Big 12 Notes – ND State Week

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Big 12 Notes – North Dakota State Week

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September 1st

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Big 12 goes 14-2 in Week One (Houston only upset loss)

… Games of Note … 

— UNLV 27, Houston 7

From ESPN … Matthew Sluka threw for 71 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 59 yards as UNLV beat Houston 27-7 Saturday night in the season opener for both teams and Willie Fritz’s first game as the Cougars’ coach.

Sluka, who was 6-of-13 passing, threw touchdown passes of 13 and 24 yards to Jacob De Jesus in the first half as the Rebels (1-0) led 14-0 at the half.

Michael Allen rushed for 65 yards and Jaden Braden caught two passes for 60 yards. UNLV outgained Houston 308-247 yards.

UNLV got its first win over a Big 12 team since beating Iowa State 34-31 in overtime on Sep. 20, 2008.

“Very disappointing,” Fritz said. “I thought we’d play better than that. I did a poor coaching job as a head coach. Poor job by my assistant coaches and poor job playing. I didn’t see much good out there.”

The Cougars avoided a shutout on a 2-yard touchdown pass from sophomore backup Ui Ale to Joseph Manjack IV with a minute left in the fourth quarter. Ale was 7 of 8 for 74 yards and a touchdown on the drive.

THE TAKEAWAY

Houston: The Cougars struggled with UNLV’s rush throughout. Houston had 59 yards in the first half. The Cougars finished 2 of 15 on third downs.

“We didn’t tackle really well at the beginning of the game,” Fritz said. “That hurt us. We didn’t get some knock-backs. They knocked us back. Then, offensively, boy, we had a hard time protecting.”

— No. 8 Penn State 34, West Virginia 12

From ESPN … For one week at least, Penn State’s new-look offense delivered.

Drew Allar threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter, Nick Singleton rushed for 114 yards and a TD, and the No. 8 Nittany Lions beat West Virginia 34-12 on Saturday in a season opener delayed for more than two hours by lightning.

“We got to it today,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “But we’ve got to do it week in and week out.”

West Virginia made too many mistakes to stay in the game. On Penn State’s first series, the Mountaineers recovered a fumble at the Nittany Lions’ 28, only to give it back on the next play when the snap hit a receiver in motion and Penn State recovered.

“We played bad football,” West Virginia coach Neal Brown said. “To say I’m disappointed in how we played would be an understatement.”

The Mountaineers had the ball five times inside the Penn State 30 and came away with a touchdown and two field goals. Garrett Greene went 15 of 28 for 161 yards.

“We’ve just got to get better,” Greene said. “We’re not going to hit the panic button.”

THE TAKEAWAY

West Virginia: The Mountaineers have lost four straight season openers. That’s never happened before in 132 seasons of football. They’ve also lost seven consecutive times to ranked opponents.

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— Texas Tech 52, Abilene Christian 51, OT

From CBS Sports … Texas Tech’s Jayden Cofield sacked Abilene Christian’s Maverick McIvor when the Wildcats went for a 2-point conversion in overtime, allowing the Red Raiders to escape with a 52-51 win on Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.

Behren Morton’s career-high fifth touchdown pass, a 14-yarder to Caleb Douglas, who transferred this year from Florida, and Reese Burkhardt’s PAT kick following the first overtime possession gave the Red Raiders of the Big 12 a 52-45 lead over the Wildcats of the FCS United Athletic Conference.

Abilene Christian answered with Isaiah Johnson’s 1-yard plunge, his third rushing touchdown of the game. The Wildcats lined up for two with an empty backfield, and McIvor – who began his college career at Texas Tech but never played a game in three years – was pressured by multiple defenders and tackled by Cofield.

“Holy moly – that’s my statement,” Texas Tech coach Joey Maguire said. “We have a lot of things we have to fix to get better, and we’ve got to do ’em in a hurry.”

A year ago, the Red Raiders blew a 17-0 lead in their opener at Wyoming and lost in double overtime.

Abilene Christian coach Keith Patterson, Tech’s defensive coordinator for three seasons before taking the Wildcats job before the 2022 season, said he told his staff after the Red Raiders went ahead by seven in overtime they’d go for two if they scored a touchdown.

“We came here to win,” Patterson said. “I could tell there was something different about this football team during the summer as well as fall camp. There was just a competitive spirit and nature. I didn’t know if that would carry over when you flip the lights on and play a Big 12 opponent.”

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August 28th

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25:1 CU the most bet on team to win the Big 12 conference

From MGM … Odds to win Big 12 Championship at #BetMGM

• Utah +275
• KansasState +375
• Oklahoma State +700
• Kansas +900
• Iowa State +900
• UCF +900
• Arizona +1400
• Texas Tech +1600
• TCU +2000
• West Virginia +2000
• Colorado +2500
• All other teams +6000 or longer odds
• 34% of money (most) is on Colorado to win conference

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August 27th

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Big 12 announces “Big 12 Radio” available on TuneIn

Press Release from the Big 12 conference … TuneIn, the world’s leader in live audio, and the Big 12 Conference announced today that Big 12 Radio, the new 24/7 Conference-branded audio station, is now streaming to fans across the United States. The station includes Big 12 weekday sports talk, extensive Saturday game-day coverage, Big 12 school content and music programming. Additionally, listeners can access a ‘Game of The Week’ featuring gameday coverage from their Big 12 school’s local play-by-play broadcast team.

Big 12 Radio is available exclusively on TuneIn via the TuneIn app and browser, as well as 200+ connected devices. The station features a comprehensive line up of programming including ‘Big 12 Today,’ a weekday morning show that delivers in-depth analysis across all Big 12 sports and interviews with Conference coaches, student athletes, alumni and experts. The show is co-hosted by longtime Big 12 Conference commentators and sports radio personalities Ari Temkin and James Westling. Big 12 Today will stream live Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. ET/ 7 a.m. – 10 a.m. CT.

The station’s pregame show, ‘Big 12 Gameday,’ kicks off on Aug. 31 and will be available each Saturday during the football season from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET/ 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. CT. Fans can hear a preview of the day’s Big 12 football matchups with guest analysts, interviews with Big 12 experts and more.

“We are thrilled to partner with TuneIn and expand the reach and narrative of our league,” said Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. “This partnership will deliver the great brands of the Big 12 directly to fans across the country through exclusive Big 12 content, game broadcasts, original programming and more.”

In partnership with the Big 12 member schools, Big 12 Radio includes team-specific content as well as play-by-play commentary across a variety of live sports. In addition to original sports talk programming, the station’s lineup includes Big 12 coaches shows and team podcasts, student athlete interviews and stories, highlighted Game(s) of The Week, classic game replays and high energy Big 12-themed music programming.

“Big 12 Radio brings fans closer than ever to their favorite teams with unrivaled access to coaches and players through exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes content,” said Rich Stern, CEO of TuneIn. “We are committed to delivering top-tier sports coverage that ensures Big 12 fans will get the most in-depth coverage of their favorite conference on Big 12 Radio. This station is the closest you can get to being on the ground for game day at a Big 12 school.”

TuneIn is home to live sports from the top leagues and conferences with comprehensive access to local and national sports talk content. In addition to the Big 12 Conference coverage, TuneIn Premium offers listeners full season coverage of 100+ Division 1 NCAA football and men’s and women’s basketball programs, including all sixteen (16) Big 12 member schools.

TuneIn is the world’s largest platform for live radio. It has over 75 million listeners across 122 countries to amplify audio entertainment around the world. TuneIn’s technology is integrated into 200 different vehicles and devices, so fans can listen on their phones, smart speakers or in their cars.

To learn more about TuneIn and its coverage of the Big 12 Conference, please visit tunein.com/big12radio.

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August 26th

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NDSU head coach: “Shedeur Sanders the best player NDSU has played yet”

NDSU Head Coach Tim Polasek on Shedeur Sanders:

“He’s the best player NDSU has played yet”🫡 #SkoBuffs pic.twitter.com/gL8Pt06k5h

— GUCCE🦬🐦‍⬛ (@gucceCU) August 26, 2024

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August 25th

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Report: UConn in talks to join Big 12 in 2031

From ESPN … The Big 12 is in talks with UConn about joining the league in all sports, sources confirmed to ESPN on Friday.

No vote has occurred for a potential Huskies membership, nor is one close to happening, as sources cautioned that there has been pushback among several members that would need to be overcome.

The talks have advanced to the point where UConn athletic director David Benedict and board chair Daniel Toscano met with Big 12 athletic directors in person in Dallas last week to make their case, sources told ESPN. The conversations centered around football funding and how UConn could be competitive upon joining the league in 2031, sources said.

Part of UConn’s presentation covered how the Huskies would be prepared to build and spend money on football like the current Big 12 programs, sources said. They also pitched the league on how quickly they became competitive in the Big East football conference after joining in 2004.

A Big 12 board call is being planned for next week with the league’s presidents that would lay out the specific deal points, sources said.

“I think the word is ‘premature,'” a high-ranking Big 12 official said. “There’s a far distance between conversations and anything that would happen. The presidents haven’t seen the case yet.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 22nd

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Jon Wilner on Coach Prime: “Tolerance for shenanigans generally moves in lockstep with on-field success”

From the San Jose Mercury News … The following west coast six head coaches are under significant pressure this season, albeit in markedly different ways.

To be clear: The Hotline doesn’t expect any of them to be terminated. Instead, their individual circumstances, when viewed collectively, allow us to examine the various forms of industry heat entering a season like no other in the sport’s history.

Colorado’s Deion Sanders (second year)
Contract status: Signed through the 2027 season
Heat index: “We love the heat index. We respect the heat index. This doesn’t have anything to do with the heat index. But we aren’t doing anything with the heat index. Next category.”
Comment: To judge Sanders’ performance solely by his on-field record is to ignore the greater impact of his 18 months on the job: He has elevated Colorado’s national profile (e.g., applications for admissions and merchandise sales) beyond the school’s wildest dreams. Not even another losing season would prompt the university to reconsider his employment. That said, the stakes are not zero for Sanders in 2024. If the Buffaloes don’t qualify for a bowl game — their conference schedule is very difficult — the recruiting momentum could ebb. Also, the acceptance of Sanders’ management style could begin to wane internally. He’s the public face of the university, and tolerance for shenanigans generally moves in lockstep with on-field success.

… Read full story here …

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Clip and Save: CBS’ Dennis Dodd picks CU to finish last in the Big 12

From CBS Sports … The Big 12 reaches its final form in 2024 as Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah balloon the conference to 16 teams. Fittingly, the conference is set to have one of its most competitive seasons in history. Five different teams receive a first-place vote in the preseason Big 12 poll, but newcomer Utah emerged on top after winning two of the final three Pac-12 championships.

Remember, however, the Big 12 is a league that thrives on chaos. Between 2017 and 2022, there was a newcomer in the conference championship game every single year. Just last season, Oklahoma State jumped from No. 7 in the preseason poll to the Big 12 title game. A year earlier, No. 5 Kansas State beat No. 7 TCU in the title game to capture the Big 12 crown.

After an underwhelming season in 2023, the league is stacked with returning quarterbacks and top rushers. In fact, four of the top eight rushers in college football from 2023 and six of the top 19 play in the Big 12 this season. More than 10 teams return a starting quarterback. Two of the top three teams in returning production play in the Big 12. A team from outside of the top five of the preseason Big 12 poll is sure to rise — but who?

Let’s have a look as our CBS Sports college football experts have provided their picks and predictions for the Big 12 ahead of the 2024 season.

Most overrated team

Colorado: Where do you want to start? Coach Prime owned September last season before reality kicked in. He was exposed for not hitting the portal hard enough in both lines and the Buffs finished 1-8. It’s hard to envision Deion Sanders turning it around in one season. The schedule is one of the toughest in the Big 12. Colorado opens with North Dakota State at home, and we know the Bison are giant killers. Then there are back-to-back road games at Nebraska and Colorado State — both of which are big-time revenge games. The Cornhuskers and Rams will be ready. The rules say quarterback Shedeur Sanders has to play another year, but what kind of shape will he be in for the NFL? The 56 sacks allowed by Colorado last season were the most surrendered by a Power Five squad since 2012. I’m thinking twice about climbing on the Deion hype train again. — Dennis Dodd

Bold predictions

• Jerry Palm: After another mediocre season, the Deion Sanders honeymoon — if there still is one — will be over. I don’t think he will get fired at the end of this season, but his seat will be on fire at the beginning of 2025.

… Read full story here (scroll down for predictions … Dodd has CU last; none of the CBS experts have CU higher than 10th) …

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August 21st 

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Not a surprise: Dylan Raiola named starter at Nebraska; Jalon Daniels to start for Kansas

From ESPN … Nebraska has named touted true freshman Dylan Raiola its starting quarterback for its season opener against UTEP on Aug. 31.

Raiola, the No. 3 ranked quarterback and No. 11 overall player in the 2024 ESPN 300, enrolled early with the Huskers and competed with junior Heinrich Haarberg and true freshman Daniel Kaelin for the starting job this offseason.

The five-star son of All-America offensive lineman Dominic Raiola and nephew of Nebraska offensive line coach Donovan Raiola, Dylan Raiola was the Huskers’ highest-ranked high school recruit since ESPN began tracking rankings in 2006.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound passer threw for nearly 8,500 yards and 88 touchdowns during his high school career and played his senior year at Buford (Georgia) High School before enrolling early with the Huskers. In his spring game debut in April, Raiola threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-22 passing.

Nebraska finished last in the Big Ten in passing yards (1,631) and interceptions (16) last season and played three quarterbacks in Haarberg, Jeff Sims and Chubba Purdy. Sims has since transferred to Arizona State and Purdy is now at Nevada.

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From ESPN … Jalon Daniels will be under center when No. 22 Kansas opens the season against Lindenwood next week.

Jayhawks coach Lance Leipold confirmed Tuesday the electrifying but injury-prone quarterback has remained healthy through fall camp and will be ready for the game on Aug. 29. Daniels hurt his shoulder and missed half of their breakout 2022 season, then had a back injury that limited him to just three games last season.

“He will start the opener,” Leipold said. “I’ve seen a lot of good things from Jalon Daniels in the last 10 days, and he hasn’t missed anything. He’s played well and he’s confident and he’s excited. His enthusiasm is contagious. And we all know that it’s important for him to stay healthy, but it’s good to see.”

Daniels’ health could decide whether the Jayhawks can make a college football playoff run in the new-look Big 12, where Texas and Oklahoma are no longer around and the path toward its championship game is wide open.

The dual-threat quarterback has thrown for 2,729 yards and 23 touchdowns with only five interceptions over 12 games the past two seasons, though even those impressive numbers are a bit deceiving. He didn’t play the full game in several instances.

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Oklahoma State putting QR codes on helmets to promote NIL for players

Press release from Oklahoma State … Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy announced that the Cowboys will wear QR codes on their helmets this season that link to the general team fund for every student-athlete on the roster.

It is believed to mark the first time that a college football team will wear QR codes in regular season games to promote players’ earning potential.

“This is a revolutionary step forward to help keep Oklahoma State football ahead of the game,” Gundy said. “It gives a chance for everyday fans across the world to have a real impact when it comes to supporting the NIL efforts for Cowboy football. I’m thrilled about this opportunity for our players.”

The QR codes will be applied to the back of each helmet via 1.5 square inch decals that feature each player’s name and number in the design. Although the QR codes aren’t expected to be visible from the stands on game day, close shots during broadcasts, as well as postgame photos posted to social media are expected to raise the team’s NIL value throughout the year.

In addition to the QR codes on the back of every helmet, they will also be on each player’s bag tag for use during “The Walk” on game days and for travel during the season. A QR code will also be placed on coasters in the premium areas of Boone Pickens Stadium, on signage throughout the stadium and on the OSU football equipment truck.

A link to the fund will be available throughout the season on the official social media channels for Oklahoma State football, including @CowboyFB on X, @Cowboy_FB on Instagram and @okstatefootball on Facebook.

The QR code initiative is part of the “Saddle Up Campaign” organized by Pokes With A Purpose.

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August 20th

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Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman starting “19th grade”

From YardBarker.com …  It used to be that the average college football player spent 17 years in school, at the most.

High school took them through 12th grade and then four years of college ball, plus a redshirt year, would leave them at 17 years in the school system — grad school notwithstanding.

Things changed after 2020 and the Covid-19 pandemic, though. Many college athletes saw their season go up in smoke, which led to the invention of the “Covid-year.” which was basically a do-over. Throw in medical redshirts, which are granted to players who lose most if not all of a season due to injury, and it has become potential for college athletes to retain their eligibility for nearly a decade.

That’s certainly the case for Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman, who celebrated his first day of “19th grade” this week.

So how does this work for Bowman?

He started his college career at Texas Tech where he was a freshman in 2018. He threw for 2,638 yards and 17 touchdowns that season, which included a 600-yard game.

He started three games in 2019 before losing the rest of the season due to injury. He received extra eligibility because of those missed games. Bowman transferred to Michigan for 2021 and 2022, but he redshirted one of those years. He played last season at Oklahoma State, throwing for 3,058 yards and 13 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.

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August 19th

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Travis Hunter one of only three Big 12 players to earn AP preseason All-American status

From ESPN … Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, one of the second-ranked Buckeyes’ high-profile transfers, and three of his new teammates were selected for the preseason Associated Press All-America team announced Monday.

Downs, who was a second-team All-American as a freshman for Alabama last season, was joined by guard Donovan Jackson, receiver Emeka Egbuka and cornerback Denzel Burke to give Ohio State the most first-team selections. Running back TreVeyon Henderson and defensive lineman Tyleik Williams made the second team to give the Buckeyes six total selections, also the most of any team.

No. 1 Georgia and No. 9 Michigan each had three players picked for the first team. Quarterback Carson Beck was joined by fellow Bulldogs guard Tate Ratledge and defensive back Malaki Starks, also a first-team All-American last year.

The defending national champion Wolverines are represented by tight end Colston Loveland, defensive tackle Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson.

No. 5 Alabama put two transfers on the first team in center Parker Brailsford (Washington) and kicker Graham Nicholson (Miami [Ohio]).

No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 13 LSU also had two first-team selections.

The Fighting Irish had defensive tackle Howard Cross III and safety Xavier Watts selected. Watts was also an All-American last season and Cross made the second team in 2023. The Tigers were represented by tackle Will Campbell and linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. on the first team.

No. 3 Oregon placed three players on the second team, including quarterback Dillon Gabriel, a sixth-year player who transferred from Oklahoma after starting his career at UCF.

First team by conference

SEC — 10.

Big Ten — 8.

ACC — 4

Big 12 — 3

Independent — 2.

First team (offense)

Quarterback — Carson Beck, fifth year, Georgia.

Running backs — Ollie Gordon II, third year, Oklahoma State; Omarion Hampton, third year, North Carolina.

Tackles — Will Campbell, third year, LSU; Kelvin Banks Jr., third year, Texas.

Guards — Donovan Jackson, fourth year, Ohio State; Tate Ratledge, fifth year, Georgia.

Center — Parker Brailsford, third year, Alabama.

Tight end — Colston Loveland, third year, Michigan.

Wide receivers — Luther Burden III, third year, Missouri; Tetairoa McMillan, third year, Arizona; Emeka Egbuka, fourth year, Ohio State.

All-purpose player — Travis Hunter, third year, Colorado.

Kicker — Graham Nicholson, fourth year, Alabama.

First team (defense)

Edge — James Pearce Jr., third year, Tennessee; Ashton Gillotte, fourth year, Louisville.

Tackles — Mason Graham, third year, Michigan; Howard Cross III, sixth year, Notre Dame.

Linebackers — Harold Perkins Jr., third year, LSU; Jay Higgins, fifth year, Iowa; Barrett Carter, fourth year, Clemson.

Cornerbacks — Will Johnson, third year, Michigan; Denzel Burke, fourth year, Ohio State.

Safeties — Malaki Starks, third year, Georgia; Caleb Downs, second year, Ohio State.

Defensive back — Xavier Watts, fifth year, Notre Dame.

Punter — Alex Mastromanno, fifth year, Florida State.

Second team (offense)

Quarterback — Dillon Gabriel, sixth year, Oregon.

Running backs — TreVeyon Henderson, fourth year, Ohio State; Ashton Jeanty, third year, Boise State

Tackles — Ajani Cornelius, fifth year, Oregon; Aireontae Ersery, fifth year, Minnesota.

Guards — Tyler Booker, third year, Alabama; Dylan Fairchild, fourth year, Georgia.

Center — Cooper Mays, fifth year, Tennessee.

Tight end — Mitchell Evans, fourth year, Notre Dame.

Wide receivers — Tez Johnson, fifth year, Oregon; Tre Harris, fifth year, Mississippi; Ricky White III, fifth year, UNLV.

All-purpose player — Zachariah Branch, second year, Southern California.

Kicker — Andres Borregales, fourth year, Miami.

Second team (defense)

Edge — Nic Scourton, third year, Texas A&M; Abdul Carter, third year, Penn State.

Tackles — Tyleik Williams, fourth year, Ohio State; Deone Walker, third year, Kentucky.

Linebackers — Danny Stutsman, fourth year, Oklahoma; Jason Henderson, fourth year, Old Dominion; Nick Martin, fourth year, Oklahoma State.

Cornerbacks — Benjamin Morrison, third year, Notre Dame; Sebastian Castro, sixth year, Iowa.

Safeties — Dillon Thieneman, second year, Purdue; Billy Bowman, fourth year, Oklahoma.

Defensive back — Ricardo Hallman, fourth year, Wisconsin.

Punter — James Ferguson-Reynolds, third year, Boise State.

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August 13th

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Final ESPN Preseason SP+ rankings: CU cracks Bill Connelly’s Top 60

From ESPN … The world’s longest offseason is almost over, and what might be the most anticipated college football season in ages is upon us. We’ve got new super megaconferences to sort through and an expanded 12-team CFP with all its inclusiveness to prepare for. According to ESPN Analytics, 47% of the teams have at least a 5% chance of reaching the playoff. But first: SP+ rankings and projections!

Below are my final SP+ projections for the 2024 college football season. As always, these are based on three primary factors: returning production (final rankings for which you can find at the bottom of this piece), recent recruiting and recent history. How good have you been recently? Whom do you have coming back? How good are the players replacing those you don’t have coming back? That’s loosely what we ask when we’re setting expectations for a team; it’s also what these projections attempt to do objectively.

As always: SP+ is a tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency. It is a predictive measure of the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football, not a résumé ranking, and, along those same lines, these projections aren’t intended to be a guess at what the AP Top 25 will look like at the end of the year. These are simply early offseason power rankings based on the information we have been able to gather to date.

From the Big 12 … 

• 17. Kansas State
• 18. Utah
• 20. Oklahoma State
• 28. Arizona
• 30. Iowa State
• 33. Kansas
• 34. West Virginia
• 38. TCU
• 41. Texas Tech
• 42. Nebraska
• 45. UCF
• 53. Baylor
• 60. Colorado … Offense – 32nd … Defense – 100th … Special Teams – 74th 
• 62. Cincinnati
• 69. BYU
• 76. Houston
• 79. Arizona State
• 100. Colorado State

… Read full story here …

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August 11th

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Unranked Big 12 teams who could make the College Football Playoff

From The Athletic … College football’s postseason enters a new era in 2024 with the arrival of the 12-team College Football Playoff, featuring automatic bids for the five top-ranked conference champions plus seven at-large selections. The bracket intrigue will only build throughout the fall, but one thing’s for sure: More teams will have a realistic shot to play for a national title than ever before.

But how many more? It’s assumed many of the nation’s elite programs will play their way into the top 12 most years, but the expanded field leaves room for a number of surprises, especially in the first year of a new system. Below, The Athletic’s college football writers make their picks for this season’s most enticing sleeper College Football Playoff teams. Programs ranked in the preseason Coaches Poll and voted atop their league’s preseason media poll were excluded from consideration.

Iowa State

The Cyclones return nine starters on both offense and defense, including breakout quarterback Rocco Becht, his top four receivers, the defense’s top five tacklers and leading rusher Abu Sama. Iowa State beat Oklahoma State and Kansas State last year and wraps up this season with a trip to Utah and at home against K-State.

West Virginia

Are we not talking and writing enough about the Mountaineers? Quarterback Garrett Greene has a shot to contend for the Heisman. Neal Brown’s team has a chance to upset Penn State and make an immediate statement in Week 1. West Virginia has seven home games, which could help tip the scales with plenty of showcase opportunities as Penn State, Kansas, Iowa State, Kansas State, Baylor and UCF all travel to Morgantown.

UCF

The Knights were the only Big 12 newcomer last season to reach a bowl game, and head coach Gus Malzahn drastically upgraded his roster through the transfer portal, adding 27 new players with 327 college starts between them. Quarterback K.J. Jefferson comes over from Arkansas to lead the offense, which features two 1,400-yard rushers from a year ago in RJ Harvey and Peny Boone (Toledo transfer). They’ll score plenty.

… Read full story here …

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August 7th

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CU has the second-highest total of 4- and 5-star recruits in the Big 12

4/5 Star Recruits on Big 12 Rosters for 2024:

• 1. TCU – 25
• 2. Utah – 21
• 2. Colorado – 21
• 4. UCF – 20
• 5. ASU – 17
• 6. Texas Tech – 12
• 7. Kansas – 11
• 8. Cincinnati – 10
• 9. Arizona – 9
• 9. Baylor – 9
• 9. Houston – 9
• 9. West Virginia – 9
• 13. BYU – 8
• 14. Oklahoma State – 7
• 15. Kansas State – 6
• 16. Iowa State – 1

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August 6th

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Nebraska loses starting left tackle for the season

From On3.com … The Nebraska football team suffered its first significant injury of Fall Camp. NU head coach Matt Rhule announced that junior left tackle Teddy Prochazka suffered a season-ending knee injury at practice.

The injury marks the third time since 2021 that Prochazka has seen his year taken away by injury.

In 2021, Prochazka suffered a season-ending knee injury during the Michigan Game after becoming just the 16th true freshman offensive lineman to play in school history.

Then, in 2022, Prochazka suffered an injury in the third game of the season and chose to take his four-game redshirt. He returned to action in 2023 by the third game of the season, seeing action in 10 games and starting in six.

The injury to Prochazka opens up plenty of questions for Nebraska at left tackle. Assuming senior Turner Corcoran is fully healthy, he appears to be the guy for 2024.

Corcoran missed the final five games of 2023 with a season-ending injury that also held him out for the spring. Before that, Corcoran started 30 consecutive games for the Huskers dating back to the 2021 season.

If Corcoran is limited, NU will have to weigh its options between players like redshirt freshman Gunnar Gottula and sophomore Tyler Knaak at left tackle. NU also has some options in its true freshman class, such as Grant Brix.

… Read full story here …

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August 5th

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CU; Nebraska on ESPN’s list of “underachievers”

From ESPN … The point of underachiever tiers isn’t to shovel shame upon unsuspecting college football teams or their fans, but instead to focus on the why.

Why do certain programs, despite baked-in advantages, consistently fall short of their potential? For some, the shortcomings occur at the very top of the sport. Georgia, after all, was the inspiration for the first edition of underachiever tiers, as the Bulldogs went 41 years between national championships before breaking through in 2021. We’re taking a different approach to the tiers this season. Teams are grouped in seven different categories, with the understanding that not all are capable of competing nationally, or even consistently for conference championships. The reasons for underachievement also vary.

For the first time, we’re incorporating an expected SP+ rating based on recent recruiting rankings, long-term history, stadium capacity and, where available, coach and coaching staff salaries. Comparing this number to each team’s actual five-year SP+ average gives us a unique look at who is performing at a level sufficient to expectations. We focused on team data from the past five seasons, but also took long-term snapshots to examine trends and identify why they’ve fallen short.

Biggest underachievers (per SP+) tier

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Last conference or national title: 1999 conference (Big 12), 1997 national

SP+ expectations vs. SP+ results: 19th in expected five-year average, 60th in actual five-year average. College football has changed dramatically since Nebraska was lording over the sport in the 1990s, but it hasn’t changed so much that one can justify seven straight losing seasons. The Huskers haven’t finished in the SP+ top 50 since 2016 and haven’t seen the top 20 since 2014. Inexcusable.

Assets: Massive and loyal fan base; national championship tradition; top-notch facilities

Why and where they’re underachieving: What Nebraska accomplished from 1963 to 2001, despite being in the 37th-most populous state — five national titles, 22 conference titles and 470 wins, 14 more than any other program — remains one of the more incredible feats in American sporting history. Nebraska might never approach the same level of prolonged national success, but it certainly can do better than what we’ve seen during a dreadful last decade. The Huskers haven’t made a bowl game since 2016 and last posted an AP Top 25 finish in 2012. Their time in the Big Ten has been marred by coaching and administrative change, which continued in March when athletic director Trev Alberts, an All-America linebacker for the Huskers, left his alma mater for the same job at Texas A&M.

Since 2012, Nebraska has had four athletic directors and four coaches, including Scott Frost, whose ballyhooed return to his home state ended with disastrous results (16-31). A program celebrated for its surgical dominance has become known more for one-score losses. Nebraska also has struggled to reshape its identity and expectations in the Big Ten.

“Iowa’s more of a model at Nebraska than Ohio State is, with where you’re located and where you’re recruiting,” a former Nebraska official said. “You’ve got to be realistic. At some point, you’ve got to not be delusional.”

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Financially challenged tier

Teams appear here that have not reached their potential primarily because of the same reason: Money.

Last conference or national title: 2001 conference (Big 12), 1990 national

SP+ expectations vs. SP+ results: 43rd in expected five-year average, 98th in actual five-year average. Like Nebraska, it’s easy to explain why Colorado has slipped over the last 20 years, but it’s inexplicable that the Buffaloes have ranked outside the SP+ top 70 for 14 of the last 16 seasons. Improving to 81st last year under Deion Sanders was major growth. That’s damning.

Assets: Solid long-term history that includes a national title; energized fan base following Deion Sanders hire; picturesque stadium near major market

Why and where they’re underachieving: Sanders’ arrival brought the national spotlight to Colorado in ways the program hasn’t seen since 1990. But the team’s result last fall — 4-8 overall, 1-8 in Pac-12 play — was all too familiar. Take out the 2016 season, when Colorado went 10-4 and reached the Pac-12 title game, and the program is 55-121 since 2008. The Buffs have won two league games or fewer 12 times during that span. The past 16 years don’t resemble the previous generations for Colorado, which had 15 AP top-20 finishes between 1969 and 2002.

A recruiting scandal toward the end of Gary Barnett’s tenure was followed by years of financial turbulence, as Colorado fell behind in resources. Coaching turbulence didn’t help, as Jon Embree lasted only two seasons at CU, Mel Tucker left after one and the school fired Karl Dorrell during Year 3.

Colorado has made investments in Sanders, its NIL operations and at Folsom Field, which will have a new video board for the 2024 season. The team has been very active in the transfer portal in each of the past two offseasons.

“This truly exceeds all expectations,” Sanders told ESPN in early 2023. “From the school point of view, from the facilities point of view, from resources point of view, it exceeds everything.” The key is whether Colorado maintains its commitment, especially if and when Sanders departs.

… Read full story here …

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August 4th

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Three Big 12 coaches open 2024 season on the “hot seat”

From YardBarker.com … Every college football season begins with hope and expectations, but several seasons end with despair and broken dreams. Obviously, that’s subjective, as every program has different definitions of success. On this year’s list of hot seat coaches, there are coaches who had the worst record in college football last season and one who has one of the best records of all time, but they just cannot beat this one team.

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August 2nd

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North Dakota State bringing seven 1st- and 2nd-team FCS Preseason All-Americans to Boulder

From TheAnalyst.com … Many of the leading roles are changing in FCS football, as only about one-quarter of last year’s postseason All-Americans return this season. But the talent remains high, especially with the top-ranked programs highlighting the 2024 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team.

Two-time defending FCS champion South Dakota State and fellow national powers North Dakota State, Montana and Montana State lead the way on the 2024 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team.

OFFENSE

QB – Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 225

RB – Kayvon Britten, Tarleton State, Sr., 5-7, 195

RB – Jamar Curtis, Lafayette, Jr., 5-8, 164

RB – Lan Larison, UC Davis, Sr., 6-0, 195

WR – Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington, Sr., 5-11, 200

WR – Nick DeGennaro, Richmond, R-Sr., 6-1, 190

TE – Carter Runyon, Towson, R-Sr., 6-6, 235

OL – Zack Gieg, Southeast Missouri, Sr., 6-1, 290

OL – Charles Grant, William & Mary, Sr., 6-4, 280

OL – Jared Penning, Northern Iowa, R-Sr.., 6-6, 338

OL – Jackson Slater, Sacramento State, Sr., 6-4, 316

OL – Marcus Wehr, Montana State, Sr., 6-4, 292

DEFENSE

DL – Brody Grebe, Montana State, Sr., 6-2, 248

DL – Eli Mostaert, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 287

DL – Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly, R-Sr., 6-3, 245

DL – Josiah Silver, New Hampshire, Sr., 6-2, 243

DL – David Walker, Central Arkansas, Sr., 6-3, 260

LB – Amir Abdullah, Illinois State, Sr., 6-3, 215

LB – Adam Bock, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 225

LB – Micah Davey, McNeese, R-Jr., 6-2, 239

LB – Erick Hunter, Morgan State, Sr., 6-4, 210

LB – Noah Martin, Samford, Sr., 6-1, 232

DB – Caleb Curtain, Elon, R-Jr., 6-1, 191

DB – Kenny Gallop Jr., Howard, Grad, 6-0, 214

DB – Tyler Morton, Nicholls, Sr., 5-10, 165

DB – TaMuarion Wilson, Central Arkansas, Sr., 6-2, 205

DB – Cole Wisniewski, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-4, 217

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK – Chris Campos, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., 5-11, 255

P – Aaron Trusler, Richmond, Grad, 5-8, 168

LS – Hunter Brozio, North Dakota State, R-Sr., 6-1, 233

KR – Donovan Wadley, Merrimack, Jr., 5-9, 180

PR – Junior Bergen, Montana, Sr., 5-11, 180

AP – ShunDerrick Powell, Central Arkansas, Sr., 5-9, 180

Second Team

OFFENSE

QB – Tommy Mellott, Montana State, Sr., 6-0, 209

QB – Cam Miller, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 213

RB – Jordan Fuller, Holy Cross, Sr., 6-0, 231

RB – Bronson Yoder, William & Mary, Sr., 5-11, 210

WR – Bo Belquist, North Dakota, Fifth Year, 6-1, 185

WR – Jared Richardson, Penn, Jr., 6-2, 215

WR – Javin Whatley, Chattanooga, Jr., 5-10, 170

TE – Cole Grossman, Montana, Sr., 6-4, 225

OL – Brandon Casey, Montana, Sr., 6-5, 305

OL – Payton Collins, Eastern Kentucky, Grad, 6-7, 301

OL – Gus Miller, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 290

OL – Evan Roussel, Nicholls, Sr., 6-2, 290

OL – Grey Zabel, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-6, 301

DEFENSE

DL – Finn Claypool, Drake, R-Jr., 6-1, 232

DL – Ckelby Givens, Southern, Jr., 6-2, 230

DL – Dylan Hendricks, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 247  

DL – Marlon Taylor, Chattanooga, R-Sr., 6-2, 322

DL – Zach Kennedy, UC Davis, Sr., 6-6, 251

LB – James Conway, Fordham, Sr., 6-2, 225

LB – Logan Kopp, North Dakota State, Jr., 6-1, 217

LB – Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri, Sr., 6-0, 220

LB – Ken Standley, Mercer, Sr., 5-11, 225

LB – Riley Wilson, Montana, Jr., 6-2, 224

DB – Oshae Baker, UT Martin, Sr., 5-10, 200

DB – Kendall Bohler, Florida A&M, R-Sr., 6-0, 193

DB – Rex Connors, UC Davis, Jr., 6-1, 203

DB – Isaiah Reed, Brown, Sr., 6-0, 180

DB – Isas Waxter, Villanova, Sr., 6-2, 215

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK – Will Leyland, South Dakota, Jr., 5-11, 205

PK – Patrick Nations, Eastern Kentucky, R-Sr., 6-0, 202

P – Brendan Hall, Montana State, Sr., 6-9, 232

LS – Caden Bolz, Missouri State, Sr., 6-0, 210

KR – Abraham Williams, Idaho, Sr., 6-1, 180

PR – Tucker Large, South Dakota State, Jr., 5-10, 180

AP – Jaylon Spears, Nicholls, Jr., 5-10, 200

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August 1st

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Mel Tucker sues Michigan State for wrongful discharge

From CBS Sports … Former Michigan State coach Mel Tucker has filed a wrongful termination suit against the university seeking unspecified monetary compensation after he was fired with cause amid a harassment scandal in 2023.

The 75-page suit, filed in a federal court in Michigan, accuses Michigan State of “improperly weaponizing the University’s investigative procedures against Plaintiff,” according to USA Today, causing Tucker to “experience severe emotional harm and suffering” amounting to “hundreds of millions in damages.”

Tucker was first placed on administrative leave without pay on Sept. 10, 2023. The school initiated the firing process eight days later amid an ongoing university investigation.

Tucker is accused of sexually harassing rape survivor and activist Brenda Tracy, who developed a relationship with Tucker after an on-campus speaking engagement with the Spartans in 2021. Tracy’s complaint included allegations of unwelcome advances from Tucker, who allegedly masturbated during an April 2022 phone call without her consent. Tucker admitted to the act but claimed it was part of a consensual, personal relationship.

Wrongful termination lawsuits are common from college football coaches who are fired for cause as they seek to recoup some or all of the money they were owed as part of lucrative contracts. Tucker had nearly $80 million remaining on his contract when he was dismissed early into his fourth season.

In another recent example from the Big Ten, former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald sued Northwestern for $130 million after he was fired amid hazing allegations last July.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 28th

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“Reverse merger” with Mountain West may be only remaining out for Washington State/Oregon State

From Stewart Mandel at The Athletic …

Please assign a percentage likelihood to the following possible landing spots for Washington State and Oregon State factoring the $255 million war chest at their disposal: 1) An invite from the Big-12; 2) An invite from the ACC; 3) A reverse merger with the MWC to reconstitute the Pac-12; 4) Reconstituting the Pac-12 with some MWC teams and some AAC teams; 5) Remaining independent beyond Year 2. — Mark K.

I appreciate all the lengths the Pac-2 have taken to avoid official “relegation.” Holding their own media day in Vegas was creative. But it’s all just kicking the can down the road. Rightly or wrongly, Wazzu and Oregon State are unofficial Group of 5 programs now, and all roads lead to that reverse merger.

Chris Vannini laid out the scheduling agreement the Pac-12 reached with the Mountain West makes it quite expensive for the former to poach schools from the latter. Per Vannini, it would cost $67.5 million to add six MWC programs. And while they’d still have more than $150 million left in the war chest, they still need that money to fund their athletic departments, including the extra $22 million or so a year in House payments.

It would be in the best interests of both parties if the MWC could find a way to shed some of its lower-tier programs like New Mexico and San Jose State. The TV money is going to be roughly the same either way, but you’d have fewer mouths to feed. And it’s unclear whether that’s doable politically. It would require nine of the 12 MWC schools to vote to dissolve the league.

I’m not ruling out a Power 4 invite for the Beavers and Cougars, but it seems increasingly unlikely. The FSU/Clemson holding pattern could continue for some time, and the Pac-12 situation will need to be resolved in the next year or so to have a deal in place for fall 2026. And the Big 12, as we know, has its eyes on bigger fish than Oregon State and Washington State.

My percent chances:

Reverse merger: 54 percent

Pac-12 expansion: 29 percent

ACC invite: 9 percent

Big 12 invite: 6 percent

Independent post-2025: 2 percent

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July 26th

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NCAA and House plaintiffs agree on future roster limits; $2.78 billion in back payments

From CBS Sports … The NCAA and plaintiffs filed on Friday a long-form agreement to settle a multi-billion dollar, class-action lawsuit that paves the way for a new revenue-sharing model and governance that introduces roster-size limits and NIL regulation in major college athletics.

The 100-page agreement filed in the Northern District of California provides more details on terms of the settlement, which involves three class-action lawsuits, most notably the House v. NCAA. The newest and most consequential details include roster-size limits beginning with the 2025-26 seasons, which were determined by power conference commissioners earlier in the week, and unlimited scholarships in all sports. The agreement also sets the stage to share up to 22% of total revenues to future athletes and the establishment of a clearinghouse to help govern name, image and likeness deals.

“This is another important step in the ongoing effort to provide increased benefits to student-athletes while creating a stable and sustainable model for the future of college sports,” an NCAA spokesperson wrote in a press release. “While there is still much work to be done in the settlement approval process, this is a significant step toward establishing clarity for the future of all of Division I athletics while maintaining a lasting education-based model for college sports, ensuring the opportunity for student-athletes to earn a degree and the tools necessary to be successful in life after sports.”

Schools will also have flexibility in sharing scholarships, with all sports now labeled as “equivalency sports,” allowing for partial scholarships to be distributed to players in football and basketball. Those sports were previously tabbed as “head-count sports,” which required players to be on full scholarship.

Football rosters will be limited to 105 players, resulting in as many as 20 additional scholarships beyond the current scholarship restrictions (85), sources told CBS Sports. With unlimited scholarships, baseball teams will be able to provide as many as 34 scholarships to players, an increase from the 11.7 “equivalency” among 27 players allowed today. Softball will jump from 12 to 25.

Former athletes will be paid $2.78 billion in back payments over the next 10 years. The new structure for revenue-sharing with future players will be capped at 22% of the average total revenue generated at schools in eight categories reported in the NCAA’s Membership Financial Reporting System. Those revenue categories include ticket sales and media rights. That should amount to nearly $22 million annually, which will increase 4% annually, with further re-evaluations built in after the first, fourth and seventh years of the 10-year agreement. Should the parties agree that revenues have changed substantially between those dates, a yearly evaluation is possible.

The longform agreement also includes stricter rules on NIL, though how those will be enforced remain unanswered — and the NCAA and plaintiffs have yet to agree on an arbiter. NIL agreements over $600 will be subject to review by a clearinghouse to ensure they are legitimate, fair-market value agreements that are not used in a pay-for-play scheme. How the autonomy five schools will police NIL is to be determined, and it’s not clear if enforcement will be handled by the NCAA or the conferences. Schools will also be allowed to pay players directly for their NIL, however doing so will apply toward the 22% revenue cap. Outside parties will continue to be allowed to strike separate NIL deals with players.

“Collectives aren’t going to go away if there’s a salary cap,” said Russell White, president of The Collective Association. “Universities will continue to want to compete above and beyond (the base revenue shares).”

The 22% revenue share equates to as much as $2 billion annually among the power conferences, according to the NCAA. In addition to scholarships, meals and academic support already provided, the NCAA says power conference schools will share “nearly 50%” of its athletics revenue to players.

That doesn’t necessarily mean all schools will provide full scholarships to all players. For example, several administrators surveyed by CBS Sports this week do not expect to provide full scholarships to all 34 players on baseball rosters. The increase in scholarships are expected to add $5 million to $10 million in expenses for each school.

The NCAA is still seeking federal legislation to circumvent state laws that could conflict with the settlement. Conference leaders have also been clear they prefer to not designate players as employees. The National Labor Relations Board and the plaintiff attorneys have previously argued for employment designation, according to the NCAA.

The biggest complication is Title IX compliance and whether future payments must be shared equally among all players or if a weighted system can be utilized to reward revenue-generating sports like football with more money than their female counterparts. The unspoken truth among administrators is it seems unlikely they will advocate for equal pay for athletes whose sports earn less than football and men’s basketball.

“It’s very likely we’re going to see non-revenue sports get massacred,” said Jason Belzer, president of Student Athlete NIL. “Title IX is going to be a very big battle. How are you going to stop it? It’s going to be tough.”

But is there a blueprint to follow in the current settlement agreement? Ninety percent of back payments are expected to be distributed to football and men’s basketball players. Several administrators believe that structure could set the stage for the future revenue-sharing model, though it likely needs to be codified in Congress to avoid Title IX lawsuits.

… Continue reading story here …

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Jedd Fisch on Washington roster turnover: “That has never been done before”

… Only worth posting because neither Fisch nor the writer of the article pointed out that a complete roster turnover was what Coach Prime did last year (and was harshly criticized for doing) … 

From ESPN … First-year Washington coach Jedd Fisch will lead the Huskies into their inaugural season in the Big Ten with what he said is a “brand-new team” from the one that advanced to the College Football Playoff last season before losing to Michigan in the national championship game.

Fisch said Washington, which has won 25 of its past 28 games, has 46 new scholarship players; has an entirely new coaching staff, training staff, strength staff and nutrition staff; and will have 21 of 22 new starters when the Huskies’ season kicks off against Weber State on Aug. 31.

“That has never been done before,” said Fisch, who spoke to the media Thursday on the final day of Big Ten media days at Lucas Oil Stadium. “And we’re excited about that challenge. We have four players on our team that recorded one start. We are now starting over and it’s a true reboot, but so is college football. It’s a whole lot of new.”

Fisch, who replaced Kalen DeBoer, said he brought 12 players and 21 staff members with him from Arizona, where he led the Wildcats to one of the most impressive turnarounds in the sport during his three-year tenure there. Arizona was 1-11 in 2021 but finished last season 10-3 and ranked No. 14 in the College Football Playoff selection committee’s final poll and No. 11 in the Associated Press poll. Fisch said his current offensive assistants have coached together for four years and have been together for every game with Fisch as a head coach.

… Asked what realistic expectations are for this season, Fisch said they want to be “the hardest opponent that everybody plays.”

“I want our opponents to feel like they left that game and they played two games in a row,” he said. “Our expectation is that we’re going to be the toughest team that they play every week, and then from there, we’ll let the score take care of itself. We’re not going to count wins and losses right now and try to figure out what that looks like. We tell our team there is no scoreboard. We just need to go out there and play our best games and see what that looks like.”

… Read full story here …

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July 24th 

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Big Ten commissioner – 18 teams good enough (for now): “Over time, you’ll start to see the geographic footprint expand”

From ESPN … After expanding in each of the past two summers, the Big Ten expects to stay at 18 members as it prepares to welcome four new additions from the West Coast.

Commissioner Tony Petitti said at Big Ten media days Tuesday that the league is “focused on the 18 right now,” as USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington will officially join the conference next month. Petitti took a similar position toward USC and UCLA at 2023 Big Ten media days, but movement from the Pac-12 to other conferences resulted in a quick pivot and the additions of both Oregon and Washington in early August.

“A lot of work had to be done to integrate USC, UCLA, and we started that work over immediately when we added Oregon and Washington,” Petitti said. “So I think we’re really comfortable with where we are. We’ve got to get this conference right, and that’s where our focus is.”

Petitti praised the accomplishments of the four new members during his opening comments, noting 10 Heisman Trophy winners, 73 College Football Hall of Famers, 41 Rose Bowl championships and 173 first-round NFL draft picks, including six in the 2024 draft and the first overall selection in USC quarterback Caleb Williams. In-season travel will be more challenging for both the four schools and the Big Ten’s existing members, although the league crafted football schedules to prevent cross-country trips in consecutive weeks.

“I really believe scheduling is something that has to be constantly evaluated by sport,” Petitti said. “And I anticipate that we’ll get a lot more right in these next couple of years, the way we’ve formatted and scheduled. But it’s our job to listen to student-athletes, to listen to coaches, to make sure that we’re adjusting and making the change we need.”

Petitti announced that the Big Ten football championship game will remain at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis through at least 2028 but that alternative sites will be explored, including those on the West Coast. The league’s title game has been played in Indianapolis since its inception in 2011.

“It’s really important that markets around the country get to experience Big Ten championships,” Petitti said. “It’s a really good way to connect the conference. So over time, you’ll start to see the geographic footprint expand.”

… Continue reading story here …

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July 23rd

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Utah’s Kyle Whittingham to receive $1M/year as a “special assistant” after retirement

From Sports Illustrated … Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has developed his football program into a contender in the West. This sustained success has not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by his lucrative compensation package. However, there was one clause from his latest contract amendment that reveals his post-retirement plans.

Upon stepping down, Whittingham has a five-year agreement to serve as a special assistant to the athletics director, with an annual salary of $995,000. This clause ensures that he’ll remains a valuable asset to the university even after stepping down from his coaching duties. He will also receive a lump sum upon announcing his retirement, which is over $1.5 million.

Whittingham is set to earn $6,525,000 this year, according to the terms of his deal. This makes him the highest-paid state employee in Utah and third-highest in the Big 12 conference. Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy and Kansas’ Lance Leipold are the top two respectively.

If projections are correct for Utah in 2024, Whittingham will have more to brag about than success on the field. He’ll receive a total of $1 million in bonuses, if the Utes win the Big 12 and advanced past the second round of the College Football Playoff.

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July 21st 

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25 Simulated seasons under EA Sports ’25: CU never makes the playoff

From The Athletic … I have seen the future of college football, and it is dominated by Ducks.

My first objective upon downloading EA Sports’ College Football 25 was a fact-finding mission. I simulated the upcoming and unprecedented 2024 season in Dynasty mode to find out how the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff and this new era for conference realignment played out. And then I started over and simulated the season over and over again until I had 25 seasons of data.

I did not play any games, I did not alter the default settings or rosters and I did not get much sleep. After creating 25 Dynasty files, an Xbox notification urged me to stop. Still, sicko mission accomplished. Just like Doctor Strange on Titan, I went forward in time to see all the possible outcomes of the coming conflicts: conference races, Heisman winners, CFP brackets, even the coaching carousel. Here’s what I learned.

Twenty-five attempts, 61 playoff teams

The Playoff expanding from four teams to 12 this fall means more programs across the sport get a real opportunity to enter the national championship race. Over the course of the 25 simulations of this upcoming season, 61 different FBS teams made at least one CFP appearance.

The 12 teams that most frequently earned playoff appearances: Michigan (23), Oregon (22), Georgia (17), Ohio State (17), Texas A&M (13), Alabama (12), Utah (11), Miami (10), Clemson (nine), Kansas State (nine), Notre Dame (nine) and Penn State (nine).

In the end, there were 46 teams that made multiple CFP appearances in the game. Texas Tech, Nebraska, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Iowa State and Syracuse are all on that list.

Colorado did not make a CFP in any of the simulations despite having the best QB in the game and a top-20 roster. In fact, Shedeur Sanders only finished in the top five in Heisman voting once. Nine different teams won Big 12 titles over the 25 sims, but the Buffs weren’t one of them.

There were several more curious snubs among the 23 Power 4 programs that never made the Playoff. Iowa earned zero bids despite its excellent defense. TCU came up short every time, and the computer frequently fired its coach. Indiana actually played in multiple Big Ten title games but could not break through to the Playoff. And oddly enough, UCLA did win one Big Ten title yet was left out that year.

The battle for bids in the SEC was rather remarkable to track. Fourteen of its 16 members achieved playoff berths over the 25 simulations, but would you have guessed it would be Texas A&M earning the second-most? Texas and Ole Miss got in seven times each and never managed to win it all. Missouri made it to three CFPs. LSU only got in twice.

And believe it or not, the SEC emerged with just five national champions over the 25 simulations.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 20th

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NCAA Olympians by college (CU with four)

… 210 schools represented … Big 12 well behind the other Power Four conferences … Big Ten: 249 (aided greatly by USC and UCLA) … SEC: 229 … ACC: 223 (aided greatly by Stanford and Cal) … Big 12: 105 …

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CFP: No decisions on 2026 postseason format until after the 2024 season

From ESPN … Leaders of the College Football Playoff won’t make any decisions about what the sport’s postseason format will look like in 2026 and beyond until after a national champion has been crowned in the inaugural season of a 12-team field, executive director Rich Clark told ESPN on Wednesday.

The playoff will expand from four to 12 teams for each of the next two seasons, with the five highest-ranked conference champions joining the next seven highest-ranked teams in the field. The current, 12-year CFP contract expires following the 2025 season.

In March, the CFP and ESPN agreed to a new six-year, $7.8 billion contract that ensures the network will remain the sole media rights holder of the playoff through the 2031-32 season. The playoff format for that new contract, though, is uncertain beyond the guarantee it will continue to be at least a 12-team field.

“We’re going to wait until after the season, after the playoff, the champ game in fact,” said Clark, who was at SEC media days after replacing retired executive director Bill Hancock in June.

The CFP’s management committee, which is comprised of the 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, will meet in-person in September, again at its annual meeting at the national championship game in January and during its annual spring meeting in April.

“In the January [meeting], we’re going to start talking about things in earnest,” Clark said. “Then hopefully we get things on the table, we’ve had a chance to look at them, and in the April one we have to start making decisions, if there’s anything to decide.”

Clark, who retired from his post as the superintendent of the Air Force Academy on May 31, said the CFP is willing to make adjustments if needed after watching the new format unfold this fall.

“In the military, you plan, you execute, you step back after execution, you debrief, and then you go again,” he said. “That’s how you get better. But each time you go, you have to go full-in. You can’t go into it thinking, ‘Oh, this is just a test run.’ No it’s not a test run. This is the run.

“This is decades we’re going to be doing this. We have to have the long game in mind on this and really be ready to adjust and make ourselves better over the years.”

… Continue reading story here …

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July 18th

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ESPN’s List of Top Stadiums: Folsom Field tops in the Big 12

… Sort of … No Big 12 stadiums made the Top 25 … CU was first in the Big 12 among the “others receiving votes” … 

From ESPN … The Swamp. The Big House. The Granddaddy of Them All.

Whether you’re a fan of Death Valley (the orange-and-white version or the purple-and-gold), Touchdown Jesus or just playing between the hedges, you understand the unique experience college football’s stadiums provide.

So we asked 14 of our college football writers to rank the best stadiums in the sport. No parameters, no criteria. Writers were asked to submit their top 20 stadiums in order. We then awarded points: 20 for first-place votes, 19 for second and all the way down to 1 point for a stadium voted No. 20.

In all, 42 stadiums received at least one vote, allowing us to build a Top 25 (this is college football, after all) for fans to form a travel bucket list or just venues to try out in EA Sports College Football 25.

And certainly a list to debate (this is college football, after all).

So with apologies (and a nod) to the Kibbie Dome on the campus of the University of Idaho at No. 26, here is ESPN’s Top 25 list of stadiums in college football.

Others receiving votes: P1FCU Kibbie Dome, Idaho Vandals (36); Cotton Bowl (35); Kinnick Stadium, Iowa Hawkeyes (31); Albertsons Stadium, Boise State Broncos (24), Folsom Field, Colorado Buffaloes (21); LaVell Edwards Stadium, BYU Cougars (21); Franklin Field, Penn Quakers (18); Rice-Eccles Stadium, Utah Utes (17); War Memorial Stadium, Wyoming Cowboys (17); Milan Puskar Stadium, West Virginia Mountaineers (16); Boone Pickens Stadium, Oklahoma State Cowboys (14); Sun Bowl, UTEP Miners (13); Reser Stadium, Oregon State Beavers (8); Falcon Stadium, Air Force Falcons (7); Martin Stadium, Washington State Cougars (6); Aloha Stadium, Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (4); Williams-Brice Stadium, South Carolina Gamecocks (2).

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July 17th

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Feds: Title IX to apply to revenue sharing

From ESPN … An official for the U.S. Department of Education, the federal enforcer of gender equity in sports, said Title IX rules will apply to future revenue dollars that schools share with college athletes, but the department declined to offer guidance on how schools should distribute the money between men and women to comply with the broad language of the law.

“Schools must provide equal athletic opportunities based on sex, including with respect to benefits, opportunities, publicity, and recruitment, and must not discriminate in the provision of financial aid,” Catherine Lhamon, the assistant secretary for the department’s Office for Civil Rights, said in a written statement to ESPN. “In the new NIL environment, these same principles apply.”

The NCAA and its power conferences agreed in May to settle a trio of antitrust lawsuits, paving the way for colleges to share up to $20 million in revenue per year with athletes starting in 2025. The details of the settlement, which still must be approved by a judge, will not address how schools should handle Title IX requirements, according to multiple sources involved with crafting the agreement.

The department did not answer a question about whether the revenue share dollars would be deemed financial aid, which would be required to be distributed to men and women athletes proportionally based on roster spots. To date, every dollar a school provides directly to its athletes has been intended to cover educational expenses and thus has been considered financial aid.

Without direction from the federal government, athletic departments will have to decide how to allocate the new revenue share money between men and women. Administrators will have to choose between paying a higher portion to men, risking potential lawsuits, or equally sharing revenue with men and women, risking falling behind competitors in football recruiting.

… Continue reading story here …

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Mountain West interest in Washington State/Oregon State waning?

From CBS Sports … The future is uncertain, but the prevailing thought has been the Beavers and Cougars will end up as Mountain West members by 2026 when the new College Football Playoff contract begins.

On the surface, it makes sense for the best Group of Five conference to take in the last two Power Five schools remaining from the realignment chaos.

But after a week of speaking to industry sources during various media days, there seems to be momentum toward the Mountain West cooling on inclusion of Oregon State and Washington State. Such a move has been portrayed as expansion, a merger or a reverse-merger. (Although, it’s hard to envision who reverse-merges with whom.)

The Mountain West has a scheduling agreement with both teams for the 2024 season with a mutual option to continue the partnership in 2025. Might as well make that a Mountain West option because it’s becoming clear the conference doesn’t necessarily need or even want the Beavers and Cougars on a full-time membership basis.

“I don’t know if the Mountain West thinks they need these two schools, honestly,” Gould said. “I would imagine If and when those conversations ever take place it’s going to be based in part on the economics of the decision and what they bring to the table.”

“The intent is to have a decision [2025] before we start this football season,” she added said. “There is so much riding on that in terms of future media rights, recruiting decisions, all those things.”

That’s not to say a Mountain West expansion/merger can’t happen, it’s just that the league has developed a bit of leverage since latest realignment train came to a halt last summer. If that’s the case, where exactly do the Beavs and Cougs end up, if anywhere? They are essentially competing as independents in 2024.

Here are some informed answers after a week of crowdsourcing:

The College Football Playoff has given the Mountain West more certainty and stability. As arguably the strongest Group of Five league top to bottom, it is now virtually assured of a playoff berth each year in the newly expanded 12-team CFP.

Essentially, the conference can count on playing for something big each season. Coaches can sell that to both high school recruits and players in the transfer portal. League favorite Boise State is somewhat used the chase, having finished in the top 11 of the AP Top 25 every year but one from 2006-2011 during its Chris Petersen glory years.

The current membership is lean and mean with San Diego State, Fresno, Boise State and Air Force each winning at least 10 games since 2021. UNLV won nine last year for the first time since 1984.

The Mountain West leads all Group of Five conferences, playing 35 games against Power Four opponents in 2024. Since 2019, the Mountain West has won 19 games against Power Five opponents, only two fewer than the dearly departed Pac-12 in that time span.

“It is really important for us that that the [selection] committee recognize that our coaches are swinging for the fences,” Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez said. “Certainly our coaches have to get it done on the field, but c’mon, you got to have credit for that.”

Do Oregon State and Washington State change the math that much?

The addition of Oregon State and Washington State would mean only a 10% to 15% increase in the current Mountain West deal, according to one veteran industry source with experience in television negotiations.

“I don’t think it will be that much,” countered Jim Williams, Emmy-winning sports media consultant. “I would think more like 10 [percent]. Fifteen percent is way too much.”

The Mountain West currently has a deal with CBS Sports and Fox Sports through the 2025 football season that pays it approximately $45 million per year. TNT Sports announced a multi-year deal with the league beginning this season. Those games were termed “leftovers” after CBS and Fox receive the prime selections. Terms were not released.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 15th

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Cormani McLain not endearing himself to new Florida teammates

From BroBible.com … Early reviews out of Gainesville haven’t been positive surrounding transfer Cormani McClain. The defensive back landed at Florida following a move from Colorado this offseason.

That exit was a turbulent one as he beefed with teammates and head coach, Deion Sanders, on his way out the door. Now, it appears he’s become a problem for his new program, too.

He’s reportedly made a habit of showing up late for offseason workouts. That’s resulted in not only personal punishment, but also team-wide discipline.

More from Nick De La Torre of On3 Sports:

I was told that Cormani McClain has been late to most of the requirements (meetings, lift, etc…). The way that it’s handled is sort of like a strike system. Essentially, you get a warning, they you have to do extra run/lift… which he’s started to show up late for as well. They started to make the defense and then the rest of the team do these extra lifts thinking that would get Cormani to show up on time and it hasn’t.

You’re not going to be liked in the locker room if your tardiness/immaturity is causing the rest of your team to have to run.

Goes to what I said about him when Florida took the flier on him. Just immature. Needs to grow up.

That’s not the best way to win over new teammates or earn playing time.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 12th 

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All of the Pac-12 schools (including the Pac-2) to compete for Pac-12 bowl slots

From The Action Network … The 10 schools leaving the Pac-12 will still play in Pac-12 affiliated bowls the next two seasons and not in bowl tie-ins with their new conferences, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark told Action Network.

The former Pac-12 schools will not play in bowls with their new conferences for multiple reasons, conference and bowl sources told Action Network. In February, Action Network reported the Pac-12 schools likely would remain affiliated with the Pac-12 bowl lineup.

The contracts between the conferences and the bowls don’t end until after the 2025 season. With only Oregon State and Washington State remaining in the Pac-12 in 2024, the six bowls with Pac-12 ties could not be filled without drawing from other conferences.

Because of the mass exodus of Pac-12 schools, all of the stakeholders involved determined the former Pac-12 programs — known as “Pac-12 legacy schools” — plus Oregon State and Washington State would remain with Pac-12 bowls until the new bowl contracts begin in 2026.

After the 12-team College Football Playoff field is selected, the former Pac-12 bowl-eligible teams will be considered part of the Pac-12’s bowl pool. This will keep Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington (Big Ten), Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah (Big 12), and Cal and Stanford (ACC) from participating in their new conference bowl games until 2026.

The six Pac-12 bowl tie-ins in 2024 and 2025 are the Alamo, Holiday, Las Vegas, Sun, Los Angeles, Independence (in 2024)/ESPN event bowl (in 2025).

The Rose Bowl, now part of the College Football Playoff rotation, is no longer tied to the Pac-12.

How the Pac-12 bowls will be filled remains unknown. Because the teams would be chosen from different conferences, the selection order likely won’t be based on conference records.

The Alamo Bowl has the first pick from the Big 12 and Pac-12 after the College Football Playoff. It will be able to select any Pac-12 legacy school or Oregon State/Washington State, regardless of record as long as the teams are bowl-eligible.

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July 11th

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Court ruling: Student-athletes one step closer to employee status

From ESPN …College athletes whose efforts primarily benefit their schools may qualify as employees deserving of pay under federal wage-and-hour laws, a U.S. appeals court ruled Thursday in a setback to the NCAA.

The court, in the latest challenge to the NCAA’s long-held notion of “amateurism” in college sports, said a test should be developed to differentiate between students who play college sports for fun and those whose effort “crosses the legal line into work.”

“With professional athletes as the clearest indicators, playing sports can certainly constitute compensable work,” U.S. Circuit Judge L. Felipe Restrepo wrote. “Ultimately, the touchstone remains whether the cumulative circumstances of the relationship between the athlete and college or NCAA reveal an economic reality that is that of an employee-employer.”

A colleague, in a concurring opinion, questioned the difficulty of such a process, noting that nearly 200,000 students compete on nearly 6,700 Division I teams. The NCAA had hoped to have the case dismissed, but it will instead go back to the trial judge for fact-finding.

… Continue reading story here …

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Report: CU only “corner school” to receive payment to join Big 12 ($2.5 million)

From USA Today …Big 12 Conference commissioner Brett Yormark was asked a question Tuesday about what actually went down behind the scenes one year ago, when he helped convince four schools from the Pac-12 to leave that league and join the Big 12 instead.

He didn’t want to talk about it.

But documents obtained from the schools by USA TODAY Sports – and brief remarks by Yormark here Tuesday – paint a picture of a cutthroat strategy to destabilize the Pac-12 last year to the point that it fell apart to the Big 12’s benefit.

According to the documents, the University of Colorado was offered a $2.5 million signing bonus from the Big 12 Conference last year as an added enticement to get the Buffaloes to leave the Pac-12 and join the Big 12 instead, starting on Aug. 2, 2024.

But here’s what’s curious about that: The other three Pac-12 teams that followed Colorado’s path into the Big 12 a week later apparently didn’t get any signing bonus, according to their Big 12 admission agreements.

Why not?

Was Yormark hoping that by sweetening the pot for Colorado and getting the Buffs to jump first, then the others would do the same out of fear of being left behind in a crumbling Pac-12?

“I’m not going to discuss my negotiating tactics, but listen, we were thrilled that Colorado was the first mover,” Yormark told USA TODAY Sports Tuesday at the Big 12 football media days event. “Ultimately one got us four, you know, when you think about it. Whatever we did in those negotiations seemed to work out pretty well for us.”

How it factors into the realignment timeline

Colorado announced its move to the Big 12 on July 27 last year – the first of eight defections from the Pac-12 last year that all but destroyed it. A week later, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah also announced they were leaving the Pac-12 for the Big 12, but not because of Colorado’s departure by itself. It was because the Pac-12 failed to produce a new media-rights deal that was good enough to convince the remaining members to stay, including Washington and Oregon, who decided to leave for the Big Ten that same week after Colorado’s announcement.

By throwing in a $2.5 million bonus for a “first mover,” Yormark still could have been hoping that the outcome would be that “one got us four,” as he described it, even if the dominoes didn’t fall that way exactly. At the time, the Pac-12 still had 10 members and was trying to decide whether to hold together and even expand.

But like a game of musical chairs, college football realignment is stoked by fear of being left behind without a seat at the table of a stable and viable league. After Colorado said it was leaving, that left the Pac-12 with nine members, adding to the sense of uncertainty. Then the Big Ten pounced on Washington and Oregon, triggering a last rush for the exits. At that point, the Big 12 likely didn’t need to offer bonus money to land Utah, Arizona and Arizona State. There was no attractive alternative.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 10th 

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CBS on Coach Prime: “A man with more ‘College GameDay’ than game”

From CBS Sports … The phenomenon of Deion Sanders started early Wednesday morning at Big 12 Media Days. Before a network interview began in the bowels of Allegiant Stadium, Sanders directed a cameraman.

“Turn the [monitor] around for me and let me see the shot real quick, please” he directed.

Properly satisfied and situated in a sports jacket and hoodie on a 116-degree day (outside), Coach Prime then began using his inside voice to own the day, even if not the conference just yet.

You may not have gotten the memo, but until further notice, the face of the new Big 12 is a bankable brand endorser coming off a 4-8 season.

… Don’t call Deion the face of the best team — or even the best program — in the Big 12. Think of Coach Prime in his own category as the best entertainer in the Big 12. Maybe in all of college football. A man with more “College GameDay” than game. And in his day and age — certainly in this conference — that matters on some level.

Considering everything he brought to the game, Prime had one of the best Septembers in the history of college football last season, going 3-0 before losses to Oregon and USC. The ratings were so good they extended across every demographic and beyond sports.

“I’m judged on a different scale,” Sanders said during his podium availability.

That judgement isn’t going to stop; it may just be beginning. The Hall of Fame player and pitchman might be the best thing the new Big 12 has going for it. Ratings! Hype! Commercials! Entourage! Sunglasses!

“They got the juice, they’re national,” UCF coach Gus Malzahn said of CU.

Sanders just might be what the newly expanded, still-being-shaped Big 12 needs: attention. Commissioner Brett Yormark boldly kicked things off Tuesday by saying his league was the third best in FBS – a clear shot at the ACC. He went on to say the league was open for business – again. (Hello, Florida State?).

The two influencers hugged warmly in a hallway before Sanders’ Wednesday appearance on the podium. It can be argued Yormark wouldn’t have been able to pull off his bold Four Corners expansion without Sanders’s brand — and the coach’s desire to get back into Texas recruiting.

Just don’t zoom in on the football. Not quite yet. Coach Prime’s coaching chops at this level are still under construction. That’s because Colorado enters 2024 on a six-game losing streak. Going 27-6 at FCS Jackson State is one thing, resurrecting a moribund Power Five is another. Sanders is at a school that will tolerate a slow climb to success because, well, he’s Deion. That soothes things when the program claims just one winning non-COVID season since 2004.

“My wins are totally different than your wins,” Sanders told one media member. “Your wins are just judged on football … The expectation is greater. But it’s not just football. It’s been like that all my life. I’ve always had a greater expectation for myself.”

But then someone finally asked the question that needed to be asked: Why is Colorado going to be better in 2024? Prime said the offensive line is improved, the defensive line coaches are demanding, the running backs are being led by a former walk-on, special teams, etc. He mentioned a record team grade-point average and 150 years worth of NFL experience on the staff that now includes fellow Hall of Famer Warren Sapp as a graduate assistant.

But it shouldn’t be surprising. This is still America, where flash sometimes triumphs over substance.

… Continue reading story here …

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Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark: “We will be the deepest conference in America and every week will matter”

From the transcript of Brett Yormark’s press conference at the Big 12 Media Days in Las Vegas …

This is our first Media Day as a 16-team league. There has never been a better time than right now to be part of the Big 12.

We are truly a national conference, in ten states, four time zones. And all eyes are now on the Big 12 for all the right reasons, and I think it’s safe to say we’re more relevant now than ever before.

Before I look forward, I’d like to recap where we’ve been for the last 12 months. Since our last Football Media Days, we added the four corners and solidified ourselves as one of the top three conferences in America. All four schools are here with us today, and you will hear from them over the next few days.

I’m incredibly excited about what they bring to our league. Last season, Big 12 football fans packed the stadiums. Six Big 12 teams averaged 100 percent in home capacity. All schools average over 88 percent capacity.

…

So as you can tell, 2024-25 will be a very exciting year for the Big 12. On the football front, we will be the deepest conference in America. Every week will matter. I’m going to say that one more time. We will be the deepest conference in America and every week will matter.

We have star power in parity. We boast some of the top players and coaches in the game. November will be incredibly exciting, and we will brand it as a race to the championship.

Beyond football, the best conference in basketball got better. Our Olympic sports got stronger, adding four programs with an incredible history of excellence. We recently made some changes across our competition team.

…

Our value creation must be done in a strategic way, and that value creation starts with ESPN and Fox. We are taking an innovative approach exploring new TV windows and giving fans more access to our programming.

As we build our brand, we will continue to build our business. We will not stumble into this new era following settlement. In fact, we will be aggressive and very proactive.

We will push at the NCAA level. In fact, I love what they recently did with on-field logos. I’ve been very vocal with the NCAA to push for making commercial patches permissible for officials’ uniforms, similar to what the NBA has done. I’ve spoken to our football officials, and they are in favor of it, and I’m optimistic that will happen soon.

From a conference perspective, we are exploring all options. Two years later, I guess you could say we’re still open for business. Naming rights is one, private equity is another.

We are looking to expand our PSL program into our football championship game for 2025. We will be infusing more LED signage across our marquee championship events, creating new visible signage and revenue streams for our member institutions.

…

We’ve been preparing for this moment for a long time, and as commissioner, I will continue to create value for our members in order for them to be as competitive as possible.

This is no time to press pause. We must continue to be bold and aggressive as an industry. The Big 12 will always be ambitious because that’s who we are. I know there’s a lot of pressure on a lot of people right now, but I will leave you with this: Pressure is a privilege.

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July 9th

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No suspension for Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon: “A business decision”

From Jenni Carlson’s Beyond the Box Score … Mike Gundy got the news about Ollie Gordon’s arrest while he was at the lake.

Being away from campus gave the Oklahoma State football coach a chance to think a lot about what he wanted to do about the Cowboy tailback. Suspend him? If so, how many games? If not, why not?

Gundy’s decision became public Tuesday during Big 12 football media days: Gordon will not be suspended.

Not suspending Gordon runs contrary to what Gundy has done in the past. He has kept players out of action for various off-field transgressions. When Justin Blackmon got a DUI back in 2010, for example, Gundy suspended him for a game.

But college football is different today than it has ever been.

“We’re in a business world now,” Gundy told a small group of Oklahoma-based media before his formal press conference Tuesday. “It’s a different time with college athletes, different than it used to be.”

Gundy thinks of his players as employees. He knows universities and their athletic departments are remiss to use that term for athletes, but they are making significant amounts of money.

“It’s more of a business setting than it has ever been,” Gundy said. “So (Gordon) has a responsibility to everybody else that’s involved, and in my opinion, (not suspending him is) what best for him and for our organization moving forward.”

In other words, Gundy made a business decision.

… Could it backfire?

Sure.

But Gundy knows that.

“I said, ‘Well, what I need to know is that you understand how serious this situation is and how lucky you are and that you’re going to work as hard as you can to make sure that this doesn’t happen again,’” Gundy said. “Now, there’s no guarantee in any of this.”

Gordon has promised.

Gundy has believed.

We’ll all get to see if this business decision was a good one

… Read full story here …

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Big 12 set to launch 24/7 audio station via partnership with TuneIn

From SportsBusinessJournal.com … The Big 12 is adding a new audio partner — and another avenue for content.

The league is set to launch a 24/7 audio station via a partnership with TuneIn, which will become the new audio home of the Big 12. Terms of the deal were not immediately available, but an official announcement is expected today.

The Big 12 was up for renewal with SiriusXM, but tabbed TuneIn instead. A source with knowledge of the discussions told SBJ that country music icon Garth Brooks helped facilitate the partnership in part through his involvement with TuneIn and his work as a member of the Big 12 Business Advisory Board.

Sponsorships for programming will be sold in a joint effort between the Big 12 and TuneIn. The 24/7 audio network will also be free to listen to, while TuneIn Premium will house live game commentary for football and men’s and women’s basketball from all Big 12 schools.

… Continue reading story here …

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Utah agrees to play Miami in Las Vegas

From CBS Sports … Miami and Utah are scheduled to meet for the first time ever in the 2027 Vegas Kickoff Classic at Allegiant Stadium, the schools announced. The matchup is set for Labor Day weekend, which is traditionally the first full slate of games on the college football calendar.

This will be the third official Vegas Kickoff Classic. BYU beat Arizona in the inaugural event to open the 2021 season, while LSU and USC are set to meet for the first time in 40 years on Sept. 1, 2024.

“This is a tremendous showcase for our football program and our university to open the 2027 season on a national stage in the Vegas Kickoff Classic,” Utah athletic director Mark Harlan said in a statement. “We are excited for this opportunity to match up against the Miami Hurricanes, and we extend our thanks to the Las Vegas Bowl and ESPN Events for the invitation. It is a testament to our program and our great fans to participate in this type of event, and when the time comes, we will paint Allegiant Stadium red once again.”

As Harlan alluded to, Utah is familiar with both Las Vegas and Allegiant Stadium. The Utes capped a 7-5 2023 regular season with a trip to the Las Vegas Bowl against Northwestern. Utah also won two consecutive Pac-12 titles in Allegiant Stadium from 2021-22, downing Oregon and USC, respectively.

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July 8th 

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Big 12 Media Days (Tuesday and Wednesday): What to Watch For

From CBS Sports … College football’s talking season is upon us. With the 2024 season right around the corner, various Big 12 coaches and athletes are set to descend upon Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium from July 9-10 to kick off this year’s conference media days slate. The conference already released its preseason all-conference team as well as its projected order of finish.

For a second consecutive season, a robust set of newcomers will take center stage. The Big 12 benefited from the Pac-12’s dissolution by welcoming Utah, Arizona, Arizona State and Colorado to its ranks. Preseason favorite Utah highlights the schools speaking on Tuesday, while Deion Sanders will make his much-anticipated first official appearance as a Big 12 coach to open up the proceedings on Wednesday.

The Big 12 does have to contend with its own notable departures as this will be the first media days slate without Texas or Oklahoma since the conference’s inception. There are several schools in contention to fill the power vacuum left by those two programs, who combined to win seven of the last nine conference titles.

Adding extra heat to the conference race — aside from the record, 120-degree temps hitting Sin City this week — is the fact that whoever emerges as the eventual winner locks down an automatic spot in the new 12-team College Football Playoff. Suffice to say, there are plenty of storylines to keep an eye on this week as the Big 12 Media Days unfold.

Deion makes his debut 

Colorado’s return to the Big 12 comes with much fanfare thanks to the presence of coach Deion Sanders, one of college football’s most electric — and enigmatic — personalities. He thrives in a media setting and certainly isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind, but what’s interesting about this week is it’s Sanders’ first power-conference media days. Sanders missed the 2023 Pac-12 Media Days recovering from surgery and the year before was at Jackson State. Sanders figures to be swarmed by reporters and how he commands the room during the more raucous breakout sessions — where national media will be trying their best to get the quote of the week — will be good for a social clip or two.

The Buffaloes certainly have plenty to tout amid their conference move. Two-way star Travis Hunter is perhaps the best player in college football. He can excel as both a wide receiver and defensive back, was named the preseason Defensive Player of the Year while quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s son, earned a spot on the All-Big 12 team.

In total, the Buffaloes had three players on the All-Big 12 team, an impressive mark for a conference newcomer. Whether that lends itself to improvement on 2023’s 4-8 record remains to be seen.

Utah facing big expectations 

Utah is expected to hit the ground running once the 2024 season begins. In fact, the Utes are the outright favorite to win the Big 12 in their first year with the conference.

They received 20 first-place votes in the Big 12 media poll and took the top spot with 906 total points. It’s not hard to see why voters would have so much faith in Utah. Coach Kyle Whittingham led his team to two Pac-12 titles in the past three years and posted an eight-win season in 2023 despite missing quarterback Cam Rising for the entire year.

Rising is back for another season and profiles as one of the Big 12’s top signal callers. He has an underrated group of skill talent players surrounding him, including All-Big 12 tight end Brant Kuithe, and an offensive line that returns three starters. The defense has a ton of production back as well and looks particularly stacked in the front seven.

… Continue reading story here …

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