College Football

Former Alabama Crimson Tide cornerback Khyree Jackson announced Sunday that he has committed to the Oregon Ducks.

Jackson spent his entire collegiate career at Alabama. He's entering his fifth-year senior season and his final year of eligibility.

Jackson is the third player to commit to the Ducks through the transfer portal, joining former Iowa linebacker Jestin Jacobs and former Alabama wide receiver Traeshon Holden.

Coming out of high school, Jackson played for two junior colleges in Texas and Mississippi. While playing for East Mississippi Community College in 2020, Jackson's draft stock rose significantly and he eventually earned a four-star prospect rating.

Although Jackson committed to Alabama out of EMCC, he received offers from Oregon, LSU, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma and many others.

During his first season with the Crimson Tide in 2021, Jackson appeared in just four games, posting seven tackles and two pass breakups. He struggled to gain consistent playing time at one of the United States' top collegiate programs, and that continued in 2022.

This season, Jackson appeared in just nine games, posting seven tackles and one tackle for a loss. He was suspended for the team's final three games for unknown reasons.

The arrival of Jackson in Eugene couldn't have come at a better time for the Ducks, which are set to lose top cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who has declared for the 2023 NFL draft.

The Ducks finished the 2022 season with a 9-3 record, fourth in the Pac-12 behind USC, Washington and Utah. They'll get the opportunity to tack on another win in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 28 against North Carolina.

The college football recruiting window is wide open, and the early signing period is set to begin on Wednesday, December 21.

Heading into that period, many of the nation's top five-star recruits have already committed and are expected to sign national letters of intent (NLI) either in the coming days or when the traditional signing period opens on February 1—a full list of NFI dates can be found here.

Five-star quarterback Arch Manning, for example, has committed to Texas for the 2023 season. Fellow five-star signal-caller Nicholaus Iamaleava has committed to Tennessee.

While we know where most of the top 2023 recruits are headed, there remains plenty of intrigue ahead of Wednesday. Decommitments do occur, and a few top recruits have been quiet about their college plans.

We're here to examine the latter group and dive into some of the top prospects who remain uncommitted heading into early signing day.

Nyckoles Harbor, Athlete, Archbishop Carroll

Nyckoles Harbor, an all-around athletic prospect out of Archbishop Carroll in Washington D.C., is ranked 16th among 247Sports' list of top recruits.

With an impressive 6'5", 225-pound frame and elite athleticism, Harbor is widely projected to play either tight end or edge-rusher at the collegiate level. His next role could depend heavily on where Harbor lands.

Also recruited by Maryland, Georgia, Michigan and LSU, Harbor is predicted by 247Sports' Crystal Ball to land with the South Carolina Gamecocks. However, a recent visit with Maryland could throw a wrench in South Carolina's plans.

"Official visit to Maryland blows away five-star ATH Nyckoles Harbor and his family, a trip that included time spent with the university president, AD and one of the top orthopedic surgeons in the country," Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports tweeted.

Expect Harbor to be on the fence about his decision until at least mid-week.

Matayo Uiagalelei, Edge, St. John Bosco

Pass-rusher Matayo Uiagalelei from St. John Bosco in Bellflower, California, is another five-star recruit who remains uncommitted.

According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, Ohio State now holds a "slight lead" over USC to land Uiagalelei. However, Oregon, Alabama and Arizona are also in the mix for the 6'5", 265-pound prospect.

According to Garrick Hodge of Eleven Warriors, the Buckeyes have recently put the proverbial full-court press on the Uiagalelei.

"OSU visited Uiagalelei this week and the Buckeyes are doing everything they can to secure the five-star California target," Hodge wrote. "But it will be a close battle between Ohio State, Oregon and USC for his commitment."

One potential factor to consider is that Uiagalelei's brother, former Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, is in the transfer portal and looking for a new home. If the two are looking to play together, D.J.'s decision could impact that of his younger brother.

Jordan Hall, DL, Westside

Defensive lineman Jordan Hall from Westside High School in Jacksonville, Florida, is a very intriguing prospect. At 6'4.5" and 300 pounds, he has the build of an interior defender. However, the four-star recruit also possesses a tremendous amount of athleticism.

Hall has the combination of size and quickness needed to play on the inside or at defensive end.

While Hall might not be ready to make an immediate impact, he should develop into a star at the college level.

"Likely going to need a few years of coaching before he's ready to go on Saturdays and must keep evolving as a player, but should be viewed as an interior lineman with pass rushing upside that can provide a spark at the Power 5 level," Andrew Ivins of 247Sports wrote.

Hall has taken official visits with Georgia, Florida, Florida State, LSU and Alabama. According to his Twitter account, Hall plans to make an official announcement on December 22.

Rodrick Pleasant, CB, Junipero Serra

For now, Junipero Serra (Gardena, CA) cornerback Rodrick Pleasant is focused on playing in next month's Under Armour High School All-America Game in Orlando. His college decision may not come during the early signing period.

"I'm not in a rush right now," Pleasant said, per Damian Calhoun of the Daily Breeze.

The four-star defensive prospect, however, is drawing serious interest from schools like Cal, UCLA, Oregon and Miami—and it's not hard to see why.

"Pleasant has tremendous speed and is arguably the fastest player in the '23 class," Greg Biggins of 247Sports wrote. "His speed shows up on the football field, and he's a dangerous player in all three phases of the game."

Pleasant recently agreed to an official visit with UCLA, and there's a chance that he does commit this month.

However, it feels likely that Pleasant will remain one of the top uncommitted recruits when the early signing period ends.

*Recruiting information via 247Sports.

Frank Gore ranks third in NFL history in rushing yards, but his son Frank Gore Jr. might now be the superstar in the family.

The younger Gore set an NCAA bowl record Saturday with 329 rushing yards to help Southern Miss earn a 38-24 win over Rice in the LendingTree Bowl. After the game, he let his father hear it with some trash talk.

"I told him (about the record) when he came on the field and let him know that I'm the best in the family," he said, via ESPN.

The sophomore topped the previous record set by Appalachian State's Camerun Peoples in the 2020 Myrtle Beach Bowl.

"Thanks to my O-line, they opened up a lot of good holes and got me into the secondary," Gore said. "As Coach (Will Hall) said, the first person could rarely tackle me. And if you're able to get down the field untouched, that leads to a lot of big plays."

Frank Gore Jr. was a 3-star recruit out of high school, receiving few scholarship offers from big-time programs. He has proved doubters wrong in his three collegiate seasons, totaling 2,891 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns for Southern Miss.

His 1,382 rushing yards in 2022 ranks 13th in the country.

The senior Gore struggled with injuries during his college career at Miami and never reached 1,000 yards in a single season. He totaled 1,975 rushing yards across three seasons with the Hurricanes.

The 39-year-old was much better in the NFL, reaching 1,000 rushing yards in nine different seasons. The third-round pick earned five Pro Bowl selections with the San Francisco 49ers and finished his career with 16,000 yards on the ground.

It creates a lot for Gore Jr. to live up to, but he's already off to a great start.

The No. 1 South Dakota State Jackrabbits will face the No. 3 North Dakota State Bison in a huge rivalry matchup in the 2023 FCS championship game Jan. 8 in Frisco, Texas, following a 39-18 win over No. 4 Montana State on Saturday.

South Dakota State is back in the championship game for the first time since 2020 and is looking for its first title in program history.

The Bison, meanwhile, have been the most dominant team in the FCS over the last decade-plus. They clinched a berth in the FCS title game for the 10th time in the past 12 seasons with a 35-32 win over Incarnate Word on Friday.

North Dakota State is aiming to win its 10th FCS title, all of which have come since 2011.

Here's a look at the schedule for the championship game and a deeper dive into each program's playoff run.

Championship Schedule

No. 1 South Dakota State vs. No. 3 North Dakota State: Saturday, Jan. 8 at 2 p.m. ET

Tale of the Tape

The rivalry between South Dakota State and North Dakota State dates all the way back to 1903. The Jackrabbits dominated play through 1963, but since then, the Bison have been in command despite three straight losses dating back to the 2021 season.

North Dakota State leads the series against South Dakota State 63-45-5.

The Jackrabbits and Bison met Oct. 15, and South Dakota won 23-21 after trailing 21-7 entering halftime. SDSU scored on all four of its second-half possessions and kept NDSU off the board after halftime to claim the win.

The Jackrabbits and Bisons have met in the FCS playoffs four times—2012 second round, 2014 second round, 2016 quarterfinals and 2018 semifinals—and North Dakota State won each matchup.

South Dakota State's Run to the Final

As the No. 1 seed, South Dakota State earned a first-round bye after going 10-1 in the regular season.

They began their run to the title game with a 42-6 win over Delaware in the second round behind a 104-yard, two-touchdown performance from running back Isaiah Davis.

The Jackrabbits then defeated No. 8 Holy Cross 42-21 in the quarterfinals behind a respectable performance from quarterback Mark Gronowski, who completed 12 of 22 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 47 yards and one score.

In Saturday's semifinal matchup against No. 4 Montana State, SDSU won 39-18 on another three-touchdown performance by Gronowski, who passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another score.

Gronowski and Davis have been SDSU's biggest performers this postseason, and the Jackrabbits will need both to be at their best if they want to claim the title over North Dakota State.

North Dakota State's Run to the Final

North Dakota State secured a first-round bye and the No. 3 seed after going 9-2 in the regular season.

The Bison earned a 49-26 win over Montana in the second round behind brilliant rushing performances from running backs Kobe Johnson (206 yards, two touchdowns) and TaMerik Williams (101 yards, one touchdown).

From there, NDSU defeated No. 9 Samford 27-9 in the quarterfinals behind a two-touchdown performance by Cam Miller. The quarterback completed 15 of 18 passes for 194 yards and one touchdown, in addition to rushing for 21 yards and a score.

In Friday's semifinal matchup against No. 7 Incarnate Word, North Dakota State won 35-32 thanks to a three-touchdown performance from Johnson.

The Bison offense has been somewhat one-dimensional this postseason as Miller has thrown for just 257 yards in three games. The running game has been outstanding, but the passing game needs to get going if NDSU hopes to claim another title.

The Florida Gators fell to the Oregon State Beavers 30-3 on Saturday in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl, finishing the year with a 6-7 record in Billy Napier's first season as head coach.

Florida kicked a field goal with just seconds remaining on the clock to record its only points of the game.

The Gators were short-handed Saturday, with the biggest loss being quarterback Anthony Richardson, who opted out and declared for the 2023 NFL draft. However, the team's performance as a whole was still unacceptable.

Quarterback Jack Miller III completed just 13 of 22 passes for 180 yards. Running backs Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson Jr. each rushed for just 14 yards, and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall caught four passes for 65 yards.

The offense was hideous, but the defense wasn't much better, allowing Oregon State to total 353 yards.

With Napier's squad putting together a disappointing performance Saturday, and for much of the season, Twitter questioned whether the Gators made the right decision in hiring him to replace Dan Mullen.

Before joining Florida, Napier spent four seasons at Louisiana, going 40-12 and 2-1 in bowl games.

Saturday's loss is frustrating for Florida and its fans, but Napier will likely be sticking around for longer than one season, and the Gators will be hoping the 2023 campaign goes far better.

Deion Sanders' final game at Jackson State didn't go as planned, with the Tigers losing 41-34 in overtime to North Carolina Central in the Celebration Bowl.

Jackson State tied the game at 34 as time expired on Shedeur Sanders' 19-yard touchdown pass to Travis Hunter on 4th-and-10.

After North Carolina Central scored on the opening possession of overtime, Sanders' pass on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line was incomplete to end the game.

The loss ended Jackson State's quest for a perfect season, but the team still won a program-record 12 games.

Despite the bitter end to his season and his tenure with the Tigers, Deion earned plaudits for what he was able to accomplish in just three seasons as head coach at the program.

Hunter, who is expected to follow Deion and Shedeur to Colorado, continued to show off his Primetime-esque skills. The freshman cornerback caught four passes for 47 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday.

Deion Sanders was named Colorado's head coach on Dec. 3. The Pro Football Hall of Famer is taking over a program that has been a mess for years.

The Buffaloes finished the 2022 season with a 1-11 record, the worst scoring defense (44.5 points allowed per game) and fifth-worst scoring offense (15.4 points per game) in FBS.

Colorado has just one winning season since 2017 (4-2 in 2020). It hasn't won a postseason bowl game since the 2004 Houston Bowl.

Sanders is certainly capable of engineering a quick turnaround. Jackson State was coming off seven consecutive losing seasons when he was hired in September 2020.

The Tigers went 27-6 overall and won back-to-back SWAC titles with Sanders as head coach.

Travis Hunter, the 2022 5-star cornerback who was recruited by Deion Sanders and joined him at Jackson State, may be sticking with his head coach and making the move to Colorado.

"When is Travis coming? Real soon. I saw (speculation) online the other day," Sanders said during an Instagram chat this week (h/t Nick Gray of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger). "What do you think Travis is going to do? What is wrong with y'all? What is wrong with y'all sometimes? Some of the stuff y'all say puzzles me, puzzles the heck out of me."

Sanders already introduced his son, Jackson State quarterback Shedeur Sanders, as "your quarterback" during his Colorado introductory press conference. So the expectation is the young quarterback will follow his father to Boulder.

"He's going to have to earn it, though, believe that," Sanders added.

The young Sanders would be an upgrade for Colorado after he threw for 3,383 yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions ahead of Saturday's Celebration Bowl. He completed 70.2 percent of his passes while also rushing for 174 yards and five scores.

While speaking with the team, Sanders indicated he would bring some players with him from Jackson State.

"We've got a few positions already taken care of because I'm bringing my luggage with me," he said. "I'm coming. It ain't going to be no more of the mess that these wonderful fans, the student body and some of your parents have put up with for probably two decades now. I'm coming. And when I get here, there's going to be change."

The hope in Boulder is that Hunter will be among them. The star freshman dealt with injuries this season but made an impact on both sides of the ball, recording 15 tackles and two interceptions on defense while adding 14 receptions for 141 yards and two touchdowns on offense.

There's no doubt that Hunter has electric talent, and his addition would be huge for a Colorado program that has had just one winning season since 2005.

If Sanders is going to transform the Buffaloes into a perennial contender, bringing stars like Hunter to Boulder will be key.

Louisville Cardinals running back Jawhar Jordan put on an impressive offensive display in Saturday's Fenway Bowl victory over Cincinnati, making a case for a bigger role next season.

Jordan racked up 115 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries to lead Louisville to a 24-7 win. The transfer from Syracuse has two years of eligibility remaining and should be the focal point of the Cardinals offense in 2023.

This season, Jordan shared the backfield with dual-threat quarterback Malik Cunningham, who led the team with 12 rushing touchdowns. Cunningham sat out the bowl game after declaring for the NFL draft, giving Jordan the freedom to showcase his skills Saturday. Freshman running back Maurice Turner also had a strong game with a career-high 160 yards on 31 carries.

Fans on social media were impressed with what they saw from Jordan as he propelled Louisville to its first bowl victory since 2019:

After back-to-back losing seasons, the Cardinals finish 2022 an 8-5 record.

With Jordan leading the way, the Cardinals should have a better chance at being competitive in the ACC.

Oregon Ducks tight end Cam McCormick announced Friday that he was granted a ninth year of college eligibility by the NCAA.

According to James Crepea of The Oregonian, McCormick divulged that he requested the extra year of eligibility after he tore his Achilles in September 2021. He also noted that he is undecided if he will return for another collegiate season in 2023:

"I've thought about it; it's a tough decision. I'm not totally keen on what my decision is going to be yet. I'm going to continue to enjoy this game with my teammates and make the decision after the game. ... I couldn't imagine doing nine. If anything, I applied for it just to have it after Ohio State last year. I tore my Achilles and thankfully was able to get it. The option's there, I do have it. Whether I use it, it's in the air. Thinking about returning for a year eight."

If McCormick pursues an NFL career rather than return to Oregon next season, his final game with the Ducks will be the Holiday Bowl against North Carolina on Dec. 28.

Per Crepea, McCormick missed nearly four full seasons from 2018 to 2021 due to a broken left ankle that required three surgeries, as well as the torn Achilles.

As a redshirt freshman in 2017, McCormick finished with six receptions for 89 yards and one touchdown. He appeared in only two games over the next four years before playing in a career-high 12 games this season.

McCormick has nine grabs for 64 yards in 2022, plus he has scored a career-high three touchdowns.

At 24, the Bend, Oregon, native is already older than many players in the NFL and most players in college football. Even so, he has the option to extend his stay at the University of Oregon for another year.

Given how little he has played over the years, Crepea noted that McCormick is unlikely to be invited to the NFL Scouting Combine or selected in the NFL draft, meaning he would have to attempt to make a team as an undrafted free agent.

Other options include attempting to play in other professional leagues such as the XFL or USFL.

If McCormick does leave Oregon, he will go out on a high note, as he was selected as the recipient of the 2022 Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award.

Since 2002, the award has been given annually to players or teams that display "courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship."

McCormick will fly from San Diego to Miami after the Holiday Bowl and receive the award during an on-field ceremony at the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.

The No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2024, quarterback Dylan Raiola, has decommitted from Ohio State, his family told Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.com on Saturday.

"Everything is back on the table," his father, Dominic Raiola, told Wiltfong. "His process is almost like it's restarting. It's not closed off to anybody."

The 6'3", 220-pound Raiola, from Chandler, Arizona, had offers from many of the biggest programs in the country, including Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Oregon, Texas, Nebraska and USC, among others.

He verbally committed to Ohio State on May 9 but decided to reopen the recruiting process.

"We have a lot of respect for that program. We have a lot of respect for coach [Ryan] Day. It's just where Dylan is at right now," his father added, per Adam Gorney of Rivals.

His re-opened recruitment will make him the top priority for a number of programs, given his immense potential. The ties to Nebraska in particular are hard to ignore:

Chris Singletary of 247Sports.com offered the following scouting report on Raiola, in part:

A young player who has very few holes in his game even with two more years of high school left. Ahead of the curve mechanically and possesses the arm strength that puts him in elite company. The more he plays and has reps his decision making and feel will only get faster and become second nature. Should become a Power Five starter for multiple years and a potential all-conference selection with NFL Draft early-round upside.

It won't be until 2024 that Raiola is even on a college campus as a student-athlete. But his decommitment from a powerhouse such as Ohio State is nonetheless one of the biggest stories in the recruiting world.