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A college football news roundup that includes Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon saying he will be honest with NFL scouts about the punching incident and USF head coach Charlie Strong hiring a familiar face.

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Is there anything more exciting than beating a country in a sport that they invented and live for? That USA hockey win over Canada in the World Junior Championship has me sending the rockets red glaring and the bombs bursting in the air. U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

In college football news, Minnesota has hired Western Michigan’s P.J. Fleck as head coach, UCLA head coach Jim Mora had some interesting words about spread offenses, and we give reasons why Clemson will win the College Football Playoff National Championship Game this Monday. Here are some other newsworthy notes in the latest college football news roundup.

Mixon Speaks – Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon has decided to enter the NFL Draft following a tumultuous few seasons in Norman that included being suspended for the 2014 season for punching a woman. According to Mixon, he will be honest with the NFL teams wanting to draft him.

“I’m going to tell them the complete truth,” Mixon said. “That it’s never OK to be in the situation I was in or to ever hit a woman. I’m looking for them to get to know the actual me.”

Reunited And It … Well, You Know – New USF head coach Charlie Strong will have a familiar man running his offense as he has hired Sterlin Gilbert as the Bulls offensive coordinator.

Gilbert served under Strong in the same role at Texas this past season, in which the Longhorns finished No. 16 in the nation in total offense. He will take over a unit that features AAC Player of the Year quarterback Quinton Flowers.

Leave The Damn Trees Alone – After setting fire to the new Toomer’s Corner oak trees in Auburn, Jochen Wiest has pleaded guilty to criminal mischief.

Wiest lit the trees, which were covered in toilet paper as part of the traditional celebration, after Auburn had defeated LSU, 18-13. He will pay $20,000 in restitution and has avoided jail time.

Harvey Updyke sends his regards to Mr. Wiest.

MORE: Alabama vs. Clemson Prediction, College Football Playoff National Championship Preview