Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor introduces new defensive coordinator Al Golden at Paycor Stadium. Golden was hired last week after the Bengals fired former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Anarumo is now the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish fell, 34-23, to the Ohio State Buckeyes on Monday night in the College Football Playoff national championship ... per me and Mike Garafolo," Rapoport wrote. "Coach Zac Taylor has been waiting for the National Championship ...

Al Golden agreed to return to Cincinnati on Wednesday after three seasons as Notre Dame's defensive coordinator, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been announced. More: 3 Wolverines, 3 ex-Spartans make ESPN list of top 100 college football players from '24-25

Cincinnati is finalizing a deal to hire Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden to run its defense. Golden helped lead the Fighting Irish to Monday night’s College Football Playoff national championship game where they lost to Ohio State. He is expected to officially sign with the team on Thursday.

Former Red Bank Catholic star Al Golden, fresh off Notre Dame's run to the CFP title game, is returning to the NFL as Bengals defensive coordinator

Al Golden’s return to the Cincinnati Bengals was made official Thursday, with the franchise announcing he was hired as defensive coordinator.

Al Golden agreed to return to Cincinnati on Wednesday after three seasons as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been announced.

NIL and the transfer portal have changed the game, but there is still a lot that works even if more reinvention is coming.

Week 1 of the 2025 college football season features a loaded slate, including LSU at Clemson, Notre Dame at Miami and Alabama at Florida State, among others. LSU-Clemson could be a top-five matchup, as could the biggest headliner: Manning and Texas visiting Ohio State in a matchup of the 2024 national champion and our early 2025 favorite.

In or out? A verdict on which of the College Football Playoff qualifiers will be back in the bracket next season.

The first 12-team Playoff had a lot of great moments. It could also use some tweaks. In the short term, leaders are unlikely to make major changes to the format for the 2025 season. The bigger stuff is more likely to come in 2026, when the new contracts kick in and the SEC and Big Ten basically get to do whatever they want.

The captain of Delaware’s 2003 NCAA title team, Adams beat the odds as an undrafted free agent by playing 16 seasons, 228 regular-season games and making two Pro Bowls. His one Super Bowl was a disappointing 43-8 loss to Seattle after the 2013 season. The safety did his part with six tackles while on the field for every defensive snap.