(AP) – There are plenty of Chip Kelly subplots in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal Rose Bowl game between No. 8 seed Ohio State and No. 1 seed Oregon. The game at the historic stadium will be a homecoming for Kelly, who left UCLA in February after six seasons to become Ohio State’s offensive coordinator. With Kelly calling plays, Ohio State ranks 11th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 36 points per game, and 32nd in total offensive yards with 427.3 yards per game. Kelly also served as head coach at Oregon State for four seasons, compiling a 46-7 record before leaving for the NFL in 2013. Kelly is winless in six games against the Ducks, including a prime-time game against Eugene on Oct. 12.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — When Penn State quarterback Drew Aller gets praised, it’s usually a backhanded compliment. He is said to be a good game manager, staying within himself or not trying to do too much. They say he may not be flashy, but he gives the team a chance to win. And the one thing that can be said about Penn State since Aller came under center is that the Nittany Lions have won games. There are many. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that, considering the lukewarm reactions he often receives from fans. The polarizing Aller will have another chance to quiet his critics Tuesday when Penn State plays Boise State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Fiesta Bowl.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Penn State coach James Franklin believes college football needs a commissioner and has former Alabama coach Nick Saban in mind as a candidate. There is. Franklin made the suggestion Sunday at Penn State’s College Football Playoff quarterfinal media day ahead of the Fiesta Bowl. The sixth-seeded Nittany Lions are preparing for Tuesday’s game against third-seeded Boise State. The veteran coach was responding to a question before the playoffs about Penn State’s backup quarterback situation after Bo Pribula transferred to Missouri. Pribula’s decision highlights some of the frustrating aspects of the new college football world of the era of name, image and likeness and the transfer portal, where players are forced to make difficult decisions at inopportune times.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Brayden Smith had 34 points and 12 assists and No. 21 Purdue beat Toledo 83-64. Smith sank 12 of 22 for the Boilermakers (9-4), including 6 of 13 from 3-point range. For Purdue, Trey Kaufman-Len had 23 points on 11-of-14 shooting and Fletcher Royer added 17 points. Smith scored 17 points in the first half, leading Purdue to halftime with a 39-28 advantage. Purdue used an 18-2 spurt to take a 28-14 lead with 5:39 left in the first half.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lauren Betts scored 21 points in her return, Kiki Rice added 18 points and top-ranked UCLA defeated Nebraska 91-54 in its Big Ten home opener. Betts returned after missing two games with a foot injury on Dec. 14 against Long Beach State. She grabbed eight rebounds and helped the Bruins dominate the boards 48-18. UCLA improved to 13-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten. It was the Bruins’ first game in nine days, but they showed no signs of rust. Amir Hargrove led Nebraska with 12 points. The Cornhuskers lost 10-3, 1-1. Leading scorer Alexis Murkowski was held to three points despite committing four fouls.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – JuJu Watkins scored 31 points on 13-of-14 free throws and No. 4 Southern California defeated No. 23 Michigan 78-58 in the Trojans’ Big Ten home opener. Ta. Watkins had five rebounds, seven assists, three steals and three blocks. Kiki Iliafen added 18 points for the Trojans, who improved to 12-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten. Watkins and Iriafen combined for USC’s first 16 points in the fourth quarter. Jordan Hobbs led the Wolverines with 19 points. She scored 14 points in a row in the second quarter, putting Michigan within three points at halftime. The Wolverines lost 10-3, 1-1.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kylan Boswell had 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists and Tomislav Ivicic had 23 points to lead No. 24 Illinois to a 117-64 victory over winless Chicago State. . Boswell was one assist away from his first career triple-double, scoring with 1:47 remaining when he made a pass that set up Keaton Kutcher’s 3-pointer. He became the seventh triple-double in program history. Gabe Spinelli, son of Chicago State coach Scott Spinelli, led the Cougars with 20 points.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Miles Rice scored 18 points to lead Indiana to a 77-68 victory over Winthrop. Rice made 7 of 13 shots and all 4 of his free throws for the Hoosiers (10-3), who held the Eagles (10-5) scoreless at home with 3:16 remaining to make it 9-0. The match ended with a loss and a high score. victory. He added four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Malik Renaud totaled 14 points and seven rebounds for Indiana. Trey Galloway added 11 points and five assists. Langdon Hatton had a game-high 11 rebounds off the bench and scored seven points. KJ Doucette and Kasen Harrison both scored 14 points to lead Winthrop, which fell to 1-4 on the road.
