensive coordinator states that there will be no buyout required should he voluntarily leave the Ducks to become head coach at Kansas State. For every other school, Leavitt would owe $500,000 if he leaves before January 31, 2018 – a figure that drops to $250,000 thereafter. Leavitt coached with Snyder as a graduate assistant at Missouri, and served as Snyder’s linebackers coach and DC at KSU from 1990-1995.

MORE: Best Alternate Uniforms From 2016 Regular Season