Good in the Game 12/23

'Tis the season for playoff football!

December 23, 2024

Good morning, football fans! And happy holidays to everyone!

The Ivy League Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year were announced last week as part of the Asa S. Bushnell Cup Presentation, presented by Bruin Capital, at the iconic Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center. The event has been co-hosted by the Ivy League and the National Football Foundation (NFF) annually since 2010.

Penn sophomore running back Malachi Hosley was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while Dartmouth senior defensive lineman Ejike Adele was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Year. The Ivy League Coaching Staff of the Year, also unveiled at the ceremony, was awarded to the Columbia Lions staff led by first-year head coach Jon Poppe.

Click here to read more about the Bushnell Cup recipients!

Two Penn State legends sat down on the Good in the Game Podcast this past week as LaVar Arrington and Todd Blackledge chatted about how the game of football has helped shape their lives, the College Football Playoff, Penn State in the 80s and being coached by Joe Paterno.

Learn more about the game with CFO’s Steve Shaw

The NFF works with College Football Officiating (CFO) throughout the year to make the game better and safer. As part of the relationship, the NFF is pleased to share with our readers the most recent CFO-NCAA Media Video, explaining some of the recent play calls in college football.

2025 NFF High School Showcases

The NFF High School Showcases provide thousands of eligible high school football players an opportunity for academic and participation scholarships to play at the next level.

Feb. 1, 2025
The 17th Annual Houston Texans Senior Showcase powered by Gatorade will take place at the Texans Methodist Training Center next door to NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Feb. 14-15, 2025
The 9th Annual Orange Bowl Florida High School Football Showcase, Presented by Baptist Health, will take place at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Feb. 15, 2025
The Third Annual Arizona Senior Showcase will be held 15 at Ottawa University in Surprise, Arizona.

Feb. 22, 2025
The 12th Annual Terry Donahue Memorial California Showcase will take place at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California.

An expanded 12-team College Football Playoff called for something special, and that is exactly what ESPN’s College GameDay crew did — check out how the group visited two campuses in 24 hours during the first weekend of the CFP.

Bill Miller, who played wide receiver for the Miami Hurricanes in the early 1960s, has passed away. Miller was a First-Team All-American in 1960 and a Consensus All-American in 1961. He was 84.

Willie Peete, who coached in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears from 1983-97, has passed away. Peete played collegiately at Arizona in the 1950s and began his coaching career in Tucson. He was 87.

The NFF remembers those who passed away in 2024 and played a role in improving the game of college football for future generations. This video was played during the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on December 10, 2024, and honors those who passed from Dec. 7, 2023 – Dec. 5, 2024.

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