The days of running backs being the headliners at the NFL draft are long in the past with the league’s shift to more passing leading to quarterbacks, pass rushers and pass blockers dominating the top of the draft each year.

The Atlanta Falcons have run out of time to control their path to the playoffs after mismanaging the clock multiple times in an overtime loss at the Washington Commanders.

Michael Penix Jr. won his debut as Atlanta’s starting quarterback, thanks largely to a defense that returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns to hand the hapless New York Giants their franchise-record 10th straight loss, 34-7.

Kirk Cousins threw his first touchdown pass in five weeks and the Atlanta Falcons did just enough to beat the struggling Las Vegas Raiders 15-9 and keep pace in the NFC South race.

Sam Darnold threw for 347 yards and five touchdowns, both career highs, and the Minnesota Vikings pulled away from Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons 42-21 for their sixth straight victory.

Kirk Cousins threw for 276 yards and four touchdowns to help the Atlanta Falcons take sole possession of first place of the NFC South with a 31-26 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Atlanta Falcons had plenty of opportunities to beat Kansas City but miscues and trouble converting on third down helped the Chiefs hold on for a narrow 22-17 victory.

Patrick Mahomes threw a pair of touchdown passes and Kansas City's defense made a couple of late stands to keep the Chiefs unbeaten with a 22-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

The long wait for the first running back to be drafted is over.

Now that Bill Belichick is out as coach of the New England Patriots after 24 seasons, the question turns to where will the six-time Super Bowl champion go next.

Desmond Ridder passed and ran for touchdowns, Younghoe Koo kicked a go-ahead 37-yard field goal as time expired, and the Atlanta Falcons snapped a two-game losing streak by beating the Houston Texans 21-19.

Falcons running back off to fast start

Bijan Robinson outshined top overall pick Bryce Young in their NFL debuts, leading the Atlanta Falcons to a 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers in the season opener.

Second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder is key to the Atlanta Falcons' hopes for a winning season.

Bijan Robinson has a new number with a big Atlanta history, a newly signed contract and huge expectations no rookie Falcons running back has faced in recent years.

The Texans got two of the best players in the NFL draft in the first three picks.

For one night at least, running backs got some of the glory in the pass-happy NFL.

Bijan Robinson is expected to go high in the first round despite being a running back. He spoke one on one with KPRC 2 sports anchor Ari Alexander, who covered Robinson during his high school career in Tucson.

After months of debate, we’ll finally see what general manager Nick Caserio decides to do on Thursday.

Hey guys, it’s Ari Alexander with the Houston Texans who are preparing for the NFL Draft now that the scouting combine is finished. The Texans will have to be wary of what the Bears do with the No. 1 pick, but are likely to find a strong QB somewhere.

Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr. decided they had unfinished business at Alabama, even if it won’t include another shot at a national championship.

Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams is one of three Southern California players to be selected to The Associated Press All-America team.

Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams is The Associated Press college football player of the year.

Kendre Miller rushed for 138 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown in the third quarter that broke open a tense defensive struggle, and No. 4 TCU beat No. 18 Texas 17-10 to clinch a berth in the Big 12 championship game.

Spencer Sanders threw for 391 yards and hit Bryson Green with the game-winning touchdown pass with just over three minutes left to lead No. 11 Oklahoma State past No. 20 Texas 41-34.

Quinn Ewers threw for 289 yards and four touchdowns in his return to the Texas lineup and the Longhorns beat Oklahoma 49-0.

Trey Wolff kicked a 20-yard field goal in overtime to give Texas Tech a wild 37-34 victory over No. 22 Texas.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian says his team must now avoid the “rat poison” of listening to praise after a close loss to Alabama.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian isn't giving any hint as to who will be the No. 21 Longhorns’ starting quarterback this week, and insists that injured Quinn Ewers and his top backup Hudson Card are “day-to-day” ahead of a matchup with UTSA.

Quinn Ewers threw for 225 yards and two touchdowns in his debut at quarterback for Texas and the Longhorns rolled over Louisiana-Monroe 52-10 in the season-opener for both programs.

When the NCAA lifted restrictions on players profiting from their name, image and likeness, it created instant millionaires of elite college football players like Ohio State quarterback C.

Alabama stars Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr. are among four players from the top-ranked Crimson Tide selected to The Associated Press preseason All-America team.

Texas starts the season unranked after a 5-7 finish in 2021.

Media who cover the Big 12 have tabbed defending champion Baylor as the preseason favorite to win the conference football title again.

Iowa State running back Breece Hall is The Associated Press Big 12 offensive player of the year for the second year in a row.

Jalon Daniel hit Jared Casey on a scrambling pass for a 2-point conversion in overtime and Kansas stunned Texas 57-56 Saturday night to snap their eight-game losing streak this season and a 56-game losing streak in Big 12 road games over the past 13 years.

Ben Sims and Abram Smith had TD runs in the fourth quarter and No. 16 Baylor beat Texas 31-24.

Tanner Brown’s fourth field goal of the game gave No. 12 Oklahoma State its first lead and quarterback Spencer Sanders’ scrambling 10-yard touchdown run sealed a 32-24 victory over No. 25 Texas on Saturday to keep the Cowboys undefeated.

The last time the No. 1 team in the country lost to an unranked team was 2008.

Kennedy Brooks ran for 217 yards and two go-ahead touchdowns in the fourth quarter as sixth-ranked Oklahoma beat No. 21 Texas 55-48.

Bijan Robinson spent far too much of last season watching others play football.

The move by Texas and Oklahoma to the Southeastern Conference is generating plenty of chatter in the Big 12.

Bijan Robinson ran for a career-high 216 yards with two go-ahead touchdowns and Texas beat TCU 32-27.

Casey Thompson threw five touchdowns and ran for another as Texas continued its offensive explosion since naming him the starting quarterback with a 70-35 rout of Texas Tech on Saturday.

Bijan Robinson ran for three touchdowns in the first half and Texas rebounded from a humiliating loss a week earlier by pounding Rice 58-0.

Some Southeastern Conference defenses are flexing their muscles after 2020 being a defensive coordinator’s nightmare.

Steve Sarkisian has yet to make his debut in the Big 12, but the new Texas coach was asked on Thursday to ponder life in his next league, the Southeastern Conference.

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)SAN ANTONIO – Texas has been tested all year, but losing senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger to a shoulder injury was an obstacle the Longhorns never anticipated. 20 Texas overcame Ehlinger’s injury to beat Colorado 55-23 in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Tuesday night. Ehlinger missed the second half after sustaining a shoulder injury in the second quarter. Thompson started the second half in place of Ehlinger and led Texas to a touchdown on its opening possession. Texas: The Longhorns found a capable replacement for Ehlinger in Thompson.

(AP) – Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson combined for 311 rushing yards and six touchdowns and Texas beat Kansas State 69-31 on Saturday afternoon. Robinson scored on runs of 12, 30 and 75 yards Saturday. “I knew it would take time to learn to get a feel for the game,” Robinson said. “Credit to Texas because they were ready to play today,” Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said. “I’m excited about that and for our players to send them out with another winning season,” Herman said.

(AP) – Sam Ehlinger passed for an early touchdown, then ran for two more in the second half to lead Texas to a 27-16 win over Baylor on Saturday that snapped the Longhorns’ two-game losing skid. After the game, Texas players stayed on the field for “The Eyes of Texas” school song that had been embroiled in controversy. Ehlinger set up Texas’ first touchdown with a 42-yard completion on a leaping catch by Joshua Moore. After forcing a turnover on downs in the final minutes, Texas ran out the clock near the Baylor goal line. Most of the team left the field before the song after Texas’ first two home games and again in Dallas when Texas lost to Oklahoma, angering some fans.