As bowl games increase to 40, NCAA chief Mark Emmert says scrutiny is needed

NCAA President Mark Emmert says it is time for schools to take a look at the bowl system and determine the purpose of some postseason games.

Three teams with losing records will be among the 80 playing in a record 40 bowl games over the next month. The new NCAA football oversight committee was forced to tweak a safety net program to allow 5-7 teams to be bowl-eligible based on their Academic Progress Rates.

This off-season, a task force will study the bowl system. The NCAA has largely removed itself from the bowl business, allowing conferences, communities and television networks to create postseason games. The NCAA is not looking to take control of the bowls, but everyone involved in college football agrees adjustments are needed.

Swinney receives award for coachng

Clemson’s Dabo Swinney is the Home Depot coach of the year, and Hunter Henry of Arkansas is the John Mackey Award winner for the nation’s outstanding tight end.

The awards were announced Wednesday and will be presented Thursday night as part of the College Football Awards at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

Swinney led the Tigers (13-0) to an undefeated regular season, Atlantic Coast Conference championship and No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. Clemson will play Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 31.

Henry led all Southeastern Conference tight ends with 46 receptions for 647 yards. He hasn’t dropped a pass this season.

Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith has won the Butkus Award, presented to the nation’s top linebacker, and Oklahoma center Ty Darlington is the recipient of the William V. Campbell Trophy, for the top scholar-athlete.

Etc.

Montana State quarterback Dakota Prukop is exploring his options to transfer to an Football Bowl Subdivision school and is taking an official visit to Oregon this weekend. Prukop played three seasons for the Bobcats and graduates this semester with a degree in economics. He plans to pursue a master’s degree and would immediately be eligible to play. ... Texas Christian co-offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie says he has turned down an offer from Texas to run the Longhorns offense.