>>Clemson Wins National Championship
(Tampa, FL) — Clemson is celebrating a national championship. The second-ranked Tigers defeated number-one Alabama 35-31 in a thrilling College Football Playoff National Championship Game in Tampa. Hunter Renfrow’s two-yard touchdown catch with one second left in the fourth quarter gave the Tigers their first national title since 1981.
>>Colts Sign CFL Standout
(Indianapolis, IN) — The Colts aren’t waiting for free agency to address their historically bad defense. Indy went north of the border to sign Canadian Football League standout Alex Bazzie. Listed at 6-1 and 228-pounds Bazzie is undersized but was fourth in the CFL with 11-sacks last season. The 26-year old pass rusher played his college ball at Marshall and was with the BC Lions in Canada.
>>Jags Name Marrone Head Coach
(Jacksonville, FL) — Doug Marrone is the head coach of the Jaguars. Jacksonville removed the interim tag and named Marrone the full-time head man yesterday. Meanwhile, former head coach Tom Coughlin has been installed as executive vice president of football operations.
>>Steelers Place Porter On Leave
(Pittsburgh, PA) — Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter is being placed on leave after being arrested outside a bar Sunday night. Porter was booked on several charges, including aggravated assault, just hours after a playoff win over Miami. The Steelers face the Chiefs in the Divisional Round this Sunday.
>>Bulls No Match For Thunder
(Chicago, IL) — Russell Westbrook’s 21 points, nine rebounds and 14 assists led the Thunder to a 109-94 rout of the Bulls. Jimmy Butler had only one point in 29 minutes before being sent home with an illness. Chicago’s three-game winning streak came to an end with the loss. The 19-and-19 Bulls are right back in action tonight against the Wizards in DC.
>>Bulls’ Butler Wins Weekly Honor
(Chicago, IL) — Bulls star Jimmy Butler is the Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Butler averaged an NBA-best 38 points while leading the Bulls to a 3-and-0 record last week. Butler also posted 9.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game.
>>Baylor Takes Over Top Spot In Hoops Poll
(Undated) — There’s a new number-one in college basketball. Unbeaten Baylor has taken over the top spot in this week’s “USA Today” poll. Kansas is second, followed by previously top-ranked Villanova. UCLA and Gonzaga round out the top-five.
>>Illinois Hosts Michigan Tomorrow
(Champaign, IL) — Illinois is back home tomorrow night hosting Michigan at the State Farm Center. The Fighting Illini fell 96-80 at 25th-ranked Indiana on Saturday. Illinois has lost two-of-three and is now 11-and-5 overall and 1-and-2 in the Big Ten. The Wolverines are also 11-and-5 and 1-and-2.