ATLANTA (AP) — With all the turmoil behind it, No. 1 Georgia left no doubt about the top team heading into the College Football Playoff. The Bulldogs dismantled No. 11 LSU 50-30 in the Southeastern Conference championship game, earning a return trip to Atlanta on New Year’s Eve for the Peach Bowl. Stetson Bennetts threw a season-high four touchdown passes. Christopher Smith gave Georgia an early spark with a heads-up play that turned a seemingly harmless blocked field goal into a 96-yard TD. Georgia also turned a deflected pass off an LSU receiver’s helmet into an interception that set up a TD.
ATLANTA (AP) — LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels left the SEC championship game against No. 1 Georgia after aggravating a right ankle injury. Backup quarterback Garrett Nussmeier played the second half for No. 11 LSU in Georgia’s 50-30 win. Daniels received hugs from players and team personnel on the sideline at the start of the half, a sign that he would not return. Daniels wore a walking boot early this week after injuring his right ankle late in last week’s 38-23 loss to Texas A&M. Daniels started against Georgia, but limped again late in the first half after he was sacked.
UNDATED (AP) – Alabama is going to get one last look from the College Football Playoff selection committee. Whether the Crimson Tide deserves it is debatable at best, but after both TCU and Southern California lost on championship weekend, the committee needs to at least talk about making Alabama the first two-loss team to make the playoffs. The field of four will be set on Sunday. TCU coach Sonny Dykes said he was concerned about the Frogs’ playoff status but also had faith in the committee.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – DeAndre Williams had 17 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks to help Memphis beat Mississippi 68-57 for the Tigers’ fourth straight win. Alex Lomax and Kendric Davis each scored 14 points for Memphis (6-2). Williams scored inside, Chandler Lawson followed with a layup and Davis hit a 3-pointer to cap a 9-2 opening run with 15:44 left in the first half and the Tigers never trailed. Matthew Murrell led Ole Miss with 13 points. Myles Burns and Theo Akwuba added 10 points each. The Rebels missed 11 consecutive field goal attempts during a 21-4 first half by Memphis.
COLUMBIA, SC (AP) — Aliyah Boston and Kamilla Cardoso each had double-doubles and No. 1 South Carolina dominated on defense in a 79-54 win over Memphis. The Gamecocks started 8-0 for the second year in a row and for the sixth time in coach Dawn Staley’s 15 seasons. Boston had 14 points and 10 rebounds for his 66th career game with double figures in points and rebounds. Cardoso had 18 points and 10 boards for the ninth time in his college career. Jamirah Shutes and Destyne Jackson each had 10 points to lead the Tigers.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Freshman Noah Clowney’s breakout game — 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists and one steal — helped No. 11 Alabama recover from blowing a 20-point lead to beat South Dakota State 78-65 . Clowney shot 8 of 17, including 5 of 12 on 3s, in his highest scoring game of the season. Alabama is 7-1. The Crimson Tide led 37-17 with 6 1/2 minutes left in the first half. South Dakota State rallied to go ahead 51-50 on Alex Arians’ 3-pointer with 11 1/2 minutes left. Charlie Easley and Arians each scored 17 points for the Jackrabbits, who are 3-6.
UNDATED (AP) – South Florida hires Tennessee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh as head football coach. A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press that an agreement between USF and the 38-year-old Golesh was still being finalized. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the school was not ready to announce the move. Golesh joined Tennessee with head coach Josh Heupel in 2021 after the two were at Central Florida in 2019. Under Golesh and Heupel, Tennessee had the No. 1 offense in the country in yards per play and scoring.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Max Rice scored a career-high 25 points, Marcus Shaver Jr. had 16 of his 20 points in the second half and Boise State beat Texas A&M 86-71. The Broncos never trailed in the first meeting between the schools. It came in the Battleground 2k22 series at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, about 175 miles from the Texas A&M campus. Wade Taylor IV was one of five players in double figures for the Aggies with 16 points. Boise State went ahead 16-13 on freshman Sadraque NgaNga’s 3-pointer in a fast-paced opening six minutes.
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