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CBS Sports Preseason All

Though college football is undergoing constant change with the transfer portal, NIL and conference realignment, the collection of talent in the sport has never been better. Player development and retention has given us a top tier of stars that are, in some cases, already good enough to be playing on Sundays but instead are using their talents to power wins on Saturdays in the fall.
The CBS Sports Preseason All-America team for 2025 is filled with names who fit that mold; players who were highly touted as high school prospects and have developed into some of the top stars in college football. Not everyone turned down a shot at the NFL, such as first team running back Nick Singleton from Penn State, but even the underclassmen on this All-America team are of the caliber where the next level is already counting down their arrival.
Speaking of underclassmen, Ohio State sophomore Jeremiah Smith was the only unanimous selection in this year’s voting. The Buckeyes’ wide receiver is joined by Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams, South Carolina defensive end Dylan Stewart, Texas defensive end Colin Simmons and Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore as true sophomores we are expecting to have a strong 2025 after breakout debut seasons.
2025 CBS Sports preseason college football awards: Jeremiah Smith, James Franklin headline honorees
Shehan Jeyarajah
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In terms of conferences, our All-America team is unsurprisingly led by 11 selections from the SEC followed by eight from the Big Ten. Many of the College Football Playoff participants and anticipated contenders are well-represented, with Texas, Ohio State and Penn State all putting multiple players on the squad.
2025 CBS Sports Preseason All-America
* unanimous selection | classes from official team rosters | stats from 2024 season
Offense

Cade Klubnik
CLEM • QB • #2
Yards3,639
TD38
INT6
Rush Yards463
Rush TD7
Hometown: Austin, Texas | 247Sports rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
QB: Cade Klubnik | Sr. | Clemson
There was no quarterback in the country last year better at handling pressure. Klubnik led the FBS with an 80.9 PFF grade in those situations while leading Clemson to an ACC championship and a return to the College Football Playoff. He’s coming off a 3,639-yard, 36-touchdown season and expectations are even higher in 2025 for the former five-star recruit. He’s the triggerman for a Clemson team with resurgent national championship hopes. — Chris Hummer
Second team: Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

Jeremiyah Love
ND • RB • #4
Yards1,125
TD17
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri | 247Sports rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
RB: Jeremiyah Love | Jr. | Notre Dame
If there is a successor to Ashton Jeanty as a future first-round running back, Love is it. The junior from St. Louis was one of the breakout stars of Notre Dame’s second-half run. If he was healthy, the Irish might have been holding the trophy at the end of the year. Love posted five performances of 99 yards or better over a six-game stretch to end the year, including a gamebreaking 98-yard touchdown scamper against Indiana in the College Football Playoff. With a 6-foot, 215-pound frame and exceptional balance, quickness and a nifty penchant for hurdling defenders, Love is the complete package. — Shehan Jeyarajah
Second team: Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma

RB: Nicholas Singleton | Sr. | Penn State
Singleton is already rewriting the record books at Penn State, and he could finish with the school’s career rushing title this season. Singleton this offseason surpassed Saquon Barkley’s freakish record in the weight room with a squat of 665 pounds, according to The Athletic’s annual Freaks List. He and Kaytron Allen form the most formidable duo in the game, and if Singleton can eclipse 1,020 yards this season, he’ll take Evan Royster’s Nittany Lions’ career rushing record. — Brandon Marcello
Second team: Isaac Brown, Louisville

Jeremiah Smith
OHIOST • WR • #4
Rec76
Yards1,315
TD15
Hometown: Miami Gardens, Florida | 247Sports rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WR: Jeremiah Smith* | Soph. | Ohio State
There are many NFL Draft evaluators who believe that if he’d been eligible last year, Smith would’ve been one of the first receivers off the board — if not the first. Well, the NFL’s loss is Ohio State’s gain for the next two years, because the former No. 1 overall recruit was already one of the most dangerous weapons in the country during his freshman season and odds are he’ll be better in 2025. It’s not just the size and speed that separates Smith from his peers, it’s his polish. He’s already an incredible route runner. He’s a total package at the spot. — Tom Fornelli
Second team: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State (only three WRs received votes)

Ryan Williams
BAMA • WR • #2
Rec48
Yards865
TD8
Hometown: Saraland, Alabama | 247Sports rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WR: Ryan Williams | Soph. | Alabama
Williams garnered first-team All-SEC honors before his 18th birthday, recording 48 receptions for 865 yards and eight touchdowns last season on an offense that ranked No. 104 nationally in passing attempts per game (27.2). Alabama is poised for a more dynamic passing attack in 2025 under new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and starting quarterback Ty Simpson, and Williams will be among the biggest beneficiaries as a sophomore. — Grant Hughes
Second team: Elijah Sarratt, Indiana

Eli Stowers
VANDY • TE • #9
Rec49
Yards638
TD5
Hometown: Denton, Texas | 247Sports (transfer) rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
TE: Eli Stowers | Sr. | Vanderbilt
Just three years removed from being a reserve quarterback at Texas A&M, Stowers is now one of the nation’s top tight ends at Vanderbilt. He originally made the move to tight end at New Mexico State in 2023, then transferred to Vanderbilt along with teammates, such as quarterback Diego Pavia, and ended up leading the Commodores last season with 49 catches, 638 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. NFL scouts think he’ll go in the first few rounds of next year’s NFL Draft. — Matt Zenitz
Second team: Max Klare, Ohio State

OT: Spencer Fano | Jr. | Utah
Fano plows the road for what I think will be one of the country’s best rushing attack. Don’t let the fact that he isn’t a blind side tackle fool you — Fano is a great player with all the tools it takes to play on Sundays. What’s more, he embodies the no-nonsense attitude that coach Kyle Whittingham has imbued into this program. At the end of the day, he’ll out-tough you on Saturdays and let the pads do the talking. — Richard Johnson
Second team: Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

OT: Francis Mauigoa | Jr. | Miami
When Mario Cristobal landed a commitment from Mauigoa, a top-10 player overall and No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2023 recruiting class, it was a statement of intent for how his Miami program would be built. Mauigoa has been a starter since Day 1, earning Freshman All-American honors two years ago and then backing it up with All-ACC recognition in 2024. The Hurricanes have had one of the top offensive lines in the country each of the last two years, and a big part of that success has been Mauigoa’s size and strength at tackle. — Chip Patterson
Second team: Isaiah World, Oregon

OG: Ar’maj Reed-Adams | Jr. | Texas A&M
A former starter at Kansas, Reed-Adams transferred to Texas A&M ahead of the 2024 season and immediately emerged as one of the top interior offensive linemen in the country. He started at right guard in all 13 of Texas A&M’s games and allowed just one sack and one quarterback hit in 361 pass block snaps, according to PFF. The 6-foot-5 and 325-pound Reed-Adams also graded out as an elite run blocker while helping pave the way for the second-best rushing attack in the SEC. — Will Backus
Second team: Cayden Green, Missouri

OG: Olaivavega Ioane | R-Jr. | Penn State
The running backs get all of the attention, which is deserved, but the Penn State rushing attack would not be its smash-mouth self without Ioane paving the way for those ballcarriers through the interior. Ioane moved up to a full-time starting role last season and was a true monster — albeit a perhaps unsung one from a recognition perspective — across his 16 games at the left guard spot, where he led all Nittany Lions in offensive snaps. The next great Penn State lineman got better in each of his first three years with the program and should skyrocket up mock drafts this fall. — Carter Bahns
Second team: Jaeden Roberts, Alabama

C: Jake Slaughter | R-Sr. | Florida
Slaughter had a terrific 2024 season for the Gators, logging a team-high 728 snaps in 13 starts and earning first-team Associated Press All-American honors. The 6-foot-5, 303-pound redshirt senior was the only center last season to earn 80-plus grades as both a pass and run blocker, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s big, strong, moves well for his size, doesn’t get easily caught off guard and has earned consistent praise from his teammates for his hard work, which included voting him as team captain. He’s the anchor of a unit charged with protecting star quarterback DJ Lagway, a paramount task if the Gators are going to match their lofty preseason expectations. — John Talty
Second team: Nick Dawkins, Penn State

Desmond Reid
PITT • RB
Rush YDS962
Rush TD 5
Rec YDS579
Rec TD4
Return TD1
Hometown: Hollywood, Florida | 247Sports (transfer) rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
All-purpose: Desmond Reid | R-Jr. | Pitt
The former Western Carolina standout hit the ground running at the FBS level, proving to be among the most versatile individuals in the ACC. Reid was able to be a game-breaking rusher, a productive piece of Pitt’s passing game and also the team’s top punt returner in 2024. He finished fifth nationally in all-purpose yards per game (154.9) and was hitting rushing-receiving benchmarks that haven’t been seen since Christian McCaffrey’s time at Stanford. As Pitt’s offense looks to take another step in Year 2 under offensive coordinator Kade Bell, Reid is expected to remain the star. — Chip Patterson
Second team: Zachariah Branch, Georgia
Defense

Colin Simmons
TEXAS • LB • #1
Tackles48
TFL14
Sacks9
INT1
Hometown: Duncanville, Texas | 247Sports rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
DE: Colin Simmons | Soph. | Texas
Simmons had a breakout freshman campaign for Texas, quickly establishing himself as one of the nation’s most dynamic defensive forces en route to upsetting Jeremiah Smith to with the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award (our friends at 247Sports tabbed Smith). Simmons led the Longhorns with nine sacks — the highest total among all FBS freshmen — and ranked second on the team with 14 tackles for loss. With no sophomore slump expected, the menacing Simmons is poised to be one of the key anchors on a Texas defense that projects to be among the most formidable units in the country for 2025. — Cody Nagel
Second team: T.J. Parker, Clemson

Dylan Stewart
SC • LB • #6
Tackles23
TFL10.5
Sacks6.5
FF3
Hometown: Washington, D.C. | 247Sports rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
DE: Dylan Stewart | Soph. | South Carolina
Stewart has everything you want in an elite edge rusher: speed, bend and power. He flashed as a true freshman, ignored temptations to enter the transfer portal and now takes the defensive mantle for the Gamecocks this season as a future top 10 pick. Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson is the last lineman to be a Heisman finalist (2021) after helping Michigan win the Big Ten with a 14-sack effort. Stewart could have that same kind of impact for the Gamecocks. — Brad Crawford
Second team: Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon

Peter Woods
CLEM • DT • #11
Tackles38
TFL2.5
FF1
Hometown: Alabaster, Alabama | 247Sports rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
DT: Peter Woods | Jr. | Clemson
Defensive tackles don’t get nearly enough credit. They may not finish with the sack numbers of their brethren on the edge, but every defensive coordinator in the country will tell you nothing ruins an offense’s day like interior pressure. And that’s what Woods does for Clemson; he’s an elite run-stuffer and an excellent disruptor in the passing game as well. There isn’t a guard in the country excited to look up and see this man lined up across from him. — Tom Fornelli
Second team: Christen Miller, Georgia

Zane Durant
PSU • DT • #28
Tackles42
TFL11
Sacks3
Hometown: Lake Nona, Florida | 247Sports rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
DT: Zane Durant | Sr. | Penn State
Durant probably doesn’t get enough recognition on the national scene, but he will this season. The bull and veteran defensive tackle leads the Penn State defense in the trenches after piling up 11 TFLs in the middle last season. He garnered recognition from center (and teammate) Nick Dawkins as the best defensive tackle in college football. “I could go on for like two hours. He’s just a different cat,” Dawkins told reporters at Big Ten Media Days. Durant only picked up All-Big Ten honorable mention honors in 2024. That changes this year. — Brandon Marcello
Second team: Mikail Kamara, Indiana

Anthony Hill Jr.
TEXAS • LB
Tackles113
TFL16.5
Sacks8
INT1
FFFF
Hometown: Denton, Texas | 247Sports rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
LB: Anthony Hill | Jr. | Texas
While the offense gets most of the headlines, Texas has been a defense-first program under coach Steve Sarkisian. In 2024, Hill proved he could be the undisputed head of the snake. The true sophomore posted an absurd 113 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, eight sacks and four forced fumbles during an All-American season. Hill boasts the kind of frame and athletic gifts that makes defensive coordinators salivate — and opposing offensive coordinators tear out their hair. — Shehan Jeyarajah
Second team: Gabe Jacas, Illinois

Kyle Louis
PITT • LB • #9
Tackles101
TFL15.5
Sacks7
INT4
FF1
Hometown: East Orange, New Jersey | 247Sports rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
LB: Kyle Louis | R-Jr. | Pitt
Louis broke out as a redshirt sophomore last fall, stuffing the stat sheet in gobsmacking fashion. The former three-star recruit is a film junkie with a 6-foot-1, 220-pound frame built for impact. Pittsburgh is expected to finish in the lower half of the ACC, and though the Panthers may not steal the spotlight this season, Louis will be impossible to ignore. — Grant Hughes
Second team: Whit Weeks, LSU

CJ Allen
UGA • LB • #3
Tackles76
TFL3
INT1
Hometown: Barnesville, Georgia | 247Sports rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
LB: CJ Allen | Jr. | Georgia
Next in line in the Georgia linebacker lineage is Allen, who has lightning quickness from the second level of the Dawgs’ D and brings an absolutely thump to whoever he hits. When you collide with him, you go down. It’s as simple as that, he’s a seek-and-destroy player. He stepped in as a freshman and has not looked back. There was no sophomore slump, and now as a seasoned veteran, he’ll earn numerous accolades at the end of this season. Internally, Georgia is sky high on its linebacker room. Surprise, surprise. — Richard Johnson
Second team: Sonny Styles, Ohio State

CB: Leonard Moore | Soph. | Notre Dame
You can’t play much better as a true freshman than Moore did a season ago. A midseason starting replacement for injured All-American cornerback Benjamin Morrison, Moore held opposing passers to a 46.4 completion percentage and emerged as a household name for football junkies. Ohio State didn’t even really bother trying him in the national title game with just three targets. Now, Moore is expected to be the frontman for what’s again expected to be one of the nation’s top secondaries. — Hummer
Second team: Chandler Rivers, Duke

Jermod McCoy
TENN • DB • #3
Tackles44
INT4
Hometown: Whitehouse, Texas | 247Sports (transfer) rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
CB: Jermod McCoy | Jr. | Tennessee
McCoy was quite the transfer portal find for Tennessee. He came to Knoxville by way of Oregon State and tied for second among Power Four cornerbacks with four interceptions in his first season with the Vols. He also finished the year with nine pass breakups. He’s a sticky cover specialist with excellent athletic tools, and he’s regarded as the top cornerback prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. McCoy tore his ACL in January, and while there’s no updated timetable for his return, he is expected back at some point in the first half of the 2025 season. — Will Backus
Second team: Aveion Terrell, Clemson

Caleb Downs
OHIOST • S • #2
Tackles81
INT2
Hometown: Hoschton, Georgia | 247Sports (transfer) rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
S: Caleb Downs | Jr. | Ohio State
A Swiss Army Knife of a defender, Downs is listed as a safety, but he’s not limited to it. The Alabama transfer saw snaps at corner last year, in the slot, in the box and lined up deep as a traditional safety. He’s a defensive coordinator’s dream because you can move him around and rely on him to get the job done. Downs is also a force on special teams, returning six punts last year, including one for a touchdown against Indiana. Who knows? Maybe we’ll see him get snaps on offense this year, too. – Tom Fornelli
Second team: Koi Perich, Minnesota

Dillon Thieneman
OREG • DB • #31
Tackles104
Sacks1
Hometown: Westfield, Indiana | 247Sports (transfer) rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
S: Dillon Thieneman | Jr. | Oregon
Oregon found an elite plug-and-play replacement in the secondary in the form of a perennial 100-tackle force. He debuted as a true freshman in 2023 with six interceptions and was just as prolific last year at disrupting the box as he was in pass coverage, leading the Big Ten in tackles for Purdue. Thieneman does a little bit of everything and does so at a high level. He would have been a household name if his production the last two years came on a more successful team than Purdue; carrying that track record with him to Eugene will put him on a bigger stage and allow him to flourish as one of the most highly regarded safeties in the nation. — Carter Bahns
Second team: KJ Bolden, Georgia
Special teams

K: Dominic Zvada | Sr. | Michigan
Kickers deserve attention, too. Zvada became the first in Michigan history to make seven field goals from 50-plus yards in a season — and he was perfect on those attempts, leading the FBS. The former Arkansas State transfer hit 21 of 22 field goal attempts, including all 17 from 30-plus yards. His consistent leg and clutch kicking earned him Bakken-Andersen Big Ten Kicker of the Year honors and solidified him as a vital piece of Michigan’s special teams heading into 2025. — Cody Nagel
Second team: Peyton Woodring, Georgia

P: Brett Thorson | Sr. | Georgia
One of the latest All-American caliber specialist to come out of ProKick Australia, Thorson’s 2025 has mostly been about working his way back to full health from offseason knee surgery. But Thorson’s ceiling as a punter is proven, and his ability to not only kick great distances but pin opponents inside the 20-yard line and 10-yard line complements the Bulldogs’ defensive strengths. As long as he’s back to form, Thorson will once again be playing a role in some of the biggest games of the season flipping the field for the Dawgs. — Chip Patterson
Second team: Palmer Williams, Baylor

Barion Brown
LSU • WR • #6
KR Yards449
KR TD1
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee | 247Sports (transfer) rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
RET: Barion Brown | Sr. | LSU
Brown is an electric receiver, but nobody should overlook his value as a returner. He’s popped off five kick return touchdowns over the last three seasons, including a trio of them in 2023 for Kentucky. Brown has ranked in the top 25 nationally in kickoff return average every season of his career. With two more kickoff return touchdowns this year, Brown would tie the NCAA record for most in a career. — Chris Hummer
Second team: Keelan Marion, Miami
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VCU’s Phil Martelli Jr. on the state of college sports amid NIL, transfer portal, conversations with dad
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Scarlet Knights Legend Leonte Carroo Sues Rutgers Over NIL Claims
Rutgers football legend Leonte Carroo is suing Rutgers University over the use of his Name, Image, and Likeness from when he was playing in college, according to an article written by Brian Fonseca of Nj.com/NJAdvancedMedia. Carroo’s lawsuit claims that he is entitled to back payments for the money he generated for the university throughout his college career. The lawsuit values those figures between 2.8 and 3 million dollars.
Carroo and his team originally filed the lawsuit in October. In December, Rutgers countered and tried to have the lawsuit dismissed, arguing that the statute of limitations had long passed and that several courts from around the country had already unanimously denied the type of NIL claim that Carroo’s team is making. On January 9th, Carroo’s legal team filed a brief meant to argue that the university’s dismissal should be denied.
According to the article by Fonseca, Carroo’s team gave Rutgers a formal demand letter in June seeking compensation for the unauthorized use of his NIL. The university did not provide such compensation, which led to the lawsuit.
The House vs. NCAA settlement granted back payment to college athletes who were in school between June 2016 and 2024. Carroo’s playing at Rutgers career falls just outside that, as he played from 2012-2015. Carroo’s legal team is arguing that just because he falls outside the period given, it does not take away from the fact that Rutgers unjustly profited from his time as a player.
Carroo was one of the most well-known players at Rutgers while he was playing. He currently holds the receiving touchdowns record in school history by a wide margin, and he was one of the faces of the team when they first entered the Big Ten. Carroo and his legal team argue that some sort of compensation is in order for his level of stardom.
If the courts side with Carroo in this case, it has the potential to open up a whole can of worms across college athletics. It would lay the groundwork and encourage other former athletes from other schools to sue their own school for the same reason. Similar cases to this, including players from other college programs, have been dismissed or denied already across the board. It remains to be seen what will come of this lawsuit in particular.
A link to the original article by Fonseca can be found here.
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Big Ten vs. SEC: Josh Pate explains where college football supremacy currently sits
The great debate regarding which conference — the Big Ten or the SEC — reigns over college football might not be much of a debate anymore. Especially given the SEC’s dismal 4-10 bowl record this offseason.
That bowl record looks even worse in games between the SEC and other Power Four teams, with the Southeastern Conference finishing the 2025-26 bowl season a combined 1-8 versus the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12. That includes a winless 0-4 mark against the ACC and a 1-3 record vs. the Big Ten, which has won the last two CFP national championships and will play for a third when No. 1 Indiana takes on No. 10 Miami in next Monday’s College Football Playoff national title game.
In fact, following No. 6 Ole Miss‘ 31-27 loss to the Hurricanes in last Thursday’s Fiesta Bowl CFP semifinal, the SEC — winners of 13 national titles in 17 years between 2006-22 — was shut out of playing for a third consecutive national championship game, something it hasn’t experienced since 2000-02.
Those struggles have led college football fans and pundits alike to effectively dance on the grave of the once-dominant conference. College football analyst Josh Pate joined the fray on Sunday’s episode of Josh Pate’s College Football Show, making it clear he’s been off the SEC gravy train for awhile now.
“The SEC is lagging behind the Big Ten, at the top, (and) I would even venture to suggest the middle-tier now is at least comparable if not slightly lagging behind,” Pate said Sunday night. “That’s probably where my perception has changed of late, moreso than at the top. So I’m not beating that drum.”
Pate then preceeded to break down all the ways the SEC ultimately lost its crown as King of College Football to the Big Ten, including his perception Big Ten “culture” is just more focused on football, as opposed to SEC’s perceived focus on the pomp and circumstance of the sport.
“Maybe the average Big Ten player is wired a little bit differently, maybe they focus a little more on the football aspect, the mean-and-potatoes aspect of football, instead of the more highlight-ish, branding aspect of football,” Pate added. “I think there’s something to that.”
From there, Pate addressed how the advent of NIL and the NCAA Transfer Portal has leveled the playing field from a talent perspective. In fact, Pate suggested the SEC became so spoiled by its multi-decade talent advantage, effectively drunk off its own supply, that it didn’t do what was necessary to maintain it. That ultimately resulted in what Pate described as “lazy practices” like prioritizing recruiting over coaching and player development, including a tendency to fill out their football staffs based on the agency they were associated with rather than the most-qualified candidates.
“If you think that’s ridiculous, it’s because it is,” Pate concluded. “But that’s been standard practice in the SEC for awhile. And I don’t find it to be the case in the Big Ten.”
And while the SEC could certainly return to glory by this time next year, at least for forseable future, college football fans in the South will suffer through more gloating from their neighbors to the North.
NIL
Urban Meyer predicts winner of college football national championship
Indiana (No. 1) crushed No. 5 Oregon 56–22 in the Peach Bowl semifinal, forcing multiple first-half turnovers, dominating in all three phases, and improving to 15–0.
Miami (No. 10) survived a 31–27 Fiesta Bowl win over No. 6 Ole Miss, with quarterback Carson Beck’s late 3-yard scramble sealing the outcome after earlier College Football Playoff victories over Texas A&M and defending national champion Ohio State.
Miami’s College Football Playoff berth carried nearly as much drama as its postseason run.
Both the Hurricanes and Notre Dame finished the regular season 10–2, but despite ranking ahead of Miami for much of the year, the Irish were left out of the field, in large part because of Miami’s head-to-head win earlier in the season.
The decision sparked national debate about CFP criteria and the weight of head-to-head results.
Since then, Miami has done nothing but validate the committee’s call, advancing to the national title game, now just one win away.
The CFP national championship is set for January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, pitting Indiana against Miami.
On Monday’s episode of “The Triple Option” podcast, former head coach Urban Meyer praised Indiana’s coaching, offensive line, and efficiency on film, ultimately picking the Hoosiers to win the title.
“I think Indiana wins by 9,” Meyer said. “I think Vegas is right on the point spread, but I think Miami plays their [expletive] off at home.”

Indiana powered an unblemished run under second-year head coach Curt Cignetti, transforming a 3–9 program into Big Ten champions.
The Hoosiers stacked signature road wins over Iowa, Oregon, and Penn State, dismantled Alabama 38–3 in the quarterfinals, and overwhelmed the Ducks again in the Peach Bowl semifinal.
Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza has driven a balanced, physical attack that has dominated all season, throwing for 3,349 yards and 41 touchdowns while adding 284 rushing yards, six scores, and a 73% completion rate across 15 games.
Miami’s path has been far different, as the No. 10 seed fought through adversity to reach 13–2, upsetting Ohio State, beating Texas A&M, and edging Ole Miss 31–27 behind an elite scoring defense allowing just 14.0 points per game, the fifth-fewest nationally.
Indiana enters as the consensus favorite, listed by most sportsbooks as 8.5-point favorites with a 48.5-point total.
With Indiana’s balanced attack facing Miami’s opportunistic defense, the matchup likely hinges on tempo: the Hoosiers aim to dictate the pace while the Hurricanes seek pressure and takeaways.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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$1.8 million transfer QB expected to visit sixth college football program
Beau Pribula, the former Penn State transfer who started the 2025 season at Missouri, announced his decision to re-enter the NCAA transfer portal on December 18 and has been conducting an active visit cycle since.
Over the last week, On3’s Pete Nakos has tracked visits to Nebraska, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech, along with a stop at Washington amid uncertainty within the Huskies’ quarterback room, followed by a visit to Tennessee.
However, on Sunday, Nakos reported that Pribula is now expected to visit Virginia next.
“The former Penn State transfer has made visits to Virginia Tech, Nebraska, Washington, Georgia Tech, and Tennessee over the last week. He’s expected to visit Virginia next,” Nakos wrote.
“The Cavaliers could offer to come in and be the starter for Tony Elliott’s program. Tennessee is expected to wait for a decision on Joey Aguilar’s court ruling on Monday, regarding his eligibility under NCAA JUCO rules.”
After spending his first three college seasons as a backup at Penn State, Pribula started at Missouri for the 2025 season, finishing the year with 1,941 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, and nine interceptions, while adding 297 rushing yards, six rushing scores, and a 67.4% completion rate.
A native of York, Pennsylvania, Pribula signed with Penn State in December 2021 as a three-star recruit and the No. 27 quarterback in the 2022 class per 247Sports, drawing more than a dozen additional offers, including Nebraska, Northwestern, Rutgers, and Syracuse.
After redshirting as a freshman and seeing limited game action over the following two seasons behind Drew Allar, Pribula sought a change of scenery, and now, after proving his dual-threat capability in the SEC, Pribula is seeking another opportunity to further elevate his profile.
For prospective programs, it is also worth noting that Pribula is among the more marketable players currently in the portal, carrying an NIL valuation of approximately $1.8 million according to On3, a factor that could influence where he ultimately lands.

All of the programs Pribula has visited present distinct opportunities and varying levels of appeal.
Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech both face recent turnover at quarterback and are seeking experienced portal options who can operate their systems and provide immediate competition.
Nebraska, under Matt Rhule, has also been active in the portal as it looks to add veteran depth and competition following the departure of starter Dylan Raiola to Oregon.
Pribula visited Washington amid uncertainty within the Huskies’ quarterback room surrounding Demond Williams, a situation that has created a potential opening for an experienced transfer.
Tennessee, meanwhile, has been monitoring eligibility developments involving other candidates, including Joey Aguilar, while keeping Pribula firmly on its radar.
Virginia, however, may offer one of the more intriguing fits as the Cavaliers have reportedly been targeting a veteran, pro-style, dual-threat quarterback who can compete for a Day 1 starting role under fourth-year head coach Tony Elliott.
The opportunity for immediate playing time, combined with proximity to Pribula’s Mid-Atlantic recruiting footprint, adds to Virginia’s appeal.
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NIL
College Football’s Semi-Pro Economy & Why the NFL Draft Isn’t a Sure Thing
College football is in its semi-pro era, reshaping the NFL Draft calculus as quarterbacks weigh guaranteed NIL money against rookie contracts.
After four years at Georgia, quarterback Carson Beck declared for the NFL Draft on Dec. 28, 2024, slated to make millions as a mid-round pick. But instead of taking that route, Beck entered the transfer portal on Jan. 9 and inked a $4 million deal to play out his final season of college eligibility at Miami, where he succeeded Heisman Trophy winner and eventual top pick Cam Ward. Now, Beck will play next week for a national championship as he’s still in line to make good NFL money at age 23, but now with a guaranteed $4 million in his pocket.
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The passing of the House Settlement and the introduction of revenue sharing in Division I athletics have only enhanced this trend and the appeal of college football quarterbacks staying in school an extra year rather than try their luck in the NFL Draft. Alabama‘s Ty Simpson may be the perfect example of that. Despite declaring for the NFL Draft, at least three SEC teams reportedly have interest, with another school offering him up to $6.5 million to stay in college next season and enter the transfer portal prior to Friday’s deadline.
Despite ESPN grading Simpson as a late first-round or early second-round pick, $6.5 million is extremely appealing. NFL quarterback Tyler Shough, who the New Orleans Saints selected 40th overall in last year’s draft, got a four-year, $10.8 million contract, including a $4.5 million signing bonus. We seem to be approaching the point that, unless you’re guaranteed to be drafted in the first round, it might pay to stay in school an extra year, essentially making major college football a semi-pro outfit right now.
College basketball has experiencing a similar trend for years now. With the introduction of NIL, NCAA hoops stars like Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe, Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, and North Carolina’s Armando Bacot made far more money by staying in school than they would have as an NBA second-round pick or G-Leaguer. Bacot signed a deal worth more than $1 million to play this year in Turkey with Fenerbahce, Timme is on a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers worth just over $500,000, and Tsiebwe has a similar arrangement with the Utah Jazz.
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Were they still college eligible, they would’ve made more money. It’s why, as we reported, more EuroLeague-caliber talent are electing to come from overseas to college basketball teams. It’s why some players with G-League experience who are still college eligible are electing to go back to school. The money right now is just better.
Right now, schools can directly spend up to $20.5 million on their student-athletes, with the vast majority of that total allocated to football, their largest revenue-generating sport. But that $20.5 million number is expected to rise, and with it the amount that teams will likely offer to quarterbacks like Simpson and new Texas Tech starter Brendan Sorsby, whose record-breaking NIL deal we discussed last week. How long will it take until quarterbacks can make more money in college than they would as first-round NFL Draft picks?
Jaxson Dart, the 25th overall pick last year from Ole Miss, earned a signing bonus of just under $9 million as part of a four-year rookie contract worth just under $17 million. We may get to a point where these QBs get a larger guarantee to stay in school than a first-rounder would receive as a signing bonus, making it worth risking an injury in college that could wipe out potential future NFL earnings. It will take longer for players at other positions like running back and wide receiver, where second-round picks like Houston Texans wideout Jayden Higgins and Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins still got roughly $5 million to sign, still way more than they’d earn for a year in college.
Yet the fact that we’re even having this conversation at all indicates the direction college football is going in. It’s how wide receiver Cam Coleman, who doesn’t turn 20 until August, can leave Auburn for a transfer portal NIL deal at Texas of at least $2 million. We’re talking free agency for hundreds of college kids every year to make upwards of seven figures at their new destinations. If that’s not at least semi-professional sports, I’m not sure what is.
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Now, all we can do is wait and see how far things go before the next wave of substantial changes hits college football in this ever-changing landscape that made it possible for Beck to accept, and Simpson to consider, an offer that made it more financially prudent to keep the NFL waiting for one more year.
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