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CFB Notes: Kiffin, FAU agree to 10-year extension

The Sports Xchange

December 19, 2017 at 8:10 pm.

Dec 19, 2017; Boca Raton, FL, USA; Florida Atlantic Owls head coach Lane Kiffin watches on the sidelines in the 2017 Boca Raton Bowlagainst the Akron Zips  at FAU Stadium. Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 19, 2017; Boca Raton, FL, USA; Florida Atlantic Owls head coach Lane Kiffin watches on the sidelines in the 2017 Boca Raton Bowlagainst the Akron Zips at FAU Stadium. Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Lane Kiffin and Florida Atlantic agreed to a new 10-year contract, the school announced on Tuesday.

Kiffin, who has resurrected the school’s football program in just one season, has guided the Owls (10-3) to nine straight victories and a win in the Conference USA championship. Florida Atlantic will face Akron on Tuesday night in the Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl.

“This is further proof of FAU’s unbridled ambition,” Florida Atlantic president Dr. John Kelly told ESPN on Tuesday.

Kiffin’s initial deal was for five years and paid him $950,000 annually. The 42-year-old’s new deal will stretch through December 2027.

–Washington State coach Mike Leach, who has led the Cougars to 26 victories in the past three seasons, received a raise and a contract extension, the school announced.

The school added a year to Leach’s contract, which now runs through the 2022 season. His compensation will increase to $3.5 million in 2018, $3.75 million in 2019 and $4 million in 2020. After the 2020 season, Leach would receive a retention bonus of $750,000. His previous compensation was $3 million per year.

Leach, whose 9-3 team will play Michigan State in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego on Dec. 28, was rumored to be in the running for other jobs this offseason, most notably Tennessee before Vols athletic director John Currie was fired.

–Alabama freshman linebacker Dylan Moses sustained a foot injury in practice and is out indefinitely, putting his availability in jeopardy for the team’s College Football Playoff semifinal game against Clemson.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban announced on Tuesday that Moses was injured in the previous day’s practice. AL.com reported that Moses would undergo surgery.

Moses recorded 30 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss (including 1.5 sacks) and one interception this season for Alabama (11-1).

–Virginia Tech wide receiver Cam Phillips underwent sports hernia surgery and will miss the Camping World Bowl against Oklahoma State.

Phillips is the school’s all-time leader in receptions (236) and receiving yards (3,027). The senior also had 17 touchdowns in his career for the Hokies (9-3), who will face the Cowboys (9-3) on Dec. 28.

“While we’re disappointed that Cam won’t be able to compete in the bowl game, hopefully he enjoys a speedy recovery as he prepares for the next step of his football journey,” Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente said.

–Maryland receiver D.J. Moore announced that he is bypassing his senior season to enter the NFL draft. Moore was named the Big Ten’s top receiver after catching 80 passes for 1,033 yards and eight touchdowns.

“After the season, I had numerous thoughts running through my head,” Moore said in his statement. “What weighed on my mind was that nothing is ever guaranteed in life and that you should always take advantage of every opportunity that you come across. … With that thought in mind, I’ve decided to forego my senior season and enter the 2018 NFL Draft.”

Moore is expected to be selected within the top two rounds of the draft.

–Veteran football coach Jerry Kill announced his retirement, citing health reasons for his resignation as Rutgers’ offensive coordinator.

The 56-year-old Kill has been plagued with epileptic seizures that led to his end as Minnesota’s head coach following the 2015 season.

“I don’t have any regrets, and I’ve had a blessed career,” Kill said in a statement. “I love this game and all the coaches that I’ve worked with. They have all made Jerry Kill a better man. I know that I did it the right way and I did it my way. I gave everything I had to the game; I just ran out of juice.”

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