Author: Dan Wolken, USA TODAY

And now, the Crimson Tide — with arguably their most flawed team in years — is just 60 minutes away from adding another big trophy to the collection.

If both teams are unable to play a semifinal, the game will be declared no contest and the winner of the other semifinal will be national champion.

Oklahoma has hired Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables as its next coach. Venables replaces Lincoln Riley, who left for USC.

The College Football Playoff committee sent a message to every conference besides SEC: Take the deal or expect four more years of getting left out.

“Citizen Ashe” establishes a through line from Ashe to the ways in which Black athletes are using their prominence to advocate for social justice.

Georgia is in, regardless of the SEC championship game result. After that, Michigan, Alabama and Cincinnati still have work to do to earn a berth.