Neal Brown was informed he will be retained as head football coach at West Virginia by new athletic director Wren Baker, according to multiple reports.

A formal announcement from the school was expected later Wednesday as part of the university’s confirmation of Baker’s hiring.

Baker, who spent six years as athletic director at North Texas, was hired to replace Shane Lyons.

Brown, 22-25 at West Virginia, has a $16 million buyout as part of a contract extension that runs through 2026.

West Virginia finished 5-7 this season but November wins over Oklahoma State and Oklahoma might have helped him earn another year in Morgantown.

Lyons, who was hired in 2015 to replace Oliver Luck, recently joined the Alabama athletic department.

–Field Level Media

Trent Dilfer is on the verge of jumping from a high school coaching job to becoming the head football coach at UAB.

Multiple media outlets reported Tuesday night that the former Super Bowl-winning quarterback is set to take over a Blazers team that went 6-6 this year, 4-4 in Conference USA play.

Dilfer is in his fourth year running the Lipscomb Academy football program in Nashville, and his team is one win away from capturing a second consecutive Tennessee Division II Class AA state championship.

Dilfer, 50, played 13 seasons in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1994-99), Baltimore Ravens (2000), Seattle Seahawks (2001-04), Cleveland Browns (2005) and San Francisco 49ers (2007). He wound up with a 58-55 regular-season record as a starter, throwing for 20,518 yards on 55.5 percent passing with 113 touchdowns and 129 interceptions.

Dilfer led the Ravens to a Super Bowl title in January 2001, completing 12 of 25 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown as Baltimore routed the New York Giants 34-7.

After his playing career, Dilfer went into broadcasting, working for NFL Network, ESPN and Fox Sports.

UAB was led this season by interim coach Bryant Vincent, who got the role when Bill Clark retired in the summer due to health issues. Clark had a 49-26 record with the Blazers, starting in 2014 before the program was shuttered for two years before resuming action.

–Field Level Media

Georgia almost certainly is going to the College Football Playoff regardless of what happens in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Saturday in Atlanta.

LSU is not going to the CFP regardless of what happens in the SEC Championship Game.

Nonetheless, the No. 1 Bulldogs (12-0, 8-0 SEC), champions of the East Division, and the No. 14 Tigers (9-3, 6-2), champions of the West Division, both have a lot to gain by winning on Saturday — a significant trophy and momentum going into whatever their next destination is.

The situation is very similar to the one Georgia faced last season when it was undefeated and No. 1 as it faced Alabama. The Bulldogs figured to go to the CFP even if they lost. The Crimson Tide needed to win to get in, and they played like it, upsetting the Bulldogs 41-24.

However, Georgia shook off the loss and took care of business in the CFP, beating Michigan in the semifinals and winning a rematch with Alabama for the national championship.

“We’re worried about winning the SEC championship,” Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said. “That’s the most important thing on our agenda. It’s tough to win an SEC championship. I’ve been part of this league for a long time. I have almost as many national championships as I do SEC championships.”

Georgia has not lost since last season’s SEC championship game. Only one of the Bulldogs’ games this season was decided by a touchdown or less — a 26-22 victory at Missouri on Oct. 1.

A victory on Saturday would give Georgia a chance to accomplish something even last year’s team didn’t — an undefeated national championship season.

“It’s not about last year’s team or a comparison,” Smart said. “It’s about that next step and having an opportunity to put a number on the wall that stays there forever. It’s an SEC championship. I think our players take a lot of pride in that.”

LSU, in its first season under former Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly, was in strong contention for a CFP berth before being upset by unranked Texas A&M 38-23 in its regular-season finale.

“We’ve had certainly some bumps in the road, but we’ve had some great achievements in developing our program here in the first year,” Kelly said. “Our football team has gotten better as the season has gone along.

“This is a great challenge, but one that we’re excited about. We want to be able to represent the SEC West and certainly play to our standard.”

The Tigers, who lost to Florida State in their season opener and to Tennessee on Oct. 1, didn’t play to their season-long standard against the Aggies. LSU’s John Emery Jr. ran for three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough.

That loss dropped them nine spots in the CFP rankings Tuesday night, though they can still earn a substantial bowl berth by winning Saturday.

“This group has a lot of fight,” Kelly said. “That’s why they’ll go to Atlanta, and they will fight, and they will play hard for four quarters, and they will give everything they have against a very talented Georgia team.”

The Tigers will attempt to slow a Bulldogs passing attack led by quarterback Stetson Bennett (3,151 yards, 16 touchdowns, six interceptions).

–Field Level Media

The exhilaration felt after conquering their archrival still reverberates through their collective brains.

It may be hard to top but that’s what the second-ranked Michigan Wolverines want to do in the Big Ten championship game.

The Wolverines also don’t want to leave anything to chance, knowing they would be locked into a College Football Playoff bid if they defeat Big Ten West Division survivor Purdue in Indianapolis on Saturday.

Michigan (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) captured the East crown with a stunning second-half performance in Columbus last week against previously unbeaten Ohio State. The Wolverines outscored the Buckeyes 28-3 after halftime en route to a 45-23 victory, Michigan’s second straight in the storied rivalry and first on Ohio State’s home turf since 2000.

“Definitely right up there as one of the greatest wins, and we’ve had a lot of good ones in 143 years,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said.

Beating the Boilermakers won’t go down as a great accomplishment in the program’s history books, but it would get the Wolverines closer to their ultimate goal.

“The week before was the biggest game in the world. Past game was the biggest game in the world to us,” Harbaugh said. “Now, this game is the biggest game in the world to us. (We’re) going about the preparation, the study of our opponent, the meetings, the practices and getting ready for this game so we can have the same feeling of winning and thrill of victory.”

Purdue (8-4, 6-3) has a long-standing reputation of being giant killers. The Boilermakers are 7-6 in the past five years against ranked opponents.

They will make their first appearance in the conference title game with a “nothing to lose” mentality.

“I remember the feeling last year and nobody expected us to be there last year. Here’s this opportunity to go play in the (Big Ten) championship game,” Harbaugh said. “I know how dangerous a team like that can be. I would imagine that is the same feeling Purdue is having.”

The Boilermakers will have to figure out a way to slow Michigan’s rushing game, even though No. 1 back Blake Corum is dealing with a knee injury. Corum was able to go only a couple of plays against the Buckeyes before the coaching staff shut him down.

Donovan Edwards more than filled the void, rushing for 216 yards, including scoring runs of 75 and 85 yards in the fourth quarter.

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy threw three touchdown passes of 45 or more yards.

“That combination is really lethal,” Purdue coach Jeff Brohm said. “You’re going to have to find a way to stop something and they’re able to do so many things. Then off of that, their defense can play lights out at any time and get stops.”

Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell left the team early in the week to mourn the death of older brother Sean. He is expected to return in time for the Saturday game, albeit with a heavy heart.

“It’s a very tough time for him and his whole family,” wide receiver Charlie Jones said.

O’Connell and Jones are a formidable duo. O’Connell has thrown for more than 3,124 yards and 22 touchdowns. Jones has caught 97 passes for 1,199 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“There’s going to be more pressure on Michigan, of course,” Brohm said. “They’ve got a chance to really do something special this year and they’re in a great position to do that. For us, this is a one-game shot to play in the championship game and roll the dice and see what we can do.”

–Field Level Media

TCU may sit No. 3 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, but the Horned Frogs view Saturday’s Big 12 Championship against No. 10 Kansas State at Arlington, Texas, as a must-win affair.

A loss to the Wildcats could open the door for No. 5 Ohio State to possibly slide ahead of TCU (12-0) and claim one of the four spots.

But fretting about losing isn’t of interest to Horned Frogs star quarterback Max Duggan, who is aiming to maintain perspective despite how much is at stake.

“It’s the next game, but I don’t think we need to make it bigger than it needs to be,” Duggan said. “It’s a football game, we have to prepare the same way and we’re going to go into it with the same mindset. … The lights aren’t going to be brighter and nothing is going to be different.”

Coach Sonny Dykes feels TCU’s resume is solid and that there should be no debate that his team is one of the best four in the nation. The Horned Frogs have started 12-0 for just the third time in program history and have scored more than 40 points on six occasions.

“As I’ve said all along, I think this is different,” Dykes said. “I think college football is different. I think this committee is different, and I think the Big 12 is viewed differently (than the past).

“It’s a gauntlet. I think the people that really study the game know how good this team is. To go through this thing undefeated and win these road games shows that we have a good football team.”

Duggan, a rising Heisman Trophy candidate, has passed for 3,070 yards and 29 touchdowns against just three interceptions. Only Trevone Boykin (33 in 2014, 31 in 2015) has thrown more touchdowns in a single season in TCU history.

Running back Kendre Miller is also enjoying a big season. He has rushed for 1,260 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Kansas State (9-3) has won three consecutive games and put a major scare into the Horned Frogs when they met Oct. 22 in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Wildcats led by 18 points in the second quarter before TCU scored the game’s final 28 points to record a 38-28 victory.

That scare is certainly on the minds of the Horned Frogs, while Kansas State is now playing its best football of the season.

The Wildcats have averaged 40.2 points over their last five games, scoring 47 or more in three of those contests.

Kansas State coach Chris Klieman is well aware few people think his club can win the championship game.

“Our guys have really risen up,” Klieman said. “Especially when people have doubted them, they’ve risen to the top and I can’t say enough about our team leaders and about our captains because they control that locker room and this player-led team has taken ownership in it.”

Running back Deuce Vaughn is stamping his name as one of the top running backs in Wildcats’ history. He has rushed for 1,295 yards and is just the third player in program history to record multiple 1,000-yard seasons — joining College Hall of Famer Darren Sproles (three straight from 2002-04) and Daniel Thomas (2009-10).

Vaughn ranks second in school history with 3,341 career rushing yards, trailing Sproles (4,979).

With Adrian Martinez (leg) questionable at best, Will Howard will again be the starting quarterback for Kansas State.

Howard has thrown 13 touchdown passes against two interceptions in five appearances this season and he’s ready for the challenge.

“The job isn’t finished,” Howard said. “We have one more and we have to finish it out. This is a very big game coming up, obviously, but we’re going to be ready.”

–Field Level Media

The Pac-12 Conference championship game on Friday in Las Vegas offers no shortage of stakes.

No. 4 Southern California is looking both to avenge its lone loss of 2022 and remain in contention for the College Football Playoff, while No. 11 Utah seeks a second straight league title and a shot at Rose Bowl redemption.

USC (11-1) completed its best regular season since 2008 with a 38-27 vicrory over Notre Dame on Saturday.

The Trojans’ place in the conference championship game was already set heading into the regular-season finale, but USC remained alive for a first-ever CFP berth and quarterback Caleb Williams bolstered his Heisman Trophy case with three rushing touchdowns and one passing TD.

“We have bigger goals in mind that I’m a part of,” Williams said at Tuesday’s media availability about being in line to win the Heisman. “I do get a little bit more texts and phone calls … but like I said, trying to block out all the noise.”

Williams’ standout debut season at USC this year included a 381-yard, five-touchdown passing performance when the Trojans last saw Utah on Oct. 15. The Utes ultimately came away with a 43-42 win, however, capped when quarterback Cameron Rising punctuated the last of his three rushing touchdowns on the game with a successful two-point conversion carry. Rising also threw for two scores in the win.

USC coach Lincoln Riley was adamant during his Tuesday media availability that he does not view Friday as “a revenge game.”

“That’s not what this is,” Riley said. “We played a really good football game, as did Utah, up in Salt Lake. It came down to one play here or there. They got us that time. But this is not about that game. This is a new game, a new challenge, a new setting (and) both teams have evolved.”

Utah (9-3) is playing in its fourth Pac-12 title game since 2018 and is looking for its second crown in that span. The Utes dominated Oregon 38-10 in the Pac-12 championship game a season ago, earning the program’s first-ever bid to the Rose Bowl.

The prospects of going back-to-back looked bleak for the Utes last Saturday when Oregon — which owned the head-to-head tiebreaker for the other berth in the conference title game — led rival Oregon State 34-17 in the early fourth quarter.

Twenty-one straight points gave Oregon State the win, which — coupled with Utah’s 63-21 blowout of Colorado later in the day — landed the Utes in Las Vegas.

“As we all know, very difficult to beat a really good team twice, but that’s what our challenge is,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said in his press conference on Monday. “SC is ultra-talented, very efficient on offense. I know they’re not No. 1 in total offense, but they’re No. 1 in yards per play, which is to me, is more important.”

Indeed, while USC ranks fifth nationally in total offense at 506.6 yards per game — remarkably, good only for fourth in the Pac-12 — the Trojans’ 7.27 yards per play ranks third nationally behind only Tennessee’s 7.35 and Ohio State’s 7.30.

USC and Ohio State are two of the only three opponents that have posted 40-plus points against Utah over the past two seasons. The Trojans’ 42-point outburst in Salt Lake City was the most the Utes had given up since losing the Rose Bowl to Ohio State 48-45.

Utah kept pace with USC in October thanks in part to tight end Dalton Kincaid, who went for 234 yards receiving in the win.

USC running back Travis Dye rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown against the Utes. He is out due to an injury, but backup Austin Jones gained 154 yards to give USC balance in last week’s defeat of the Fighting Irish.

–Field Level Media