Big 12 Notes

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Big 12 Notes – Postseason

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March 6th

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Which two Big 12 teams are best set up to dominate for the next decade? 

From CBS Sports … Welcome to Marcello’s Mailbag, where college football is always at the top of the pile. This is a safe space to share opinions and ask questions without fear or ridicule. No question is dumb, though you may believe there are dumb answers. Luckily, I’m willing to look like a jester, but more often than not, I’ll fill your mind with the information you need to understand the most magical sport in the world.

If you had to pick two Big 12 teams best set up to dominate the conference for the next decade, who would they be? 

I don’t believe a single team or two will dominate the Big 12 over the next several years. Parity will define this conference, which has quickly become the most exciting in the sport. Close games and random upsets injected some much-needed excitement into the season, and the unpredictability led to the emergence of newbie Arizona State.

I have long said that Oklahoma State and TCU are best equipped to capitalize in this new era because of their world-class facilities and booster support. Yet the Cowboys faceplanted last season, and Mike Gundy had to rework his contract to remain the head coach.

I’ll say this: Texas Tech is my best bet to emerge as a contender, though I’m still counting on parity in the league. The Red Raiders’ facilities are fantastic, and a billionaire booster leads the NIL collective, which helped land the nation’s No. 3 portal class.

… Read full story here …

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March 4th 

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Does ACC settlement put an expiration date (2030?) on the conference?

From CBS Sports … Tuesday’s news that the ACC and member schools Clemson and Florida State dropped their lawsuits against each other was both anticipated and yet one of the more dramatic reversals in recent memory.

There was a time not long ago that it felt like a matter of when, not if, Florida State and Clemson would leave the ACC. The public legal battle between the conference and its two schools had cast a pall over everything the ACC did, forcing commissioner Jim Phillips to address it at seemingly every major conference event.

Florida State, Clemson and the rest of the ACC schools voting Tuesday to end the four lawsuits and introduce a new revenue distribution system is only one piece of the puzzle, however.

There are a lot of potential ramifications of this decision, both for the conference in the short term as well as future realignment.

What does this mean for the ACC now?

In the short term, at least, this is a win for all involved. The ACC no longer has to deal with the negative headlines of two of its premier brands suing it, with one even accusing it of pushing the conference to its brink. The lawsuits threatened to expose sensitive information and, even more impactful, could have led to easy exits for multiple ACC schools if Florida State and Clemson had won the crux of their arguments.

For the schools, the revamped revenue distribution will put greater emphasis on television ratings. Florida State athletic director Michael Alford introduced a similar concept two years ago, and if FSU and Clemson receive a bigger cut moving forward, as expected, it can help placate the concerns driving the lawsuits which were that the conference’s annual payout was falling way behind that of the Big Ten and SEC. It could lead to a reported extra $15 million annually for the conference’s top schools, a not insignificant amount especially in light of the expected $20 million revenue share which should begin this summer as a result of the House v. NCAA settlement.

For smaller ACC schools, it’ll be a financial hit at an unfortunate time, but the unequal revenue sharing should provide stability for at least a few years. No one wants to end up like the Pac-12 did.

In exchange for dropping their lawsuits, the ACC agreed to put a number on how much it’d cost to leave the conference — $165 million to start, according to Clemson’s board presentation — with that number descending to $75 million in 2030. If, for instance, the Big Ten would like to add Florida State and Clemson ahead of its next TV deal, the two schools should now know exactly what it would cost to leave the ACC. That brings clarity and yet also future concern.

This move could be the glue that keeps the ACC together for a long time. Or it could be a short-term fix to buy everyone some more time and build out additional contingency plans should schools leave the conference. Time will tell.

… Read full story here …

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March 3rd

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FSU; Clemson to settle lawsuits with ACC

From ESPN … Florida State and Clemson will vote Tuesday on an agreement that would ultimately result in the settlement of four ongoing lawsuits between the schools and the ACC and a new revenue-distribution strategy that would solidify the conference’s membership for the near future, sources told ESPN on Monday.

The ACC Board of Directors is scheduled to hold a call Tuesday to go over the settlement terms. In addition, Florida State has called a board meeting to present the terms at noon ET Tuesday, and Clemson plans to do the same. All three boards must agree to the settlement for it to move forward, but sources throughout the league expect a deal to be reached.

According to sources, the settlement includes two key objectives: Establishing a new revenue-distribution model based on viewership and a change in the financial penalties for exiting the league’s grant of rights prior to its conclusion in June 2036.

This new revenue-distribution model — or “brand initiative” — is based on a five-year rolling average of TV ratings, though some logistics of this formula remain tricky, including how to properly average games on the unrated ACC Network or other subscription channels. The brand initiative will be funded through a split in the league’s TV revenue, with 40% distributed evenly among the 14 longstanding members and 60% going toward the brand initiative and distributed based on TV ratings.

Top earners are expected to net an additional $15 million or more, according to sources, while some schools will see a net deduction in annual payout of up to about $7 million annually, an acceptable loss, according to several administrators at schools likely to be impacted, in exchange for some near-term stability.

The brand initiative is expected to begin for the upcoming fiscal year.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 28th

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Big 12 in line to sign a capital partner?

From SportsBusinessJournal … Big 12 presidents and athletic directors Thursday “reviewed bids from three finalists in the league’s pursuit of a capital partner,” according to sources. Firms are “proposing to infuse millions to schools.” RedBird Capital has “emerged as the leader.” A decision is “expected in the coming weeks” (X, 2/27).

This is “a *capital* proposal, not equity.” A report last summer about the Big 12’s pursuit of a private equity deal with CVC Capital Partners was “premature.” That deal “never reached the final stage because of hangups.” Sources said that CVC is “not part of the group of finalists” (X, 2/27).

The Big 12 has been “aggressive in its push for independent funding for schools in the league.” The “eventual venture capital partnership is projected to infuse millions of dollars for schools in the league” (SI, 2/27).

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February 26th

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Despite running fewer plays, college football games are longer than ever

From CBS Sports … If college football was rated by the Bureau of Consumer Protection, there might be an issue with 2024. At the intersection of commerce and player safety, the season concluded with less football and longer games.

That’s one hidden conclusion from last season as CBS Sports posts its annual college football stat wrap.

The much-discussed change allowing the clock to run after first downs, beginning in 2023, has had the desired effect. Since before the rule change in 2022, total combined plays per game are down five per contest to approximately 175. (That total includes special teams and live-ball penalties.)

However, the average game length in 2024 ticked up to 3 hours, 27 minutes. That’s the tied for the second-longest game length since the NCAA started tracking such things in 2008. The 11 playoff games were even longer, averaging 3 hours, 29 ½ minutes. That’s counting the overtime Peach Bowl involving Texas and Arizona State that lasted more than four hours.

Over a full season, that 2024 playoff average would be the longest ever.

What happened? It’s complicated and perhaps unexplainable.

That first-down rule was one of the most significant in decades. Since 1968, the play clock had been stopped after first downs. That was one of the key differentiators between the college and pro game until the rule was changed two seasons ago.

The clock was allowed to run for player safety reasons. In theory, less football meant fewer injuries (more on that below). The change also had a legal underpinning. When they were dragged into court on head trauma issues, for example, the NCAA and schools could point to that first-down step they’d taken to lessen injury.

In that sense, player safety trumps any larger concern about length of games.

“Commissioners have begun to look at plays per game rather than duration,” said an NCAA source who wanted to remain anonymous.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 25th

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Conference summit in Dallas: SEC/Big Ten to lay out CFP proposals

From CBS Sports … Decision-makers declared the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff a rousing success, but tweaks are coming, and two powerful voices are equipped to get what they want as soon as next fall. The question is whether the Big Ten and SEC will have the unanimous support required when the CFP’s 10 FBS conferences and Notre Dame meet Tuesday at a hotel inside Dallas Fort Worth International Airport — or if they’ll make their intentions known and wait until 2026 when a new TV contract shifts voting power heavily in favor of the two most influential conferences in college sports.

Soon, after months of talking and at least two clandestine meetings, the Big Ten and SEC may exert their newfound power. Their commissioners are expected to ask cohorts Tuesday to change seeding in the 2025 College Football Playoff, eliminating first-round byes for the four highest-ranked conference champions and basing seeding solely on the selection committee’s rankings. The change would require unanimous approval among the 10 conferences and Notre Dame. If the Big Ten and SEC do not get what they want this week, they can wait until 2026, when the voting protocol of the management committee changes, people familiar with the agreement between commissioners and the CFP’s board told CBS Sports. The Big Ten and SEC will control the CFP’s voting power starting in 2026, and will no longer require unanimity from the 11 management committee members to pass legislation, sources told CBS Sports.

The seeding decision is only the tip of the iceberg the smaller conferences will soon try to navigate. The Big Ten and SEC are expected to present an idea to expand the CFP in 2026 to 14 teams and reward the two power conferences with multiple automatic qualifiers. Having been discussed behind closed doors among the Big Ten and SEC administrators, the proposal would reward the Big Ten and SEC with four berths apiece every year. The ACC and Big 12 would receive two berths apiece, the Group of Five would receive one spot and the final team in the field would be an at-large selection.

This plan was discussed last week during a joint session between Big Ten and SEC administrators in New Orleans. Sources told CBS Sports that the Big Ten and SEC scheduled a conference call over the weekend with the ACC and Big 12 ahead of Tuesday’s CFP meeting to share particulars. Meanwhile, the smaller conferences — AAC, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12 and Sun Belt — were kept out of the loop. The Big Ten and SEC’s 14-team plan with multiple qualifiers has not been discussed at previous CFP meetings, sources told CBS Sports.

Since the fall, the Big Ten and SEC have conducted two summits to discuss the future of college athletics. From legislation and policing NIL to revenue-sharing, including the proposed development of a new LLC to help provide compliance governance in this new age, the two conferences have been busy mapping out the future of college athletics.

The non-power conferences have reservations about both leaked plans for the CFP, including tweaking the seeding protocol as soon as next season. In December, the Mountain West’s champion, No. 9 Boise State, was rewarded with a first-round bye as one of the four highest-ranked conference champions. Big 12 champion Arizona State, which was ranked 12th, also received a first-round bye. Seeding the tournament based solely on the committee’s rankings would diminish the possibility of a non-power team receiving a first-round bye … and getting an $8 million payout for a school appearing in the quarterfinals.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 24th 

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Returning production: Arizona State and Baylor favorites in the Big 12

From ESPN … The lengthy 2024 season has been over for more than a month, the transfer portal has settled down for now, and we’re waiting to find out if the sport’s powers-that-be are going to change the format of the College Football Playoff for 2025 and beyond.

It seems like as good a time as any to start talking about who might actually be good in 2025!

Early each offseason, I spit out initial SP+ projections, based on a forever-changing combination of returning production, recruiting and recent history. As always, those projections stem from three primary questions: How good has your team been recently? How well has it recruited? And who returns from last year’s roster?

SP+ projections are still a few days away, but let’s deal with that last question first. Who returns a majority of last year’s production? Who has done the best job of importing production from another team? Who is starting from scratch?

For a few years now, I’ve been attempting to expand how we measure returning production. The formula I created shifts with each new year of data and has had to shift a ton with the rising number of transfers. But the gist remains the same: High or low returning production percentages correlate well with improvement or regression. They might not guarantee a good or bad team, but they can tell us a lot. And in 2025, they tell us a lot about the state of college football.

Looking through the prism of returning production data of every FBS team, we’ll break down how the percentage of returning players is trending, what the numbers mean for your favorite team and which teams can expect to improve and which could regress in 2025.

Here are the nine teams that (A) ranked in the SP+ top 40 in 2024 and (B) currently rank in the top 25 in returning production:

Arizona State (35th in SP+ in 2024, second in returning production in 2025). Like Illinois, Arizona State was perhaps a bit fortunate, going 6-1 in one-score finishes in the regular season. The Sun Devils were legitimately awesome late in the season but finished only 35th in SP+ because of struggles against teams such as Texas State and Cincinnati. But outside of Cam Skattebo, this was an awfully young team, one that has a chance to offset a potential reversal in close-game fortune by being good enough to avoid close games altogether. Quarterback Sam Leavitt, receiver Jordyn Tyson and four offensive line starters return, as do a whopping 14 of 17 defenders with 200-plus snaps. And though coach Kenny Dillingham didn’t have to be as aggressive in the portal this time around, he still brought in players who combined for 61 FBS starts last season.

Baylor (38th in SP+ in 2024, 11th in returning production in 2025). It appeared the Dave Aranda era might be coming to an end as Baylor began last season 2-4. But the Bears ended the regular season with six straight wins, and they return quarterback Sawyer Robertson, his leading rusher (Bryson Washington) and receiver (Josh Cameron) and difference-makers on both lines (all-conference guard Omar Aigbedion and defensive tackle Jackie Marshall). Aranda used the portal to bring in proven mid-major players such as Florida International linebacker Travion Barnes and former blue-chippers like Alabama receiver Kobe Prentice. It will be a surprise if the Bears aren’t part of what should again be a crowded Big 12 race.

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The best teams in the country in a given season tend to lose quite a bit of their production to the NFL in a given offseason, but it might be noteworthy that five of last year’s top seven teams, per SP+, rank 101st or worse in returning production.

Oregon (third in SP+ in 2024, 109th in returning production in 2025). Oregon enjoyed an unbeaten regular season before a playoff loss to Ohio State, and Dan Lanning has recruited well enough of late for us to assume the Ducks will remain a top-level program moving forward. But it might take them a little while to establish firm footing in 2025. That’s what happens when you lose your top quarterback and running back, four of your top five receiving targets, four starting offensive linemen and every defensive lineman and defensive back who saw more than 100 snaps. Lanning added dynamite transfers — safety Dillon Thieneman (Purdue), running back Makhi Hughes (Tulane), offensive tackle Isaiah World (Nevada), offensive guard Emmanuel Pregnon (USC) — but a new team will be wearing Oregon’s fluorescent jerseys this fall.

… Read full story here …

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February 22nd

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Potential Big Ten Expansion Targets? CU not on the list

From Jon Wilner at the San Jose Mercury News …

The Big 12 seems to be devoid of larger brands that get rumored as eventual expansion targets of the Big Ten and SEC. In the early 2030s, the three conferences will be up for new media deals. Which schools do you see emerging as the marquee Big 12 brands that could be targeted for membership in the Big Two? — @CougarCentreSLC

There are several layers to this topic, but let’s begin with the calendar.

The Big Ten’s media rights agreement with Fox, CBS and NBC expires in the summer of 2030. The Big 12’s deal with ESPN and Fox expires in the summer of 2031, and the SEC’s agreement with ESPN runs until the summer of 2034.

So yes, at some point in the early years of the decade, another wave of realignment could hit the industry.

There is no guarantee the Big Ten and SEC will expand — any structural change could instead result in the formation of a super league — and in the event they do seek more members, Big 12 teams would assuredly qualify as Plan B options.

Why? Because the first target will be Notre Dame, followed by North Carolina, Clemson, Florida State and perhaps Miami.

Those football programs are more valuable than any in the Big 12, in part for their regional appeal. Fox, which owns the Big Ten’s rights, does not have a major college football property in Florida. (Apologies to UCF.)

We have written numerous times over the past 18 months that the dearth of blue bloods in the Big 12 is a blessing and curse. It creates stability, because no school can be considered a flight risk, and terrific competitive parity. But it limits the conference’s market value.

That said, let’s consider the question above using the following backdrop for the early 2030s: Either the SEC and Big Ten expand, or a super league is created; and the total number of schools included in either scenario is roughly 48.

Given that the two conferences have 34 combined members, and assuming none of them are excluded in some fashion, there would be 14 spots available for newcomers.

Next, let’s allocate four to Notre Dame, North Carolina, Clemson and Florida State. That leaves 10.

In the ACC, Miami, Georgia Tech, Duke, Louisville and NC State would probably be on the top tier of candidates.

What about the Big 12? Which schools are likely to emerge as the “marquee” brands over the next five or six years?

Three come immediately to mind: Arizona State, Brigham Young and Texas Tech.

Success in the revenue-sharing era will depend on resources, and all three have proven or potential advantages on that front — whether it’s deep-pocketed alumni (Texas Tech), institutional wealth (BYU) or a massive community and alumni base (ASU).

The degree to which those resources are tapped will frame each school’s success when roster construction hinges on 1) sharing roughly $15 million with football players and 2) creating NIL opportunities over-and-above the revenue-sharing figure.

Of course, there are hurdles for all of them.

ASU has been inconsistent for decades and struggled to resonate in the community, although Kenny Dillingham is making progress in that regard.

Brigham Young, of course, brings institutional challenges. It’s awfully difficult to envision the Big Ten presidents inviting the Cougars (in the same way the Pac-12 presidents were wary).

And beyond any challenges with roster composition resulting from geography, Texas Tech’s media value is limited.

The other school worth mentioning is Utah, which seemingly doesn’t possess the array of resource options (donor, institutional, community) to match the three schools mentioned above.

But for many reasons, the Utes are the most Big Ten-esque school in the Big 12 by a factor of 10.

Our question is their competitive success in the post-Kyle Whittingham world. (He’s probably not coaching into the 2030s.) If coach-in-waiting Morgan Scalley keeps the program humming, Utah might be the top option for super league inclusion.

All of which leads to this: None of the Big 12 schools are as likely to climb into the Big Ten, SEC or a super league as North Carolina, Clemson and Florida State.

But it doesn’t take much to envision tiers emerging within a conference that, at this point, seems stocked with parity. And those tiers could be quite relevant in the early 2030s.

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February 21st 

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Rhule’s Rules: Drop Tennessee from non-conference to set up 3-0 starts to the 2026 and 2027 seasons

From ESPN … The Nebraska-Tennessee football home-and-home football series scheduled for 2026 and 2027 will not be played after Nebraska opted out of the agreement.

Tennessee athletic director Danny White posted on X that Nebraska called off the series and added that Tennessee is “very disappointed” by the cancellation, especially so close to the initial game in 2026. The teams had been set to play in 2026 at Nebraska and at Tennessee the following year.

In a statement, Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen explained renovations to the team’s stadium, which will temporarily lower seating capacity, ultimately led to the decision.

“We are making plans to embark on major renovations of Memorial Stadium that may impact our seating capacity for the 2027 season,” Dannen said. “The best scenario for us is to have eight home games in 2027 to offset any potential revenue loss from a reduced capacity. The additional home games will also have a tremendous economic benefit on the Lincoln community.”

The Cornhuskers announced they will host Bowling Green in 2026 and Miami (Ohio) in 2027 on the dates where it was originally set to play Tennessee. Nebraska has never faced either school. The team will play eight homes in 2027 for the first time since 2013.

The cancellation ends a nearly two-decade process around a Nebraska-Tennessee series, which was originally agreed upon in 2006 and set for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. In 2013, the two schools agreed to delay the games for a decade. Nebraska will pay $500,000 to get out of the scheduling agreement.

White told Volquest that the “buyout implications need to be much steeper” with an “old contract,” and the cancellation puts Tennessee in a bind. Tennessee, which opens the 2025 season against Syracuse in Atlanta, had its nonleague schedule set through the 2030 season. The school either must find an opponent who can fill the 2026 and 2027 dates for a home-and-home series, or explore neutral-site options.

“You really can’t pull an audible this late in the game,” White told Volquest.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 20th

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Texas, Ohio State and USC cancel spring games

From Sports Illustrated … College football is an ever-evolving sport. Between the NIL era and the constantly shifting conference alignments, tradition is starting to take a backseat as the major college football programs shift their focus on the transfer portal and expanded College Football Playoff.

One of the traditions that may start to fall by the wayside is the annual spring game. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has announced that the Longhorns won’t be playing a spring game this year.

“A couple reasons why,” explained Sarkisian. “Over the last two years we played 30 games. That’s a lot for college football. 14 two years ago. 16 this year. And I just mentioned we’ve had 25 guys get invited to the NFL combine the last two years, so we’ve got a lot of young players on our roster. We have 21 mid-year high school kids that just showed up. And so the development that’s needed for these guys to get ready for the fall is a little bit different than it used to be.

“Our approach is going to be a little bit more NFL driven. Kind of more of an OTA style early on and as we grow into more of the scrimmage formats in the second half of spring ball, that I just don’t know if rolling the ball out, playing the game, when we only get 15 practices is the best for us to maximize the opportunities that we get. So it’s going to be a little bit of a different approach, but I think college football is changing right now. And we need to do a great job as coach of adapting to college football and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Nebraska’s Matt Rhule wanted to steer away from the spring game because it was basically a showcase for other schools to check out his players. Ohio State and USC have also canceled their spring games.

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February 19th

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Coach Prime’s non-visit recruiting policy gaining acceptance – CBS: “His approach isn’t wrong”

From CBS Sports … Colorado coach Deion Sanders hasn’t visited a high school or home in back-to-back recruiting cycles, according to a USA Today report. The university told the outlet that Sanders managed all recruiting from Boulder, Colorado, despite a $200,000 annual budget for recruiting travel.

“I don’t go to nobody’s school or nobody’s house,” Sanders said last month. “I’m not doing that. I’m too old to be going to somebody’s school, somebody’s house. All the kids that I’m recruiting, as a matter of fact, they in the portal. They’re grown men with kids. They don’t need me to come around their crib and try to convince them to come play for me, nah.”

Historically, the visits are seen as a key opportunity to build relationships with both recruits and the people around them. For comparison, Nebraska’s Matt Rhule reportedly made 486 off-campus visits last year, according to USA Today. LSU’s Brian Kelly made 257.

Over a 10-day period, five-star Class of 2026 quarterback Jared Curtis posted photos of in-home visits from the head coaches at Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, Auburn, South Carolina and North Carolina. Relationships can certainly prove valuable and help build edges in the recruiting process.

At the same time, Sanders’ approach isn’t wrong. And in the pay-for-play era, it actually might be a glimpse at the future.

Over the years, programs have expended massive resources to build relationships with players. Stories abound of coaches hitting the road for weeks to drive into every corner of the country in search of talent or incessantly texting to stay on top of players. It’s common for the head coach to be the closer on top recruits, but it typically happens with a final living room pitch.

But things have changed, especially in the NIL and transfer portal era. Two major developments make it more reasonable: First, there is no longer a cap on official visits. Colorado can pay for any players it wants to visit campus and spend time with Sanders. Additionally, the pending revenue-sharing agreement may make managing a salary cap a bigger priority than relationships alone.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 18th

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CU’s Camden Dempsey the poster child for how the House settlement could adversely affect walk-ons

From CBS Sports … Camden Dempsey was among those sitting slack-jawed in the Colorado team room 26 months ago. The little-used offensive lineman heard his new coach famously telling those Buffaloes to essentially vacate the premises.

“I’m bringing my [own] roster with me,” Deion Sanders said that day.

Dempsey, a walk-on who had blown out his ACL the previous year, didn’t need to be hit over the head with a goal post to get the message. He didn’t qualify as “Louie,” Sanders’ preferred reference to both portal-ready designer players … and luggage.

By that time, however, Dempsey was already a valuable member of the team — something more than a warm body. That’s why part of Dempsey’s purpose these days is to prove every program needs those warm walk-on bodies.

“When coach came in there wasn’t a sit-down interview process,” Dempsey recalled to CBS Sports recently. “It was an interview over the course of four months. Every day you’d show up to practice, every workout you were at. That was really my interview process.”

In that sense, Dempsey had a better chance at making the team than scholarship athletes because he showed up. Those walk-ons, those non-scholarship roster fillers who seldom get in a game are instrumental to the mission.

Not that Dempsey needs that scholarship. Both his parents are lawyers. His education is being paid for via a prestigious Boettcher academic scholarship, a four-year full ride. Dempsey has already started his own business as part of a class project.

The finance and marketing major is pursuing his master’s in real estate.

Also, in four seasons, he has appeared in one game. Hardly Louie.

It’s because of Dempsey’s selfless work ethic that Coach Prime never did cut him. The lawyers, however, are doing their darndest.

The potential loss of walk-ons has rocked the game. Neither coaches nor players had formal input in the decision. Roster caps were largely a legal maneuver to help the settlement reach the finish line.

“I’m miserable thinking about. We’ve had to tell a few [walk-ons] already,” Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said.

Klieman has already done the math. He says those 105 may not be enough to safely field a team.

“Twenty kids are hurt. Twenty kids enter the portal. Ten kids opt out. You may have 75 kids left, but you may have [only] three DBs or six O-linemen or one quarterback,” Klieman explained.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 17th

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Ranked Big 12 contenders’ biggest games (CU not included?)

From ESPN … For some teams, the make-or-break game on the schedule is pretty clear — a nonconference matchup against a big-name program or a showdown with a hated rival.

But sometimes the season-defining game sneaks up on a team. Maybe it’s an unexpected loss that sends a team into a tailspin, or a last-second win that sparks a hot streak.

Either way, there always are certain games that fans circle on the calendar with a heightened sense of anticipation. (We suspect players and coaches do too, but good luck getting them to admit it.)

With that in mind, we asked our college football reporters to predict what will be the season-defining game for each team in our Way-Too-Early Top 25 for the 2025 season.

9. BYU Cougars

2024 record: 11-2, 7-2 Big 12

Season-defining game: Oct. 18 vs. Utah

… CU v. BYU … September 27th

Pretty much any time BYU and Utah get together it’s must-watch TV. And after a tight contest that ended with the Cougars getting the better of the Utes by a single point in Salt Lake City last year, the game moves to Provo this season and sits right in the middle of BYU’s schedule. With tough games at Arizona before and at Iowa State after the Utah matchup, the rivalry game could set the tone for how the rest of the season goes for the Cougars. With both teams likely to compete for what looks like a wide-open Big 12, an already-charged game should have more than just interstate bragging rights on the line.

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11. Iowa State Cyclones

2024 record: 11-3, 7-2 Big 12

Season-defining game: Nov. 1 vs. Arizona State

… CU v. Iowa State … October 11th

The Week 0 opener in Ireland against Kansas State promises to be compelling, and the Cy-Hawk rivalry home game against Iowa always matters. But the most challenging stretch of Iowa State’s schedule is back-to-back home games against BYU on Oct. 25 and Arizona State on Nov. 1. Both opponents return a lot of talent after finishing tied with Iowa State and Colorado atop the Big 12 conference standings in 2024, and the Sun Devils trounced the Cyclones 45-19 in the Big 12 title game last December with a CFP bid on the line. Quarterback Rocco Becht and Iowa State have an off week right before this run and need to be ready to play their best football by the time BYU and Arizona State visit Ames. The Cyclones went 5-1 in games decided by one-score margins last season. That’s what it takes to get to the Big 12 championship game, and they’ll have to do it all over again this fall.

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14. Arizona State Sun Devils

2024 record: 11-3, 7-2 Big 12

Season-defining game: Sept. 20 at Baylor

… CU v. Arizona State … November 22nd 

After last season’s run to the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff and a near win against Texas in the quarterfinals, Arizona State is clearly trending upward. But with a program of its track record, it’s fair to wonder what level is sustainable. Kenny Dillingham is one of the sport’s best young coaches — maybe the best — so the guess here is the Sun Devils will be a Big 12 power for the foreseeable future. It’s hard to identify any Big 12 game as a potentially season-defining one because of the parity in the conference, but the trip to Baylor on Sept. 20 should, at least, serve as an early barometer of what type of team ASU will be.

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16. Kansas State Wildcats

2024 record: 9-4, 5-4 Big 12

Season-defining game: Nov. 1 vs. Texas Tech

… CU at Kansas State … November 29th

Week 0 Farmageddon with Iowa State — in Dublin, no less — might be the juiciest date on Kansas State’s fall calendar. However, given the Wildcats’ status as co-Big 12 favorites with serious playoff aspirations in 2025, the timing of Texas Tech’s Nov. 1 visit to Bill Snyder Family Stadium feels especially consequential. Kansas State has won its past eight games against the Red Raiders dating to 2016. But this is a Texas Tech program that spent big on its offseason retool with an eye on postseason contention after elbowing into the conference title race this past fall. On the same day Arizona State visits Iowa State, this Week 10 matchup will almost certainly carry late-season Big 12 and playoff implications. For the Wildcats, an early November win over the Red Raiders could go a long way toward stamping the program’s ticket to a first conference title game appearance since 2022. And as Kansas State chases its first playoff berth under seventh-year coach Chris Klieman, the Nov. 1 date with Texas Tech should hold significant bearing on the Wildcats’ CFP résumé too.

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… Read full story here …

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February 13th

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Could Rick Neuheisel be named as the “CEO of College Sports”?

From CBS Sports … Job Listing: Chief executive officer, College Sports. This candidate will be responsible for oversight of a multi-billion industry undergoing significant change. The applicant must have extensive athletic, business, legal and gender equity experience. A background in player representation and wealth fund management is preferred. It is important for this candidate to cut all financial ties with their alma mater. This includes the wearing of neutral colors at all times. On-camera experience is a must. Please send job samples to, well … we’ll get back to you on that.

From corner bar to high-rise boardroom, it has long been suggested that a “commissioner” or CEO overseer of college sports would solve the incredibly complicated day-to-day operation of top stakeholder schools.

“Maybe a Nick Saban or someone,” Matt Mitten, law professor and executive director of the National Sports Law Institute at Marquette, recently suggested.

Maybe.

Yahoo Sports reported last week the creation of an LLC among the four power conferences that will oversee implementation of the House settlement — basically the option for schools to establish an annual $20.5 million pot of cash to pay athletes.

It has already been established that a new CEO position — the qualifications of which are speculated above — is being created to oversee enforcement of the new revenue-sharing model. That CEO would report to a board and head an investigatory group to ensure schools don’t surpass that revenue-sharing cap.

It’s never been done before. But what choice do those commissioners have with the model already being reshaped like a can of Play-Doh? Or, as noted sports law attorney Tom Mars predicted, face “death by a thousand injunctions.”

The newly created CEO position — if House is approved — would get college sports as close to that Supreme Leader as there has ever been.

A transition team of athletic directors, compliance officers and general counsels are in the process of finalizing the process, Yahoo reported, before Judge Claudia Wilken is expected to approve House on April 7.

A source with intimate knowledge of the transition team told CBS Sports that the executive board underneath the CEO would probably be “weighted” toward the SEC and Big Ten.

Somebody has to manage all of this

By July 1 this year — when implementation of House is expected — we will likely see that de facto commissioner/CEO of college sports for the first time.

We’ve never been closer to having such a person in big-time college sports. In essence, that commissioner/CEO would become among the most powerful people in college sports, sitting on an estimated $14 billion to be distributed over the next 10 years.

The Power Four have engaged a search firm to evaluate CEO candidates.

“That’s just another example of the NCAA being kicked to the curb,” said Oliver Luck, a prominent consultant and former West Virginia athletic director.

The NCAA president serves at the will of the association’s board of governors and, by extension, the membership. Baker can have an agenda, but he has to go through channels to accomplish it. Example: Baker supports an antitrust exemption from Congress, but the fight to get one and retain some NCAA autonomy has been a struggle.

The issue in these litigious times is finding someone or some group of people who are truly objective.

After talking to sources, these five names would make sense to fill the CEO role:

• Oliver Luck: The longtime college, pro and Olympic operative is not interested in the CEO position per se. When reached last week, he was headed out to the slopes from his home in the mountains outside of Denver. However, Luck did say he was interested in helping with the arbitration process. He has loads of experience there as a former NFL player, NFL executive and former NCAA vice president. From 2010-2014, Luck was the Mountaineers’ athletic director.
• Nick Saban: Mitten has a point. Saban’s transition to ESPN has been a revelation. Essentially, Saban has gone from GOAT coach to college football influencer. But, like Luck, he enjoys his free time. Last summer, Saban joked about Miss Terry harassing him on the golf course via cellphone. During last season, Saban put forth common-sense solutions without making a spectacle of himself on GameDay. He has become the game’s voice of reason. If folks can get past his SEC background — a big if even for him — Saban would be perfect. The sense here is that he doesn’t need the money or the aggravation.
• David Shaw, Detroit Lions passing game coordinator: Up until getting his latest job, Shaw would have been one of the favorites for this position. He is accomplished and respected. Shaw outdid Jim Harbaugh at Stanford after taking over for him. Since Shaw left in 2022, the Cardinal haven’t been the same. His words of wisdom regarding the game continue to resonate.
• Condoleezza Rice, former secretary of state: Rice grew up loving football in Birmingham. She never lost that love, becoming a world-renowned statesperson. Rice earned much respect from college football in general in her role on the first College Football Playoff selection committee. Her college ties are to the University of Denver, Notre Dame and Stanford. How’s that for neutrality?
• Rick Neuheisel, CBS Sports analyst: The former Colorado, Washington and UCLA coach has established himself as a passionate advocate for the game’s health. Whether it’s on satellite radio during the week or on CBS Sports platforms during the season, Neuheisel is one of the game’s leading media figures. He has repeatedly shown he knows the issues. More than that, he has the respect of those in the game.

… Read full story here …

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A chart from the NCAA outlining what it means to opt into the House settlement

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February 12th

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Second-Year Big 12 Coaches: Grades Range from “A” to “D+”

From CBS Sports … There’s no such thing as long-term planning in college football anymore. Not for players, coaches or administrators. Today’s reality could be an ancient relic by next week; the rules and landscape of the sport are ever-shifting.

That it has impacted the coaching market. While patience has been wearing thin for a while, the advent of NIL and the transfer portal have exhausted it quicker. Coaches were once afforded three seasons to put their footprint on a program. Now, if you haven’t gotten things figured out by the end of Year 2, you’re in deep doo-doo. Heck, you may have been fired already.

Where do the members of the 2023 coaching cycle sit after their first two seasons in charge? There are some resounding success stories — though not as many as the 2022 class, which saw both TCU’s Sonny Dykes and Washington’s Kalen DeBoer coach in national title games in their first two seasons. There are failures, too. Multiple coaches from that cycle have already been fired, and a few others are in perilous situations heading into 2025.

Kenny Dillingham … Arizona State … “A” … How quickly things can turn around. After a 3-9 debut season with the Sun Devils, Dillingham’s squad went 11-3 in 2024, won the Big 12, and took Texas to overtime in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. It’s both a testament to Dillingham’s coaching ability and the unpredictable nature of the Big 12: all the favorites stumbled this season, and Cinderellas popped up everywhere. Dillingham will head into the 2025 season with one of the most promising QBs (Sam Leavitt) in the country, so expectations will be high.

Scott Satterfield … Cincinnati … “D+” … Satterfield is another coach facing a make-or-break third season. His hiring wasn’t received with unanimous support initially, and an 8-16 mark overall and a 4-14 record in the Big 12 hasn’t helped. The good news is Year 2 was better, but you wonder how Cincinnati fans felt watching teams like Arizona State, Colorado, and BYU jockey for top of the standings while they watched from afar.

Deion Sanders … Colorado … “B+” … The second verse was much better than the first. While Deion Sanders generated plenty of headlines and buzz at Colorado in his first season, a 4-8 mark after a hot start led to plenty of skepticism heading into 2024. The Buffs answered by going 7-2 in the Big 12. Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy, and Shedeur Sanders solidified his status as one of the best QBs in the country. The upcoming season will be interesting as Sanders’ first year coaching without one of his sons on the team.

Also … 

Brent Key … Georgia Tech … “B-”

Matt Rhule … Nebraska … “C+”

Ryan Walters … Purdue … “F”

… Read full story here …

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February 11th

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Ohio State overtakes Alabama on list of all-time AP final poll listings (CU at No. 32)

From College Football News … The AP college football rankings have been the most consistent and reliable since 1936. No other ranking system provides a better historical snapshot of the last 90+ seasons. They just keep on marching along.

According to the AP final rankings for each season, how do all the college football teams rank since the start of the poll, and what are the greatest programs of all-time?

Take all the AP final rankings and use our simple scoring system – the AP national champion in each season gets 25 points, the No. 2 team 24, No. 3 23, and so on down to the bottom.

Based on the final AP rankings from 1936 through to Ohio State’s 2024 national championship season. Who earned the most all-time recognition from the AP voters.

(–) = rank before 2024 season

1 Ohio State 1182 (2)

2 Alabama 1180 (1)

3 Oklahoma 1147 (3)

4 Notre Dame 1072 (5)

5 Michigan 1064 (4)

6 USC 851 (6)

7 Texas 843 (7)

8 Nebraska 798 (8)

9 Penn State 754 (9)

10 Tennessee 732 (10)

11 Georgia 723 (11)

12 LSU 702 (12)

13 Florida State 605 (13)

14 Auburn 584 (14)

15 Florida 551 (15)

16 Miami 542 (16)

17 Clemson 515 (17)

18 UCLA 498 (18)

19 Michigan State 472 (19)

20 Arkansas 444 (20)

21 Washington 418 (21)

22 Ole Miss 404 (23)

23 Texas A&M 397 (22)

24 Wisconsin 378 (24)

25 Iowa 346 (25)

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26 Oregon 333 (28)
27 Georgia Tech 330 (26)
28 TCU 313 (27)
29 Oklahoma State 299 (29)
30 Pitt 298 (30)
31 Stanford 284 (31)
32 Colorado 268 (32)
33 Arizona State 261 (37)
34 Missouri 258 (33)
35 Minnesota 252 (34)
36 Army 251 (36)
37 Maryland 249 (35)
38 Virginia Tech 225 (38)
39 Baylor 221 (39)
40 North Carolina 218 (40)
T41 Navy 213 (41)
T41 BYU 213 (44)
43 West Virginia 208 (42)
44 Duke 207 (43)
45 Cal 198 (45)
T46 Kansas State 196 (46)
T46 Syracuse 196 (48)
48 Houston 192 (47)
49 Illinois 187 (50)
50 SMU 186 (51)

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Texas Tech spends $10 million in the Transfer Portal to build a Big 12 contender: “We started hitting home run after home run”

From ESPN … The goal going into December was to spend $5 million.

That was the price tag that Cody Campbell, Texas Tech’s billionaire booster and the leader of The Matador Club NIL collective, initially anticipated for the Red Raiders’ transfer portal haul. In college football’s constantly evolving world of transfer recruiting, that’s still considered a lot of money.

In late November, Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire told reporters he was bringing in approximately 10 transfers for next season. McGuire, Campbell and general manager James Blanchard had spent months preparing for the Dec. 9 start of portal season. They had an ambitious plan. And then the plan worked a little too well.

The quality of players hitting the market — proven starters, potential all-conference performers, real NFL prospects — who were willing to listen to Texas Tech’s pitch exceeded expectations. So, why stop at 10? This trio wholeheartedly believed the Red Raiders had just come up a few plays — and players — short of the first Big 12 championship game in school history, finishing one game behind the teams tied for first place. This was their moment to take a big swing.

“I talked with Cody and Coach McGuire,” Blanchard said, “and Coach was like, ‘Man, if they can help us win the Big 12, let’s just go ahead and go all-in. Let’s do it.'”

Texas Tech brought in 17 new players in December, including seven of the top 75 players in ESPN’s transfers rankings, good enough for the No. 2 ranked portal class in early January. And nobody outside of Lubbock, Texas, saw it coming.

The total cost of the splurge? More than $10 million.

Texas Tech didn’t pull off its stunning portal shopping spree purely by outspending its competition. It’s never that simple. Five months of careful planning and 10 days of relentless recruiting went into putting it all together. And once the portal opened, they went on a hot streak.

“We started hitting home run after home run,” McGuire said.

Texas Tech’s portal class was impressive enough that Notre Dame, fresh off playing for a national championship, tried to hire Blanchard as its next general manager. He’s staying in Lubbock because he knows this upcoming season could be special.

Internally, everyone at Texas Tech agrees on what this haul means: The Red Raiders have acquired enough talent to become a genuine College Football Playoff contender in 2025. They’re not just hoping to secure the program’s first outright conference title in 70 years — they’re expecting it.

“We’re pushing all our chips in,” McGuire said.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 6th

SEC distributions for 2023-24 almost $52.6 million per team (CU got $33 million in last year of Pac-12)

… Distributions to Pac-12 teams for 2022-23 was roughly $33 million per team … 

From ESPN … The Southeastern Conference distributed an average of almost $52.6 million to the 14 full-year members for the 2023-24 season in a slight increase from the previous year, according to its tax filing.

The league announced its revenue figures and released its tax filing Thursday for the fiscal year that ended in August, which included Oklahoma and Texas joining the league in July to expand the SEC to 16 schools. The Sooners and Longhorns each received $27.5 million in what the league described in a news release as “transition payments,” accounting for a mix of TV agreements and refundable application fees from a previous fiscal year.

Overall, the league reported a slight dip in total revenue, going from about $852.6 million for the 2022-23 season to $839.7 million for 2023-24. Yet the league distributed more money to its full-year members, going from reporting about $718 million for 2022-23 to $790.7 million for 2023-24 when factoring in the partial amounts for Oklahoma and Texas.

That doesn’t reflect what the arrival of the former Big 12 programs will mean to the SEC in the coming years.

As a result, the league’s average full-member payout increased from about $51.3 million for 14 schools for 2022-23. It also marked the third time in four seasons that the league’s full-member payout had averaged better than $50 million, with a peak of $54.6 million for the 2020-21 season.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 5th

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Big 12 odds: CU at 16:1 to win Big 12; 200:1 to win national championship

From FanDuel.com …

CU’s over/under win total … 6.5 wins (CU was at 3.5 over/under wins for 2023, finishing 4-8; 5.5 wins for 2024, finishing 9-4);

CU’s National championship odds … 200:1 … other schools at 200:1 include: Illinois; Duke; Iowa State; Tulane; Arkansas; TCU; Syracuse; North Carolina State; and Virginia Tech

Opening game … CU v. Georgia Tech … CU is a 4.5-point home underdog

Big 12 championship odds … 

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February 4th

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Big 12 Schedules (and effects on games v. CU)

… Noteworthy from the Big 12 scheduling (schedule grid for every Big 12 game can be seen below) … 

• Colorado has seven home games for the first time since 1982. The quirk in the schedule (which is common for most other Power Four programs) came about as a result of CU having a home-and-home series against Houston, scheduled before CU joined the Big 12. CU picked up a game against Delaware when the Houston games were cancelled. CU will also have seven home games in 2027, with a cancelled road game against Kansas State replaced by a home game against Colgate;
• Ten of the Big 12’s 16 teams have back-to-back road games over the course of the season … CU is not one of them;
• Colorado is the only team in the Big 12 which plays seven games this fall before its first bye week. The Buffs don’t get a bye week until October 18th;
• Iowa State and Kansas State will kickoff the season with a Week Zero game in Dublin, Ireland. The only other neutral site game to be played before bowl season will be a game between Cincinnati and Nebraska in Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium;
• CU’s bye weeks are before a road game against Utah and a home game against Arizona State. The only Big 12 team which has a bye week before facing the Buffs is Arizona, which has a bye before coming to Boulder on November 1st;
• BYU plays CU in Boulder after traveling to the east coast to face East Carolina … and then has a short week before playing West Virginia at home on a Friday night;
• Colorado plays Arizona State at home after a bye, while Arizona State will play the Buffs before having a short week to prepare for the Territorial Cup at home against Arizona;
• Houston doesn’t leave town until the last weekend in September. The Cougars play Stephen F. Austin at home, then play on the road against cross-town rival Rice, before playing CU at home (with a bye the following week);
• Iowa State travels to Boulder a week after having to go on the road to face Cincinnati;
• Kansas State finishes at home against CU, but has two road games – at Oklahoma State and at Utah – before taking on the Buffs;
• Utah gets CU at home … a weekend after taking on BYU on the road in the Holy War.

From the Big 12 … Today, the Big 12 Conference announced its 2025 football schedule as the league celebrates its 30th football season. The schedule will see all 16 programs play nine league games.

The 30th year of Big 12 Football will kickoff in Dublin, Ireland, as Iowa State and Kansas State square off in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. This marks the first-ever Week 0 Conference game for the Big 12, as well as the first time a Big 12 competition has been held abroad. Following 15 weeks of action, the Big 12 season will conclude with the 2025 Big 12 Championship Game, held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, in the first week of December.

The Big 12 will play 14 games against opponents from other Power Four conferences throughout non-conference play, with matchups beginning in Week One with Cincinnati hosting Nebraska at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, TCU playing at North Carolina and Oklahoma State taking on Oregon in Eugene the following week. Other notable non-conference games on Big 12 campuses include Baylor versus Auburn, Colorado hosting Georgia Tech, Iowa State’s rivalry game against Iowa and UCF versus North Carolina.

Defending Big 12 Champions Arizona State will kick off their conference slate in Waco against Baylor on Sept. 20, while a rematch of the 2024 Alamo Bowl will see BYU and Colorado square off in Boulder on Sept. 27. The Conference schedule also features early league match-ups with Houston hosting Colorado in the third week of the season.

Newly-renovated David Booth Stadium will see its first Big 12 matchup on Sept. 20 as the Jayhawks host newly-minted head coach Rich Rodriguez and his West Virginia Mountaineers. UCF head coach Scott Frost will make his Big 12 debut as the Knights travel to Manhattan to battle the 2022 Big 12 Champions, Kansas State, on Sept. 27. Texas Tech – who boasts the top ranking in the transfer portal- will travel to Salt Lake City and Rice-Eccles Stadium as the Utes and Red Raiders square-off in Week Four.

New chapters will be added to Big 12 rivalries throughout the season, including Baylor’s game at TCU in Week Eight with Utah traveling to BYU in the same week. The Sunflower Showdown between Kansas and Kansas State is scheduled for October 25 with the Territorial Cup between Arizona and Arizona State set for the final week of the regular season.

To fulfill pre-existing scheduling agreements established before the Big 12 expanded to 16 members, Arizona and Kansas State will play a non-conference game in Week Three in Tucson.

Big 12 television partners ESPN, FOX and TNT Sports will make their selections for the first three weeks of the season, which will be the first set of kickoff times released. Select Saturday games in the 2025 season may be moved to select Fridays, other special dates, and Black Friday and will be announced in the coming weeks.

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February 2nd

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The Athletic: BYU the majority pick to win the Big 12 in 2025

From The Athletic … Will Ohio State repeat? Can Arch Manning lead Texas back to championship glory? Which teams will re-enter the College Football Playoff conversation after missing the bracket in 2024?

We’re already thinking ahead to all the possibilities of the 2025 college football season. After Stewart Mandel published his initial Top 25 last Tuesday, led by Penn State at No. 1, we’re back with a survey of 31 college football writers and editors at The Athletic for their early national championship, Heisman Trophy, conference title and Playoff picks — plus some bold predictions.

Who will win the national championship?

• Texas … 15
• LSU … 4
• Penn State … 3
• Georgia … 2
• Ohio State … 2
• Oregon .. 2
• Alabama … 1
• Clemson … 1
• Notre Dame … 1

Who will win the Big 12 championship?

• BYU … 16
• Arizona State … 5
• Iowa State … 4
• Kansas State … 4
• Baylor … 1
• TCU … 1

BYU lost a four-way tiebreaker to Arizona State and Iowa State at 7-2 in the Big 12 title game race, and our staff likes the Cougars to sustain their 2024 success and jump to the top of the league in 2025. More than half of voters picked BYU, which returns quarterback Jake Retzlaff and is No. 10 in Mandel’s Top 25. Arizona State, which received five votes, is aiming for a second consecutive title but will have to do it without All-American tailback Cam Skattebo.

Not surprisingly, the Big 12 had the widest variety of conference championship choices, with six of 16 teams receiving a vote. One voter also declared that Kansas will make the Playoff.

… Read full story here …

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February 1st

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Nebraska cancels Spring Game (for fear of losing players to transfer)

From ESPN … The Nebraska spring game, one of the best attended in college football and a major revenue producer, likely won’t be held going forward because of coach Matt Rhule’s concern about other teams poaching his players.

“The word ‘tampering’ doesn’t exist anymore,” Rhule said Saturday at his midwinter news conference. “It’s just an absolute free open common market. I don’t necessarily want to open up to the outside world and have people watch our guys and say, ‘He looks like a pretty good player. Let’s go get him.'”

“I dealt with a lot of people offering our players a lot of opportunities after that,” Rhule said. “So you go out and bring in a bunch of new players and showcase them for all the other schools to watch? Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.”

Six Nebraska players entered the transfer portal the week after last year’s spring game.

The spring portal period ends April 25, the day before Nebraska’s spring practice wraps up. However, players can switch schools without entering the portal, as was the case with Wisconsin safety Xavier Lucas’ recent move to Miami.

Rhule said exposing his players to other schools is more of a concern to him than risking injuries in a spring game. Wide receiver Demitrius Bell and cornerback Blye Hill were hurt in last year’s spring game and missed the season. Rhule said live tackling will continue in scrimmages during spring practice.

“Guys are being compensated now, and you’re putting money behind some people, a whole other set of parameters,” Rhule said. “Yet, at the same time, you have to get good. Honestly, to me, it’s about protecting the roster and protecting through that portal period.”

… Read full story here …

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January 31st 

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Big 12 (CU’s) contracts with players two-tiered: one pre-House; one after House settlement kicks in

… The example used in the story is from a “Big 12 school”, but, with CU having already moving the collective payouts in house, this may well be the contracts CU is using … 

From CBS Sports … If the agreed-upon settlement of the House v. NCAA court case is approved in April by California-based Judge Claudia Wilken, it will usher in an era in which schools in the Power Five conferences can directly pay athletes for their name, image, and likeness. It is a progression of the messy post-2021 world of athlete compensation. But how exactly are contracts structured? Nothing in college sports is uniform, and even player compensation structures will vary from school to school.

How athlete contracts are structured

CBS Sports reviewed four athlete compensation agreements to shed light on how schools are preparing for the coming revenue-sharing reality. Two agreements involve football players at separate Big Ten schools, one at an SEC school, and another at a Big 12 school. These agreements illustrate the differing ways schools are structuring contracts in the new athlete compensation landscape.

Big 12 school: A two-part agreement

The Big 12 school’s agreement is the most straightforward. The player signed two agreements regarding his NIL rights:

• One is with the school’s collective through the NIL platform Opendorse, covering compensation through June.
• The second kicks in afterward — an agreement between the athlete and the school itself, co-signed by the school’s athletic director. The latter is what the House settlement allows schools to provide.

Both agreements serve as term sheets in lieu of long-form contracts, which will come later. The term sheet signed with the school lays out a payment schedule beginning July 1 and is contingent on the final approval of the House case.

Postseason incentives & participation

The Big 12 athlete will receive equal monthly payments from July through November, but the deal is backloaded. In December, he will earn a standard month’s pay plus a 150% increase — essentially a bowl bonus. This structure helps address postseason participation concerns in college football.

The future of the bowl system beyond the 12 teams in the College Football Playoff will be a hot topic as bowl contracts come up for renewal. Bowls are expected to push for ways to safeguard their games as players opt out and transfer in December. This type of contract structuring is one way schools can help.

… Continue reading story here …

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January 30th

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First Week Big 12 lines: CU a 4.5-point home underdog

From FanDuel.com … Hard to believe, but there are already some first game betting lines. Some Week Zero/Week One Big 12 games …

• Iowa State v. Kansas State (Week Zero) … Kansas State is a 2.5-point favorite (Game to be played in Dublin, Ireland)
• Auburn at Baylor (Week One) … Baylor is a 1.5-point home underdog …
• TCU at North Carolina (Week One) … TCU is a 2.5-point road underdog …
• Georgia Tech at Colorado (Week One) … Colorado is a 4.5-point home underdog …

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January 28th

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National champion Ohio State ran at a $37 million deficit last fiscal year

… Related … CU Buffs athletics set records for revenue, expenses in 2024 fiscal year … from the Daily Camera 

From On3Sports …Ohio State’s athletic department reported an operating deficit of more than $37 million during the most recent fiscal year, according to a report from The Columbus Dispatch.

“The athletic department spent a record $292.7 million from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, while it also saw a dip in overall revenue,” Joey Kaufman wrote. “It brought in $254.9 million in total operating revenues over the period, a decline of $24.6 million from the previous fiscal year, contributing to the budget shortfall.”

The university expected to be in the red since last summer, according to the report.

“While last year’s budget impact is not ideal and there were unique circumstances at play, we have a robust expense and revenue plan that has been implemented and have made great progress in this ever-changing landscape of college athletics,” Ohio State AD Ross Bjork said in a statement. “We will make sure we operate with a balanced budget moving forward.”

Reserve funds and past and future earnings are expected to cover the $37.7 million deficit, according to the report.

… Continue reading story here …

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January 27th

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First year Big 12 Coaches receive “C” and “D” grades

From CBS Sports … The first-year hits came from unexpected places on the 2024 coaching carousel after college football grappled with a series of seismic openings late in the calendar. Nick Saban’s January retirement set off dominoes that led to coaching changes at Washington, Arizona, San Jose State, South Alabama and Buffalo.

Jim Harbaugh also jolted the sport’s coaching ecosystem by departing Michigan for the Los Angeles Chargers after leading the Wolverines to the national championship. That left both teams that participated in the national championship game (Michigan and Washington) with coaching changes entering the 2025 season. Then, in February, Chip Kelly left his post as UCLA coach for the offensive coordinator position at Ohio State in a surprising move that left the Bruins little choice but to promote from within.

But as we reflect back on the 2024 coaching carousel, the biggest immediate winners didn’t come from the most high-profile openings. Instead, the two ‘A+’ grades from the Power Four changes come from Indiana (Curt Cignetti) and Syracuse (Fran Brown). The pair of basketball schools got immediate results from their coaching changes that not many could have reasonably expected.

Arizona … 4-8 … Brent Brennan … Arizona retained star quarterback Noah Fifita and star receiver Tetairoa McMillan after Jedd Fisch’s departure, which created hope of sustained success. It didn’t pan out as the Wildcats failed to beat a single bowl team during a miserable 4-8 campaign marked by several blowout losses. Grade … D

Houston … 4-8 … Willie Fritz … Fritz somehow managed to coax victories over TCU, Utah and Kansas State out of a team that ranked 128th in total offense. If Fritz can unlock the potential of incoming Texas A&M quarterback transfer Conner Weigman, Year 2 progress could be in store. Grade … C

… Read full story here …

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January 26th 

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Stewart Mandel’s “Way Too Early Top 25” includes two Big 12 teams in his Top Ten

From The Athletic … Five years ago, this was a fairly simple exercise: Rank Alabama either No. 1 or 2, then drop Ohio State, Clemson or Georgia immediately before or after. Look like a genius 365 days later.

But these days, it takes the GDP of a small country to keep a roster intact in college football. Ohio State spent the money to do it in 2024. Penn State is trying to do it in 2025.

The Nittany Lions, who very nearly reached this year’s national championship game, are my early No. 1 for next season. I’m skeptical they can actually pull it off, but on paper, James Franklin’s team deserves that status given how many players are returning.

That’s in contrast to other top-ranked teams such as Ohio State (losing most of its lineup), Notre Dame (losing the middle of its defense) and Texas — which does have Arch Manning but will need to figure out who will protect him.

9. Arizona State (11-3)

There’s no reason ASU can’t contend for another Big 12 championship. While it loses all-everything running back Cam Skattebo, it brings back nearly everyone else and landed 1,117-yard rusher Udoh from Army. Eight starters return from a defense that allowed 19.2 points per game during its six-game winning streak to end the regular season and held its own against Texas in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal loss.

10. BYU (11-2)

BYU spent most of the season in CFP contention, and there’s no reason the Cougars can’t break through and win the Big 12 in 2025. The conference schedule is challenging, with trips to Colorado, Iowa State and Texas Tech. BYU will enjoy continuity on offense, beginning with Retzlaff — who became a cult hero in his first season in Provo — whereas the defense loses much of its leadership. Special teams could be a strength.

19. Baylor (8-5)

From the depths of a 2-4 start, Baylor won six straight to close the regular season before falling 44-31 to LSU in the Texas Bowl. The Bears offense exploded over the last two months, led by Robertson, who threw for 445 yards in the bowl game, and many of the key pieces will be back. But the defense, which ranked 10th in the Big 12 in yards per play in conference games, will need to improve if Baylor hopes to make a run at a Playoff berth.

23. Kansas State (9-4)

K-State’s 44-41 bowl win over Rutgers saw Edwards step in for NFL-bound DJ Giddens and race to 196 yards on 18 carries. He and Johnson, who threw for 2,712 yards and ran for 605 last season, could be hard for defenses to stop. But Chris Klieman needs to upgrade his defense to get the Wildcats back in Big 12 title contention. Maldonado, who has 177 career tackles and 10 forced turnovers, should be a valuable addition.

… Read full story here …

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January 25th

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*Video: Fox Top 25 plays of 2024 (CU involved in five, including the Top Two)*

… A season to remember … CU in on No. 25, No. 21, No. 8, No. 2 and No. 1 … 

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January 23rd 

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CU in 11 of Top 100 most-watched games of 2024 season (second highest-total in the nation)

From FootballScoop.com … To the victor go the spoils, as the saying goes, and in college football the spoils are television viewers. For the second consecutive season, the national champion played in (and won, obviously) the three most-watched games of the college football season.

ESPN announced on Wednesday that 22 million people and change tuned in to Ohio State’s victory over Notre Dame, ending the longest and most turbulent season in the sport’s century-and-half long history.

Appearances by network: 
45: ABC
21: ESPN
17: Fox
8: CBS
7: NBC
2: TNT

The Big 12 and ACC both have points in their favor. While the SEC and Big Ten have broken away as the sport’s superpowers, an intense battle remains to be college football’s No. 3 conference. Both conferences will come away from 2024 their own talking points.

The Big 12 edged the ACC in total appearances, 26-20. However, the ACC will argue the Big 12’s appeal boils down to one factor: the Prime Effect. Colorado easily led both conferences with 11 total appearances, and the Buffaloes are responsible for BYU, Kansas, West Virginia and Utah’s appearances on the list, and for Kansas State and Texas Tech’s regular season appearances. The Big 12 did not have a non-Colorado regular-season game crack the top 100, while the ACC had four such games.

Appearances by conference:
82: SEC
56: Big Ten
26: Big 12
20: ACC

Appearances by program: 
12: Ohio State
11: Colorado, Georgia, Texas
9: Alabama
8: Michigan, Penn State
7: Tennessee
6: Florida, LSU, Nebraska, Notre Dame
4: Georgia Tech, Indiana, Miami, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina

… Read full story here …

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January 22nd 

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CBS also has four Big 12 teams in its “Way Too Early” Preseason Top 25 (but not the same as ESPN’s)

From CBS Sports … Welcome to the year of Arch and Gunner and Carson … and some other bits of madness as we ease into Year 2 of the 12-team College Football Playoff era in the 2025 season. In the way-too-early top 25, you shouldn’t need formal introductions. We are referring to the stars of tomorrow, today.

Arch Manning (finally) takes over at quarterback for Texas as the Longhorns sit as out preseason No. 1 (for now). Georgia is just fine with Gunner Stockton, the backup turned starter who reminds a lot of folks of two-time national champion Stetson Bennett. Speaking of former Georgia quarterbacks, Carson Beck takes his talents to Miami thanks to a boatload of NIL money.

What, you expected this to be all about on-field topics? Any discussion of the game these days has to involve roster transition. Every team in these rankings has had to remake itself in some form or another — in a hurry.

For now, be very excited about the likes of the Longhorns, Bulldogs, Buckeyes, Nittany Lions, Ducks and Tigers running it back to the playoff in 2025.

The SEC will try to break a streak of missing out on the CFP National Championship in two consecutive seasons. The Big Ten, meanwhile, will try to continue its rise to the top of the food chain in the sport.

In this climate, though, nothing lasts forever, or even a few minutes. As we look ahead to the 2025 season, we’re riding with the Longhorns as the top team in the sport. They’ve proven worthy of participating in the playoff, and now it has the chops to win it all.

… From the Big 12 … 

No. 13 … BYU ... The Cougars should emerge as the Big 12 favorite after an 11-win season. The league’s best defense remains largely intact. Jake Retzlaff returns after tying for most interceptions thrown in the Big 12 (12).

No. 16 … Arizona State … Big 12 Coach of the Year Kenny Dillingham is the toast of the league after taking the Sun Devils from worst (picked last before the season) to first. Quarterback Sam Leavitt gets his favorite target back from injury — Jordan Tyson (1,100 receiving yards). Army transfer running back Kanye Udoh (1,641 career years) will try to replace Cam Scattebo.

No. 19 … Iowa State … The Cyclones are coming off the most wins in program history (11). Inspirational quarterback Rocco Becht is back. So is the backfield of Carl Hansen and Abu Sama II, who combined for 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns.

No. 24 … Texas Tech … The Red Raiders are ready to bust out in Year 4 under Joey McGuire. It’s a remake as McGuire brought in 17 transfers, including seven four-stars (No. 3 class nationally.) Tech won eight for the second time in three years including wins over the Big 12 championship finalists Arizona State and Iowa State. Quarterback Behren Morton returns from shoulder surgery.

… Read full story here …

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January 21st

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ESPN’s “Way Too Early” Preseason Top 25 includes four Big 12 teams

From ESPN … Ohio State’s high-powered offense proved to be too much for Notre Dame in the Buckeyes’ 34-23 victory in Monday’s national title game.

The Buckeyes captured their first national title in 10 years and first under coach Ryan Day. It was the school’s seventh national championship overall.

Even with Ohio State having a boatload of players who are expected to move on and be chosen in April’s NFL draft, the Buckeyes are No. 1 in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2025.

The Buckeyes will still have star players, such as receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs, and they’ll plug holes with another top recruiting class and group of transfers.

Ohio State will be looking for a new quarterback as well, but it won’t be alone among the potential CFP contenders. Notre Dame, Texas, Georgia, Oregon and others will be developing new signal-callers, too.

Here’s the 2025 ESPN Way-Too-Early Top 25:

From the Big 12 … 

9. BYU Cougars

2024 record: 11-2, 7-2 Big 12

2025 outlook: If the 2024 season was any indication, you could probably pick any of four teams (or more) to win a Big 12 title. Arizona State, BYU and Colorado were unlikely contenders this past season, and the Cougars are bringing back top playmakers Retzlaff, Martin, Roberts and Marion. There are a couple of starters who will have to be replaced on the offensive line, but reinforcements from the transfer portal should help. On defense, four of the top five tacklers should return, although BYU will have to reload up front. Kalani Sitake has built a solid program that should contend in the Big 12 each season. The Cougars won’t play Arizona State or Kansas State during the regular season, and road games at Iowa State and Colorado might be tricky.

11. Iowa State Cyclones

2024 record: 11-3, 7-2 Big 12

2025 outlook: After one of the best seasons in program history (the Cyclones had never won 10 games or more), there’s one goal left for Matt Campbell to achieve — win the program’s first conference title in 113 years. With Becht and two good tailbacks returning, Iowa State has some firepower returning on offense. But it will greatly miss Noel and Higgins, who each caught at least 80 passes with more than 1,100 yards in 2024. Iowa State is bringing in transfer receivers Xavier Townsend (UCF) and Chase Sowell (East Carolina). A few key contributors are leaving on defense, but much of one of the better secondaries in the FBS is coming back. The Cyclones play Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland, to open the season and will host BYU and Arizona State at home.

14. Arizona State Sun Devils

2024 record: 11-3, 7-2 Big 12

2025 outlook: There’s no question the Sun Devils are going to face an uphill climb in replacing Skattebo’s production on offense. Not only did the All-America running back pile up 1,711 yards with 21 touchdowns on the ground, but he had 605 receiving yards and even threw for a score. Kanye Udoh, who ran for 1,117 yards with 10 touchdowns at Army last season, should be first in line to replace Skattebo. ASU brings back some key players in Leavitt and Tyson, who were outstanding in their first seasons in the desert. Cornerbacks Nyland Green (Purdue) and Adrian Wilson (Washington State) might help shore up a secondary that ranked 81st against the pass (226.7 yards) in 2024.

16. Kansas State Wildcats

2024 record: 9-4, 5-4 Big 12

2025 outlook: The Wildcats won at least nine games for the third straight season in 2024, and their record would have been better if not for dropping three of their last four regular-season games. Johnson is back after piling up 3,317 yards of offense with 32 scores. Replacing Giddens won’t be easy, but onetime Colorado player Edwards ran for 546 yards last season. Brown’s decision to return bolsters the receiver corps, which added Jerand Bradley (Boston College), Jaron Tibbs (Purdue) and Caleb Medford (New Mexico). Mott, Moore and Sigle were key players on defense. Cornerback Amarion Fortenberry (South Alabama), safety Gunner Maldonado (Arizona) and edge player Jayshawn Ross (Alabama) were intriguing pickups from the portal. Kansas State opens the season against Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland, and plays Army at home.

Teams also considered: Auburn, Texas Tech, Missouri, Georgia Tech (CU’s 2025 opener), Baylor, Duke, Washington, Nebraska, Iowa, Army, Colorado

… Read full story here …

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January 16th

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Details of the contract extension for ASU’s Kenny Dillingham

From ESPN … Arizona State football coach Kenny Dillingham is getting a big raise following the Sun Devils’ unexpected trip to the College Football Playoff.

The Arizona Board of Regents approved on Thursday a contract extension for Dillingham through 2029 and a salary increase to $5.8 million starting this year, with a $100,000 increase each Jan. 1 for the duration of the term. He made $4.1 million last season.

The contract includes one-year extensions and raises for reaching certain benchmarks, up to a $450,000 increase for an 11-win season.

The 34-year-old Dillingham orchestrated one of the biggest turnarounds in recent college football history, taking the No. 10 Sun Devils from three wins a year ago to the New Year’s Day Peach Bowl against No. 4 Texas. Arizona State mounted a massive comeback in the CFP quarterfinal behind running back Cam Skattebo before losing 39-31 in double overtime.

Dillingham picked up significant bonuses during Arizona State’s run, which included a Big 12 championship in the Sun Devils’ first year in the league after being picked to finish last in the preseason poll.

… Continue reading story here …

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This post, about the Postseason game, from the 2024 Season, is filed under Article.
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