Titans coach Mike Munchak has been targeted for the job of Penn State head coach by a search panel tasked with finding a successor to fired Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno, according to a report. Munchak and Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements are the leading candidates to replace Paterno, but Munchak is the top choice. Munchak, who was an NFL Hall of Fame offensive lineman for the-then Houston Oilers and played on Paterno's offensive line from 1978-81, "would be a great fit" in State College, according to former PSU tailback Curt Warner.

QB Matt Barkley will remain with USC for his senior season, bypassing a potential top-10 selection in April's NFL draft to chase a national championship with the Trojans. With USC coach Lane Kiffin and his family in attendance, Barkley announced Thursday that while he feels prepared for the NFL, he has more to accomplish with the Trojans.

A person with knowledge of the hire says Akron is set to introduce former Auburn coach Terry Bowden as the Zips head coach. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made. ESPN first reported the hiring.

Pitt hired Wisconsin assistant coach Paul Chryst on Thursday to replace Todd Graham, who left for ASU last week after less than a year on the job. The 46-year-old Chryst is Pitt’s fourth head coach in the last 13 months, following Dave Wannstedt, Mike Haywood and Graham, who left for the Sun Devils following a disappointing 6-6 season.

USC quarterback Matt Barkley will hold a news conference Thursday afternoon to announce whether he will stay for his senior year or leave school early for the NFL draft, according to an ESPN.com report.

USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil has decided to forego his senior season and seek entry into the 2012 NFL draft, sources have told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen. Kalil, a projected top-five pick, informed Trojans coach Lane Kiffin, other staff members and teammates of his decision to turn pro.

Oregon junior LaMichael James will declare for the NFL draft, a school source told The Oregonian on Wednesday. A school spokesman told the paper that he spoke to James, who said he had not made a final decision yet. James has rushed for 1,646 yards and 17 touchdowns despite missing two games with a dislocated elbow.

Robert Griffin III became the first Heisman winner from Baylor on Saturday night. The multi-threat quarterback beat preseason Heisman favorite Andrew Luck by a comfortable cushion. Griffin started the season on the fringe of the Heisman conversation, while Luck was already being touted as a potential No. 1 NFL draft pick whenever he decided to leave college. Griffin received 405 first-place votes and 1,687 points. "Everybody associated with Baylor has a reason to celebrate tonight," he said. Luck received 247 first-place votes and 1,407 points to become the fourth player to be Heisman runner-up in consecutive seasons and first since Arkansas running back Darren McFadden in 2006 and 2007.

UCLA will hire Jim Mora Jr. to become their next head coach. Mora was born in Los Angeles and his father, Jim Mora, was an assistant coach at UCLA in 1974. Mora, 50, takes over a program that was 21-29 in four seasons under Rick Neuheisel, who was fired on Nov. 28.

Oklahoma State junior wide receiver Justin Blackmon has indicated that he plans to declare for April's NFL draft following the team's Tostitos Fiesta Bowl showdown with Stanford. "I'm pretty sure that it will be (my last game)," Blackmon told ESPN.com. When asked why he came to that decision, Blackmon said, "I think it's just time. It's that time to go. I came back last year to win a Big 12 championship, set us up for a BCS bowl and I think we did that." Blackmon had 113 receptions for 1,337 yards and 15 touchdowns this season, ranking No. 2 in the nation in receptions per game and No. 8 in receiving yards per game.