College football notes: Rhule leaves Temple to be coach at Baylor

Matt Rhule is taking on a Texas-sized challenge at Baylor after leading Temple to unprecedented success.

After consecutive 10-win seasons with the Owls and a roster filled by kids from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Rhule will be introduced on the Waco campus Wednesday as the new coach of a Big 12 Conference program hit hard by scandal and suddenly struggling on the field.

He becomes the full-time replacement for two-time Big 12 champion coach Art Briles, who was dismissed after a scathing report over the university’s handling of sexual assault complaints, including some against football players.

After that report and Briles’ departure, Baylor lost half of its highly touted 22-player class from last spring. With recruiting on hold since then, the Bears have only one firm verbal commitment for signing day in February. They have only about 70 scholarship players this season on a roster with a dozen seniors.

The Bears (6-6) haven’t won since becoming the only FBS school to start 6-0 each of the last four seasons. Temple named assistant Ed Foley as interim coach to lead the Owls (10-3) in the Military Bowl against Wake Forest on Dec. 27.

Etc.

Stanford junior running back Christian McCaffrey will declare for the NFL draft, according to Bleacher Report.