Bill ConnellyMay 28, 2025, 09:30 AM ET Close Bill Connelly is a writer for ESPN. He covers college football, soccer and tennis. He has been at ESPN since 2019. Open Extended Reactions “There’s a lot of people talking about Group of 5, Power 4, the money and the resources and NIL. It’s about the players […]
Bill Connelly is a writer for ESPN. He covers college football, soccer and tennis. He has been at ESPN since 2019.
“There’s a lot of people talking about Group of 5, Power 4, the money and the resources and NIL. It’s about the players and it’s about lining up and banging heads and [may] the best man win. You saw that [Saturday].” — Northern Illinois athletic director Sean Frazier, after the Huskies’ 2024 upset of Notre Dame
The MAC is proof that a big tent can produce occasionally incredible things. As college football keeps trending toward closing up shop and distributing more money to fewer schools, and as the idea of a so-called “super league” — one that would either limit or completely eliminate opportunities for MAC-level schools — continues to waft around, this league and its teams keep trying to find ways to make noise. NIU’s big moment in 2024 proved that, given enough opportunities, they can still do so. In the past 25 seasons, MAC teams have scored 78 wins over power-conference teams, and while nearly half of those have come from NIU (14), Bowling Green (12) and Toledo (11), 14 current and former MAC programs have posted at least one.
Current circumstances are making things awfully difficult, though. The bottom half of the MAC has always been pretty shaky, and 2024 was no exception: MAC teams occupied four of the bottom 15 slots in the year-end SP+ rankings, which also ranked 0-12 Kent State as the worst FBS team in four years. Then came a brutal offseason in which (A) NIU arranged to leave for the Mountain West in 2026, (B) MAC teams got hit harder than anyone else by the transfer portal and general attrition (the MAC’s 41.1% returning production average was more than 12 percentage points below the national average), (C) the reigning conference champion (Ohio) lost head coach Tim Albin to a Charlotte program that has had just one winning season ever in FBS, and (D) Bowling Green head coach Scot Loeffler left for an NFL position coach job in the spring.
In a college football universe with NIL money and unrestricted transfers, continuity is growing increasingly difficult in MACtion country. But the conference still boasts some proven coaches and high-level talent, and stars will inevitably emerge. Let’s preview the MAC!
Throughout the summer, Bill Connelly will preview every FBS conference, ultimately including all 136 FBS teams. The previews will include 2024 breakdowns, 2025 previews and team-by-team capsules.
2024 recap
NIU stole the early headlines, but injuries and offensive struggles rendered Thomas Hammock’s Huskies an afterthought in the conference race. By midseason, it became increasingly clear that Ohio and Miami (Ohio) were the MAC’s safest bets. Miami beat Ohio 30-20 in the regular season, but the Bobcats’ offense ignited from there, averaging 36.7 points during a season-ending seven-game winning streak that included a 38-3 throttling of Miami in the MAC championship game.
Continuity table
The continuity table looks at each team’s returning production levels (offense, defense and overall), the number of 2024 FBS starts from both returning and incoming players and the approximate number of redshirt freshmen on the roster heading into 2025. (Why “approximate”? Because schools sometimes make it very difficult to ascertain who redshirted and who didn’t.) Continuity is an increasingly difficult art in roster management, but some teams pull it off better than others.
From Miami corner Raion Strader (Auburn) to Bowling Green running back Terion Stewart (Virginia Tech) to NIU quarterback Ethan Hampton (Illinois) to Ball State tight end Tanner Koziol (Houston) to a number of high-level Ohio defenders, MAC teams lost numerous stars to power-conference schools. In all, eight MAC teams (including four with new head coaches) rank in the bottom 18 in returning production.
Toledo and Buffalo mostly avoided the same fate, however. The Rockets and Bulls both rank in the top 50 in returning production, and during an intriguing nine-win season in which his Bulls improved from 119th to 87th in SP+, second-year Buffalo head coach Pete Lembo was able to build a solid base of redshirt freshmen as well.
Despite losing Albin, Ohio attempted continuity by promoting offensive coordinator Brian Smith to head coach, and he was able to hold on to at least a few key pieces, including quarterback Parker Navarro, left tackle Davion Weatherspoon and safety DJ Walker. SP+ suggests that might be enough to keep the Bobcats in MAC contention.
2025 projections
Only four teams start out with top-100 projections, and they make sense: They’re the two who played in the title game last year (Ohio and Miami) and the two who return the most from 2024 bowl teams (Toledo and Buffalo). The odds of at least one of those teams clicking and playing at a top-50 or top-60 level are pretty good.
The odds are also pretty good that the bottom portion of the conference is going to be awfully poor. UMass returns to the MAC with a new coach (former Rutgers assistant Joe Harasymiak) and almost no expectations, and four of the bottom five slots in the recent SP+ projections went to MAC teams.
The aforementioned four top-100 teams have a combined 65% chance of winning the conference title. But I guess that means there’s still a greater than one-in-three chance of an underdog run, huh?
Five best games of 2025
Here are the five conference games that feature (A) the highest combined SP+ ratings for both teams and (B) a projected scoring margin of less than 10 points.
Oct. 11: Toledo at Bowling Green. Most of the MAC’s biggest games take place once the conference shifts to midweek MACtion games in November, but this will be an early tone-setter between a talented Toledo team with a navigable early schedule and a BGSU team with quite a few question marks and an intriguing new head coach in Eddie George.
Nov. 4: Miami (Ohio) at Ohio. Last year’s two best teams jockey for position. Miami is a projected favorite in the five games preceding this one.
Nov. 12: Toledo at Miami (Ohio). Two MACtion weeks, two huge games for Chuck Martin’s RedHawks.
Nov. 19: Miami (Ohio) at Buffalo. Make that three huge games in three weeks for Miami.
Nov. 28: Ohio at Buffalo. Buffalo’s schedule offers up a massive opportunity: After the season opener against Minnesota, Lembo’s Bulls are projected favorites in 10 straight games before Ohio visits over Thanksgiving weekend.
Conference title (and, technically, CFP) contenders
Head coach: Jason Candle (10th year, 73-40 overall)
2025 projection: 72nd in SP+ (77th offense, 63rd defense), 8.8 average wins, 6.4 conference wins
It feels impossible to adequately evaluate Jason Candle. On one hand, despite running the program with more consistent investment and high-quality recruiting than any conference mate, he’s won only two MAC titles in 10 years. It’s always going to feel like the title rate should be higher than that for the Rockets.
Jason Candle’s next win at Toledo will make him the winningest coach in program history. AP Photo/Carlos OsorioOn the other hand, Candle’s Rockets have won 11 games twice and have taken down Arkansas, Iowa State, BYU, Mississippi State and Pitt (the last two were both in 2024). His next win will be his 74th at UT, passing Gary Pinkel’s total for the most in school history. He fielded some awesome offenses early in his tenure, and when the Toledo defense crumbled a few years ago, he made a fantastic defensive coordinator hire (Vince Kehres) to right the ship. He’s never finished with a losing record. Basically, he’s been good enough to keep his job but not quite good enough to get hired away by power-conference programs. And with solid continuity (especially at QB and in a very good secondary), it sure feels like he’ll have a chance at a third MAC title this season. After a season-opening visit to Kentucky, the Rockets are projected favorites in every remaining game.Beating Mississippi State (by 24!) and Pitt but losing to Akron, among others, certainly suggests things went sideways for a bit last year. The main reason was an offense that slipped to 88th in offensive SP+, the worst ranking of the Candle era. The Rockets scored 15 or fewer in four MAC games, losing all four, and the run game was the primary culprit: The Rockets were just 124th in rushing success rate. The line was leaning on youngsters, and the RBs didn’t break nearly enough tackles.Candle didn’t make any major staff changes but brought in four offensive line transfers, plus running backs Chip Trayanum (Kentucky) and Kenji Christian (NC A&T), to shore things up. If those moves work, the passing game, featuring veteran quarterback Tucker Gleason, last year’s leading receiver Junior Vandeross III and NIU transfer Trayvon Rudolph — and, perhaps, sophomore and former star recruit Zy’marion Lang — could be the primary beneficiary.
There are fewer questions on defense, where Kehres’ unit has averaged a 55.0 defensive SP+ ranking over the last three seasons. Granted, every starter in the front six is gone, but end Malachi Davis and tackle Martez Poynter are sturdy veterans, and the portal brought players like end Louce Julien (6.5 TFLs at UMass) and linebacker Hudson Miller (five starts at Purdue). The secondary was the strength of the UT defense last year, and five of last year’s top seven return, including a dynamite nickel back in Braden Awls. Sophomore transfers Amare Snowden and Braedyn Moore, both former blue-chippers from Wisconsin, could contribute quickly too.
2025 projection: 80th in SP+ (83rd offense, 79th defense), 7.4 average wins, 5.7 conference wins
Ohio won 10 games under Tim Albin in both 2022 and 2023 but lost an incredible 10 starters, led by quarterback Kurtis Rourke (Indiana) and all-conference tackle Kurt Danneker (Baylor), to power-conference transfers. It was an absolute bounty of talent walking out the door. And then the Bobcats won 11 games and a MAC title in 2024. It was easily one of the best coaching performances of the season. But instead of attempting to pull off a similar magic act in 2025, Albin left for a new project at Charlotte, and OC Brian Smith moved up to the bigger office.
In quarterback Parker Navarro (2,423 passing yards, 1,143 non-sack rushing yards in 2024), left tackle Davion Weatherspoon, safety DJ Walker and corner Tank Pearson, plus returning running back Sieh Bangura (who transferred to Minnesota in 2024 but returned), Smith kept some proven pieces in Athens, and by MAC standards, continuity levels aren’t too bad. But the concept of the double-dip is still a scary one. They still must replace their leading receiver, at least three starting offensive linemen, at least four rotation linemen and basically every linebacker for the second straight season. Even if you survive major turnover once, having to do so year after year — and while changing head coaches, no less — certainly brings about more opportunities for regression.
Bangura’s return is a welcome one; he and Navarro form one of the most proven MAC backfields, but they’ll have an awfully new line in front of them. Those responsible for only 20 of last year’s 70 OL starts are back, and four transfers, including small-school starters Nick Marinaro (Dartmouth) and Josh Waite (Shippensburg), might have to make immediate contributions. Leading receiver Coleman Owen is gone too, potentially leaving a big-play void.
Smith wisely held on to defensive coordinator John Hauser, whose first Bobcat defense kept opponents both inefficient and nonexplosive in 2024.
TruMediaLike Toledo, Ohio boasts far more proven entities in the back than in the front. The combination of Walker, Pearson, nickel Adonis Williams, transfers Rickey Hyatt Jr. (South Alabama) and Ronald Jackson Jr. (Montana) and perhaps a youngster like sophomore Tony Mathis should keep quarterbacks frustrated. But senior tackle Bralen Henderson will see lots of new rotation pieces around him. Senior ends Kaci Seegars and Walter Bob Jr. should be solid up front, but depth is an obvious concern. No returning or incoming linebacker logged more than 17 snaps in 2024.
2025 projection: 91st in SP+ (104th offense, 78th defense), 7.7 average wins, 5.5 conference wins
Ohio’s optimistic projection is based quite a bit on the Bobcats’ strong recent history. Buffalo, however, seems to have quite a bit more in the “proven entities” department. Pete Lembo was Ball State’s head coach from 2011-15 and engineered as many bowl trips (two) as the program has seen in the nine years since his departure. He engineered immediate improvement in his return to MAC life too, and now leading rusher Al-Jay Henderson, leading receiver Victor Snow, three starting O-linemen and 12 of 17 defenders with at least 200 snaps all return. The large load of redshirts should assure solid depth.
The defense didn’t grade out any better than the offense last year, but it seems to have fewer question marks in 2025. End Kobe Stewart and linebackers Red Murdock and Dion Crawford combined for 42.5 tackles for loss, 37 run stops and 20 sacks last season — no one else in this conference boasts that kind of play-making star power. The return of 300-pound senior George Wolo (injured in 2024) should assure the requisite size up front. The secondary gave up too many big plays last season (especially considering the quality of the pass rush), but returning seven of last year’s top eight DBs and adding both a young power-conference transfer (Arizona State corner Keontez Bradley) and a small-school star (Shepherd safety Miles Greer) offers more options.
The offense has a bit more to prove, but size should help: From a pure height-and-weight standpoint, the depth chart should look like something from a power conference. Henderson measures in at 6-foot-0, 210 pounds, wideouts Nik McMillan (6-1, 224) and Chance Morrow (6-6, 195) could play big roles, and two potential all-MAC guards, Trevor Brock and Tyler Doty, average 6-6 and 325 pounds between them. Snow, a former walk-on, is a little guy in the slot (5-8, 165), but he proved steady and durable in 2024, catching at least four passes in nine games.
Note that I haven’t said a word about the quarterback position yet. With C.J. Ogbonna gone, offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude will likely be choosing between 2024 backup Gunnar Gray and, more likely, journeyman Ta’Quan Roberson. Roberson has thrown for 2,188 career yards and was decent at UConn (one of his three former schools) in 2023. He should be able to lean on a solid run game, but Ogbonna was capable of big plays here and there, and Roberson has averaged just 10.3 yards per completion in his career. MAC contention will probably require more than that.
Head coach: Chuck Martin (12th year, 65-67 overall)
2025 projection: 96th in SP+ (135th offense, 35th defense), 6.5 average wins, 4.7 conference wins
Chuck Martin was designed in a lab to frustrate me. He eschews analytics as it pertains to fourth downs. (The RedHawks went for it just 11 times in 101 fourth-down opportunities, a 10.9% go rate that ranked 133rd in FBS.) He is all-in on the “play not to lose” game management approach, and it’s contributed to a 22-31 career record in one-score finishes since he began at Miami in 2014. He’s old-school in a lot of unhelpful ways.
He’s also one hell of a program builder. He took over when Miami was at a particularly low ebb, and he has built things brick by brick.
Miami, 2014-15: 5-19 record, 120.0 average SP+ ranking
Miami, 2016-22: 40-40 record, 93.9 average SP+ ranking
Miami, 2023-24: 20-8 record, 63.5 average SP+ ranking
Martin and his remarkably consistent staff — in 11 years, he’s had two offensive coordinators and three defensive coordinators — identify and develop talent well, play physical and reasonably uncomplicated ball, put major focus on special teams and create the highest floor of any MAC team.
We’re going to find out a lot about the stability of said floor in 2025. At this point I trust Martin to continue to produce solid two-deeps with athleticism that exceeds their recruiting rankings. But … damn, did the RedHawks lose a lot this offseason: Every primary offensive starter is gone, as are basically 5.5 of the starters in the defensive front six. The secondary remains mostly intact, but ace cornerback Raion Strader left for Auburn.
Martin inked only three defensive transfers — a solid show of faith in last year’s backups and potential stars like edge rusher Adam Trick and safety Silas Walters. But the offense underwent a portal overhaul: quarterback Dequan Finn (Toledo/Baylor), five receivers (including former Notre Dame blue-chipper Deion Colzie), two tight ends and three offensive linemen came aboard. Finn, running backs Kenny Tracy (injured in 2024) and Jordan Brunson should form the base of a strong run game if the offensive line holds up, and the defense gets the benefit of the doubt. But losing this much production is almost a guarantee of regression. We’ll see if Martin’s program-building prowess can prevent a collapse.
Head coach: Thomas Hammock (seventh year, 32-38 overall)
2025 projection: 106th in SP+ (133rd offense, 61st defense), 6.3 average wins, 4.5 conference wins
Like many evaluation-and-development guys, Thomas Hammock was relatively slow to embrace portal life. NIU’s head coach brought in just 15 total transfers from 2022-24, but he’s grabbed 13 this offseason. He needed reinforcements just about everywhere he looked. The Huskies’ classic upset of Notre Dame drove an eight-win season — NIU’s third winning year in four — but Hammock’s Huskies lost their starting quarterback, their top two running backs, their top four pass catchers, five of their top six offensive linemen, and 11 of 16 defenders with at least 200 snaps (including the top four defensive tackles). Defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto left for Fresno State, too.
For a wobbly offense, this turnover could be seen as an opportunity for renewal. NIU ranked 115th in offensive SP+ for each of the last two seasons; the run game was decent last season, but the Huskies ranked 103rd in yards per dropback with no discernible explosiveness in the passing game. Hammock made an inspired coordinator hire, bringing in Quinn Sanders, the University of Charleston head coach who oversaw the No. 1 offense in Division II (per SP+). Charleston combined a relentless run game with over-the-top passing; one could see how that might be appealing to the physicality-minded Hammock.
Hammock brought in quarterback Jackson Proctor, a decent dual-threat from Dartmouth, but QB appears to be Josh Holst‘s job to lose. The sophomore was strong in the Huskies’ 28-20 bowl win over Fresno State, and sophomore RB Telly Johnson Jr. became the go-to back late in the season. That’s a good starting point, but only one returning receiver gained more than 60 receiving yards, and the line will be loaded with sophomores and juniors. It’ll be big, though: Hammock has established a nice pipeline of guys listed at 6-foot-4 or taller and 300 pounds or heavier.
It’s harder to make light of the defensive turnover. NIU has averaged a top-40 defensive SP+ ranking over the last two seasons but basically returns 2.5 starters on that side of the ball. Defensive end Roy Williams and corner Jacob Finley are solid starting points on the perimeter, but new coordinator Rob Harley might need smaller-school transfers like tackle Dasean Dixon (Albany) and safety Jasper Beeler (Saginaw Valley State) to thrive quickly. Otherwise the two-deep will be loaded with freshmen and sophomores.
2025 projection: 111th in SP+ (98th offense, 121st defense), 5.3 average wins, 4.0 conference wins
Scot Loeffler was starting to get somewhere. After going just 7-22 in his first three seasons at BGSU, he hovered around .500 each year from 2022 to 2024, but the underlying numbers (122nd in SP+ in 2022, 94th in 2023, 77th in 2024) suggested excellent progress. In 2024, the Falcons had their best offense in nine years and their best defense in 11. But Loeffler left to become the Philadelphia Eagles’ QBs coach in late February — an understandable but extremely inconvenient move.
Eddie George comes to Bowling Green after orchestrating a revival at Tennessee State. Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon SportswireBGSU made an intriguing replacement hire, however, in Eddie George, the Ohio State legend and, more recently, author of a nice revival at Tennessee State. After going 15-18 in his first three seasons at TSU, his Tigers jumped to 9-4 with a first FCS playoff bid last fall. He brought both TSU coordinators with him (OC Travis Partridge, DC Brandon Fisher), and after Loeffler had already added 15 transfers in the winter, George signed another 10.Translation: This is going to be a new team. BGSU’s 59 returning starts are the third lowest in a turnover-heavy conference, and 47 of those starts are from one unit (OL). The defense returns basically 0.5 starters (safety Darius Lorfils, who started six games).
I’m really intrigued by some of the defensive newcomers, though. Defensive tackle Eriq George (son of the coach) had 12.5 TFLs for TSU, and linebacker Gideon Lampron had 26.5 TFLs at Dayton. Corners Mark Cannon Jr. (Illinois State) and Jalen McClendon (TSU) combined for four picks and 32 pass breakups. Throw in some youngsters with strong recruiting rankings — defensive lineman Collins Acheampong (UCLA), linebacker Andrew Hines (Wake Forest), safety Jay’Quan Bostic (Toledo), corner Key’on Washington (West Virginia) — and George might have something here.
The offense might not have quite as much upside, but experience could produce a high floor. The line indeed returns four starters, all seniors, and veteran Drew Pyne comes over from Mizzou to lead the way at QB. The skill corps, however, is a total mystery. Tight end Arlis Boardingham (Florida) is athletic, and receivers Brennan Ridley (Hampton) and Allen Middleton (Southern Illinois) combined for 1,018 receiving yards as FCS freshmen, but it’s hard to determine who might see a ton of the ball in 2025.
2025 projection: 117th in SP+ (127th offense, 102nd defense), 5.3 average wins, 4.0 conference wins
Matt Drinkall inherits personnel from a team that won only 13 games in its last three years under Jim McElwain, and he might institute a pretty big stylistic shift with unproven offensive personnel. This doesn’t feel like the start of an “a couple of breaks away from a run” tale. But a friendly schedule and actual defensive continuity — a rare commodity in this conference — might make the Chippewas improvement candidates.
Drinkall brings NAIA success to the table — he improved Kansas Wesleyan from 2-9 to 13-1 with a playoff semifinal run over five years in Salina — and he was asked by Jeff Monken to modernize Army’s option attack following rule changes in 2023. The changes didn’t really take, and he was demoted to Army O-line coach in 2024, but the Iowa grad still has Midwestern ties and an interesting offensive background.
We probably won’t see much of an option attack with incumbent Joe Labas the likely starting QB. Labas started half of 2024 before a season-ending injury; his full-season numbers (seven TDs, seven INTs) were colored by a horrid, five-INT performance against Florida International, but he wasn’t much of a runner regardless. The return of slot man Tyson Davis (injured in 2023) assures at least one experienced wideout, but no other returnee had more than 66 receiving yards in 2024, and Tulane transfer Trey Cornist is officially the most proven running back … with 149 rushing yards last year. Drinkall is an O-line guy, and CMU should have good size up front, plus maybe some help from FCS transfers John Iannuzzi (Columbia) and Jacob Russell (Valpo).
Veteran Sean Cronin, most recently Army’s D-line coach, takes over as defensive coordinator, and his No. 1 task is bringing stability to a dramatically all-or-nothing unit: CMU ranked 11th nationally in stuff rate and 13th in sack rate but gave up a spectacular number of big plays. Linebackers Jordan Kwiatkowski and Dakota Cochran (combined: 23.5 TFLs) are thrilling, and safety Caleb Spann thrives near the line of scrimmage. They are undeniable playmakers, and cornerback Kalen Carroll (Cincinnati) is one of the conference’s few incoming power-conference starters. But glitches were devastating in 2024, and Cronin will likely dial the risk profile back a bit.
Head coach: Chris Creighton (12th year, 57-75 overall)
2025 projection: 113th in SP+ (116th offense, 111th defense), 5.1 average wins, 3.5 conference wins
Chris Creighton has been pulling off .500ish seasons at EMU for long enough that we’re forgetting how impressive going .500 at EMU really is. The Eagles won five games just three times in the 24 seasons before Creighton’s arrival from Drake in 2014, and now they’ve bowled six times in the past nine years. Collapsing from 5-2 to 5-7 last year, thanks to both epic injury issues and close defeats, was a genuine disappointment instead of a roundabout accomplishment.
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With so many MAC programs dealing with major turnover, this would feel like an opportunity for Creighton and EMU … if they weren’t dealing with the same thing. The Eagles return only four players who started more than five games last season, though the injuries meant that quite a few of the returnees saw the field. That’s especially true on defense, where 11 returnees started at least once. Still, Creighton brought in seven defensive transfers (plus four JUCOs) to assure a rebound for a unit that collapsed from 67th to 115th in defensive SP+. New playmakers need to emerge, but defensive end Jefferson Adam made 5.5 TFLs in just 185 snaps, and nickel back Barry Manning had three run stops and two pass breakups in 193 snaps; both could become stars with starter-level playing time.
The offense collapsed to 130th in offensive SP+ in 2023 but rebounded a bit last year despite 18 guys starting at least one game. Only six of those 18 return, but I’m intrigued by newcomers like quarterback Cameron Edge (Maryland) and running back James Jointer Jr. (Liberty), and receiver Terry Lockett Jr. is one of the league’s more explosive returning wideouts. The bar for further improvement is pretty low — just keep guys semi-healthy, and you could return to the top 100.
Since Creighton’s arrival, only NIU has played in more one-score games among MAC teams than EMU — almost surprising considering EMU’s fast-paced offense and fourth-down willingness — and that dynamic probably won’t change in 2025: Ten of the Eagles’ 12 games are projected within single digits, and six of the last eight are projected within a touchdown. Win the close ones they didn’t win last year, and 2025 will be pretty exciting.
Head coach: Lance Taylor (third year, 10-15 overall)
2025 projection: 118th in SP+ (112th offense, 117th defense), 4.8 average wins, 3.5 conference wins
After back-to-back losing seasons for a seemingly stalling WMU program, 2024 brought some positivity: Thanks primarily to a 5-1 record against teams ranked in the triple digits in SP+, Lance Taylor’s Broncos eked out six wins and a bowl bid.
In terms of balancing efficiency and explosiveness, the WMU offense was one of the more well-rounded in the conference.
TruMediaWalt Bell’s offense is predicated around strong rushing and quick passing; it’s an obvious concern that only 2.5 starters return (tight end Blake Bosma, guard John Hofer and receiver and seven-game starter Malique Dieudonne), but junior running back Jalen Buckley (683 yards, nine TDs) is good, Bosma (88% catch rate) is an efficiency cheat code, and Taylor brought in intriguing power-conference transfers such as running back Cole Cabana (Michigan), receiver Christian Leary (Alabama/Georgia Tech) and linemen Raheem Anderson (Michigan) and Hunter Whitenack (Illinois). Quarterback Hayden Wolff is gone, but I think either sophomore Broc Lowry or JC All-American Brady Jones will fill in pretty well there.
The defense hasn’t yet generated any traction under Taylor, who is on his third coordinator in three years. New DC Chris O’Leary was a Notre Dame analyst and, in 2024, the safeties coach for Jim Harbaugh’s L.A. Chargers. This feels like a high-ceiling, low-floor hire, and O’Leary’s success in 2025 will be derived primarily from a number of smaller-school transfers, the most intriguing of which are probably defensive end Kershawn Fisher (Nicholls), linebacker Sefa Saipaia (Ferris State), corner Jordon Thomas (Eastern Kentucky) and safety Marvin Smith (Alabama A&M). Returning safety Tate Hallock is a keeper, but newcomers will tell the tale.
Head coach: Joe Moorhead (fourth year, 8-28 overall)
2025 projection: 132nd in SP+ (131st offense, 120th defense), 4.5 average wins, 3.2 conference wins
In three years at Akron, Joe Moorhead has proved to be a pretty solid talent evaluator, and going 4-8 in 2024 — after the Zips went a combined 7-47 from 2019-23 — was an undeniable success. But hard jobs remain hard in perpetuity; Moorhead hasn’t made any progress on offense (average offensive SP+ ranking: 126.7), the Zips’ APR scores have dropped enough to get them banned from the postseason (not that six wins was particularly likely anyway), and Moorhead’s primary reward for solid talent identification is that said talent has been plucked away: Seven Zips transferred to power-conference teams this offseason.
It’s kind of a lost year already, in other words. But in Michael Johnson Jr. (Syracuse), running back Chris Gee (Colgate), O-lineman Allen Jones Jr. (West Alabama), prolific linebacker Cam Hollobaugh (Walsh), safety Mehki Flowers (Penn State) and others, Moorhead’s 2025 transfer haul has decent upside. So, too, might returnees like veteran quarterback Ben Finley, 6-foot-7 defensive end Bruno Dall, linebacker Shammond Cooper (injured in 2023) and junior corner Elijah Reed.
Akron is a projected favorite in only three games but is a projected one-score underdog in five others — overachieving against projections just a little could make this a decent season, even if bowling is already off the table.
2025 projection: 134th in SP+ (123rd offense, 131st defense), 3.4 average wins, 2.5 conference wins
After the slow rise and equally slow fall of the eight-year Mike Neu era, Mike Uremovich takes the reins at BSU. The NIU grad and former Temple and NIU offensive coordinator knows the MAC and has crafted success from limited Midwestern resources at both NAIA’s St. Francis (Illinois) and FCS’ Butler. His 2024 Butler team ranked 35th in SP+, easily the highest in the non-scholarship Pioneer Conference.
Uremovich’s offense is generally built around adapting to player strengths, and the primary strength of his 2025 Cardinals might be versatility. Senior quarterback Kiael Kelly is a better athlete than passer, and running back transfer Qua Ashley (Kennesaw State) caught 28 balls out of the backfield last year. Throw in slot man (and punt returner) Qian Magwood and 5-foot-8 Bucknell WR transfer Eric Weatherly, and you’ve got a set of bouncy and versatile, if not particularly large, skill-corps guys. They could also have the largest pair of tackles in the MAC with returnee Chris Hood (6-foot-10!) potentially pairing with Butler transfer Adam Dolan (6-foot-8), for whatever that’s worth.
Despite BSU’s defensive collapse, Uremovich kept coordinator Jeff Knowles in place, and with good reason: He was Uremovich’s DC at Butler in 2023. The defensive front returns disruptive options in linebacker Joey Stemler and tackle Darin Conley, but a poor secondary has been overhauled. Uremovich brought in 10 defensive transfers, but only three are seniors — this might be a multiyear rebuild on D.
2025 projection: 13th in SP+ (119th offense, 135th defense), 3.5 average wins, 2.2 conference wins
It’s been a pretty directionless FBS run for UMass. The Minutemen spent their first four FBS seasons in the MAC before choosing independence over all-sports membership, but after nine years and just 18 wins, they’re back. At head coach, they’ve tried veteran retreads (Mark Whipple, Don Brown) and young hotshots (Walt Bell), and nothing has generated traction. Now it’s time to go Full Rutgers. Massachusetts native Joe Harasymiak takes over after three years as Greg Schiano’s defensive coordinator at RU. Schiano is the ultimate, obsessive “skip no steps” program builder, and one can see the appeal to such an approach at UMass.
Harasymiak brought in 34 transfers, but while a few of them are seniors who could contribute quickly — quarterback Grant Jordan (Yale), offensive lineman Mike Entwistle (Harvard), defensive end Josh Nobles (Jackson State), linebacker Timmy Hinspeter (Rutgers), safety Malcolm Greene (Virginia) — some of the more intriguing players on the roster are underclassmen.
Redshirt freshman quarterback AJ Hairston could fend off both Jordan and Utah transfer Brandon Rose for playing time at QB, while transfers like running back Rocko Griffin (UTSA), receiver Tyree Kelly (USF), tackle Malachi Madison (Virginia Tech), linebacker Nick Hawthorne (Boise State) and disruptive safeties Kendall Bournes (Concord) and Zeraun Daniel (Georgetown) are all juniors or younger.
This is going to take some time. UMass is a projected favorite in only one 2025 game, but hey, when you’ve averaged only two wins per season in FBS, the bar for progress is awfully low.
2025 projection: 136th in SP+ (134th offense, 133rd defense), 2.8 average wins, 2.2 conference wins
If the bar is low at UMass, it’s just laying on the floor at Kent State. Under head coach Kenni Burns, the Golden Flashes went just 1-23 in two seasons, but it’s actually even worse than that: In my year-end, all-division SP+ rankings, they not only ranked a distant last among the 134 FBS teams, they ranked 227th overall, behind 79 FCS teams and 14 Division II teams. They would have been well below average in the FCS’ Missouri Valley Football Conference. Hell, they’d have been fourth in D2’s GLIAC. This was an utterly atrocious football team.
That just means there’s nowhere to go but up, right? Even with Burns getting dismissed at just about the most awkward possible time of year (mid-April) and offensive coordinator Mark Carney taking over as interim head coach, it’s going to be almost impossible to be that bad again.
I’m not going to try to sell you on the merits of transfers like quarterback CJ Montes (Fordham), offensive lineman Jamarcus Hill (Southeast Missouri), defensive end Jamond Mathis (Southern Illinois) and defensive tackle Thomas Aden (Pitt) or genuinely decent returnees like guard Dustyn Morell or nickelback Canaan Williams. I’m just going to note that, with so many other MAC teams facing major turnover, Kent State could be close enough to the rest of the pack to win a game or two. And when the bar is set at “midtier GLIAC team,” it’s pretty easy to maybe show a sign or two of progress.
Wheeling Athletics Announces Influxer Partnership for NIL Apparel
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Wheeling, W. Va. – In the ever expanding world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) the Wheeling University Athletics Department is looking to give their student-athletes a leg-up. On Monday the department announced a partnership with Influxer, an officially licensed vendor that allows student-athletes to sell unique and custom apparel through […]
Wheeling, W. Va. – In the ever expanding world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) the Wheeling University Athletics Department is looking to give their student-athletes a leg-up. On Monday the department announced a partnership with Influxer, an officially licensed vendor that allows student-athletes to sell unique and custom apparel through a NIL agreement. Cardinal fans can purchase customized apparel to benefit Wheeling University student-athletes and their hard work on and off the field.
“In the growing landscape of NIL, it is important to us to open opportunities to our student-athletes to take advantage of all it has to offer,” said Wheeling University Athletics Director Carrie Hanna. “We are dedicated to open new opportunities for our student-athletes both on and off the field, and this is one way we are helping prepare our student-athletes for the professional world.”
Influxer’s mission is to help student-athletes navigate NIL by presenting income opportunities, providing professional education, and supporting a future beyond college athletics. They have partnered with over 500 schools across the country to create co-branded apparel customized with player’s names and numbers. As the company has continued to grow, they have expanded their product line and partnered with local sports organizations, growing to serve a diverse range of athletes. Their expertise will help Wheeling Student-Athletes navigate the complicated field of NIL, leading to success and growth both on and off the field.
The platform empowers student-athletes to create their own personalized store, manage their merchandise, and maximize their earning while connecting with fans and brands. Influxer will work with each student-athlete to create their own store and help them keep track of and update their merchandise. It also offers opportunities to connect with brands to take part in their campaigns, creating opportunities for athletes to further elevate their profiles. Each store offers analytics that will help student-athletes track their performance and continue to grow their brand.
“The NIL landscape is constantly evolving and working with Carrie Hanna and the administration has been an amazing opportunity to see the vision they have for Wheeling University providing great options through Influxer for their student-athletes,” said Influxer VP, Keith Miller. “They see this as not simply a transactional opportunity, but as an opportunity to develop long term skills for life.”
To visit the Wheeling University Influxr site and purchase co-branded apparel of Wheeling University student-athletes, please click HERE.
Which Nevada football alums are pushing for NFL spots with strong camps?
Nevada football opens the season at Penn State in just 12 days, and we got relatively few questions about this year’s team in this week’s Monday Mailbag. Go figure. Let’s get the questions. Thanks, as always, for the inquiries. There’s an extensive list of players with Northern Nevada ties in NFL training camps with 18 […]
Nevada football opens the season at Penn State in just 12 days, and we got relatively few questions about this year’s team in this week’s Monday Mailbag. Go figure. Let’s get the questions. Thanks, as always, for the inquiries.
There’s an extensive list of players with Northern Nevada ties in NFL training camps with 18 fighting for spots on the 53-man roster. Here’s an overview.
* WR Brandon Aiyuk (McQueen High), San Francisco 49ers: Rehabbing from a torn ACL and MCL and is expected to miss at least the first five weeks of the season.
* OG Joel Bitonio (Nevada Wolf Pack), Cleveland Browns: Entering his 12th season as a starter in the NFL; do you know how hard it is to start in the NFL for a decade-plus?
* WR Elijah Cooks (Nevada Wolf Pack), Philadelphia Eagles: On a new team this season, Cooks has yet to record a stat in the preseason and is angling for a practice squad spot.
* OG Austin Corbett (Reed High/Nevada Wolf Pack), Carolina Panthers: Corbett’s goal will be to make it through the year healthy after three straight season-ending injuries (last year was a bicep tear).
* DB Kitan Crawford (Nevada Wolf Pack), Arizona Cardinals: Crawford has seven tackles and an interception in two preseason games and is making a strong push for the 53-man roster.
* OL Ben Dooley (Churchill County High), Los Angeles Rams: An undrafted free agent, Dooley will try and make the depth chart on an iffy Rams offensive line. Practice squad is more likely.
* WR Romeo Doubs (Nevada Wolf Pack), Green Bay Packers: Doubs has played in one of two preseason games with two targets (no catches). He’s a free agent next offseason, so this is a big year for him.
* LB Daiyan Henley (Nevada Wolf Pack), Los Angeles Chargers: Henley has two tackles this preseason. He’s one of the NFL’s top returning tacklers.
* WR/PR Tory Horton (Nevada Wolf Pack), Seattle Seahawks: In two preseason games, Horton has caught four of nine targets for 43 yards and a touchdown. He’ll make the roster.
* WR John Jackson III (Nevada Wolf Pack), Chicago Bears: Jackson has caught one of his four targets for seven yards. He’s looking to make the practice squad.
* DB Emany Johnson (Nevada Wolf Pack), Los Angeles Chargers: Johnson has got a lot of playing time and leads the NFL in tackles this preseason with 19 in three games (only two teams have played three games). He’s making a run at the active roster.
* LB Ale Kaho (Reno High), Washington Commanders: Kaho has one tackle in the preseason and will look to make the practice squad.
* TE Keleki Latu (Nevada Wolf Pack), Buffalo Bills: Latu has one catch for nine yards on two targets in two preseason games. His goal is to make the practice squad.
* LB Nephi Sewell (Nevada Wolf Pack), New Orleans Saints: Sewell has two tackles in the preseason and is a good bet to make the 53-man roster as a special teams ace.
* WR Jaden Smith (Nevada Wolf Pack), Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Smith joined the Bucs after camp began but has played in both preseason games with one catch (on two targets) for nine yards. He’s a practice squad candidate.
* RB Toa Taua (Nevada Wolf Pack), Cleveland Browns: Signed after camp began, Taua has seven rushes for 37 yards (5.3 ypc) and two catches for 16 yards. The Browns’ second-round pick, RB Quinshon Judkins, will not face charges from a post-draft arrest (domestic violence/battery charge) but still might not sign with the Browns until the NFL investigation concludes, which helps Taua’s odds of making the active roster. At minimum, practice squad seems like a lock.
* TE Cole Turner (Nevada Wolf Pack), Washington Commanders: After spending all of last season on the practice squad, Turner has one target this preseason (no catches) in one game.
* OLB Kyle Van Noy (McQueen High), Baltimore Ravens: Van Noy hasn’t played in the preseason and is a lock to make the Ravens’ roster after a career-high 12.5 sacks last season.
High. This is Chubba Purdy’s last season of college, but Nevada’s true freshman quarterback, Carter Jones, has looked impressive in spring and fall camp. It’s early, but I would not be surprised if Jones is Nevada’s 2026 starter as a redshirt freshman. In fact, if Purdy goes down with a long-term injury this season, I would guess Jones ultimately gets the 2025 starting job. A.J. Bianco would get first crack if Purdy is out multiple games, but Jones doesn’t seem that far behind him at this point despite some rough moments in Friday’s fall camp scrimmage, which included a pick-six. The staff is clearly high on Jones.
“It was a really good growing and learning day for Carter Jones,” Nevada coach Jeff Choate said. “He was in some situations, crowd noise, not paying attention to the play clock, a veteran linebacker saying, ‘Go ahead and throw it there,’ and then stepping in front of him and taking it the other way. I think he’s gonna learn and grow a lot from that. Practice is about stressing yourself. You can’t go out there to not make mistakes. You gotta rip it, you gotta cut it loose, you gotta stress yourself in those situations, know what works, know what doesn’t work so you’re ready to go in the game. I thought today will probably be one of the biggest learning days Carter will have in his entire college career.”
The Wolf Pack will almost certainly add a transfer quarterback next offseason for added competition. It didn’t do so this offseason because it didn’t want to scare its top-three quarterbacks into the portal. But I would say there’s a 65 percent shot Nevada’s 2026 starting quarterback is already on campus (either Jones or Bianco).
Well, Nevada doesn’t play Air Force this season, so the Wolf Pack isn’t beating the Falcons. Of those other three games, the best chance of a win is over San Jose State, which will play at Mackay Stadium. Nevada plays at Fresno State, which is always a tough place to win, and hosts Boise State. I could see the Wolf Pack beating the Bulldogs, who have a first-year head coach in Matt Entz. After going 2-6 in one-score games last season, Nevada should be close to .500 in those games this year. Nevada’s penalties and special teams were the biggest reasons behind that poor one-score record. I wrote about that here.
Nevada vs. UC Davis is going to happen because the Aggies are joining the Wolf Pack in the Mountain West (except for football) in 2026-27. Nevada football doesn’t have a game with UC Davis on its future schedule, but the Wolf Pack doesn’t have any FCS opponents on its schedule past 2026, so some need to be added and there’s a solid shot the football teams meet in the relatively near future. I wonder if UC Davis would wear its Lake Tahoe-themed helmet for that game, as those have drawn some derision from Wolf Pack fans and Nevada football coach Jeff Choate.
The legalization of name, image and likeness (NIL) deals added a wrinkle for the fundraising arms of athletic departments because all of a sudden the same boosters are making the choice between donating to NIL (essentially player salaries) or facility upgrades. Some donors have enough money for both. But there’s a limited numbers of big-money donors for schools like Nevada, and some don’t want to donate to NIL, which is a one-year roster boost, compared to facility upgrades, which have a longer-lasting impact. Post-NIL, the Wolf Pack has still got major donations for facility upgrades (Mackay Stadium’s new playing surface; baseball’s new locker room; football’s upgraded strength center), but it definitely forces some boosters to pick between NIL or facilities when making donations. A change has come this season with schools now allowed to share revenue with players, so NIL deals don’t only come from donors. That could allow schools to refocus the attention of its donor base on facility improvements, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a focus on garnering donations for NIL. It comes down to understanding each of your boosters and where they want their money going. There’s certainly a donor defraying element at play.
Well, $300 million is a lot of money, but Nevada does actually have an alum who could make a pledge like this in Fatih and Eren Ozmen, who both graduated from the university and own the Sparks-headquartered Sierra Nevada Corporation. The Ozmens’ net worth is a reported $4.4 billion. I’m not aware of any donations they’ve made to Wolf Pack athletics, but they’ve made major donations to academics before with the Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship established in 2014 after a $5 million pledge.
Too light. Take the title away. Almost every Power 4 school has at least one donor who would pay a $30 million fine for their football team to win a tainted national championship, as Michigan did. I wrote about this topic in last week’s Week in 1,000 Words column here.
It depends if you’re going solo or trying to set up a larger tailgate. For larger groups, Nevada has four tiers of tailgating where the department has full setup and takedown service (the packages are listed here and cost $500, $870, $993, $1,063). If you’re going solo, just DM “Fake Coach Mumme” on Twitter and he’ll take care of you. There better be some folding tables involved, ala Bills Mafia.
Speaking of Fake Coach Mumme, here he is. Nevada has announced its game themes for the 2025 home football season (story here), and Beerfest is slated for the Middle Tennessee game Sept. 13. More details to come, I’m sure. That’s also Educators Day, Vamos Pack Day and Band Day. I’d pay extra to see the band perform after taking part in Beerfest (minimum five drinks per band member could lead to some interesting things).
Yes. Nevada basketball has averaged 3.6 blocks per game in each of the last two seasons, and no football team is averaging 3.6 picks per game. Wolf Pack men’s basketball has averaged at least 3.0 blocks per game in each of the last 24 seasons. To hit three interceptions per game, Nevada football would need 36 picks this season; last year’s college leader had 22 (or 1.7 per game). A better goal would be Nevada football’s offensive touchdowns per game (3.1 last year) surpassing Nevada men’s basketball’s blocks per game.
The Raiders have two winning records since 2003 (out of 22 seasons), so I’ll take the under on a 9-8 record for Las Vegas; the betting odds are 7.5 wins. The Raiders play the NFC East (Eagles, Cowboys, Commanders, Giants), which is the NFL’s hardest division. I’ll go 7-10 for the Raiders. As for coach Pete Carroll, he has a reputation for valuing the building of genuine relationships. He once described the culture of his teams as “trying to help people find their best, one person at a time,” and that seems to resonate. I’m not a huge Dave Roberts fan in terms of his in-game decisions for the Dodgers, but, like Carroll, he has the ability to connect with players, and that’s worked well for him and his teams.
I would bet my life NSN has given more coverage to non-large-class high school teams (in all sports and not just football) than the rest of the Reno-based sports media combined since we were established in 2018. Is it always appreciated? Certainly not. Most people always want more, more, more and don’t realize we’re a seven-person regional sports network that broadcasts more than 125 live games annually, write eight to 10 locally produced stories each day, get millions of views on our social media each month and produce and broadcast a local sports show every weekday. That takes a lot of manpower. We do the best we can with our staff size, which has included plenty of shine for non-5A high school teams and athletes. We already have this week’s Friday Night Lights schedule and are covering games that include Elko, Spring Creek, South Tahoe, Incline, Sparks, Churchill County and North Valleys. That’s seven non-5A/4A teams we’ll be shooting.
Nevada’s athletic budget (using revenue and not expenses) in 2023-24 was $47.9 million, which ranked 71st in the nation, per USA Today’s database. Washington was 25th at $145.1 million. Ohio State led the way at $251.6 million.
Yes, I think the ACC will fall apart and the Big Ten, SEC and Big 12 will move forward with a new college athletics hierarchy, which would leave some ACC teams behind as the new Power 3 forms (most likely to be left behind are Cal, Stanford, Wake Forest, Syracuse, Boston College, Louisville, Virginia Tech). The Power 3 would still play teams from other leagues, so those “money” games would be protected. But you’re going to see more consolidation in the future rather than expansion of the Power 3/4 level.
Starting pitching.
The Dodgers’ starting pitchers allowed 15 earned runs in 14 innings in the three-game sweep loss to the Angels (that’s a 9.64 ERA). The Dodgers’ starting pitchers allowed three earned runs in 17 innings in the three-game sweep win over to the Padres (that’s a 1.59 ERA). Starting pitching is important. And has anybody seen Manny Machado? He was nowhere to be seen in the Dodgers series, going 1-of-12 with four strikeouts in three games. That’s Michael Conforto-level productivity.
After a bunch of injuries to their starting staff, the Dodgers’ rotation is healthy and fully formed, which makes them dangerous in the playoffs, although their bullpen is still a mess. The team needs to get back a healthy and productive Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, Michael Kopech, Brock Stewart and Brusdar Graterol (at least three of them) if it’s going to do anything in the postseason.
This season, the Mountain West has the best Group of 6 conference. Next season? It will be the Pac-12 or American Conference. I’d lean Pac-12 due to men’s basketball. That’s going to be an elite college basketball conference.
And I’ll take original Mike & Ike over any variant Mike & Ike.
My favorite local French Dip used to be Redwood Rotisserie and Grill, which all of a sudden vanished in July 2023. They literally knocked the building down less than two weeks after I ate there. Rumor was an In-N-Out was going in that location, but I’m still waiting. Now that Redwood Rotisserie is gone, I’ll go with Great Basin Brewing Company’s French Dip. I haven’t tried the French Dip at Full Belly Deli. I always get the meatball sub there. Maybe I should give that a try.
It was a great show. Glass Animals joins my “three time” club after previously seeing the band at Red Rocks in Colorado and Shoreline Amphitheatre in the Bay Area. I still haven’t seen them play “Pools” live, and that’s my favorite Glass Animals song, although “The Other Side Of Paradise” is the band’s best live song. That one rocked last night. They also played their new single “Vampire Bat” twice last night, which was odd, but I guess they’re going to make it into a music video, which should be cool.
See y’all next week!
Sports columnist Chris Murray provides insight on Northern Nevada sports. He writes a weekly Monday Mailbag despite it giving him a headache and it taking several hours to write. But people seem to like it, so he does it anyway. Contact him at crmurray@sbgtv.com or follow him on Twitter @ByChrisMurray.
Texas A&M’s Reed, Owens II earn historic NIL deal with SONIC
Texas A&M QB @Marcel10Reed and RB @ii_rueben agreed to NIL deals with Sonic, which will involve them appearing in their commercials this fall and working with actor Terry Crews. Here’s a look at Sonic’s “Terry Crews School of Acting for Athletes.” pic.twitter.com/H54YLbkeWG — Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) August 18, 2025 A pair of Texas A&M stars […]
Texas A&M QB @Marcel10Reed and RB @ii_rueben agreed to NIL deals with Sonic, which will involve them appearing in their commercials this fall and working with actor Terry Crews. Here’s a look at Sonic’s “Terry Crews School of Acting for Athletes.” pic.twitter.com/H54YLbkeWG
A pair of Texas A&M stars began their NIL journey with SONIC, marking the fast-food chain’s first-ever NIL deals, which will feature the Aggie athletes in television commercials.
Alongside actor and former professional athlete Terry Crews, sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed and running back Rueben Owens II were invitees to take part in the groundbreaking commercial series. Reed and Owens II are two of three college football athletes selected, along with representatives from the Texas Longhorns. According to reports from KDAF CW 33 in Austin, Texas, Crews will serve as the on-set acting coach for the young stars.
GigEm247 beat writer Carter Karels posted the hilarious preview snippet of Crews preparing the Aggies and Longhorns on techniques, which included how to hold SONIC’s burgers.
Per reports from KDAF, the first set of commercials featuring the athletes from the respective universities will air on the weekend of August 30. While Reed and Owens II are learning how to properly hold SONIC products for the upcoming NIL deal with the brand, the pair will also be integral pieces to head coach Mike Elko’s offense in 2025.
Reed was thrown into the fire and immediately rose from the ashes like a phoenix against elite competition, as the Nashville, Tenn., native thrived in his first collegiate start in 2024 in a 33-20 victory over the Florida Gators in Gainesville.
Entering his third year at Texas A&M and joining Reed in the Aggies’ offensive backfield is Owens II. The 5-foot-11 back from El Campo, Texas, dons the Jason Vorhees famous hockey mask from Friday the 13th for a reason, as his innate ability to seek contact and zip past defenders makes him a tremendous piece to one of the best running back rooms in the Southeastern Conference, along with Le’Veon Moss.
Both stars have earned their reward off the field, but there are still major achievements the duo is aiming for as they enter this year’s campaign in College Station.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
Omaha, North Dakota Basketball Player Deng Mayar Drowns in a Utah Reservoir
Omaha basketball player Deng Mayar drowned Saturday in a Utah reservoir, police said. Herriman police said Mayar died at Blackridge Reservoir after going underwater about 35 yards from shore. Mayar, 22, was a graduate student who joined the Mavericks after playing two seasons for Summit League rival North Dakota. Mayar, from Salt Lake City, started […]
Omaha basketball player Deng Mayar drowned Saturday in a Utah reservoir, police said.
Herriman police said Mayar died at Blackridge Reservoir after going underwater about 35 yards from shore.
Mayar, 22, was a graduate student who joined the Mavericks after playing two seasons for Summit League rival North Dakota. Mayar, from Salt Lake City, started 15 games in two seasons and averaged 6.3 points and 4.0 rebounds as a senior.
Omaha coach Chris Crutchfield said in a statement that Mayar had made “tremendous progress” during the summer.
“Deng was a joy to be around and made our culture better,” Crutchfield said. “We will miss him greatly.”
Herriman police responded to a 911 call reporting two people in distress at the reservoir. Sa Mafutaga, 21, made it to shore and then went back into the water to try to rescue Mayar. Bystanders entered the water to aid Mafutaga, who was treated at the scene and taken to a hospital. The report said Mafutaga is expected to recover.
Mayar’s body was recovered from the reservoir by authorities after several hours of searching.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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GREEN BAY (WLUK) — The retirement of former Green Bay Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy didn’t last long. Murphy has traded in his green and gold for the UW-Green Bay green and white, joining the athletics staff at UWGB as the college’s first Executive in Residence. “I really missed my days in college athletics […]
“I really missed my days in college athletics and being involved in the campus,” said Murphy during an exclusive interview with FOX 11 Monday at the Kress Events Center on UWGB’s campus.
A former college football player who served as the athletic director at both Colgate University and Northwestern University, Murphy became involved at UWGB shortly after starting with the Packers. He currently sits on the Chancellor’s Council of Trustees.
As he approached the Packers’ mandatory retirement age of 70, discussions began between Murphy and UW-Green Bay administrators about his future plans.
According to Chancellor Michael Alexander, “We started to talk to Mark before he retired about what he was planning to do after he retired, and we’re really excited that we were able to work this out.”
The Green Bay Phoenix created its first Executive in Residence position for Murphy. It’s truly a return to his roots.
“It’s a great university and it serves the community, so to be involved and be helpful is something that’s really exciting to me,” Murphy told FOX 11.
Between the introduction of the transfer portal and the name, image and likeness (NIL) deal that allows college students to profit financially on their athletic ability, Murphy believes it’s an interesting time in college athletics.
In this volunteer position, where he will take no salary, Murphy’s main focus will be to help with fundraising for the Phoenix through partnerships and sponsorships.
“It’s the reality of college athletics now, and you’re going to have to put together a program where student athletes are being compensated. Good thing about Green Bay is you have a lot of people that are supportive of UWGB athletics that want them to be competitive, and I’m looking forward to working with [athletic director Josh Moon] in identifying people that might be helpful in moving the program forward,” said Murphy.
While his office is in the Kress Events Center, Murphy won’t only be focused on athletics. He will also work with Chancellor Alexander on other special university projects, too.
“He doesn’t have to learn the university. He knows the university and can help it immediately,” added Alexander.
