College football notes

WISCONSIN

Badgers hire Chryst

MADISON, Wis. -- Paul Chryst is coming home to coach Wisconsin.

The school made it official on Wednesday, hiring Chryst away from Pittsburgh. The announcement ended days of speculation following the surprising departure of Gary Andersen for Oregon State.

Chryst is a former Wisconsin offensive coordinator and a Madison native. He leaves the Panthers after going 19-19 in three seasons, returning to his hometown and alma mater.

"Very appreciative and honored for this opportunity," he said.

The 49-year-old Chryst had two prior stints as an assistant for the Badgers. Most notably, he was part of the Wisconsin staff from 2005-11, helping the Badgers to five double-digit victory seasons and two Rose Bowls.

He was coordinator in 2011 when the high-scoring Badgers featured quarterback Russell Wilson and running back Montee Ball.

Chryst started at Pittsburgh in 2012. When Bret Bielema left Wisconsin for Arkansas after the 2012 Big Ten championship game, athletic director Barry Alvarez said then that he would not pursue Chryst for the opening after helping him get his first head-coaching job at Pitt.

Andersen ended up in Madison, and left almost exactly two years later to take over the Beavers. He departed Wisconsin on Dec. 10, the same day that star running back and Heisman Trophy finalist Melvin Gordon announced he was skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft.

Gordon's departure was expected; Andersen's move was a stunner after leading the Badgers to a 19-7 record in two seasons.

With the job open again, Chryst quickly rose to the top of the list as a potential replacement. This time, there no was hesitation to reach out from Wisconsin.

Alvarez said the first person he thought of when Andersen informed him he was leaving was Chryst.

Unlike Andersen, a Utah native who spent most of his coaching career in the West, Chryst has roots in Madison. He remains a popular figure at Wisconsin, and the school added a dose of fanfare at his introductory news conference with a small band set up to left of a stage at the school's basketball practice court.

OREGON

Ducks’ CB injures knee

Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu hurt a knee in practice this week and his status for the Ducks’ playoff game is uncertain, according to a person with knowledge of the injury. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on condition of anonymity. Ekpre-Olomu, a first-team All-America selection, was injured in practice Tuesday. He is widely considered among the top cornerbacks for next year’s NFL Draft and was a Jim Thorpe Award finalist this season. The injury is a blow for the No. 3 Ducks (12-1) as they prepare to face No. 2 Florida State (13-0) in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

MICHIGAN

Top target: Harbaugh

Michigan is apparently making a serious run at San Francisco 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh to fill its open coaching position.

According to a report from the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, citing anonymous sources, Michigan offered Harbaugh $8 million per year to coach the Wolverines.

That would be almost $1 million more than the current highest-paid college coach, Alabama's Nick Saban, who made $7,160,187 in his most recent season, according to USA Today.

"Jim Harbaugh has not yet told Michigan a definitive no," Rapoport said on NFL Network's Around the NFL.

Rapoport earlier reported that Michigan had approached Harbaugh and he said he would prefer to stay in the NFL.

Meanwhile, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter posted on his Facebook page Wednesday that one person familiar with Harbaugh's thinking said he is "considering it." Schefter also said that another person close to the hiring process said "it was not likely" Harbaugh would end up at Michigan.

Harbaugh, the former Michigan quarterback, signed a five-year, $25 million contract when he was hired by the 49ers in 2011. He took them to the Super Bowl and two other NFC title games in his first three seasons. This year, though, the 49ers were eliminated from playoff contention last weekend.

He has one year remaining on his contract but most NFL insiders, including Rapoport, have insisted that there is no repairing his damaged relationship with 49ers management. Rapoport said the Oakland Raiders are interested as well.

Michigan has not made any statements about who is being targeted as a candidate since firing Brady Hoke on Dec. 2.

Harbaugh's last regular season game with the 49ers is Dec. 28 at home against the Arizona Cardinals.

OKLAHOMA

Healthy for Clemson

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma should have its full complement of offensive starters when the Sooners face No. 18 Clemson in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

Quarterback Trevor Knight, running back Samaje Perine and wide receiver Sterling Shepard all should be recovered enough from late-season injuries to be ready to play by Dec. 29, Coach Bob Stoops said Wednesday.

But the Sooners will be without a pair of senior defensive starters -- linebacker Geneo Grissom and defensive back Julian Wilson.

One of the biggest question marks the past few weeks for the Sooners has been Knight's condition. He suffered a neck injury on Nov. 8 against Baylor that later was diagnosed as transient quadriplegia. Redshirt freshman Cody Thomas started for Oklahoma (8-4) the past three games, but Stoops says Knight, who returned to practice on Saturday, will start against Clemson (9-3) in Orlando, Fla.

"Absolutely," Stoops said when asked if Knight -- last season's Sugar Bowl most valuable player -- would be the starting quarterback. "We expect him to be. He's doing everything right now as he always did. I think the key part, too, is, after practice he's feeling good. It isn't taking a toll on him."

Oklahoma's medical staff made the decision that Knight could return and "there was a lot that went into it," Stoops said.

In a statement released by the university on Saturday, Knight said that "it felt so good to get back and run around with the guys a little bit and throw the ball around. It's been tough not being able to practice for so long. I got back in there and got a little rhythm throughout practice and knocked a little rust off. It definitely felt good to be back out there."

Third-team All-America linebacker Eric Striker said Knight is performing well in practice.

"I haven't been over there much, but when we've been going against him he looks the same -- fresh and fast," Striker said. "He got me on a couple plays. He got me on a little trickery and he smiled at me and said, 'I got you, Eric.' He's ready. He's back and looking good."

Perine, who has rushed for 1,579 yards and 21 touchdowns as a freshman, sprained his ankle during a loss to Oklahoma State in the regular-season finale. Stoops said Perine "is improving. He hasn't practiced yet, but talking to him, he feels like he's making really good progress."

SOUTH CAROLINA

RB expected to turn pro

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier said he expects running back Mike Davis to make himself eligible for the NFL draft after the Gamecocks face Miami in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 27.

Spurrier said after practice Wednesday that he and Davis have discussed the running back turning pro on several occasions.

Davis, a junior, has rushed for 927 yards and nine touchdowns this season. He's 73 yards shy of becoming just the second-ever tailback with multiple 1,000-yard seasons at South Carolina (6-6). Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers had three 1,000-yard seasons for the Gamecocks from 1978-1980.

Davis also had 30 catches for 349 yards and a touchdown receiving. He's had three games this year with 100 yards or more, but none in South Carolina's final five games.

Sports on 12/18/2014

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