Penn State and SMU head into the College Football Playoff with the weight of history on their shoulders.

Brady Cook passed for a touchdown and ran for another TD, helping No. 6 Missouri top No. 24 Boston College 27-21.

Treshaun Ward totaled 138 offensive yards, including a 13-yard touchdown reception, against his former team as Boston College stunned No. 10 Florida State 28-13.

UCLA coach Chip Kelly stepped down after six seasons leading the Bruins to become offensive coordinator for Ohio State.

With many players NFL eligible and others following unhappy starting quarterback Kyle McCord into the transfer portal, Ohio State football looked to be in for an unhappy winter.

Ohio State is hiring former Houston Texans and Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator, a person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.

DeMeco Ryans was in high school when a coach told him if he wanted to make a career out of football, he’d have to show great energy on every single snap.

Jalen Milroe says former Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien once suggested he should change positions.

Romeo Crennel announced his retirement Monday, ending a 39-year NFL coaching career that included five Super Bowl titles.

Top-ranked Alabama and Cincinnati have arrived in North Texas for their playoff semifinal game at the Cotton Bowl.

Saban and Alabama opened spring practice Friday, March 19, 2021l with an immediate goal. For now, they need to find replacements for three of college football's top offensive weapons. Patterson, File)Nick Saban and Alabama opened spring practice Friday with an immediate goal. He also didn't get a spring practice last year because of the pandemic. The Crimson Tide holds its spring game on April 17 and opens the regular season against Miami on Sept. 4 in Atlanta.

Smith hasn't coached at the college level since he was a defensive assistant at Ohio State in 1995. HOUSTON – The Houston Texans have hired Lovie Smith as defensive coordinator, one of many new additions to first-year coach David Culley’s staff. Smith, who will also hold the title of associate head coach, coached at Illinois from 2016 until he was fired in December. The Texans also retained offensive coordinator Tim Kelly and running backs coach Danny Barrett from last year's staff. The Texans also added James Campen to coach the offensive line, Bobby King as the defensive line coach, Miles Smith to coach linebackers, Greg Jackson as safeties coach and cornerbacks coach Dino Vasso.

HOUSTON – Houston Texans president Jamey Rootes has resigned after more than 20 years, the team’s latest move in an offseason of upheaval. Rootes was hired in 2000 as the Texans began preparations for their expansion season in 2002. The Texans also face uncertainty on the field with star quarterback Deshaun Watson requesting a trade last month. AdWhile with the Texans, Rootes created Lone Star Sports and Entertainment and served as its president. “We sincerely appreciate Jamey’s multiple contributions to the Texans franchise over his tenure and look forward to seeing him succeed in his new ventures,” Texans owner Cal McNair said.

FILE - In this Aug. 21, 2020, file photo, Houston Texans coach Bill O'Brien watches during an NFL football training camp in Houston. Alabama has hired former Texans coach O'Brien as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. O'Brien is replacing Steve Sarkisian, who left to become head coach of the Texas Longhorns after the national championship game. Thursday evening, the Alabama Crimson Tide officially announced on twitter that they have hired former Texans head coach Bill O’Brien as their new offensive coordinator. “He has a wealth of experience as both an offensive coordinator and head coach in the NFL and college.

FILE - In this Aug. 21, 2020, file photo, Houston Texans coach Bill O'Brien watches during an NFL football training camp in Houston. Alabama has hired former Texans coach O'Brien as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – National champion Alabama has hired former Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. O'Brien also served as offensive coordinator for the Nittany Lions and won national coach of the year honors after going 8-4 in 2012. A 28-year coaching veteran and former Brown defensive player, O'Brien was also offensive coordinator at Duke.

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt leaves the field after a losing an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Houston. HOUSTON – The Houston Texans have been bad all season. Sunday was the third time in the past four games the Texans have had a chance to win or tie a game late but lost a fumble instead. “And in my mind, for me, he brings a high level of hope for us to be able to win a game. The Titans beat the Texans 42-36 in overtime in Week 6 behind a 212-yard rushing performance from Derrick Henry.

Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien, center, gives signals from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)HOUSTON – The Houston Texans had faith that coach Bill O'Brien was the man to lead them to their first championship. O'Brien repeatedly thanked the McNair family for the chance to coach the Texans and apologized for falling below their expectations. Romeo Crennel, who was the team's assistant head coach, will serve as interim coach for the rest of the season. I think football is the ultimate team game, so I really there’s no doubt in my mind that I want to coach again."

The Minnesota Vikings have reason for optimism after holding off a late rally by the now-despondent Houston Texans on Sunday. Alexander Mattison added a rushing touchdown and Cousins threw for 260 yards and a TD for the Vikings. The Vikings missed a 55-yard field goal attempt on their next possession before Watson and Fuller hooked up again. Fuller made a 43-yard reception to get the Texans to the 8-yard line, but Houston settled for a 25-yard field goal to get within 17-16. Minnesota added a 31-yard field goal to make it 10-0 and a field goal by Houston midway through the second quarter cut the lead to a touchdown.

HOUSTON – Houston Texans coach and general manager Bill O’Brien has been fired by the organization after more than six seasons with the franchise. The Texans fell to 0-4 for the first time since 2008, losing 31-23 to the previously winless Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. O’Brien was 52-48 overall as the Texans head coach. He is the first NFL head coach to be fired this season. Romeo Crennel will serve as our interim head coach for the remainder of the 2020 season.

And the Houston Texans quickly find themselves running of time to get it going in 2020. A 28-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday dropped Houston to 0-3 for the second time in three years. A week ago, Baltimore pushed the Texans around late to fend off any hopes of a comeback. At an empty Heinz Field, the Steelers put together drives of 79 yards and 62 yards in the fourth quarter. “Playing the Pittsburgh Steelers, they’re going to wear you down if they possess the ball like that.

– Fans who were curious as to how NFL teams would handle the league’s opening ceremonies got their answer on Thursday night. Prior to the start of their season-opening game against the Chiefs, the Houston Texans remained in the locker room during the national anthem and the playing of Lift Every Voice and Sing, which is known as the black national anthem. The rest of the Chiefs team stood along their sideline with the vast majority of players holding their hands over their hearts. After the anthem, the Texans took the field at Arrowhead Stadium to a chorus of boos, then met Chiefs players at midfield, locked arms with each other and stood in silence while observing a moment of solidarity. The Chiefs won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, giving Watson and the Texans the first offensive possession of the 2020 NFL season.

Fans watch the Kansas City Chiefs during NFL football training camp Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Chiefs coach Andy Reid no longer carries around the heavy and ignominious tag of best coach never to win a championship. This is the best opportunity you can have to start the season.That contract extension is the second largest in NFL history. Very, very dynamic players, Texans coach Bill O'Brien said. They also will miss cornerback Bashaud Breeland and defensive tackle Mike Pennel, who are suspended for the start of the season.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) laughs with running back Duke Johnson (25) on the sidelines during NFL football training camp Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Houston. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP, Pool)HOUSTON Deshaun Watson has agreed to a four-year, $160 million contract extension with the Houston Texans. As a child growing up in Georgia, it was always my dream to play in the NFL, Watson wrote in the post. In his post Watson thanked Texans coach and general manager Bill O'Brien and many members of the team's staff as well as his mother and other family members before sending a message to Texans fans. Now back to the work ..."Houston traded up to select Watson with the 12th overall pick in the 2017 draft.

HOUSTON – Despite a 3-1 record and a two-game lead in the AFC South, there is still plenty the Houston Texans need to work on before they travel to Minnesota. Quarterback Brock Osweiler has thrown six interceptions in the first four games, including two against Tennessee Sunday. However, Houston coach Bill O'Brien said Monday he was not concerned about the number of interceptions Osweiler has thrown. Elsewhere on the offensive side, O'Brien said the Texans have to do a better job of getting DeAndre Hopkins the ball. Even though he had one catch, the catch he had was a big catch at the end of the game.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – J.J. Watt caught a 1-yard touchdown pass, Arian Foster ran for 138 yards and a score and the Houston Texans won their second straight game to open the season, beating the Oakland Raiders 30-14 Sunday. Instead of controlling the game from his usual defensive end position, Watt made his biggest impact on the opening drive when he lined up as a tight end and caught a pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick to get Houston (2-0) started. After losing their final 14 games in a two-win season in 2013, the Texans have opened 2014 with back-to-back wins under new coach Bill O'Brien. The home opener for the Raiders (0-2) hardly could have gone worse as they fell behind 27-0 after three quarters and were booed. By JOSH DUBOW, AP Sports Writer