football: Purdue picks new coach.

Jeff Brohm is leaving Western Kentucky to take the head coaching job at Purdue.

The Boilermakers announced the move Monday, calling him “one of the most innovative offensive masterminds in college football.” An afternoon news conference was scheduled to introduce Brohm. Western Kentucky said Nick Holt will coach the Hilltopppers (10-3) in the Boca Raton Bowl against Memphis (8-4) on Dec. 20.

Brohm replaces Darrell Hazell, who was fired after winning just nine games in 31⁄2 seasons. Gerad Parker took over on an interim basis halfway through last season and went 0-6.

Brohm, a former Louisville quarterback, went 30-10 in three seasons at Western Kentucky and has led the Hilltoppers to bowl bids all three seasons.

Purdue said Brohm agreed to a six-year deal.

Heisman finalists named: Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is a Heisman Trophy finalist for the second consecutive season, joining Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, Michigan linebacker Jabrill Peppers and Oklahoma teammates Baker Mayfield and Dede Westbrook.

The award will be presented Saturday in New York.

Watson finished third in last year’s voting, won by Alabama running back Derrick Henry.

Just like last year, he heads to New York not as the favorite but as the contender coming on strong at the end. Mayfield finished fourth last season but did not get an invite to Heisman presentation in New York.

Peppers is the first defensive player to be a Heisman finalists since Notre Dame linebacker Manti Teo was a distant runner-up to Johnny Manziel in 2012.

Westbrook and Mayfield are the first teammates to be finalists since Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart from Southern California finished first and third, respectively in 2005.

Mayfield honored: Mayfield won the Burlsworth Award for a second straight year, becoming the first two-time winner of the award given to the top college football player who began his career as a walk-on.

Mayfield leads the country in passing efficiency this season, having thrown 38 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.

Mayfield began his career as a walk-on at Texas Tech.

The award is named after former Arkansas offensive lineman Brandon Burlsworth, who went from a walk-on to AllAmerican with the Razorbacks and was killed in a car accident after being drafted by Indianapolis.

Honor roll: University of Wisconsin offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk and linebacker T.J. Watt were selected to the AP’s allBig Ten first team.

A panel of 26 writers and broadcasters from the 11 Big Ten states voted Penn State running back Saquon Barkley as the offensive player of the year, Michigan’s Peppers the defensive player of the year and Penn State’s James Franklin the coach of the year.