Bill Trocchi | Sporting News

MORE FROM Bill Trocchi

NCAA Jam: Final Four features Duke-UCLA, North Carolina-Kansas

The Sporting News NCAA Jam tournament has just four duos standing, and they represent some of the game's legendary players.

Bill Trocchi

NCAA Jam: Elite Eight field features three NCAA title game rematches

North Carolina (Michael Jordan, Vince Carter) vs. Georgetown (Patrick Ewing, Allen Iverson) highlights four spectacular 2-on-2 matchups as The Sporting News' "NCAA Jam" tournament marches on.

Bill Trocchi

CBI considering giving Antoine Davis shot at NCAA record

CBI president Rick Giles told Sporting News his tournament considers special circumstances and is evaluating whether it will invite Detroit Mercy to its postseason event.

Bill Trocchi

Top 10 returning college QBs who passed on NFL Draft

There will be a lot of veteran talent calling signals during the 2023 college football season.

Bill Trocchi

How to fix CFB's postseason scheduling problem

For far too long, college football’s regular season has outshined its postseason. Here are some simple steps to fix it.

Bill Trocchi

Parity in college football? TCU, Tulane, Cincinnati show change is coming

College football can produce unexpected seasons, and the ceilings of those seasons are as high as they have ever been.

Bill Trocchi

Georgia rides the roller-coaster past Ohio State and into title game

Kirby Smart's clutch timeout and Stetson Bennett's clutch fourth quarter pushed Georgia past Ohio State and into the College Football Playoff title game against TCU.

Bill Trocchi

What's it like to play for Kirby Smart? 'He's going to coach you hard'

Kirby Smart has the reputation of eating, drinking and sleeping football 24 hours a day, and those within the Georgia program this week did nothing to dispel that notion.

Bill Trocchi

Grading college football's coaching hires: Deion Sanders, Luke Fickell get high marks

Colorado needs a big turnaround, while Wisconsin looks to regain its spot as a top 10 program.

Bill Trocchi

Deion Sanders loses Celebration Bowl, but his hype train isn't slowing down

Jackson State lost a thriller in OT, but Deion's son Shedeur put on a show at quarterback that will have Colorado fans salivating.

Bill Trocchi

Sonny Dykes wins Sporting News Coach of the Year

Sonny Dykes lifted a program that had slipped in recent years all the way to the College Football Playoff in Year 1 at TCU.

Bill Trocchi

The grades are in for college football's 14 first-year coaches

This crop of first-year coaches raised the bar, with six finishing in the Top 25 in Year 1 and one reaching the College Football Playoff.

Bill Trocchi

Ohio State needs to be on upset alert this weekend

Will there be big upsets in the biggest games of rivalry week?

Bill Trocchi

Texas, Oklahoma and Army need to be on upset alert this weekend

The Longhorns have already been upset three times this season.

Bill Trocchi

Texas, Wake Forest need to be on upset alert this weekend.

TCU and North Carolina are popular underdog selections by our panel this week.

Bill Trocchi

What a 12-team CFP bracket would look like with latest rankings

There are four remaining undefeated teams after Clemson and Tennessee went down last Saturday. Soon enough, however, one loss will not mean you need to fret about your spot in the college football playoff.

Bill Trocchi

Brian Kelly's two-point call lifts LSU and sets up possible clash with Georgia

Brian Kelly shook up the College Football Playoff race and rehabbed his image from the man Twitter loves to mock to the man Twitter loves to love after a gutsy overtime decision that will go down in Death Valley lore.

Bill Trocchi

Predicting the underdogs who will pull upsets in Week 10

Texas needs to be on upset alert against Kansas State this weekend.

Bill Trocchi

Coastal Carolina's Grayson McCall: The man who pisses teal

McCall has quarterbacked an inexperienced Chanticleers team to the fringe of the AP Top 25 poll and into first place in the Sun Belt East division at 7-1 heading into Thursday night’s ESPN game against Appalachian State.

Bill Trocchi

What a 12-team College Football Playoff would look like

First-round matchups would include Ole Miss-Michigan, LSU-Alabama.

Bill Trocchi

Kansas State, Tennessee need to be on upset alert this weekend

There were 15 upsets last weekend in college football. Where will they come from this weekend? Our experts make their picks.

Bill Trocchi

What a 12-team College Football Playoff field would look like after Week 8

In the world of a four-team College Football Playoff, regular-season losses are costly, but they will be less so when the field expands to 12 teams.

Bill Trocchi

College football upset alert: Expert picks for Week 8 underdogs with the best odds to win

Texas and LSU need to be on upset alert against fellow ranked teams this weekend.

Bill Trocchi

Wondrous Week 7 showed exactly why CFP games need to be on campus

Do not suck the magic out of the sport. Enhance it. Bring this regular season pandemonium into the postseason.

Bill Trocchi

Oklahoma, Utah need to be on upset alert this weekend

Kansas and USC are popular underdogs among our panel of experts.

Bill Trocchi

Hey, Alabama: Tennessee is primed to seize the moment

Tennessee’s time is now. It best take advantage.

Bill Trocchi

Miami, Wisconsin need to be on upset alert this weekend

Where will the upsets come this week?

Bill Trocchi

Upset alert for Mississippi State, Florida State this weekend

Where will the big upsets come this weekend? Our panel of experts weighs in.

Bill Trocchi

New college football coaches September report cards

As a whole, this class of coaches is off to a pretty strong start taking over new college programs.

Bill Trocchi

These CFB teams need to be on upset alert this weekend

Rutgers, Duke, Washington State and Arkansas are popular picks to pull upsets this week.

Bill Trocchi

Underdogs we predict to win in college football's Week 3

Michigan State, Miami and LSU are all popular upset picks by our panel of experts.

Bill Trocchi

Horror film on loop: Scott Frost's 22 one-score losses at Nebraska

Scott Frost's inability to win close games, which included 22 one-score losses in just four-plus seasons, was a nightmare no Nebraska fan will soon forget.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: Texas A&M fans know exactly who they're rooting for in Alabama-Texas game

When Alabama’s Nick Saban casually but pointedly mentioned that "A&M bought every player" in its No. 1-rated recruiting class, the fury from College Station could be felt across the Texas plains. But all seems to be forgiven this weekend.

Bill Trocchi

Underdog Challenge: Panel of experts picks Week 2 upsets

Iowa State finally knocking off Iowa is a popular selection by our panel.

Bill Trocchi

DJ Uiagalelei navigates 'perfect scenario' to open Season 2 as Clemson's QB1

The incumbent starter overcame early "adversity," as head coach Dabo Swinney put it, in leading the No. 4 Tigers to a season-opening win.

Bill Trocchi

College football upset alert: Expert picks for Week 1 underdogs with the best odds to win

The Sporting News Underdog Challenge is back for Year 2, my friends, and we are going to find the upsets before they happen like never before.

Bill Trocchi

It may be a bumpy Year 1 for Marcus Freeman, but Notre Dame's outlook is still bright

Kirby Smart's transition from defensive coordinator to head coach was tough at first, but his recruiting eventually got him to the top. Marcus Freeman may follow a similar path.

Bill Trocchi

Andy Roddick hoping Serena Williams soaks in US Open farewell

Andy Roddick says Serena Williams 'ticks a little differently', and he hopes the 23-time grand slam champion can enjoy her final tournament at the US Open.

Bill Trocchi

'That would be scary'- Roddick's advice for Kyrgios ahead of US Open

Nick Kyrgios stood on Centre Court at Wimbledon following his four-set loss to Novak Djokovic in July and was asked by the BBC’s Sue Barker if reaching his first grand slam final made him hungry for more.

Bill Trocchi

Portal Passers: Take the College Quarterback Transfer Quiz

College QBs have been in the move since last season. Have you kept up? Test your knowledge for the season kicks off in a few days to see if you know where these quarterbacks will be playing this fall.

Bill Trocchi

Six college football coaches who are under pressure to win this season

Last year's coaches who entered the year on the hot seat ranged from Jim Harbaugh, who reached the College Football Playoff, to Clay Helton, who was fired after two games.

Bill Trocchi

Alabama's Bryce Young has shot at second Heisman, but that's not his focus

QB Bryce Young should be even better in his second year as Alabama's starter, but history says he will not be a repeat Heisman winner.

Bill Trocchi

Potential No. 1 pick Druw Jones looks like second coming of Andruw

Andruw Jones was hitting home runs in the World Series at age 19. His son Druw may be the No. 1 pick in the draft at age 18.

Bill Trocchi

Delaware's Jameer Nelson Jr. knows he's making college hoops fans suddenly feel old

Delaware's leading scorer reaches the NCAA tournament, a place where his father earned a No. 1 seed not all that long ago.

Bill Trocchi

What the College Football Playoff could learn from March Madness

College basketball has its postseason figured out. If only college football could do the same.

Bill Trocchi

Medvedev spoils Auger-Aliassime's upset bid at Aussie

Felix Auger-Aliassime was unable to close out No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev after taking a two-set lead in the Aussie quarterfinals.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: Spurrier talks keys to winning title-game rematch

Steve Spurrier feels like Georgia needs to mix things up in the title game against Alabama, similar to how his Florida team did against Florida State in 1996.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: Why isn't America rooting for Cincinnati?

American sports fans usually pull for the underdog, but when it comes to the College Football Playoff, Cincinnati feels like an unwelcome Cinderella.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: Best may still be to come for Michigan State

Michigan State finished a top-10 season with a win in the Peach Bowl, and there's no reason to think it won't be challenging for a Big Ten championship next year.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: Report card on the new hires in college football

Schools turned to sitting Power 5 coaches and Power 5 coordinators to fill openings during this carousel.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: Texas A&M on brink of historic class

Texas A&M has elbowed its way near the top of the recruiting rankings, and may edge out Georgia and Alabama for No. 1.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: Is America suddenly rooting for Notre Dame?

Notre Dame is one of the most disliked programs in the nation. But fans may want to see the Irish get back at Brian Kelly, who quit on them and became even more disliked than the program.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: The secret to securing a 'home run' hire

Where should ADs look to fill open Power 5 jobs? Oftentimes, the answer is already on campus.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: Cincinnati was impressive, for a half; will that be enough?

The Bearcats looked on their way to a blowout, but a sluggish second half leaves unease as Selection Sunday nears.

Bill Trocchi

Florida, NC State should be on upset alert in Rivalry Week

There will be extra emotions in stadiums across the nation this week. Will that lead to some surprising results?

Bill Trocchi

Cincinnati, UCLA should be on upset alert in Week 12

No. 5 Cincinnati faces a challenge to remain unbeaten this weekend.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: The 12 best games of the season thus far

There's been a lot to choose from in the season's first two months.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: Who can count on playoff spot if they win out?

After the selection committee's initial rankings, very few teams should feel like the road ahead is secure.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: First CFP rankings can foreshadow playoff field

How much do the initial CFP rankings foreshadow the eventual playoff field? More than you think.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: Ranking the remaining unbeatens, from UGA to UTSA

10 unbeaten teams remain, and most have needed a fantastic finish to stay perfect.

Bill Trocchi

Iowa State, Pitt need to be on upset alert for Week 8

No. 8 Oklahoma State is an underdog this week at Iowa State. Our panel likes the Cowboys to win.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: Advice for James Franklin on the LSU, USC openings

There's a good chance LSU and USC are going to coming calling for James Franklin. Which is the better job?

Bill Trocchi

It is upset alert for Texas, Baylor and Pitt in Week 7

A week after No. 1 Alabama went down, what upsets can we expect this week?

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: College football's Week 6 truly had it all

Starting with a record comeback in the Red River Shootout, college football's Week 6 never slowed down, and it ended with a stunning upset of No. 1 Alabama.

Bill Trocchi

It's upset alert time for Oklahoma and Iowa this week

The underdogs in the two biggest games of the weekend are in prime position to pull an upset.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: Time for Cincinnati fans to grab blue and gold pom-poms

If Cincinnati wants an invitation to the College Football Playoff, it desperately needs Notre Dame to register as a quality win.

Bill Trocchi

Iowa, Cincinnati need to be on upset alert in Week 5

Our panel of experts has hit on over 50 percent of its underdog predictions thus far.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: Five biggest surprise teams in September

Several teams picked to finish low in the standings at Media Days this summer are off to hot starts.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: Arch Manning stays grounded amid hype, expectations

Junior quarterback Arch Manning, who will be in Alabama this weekend, is starting a tour of schools that will impact where he commits.

Bill Trocchi

Notre Dame a popular upset pick vs. No. 18 Wisconsin

The Irish enter with a better record and higher ranking, but are almost a touchdown underdog to the Badgers.

Bill Trocchi

Boss Hog: Sam Pittman leads unlikely Arkansas revival

Sam Pittman has made the most of his first chance to be a head coach, landing Arkansas in the top 25 before a showdown with No. 7 Texas A&M.

Bill Trocchi

Miami, Penn State should be on upset alert

Picking upsets hasn't been as difficult as it sounds through two weeks for our expert panel.

Bill Trocchi

Underdog Challenge: Iowa a hot upset pick

The Iowa Hawkeyes are road underdogs vs. Iowa State this week.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: Mercer is as big a bully as Alabama

Alabama's Week 2 opponent put up some astronomical numbers in Week 1. The competition, however, wasn't great.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: Grading the Power 5 coaching debuts

Eight Power 5 coaches made debuts last week, and most offered some hope for the future.

Bill Trocchi

Penn State a popular upset pick in Week 1

Looking for an upset pick? The Sporting News staff makes its predictions in the Underdog Challenge.

Bill Trocchi

Trocchi: Bobby Bowden laps the field in one coaching metric

Florida State's Bobby Bowden, who died Sunday, has every college coach beat when it comes to consecutive top-five finishes.

Bill Trocchi

SEC is about to welcome one superpower, not two

When you look at the on-field performance, Texas isn't really among college football's elite.

Bill Trocchi

How would SEC schools vote on membership for Texas, Oklahoma?

The SEC needs 11 votes from its membership to invite Texas and Oklahoma to join. Would commissioner Greg Sankey have the votes?

Bill Trocchi

Newer Latest News