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☆ Kirk Cousins: Atlanta Falcons pick QB Michael Penix Jr. in NFL Draft. Current starter’s camp ‘had no idea’ of surprise move
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Atlanta Falcons surprised the NFL world on Thursday, selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. They also expressed their excitement in having someone to help them win right now in the former Minnesota Vikings QB, while also being able to build for the future with Penix Jr. Morris said that Cousins’ reaction when he was informed that the team would be selecting Penix Jr. would remain private. The Falcons are hoping a similar tactic works for them, now that Cousins and Penix Jr. are at the franchise. Penix Jr. performs in the 2024 NFL Combine.

Persons: Michael Penix Jr, Kirk Cousins, Cousins, Penix Jr, Mike McCartney, ” McCartney, Mike Garafolo, “, Kirk, Terry Fontenot, Raheem Morris, Morris, Penix, ” Morris, “ It’s, ” Cousins, Mike Stewart, Jordan Love, Aaron Rodgers, Rodgers, grumbled, Love, that’s, Kirby Lee, Kirk’s, Michael, ” Penix, Patrick Mahomes Organizations: CNN, The Atlanta Falcons, NFL, Falcons, Atlanta, Minnesota Vikings QB, Packers, New York Jets, National Football League, USA, Reuters, Washington, FBS Locations: New York, Cousins, Indiana, Washington

18 Iowa 26-0 for its third straight Big Ten title game, a third straight playoff berth and likely the top seed in the College Football Playoff. 8 Alabama in the Southeastern Conference title game, Michigan (13-0, No. Deacon Hill was 18 of 32 with 120 yards and the Hawkeyes rushed for 35 yards on 24 carries. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak and marked the second in three years Iowa lost the title game to Michigan by more than 25 points. Michigan: Harbaugh missed six games this season because of suspension and yet Michigan heads into the postseason undefeated for the second straight year.

Persons: Jim Harbaugh, Blake Corum, McCarthy, Corum, ” Corum, Anthony Thomas ’, hasn’t, Harbaugh's, Tony Petitti, It’s, Harbaugh didn’t, ” Harbaugh, “ I’ve, who’s, Deacon Hill, Kirk Ferentz, “, Semaj Morgan, Brian Ferentz, I’ll, ” Ferentz, “ I’m, I’m, James Turner, Iowa's, Jaziun Patterson, Harbaugh, ___ Organizations: INDIANAPOLIS, —, Wolverines, Michigan, College Football, Southeastern Conference, archrival Ohio State, Big, Harbaugh, Michigan Nation, Hawkeyes, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Wolverines . Michigan, SEC, Alabama, Texas, Georgia, AP Locations: — Michigan, J.J, Iowa, Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, ” Iowa, ” Michigan

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Football Bowl Subdivision newcomers James Madison and Jacksonville State along with five-win Minnesota are bound for bowls because of a shortage of eligible teams. James Madison (11-1) and Jacksonville State (8-4) are still transitioning to full FBS status and would not be eligible if there were enough six-win teams. James Madison, after having two appeals of bowl eligibility rules rejected by the NCAA, had threatened legal action to be allowed to play in a bowl. The inclusion of James Madison and Jacksonville State still left one opening for Minnesota, which had a 992 Academic Progress Rate score in 2021-22 for the best of the five-win teams. “There’s so many beneficial things to a bowl game, with practices, with development.

Persons: James Madison, We’ll, —, ”, P.J, Fleck, “, ___ Organizations: —, Bowl, Jacksonville State, FBS, NCAA, Mississippi State, Gophers, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio State, Cincinnati, ” Gophers, Colorado State, Rams, Rainbow Warriors, Big, Las Vegas, AP Locations: MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Northwestern , Wisconsin, Clemson , Alabama , Mississippi, ” Minnesota, Hawaii, Detroit

CHICAGO (AP) — Northwestern rewarded coach David Braun for a remarkable turnaround following Pat Fitzgerald's firing in the wake of a hazing and abuse scandal by removing the “interim” label from his job title on Wednesday. “I am truly honored for the opportunity to continue leading Northwestern’s football program,” Braun said in a statement. “He’s never wavered,” said quarterback Ben Bryant, who led Northwestern to the 24-10 win over the Badgers. “Under his guidance, Northwestern’s football team has exceeded expectations on the field and excelled in the classroom. Fitzgerald, by far Northwestern's winningest coach, is suing his alma mater for $130 million, saying it wrongfully fired him.

Persons: — Northwestern, David Braun, Fitzgerald's, Braun, ” Braun, Fitzgerald, “ He’s, ”, Ben Bryant, Walter McCornack, Pappy Waldorf, “, Dave, Michael Schill, Jim Foster, Maggie Hickey, ArentFox Schiff Organizations: CHICAGO, Wildcats, North Dakota State, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Badgers, Baseball, AP Locations: “

21 Tennessee and Kentucky really need a lift right now. “We’ve all got to be a little bit better in the second half,” Volunteers coach John Heupel said this week. Kentucky has yielded 479 yards on 54 flags (68.4 per game), Tennessee 470 on 56 (67.1). Under coordinator Tim Banks, Tennessee also ranks third in the league and 17th in the FBS, giving up just 310.9 yards a game. The Vols' challenge is cracking a Kentucky run defense ranked second in the SEC, allowing 95.71 yards a game.

Persons: “, John Heupel, We’ve, We’re, that’s, Mark Stoops, we’ve, ” Stoops, Tim Banks, Ray Davis, Missouri's Cory Schrader, Maxwell Hairston, D'Eryk Jackson, Hairston, Teresa M, Walker Organizations: SEC Eastern Division, The Volunteers, Wildcats, Bulldogs, ” Volunteers, Kentucky, Missouri, UCF, Tennessee, Vols, Alabama, SEC, FBS, WHO, AP Locations: LEXINGTON, Ky, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, Tim Banks , Tennessee, Ray

9 Alabama returned to the top 10 after falling out in mid-September, which snapped a streak of 128 top-10 appearances that dated back to 2015. The number of major upsets to Top 25 teams overall in college football this season remains minimal. IN-N-OUTIowa dropped out of the Top 25 after its second loss of the season and was replaced by No. JMU is in its second season playing in the Bowl Subdivision, the highest level of Division I, leaving the Dukes ineligible to play for the Sun Belt Conference title and a bowl game. Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season.

Persons: Nick Saban, “ That's, They've, James Madison, Duke, Tim Reynolds, Ralph D, Russo Organizations: Associated Press, Bulldogs, Southern, Wolverines, Michigan State, NCAA, Ohio State, Penn State, The Nittany Lions, Buckeyes, Florida State, Oklahoma, Alabama, Crimson Tide, Tennessee, ” Tide, Volunteers, Cavaliers, FBS, Clemson, Duke, Duke . North Carolina, Atlantic Coast Conference, Tigers, Dukes, Sun Belt Conference, James, Air Force, Tulane, American Athletic Conference . Air Force, SEC, ACC —, The Ducks, Utes, Louisville, Basketball, Cardinals, ACC, AP Locations: Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, Florida, Washington, Texas, Oregon, Washington , Oklahoma, North Carolina, Virginia, Duke . North, Miami, Sunday's, Utah

14 Utah blew an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter before rallying for a thrilling 34-32 victory over No. USC kicked a field goal with 3:03 to play, and its maligned defense stopped Utah at midfield. After Utah quickly got to midfield with a personal foul and targeting penalty on USC lineman Bear Alexander, Barnes darted through the USC defense on his rambling run. Vaki caught a 53-yard touchdown pass on the Utes' third play from scrimmage, roaring away from USC's defense in space. Utah does more with less than just about any elite program, and a third straight Pac-12 title is still in play.

Persons: — Cole Becker, Caleb Williams, Bryson Barnes, Sione Vaki, Williams, Lincoln Riley, Zachariah Branch's, Ja’Quinden, Barnes, Calen Bullock, Bear Alexander, Barnes darted, Vaki, —, Cameron, Landen King, Kyle Whittingham's, Alex Grinch's Organizations: ANGELES, Trojans, Utes, Coliseum, USC, Heisman, Notre Dame, Branch, Utah, FBS, AP Locations: Utah, Southern California, . Utah, Oregon, California

19 Washington State on Saturday night. Fifita started his third straight game in place of the injured Jayden de Laura, a former Washington State quarterback. After a sizzling first month of the season, the Cougars’ offense sputtered for the second straight week. WAZZU’S RUSHING WOESFor the second straight week, the Cougars couldn’t get their rushing attack going. Washington State: A season that started so promising has gone sideways in a hurry.

Persons: — Noah Fifita, Jonah Coleman, Fifita, Jayden de Laura, Coleman, Rayshon Luke, DJ Williams, Cameron Ward, Watson, John Mateer Organizations: Arizona, Washington State, Wildcats, Cougars, Nakia, UCLA, FBS, USC, Oregon State, AP Locations: Arizona, Oregon

Bowers hurt his left foot midway through the second quarter, not that it mattered as Georgia scored 27 straight points to take control. Vanderbilt (2-6, 0-4) lost its sixth straight overall and sixth consecutive to Georgia. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesThe Commodores opened the game taking a 7-0 lead with their first TD against Georgia under coach Clark Lea. Bowers hurt his left foot at the end of a 14-yard carry midway through the second quarter when tackled on the sideline. Vanderbilt: The Commodores scored their most points against Georgia since 2013 in a 31-27 win.

Persons: — Carson Beck, Brock Bowers, Bowers, Daijun Edwards, Clark Lea, Ken Seals, AJ Swann, London Humphreys, Beck, Dominic Lovett, Tykee Smith, Kendall Milton, Peyton Woodring, Kirby Smart, he’ll, Van Pran, Vanderbilt Organizations: Georgia, Vanderbilt, ., SEC, Bulldogs, Commodores, CBS, Alabama, UP NEXT Georgia, AP Locations: Tenn, . Georgia, Georgia, TAKEAWAYS Georgia, Nashville, UP, Jacksonville, Florida, Mississippi

“He’s just got a great command of the offense.”Michigan beat Minnesota on the road for the 18th straight time. The Wolverines have beaten the Gophers (3-3, 1-2) for the Little Brown Jug trophy 43 times in their last 47 matchups. This was Michigan's largest margin of victory in a Big Ten game since beating Rutgers 52-0 in 2019. Ohio State has the three longest Big Ten winning streaks in league history, including the 30-game record-setter from 2012-2015. The last conference loss for the Wolverines was to rival Michigan State on Oct. 30, 2021.

Persons: — Will Johnson, “, Jim Harbaugh, J.J, McCarthy, ” Harbaugh, “ He’s, Sabb, Athan Kaliakmanis, Jack Tuttle, Jayden Denegal, Daniel Jackson, Kaliakmanis, Jackson, Johnson, Harbaugh, Minnesota's, Blake Corum, Leon Franklin, ” McCarthy, —, Mason Graham, ” Graham, ”, P.J, Fleck, they've, ” Johnson, Darius Taylor, " Fleck Organizations: Gophers, Michigan, Minnesota, Wolverines, Cincinnati, Rutgers, Ohio State, Michigan outgained, FBS, Illinois, ” Gophers, ”, The Gophers, Big, Michigan State, Penn State, Big Ten, “, AP Locations: MINNEAPOLIS, Michigan, Michigan outgained Minnesota, Minnesota, Jhost Indiana, . Minnesota, Iowa

21 Washington State withstood a late rally to upend No. 14 Oregon State 38-35 on Saturday in the Pac-12 Conference opener for both teams. Ward's TD run on the next possession gave Washington State a 14-0 lead. Deshaun Fenwick led Oregon State with 101 rushing yards and touchdown runs of 38, 9 and 4 yards. Washington State: Has a week off before traveling to No.

Persons: — Josh Kelly, Cameron Ward, Uiagalelei, Jack Velling, Ward, Kyle Williams, Ward's, Lincoln Victor, Kelly, Deshaun Fenwick, Damien Martinez Organizations: Washington State, Oregon State, Cougars, Beavers, Washington, Fresno State, FBS, THE, Wisconsin, Oregon, UCLA, AP Locations: Oregon, Washington State, Fresno, Washington, Utah

☆ Swiss to vote on preventing cashless society, pressure group says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 6 (Reuters) - Swiss citizens will get the chance to try to ensure their economy never becomes cashless, a pressure group said, after collecting enough signatures by Monday to trigger a popular vote on the issue. There is no evidence of moves towards a cashless society by Swiss authorities. FBS said it had garnered over 111,000 signatures in support of the measure, above the 100,000 needed to trigger a popular vote. Under Switzerland's system of direct democracy, the proposal would become law if approved by voters, though government and parliament would decide how that law was implemented. Reporting by John Stonestreet; Editing by Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ CFB roundup: No. 16 Tulane stuns No. 10 USC in Cotton Bowl
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

16 Tulane scored 16 points in the final 4:07 to notch a dramatic 46-45 victory over No. 10 Southern California to win the Cotton Bowl on Monday at Arlington, Texas. Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams did all he could for USC (11-3), completing 37 of 52 passes for 462 yards and five touchdowns. He completed 8 of 21 passes for 95 yards, one touchdown and one interception and rushed for 47 yards on 10 attempts. Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers completed 29 of 44 passes for 261 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

And some members of the general public, too, are squeamish about cell-cultured meat. Caution isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but these critiques of cell-cultured meat are just thinly disguised neophobia — people just feel it is “unnatural.” Cell-cultured meat indeed comes from labs, not farms. To no one’s surprise, cell-cultured meat also faces criticism from some animal rights activists, albeit for a very different reason: because cell cultivation requires starter cells taken from actual animals, cell-cultured meat isn’t completely cruelty-free. And with time, cell-cultured meat may become nutritionally superior to meat from slaughtered animals anyway. No, cell-cultured meat, as we currently know it, isn’t perfect.

☆ Deion Sanders says HBCUs can be a path to the NFL for top players
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Jackson State coach Deion Sanders says historically Black college football programs can be a path to the NFL for top recruits, but it is difficult to compete with the wealthier, traditional power schools. Sanders, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who starred with the Falcons, 49ers and Cowboys, is in his third season with Jackson State. I can still make it through there (an HBCU) and they can navigate me to the NFL,” Sanders said Tuesday during an interview on the AP Top 25 College Football Podcast. HBCUs, such as Jackson State and its SWAC rivals, were a goldmine of top talent for decades, in large part because of segregation. “So now it’s becoming an option,” Sanders said.

☆ College Football Playoff Fast Facts
▼ + stars: | 2014-08-14 | by ( Cnn Editorial Research | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

January 9, 2023 - The College Football Playoff National Championship game is scheduled to be played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. January 10, 2022 - The Georgia Bulldogs defeat the Alabama Crimson Tide 33-18 in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. According to the College Football Playoff, compared to the BCS, the “format increases revenue for all conferences and independent institutions.”Revenue Distribution PoliciesThe College Football Playoff trophy, presented to the championship team, is handmade, stands 26.5 inches tall and is constructed from 24-karat gold, bronze and stainless steel. April 23, 2013 - The College Football Playoff is announced as the name of the new system to replace the BCS. January 12, 2015 - The Ohio State Buckeyes defeat the Oregon Ducks 42-20 to win the inaugural College Football Playoff Championship.

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