With players making their NFL draft declarations and many programs shuffling their coaching staffs, our second Way-Too-Early Top 25 looks a lot different than a month ago, as the offseason challenges mount for defending champ LSU, among others.
This year's coaching cycle saw few high-profile jobs open, while Mike Leach and Lane Kiffin move to the state of Mississippi.
Now that the coaching cycle is over, we look at which coaches set themselves up for promotions in 2020.
Darrynton Evans ran for 161 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown after he scooped up a fourth-down fumble, and No. 20 Appalachian State defeated UAB 31-17 in the New Orleans Bowl on Saturday night.
Appalachian State interim head coach Shawn Clark has been given the job permanently, sources confirm.
Here are the key players and storylines for every college football bowl game, including the playoff.
Eliah Drinkwitz has reached an agreement to become Missouri's next head football coach, and a deal is being finalized, sources told ESPN.
Eli Drinkwitz has reached an agreement to become Missouri's next head football coach and a deal is being finalized, sources told ESPN's Chris Low. Drinkwitz guided Appalachian State to the Sun Belt Conference championship this season in his first year in Boone.
See how our experts envision the entire bowl schedule with the final selections so close to being announced.
Darrynton Evans scored three touchdowns and 20th-ranked Appalachian State repeated as Sun Belt Conference champions with a 45-38 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday.
| EAST | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State | 7-1 | 13-1 |
| Georgia Southern | 5-3 | 7-6 |
| Georgia State | 4-4 | 7-6 |
| Troy | 3-5 | 5-7 |
| Coastal Carolina | 2-6 | 5-7 |
| WEST | CONF | OVR |
| Louisiana | 7-1 | 11-3 |
| Arkansas State | 5-3 | 8-5 |
| UL Monroe | 4-4 | 5-7 |
| Texas State | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| South Alabama | 1-7 | 2-10 |
| CFP RANKINGS | AP | COACHES |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 19 | 18 |
| NAME | POS | STATUS | GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stan Ellis | ATH | Signed | 77 |
| Stephen Passeggiata | DE | Signed | 75 |
| Je'Mari Littlejohn | OLB | Signed | 75 |
| Eli Wilson | TE-H | Signed | 74 |
| Tommy Wright | ATH | Signed | 74 |
| YEAR | PLAYER | AWARD |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | A. Edwards | Walter Payton Award |
| 2008 | A. Edwards | Walter Payton Award |
