Senior Writer

Bill Bender

Bill Bender Photo

Bill Bender is president of The Professional Football Writers of America. He graduated from Ohio University in 2002 and started at The Sporting News as a fantasy football writer in 2007. He has covered the College Football Playoff, NBA Finals and World Series for SN. Bender enjoys story-telling, awesomely-bad 80s movies and coaching youth sports.

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MORE FROM Bill Bender

NFL picks, predictions for Week 7: Jets pick up first win against Panthers, Lions bounce back against Bucs image

NFL picks, predictions for Week 7: Jets pick up first win against Panthers, Lions bounce back against Bucs

Bill Bender

College football picks, predictions against the spread for Week 8 matchups image

College football picks, predictions against the spread for Week 8 matchups

Bill Bender

James Franklin replacements: Ranking Penn State's best candidates from Matt Rhule to Pat Fitzgerald image

James Franklin replacements: Ranking Penn State's best candidates from Matt Rhule to Pat Fitzgerald

Bill Bender

What is next for Penn State? Firing James Franklin proves Nittany Lions' standards need honest evaluation image

What is next for Penn State? Firing James Franklin proves Nittany Lions' standards need honest evaluation

Bill Bender

College football coaching carousel: Tracker for every FBS coaching change in 2025 image

College football coaching carousel: Tracker for every FBS coaching change in 2025

Bill Bender

College Football Playoff bracket for Week 8: Projecting top four seeds, first-round matchups, bubble teams image

College Football Playoff bracket for Week 8: Projecting top four seeds, first-round matchups, bubble teams

Bill Bender

Luke Fickell replacements: Ranking Wisconsin's best candidates from Lance Leipold to Jason Eck image

Luke Fickell replacements: Ranking Wisconsin's best candidates from Lance Leipold to Jason Eck

Bill Bender

How Arch Manning, Texas flipped script on Oklahoma, John Mateer at Red River Rivalry image

How Arch Manning, Texas flipped script on Oklahoma, John Mateer at Red River Rivalry

Bill Bender

Ohio State's defense flexes against Illinois: Why Buckeyes are on historic pace through six games image

Ohio State's defense flexes against Illinois: Why Buckeyes are on historic pace through six games

Bill Bender

Gary Danielson talks Oregon vs. Indiana – a new-aged, top-10 showdown that’s great for Big Ten image

Gary Danielson talks Oregon vs. Indiana – a new-aged, top-10 showdown that’s great for Big Ten

Bill Bender

What's behind Arch Manning's struggles? Reality check reveals surprising truth about Longhorns QB image

What's behind Arch Manning's struggles? Reality check reveals surprising truth about Longhorns QB

Bill Bender

NFL picks, predictions for Week 6: Buccaneers hold off 49ers, Lions keep rolling past Chiefs image

NFL picks, predictions for Week 6: Buccaneers hold off 49ers, Lions keep rolling past Chiefs

Bill Bender

Big Ten projections, predictions for rest of 2025 season: Will 4 teams make the CFP? image

Big Ten projections, predictions for rest of 2025 season: Will 4 teams make the CFP?

Bill Bender

SEC projections, predictions for rest of 2025 season: These 5 teams will make the CFP image

SEC projections, predictions for rest of 2025 season: These 5 teams will make the CFP

Bill Bender

College football picks, predictions against the spread for Week 7 matchups image

College football picks, predictions against the spread for Week 7 matchups

Bill Bender

College Football Playoff bracket for Week 7: Projecting top four seeds, first-round matchups, bubble teams image

College Football Playoff bracket for Week 7: Projecting top four seeds, first-round matchups, bubble teams

Bill Bender

How do you explain James Franklin's Penn State slide after UCLA upset? There are no good answers image

How do you explain James Franklin's Penn State slide after UCLA upset? There are no good answers

Bill Bender

Bill Belichick's mess at North Carolina: How long will this failed experiment continue in Chapel Hill? image

Bill Belichick's mess at North Carolina: How long will this failed experiment continue in Chapel Hill?

Bill Bender

Ranking the 16 greatest Florida State players ever, from Charlie Ward to Deion Sanders image

Ranking the 16 greatest Florida State players ever, from Charlie Ward to Deion Sanders

Bill Bender

Miami vs. Florida State players in the NFL: Which school's all-time pro roster wins head-to-head? image

Miami vs. Florida State players in the NFL: Which school's all-time pro roster wins head-to-head?

Bill Bender

Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia – like Johnny Manziel – has a shot at a sequel for the ages vs. Alabama image

Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia – like Johnny Manziel – has a shot at a sequel for the ages vs. Alabama

Bill Bender

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