Will Howard threw for 311 yards and two touchdowns, both to Jeremiah Smith, while TreVeyon Henderson rushed for two scores as No. 8 seed Ohio State routed No. 9 seed Tennessee 42-17 in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.

• The Buckeyes (11-2) will play No. 1 seed Oregon (13-0) in the quarterfinals in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 1.

  Howard finished 24 of 29 with an interception, while Smith's six catches went for 103 yards. Henderson gained 80 yards on 10 carries for the Buckeyes, who led 21-0 after the first quarter.

  Nico Iamaleava completed 14 of 31 passes for 104 yards and rushed 20 times for 47 yards and two TDs for the Volunteers (10-3).

  No. 5 Texas 38, No. 12 Clemson 24

  Jaydon Blue rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns, including a 77-yard score in the fourth quarter, as the Longhorns downed the Tigers in Austin, Texas, during a CFP first-round playoff game.

  Texas (12-2) advances to face fourth-seeded Arizona State, the Big 12 champion, on Jan. 1 in the Peach Bowl at Atlanta.

  Quinn Ewers passed for 202 yards and a score and Quintrevion Wisner added 110 yards and two TDs for the Longhorns, who outgained Clemson 292-76 on the ground. Cade Klubnik passed for 336 yards and three TDs to lead Clemson (10-4). Tigers receiver T.J. Moore had career-high 116 receiving yards and a touchdown on nine receptions.

  No. 6 Penn State 38, No. 11 SMU 10

  Dominic DeLuca and Tony Rojas returned interceptions for touchdowns and the Nittany Lions advanced in the College Football Playoff with an easy victory over the Mustangs in University Park, Pa.

  DeLuca also had another interception as the Nittany Lions (12-2) built a 28-point halftime advantage in Happy Valley. Penn State will face No. 3 seed Boise State (12-1) in a quarterfinal game at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., on Dec. 31.

  Nicholas Singleton rushed for 90 yards and one touchdown and Kaytron Allen had 70 yards and two scores for the Nittany Lions, who thrived in 25-degree weather that felt like 12 degrees at kickoff. Drew Allar completed 13 of 22 passes for 127 yards.

  --Field Level Media

Patrick Payton, the consensus top edge rusher in the transfer portal, committed to LSU on Saturday, according to multiple media reports.

• Payton is leaving Florida State with a year of eligibility remaining.

  He adds to a strong transfer haul joining the Tigers, a group that includes former Virginia Tech cornerback Mansoor Delane plus two wide receivers, Barion Brown (formerly of Kentucky) and Nic Anderson (formerly of Oklahoma).

  LSU also added two more edge rushers, Jack Pyburn (formerly of Florida) and Jimari Butler (formerly of Nebraska).

  Payton, a Miami native, recorded 35 tackles (11 for loss) and four sacks this season.

  In 2022, Payton was named the Atlantic Coast Conference's Defensive Rookie of the Year after he had 31 tackles and five sacks. Across the past three seasons with the Seminoles, he produced 110 tackles, 31.5 for loss, 16 sacks and 13 passes defensed.

  LSU (8-4) is set to face Baylor in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 31. The Tigers had a late-season, three-game losing streak before rebounding to close the regular season with wins over Vanderbilt and Oklahoma.

  --Field Level Media

SMU backup quarterback Preston Stone is transferring to Northwestern, according to multiple reports.

• That made for an interesting scenario Saturday in the fourth quarter of the Mustangs' 38-10 loss to Penn State in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

  SMU coach Rhett Lashlee made the decision to pull starter Kevin Jennings and left the option up to Stone on whether or not he wanted to finish the game. Stone declined the offer.

  "Look, I get it," Lashlee said during the postgame press conference. "At that point, we don't want Kevin to go back in and get hurt; we don't want him to go into the offseason hurt. Preston is about to have an opportunity to go play somewhere else. And in fairness to him, it'd be a shame to roll him out there for a drive or two that doesn't actually have an impact on the game and him get hurt. It was a great conversation with (Stone) and us, and we just decided to let Keldric (Luster) go with it."

  Stone excelled during the 2023 season with 3,197 yards and 28 touchdowns against six interceptions. He began this season as the starter before losing the starting job to Jennings in September.

  Stone was 30-of-51 passing for 421 yards, five touchdowns and one interception this season.

  --Field Level Media

Former Appalachian State head coach Shawn Clark has been hired as UCF's offensive line coach, ESPN reported on Saturday morning.

• Clark, 49, was fired earlier this month after compiling a 40-24 record with the Mountaineers, including 5-6 in 2024 -- his first losing season. Clark had a 3-1 record in bowl games.

  A two-time All-American offensive lineman at Appalachian State, Clark served as an assistant coach at his alma mater before taking the helm in December 2019.

  Clark coached the offensive line for Kent State (2013-15), Purdue (2009-12) and Eastern Kentucky (2003-08).

  Scott Frost has returned as UCF's new head coach, replacing Gus Malzahn, who recently departed to become the offensive coordinator at Florida State.

  Frost went 19-7 in two seasons (2016-17) at the school -- including 13-0 in 2017 -- before departing for Nebraska, his alma mater. He went 16-31 in four-plus years at Nebraska, which fired him three games into the 2022 season.

  Frost is filling out his staff, announcing Friday the hiring of Mike Dawson as defensive run game coordinator and edge coach. Earlier this week, Alex Grinch was named defensive coordinator. Kenny Martin is remaining on staff as defensive tackles coach.

  --Field Level Media

Iowa quarterback Brendan Sullivan has recovered from a sprained ankle and will start the Music City Bowl against Missouri on Dec. 30, Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz said Friday.

• Sullivan missed the final two games of the regular season due to the ailment.

  "He feels fully confident," Ferentz said of Sullivan. "The injury is history now. It's passed. Just getting caught up because he missed a couple weeks there. This has been a good period where he's getting some work."

  Walk-on Jackson Stratton started victories over Maryland and Nebraska while Sullivan was out. Cade McNamara, the starter at the outset of the season, recently entered the transfer portal.

  Sullivan has passed for 344 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed for 144 yards and four scores this season. He was injured during a loss to UCLA on Nov. 8.

  Sullivan spent three seasons at Northwestern -- redshirting his first campaign on campus -- before transferring to Iowa following last season.

  --Field Level Media

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (elbow) is expected to miss the team's College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, On3 reported Thursday.

• That means backup Gunner Stockton is in line to start the knockout round game, when the Bulldogs face either No. 7 seed Notre Dame or No. 10 seed Indiana.

  Beck, the Bulldogs' starter all year, missed most of the second half of the Southeastern Conference title game with an injury to the UCL in his right (throwing) elbow. Stockton helped guide the Bulldogs to a 22-19 overtime win over Texas and clinch a first-round bye in the first 12-team playoff.

  On3 reported that Beck has not practiced or been with the team since it returned to workouts late last week.

  It is unknown whether Beck would be ready to return for the semifinal round if the Bulldogs make it that far.

  Beck has thrown for 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season, his second as Georgia's starting quarterback.

  --Field Level Media

Indiana failed its first test at knocking off a powerhouse when the then-undefeated Hoosiers lost 38-15 at Ohio State on Nov. 23.

• Coach Curt Cignetti believes the No. 10 seed Hoosiers (11-1) will be better prepared when they play at No. 7 Notre Dame (11-1) on Friday in South Bend, Ind., in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

  "I don't think anyone was happy with the way we came out of Ohio State," he said. "But I think our guys have learned from that too and we'll be better in a hostile environment than we were that particular day."

  --Notre Dame's 10th-ranked rushing attack (224.8 yards per game) will challenge Indiana's No. 1 rushing defense (70.8 yards).

  "It's always our plan to find a way to run the football," Fighting Irish offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock said. "Everything we do kind of builds around that and comes from that to begin with. We're going to have to have some success on the ground."

  Jeremiyah Love led Notre Dame with 949 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. Quarterback Riley Leonard is not far behind at 721 yards and 14 TDs on the ground.

  --If the matchup between No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State on Saturday night comes down to a field goal, Buckeyes (10-2) coach Ryan Day said a decision has not been made between Jayden Fielding, who missed attempts from 38 and 34 yards in a 13-10 loss to Michigan in their last game, and Austin Snyder. He has not attempted a field goal for Ohio State.

  "We will make a decision about who gives us the best chance to win and go from there," Day said.

  --Tennessee (10-2) believes it has the maturity and leadership to handle adversity on Saturday.

  "There's going to be ebbs and flows in the ball game, and you've got to continue to play and compete," Vols coach Josh Heupel said. "I think as much as anything, that's a real credit to the guys that we have in the locker room."

  --Both No. 6 Penn State (11-2) and No. 11 SMU (11-2) had their backup quarterbacks enter the transfer portal. The difference is the Nittany Lions' Beau Pribula is no longer with the team while Preston Stone will be available for the visiting Mustangs when they play Saturday.

  "It's huge," SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. "You keep some continuity. Preston's played a lot of football, won a lot of games."

  Penn State coach James Franklin said Wednesday that freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer, who has not taken a snap in a game, will back up Drew Allar.

  "(Grunkemeyer) has done a really good job and put himself in a position that we have a lot of confidence," Franklin said.

  --Quarterback Quinn Ewers of No. 5 Texas (11-2) practiced this week without a custom ankle brace in preparation for the home game against No. 12 Clemson (10-3) on Saturday. He wore a brace the past two games.

  "I think he's continually getting better," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said.

  --Clemson coach Dabo Sweeney has the Tigers in the postseason for the seventh time in the past 11 seasons and said he doesn't care about criticism of him.

  "I mean, I've been taking shots for 16 years," he said. "We just keep winning, you know?"

  --Field Level Media

Former Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy told ESPN that he is transferring to Oregon State.

• Murphy reportedly visited Oregon State on Wednesday after stops at Kentucky and Auburn. He will have two more seasons of eligibility with the Beavers.

  "Lets get to work Beaver Nation!" Murphy posted on X.

  Murphy entered the transfer portal on Dec. 10, one day before Tulane transfer Darian Mensah committed to the Blue Devils.

  The 6-foot-5 Murphy is expected to be under center for Oregon State, which also has backups Gabarri Johnson and Kallen Gutridge returning next season.

  Murphy spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career at Texas, however he was sandwiched between Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. His decision to transfer to Duke paid immediate dividends this season, as he set the school record with 26 touchdowns while completing 254 of 421 passes for 2,933 yards.

  Murphy started two games at Texas in 2023 when Ewers was injured.

  --Purdue edge rusher Will Heldt committed to Clemson, the first defensive player to transfer into the program during coach Dabo Swinney's tenure.

  Heldt made 56 tackles (10 for loss) and five sacks in 12 games as a sophomore in 2024. He added a fumble recovery that he returned 16 yards for a touchdown.

  Before this season, Swinney's Tigers had accepted just two transfer players, both backup quarterbacks, since 2018.

  --Quarterback Zach Calzada, who last appeared at the FBS level in 2021 with Texas A&M, committed to Kentucky.

  Calzada missed his 2022 season at Auburn due to shoulder surgery before moving on to FCS program Incarnate Word, where he racked up 6,144 passing yards, 53 touchdowns and 17 interceptions over two seasons.

  Thanks to a medical redshirt, the 24-year-old has one remaining year of eligibility.

  --Arkansas QB Malachi Singleton will transfer to Purdue.

  Singleton appeared in five games as a freshman for the Razorbacks, completing 75 percent of his passes (21 of 28) for 358 yards. He had one passing touchdown and three rushing TDs.

  --After a strong freshman season at Cal, wide receiver Nyziah Hunter is heading to Nebraska.

  Hunter hauled in 40 receptions for 578 yards and five touchdowns for the Golden Bears in 2024.

  --Southern California running back Quinten Joyner is the latest transfer to commit to Texas Tech.

  Joyner rushed 63 times for 478 yards and three touchdowns in 2024, his first full season of college football. He added 12 receptions for 89 yards and a score.

  According to On3, Texas Tech has collected 15 incoming transfers, the most of any FBS program.

  --Field Level Media

The on-field success of both Army and Navy in the 2024 season led to television ratings for their rivalry game not seen in more than three decades.

• According to Front Office Sports, Navy's 31-13 victory last Saturday at Landover, Md., had a viewership of 9.4 million for CBS, making it the highest ratings for the game since at least 1990. The 1992 Army-Navy game had a viewership of 8.45 million.

  Army (11-2) and Navy (9-3) are both bowl bound. Army will face Louisiana Tech in the Dec. 28 Independence Bowl, while Navy takes on Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 27.

  The Army-Navy clash led to a 31 percent jump in viewership from the 2023 contest.

  Earlier this month, CBS announced a 10-year extension to broadcast the game in a deal that runs through 2038.

  --Field Level Media

Florida could get another chance to sign in-state wide receiver Dallas Wilson, a five-star Class of 2025 prospect.

• Wilson, from Tampa Bay Tech, signed with Oregon on Dec. 4, the first day of the early signing period. But 247Sports reported Thursday that Wilson has had second thoughts and is asking Oregon to release him from his commitment.

  247Sports reported that, according to Wilson's agency, the receiver will pick Florida if granted his release.

  The 247Sports composite ranks him as the No. 4 wide receiver and No. 20 overall player in the class.

  Several recruiting analysts had predicted Wilson would flip from Oregon to Florida earlier this month. He had been committed to the Ducks since Jan. 17, 2023, taking an official visit there in June 2024 and to Florida on Nov. 22.

  The Ducks are on the clock. Wilson reportedly asked for his release Tuesday, and Oregon has 48 hours to respond.

  A 6-foot-3 speedster, Wilson also runs track and was part of his school's 4x400 relay team that qualified for the state competition in his junior year.

  With Wilson on the commitment list, Oregon has the No. 2-ranked class in the nation, per 247Sports, narrowly ahead of Alabama.

  --Field Level Media

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia is eligible to play another season of college football in 2025 after being granted a temporary injunction, according to a court ruling released Wednesday.

• Pavia's request for a temporary restraining order that would allow him to play a sixth season was denied by a federal judge last month. However, the Wednesday ruling by U.S. District Judge William Campbell of the Middle District of Tennessee grants Pavia a temporary injunction and that sixth year he has been seeking.

  Pavia played two years at New Mexico Military Institute before transferring to New Mexico State, but argued that the NCAA's rules on junior college participation counting against eligibility violates antitrust law outlined by the Sherman Act.

  Pavia's representation argued that, in addition to the COVID-season waiver afforded to athletes after playing in 2020, the quarterback's NCAA clock should not have started during his junior college time. It also claimed that Pavia stands to earn more than $1 million in NIL compensation should he play in 2025.

  Pavia passed for 2,133 yards and added another 716 on the ground while accounting for 23 total touchdowns this season. His highlight was leading the Commodores to an upset win over then-No.1 Alabama on Oct. 5.

  While he is in line to potentially return as Vanderbilt's quarterback next season, Pavia still likely will have to wait out a legal process over the next few months before it becomes official.

  "Obviously, the unknown always presents anxiousness," Commodores coach Clark Lea told 247Sports. "Obviously, we want to have Diego here. We want him to be a part of this. he wants to be a part of this. There will be a huge celebration the day we get that final thumbs up. If, for whatever reason, the narrative changes that way, we've primed ourselves to be ready for that, too."

  The Tennessean reported that Wednesday's ruling prevents the NCAA from enforcing it's "Rule of Restitution" against Vanderbilt or any school that Pavia might play for in 2025 that would force a school to vacate wins if the ruling is later overturned.

  "Diego is very thankful for the work of the Court and its staff in expediting this ruling," Pavia's attorney, Ryan Downton, said in a release sent to the Tennessean. "The NCAA has not yet adjusted to the NIL era and continues to impose unfair restrictions on college athletes. The Court's ruling is another step in leveling the playing field to allow college athletes to share in the billions of dollars earned due to their labor.

  "While the ruling is limited to Pavia, we believe it may open the door for other former junior college players to obtain an additional year of eligibility without filing a lawsuit."

  --Field Level Media

EA Sports' reboot of its college football franchise has proven wildly successful, setting the mark as the best-selling sports game ever released in the United States market.

• That's according to Circana video game sales data from November, with College Football 25 eclipsing the previous record set by 2K Sports' NBA 2K21. It has also entered the top 50 for best-selling tracked video games of all time, and so far is the best-selling game of 2024 across genres ahead of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

  After an 11-year hiatus, the game returned with a July 19 launch for PlayStation 5 and Xbox One. In the NIL era, the game now includes players' names and numbers.

  EA Sports sent out offers to more than 14,000 players on FBS teams. Each player who opted in received a one-time payment of $600 along with a copy of the game.

  "EA Sports College Football 25 was a highly anticipated title prior to launch, but just how big it would be was the question. Once initial sales rolled in, it was clear that it had a shot at becoming the No. 1 seller, then the question became when it would overtake," Circana executive director/video games Mat Piscatella told the Sports Business Journal. "I thought it had a shot at doing that in October, but it didn't quite get there until (November)."

  --Field Level Media

Former Washington State standout John Mateer, one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, is transferring to Oklahoma, he announced Wednesday evening on social media.

• Widely considered the best player available when he entered the transfer portal on Monday, Mateer is following former Cougars offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who was hired by Oklahoma earlier this month, as well as quarterbacks coach John Kuceyeski, who is expected to join him.

  The Sooners, who lost starting QB Jackson Arnold to Auburn through the transfer portal, were regarded as the front-runners for Mateer. Miami, where former Washington State QB Cam Ward starred this season, became a Heisman Trophy finalist and is entering the NFL Draft, also was considered a potential landing spot.

  Mateer, who waited behind Ward at Washington State for two years, is a redshirt sophomore with two seasons of eligibility remaining. He led the FBS in total touchdowns (44) in his first season as a starter in 2024, compiling 3,139 yards with 29 touchdown passes and seven interceptions and rushing for 826 yards with 15 scores in 12 games.

  Washington State head coach Jake Dickert left his job to become Wake Forest's head coach on Wednesday.

  --Field Level Media

Sam Houston hired Phil Longo as head coach on Wednesday, tabbing a person who served as the school's offensive coordinator from 2014-16.

• Longo was Wisconsin's offensive coordinator this season until being fired on Nov. 17, one day after the Badgers fell 16-13 to top-ranked Oregon.

  Longo replaces K.C. Keeler, who recently departed to become the coach at Temple.

  "My family and I feel that a part of us has never left Sam Houston and it feels like we are returning home," Longo said in a news release announcing his hire. "I am elated and honored to become the next head football coach at Sam Houston State University."

  Sam Houston is completing its second season at the FBS level. The Bearkats (9-3) will face Georgia Southern in the New Orleans Bowl on Thursday.

  Longo, 56, also had stints as offensive coordinator at Ole Miss (2017-18) and North Carolina (2019-22) during his career. He was the OC under Keeler in his previous stint with the Bearkats.

  "Throughout each step of this process, Phil Longo kept rising to the top as the best choice to lead our football program," Sam Houston athletic director Bobby Williams said in the news release. "He checked all the boxes we were looking for from knowing our program and his success as our offensive coordinator. His growth from his time at Ole Miss, North Carolina and Wisconsin were also key factors in our decision. In addition, he has a high level of support from our on-campus leaders and overwhelming positive input from donors and fans."

  --Field Level Media

Alabama All-American safety Malachi Moore will undergo surgery and miss the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan on Dec. 31 in Tampa, Fla.

• Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer didn't reveal the nature of the surgery, but indicated Moore has been playing through it most of the season.

  "He's been going through an injury pretty much a lot of the season, and it just got to the point where he wasn't going to be able to play," DeBoer told reporters after Wednesday's practice. "He wanted to do everything he could to get out there. He was trying to wait it out so he could see if it would be something he possibly could be able to participate in."

  Moore had 70 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles this season.

  The Crimson Tide are deeply shorthanded at safety with Keon Sabb also done for the season due to injury and the decision of DeVonta Smith to transfer to Notre Dame.

  "It'll be a mix and match," DeBoer said. "(Moore's decision to have surgery) literally just happened, it's not like we've had a week or two to think and work through this. But it'll be young guys."

  Moore has 214 tackles and seven interceptions in five seasons at Alabama.

  --Field Level Media

South Carolina star pass rusher Kyle Kennard won't play in the Citrus Bowl against Illinois on Dec. 31, coach Shane Beamer said Wednesday.

• Kennard previously declared for the NFL draft on Friday. He is skipping the bowl game in Orlando to focus on his NFL preparations. Kennard is considered a possible late first-round pick.

  "He's one right now that isn't with us," Beamer said of Kennard.

  Kennard won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the top defensive player in the nation this season after leading the Southeastern Conference with 15.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. He also forced three fumbles and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year while earning multiple first-team All-American honors.

  This was Kennard's only season with the Gamecocks. He played four seasons for Georgia Tech before transferring after last season.

  In his draft declaration announcement, Kennard said transferring to South Carolina "has proven to be one of the best decisions of my life."

  Kennard had 12.5 sacks in his four seasons with the Yellow Jackets for a career total of 24.

  --Field Level Media

No. 9 seed Tennessee will make its first visit to No. 8 Ohio State on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN), but Volunteers safety Andre Turrentine will be in a familiar setting at Ohio Stadium for the first-round matchup of the College Football Playoff.

• He played in four games for the Buckeyes (10-2) as a freshman in 2021 before the Nashville native joined the Vols.

  "I know a lot of guys on that team, so just having that brotherhood and camaraderie from being a freshman there is going to be big in this game and big for me personally," said Turrentine, a redshirt junior.

  He has 35 tackles and one interception in starting all 12 games for the Vols (10-2) this season.

  Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles feels prepared for Tennessee's fast-paced offense, which averages 74.6 plays per game to rank 11th nationally.

  "Our defense is built for tempo," he said.

  --No. 7 Notre Dame (11-1) quarterback Riley Leonard loves the idea of playing for a national championship, but as he told Nicole Auerbach of NBC Sports, the matchup with the No. 10 Hoosiers (11-1) on Friday in South Bend, Ind., (8 p.m., ABC/ESPN) is also about regional pride.

  "It's huge for the state of Indiana. We've been talking about it becoming a football state," he said. "It's notorious for basketball, for obvious reasons."

  Indiana coach Curt Cignetti on how the game will play out: "I think we're plus-15 on turnover ratio, and they're plus-16. So, ball security for us and them is going to be really important -- winning the turnover battle."

  --Even though No. 6 Penn State (11-2) lost to No. 1 Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game, the Nittany Lions were buoyed by running for 292 yards. Now, they host No. 11 SMU (11-2), which is ranked fourth nationally at 93.4 rushing yards allowed per game.

  "Our expectation is that that's what we're supposed to do every single game," Penn State center Nick Dawkins said. "I don't think it matters the opponent that we played against."

  SMU coach Rhett Lashlee on the perceived advantage Penn State will have with a forecast high of 28 degrees: "They have to play in it just like we do and I don't think they've played a game at home on Dec. 21, either. I don't think the weather is a big deal."

  --No. 5 Texas coach Steve Sarkisian expects big things from quarterback Quinn Ewers when the Longhorns (11-2) host No. 12 Clemson on Saturday (4 p.m., TNT/MAX).

  "We've all got to take our game to another level, and he's no different, right?" Sarkisian said. "He's got to do it."

  Actor Matthew McConaughey is a Longhorns super fan but that doesn't mean much to defensive lineman T.J. Parker of Clemson (10-3).

  "I don't know who that is," the sophomore said on Tuesday. "I may know his face, but not by name. I don't know him."

  --Field Level Media

Idaho named former assistant Thomas Ford its new head coach on Wednesday, days after the post came open.

• Ford replaces Jason Eck, who left to become the new head coach at New Mexico on Saturday. Ford was on Eck's staff in 2022 and 2023 before leaving to coach at Oregon State this past season.

  "It was clear during our interview process that Thomas is the man to lead Vandal football into the future. He knows what it takes to win at Idaho. He is an elite recruiter who was instrumental in laying the foundation of our recent success. We are confident in the future of Vandal football as we look forward to working with coach Ford and his staff," Idaho Director of Athletics Terry Gawlik said in a statement.

  Eck went 26-13 in three seasons at Idaho. This is Ford's first head coaching job in the Football Championship Subdivision. He coached Division II Simon Fraser in 2018-19.

  --Field Level Media

Liberty transfer quarterback Kaidon Salter committed to Colorado on Wednesday, multiple outlets reported.

• With one season of eligibility remaining, Salter will replace outgoing Buffaloes QB Shedeur Sanders, son of head coach Deion Sanders.

  Salter guided Liberty to an 8-3 record and a berth to the Bahamas Bowl against Buffalo on Jan. 4.

  In 2023, Liberty went 13-0 in the regular season, captured the No. 23 spot in the final College Football Playoff rankings and landed the school's first berth in a New Year's Six bowl game.

  Salter initially began his college career at Tennessee, but he was dismissed from the program in June 2021 prior to his freshman season after he was arrested on suspicion of marijuana possession following a traffic stop.

  The 6-foot-1, 200-pound player from Cedar Hill, Texas, had been a four-star recruit out of high school.

  --Field Level Media

Ohio University promoted Brian Smith to head coach on Wednesday.

• Smith, 44, was elevated from offensive coordinator to interim coach last week after Tim Albin departed to become the head coach at Charlotte.

  The Bobcats (10-3, 7-1 Mid-American Conference) reached double-digit wins for the third straight season in 2024 and will face Jacksonville State in the Cure Bowl on Friday in Orlando, Fla.

  "Ohio Bobcat Football has been on a historic run in recent years, and Brian Smith has been a significant part of not only our MAC Championship team, but also our established culture of winning," athletic director Julie Cromer said. "During the course of a national search that attracted several outstanding candidates, Coach Smith ultimately stood out above the rest. He presented a plan for not only sustaining our culture and foundation but also building upon it in the evolving landscape of college football."

  Smith originally joined the Ohio staff as the running backs coach and passing game coordinator in 2022 and added another title as associate head coach in 2023.

  "I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Ohio University football program," Smith said. "Coach (Frank) Solich and Albin laid the foundation for our success brick-by-brick, developing a culture that is second to none. Our culture and values will be protected and will continue to thrive, producing tremendous young men who are champions on the field and in our communities."

  Smith's Ohio offense led the MAC this year in scoring (29.2) and total offense (399.2). The Bobcats smashed Miami (OH) 38-3 to win the MAC championship game on Dec. 7.

  This is the first head coaching position for Smith, who was an assistant at Washington State (2020-21) and his alma mater Hawaii (2008-11, 2016-19).

  --Field Level Media

Wake Forest hired Washington State head coach Jake Dickert on Wednesday to fill its vacancy left by Dave Clawson's resignation.

• Dickert, 41, went 23-20 with the Cougars since taking over midway through the 2021 season. That includes an 8-4 record this season heading into the Dec. 27 Holiday Bowl against Syracuse.

  "My number one priority will be building relationships with our current student-athletes and earning their trust," Dickert said in a statement. "We will have a clear focus on retaining our current roster while adding valuable pieces that fit our program and Wake Forest University. Additionally, I am excited to immerse myself in this special community as throughout this process my belief that this is the perfect place for our family and our program only strengthened."

  Clawson, 57, stepped down on Monday after 11 seasons and seven bowl berths with the Demon Deacons, who finished 4-8 for the second straight year in 2024.

  Dickert was elevated from defensive coordinator to interim coach at Washington State in October 2021 after head coach Nick Rolovich was fired for refusing to comply with the state's COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

  The Cougars went 3-3 under his leadership in 2021 and lost to Central Michigan in the Sun Bowl. They were 7-6 in 2022 and lost to Fresno State in the LA Bowl before slipping to 5-7 in 2023.

  "I want to express my deepest gratitude to the players, staff, and leadership at Washington State University," Dickert said. "I will forever be thankful for their belief in me and the opportunity to lead a program that meant so much to my family and me. The relationships built there will remain a cherished part of our journey, and I am immensely proud of what we accomplished together both on and off the field."

  Clawson's tenure in Winston-Salem, N.C., produced a 67-69 record (5-2 in bowl games). His 11-win season in 2021 matched the school record set in 2006.

  "Jake Dickert is the perfect fit to lead Wake Forest football into our next chapter of football success," Wake Forest athletic director John Currie said. "Throughout this process, our team conducted an extensive and detailed search, carefully evaluating not only Coach Dickert's coaching achievements but also his character, leadership, and alignment with the values that define Wake Forest."

  Washington State announced that assistant coach Pete Kaligis will be the acting head coach for the Holiday Bowl.

  "The search for Cougar Football's next head coach will begin immediately," athletic director Anne McCoy said in a statement Wednesday. "... This team has worked so hard and accomplished a great deal this year, they deserve to end the season with a memorable bowl game experience."

  --Field Level Media

Ivy League schools will be able to compete for the Football Championship Subdivision's national championship starting in 2025, ESPN reported Wednesday.

• The conference champion will receive an automatic bid into the FCS playoff field, per the report.

  Football had been the only sport in which Ivy League teams could not compete for an NCAA national title.

  According to the report, Ivy League student-athletes came up with the proposal and it was approved Tuesday by the Ivy League Council of Presidents.

  Harvard (8-2), Dartmouth (8-2) and Columbia (7-3) all finished with 5-2 records in Ivy League play in 2024.

  --Field Level Media

Norfolk State and Michael Vick have an agreement in place to make the former NFL star the next head coach of the Spartans' FCS football program, the Virginian-Pilot reported on Tuesday.

• Vick, 44, emerged as a candidate for the opening on Monday, and ESPN followed with a report claiming that Sacramento State was also in the running for Vick.

  A native of Newport News, Va., less than 30 miles from the campus in Norfolk, Vick opted to stay close to home. This will be his first coaching job of any kind.

  "I know how to lead and I know what it takes," he told the Pilot on Monday.

  Vick replaces Dawson Odums, fired by the school on Nov. 26. Odums led the MEAC school to a 15-31 mark in four seasons. Norfolk State went 4-8 in 2024.

  Vick threw for 22,464 yards, 133 touchdowns and 88 interceptions in 143 career NFL games (115 starts) with four teams, most notably the Atlanta Falcons (2001-06) and Philadelphia Eagles (2009-13). He rushed for another 6,109 yards and 36 TDs.

  He was suspended from football in 2007 and 2008 for his role in an illegal dog-fighting ring, which landed him in federal prison for 21 months. He won the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year Award in 2010.

  Vick starred at Virginia Tech for two seasons, passing for 3,074 yards and rushing for 1,202. He combined for 36 TDs. He was the No. 1 overall pick by the Falcons in the 2001 draft.

  --Field Level Media

Southern California stars Zachariah and Zion Branch will enter the transfer portal, they said Tuesday.

• Zachariah Branch, a receiver, and Zion Branch, a safety, published announcements declaring their intent on social media. Both players are former top-100 high school recruits with two years of eligibility remaining.

  Zachariah Branch was USC's second-leading receiver in 2024, gaining 503 yards and scoring just one touchdown on 47 receptions. He has 78 catches for 823 yards and four total touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing) over two college campaigns.

  "I am thankful for the love and support from my coaches, teammates, advisors, football staff and professors," he wrote in part. "Being able to share the field with my brother has also been a blessing and something that I know is a rare privilege."

  Zion Branch finished the season with 19 tackles, one sack and three pass breakups.

  "Playing football at USC has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. Having the opportunity to be a USC Trojan and suit up alongside my brother made it even more special, and it's something I'll always cherish," he wrote in part.

  Both players said they are looking forward to new opportunities ahead.

  USC went a disappointing 6-6 this past season, including a 4-5 mark in its first Big Ten campaign. The Trojans will face Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 27.

  --Field Level Media

Alabama freshman cornerback Jaylen Mbakwe plans to transfer after one season with the Crimson Tide.

• Mbakwe said he has made a "business decision" after playing in 11 of Alabama's 12 games in the regular season.

  "This was not an easy decision, but I believe it's the best step for my personal and professional development and the future I'm working towards for myself and my family," he wrote in an Instagram post.

  Wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson, a five-star recruit as a running back in 2022, also entered the portal. He was not a factor offensively but Henderson was the team's primary punt returner in 2024.

  Mbakwe signed with Alabama in 2022 and joined the team last year. He was a five-star recruit and top 15 overall prospect last year, when the 247 composite rankings placed him No. 2 among cornerbacks nationally.

  Three Crimson Tide defensive backs have entered the transfer portal as of Tuesday. Safety DeVonta Smith committed to Notre Dame and cornerback Jahlil Hurley joined Kansas as part of the exodus, but cornerback Zabien Brown, also a five-star recruit in 2023, plans to return to Tuscaloosa.

  --Field Level Media