12:54 PM ET Alabama running back Damien Harris has cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play Saturday against Auburn, coach Nick Saban said. Alabama and Auburn somehow didn’t play between 1907 and 1948, despite the efforts of local politicians. Here’s the inside story of how the game came back. Harris, a senior and the

9:00 AM ET As Alabama and Auburn prepare for their 83rd meeting on Saturday afternoon, families across the Yellowhammer State are no doubt debating the greatest moments in college football’s greatest rivalry, picking their favorite game-changing plays while picking over the Thanksgiving turkey. With all due respect to 2013’s “Kick-Six” and “The Kick” of 1985,

7:57 PM ET UCF put a thrashing on Cincinnati last week, and the College Football Playoff committee took notice. 1. Alabama (11-0)2. Clemson (11-0)3. Notre Dame (11-0)4. Michigan (10-1)5. Georgia (10-1)6. Oklahoma (10-1)7. LSU (9-2)8. Washington State (10-1)9. UCF (10-0)10. Ohio State (10-1)11. Florida (8-3)12. Penn State (8-3)13. West Virginia (8-2)14. Texas (8-3)15. Kentucky (8-3)16.

8:50 AM ET MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Pick your favorite Dana Holgorsen eccentricity. There are a lot to choose from. The Red Bull. The hair. The two-point conversion he casually called against Texas a couple of weeks ago. They’re all good, and they’ve all been parsed and praised and parodied enough times that it feels like

9:00 AM ET The Iron Bowl that nearly ended all Iron Bowls was a mess. There were reports of fights in the streets, blood spilled inside the stadium and lots and lots of angry fans throughout the state. One observer described it as a “free-for-all,” and he wasn’t referring to the local Black Friday shopping.

3:47 PM ET ESPN News Services Massachusetts is working on parting ways with coach Mark Whipple, who has led the Minutemen to just 16 victories in six seasons during his second stint at the school, according to multiple reports. Whipple, 61, has two years remaining on a contract that pays $500,000 annually in base salary.

3:21 PM ET No. 8 Washington State and Houston will meet next season in the AdvoCare Kickoff on Sept. 13, at NRG Stadium in Houston. For Washington State, the game figures to be its marquee nonconference game of the season, while Houston will play Oklahoma to start the season. “We are excited to face a

2:00 PM ET The Bottom 10 inspirational thought of the week: There’ve been times in my life,I’ve been wondering why.Still, somehow I believed we’d always survive.Now, I’m not so sure you’re waiting to hear.One good reason to try.But what more can I say?What’s left to provide? You think that maybe it’s over?Only if you want

9:00 AM ET While the playoff has taken a predictable path this fall, consider just how rare it is that No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Notre Dame are entering rivalry week undefeated: It’s only the fourth time in the past 20 years that three Power 5 teams (or BCS automatic qualifiers)

9:00 AM ET Mark Schlabach Close ESPN Senior Writer Senior college football writer Author of seven books on college football Graduate of the University of Georgia Dave Wilson Close ESPN Staff Writer Dave Wilson is an editor for ESPN.com since 2010. He previously worked at The Dallas Morning News, San Diego Union-Tribune and Las Vegas