NIL
Saquon Barkley reacts to Penn State firing James Franklin: ‘That’s the guy that gave me my shot’
In 2015, one year after James Franklin took over at Penn State, Saquon Barkley arrived. It marked the beginning of a decorated career in Happy Valley as he eventually became the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Earlier this week, Penn State fired Franklin after three consecutive losses, sending a shockwave across college football. Barkley shared his reaction during a press conference Friday, and though he declined to say much about the situation, he reflected on his relationship with Franklin.
Barkley was a four-star recruit out of Whitehall (PA) and became a two-time Big Ten Most Valuable Player at Penn State. He recalled Franklin giving him a shot at the collegiate level, but they also shared a close bond away from the field, as well.
“For me, seeing Coach Franklin get fired definitely hurts,” Barkley said. “That’s the guy that gave me my shot. I know the season’s not going the way we would like right now, but the game before, the national championship the year before, Big Ten championships. At one point, Penn State wasn’t spoken about how it’s been spoken about the last couple of years.
“I’ve just got nothing but respect for Coach Franklin not just as a coach, but as a man. I don’t really use the word ‘father figure’ because my father is in my life, but whatever term is underneath that, he definitely played a big part in my life and the influence in my life, him and as his family. … Worried about the family and worried about him. Yes, he’s making a lot of money, of course. But he put a lot of himself into that program over there and it sucks to see him go.”
James Franklin had a 104-45 overall record during his time at Penn State, and the 2016 season was the first of six 11-win seasons. Saquon Barkley helped lead that charge as the Nittany Lions won the Big Ten and finished ranked No. 7 in the country following a Rose Bowl appearance.
Penn State won 10 or more games each of the last three years, but came closest to a national championship in 2024. The Nittany Lions went down to the final play in the Orange Bowl against Notre Dame before losing on a last-second field goal. Expectations were high this year, but after a double-overtime loss to Oregon at Beaver Stadium, Penn State dropped matchups to UCLA and Northwestern before choosing to part ways with its head coach.
NIL
$2 million QB could redshirt next college football season amid transfer portal entry
Under a week remains in the window for college football players to enter the NCAA transfer portal in the 2026 offseason. The portal officially opened on Jan. 2 and will remain open until Friday.
Over 4,000 players at all levels of college football have decided to enter the transfer portal in the last month. Some of the most notable entries into the portal include Power Four quarterbacks seeking better situations at their next school.
One of the first quarterbacks to enter the NCAA transfer portal in the offseason was former Nebraska signal-caller Dylan Raiola. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining at his second school.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder was recruited to Nebraska by Matt Rhule as a five-star prospect in the Cornhuskers’ 2024 signing class. He passed for 2,819 yards, 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and led Nebraska to its first bowl game in eight seasons and first bowl victory since its win over UCLA in the 2015 Foster Farms Bowl.
Raiola broke his fibula against USC, limiting his season to just nine games. He passed for 2,000 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions in his last year with Nebraska. Raiola announced his intent to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 15, 2025.
While many quarterbacks who entered the NCAA transfer portal were either clearly linked to another Power Five program or had already committed to one, Raiola’s portal journey has been much quieter despite his early entry. Some of the prospects for Raiola in 2026 are less conventional than those of most quarterbacks who enter the transfer portal.

Pete Nakos of On3 reported that one possible option for Raiola in 2026 would be to transfer to Oregon and that if Dante Moore returned to the Ducks, Raiola would still transfer there and use a redshirt.
“Sources have indicated that Raiola is in play to join the Oregon roster regardless of Dante Moore’s NFL draft decision,” Nakos said. “If Moore decided to return to school, Raiola could redshirt a season and be in line to start in 2027.”
Moore is currently projecting as the second best quarterback in the 2026 NFL draft behind Fernando Mendoza of Indiana. As it relates to Raiola, Moore also transferred to Oregon and redshirted a season while Dillon Gabriel started for the Ducks in 2024.
If Moore stays at Oregon and Raiola transfers there, it would resemble that of a transfer prior to the portal’s inception. College athletes used to be required to sit out one full season after transferring from one school to another, but that requirement ended after the portal’s launch.
NIL
Report: Ty Simpson drawing top-dollar NIL offers to transfer after NFL Draft declaration
Is Ty Simpson this year’s Carson Beck? That’s a question the talented Alabama junior quarterback could be entertaining as multiple QB-needy programs reportedly try to sway him to transfer rather than jump to the NFL.
Beck famously declared for the 2025 NFL Draft last January before reversing course days later and transferring to Miami, where he’s led the 10th-ranked Hurricanes to the 2026 College Football Playoff national championship game Dec. 19 against No. 1 Indiana.
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Simpson formally announced his intentions to enter the 2026 NFL Draft last Wednesday. But that move may be on hold after the Crimson Tide’s 2025 starter — through third-parties — has reportedly received high-dollar NIL offers from other Power Four programs, including one particular deal that could total as much as $6.5 million, according to AL.com. That reportedly includes three other SEC programs that are offering at least $4 million for Simpson’s services in 2026, per AL.com.
Prior to his draft declaration last week, On3 insider Pete Nakos reported Simpson was evaluating all his options regarding his future per his agent, Peter Webb of QB Reps. That potentially included returning to Alabama, declaring for the NFL Draft, or entering the NCAA Transfer Portal.
“No decisions have been made about Ty declaring for the draft at this point, and he is still evaluating everything with his family and close advisors,” Webb told Nakos.
Simpson has long been considered a potential first-round lock, and is currently projected to be the third quarterback off the board according to ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr., behind only Indiana‘s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore, neither of whom have declared for the draft yet.
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Despite leaving Alabama’s 38-3 quarterfinal loss to Indiana early with a cracked rib, Simpson capped a strong redshirt junior season in Tuscaloosa by throwing for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns to just five interceptions in his first year as the Tide’s QB1. That included powering Alabama to an 11-4 record and a first-round victory over Oklahoma in the 2025 College Football Playoffs.
This news about Simpson comes two days after his two backups — redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and five-star true freshman Keelon Russell — both negotiated new deals with Alabama’s team collective, Yea Alabama, to return for the 2026 season.
The 6-foot-6 and 235-pound Mack saw the first significant action of his Crimson Tide career on New Year’s Eve when he replaced an injured Simpson in the second half of a 38-3 loss to No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl national quarterfinal.
NIL
Former Auburn WR Cam Coleman commits to Texas
Former Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman committed to Texas out of the NCAA transfer portal, he announced via Instagram on Sunday. The Longhorns were one of three visits by the wideout.
Coleman had a large role for the Tigers’ offense over the last two years. In 2025, Coleman had 56 catches for 708 yards, five touchdowns and 12.6 yards per catch. In two seasons, Coleman has 93 catches for 1,306 yards, 13 touchdowns and 14 yards per catch.
Coleman came to Auburn as one of the program’s highest-rated recruits in recent history. Largely, he lived up to that billing as across two seasons, he hauled in 84 passes for 1,215 yards and 12 touchdowns.
As a high school prospect, Coleman was a Five-Star Plus+ recruit in the 2024 class. According to the Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services, he was the nation’s No. 4 overall prospect and No. 2 wide receiver.
He signed with the Tigers over offers from Clemson, Texas A&M, Alabama, LSU and dozens of other major programs. Coleman was committed to the Aggies for nearly five months before they fired head coach Jimbo Fisher, and as a result, Coleman’s future position coach Dameyune Craig. He flipped his pledge from A&M to Auburn on December 1, 2023 — marking a massive recruiting win for Hugh Freeze.
To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.
Texas is coming off a season where they just missed out on the College Football Playoff. The Longhorns finished 10-3 by beating Michigan 41-27 in the Citrus Bowl.
Led by QB Arch Manning’s second half of the season development, Texas got on a hot streak. That included a win over 11-0 Texas A&M to end the season. Coleman adds to a dynamic offensive approach under Steve Sarkisian next fall.
NIL
Latest Georgia transfer rumors could lead to another Carson Beck level disaster
Georgia football suffered arguably the biggest loss in the Transfer Portal last offseason. Former UGA quarterback Carson Beck made the shocking decision this time last year to transfer to Miami, and that was something that no one saw coming.
Georgia ended up being fine without him as they went on to win the SEC, but losing Beck at the time was not fun.
Fast forward to this offseason and rumors are beginning to swirl of another departure that would be just as shocking and impactful as Beck.
Nate Frazier rumors are the last thing Georgia needs
One of Georgia’s best players this season was running back Nate Frazier. There were countless games where he put the team on his back and helped carry them to victory, and his success this past season has led to everyone at Georgia being excited for what’s to come next season.
Frazier however has not publicly announced that he will be back at Georgia next year and rumors are circulating that he could enter the Transfer Portal.
It’s impossible to state how big of a loss this would be for Georgia. Frazier finished the season just shy of 1,000 yards as he racked up 947 yards and six touchdowns on 173 carries. He also had dominant showings in a few games as well, most notably when he ran for 181 yards against Mississippi State. He was set to have an even bigger season next year as a junior, but that may not be occurring at Georgia anymore.
Frazier hasn’t entered the Transfer Portal yet, but it sounds like there is a chance he does. And if he does it Ohio State could be the team he lands with.
Kirby Smart and his staff have to do everything they can to keep Frazier in Athens. Georgia does have Chauncey Bowens who will return to their backfield for another season, but he can’t do it alone. He needs Frazier with him so Georgia can have one of the best running back duos in the country.
But there is a chance that doesn’t happen next season, and losing Frazier would feel a lot like losing Beck last year.
NIL
Ty Simpson Reportedly Getting NIL Contract Offers After NFL Draft Decision, New Rumors on Alabama QB
Ty Simpson has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, but that hasn’t curbed college football programs from trying to get the Alabama quarterback on their roster.
According to AL.com’s Nick Kelly, Simpson has been offered “a deal that could total $6.5 million” from one program, while three SEC teams have offered “at least $4 million and more.”
Simpson was the No. 26 overall player and No. 4 quarterback in the class of 2022, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. He’s a bit of a rare breed in today’s college football landscape in the fact that he waited three years at Alabama before becoming the starter, rather than transferring somewhere else.
Simpson played behind Bryce Young in 2022 and Jalen Milroe in 2023 and 2024 before eventually landing the starting job in 2025. While he had a few shaky outings, he was one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC this year, throwing for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions
His final game with the Crimson Tide came in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Indiana, where he threw for just 67 yards in a 38-3 blowout loss.
Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department considers Simpson to be the No. 30 overall player and the No. 3 quarterback in this year’s draft class. In the latest mock draft from B/R, Simpson is projected to land with the Los Angeles Rams with the No. 13 pick.
While Simpson is widely projected to be a first-round pick, the NFL combine should give him a good idea of where he might land in April. Assuming he’s a consensus first-round pick, it’s hard to imagine Simpson will return to the collegiate level.
If he isn’t so confident about going in the first round, perhaps he’ll take one of the lucrative NIL offers he’s reportedly received.
NIL
Tennessee football offered Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson $4 million
Jan. 11, 2026Updated Jan. 12, 2026, 1:12 a.m. ET
Quarterback Ty Simpson may be headed to the NFL, but it’s not because he didn’t have suitors in college football.
Simpson, who started for Alabama during the 2025 season, declared for the 2026 NFL Draft on Jan. 7.
A source close to Simpson told The Tuscaloosa News on Jan. 11 that Miami offered him $6.5 million to play for the Hurricanes in 2026. That would have made him the highest-paid player in college football.
Tennessee and Ole Miss each offered Simpson $4 million, the newspaper reported through the same source.
Simpson is a Tennessee native from Martin, where he won a TSSAA state championship his senior season at Westview in West Tennessee.
Simpson’s base salary at Alabama was $400,000, the newspaper reported. That doubled to $800,000 with incentives.
Simpson has not entered the NCAA transfer portal and has not yet signed his NFL paperwork. However, he plans to play in the Senior Bowl later this month in Mobile, Alabama, according to the newspaper.
Simpson played all four seasons for the Crimson Tide, but did not start until 2025, when he threw for 3,567 yards and had 28 touchdowns and five interceptions. He helped Alabama reach the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, where it lost to Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
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