The Wisconsin third-year sophomore will enter the 2014 season as a Heisman candidate after announcing Friday that he will return for another season.

“After talking it over with my family and my coaches, I have decided to come back next year,” Gordon said. “I love the University of Wisconsin and feel that there is still a lot of room for growth. Academically, another year in school will help me get closer to completing my degree and on the field I hope to help my team get back to the Big Ten championship.”

Gordon led the Badgers with 1,466 yards rushing this season, an average of 122.2 yards per game. He averaged 8.1 yards on his 181 carries and scored 12 times. He shared time in the backfield with senior James White, who ran for 1,337 yards and 13 TDs.

Wisconsin plays South Carolina in the Capital One Bowl.

“Melvin is a great player and a great kid and we are very happy with his decision,” Badgers coach Gary Andersen said. “We tried to be very supportive throughout the decision-making process and relayed all the information he needed to make an informed decision. I’m glad he can now focus on the bowl game and prepare for a great 2014.”

In 2012, Gordon ran 62 times for 621 yards (10.0 yards per carry) and three TDs. He has 2,186 career rushing yards and 16 TDs.


UNDER ARMOUR WILL PAY AUBURN


Under Armour is Auburn’s uniform supplier.

Certainly, Auburn’s success this season and run the BCS Championship Game has given Under Armour great exposure.

It’s paying off for Auburn, too.

According to the university’s contract with Under Armour, Auburn will receive $200,000 from Under Armour if it beats Florida State in the Jan. 6 BCS title game, Baltimore Business Journal reported.

Auburn will already receive $120,000 from Under Armour for what it’s accomplished this season.

The Baltimore Business Journal found some more incentives in the contract.

Auburn receives:

— $50,000 for a BCS bowl appearance

— $25,000 for SEC title game appearance

— $15,000 for bowl game

— $10,000 for winning 10 games


IRISH FUTURE SCHEDULES


Notre Dame begins playing games against ACC opponents next season as part of the school’s new partnership with the league.

On Friday, the university released its schedule for the 2014 through 2016 seasons. The Irish are supposed to play five games per season against ACC teams, but will play four in 2014, followed by six in 2015 and five in 2016.

Next season, Notre Dame will play at Syracuse on Sept. 27 (at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.), at home against North Carolina on Oct. 11, at Florida State on Oct. 18 and new ACC member Louisville travels to Notre Dame on Nov. 22.

“Our schedules the next three seasons, combined with our 2012 and 2013 schedules, truly exhibit Notre Dame’s intention to celebrate our independence,” Notre Dame VP and director of athletics Jack Swarbrick said in a statement. “We will be playing in virtually every corner of the country and will have a strength of schedule that will serve us well in the new College Football Playoff format.”


UTAH NAMES CHRISTENSEN OC


Utah finished 76th in the country in total offense and 10th in the Pac-12 this season.

So Utes coach named Dave Christensen as the team’s offensive coordinator Friday.

Dennis Erickson and Brian Johnson were co-offensive coordinators in 2013 for Utah. Both are remaining on staff — Erickson will coach running backs and Johnson will coach running backs for the fifth season.

Christensen comes to Utah after being fired earlier this month as head coach at Wyoming. His team went 5-7 this season and he was 27-35 overall.

Despite its record, Wyoming was 22nd in the nation in yards per game, averaging 472.8 per game — 190.4 on the ground (40th) and 282.4 passing (26th).

"As one of the pioneers of the spread offense, Dave Christensen is an innovative coach and was the architect of one of the top offenses in the country during his time at Missouri," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said in a statement. "We feel fortunate he was available and interested in joining our program, and he will be a great fit with our staff. We want an explosive offense and that's been a trademark of Dave's throughout his career as an offensive coordinator."

Prior to his five seasons at Wyoming, Christensen was offensive coordinator at Missouri for 12 seasons under Gary Pinkel. He also worked with Pinkel at Toledo from 1990-96.


GATORS ADD SPECIAL TEAMS COACH


Florida has hired Coleman Hutzler as special teams coordinator to replace Jeff Choate, who recently resigned.

Hutzler rejoins coach Will Muschamp's staff after spending two seasons at New Mexico.

Muschamp says Hutzler is "a young coach with a very bright future. He has a great work ethic and obviously is very familiar with our special teams' schemes. It will be a seamless transition for our players."

Hutzler served on Florida's staff from 2010-11, assisting off the field with the defense and special teams. He joined New Mexico in 2012 and coached the Lobos' special teams and outside linebackers the past two seasons.

Muschamp also announced the addition of Drew Hughes, who will serve as director of player personnel. Hughes held the same position at North Carolina State last year.

Contributors: Ken Bradley, The Associated Press

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