You know that old "it's a marathon, not a sprint" cliche that's so often used to describe sports seasons? Consider Week 5 a hill in the middle of the course that, depending on how some teams handle it, could push them way out in front or cause them to fall back to the pack. Major conference showdowns exist in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC as well as within some of the non-power ...

COLUMBUS, Ohio — In the second half of the season-opening battle between Ohio State and Bowling Green, linebacker Joe Burger took the field, tallying four tackles, including a half-tackle for a loss. If you were told four years ago this is how Burger's senior season debut in Ohio Stadium was going to play out, it would have made sense. You just would have assumed he was playing on the other team. An unranked prospect coming out of Cincinnati's LaSalle ...

The stories of Les Miles and the Michigan Wolverines in 2016 couldn't be more different, but the former LSU Tigers head coach apparently turned down a chance to lead the program in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  In an interview with ESPN Radio 104.5 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (via ESPN.com's David Ching), on Wednesday, former LSU athletic director Skip Bertman said Miles rejected an offer from the Wolverines in 2011. "Les Miles turned that job down for more money at Michigan. He turned ...

For the first time this season the entire Pac-12 is in action against each other, with league play in full swing as all 12 schools vie to win a division title and play for a conference championship. All five of last week's conference games went down to the wire, and we can only hope the Week 5 slate is as competitive and entertaining. Each has its own value and impact on the Pac-12 race, but we've ...

PLANO, Texas — It's a warm Thursday evening, and Anthony Hines III picks up a broom and begins to sweep the floor. The move is routine for the 17-year-old who periodically comes to his father's barber shop to help him close the place. "You missed a spot, son," his father says, pointing. It's a small enough clump of hair to go unnoticed by most, but for Anthony Hines II, a 25-year professional in the field, something even ...

The first time I spoke to Ed Orgeron, he was in a bar. Not just any bar, but a really loud bar. It was a late Friday afternoon in 2014, and the background music was so overpowering I nearly forgot why I had called. I managed to introduce myself. Whether Orgeron heard a word I said at first, he played along. Then there was that voice. That raw but inviting Cajun drawl. It whitewashed all background noise. ...

Former All-American Iowa quarterback Randy Duncan died Tuesday at the age of 79, according to the school. Current head coach Kirk Ferentz spoke about Duncan's legacy:  The word 'legend; is so often overused in sports, but in the case of Randy Duncan it fits perfectly. He was one of the true Hawkeye legends, who served as an outstanding representative of Iowa football and the University of Iowa.  A great family man, Randy was humble and caring, and ...

LSU running back Leonard Fournette's status is uncertain for Saturday's game against Missouri because of a lingering ankle injury he aggravated in the team's game against Auburn on Sept. 24.  Continue for updates. Latest on Fournette's Playing Status  Thursday, Sept. 29 Interim LSU coach Ed Orgeron said Fournette is a game-time decision to play against Missouri, per David Ching of ESPN.com. On Wednesday, Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee reported Orgeron said a final decision about Fournette's availability will likely come Saturday.  Latest on Fournette's Practice Status  Thursday, Sept. ...

Since playing in the national championship game four seasons ago, Notre Dame is just 18-15 straight up against major-conference competition. Some might argue otherwise, but Syracuse qualifies as a major-conference team. How will the Irish fare when they roll with the Orange on Saturday afternoon on a neutral field at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey?      Point spread: The Fighting Irish opened as 12-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report). College ...

Each week, Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Tyler Donohue analyzes a different prospect based on in-person evaluation and intensive film study. Here's our latest scouting report of a promising young athlete and how he projects as a college player.       Detroit standout Donovan Peoples-Jones is considered one of the country's most coveted uncommitted recruits. The 6'2", 192-pound receiver, who began collecting top-tier collegiate scholarship offers as a freshman, remains undecided about an ultimate destination one month into his senior season. Peoples-Jones, who claims ...