What An FBS 24 Team Playoff Would Look Like in 2018

I have long been adamant that a 24 team playoff could work in FBS football, and that the current bowl system is completely and utterly useless. I took it upon myself to create a simulation based on a 24 team model as to who would have made a 24 team playoff in 2018 based on final standings and conference championships. Here are my final 24 teams that would have made this format for this season:

Top 8 teams have a 1st round bye:

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Notre Dame
4. Oklahoma
5. Ohio State
6. UCF
7. Georgia
8. Washington

The top 8 teams are based on the best 8 teams by record, not conference championships. The remaining 16 teams would play 1st round games at campus sites (home stadiums):

9. Michigan
10. Washington State
11. Kentucky
12. Penn State
13. Syracuse
14. Florida
15. West Virginia
16. LSU
17. Texas
18. NC State
19. Fresno State
20. UAB
21. Appalachian State
22. Army
23. Utah
24. Northern Illinois

At this point, the numbers don't mean anything. 1st round match ups are based on the best possible regional pairings rather than seeding, as to spread out representation in the later rounds. Again, top 8 teams would receive a bye. Here are your 1st round matches:

Michigan vs. Northern Illinois
Washington State vs. Fresno State
Kentucky vs. UAB
Penn State vs. Army
Syracuse vs. Utah
Florida vs. NC State
West Virginia vs. Appalachian State
LSU vs. Texas

Upon simulations, the second round would figure in with these matches:

Alabama vs. West Virginia
Clemson vs. Penn State
Notre Dame vs. Syracuse
Oklahoma vs. Kentucky
Ohio State vs. Texas
UCF vs. Florida
Georgia vs. Washington State
Washington vs. Michigan

Quaterfinals ended up simulating to these matches:

Alabama vs. Michigan
Clemson vs. Florida
Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
Oklahoma vs. Georgia

Semifinals simulated to these matches:

Alabama vs. Oklahoma
Clemson vs. Ohio State

Finals simulated to: Alabama vs. Ohio State

Our simulated champion ended up as : Alabama

As is the case, seeds rated 2 or higher win titles in every division well above 95% of the time, even in expanded playoff settings. This is an example of that for those who complain about giving access to teams outside of the top 4 or 8 teams, as that argument against including a wider panel is just ludicrous.

Why should you consider this system? My team and I have been simulating every season based on a 24 team playoff format since 1985. The system always looks the same in the end, with a top 4 seed generally winning the championship by simulations over 97% of the time. That hardly ever changes.

I await your comments in the comment section below. I will only accept legitimate questions or comments. People wanting to troll can do so elsewhere.

2018 All-Bilo PAC-12 Team

PAC-12

QB Gardner Minshew, Washington State
QB KJ Costello, Stanford

RB Eno Benjamin, Arizona State
RB Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State
RB Josh Kelly, UCLA
RB Miles Gaskin, Washington

WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Stanford
WR Shawn Poindexter, Arizona
WR Dillon Mitchell, Oregon
WR N'Keal Harry, Arizona State

TE Caleb Wilson, UCLA

DL Mustafa Johnson, Colorado
DL Bradlee Anae, Utah
DL Tevin Paul, California
DL Jalen Jelks, Oregon

LB Chase Hansen, Utah
LB Ben Burr-Kirven, Washington
LB Colin Schooler, Arizona
LB Nate Landman, Colorado

DB Paulson Adebo, Stanford
DB Thomas Graham, Oregon
DB Byron Murphy, Washington
DB Darnay Holmes, UCLA

PK Matt Gay, Utah
P Stefan Flintoft, UCLA
KR Ashtyn Davis, California
PR Tyler Vaughns, USC

Coach of the Year: Kyle Whittingham, Utah

2018 All-Bilo Mountain West Team

Mountain West

QB Jordan Love, Utah State
QB Brett Rypien, Boise State

RB Alexander Mattison, Boise State
RB Darwin Thompson, Utah State
RB Lexington Thomas, UNLV
RB Nico Evans, Wyoming

WR John Ursua, Hawaii
WR Preston Williams, Colorado State
WR KeeSean Johnson, Fresno State
WR Sean Modster, Boise State

TE Josh Oliver, San Jose State

DL Mykal Walker, Fresno State
DL Jordan Jackson, Air Force
DL Kaimana Padello, Hawaii
DL Bryson Bridges, San Jose State

LB Malik Reed, Nevada
LB Curtis Weaver, Boise State
LB Josh Watson, Colorado State
LB Kyahva Tezino, San Diego State

DB Anthoula Kelly, Fresno State
DB Dakari Monroe, San Jose State
DB DJ Williams, Utah State
DB Javin White, UNLV

PK  Cooper Rothe, Wyoming
P Ryan Stonehouse, Colorado State
KR Savon Scarver, Utah State
PR Marcus Hayes, New Mexico

Coach of the Year: Matt Wells, Utah State

2018 All-Bilo MAC Team

MAC

QB Jarret Doege, Bowling Green
QB Tyree Jackson, Buffalo

RB Jamauri Bogan, Western Michigan
RB LeVante Bellamy, Western Michigan
RB AJ Ouellette, Ohio
RB Bryant Koback, Toledo

WR Scott Miller, Bowling Green
WR Anthony Johnson, Buffalo
WR Cody Thompson, Toledo
WR Papi White, Ohio

TE Giovanni Ricci, Western Michigan

DL Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois
DL Maxx Crosby, Eastern Michigan
DL Josh Corcoran, Northern Illinois
DL Jamal Davis, Akron

LB Antonio Jones-Davis, Northern Illinois
LB Evan Croutch, Ohio
LB Malik Fountain, Central Michigan
LB Brandon Harris, Bowling Green

DB Alvin Davis, Akron
DB Xavier Crawford, Central Michigan
DB Jamal Hudson, Ohio
DB Ka'Dar Hollman, Toledo

PK Matthew Trickett, Kent State
P Jake Julien, Eastern Michigan
KR Maurice Thomas, Miami (Ohio)
PR KJ Osborn, Buffalo

Coach of the Year: Lance Leipold, Buffalo

2018 All-Bilo Awards Conference USA Team

Conference USA

QB Mason Fine, North Texas
QB Brent Stockstill, Middle Tennessee

RB Devin Singletary, FAU
RB Spencer Brown, UAB
RB DeAndre Torrey. North Texas
RB Benny LeMay, Charlotte

WR Travis Fulgham, Old Dominion
WR Rico Bussey, North Texas
WR Jonathon DuHart, Old Dominion
WR Adrian Hardy, Louisiana Tech

TE Harrison Bryant, FAU

DL Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech
DL Oshane Ximenes, Old Dominion
DL Alex Highsmith, Charlotte
DL Channing Hames, Marshall

LB Jamell Garcia-Williams, UAB
LB EJ Ejiya, North Texas
LB Brandon Garner, North Texas
LB Sage Lewis, FIU

DB KyEl Hamby, Southern Mississippi
DB Wesley Bush, Middle Tennessee
DB Kemon Hall, North Texas
DB Chris Jackson, Marshall

PK Cole Hedlund, North Texas
P Jack Fox, Rice
KR Kenneth Whyte, FAU
PR Maurice Alexander, FIU

Coach of the Year: Bill Clark, UAB

2018 All-Bilo Big 10 Team

Big Ten

QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
QB David Blough, Purdue

RB Jonathon Taylor, Wisconsin
RB Devine Ozigbo, Nebraska
RB Karan Higdon, Michigan
RB Stevie Scott, Indiana

WR Rondale Moore, Purdue
WR Tyler Johnson, Minnesota
WR Stanley Morgan, Jr., Nebraska
WR Parris Campbell, Ohio State

TE TJ Hockenson, Iowa

DL Kenny Wellekes, Michigan State
DL Yetor Gross-Matos, Penn State
DL AJ Espenesa, Iowa
DL Chase Winovich, Michigan

LB Blake Cashman, Michigan
LB Luke Gifford, Nebraska
LB Blake Gallagher, Northwestern
LB Markus Bailey, Purdue

DB Saquan Hampton, Rutgers
DB Amani Oruwariye, Penn State
DB Montae Hartage, Northwestern
DB Justin Layne, Michigan State

PK Matt Coghlin, Michigan State
P Blake Hayes, Illinois
KR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa
PR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan

Coach of the Year: Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern

2018 All-Bilo Big 12 Team

Big 12 Conference

QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
QB Will Grier, West Virginia

RB Alex Barnes, Kansas State
RB David Montgomery, Iowa State
RB Kennedy Brooks, Oklahoma
RB Trey Sermon, Oklahoma

WR David Sills V, West Virginia
WR Gary Jennings, West Virginia
WR Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
WR Antoine Wesley, Texas Tech

TE Grant Calcaterra, Oklahoma

DL Ben Banogu, TCU
DL Charles Omenihu, Texas
DL Jordan Brailford, Oklahoma State
DL JaQuan Bailey, Iowa State

LB David Long, West Virginia
LB Gary Johnson, Texas
LB Joe Dineen, Kansas
LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma

DB Adrian Frye, Texas Tech
DB Kris Boyd, Texas
DB Parnell Motley, Oklahoma
DB Duke Shelley, Kansas State

PK Clayton Hatfield, Texas Tech
P Kyle Thompson, Kansas
KR Rene Nwangwu, Iowa State
PR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma

Coach of the Year: Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma

2018 All-Bilo ACC Team

ACC

QB Ryan Finley, NC State
QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
RB Reggie Gallaspy, NC State
RB AJ Dillon, Boston College
RB Qadre Ollison, Pittsburgh

WR Kelvin Harmon, NC State
WR Tee Higgins, Clemson
WR Greg Dortsch, Wake Forest
WR Damon Hazelton, Virginia Tech

TE Tommy Sweeney, Boston College

DL Gerald Willis II, Miami
DL Alton Robinson, Syracuse
DL Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
DL Brian Burns, Florida State

LB Ryan Guthrie, Syracuse
LB Shaq Quarterman, Miami
LB Cole Holcomb, North Carolina
LB Germaine Pratt, NC State

DB Hamp Cheevers, Boston College
DB Andre Cisco, Syracuse
DB Bryce Hall, Virginia
DB Taj-Amir Jones, Boston College

PK Andre Szmyt, Syracuse
P Logan Tyler, Florida State
KR Maurice Ffrench, Pittsburgh
PR Dazz Newsome, North Carolina

Coach of the Year: Dino Babers, Syracuse

2018 All-Bilo American Athletic Conference Team

American Athletic Conference

QB D'Eriq King, Houston
QB McKenzie Milton, UCF

RB Darrell Henderson, Memphis
RB Ryquell Armstead, Temple
RB Michael Warren II, Cincinnati
RB Patrick Taylor, Jr., Memphis

WR James Proche, SMU
WR Trevon Brown, East Carolina
WR Keith Corbin, Houston
WR Damonte Coxie, Memphis

TE Josiah DeGuara, Cincinnati

DL Nate Harvey, East Carolina
DL Cortez Broughton, Cincinnati
DL Titus Davis, UCF
DL Ed Oliver, Houston

LB Patrick Johnson, Temple
LB Bryce Huff, Memphis
LB Austin Robinson, Houston
LB Tyler Coyle, U Conn

DB Richie Grant, UCF
DB Donnie Lewis, Tulane
DB Mike Hampton, USF
DB Rock Ya-Sin, Temple

PK Jake Verity, East Carolina
P James Smith, Cincinnati
KR Isaiah Wright, Temple
PR Isaiah Wright

Coach of the Year: Josh Heupel, UCF

All-Bilo 2018 National Team

I have compiled my national All-Bilo team, my annual All-American selection. This is my 10th year of announcing recipients of my awards for the best skill players on offense, and my best defensive players in the nation. Here is your 2018 National All-Bilo Team:

Offense

QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
QB Gardner Minshew II, Washington State

RB Jonathon Taylor, Wisconsin
RB Darrell Henderson, Memphis
RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
RB Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M

WR John Ursua, Hawaii
WR Andy Isabella, U Mass
WR Antoine Wesley, Texas Tech
WR Rondale Moore, Purdue

TE Caleb Wilson, UCLA

DL Nate Harvey, East Carolina
DL Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois
DL Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech
DL Kenny Wellekes, Michigan State

LB EJ Ejiya, North Texas
LB Chase Hanson, Utah
LB Ben Burr-Kirven, Washington
LB Joe Dineen, Jr. Kansas

DB Hamp Cheevers, Boston College
DB Andre Cisco, Syracuse
DB Paulson Adebo, Stanford
DB Adarius Pickett, UCLA

PK Andre Szmyt, Syracuse
P Braden Mann, Texas A&M
KR Savon Carver, Utah State
PR Isaiah Wright, Temple

Coach of the Year
Brian Kelly, Notre Dame

Ivy League Names Players of the Year

NEW YORK - Princeton senior quarterback John Lovett and Dartmouth junior defensive back Isiah Swann were announced as the Ivy League's 2018 Football Players of the Year and Asa S. Bushnell Cup recipients in front of a capacity crowd at the Mercury Ballroom of the New York Hilton Midtown on Monday, Dec. 3.   Lovett was named Offensive Player of the Year for the second time over the past three seasons, while Swann took home Defensive Player of the Year honors at a press conference and reception co-hosted by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF), presented by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and broadcast live on ESPN+.   Swann is the eighth Big Green player to be honored with the Bushnell Cup-and the second from the defensive unit, joining 2016 recipient linebacker Folarin Orimolade.   Lovett is the fifth two-time winner of the Bushnell Cup, joining an esteemed club that includes Cornell's Ed Marinaro (1970-71), Yale's John Pagliaro (1976-77), Harvard's Carl Morris (2001-02) and Harvard's Zack Hodges (2013-14). He is the 12th Bushnell Cup winner from Princeton and the third-straight Tiger quarterback to be named Offensive Player of the Year (John Lovett, 2016; Chad Kanoff, 2017).   A three-time First Team All-Ivy selection, Lovett led the Ivy League with 303 yards of total offense per game, while ranking second in the League in both rushing (99.3 yards per game) and passing (203.7 yards per game). The senior quarterback tallied 894 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground-the second-most in the League-while concluding his collegiate career with a rushing touchdown in an Ivy League record 20-straight games. Lovett also accumulated 1,833 yards and an Ivy League-best 18 touchdowns through the air. The Wantagh, N.Y., product, who ranked fourth in the FCS with 20.9 points responsible for per game, led a Princeton offensive unit that ranked second in the FCS with 47.0 points per game and third with 536.8 yards per game.   Off the field, Lovett claims a 3.29 GPA as a history major and is the co-director of Teams and Toys, a charity event that provided over 300 gifts to low-income families during the 2017 holiday season through Athletes in Action, a Christian fellowship on Princeton's campus.   A two-time All-Ivy honoree, Swann set a Dartmouth program record and led all of NCAA Division I with nine interceptions on the season. The Queen Creek, Ariz., native also led the Ivy League and ranked third in the FCS with 18 passes defended, while recording 39 tackles and recovering a fumble. Swann propelled a Dartmouth defensive unit that allowed just 12.0 points per game-second in the FCS-and just 280.4 yards per game-fifth in the FCS. Having appeared in every Dartmouth contest during his career, the junior defensive back will open his senior campaign with 110 tackles, 13 interceptions (tied for the Big Green career record) and 21 passes broken up for a total of 34 passes defended.   In the classroom, Swann is an environmental studies major that owns a 3.00 GPA. His post-football career aspiration is to enter sustainability or environmental consulting.   Lovett and Swann were selected as Bushnell Cup finalists, alongside Princeton senior wide receiver Jesper Horsted and Harvard senior defensive lineman Stone Hart in a vote by the League's eight head coaches.   Each of this year's four Asa S. Bushnell Cup finalists were First Team All-Ivy selections, with Lovett and Swann earning unanimous nods. Lovett is 1-of-25 finalists for the Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the most outstanding offensive player in the FCS. Swann is 1-of-25 finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in the FCS.   Tuesday evening the NFF will stage its 61st Annual Awards Dinner, also at the New York Hilton Midtown. As the culmination of the regular season, the event provides the stage for the induction of the 2018 College Football Hall of Fame Class; the presentation of the 2018 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards; and the bestowing of the 29th NFF William V. Campbell Trophy®, named for the former Columbia player and head coach, to the nation's top football scholar-athlete.   Among the honorees will be Atlanta Hall Management Chairman and College Football Hall of Fame inductee from Dartmouth Murry Bowden (NFF Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award), Harvard athletic director Bob Scalise (NFF John L. Toner Award for excellence in athletics administration) and retired Yale athletic director Thomas Beckett (NFF John L. Toner Award for excellence in athletics administration).   ASA S. BUSHNELL CUP HISTORY Presented annually since 1970, The Asa S. Bushnell Cup honors its namesake, a 1921 Princeton alumnus and the commissioner of the Eastern College Athletic Conference from 1938 to 1970. The Bushnell Cup is awarded by a vote of the Ivy League's eight head football coaches to the players who display outstanding qualities of leadership, competitive spirit, contribution to the team and accomplishments on the field. From 1970 to 2010, the Bushnell Cup recognized an Ivy League Player of the Year (or co-Players of the Year if there was a tie in voting). Beginning with the 2010 season, the award was presented as part of the festivities surrounding the NFF Annual Awards Dinner with four finalists named a week prior to the presentation. Beginning with the 2011 season, the award began recognizing Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, honoring each as a recipient of the Bushnell Cup. Two offensive finalists and two defensive finalists are named, with the Players of the Year unveiled at the presentation. All-Time Recipient List 1970 - Jim Chasey, QB, Dartmouth & Ed Marinaro, RB, Cornell 1971 - Ed Marinaro, RB, Cornell 1972 - Dick Jauron, RB, Yale 1973 - Jim Stoeckel, QB, Harvard 1974 - Walt Snickenberger, RB, Princeton 1975 - Doug Jackson, RB, Columbia 1976 - John Pagliaro, RB, Yale 1977 - John Pagliaro, RB, Yale 1978 - Buddy Teevens, QB, Dartmouth 1979 - Tim Tumpane, LB, Yale 1980 - Kevin Czinger, MG, Yale 1981 - Rich Diana, RB, Yale 1982 - John Witkowski, QB, Columbia 1983 - Derrick Harmon, RB, Cornell 1984 - Tim Chambers, DB, Penn 1985 - Tom Gilmore, DT, Penn 1986 - Rich Comizio, RB, Penn 1987 - Kelly Ryan, QB, Yale 1988 - Jason Garrett, QB, Princeton 1989 - Judd Garrett, RB, Princeton 1990 - Shon Page, RB, Dartmouth 1991 - Al Rosier, RB, Dartmouth 1992 - Jay Fiedler, QB, Dartmouth 1993 - Keith Elias, RB, Princeton 1994 - Pat Goodwillie, LB, Penn 1995 - Dave Patterson, LB, Princeton 1996 - Chad Levitt, RB, Cornell 1997 - Sean Morey, WR, Brown 1998 - Jim Finn, RB, Penn 1999 - James Perry, QB, Brown 2000 - Gavin Hoffman, QB, Penn 2001 - Carl Morris, WR, Harvard 2002 - Carl Morris, WR, Harvard 2003 - Mike Mitchell, QB, Penn 2004 - Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Harvard 2005 - Nick Hartigan, RB, Brown 2006 - Jeff Terrell, QB, Princeton 2007 - Mike McLeod, RB, Yale 2008 - Chris Pizzotti, QB, Harvard 2009 - Buddy Farnham, WR, Brown & Jake Lewko, LB, Penn 2010 - Gino Gordon, RB, Harvard & Nick Schwieger, RB, Dartmouth 2011 - Offensive Player of the Year: Jeff Mathews, QB, Cornell Defensive Player of the Year: Josue Ortiz, DT, Harvard 2012 - Offensive Player of the Year: Colton Chapple, QB, Harvard Defensive Player of the Year: Mike Catapano, DL, Princeton 2013 - Offensive Player of the Year: Quinn Epperly, QB, Princeton Defensive Player of the Year: Zack Hodges, DE, Harvard 2014 - Offensive Player of the Year: Tyler Varga, RB, Yale Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Zack Hodges, DE, Harvard & Mike Zeuli, LB, Princeton 2015 - Offensive Player of the Year: Scott Hosch, QB, Harvard Defensive Player of the Year: Tyler Drake, LB, Penn 2016 - Offensive Player of the Year: John Lovett, QB, Princeton Defensive Player of the Year: Folarin Orimolade, LB, Dartmouth 2017 - Offensive Player of the Year: Chad Kanoff, QB, Princeton Defensive Player of the Year: Matthew Oplinger, LB, Yale 2018 - Offensive Player of the Year: John Lovett, QB, Princeton Defensive Player of the Year: Isiah Swann, DB, Dartmouth Player of the Year Finalists 2010 - Trey Peacock, WR, Princeton & Billy Ragone, QB, Penn 2011 - Erik Rask, LB, Penn & Nick Schwieger, RB, Dartmouth 2012 - Jeff Mathews, QB, Cornell & AJ Cruz, DB, Brown 2013 - John Spooney, RB, Brown & Caraun Reid, DL, Princeton 2014 - Dalyn Williams, QB, Dartmouth 2015 - Will McNamara, LB, Dartmouth & Justin Watson, WR, Penn 2016 - Kurt Holuba, DL, Princeton & Justin Watson, WR, Penn 2017 - Richard Jarvis, DL, Brown, Nick Miller, LB, Penn & Justin Watson, WR, Penn 2018 - Stone Hart, DL, Harvard & Jesper Horsted, WR, Princeton

Clemson's Christian Wilkins Wins Campbell Trophy

NEW YORK (Dec. 4, 2018) - Clemson University defensive lineman Christian Wilkins has been named the 29th recipient of The William V. Campbell Trophy^® at the 61st National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner in New York City tonight.

"Christian Wilkins' exceptional accomplishments on and off the field rank him among the best student-athletes in the history of our sport, making him the ideal Campbell Trophy^® recipient," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "He truly embodies the scholar-athlete ideal and we are proud to have him as a member of this elite fraternity. He stands as the perfect example for the next generation to emulate."

The Campbell Trophy^® ranks as one of college football's most sought after and competitive awards, recognizing an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership. The award, which is prominently displayed at its official home inside the New York Athletic Club, comes with a 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship.

 

A total of $241,000 was awarded tonight to Wilkins and the 12 other members of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, who comprised the list of Campbell Trophy^® finalists. Each member of the class claimed an $18,000 scholarship for their postgraduate educations. Fidelity Investments is a proud partner of the Campbell Trophy^® and the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards.

"Christian and his fellow members of the 2018 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class represent more than just their standout athletic ability seen on the field," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons, Peyton (Campbell Trophy^® winner) and Eli, were NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "Their academic achievements and their contributions as leaders in the community send a powerful message about the young men who play our sport. They have taken full advantage of the educational opportunities created by college football, and they have created a compelling legacy for others to follow."

 

Wilkins personifies the scholar-athlete ideal, having already earned his degree while twice claiming First Team All-America honors and guiding Clemson to a national championship.

After graduating in December 2017 with a 3.33 GPA in communication studies, Wilkins became the first scholarship player in Clemson football history to finish school in two and a half years. He will graduate this December with a master's in athletic leadership. In addition to being a three-time All-ACC Academic Team member, Wilkins has twice received First Team Academic All-District honors. He was named the ACC's 2018 Jim Tatum Award recipient as the top senior student-athlete among the conference's football players.

A two-year team captain, Wilkins has guided Clemson to the No. 2 ranking, a perfect 13-0 record, the 2018 ACC title and a trip to the College Football Playoff Semifinal. A finalist for the 2018 Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy, he has amassed 45 tackles on the season, including 13.5 tackles for loss. The 2018 First Team All-ACC defensive lineman is also a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and has five sacks, one forced fumble, and two fumble recovery to his name this year. Wilkins was the runner-up for both the ACC Player of the Year and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year for 2018.

Wilkins leads a Clemson unit that tops the ACC and is tied for second in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 13.7 points per game. Clemson's rushing defense is also atop the ACC, limiting opposing teams to 93 yards per game on the ground, which is the third best average in the nation. The Tigers rank second in the ACC and fourth in the nation in total defense, limiting offenses to 276.8 yards per game.

On Oct. 27, Wilkins recorded the first rushing touchdown of his career on a one-yard run against Florida State. He would add another rushing touchdown in the regular season finale against in-state rival South Carolina. Following a 27-7 win at Boston College on Nov. 10, Wilkins was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week after playing a key role as the Tigers secured their fourth straight ACC Atlantic Division title. He posted five tackles in the game, including one for loss, as part of a defensive line that limited Boston College to only nine rushing yards. On Nov. 17, he broke the school record for career starts by a defensive tackle.

A three-year letterman, Wilkins made an immediate impact at Clemson, earning 2015 First Team Freshman All-America honors. A three-time All-ACC selection, he earned first-team honors in 2018 and 2017 while claiming second team laurels in 2016. A finalist for the 2016 Nagurski Trophy, Wilkins was named the 2017 Willis Award recipient as the National Defensive Lineman of the Year by the Columbus (Ohio) Touchdown Club. Wilkins guided the Tigers to the 2016 College Football Playoff (CFP) national title, two CFP National Championship game appearances and now four consecutive trips to the CFP Semifinals. In addition to winning four consecutive ACC titles, Wilkins helped Clemson finish with No. 2 (2015), No.1 (2016) and No. 4 (2017) rankings.

Making a difference off the field, Wilkins became a certified substitute teacher during the 2018 offseason, indicating that he wanted to provide inspiration and guidance to K-12 students. An avid volunteer, Wilkins has worked with Habitat for Humanity, the Clemson Miracle Fundraiser, Colleges Against Cancer Relay for Life and the "Kicks, Cleats, Kids" initiative. He has also taken part in the Taylor Elementary Visionary Leaders program.

 

Following tonight's Annual Awards Dinner, Wilkins will be recognized as the Campbell Trophy^®winner at several prestigious events. On Wednesday, the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) will host a luncheon in his honor. From there, he will head directly to Atlanta for ESPN's "The Home Depot College Football Awards" at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame on Thursday, where he will be interviewed live during the show. Finally, he will venture to Santa Clara, California, to be honored on the field during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Levi's Stadium on Jan. 7.

 

Wilkins becomes Clemson's first Campbell Trophy^® winner and the school's fourth NFF National Scholar-Athlete, joining Jimmy Bell (1964), Steve Fuller (1978) and Kyle Young (2001). He becomes the fifth Campbell Trophy^® recipient from a team currently in the ACC, joining Thomas Burns (Virginia - 1993), Joaquin Gonzalez (Miami [Fla.] - 2001), David Helton(Duke - 2014) and Micah Kiser (Virginia - 2017).

Launched in 1959 and celebrating its 60th year in 2018, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete program became the first initiative in history to award postgraduate scholarships based on a player's combined academic, athletic and community accomplishments, and the program has awarded $11.5 million to 854 top athletes since its inception. Candidates must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

The centerpiece to the NFF's scholar-athlete program, The William V. Campbell Trophy^® was first awarded in 1990. It is named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, the former chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF's Gold Medal.

 

 

Past Recipients of The William V. Campbell Trophy^®

• Chris Howard (Air Force, 1990 - University President)
• Brad Culpepper (Florida, 1991 - Attorney)
• Jim Hansen (Colorado, 1992 - Leader in Climatology Research)
• Thomas Burns (Virginia, 1993 - Engineering Executive)
• Robert Zatechka (Nebraska, 1994 - Physician)
• Bobby Hoying (Ohio State, 1995 - Real Estate Executive)
• Danny Wuerffel (Florida, 1996 - Non-Profit Executive Director)
• Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997 - Retired NFL Player & Philanthropist)
• Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1998 - Insurance Executive & TV Broadcaster)
• Chad Pennington (Marshall, 1999 - Non-Profit President/High School Football Coach)
• Kyle Vanden Bosch (Nebraska, 2000 - Retired NFL Player)
• Joaquin Gonzalez (Miami [Fla.], 2001 - Corporate Executive)
• Brandon Roberts (Washington University in St. Louis [Mo.], 2002 - Physician)
• Craig Krenzel (Ohio State, 2003 - Insurance Executive)
• Michael Munoz (Tennessee, 2004 - Football Executive)
• Rudy Niswanger (LSU, 2005 - Corporate Executive)
• Brian Leonard (Rutgers, 2006 - Retired NFL Player & Philanthropist)
• Dallas Griffin (Texas, 2007 - Corporate Executive)
• Alex Mack (California, 2008 - NFL Player)
• Tim Tebow (Florida, 2009 - Non-Profit Chairman, TV Broadcaster & Baseball Player)
• Sam Acho (Texas, 2010 - NFL Player)
• Andrew Rodriguez (Army West Point, 2011 - U.S. Army Captain)
• Barrett Jones (Alabama, 2012 - Financial Advisor & Broadcaster)
• John Urschel (Penn State, 2013 - Ph.D. Candidate)
• David Helton (Duke, 2014 - Financial Advisor)
• Ty Darlington (Oklahoma, 2015 - College Football Assistant Coach)
• Zach Terrell (Western Michigan, 2016 - Executive Development Associate)
• Micah Kiser (Virginia, 2017 - NFL Player)

 

The 2018 NFF Campbell Trophy^® Finalists

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE	POSITION	SCHOOL	GPA	MAJOR
Kenneth Brinson	LB	Army West Point	3.96	Chemical Engineering
Taryn Christion	QB	South Dakota State	3.61	Business Economics
De'Arius Christmas	LB	Grambling State	3.82	Engineering Technology
D'Cota Dixon	S	Wisconsin	3.32	Rehabilitation Psychology
Ryan Finley	QB	North Carolina State	3.76	Psychology
Piercen Harnish	LB	Saint Francis (Ind.)	3.96	Finance
Trace McSorley	QB	Penn State	3.31	Accounting
Dalton Risner	OL	Kansas State	3.60	Communication Studies
Max Scharping	OL	Northern Illinois	3.99	Kinesiology
Eric Stevenson	LB	Wheaton (Ill.)	3.83	Economics
Easton Stick	QB	North Dakota State	3.92	Sport Management
Drue Tranquill	LB	Notre Dame	3.73	Mechanical Engineering
Christian Wilkins	DL	Clemson	3.33	Communication Studies

Finalists Named for Eddie Robinson Award

EIGHT FINALISTS NAMED FOR 2018 EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD
Winner to be announced on Dec. 13

DALLAS (FWAA) – The Football Writers Association of America, in conjunction with the Allstate Sugar Bowl, announced eight finalists for the 2018 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award on Wednesday. Among the recognized coaches are five repeat finalists from a year ago, a pair of previous winners, and each of the four head coaches in the upcoming College Football Playoff.

In alphabetical order the finalists are: Bill Clark, UAB; Josh Heupel, UCF; Brian Kelly, Notre Dame; Jeff Monken, Army; Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma; Nick Saban, Alabama; Dabo Swinney, Clemson; and Jeff Tedford, Fresno State.

"It is an outstanding group of coaches," said 2018 FWAA President Stefanie Loh of the Seattle Times. "Any one of the coaches would make a great choice for our 2018 Coach of the Year. We believe all these men demonstrate the coaching excellence that the award's namesake, Eddie Robinson, showed on and off the field."

Notre Dame's Kelly and Alabama's Saban are the only former Eddie Robinson Award winners in the group. The 2018 recipient will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 13.

The official presentation reception will be on Jan. 5, 2019, in San Jose, Calif., where the winning coach will be handed the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year bust during a reception hosted by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in conjunction with the College Football Playoff National Championship.

"The Allstate Sugar Bowl is proud each year to recognize the top college football coach in the nation while at the same time honoring the great accomplishments of a Louisiana legend, Coach Eddie Robinson," said Sugar Bowl Committee President Rod West. "And we're excited to do so again this year when we present the award to this year's winner in a ceremony prior to the National Championship in January."

The eight finalists have been placed on a ballot which has been sent to the entire FWAA membership. Ballots will be accepted through 5 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 7.

The FWAA has presented a coaching award since the 1957 season when Ohio State's Woody Hayes was named the first recipient. The FWAA coaching award is named after the late Robinson, a coaching legend at Grambling State University for 55 seasons.

The 2018 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year finalists:

Bill Clark, UAB: After the school's two-year hiatus from football, Clark's Blazers posted an 8-4 record during the 2017 regular season and followed that up with the Conference USA title in 2018 paced by undefeated seasons at Legion Field both years. Clark has built a roster from scratch and has recorded the most victories in a UAB season. The Blazers (10-3), 10th nationally in total defense, will meet Northern Illinois in the Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl. Clark, who has won C-USA-high 13 league games over the last two seasons, also was a finalist in 2017.

Josh Heupel, UCF: In his first season as a head coach in Orlando, Heupel has fashioned a 12-0 record and has continued what Scott Frost, last season's Eddie Robinson Award recipient, started before leaving for Nebraska. The Knights have the longest winning streak in the FBS at 25 games and will meet LSU in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl after winning the American Athletic Conference title. The former Oklahoma quarterback, who was previously offensive coordinator at Missouri, has the Knights ranked No. 8 in the College Football Playoff's final rankings.

Brian Kelly, Notre Dame: One of four coaches on the list who has led his team to an unbeaten record (12-0) in 2018. Kelly claimed the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award in 2012 when the Fighting Irish were also 12-0 before losing to Alabama in the Bowl Championship Series title game. Kelly was a finalist for the award in 2009 when he was at Cincinnati. After posting a 4-8 record in 2016, Notre Dame has now won 22 of its last 25 games and will face Clemson in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl in one College Football Playoff semifinal.

Jeff Monken, Army: Riding a seven-game winning streak, Army stands at 9-2 before its annual meeting against Navy on Saturday in Philadelphia. The triple-option Black Knights, the nation's No. 2 rushing team (303 ypg), will play in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl against Houston. Monken, also a finalist in 2017, has seen his team drop games to only Duke and Oklahoma this season. The Sooners had to go to overtime before prevailing, 28-21, in Norman and the Black Knights have not lost since.

Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma: The second-year head coach has taken the Sooners to back-to-back 12-1 seasons and College Football Playoff berths. Behind Heisman Trophy hopeful quarterback Kyler Murray, the Sooners have one of college football's all-time most prolific offenses. The Sooners, No. 4 in the College Football Playoff's final rankings, defeated Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game and will face Alabama in a College Football Playoff semifinal in the Capital One Orange Bowl. Riley was also a finalist last season.

Nick Saban, Alabama: The Crimson Tide has been the dominant team of the 2018 season and enters the College Football Playoff as the top seed. The Southeastern Conference champions (13-0) will seek to repeat as national champions and start that quest in the Capital One Orange Bowl against Oklahoma. Saban, a five-time finalist for this award, has done a masterful job of keeping a heavy favorite on track despite a nagging injury to his star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, a Heisman Trophy favorite. While at Alabama, Saban claimed the award in 2008 and also won the award in 2003 while at LSU.

Dabo Swinney, Clemson: Swinney has the Tigers in the College Football Playoff for the fourth straight year with a fourth straight Atlantic Coast Conference championship and a 13-0 record. Swinney is now a four-time finalist for the award (previously in 2011, '15 and '17), but has never won it. The Tigers will face Notre Dame in one semifinal the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29 in their first appearance in the Texas-based bowl since 1940. The Tigers are the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff.

Jeff Tedford, Fresno State: In his second season at his alma mater, Tedford took the Bulldogs (11-2) to the Mountain West Conference championship with a 19-16 overtime victory at Boise State. That victory, which avenged a previous loss to the Broncos this season, earned Tedford's team a berth in the Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl against Arizona State. Tedford was also a finalist last season when his Bulldogs made one of the top turnarounds in college football. Fresno State's only other loss this season was at Minnesota, 21-14.

The Allstate Sugar Bowl has established itself as one of the premier college football bowl games, having hosted 28 national champions, 93 Hall of Fame players, 49 Hall of Fame coaches and 18 Heisman Trophy winners in its 84-year history. The 85th Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic, featuring the Big 12’s Texas and Georgia from the SEC, will be played on January 1, 2019. In addition to football, the Sugar Bowl Committee annually invests over $1.6 million into the community through the hosting and sponsorship of sporting events, scholarships and clinics. Through these efforts, the organization supports and honors nearly 100,000 student-athletes each year and has injected over $2.5 billion into the local economy over the last decade. For more information, visit AllstateSugarBowl.org.

The Eddie Robinson Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 24 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about our story.

The Football Writers Association of America, founded in 1941, consists of 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.

Kentucky LB Josh Allen Wins Nagurski Trophy

KENTUCKY'S ALLEN WINS 2018 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY
Linebacker is UK's first major award winner since 1950    

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (FWAA) – Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen was named the recipient of the 2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Monday night before a sold-out banquet crowd of 1,200 at the Charlotte Convention Center. Allen, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound linebacker from Montclair, N.J., accepted the award given to the best defensive player in college football and becomes Kentucky's first major award winner since Bob Gain won the Outland Trophy in 1950.

The FWAA All-America Committee made Allen the selection as this year's Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner. Allen was selected from a list of finalists that included Michigan linebacker Devin Bush, LSU safety Grant Delpit, Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and Alabama nose guard Quinnen Williams.

The senior has been one of the nation's top pass rushers all season with 14 sacks in the 2018 season that led the Southeastern Conference and are third in the nation, to go with SEC-best marks of 18.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles. His 14 sacks are the single-season record at Kentucky, as are his 28.5 career sacks heading into the Wildcats' VRBO Citrus Bowl appearance on Jan. 1.

Allen has 11 career forced fumbles, which ties former Wildcat and current Chicago Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan for the Wildcats' career mark. His defensive numbers improved as the games wore on – 12 of his 14 sacks have come in the second half, with eight of those 12 in the fourth quarter. He clinched two of Kentucky's nine wins this season with a sack that caused a fumble that the Wildcats recovered on their opponents' final possession.

In addition, those 14 sacks have been drive-breakers for opponents. Of the 14 drives in which Allen registered a sack, opponents ran 81 plays for just 211 yards of total offense, or 2.6 yards per play. The 14 drives combined resulted in no points, eight punts and four turnovers.

Allen was the SEC Defensive Player of the Week four times this season and posted double-figure tackles in three games. On the season, Allen has 84 total tackles, six quarterback hurries, four pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

“Just the way he impacts the game being a big guy, he's really remarkable,” Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops said following a Nov. 17 win over Middle Tennessee. “He's so unselfish. You see players so often in situations like that (trying to make a play), and he won't blink an eye if we're not rushing him. He doesn't even think about it. When he gets his opportunities, he's going to go. He wanted the (school sack) record, but not at the expense of our defense and what we're doing and game planning.”

Allen was an all-state wide receiver for Abbeville (Ala.) High School as a junior before moving back to his hometown of Montclair, N.J., and switching to linebacker for his senior season. He bulked up by 40 pounds upon arriving at Kentucky. He has a fraternal twin brother Isaiah, and a sister, Myisha Hines-Allen, who played college basketball at Louisville and is currently a forward for the WNBA's Washington Mystics.

In addition to the 2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner's announcement, the banquet Monday night celebrated the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Legends Award, sponsored by the Rolle Oral & Facial Surgery. Tom Cousineau, a 1977 FWAA All-American linebacker at Ohio State and now a College Football Hall of Fame member, was the 2018 Legends Award recipient. The banquet's keynote speaker was Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh.

The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA joined with the Charlotte Touchdown Club and named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football then became a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 24 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about our story.

The Football Writers Association of America, founded in 1941, consists of 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.

ABOUT THE CHARLOTTE TOUCHDOWN CLUB AND ITS SPONSORS
The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1991 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C., region. The club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. Since 1991, the club has raised more than $2,000,000 to benefit area high school and collegiate athletics. For more information, contact John Rocco (704-347-2918 or jrocco@touchdownclub.com). The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is touchdownclub.com.

ACN, Inc.
Founded in 1993, ACN is the world's largest direct seller of telecommunications, energy and essential services for residential and business customers. ACN provides the services people need and use every day including phone service, high-speed internet, wireless, television, security and automation, computer support, payment processing and natural gas and electricity. ACN operates in 25 countries with offices located throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. For more information, visit myacn.com. For information on ACN's home-based business opportunity, visit acninc.com.

About Rolle Oral & Facial Surgery
Dr. Richard R. Rolle Jr. is a leading oral & maxillofacial surgeon, with strong ties to athletics and delivering excellence. Rolle Oral & Facial Surgery offers expertise in: dental implants, wisdom tooth extraction, youth-capturing, cosmetic injectables, oral surgery and cleft lip reconstruction in his Lake Norman, North Carolina practice. Dr. Rolle holds a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame where he played varsity football under legendary Coach Lou Holtz. He completed his oral surgery internship at Harvard's Massachusetts General Hospital and holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Meharry Medical College. Rolle Oral & Facial Surgery is the official surgeon for the Charlotte Hornets, Charlotte Checkers and Charlotte 49ers.

XFL Unveils Cities, Venues, For New Start Up League

XFL ANNOUNCES EIGHT INAUGURAL HOME CITIES 

NEW YORK, December 5, 2018 – The XFL today announced the eight cities and venues its teams will call home when the league launches the weekend of February 8-9, 2020. 

            • Dallas – Globe Life Park

            • Houston – TDECU Stadium

            • Los Angeles – StubHub Center

            • New York – MetLife Stadium

            • St. Louis – The Dome at America’s Center

            • Seattle – CenturyLink Field

            • Tampa Bay – Raymond James Stadium

            • Washington, DC – Audi Field 

The announcement was made today by XFL Commissioner & CEO Oliver Luck at a press conference held at MetLife Stadium, which included representatives from all eight markets. 

“After months of research and consideration, we’re thrilled to announce the cities and venues of the XFL’s eight inaugural teams,” said Luck. “We are committed to being ingrained in the local community and extremely fortunate that our teams will have world-class facilities to call home.” 

Beginning today, fans can go to XFL.com to reserve their season tickets, which will provide them with early access to select their seats and purchase season tickets before the general public. 

The new XFL will deliver a fan-centric, innovative experience, including fast-paced games and a family-friendly environment, complemented by cross-platform viewing options and real-time fan engagement.

About The XFL

The new XFL will reimagine football for the 21^st century when the league kicks off the weekend of February 8-9, 2020.

Football is America’s favorite sport boasting over 85 million fans but the traditional season is just too short. Seeing a tremendous opportunity to fill the void, Vince McMahon, XFL Founder and Chairman announced on January 25, 2018, the launch of a new league, which he is personally funding. McMahon is building the XFL with the same commitment and resolve that he has demonstrated building WWE into a global media and sports entertainment powerhouse.

Delivering authentic, high energy football for the whole family at an affordable price, the XFL will offer fast-paced games with fewer play stoppages and simpler rules. The league will launch with eight teams, 45-man active rosters, and a 10-week regular season schedule, with a postseason consisting of two semifinal playoff games and a championship game.  The XFL will also establish a health, wellness and safety program that meets the needs of today’s athletes.

The XFL will embrace the latest on and off-field technology, providing live game coverage, content and real-time engagement across multiple platforms, giving fans greater access than ever before.  We will build strong grassroots relationships with local organizations in our Host Cities through social responsibility partnerships, and the XFL will enjoy the support of WWE’s many extraordinary resources and promotional capabilities.

For more information, please log on to XFL.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.