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Nick Saban, college football czar? Meeting with President Trump hints at former coach’s larger aims

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8 months ago

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It’s not often that Nick Saban is the second-most-powerful man in the room. But last Thursday night in Tuscaloosa, the seven-time national championship-winning coach warmed up a crowd of graduating seniors at the University of Alabama for the President of the United States.

Since Bear Bryant is no longer with us, Donald Trump is literally the only person who could upstage — if only briefly — the G.O.A.T. in Alabama, and Saban acknowledged the pecking order, laughing that he felt like he was the opening act for the Rolling Stones.

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Look a little closer, though, and it sure seems like Saban is actually the man behind the curtain, whispering in the ears of the powerful and guiding them toward his own ends. Saban may not be winning games any more, but he’s only shifted the playing field into boardrooms, courtrooms, hearing rooms … and it turns out he’s a formidable force there, too.

There’s an old line in the Yellowhammer State that the five best-known people in Alabama are, in order, the head coach at Alabama, the head coach at Auburn, the starting quarterbacks for Alabama and Auburn … and the governor of the state. In his day, Bryant danced around the demagogue that was Gov. George Wallace — Wallace’s 1963 “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door” happened just steps away from Bryant’s office — and the Bear even flirted briefly with a run for public office.

Although former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville rode his six-game winning streak over Alabama all the way to Congress, Saban has kept his political views largely under wraps. He’s close friends with former West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, but that’s not necessarily a sign; normal people have friends on both sides of the aisle. Saban actively and vocally supported his players who protested during the Black Lives Matter movements of 2020, and advocated for vaccination during the pandemic.

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with former Alabama football coach Nick Saban as he arrives to deliver commencement remarks at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on May 1, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. President Donald Trump is planning on forming a White House committee on college sports just days after discussions with former Alabama coach Nick Saban. (Saul Loeb/Getty)

(SAUL LOEB via Getty Images)

Publicly, at least, Saban employs politics with an eye toward execution rather than party loyalty — as in, he’ll appeal to whoever has the power to enact actual change, regardless of whether there’s a (D) or an (R) after their name. And when Trump — who loves football, and has a tendency to act quickly when he hears an idea he likes — is in the process of forming a presidential commission within days of talking to Saban, it’s clear Saban still knows exactly how to get things done.

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Midway through his tenure at Alabama, Saban — who had already won three national championships at the time — pivoted his entire philosophy from a run-first defensive suffocation to an air-it-out swarm. The result? Another three championships, Heismans for quarterback Bryce Young and wide receiver DeVonta Smith, and four — and counting — starting quarterbacks in the NFL.

In other words, the man knows how to seize opportunity when it presents itself. Thundering from a Saturday-morning pulpit fires up the choir, but whispering in the ear of the president of the United States … now that’s how you get the whole congregation to pay attention.

The idea of Saban running the famously headless, leaderless sport of college football isn’t a new one. No less than the Oracle of the SEC has advocated for Saban to claim the throne.

“I think the solution to college football is you need to quit wasting time being on TV and you need to be what everybody in my business has suggested,” Paul Finebaum told Saban at an event last May. “You need to be the czar of college football. If you agree to that right now, we can solve a lot of problems.”

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Saban demurred at the time, but it’s clear he’s keeping a close eye on the direction of the sport. At a public forum last May with Sen. Ted Cruz, Saban called for “rules that create some kind of competitive balance, which right now we don’t have in college athletics. It’s whoever wants to pay the most money, raise the most money, buy the most players is going to have the best opportunity to win. I don’t think that’s the spirit of college athletics.”

Whether Saban’s on the right or wrong side of NIL and progress isn’t the issue, it’s a question of who he can get to listen to him. Clearly, he has the president’s ear. And while the effect of an executive order or a White House commission on the ongoing House settlement is — at best — murky, what’s indisputable is that Saban is still very much involved in the direction of his sport.

While he was on the sidelines, Saban reshaped the entire college football universe in his image. You didn’t really think he’d stop bending the world to his will just because he’s not coaching, did you?



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Matt Rhule Addresses Dylan Raiola, NIL Investment and the Portal Era

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22 minutes ago

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December 19, 2025

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Matt Rhule sounded comfortable, confident, and in control during his interview Wednesday night with the Husker Radio Network ahead of Nebraska’s bowl matchup against Utah.

At times relaxed, “Just Matt,” as he put it when the hat turned backward, Rhule covered a wide range of topics that collectively outlined where the program stands and where it’s headed over the coming months.

From his former starting quarterback and the transfer portal to staff changes and Nebraska’s evolving financial status, Rhule touched on nearly everything Husker fans want to know during an offseason filled with uncertainty.

With that in mind, here’s what Rhule said about the state of his program heading into his fourth offseason in Lincoln.

Dylan Raiola, the portal era, and Nebraska’s quarterback outlook

Making his first public comments on the subject since the news broke on Dec. 15, Rhule didn’t shy away from addressing Dylan Raiola’s decision to enter the transfer portal. Instead, the Huskers’ head coach framed it as a reality of modern college football.

“I think all of our fans, all of our staff, we all just have to embrace it,” Rhule said. “We’re in the portal era. The portal will giveth and the portal will taketh away. It’s just the new normal.”

Raiola’s impact on the program wasn’t dismissed. As the first five-star quarterback to commit to Nebraska, Rhule said, he helped shift national perception around the program.

Former Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola started 22 games for the Huskers in his two years with the program.

Quarterback Dylan Raiola started 22 games for the Huskers in his two years with the program. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

“He was the first five-star to come here and signal to everybody, ‘Hey, it’s cool to come to Nebraska,’” Rhule said. “And I think you’ve seen some players follow suit.”

Since then, December of 2023 to be exact, the Huskers have been able to sign two other five-star recruits. Williams Nwaneri (No. 6 overall recruit) was ranked one spot higher in the 2024 class than Raiola and eventually joined the Huskers’ roster via the transfer portal prior to the 2025 season. And on Dec. 5 of this year, Danny Odem (No. 31 overall recruit) signed his letter of intent to join the Huskers’ roster in 2026.

While acknowledging Raiola’s desire for a fresh start, Rhule also emphasized Nebraska’s preparedness moving forward.

“If he needs a fresh start, I’m going to pray that he finds the right place and has success,” Rhule said. “With that being said, there’s a lot of great quarterbacks out there and a lot of guys want to play at Nebraska.”

Nebraska quarterback TJ Lateef has started three games for the Huskers during his true freshman season.

Nebraska quarterback TJ Lateef has started three games for the Huskers during his true freshman season. He is expected to be the starter in the Las Vegas Bowl as well. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Following his comments on Raiola, Rhule made it a point to publicly reinforce his belief in the quarterback currently on Nebraska’s roster, TJ Lateef.

“We have a great quarterback in Lateef,” Rhule said. “I don’t think there’s a guy on our roster that doesn’t believe TJ is a starting quarterback.”

While praising Lateef’s mindset and approach, the head coach noted that his first-year player has embraced responsibility rather than shying away.

“TJ has no confidence issues and he doesn’t make excuses,” Rhule said. “He doesn’t blame other people. He knows he can be our starting quarterback, and he’s going to do a great job against Utah. He’s going to win a lot of games for us at the University of Nebraska.”

While a vote of confidence may be exactly what his new signal-caller needs, Rhule also reiterated the importance of depth at the position, particularly in today’s college football landscape.

“We’ll have great quarterbacks in that room,” Rhule said. “You need more than one. People want to play for Dana Holgorsen. They want to play for Glenn Thomas.”

If one thing over the offseason is true, Rhule isn’t interested in keeping his program at the status quo. He wants the players on his roster to have the ability to develop into the players they want to be, and he’s putting new coaches in place to do just that.

Matt Rhule made it clear his program will continue to lean on development of players on their roster moving forward.

Matt Rhule made it clear his program will continue to lean on the development of players on their roster moving forward. | Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Single portal window, financial outlook, and Nebraska’s changing staff

While the transfer portal remains a major tool, Rhule emphasized that Nebraska’s approach, now and always, will be to develop players first. And amid changes to the portal window, it has allowed the coaching staff to spend more time focused on player development.

“Historically, in December you’re on the road recruiting,” Rhule said. “But now, we’re all able to be out there and we are focused. We’re focused on getting our team better.”

With a roster like Nebraska’s, currently featuring 91 scholarship players listed as underclassmen, development is exactly what his program needs. And now, with a new-and-improved recruiting schedule in his advantage, the Huskers’ head coach is using his time to help his younger guys take the next step.

Isaiah Mozee took second-string reps behind Big Ten Running Back of the Year Emmett Johnson this fall.

Isaiah Mozee took second-string reps behind Big Ten Running Back of the Year Emmett Johnson this fall. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Rhule also noted that much of Nebraska’s roster is made up of players the current staff recruited but have yet to be given their opportunity.

“I believe they’re good players,” Rhule said. “We were a part of recruiting them. They’re our guys. Before we start looking to the portal, we want to make sure we get a real evaluation of our guys and what role they can fill.”

As encouraging as that should be, and is, the head coach made it clear his comment doesn’t mean Nebraska will shy away from portal additions come January.

“We’re going to do both,” Rhule said. “We want guys to burst onto the scene the way Emmett Johnson did. But we also want to go out and get players in the portal that can help us.”

He finished out the topic by saying, “Our job is to put together the most competitive team full of great players. Guys can’t be afraid of that.”

Nebraska Athletics officially partner with the 1890 Initiative on NIL.

Nebraska Athletics’ former partnership with the 1890 Initiative has ended, as the university is moving its NIL operations in-house. | @Huskers on X

Perhaps the most interesting portion of Rhule’s interview centered on Nebraska’s financial standing entering the upcoming offseason. To this point in time, the Husker fan base has been told their favorite program is competitive, but after speaking with Rhule, the Huskers Radio Network was able to discover that 2026 will be vastly improved.

“This will be the first year that we’re at the higher end of the market,” Rhule said. “We might not be where Texas and Texas A&M are, but we’re right there. We’re right below that.”

For context, both of the aforementioned schools have been able to compete at the highest level of college football in recent years. Both programs have or will compete in the College Football Playoff, and don’t appear to be handicapped financially in any way.

Nebraska athletics director Troy Dannen smiles during the Northwestern game.

Nebraska athletics director Troy Dannen smiles during the Northwestern game. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Rhule credited athletic director Troy Dannen for positioning Nebraska to compete financially, both in retaining talent and adding impact players.

“For every player that leaves and goes and has four or five sacks, we don’t want to lose those guys,” Rhule said. “We want to keep the players that can help us.”

But from Rhule’s perspective, it isn’t just Dannen that helps the Huskers compete for the nation’s top talent. He also highlighted Nebraska’s fan base as a unique advantage in the NIL space, particularly through local business partnerships and “true NIL” opportunities beyond revenue sharing.

“It’s a differentiator for us,” Rhule said. “It’ll help us in the portal. But make no mistake — having money does not mean you’re going to have a good team. But if you don’t have money, it’s pretty hard to have a good team.”

The head coach finished his comments bluntly, without offering an excuse. “There is no in between,” Rhule added. “Either we do this to be successful, or we don’t, and we become a Group of Four team.”

New Nebraska offensive line coach Geep Wade (left) and defensive coordinator Rob Aurich (right).

New Nebraska offensive line coach Geep Wade (left) and defensive coordinator Rob Aurich (right). | Georgia Tech Athletics & San Diego State Athletics

The other aspect of having a competitive team is having competent coaches on the staff. Following changes made after the regular season, Rhule described the transition as an opportunity for fresh evaluation across his roster.

“They’re getting a fresh look at these guys,” Rhule said, plainly. After additions were made, the head coach made it known how big an opportunity securing a sixth win in 2025 gave the Huskers to further assess needs moving forward.

With the dismissal of former defensive line coach Terry Bradden, Rhule himself has taken over defensive line duties, embracing a hands-on role during bowl prep. Nebraska defensive lineman Riley Van Poppel was also rewarded with a Blackshirt ahead of the matchup with Utah after playing in every contest this season and earning two starts.

Nebraska defensive lineman Riley Van Poppel earned a single-digit jersey ahead of 2025.

Nebraska defensive lineman Riley Van Poppel earned a single-digit jersey ahead of 2025. He now stands as the most recent addition to the Blackshirts. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Rhule praised new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich for his ability to lead and develop players. He even suggested the new leader of the defense has taught him some new tricks.

“It doesn’t matter the scheme,” Rhule said. “It matters that your players know the scheme and can adapt.” With recent comments from interim defensive coordinator Phil Snow suggesting the Huskers struggled knowing responsibilities in 2025, Rhule’s comments offered confidence that under Aurich, that won’t be the case.

On new offensive line coach Geep Wade, Rhule emphasized physicality and confidence as key traits he wants to see moving forward. Something the Huskers’ head coach saw from Wade’s former units on tape.

“I want them playing with a level of violence and physicality that only comes from confidence,” Rhule said. With just two of Nebraska’s starting offensive linemen set to return, Wade will have the ability, either by financially obtaining the players needed or by developing them, to kickstart the mindset change.

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson takes off on a 70-yard run against Iowa.

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson takes off on a 70-yard run against Iowa. | Cory Edmondson, KFGE

Quick Hits

  • On Nebraska continuing to work on its current roster ahead of the January transfer portal window, Rhule said the focus right now is on retention. “At this time right now, we’re doing a lot of work with our current roster in terms of re-signing guys to contracts and signing guys up for next year.”

  • On young running backs Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee potentially stepping into larger roles, Rhule said the belief inside the program is already there. “If you asked every guy on our team what they think about Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee, I think they’d say it’s kind of like a ticking time bomb. They’ve been waiting for their opportunity to explode.”

  • On what makes new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich a good man for the job at Nebraska, Rhule said, he’s got characteristics similar to Tony White. “Because he’s had two huge defensive turnarounds as a first-year coordinator. That to me is the ultimate- It’s what Tony White did when he got here.”

  • On what being more competitive financially will do for his program, Rhule said they will not be handicapped. “We spent two and a half years trying to reestablish the foundation of the program. Make no mistake, it was rocky. And I can turn my attention now more to football.”

More From Nebraska On SI

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.





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Memphis HC Penny Hardaway: I ‘Fined’ Aaron Bradshaw NIL Money to Motivate Him

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1 hour ago

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December 19, 2025

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How do you get somebody’s attention? Well, one way to get a college basketball player’s attention is by taking away their NIL money, like Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway did with junior forward Aaron Bradshaw.

“Aaron Bradshaw has played for some great coaching staffs, but they haven’t figured out how to motivate him, so Penny Hardaway found a way to motivate Aaron Bradshaw. He started taking his NIL money away,” it was revealed on the broadcast of the Tigers’ Wednesday night loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores. 

“He said, ‘I fined him for showing up late. I fined him for violating our dress code. Three grand here, three grand there. Guess who started to show up early? Guess who started to put the effort in?’ … He [Hardaway] takes that fine money and puts it back in the bucket and has some guys further down the roster reaping the cash benefit of those fines.”

Message received.

Memphis is the third stop for Bradshaw in his collegiate career, with the former five-star recruit spending his freshman season at Kentucky (2023-24) and sophomore season at Ohio State (2024-25). Through nine games this season, six of which he has started, Bradshaw is averaging a career-high 7.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.4 minutes per game, while shooting 50.0% from the field.

Hardaway, who starred at Memphis for two seasons as a player (1991-92, 1992-93), is in his eighth season as the Tigers’ head coach, with Memphis a combined 166-74 under him since the 2018-19 season, highlighted by two American Tournament titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances. However, Memphis is off to a 4-6 start this season, with three of its six losses being against ranked opponents in Purdue, Louisville and Vanderbilt.

Maybe if Hardaway takes away the entire team’s NIL dough, Memphis will run the table in conference play?

MORE COLLEGE HOOPS: Last Night in College Basketball: No. 13 Vanderbilt Passed OT Test vs. Memphis

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Joel Klatt can’t stand NIL re-signing announcements

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2 hours ago

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December 19, 2025

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Texas Tech Linked to $2.4 Million College Football Transfer Quarterback

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3 hours ago

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December 19, 2025

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The Texas Tech Red Raiders defeated the BYU Cougars 34-7 in the Big 12 Championship Game. It secured them the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. They’ll play either the No. 12 seed James Madison Dukes or No. 5 seed Oregon Ducks in the Orange Bowl.

While Texas Tech strives for its first national championship in program history, it’s never too early to look into the future. The Red Raiders will face several major changes after the 2025 season, including from quarterback, Behren Morton. He’s using his final year of eligibility, while ESPN’s Matt Miller gives him a fifth-round grade in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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The transfer portal doesn’t officially open until Jan. 2, but On3 reports that over 800 players are already set to enter. With Morton set to leave, Texas Tech could find his replacement in the portal.

Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire.James Snook-Imagn Images

Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire.James Snook-Imagn Images

In an article, On3’s Pete Nakos, links the Red Raiders to Cincinnati Bearcats transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby.

“Viewed as one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the transfer portal, Texas Tech is the school to watch early on for Brendan Sorsby,” Nakos wrote. “He’s also expected to evaluate the NFL draft, and Indiana and Tennessee are other schools to know.”

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This season, Sorsby has completed 207 of 336 passes for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 155.1 passer rating. He’s also rushed for 580 yards and nine touchdowns on 100 carries.

Sorsby is going to be highly sought after, with Rivals placing him as the third-ranked player in the transfer portal. His On3 NIL valuation of $2.4 million is tied for the 10th-highest in college football.

However, that may not be a problem for Texas Tech, which had the top-ranked transfer portal class in 2025. After bringing in 21 players, the Red Raiders had an adjusted NIL value of $7.6 million.

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As the official transfer portal period approaches, Texas Tech’s quarterback situation will be one to watch. With Morton playing his final year of eligibility, the Red Raiders could already be exploring other options.

The Red Raiders will play in the Orange Bowl at noon ET Jan. 1 on ESPN and the ESPN app.

Related: Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed Shares NIL Update Before College Football Playoff

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.



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Anonymous coach names biggest fraud in the College Football Playoff

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4 hours ago

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December 19, 2025

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There’s always plenty of argument about who belongs and doesn’t belong in the College Football Playoff, and that was certainly the case this season, especially given the debates around that final spot coming between Notre Dame and Miami.

But looking over the 2025 bracket, it’s one of the most recognizable SEC programs that is getting the biggest criticism from those in the coaching business.

Asked to name the biggest fraud in this year’s College Football Playoff, it wasn’t one of the Group of Five teams that got the most attention, but none other than Ole Miss, which made the field on the back of a historic season.

Ole Miss, a fraud?

That’s according to one FBS coach, who doesn’t believe the Rebels have a good case.

“They’ve had so many distractions with Lane Kiffin leaving, and Oklahoma is probably their only good win this year,” an unnamed Group of Five head coach said of the Rebels heading into the College Football Playoff, according to The Athletic.

Whoever it was who said it, he apparently wasn’t alone. Far from it.

Taking a vote from more than two dozen anonymous coaches heading into the playoff, the publication found that to be, if not a consensus opinion, then something like it.

Ole Miss won out among the various playoff teams with 29 percent of respondents saying it was the most fraudulent team in the College Football Playoff this season.

A wild year for Ole Miss

Picking on the Rebels for not being playoff-worthy sounds counter-intuitive, given the unprecedentedly good season they’ve had on the field.

For the first time ever, Ole Miss completed an 11-win regular season and qualified for its first College Football Playoff berth.

Then came the drama. The head coach who brought them that success became the biggest name in what emerged as college football’s most hectic coaching carousel.

Lane Kiffin was named as the leading target for two other SEC programs and ultimately departed the Rebels for conference rival LSU after winning the Egg Bowl game.

Coach highlights Rebels’ schedule

The concern around Ole Miss’ perceived quality of schedule doesn’t seem like a concern at first glance.

It played three teams that made the College Football Playoff, beating both Oklahoma and Tulane, and losing a closely-fought matchup on the road against SEC champion Georgia.

Otherwise, the Rebels beat lesser SEC opponents like Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida, and Arkansas.

The win against then-No. 4 LSU doesn’t look as good as it did at the time, given the Tigers’ fall from grace that led to Brian Kelly’s ouster.

There was no universe in which an 11-1 Ole Miss was being left out of the College Football Playoff. Whether it truly belongs will be decided on the field, which can be said for any team in the bracket.

But the Rebels weren’t alone

Not far behind in the fraud poll were two surprising names. Big 12 champion Texas Tech and SEC runner-up Alabama were both decried as playoff frauds with 17 percent of the vote each.

Texas Tech being included is truly puzzling, given the quality of its defense, but those asked expressed concern for the offense, in particular quarterback Behren Morton.

In second place was “no answer,” as 21 percent of those asked didn’t provide any hints as to who they thought were frauds.

Group of Five selection James Madison received 8 percent of the vote as a perceived fraud, while Oregon and Oklahoma each got 4 percent.

Alabama not getting respect

One defensive coordinator from the SEC and a defensive assistant from the Big Ten took issue with the Crimson Tide being included among the dozen playoff teams this year.

“Alabama should have, like, five losses this year. They shouldn’t be there,” the SEC defensive coordinator said.

And the Big Ten coach added: “I’ve watched them. They’re not that good this year. I didn’t see enough from them to get this chance.”

(Athletic)

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P.J. Fleck reveals Gophers’ mindset and strategy in NIL contract negotiations

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5 hours ago

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December 18, 2025

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There are hundreds of conversations happening behind closed doors of college football programs across the country right now. Between player-contract negotiations, coaching staff turnover and transfer portal decisions, the sport has transformed into the wild west.

Minnesota has already seen 13 of its own players announce their intentions to enter the transfer portal when it officially opens next month. They’ve also had notable players such as Drake Lindsey, Jalen Smith and Maverick Baranowski reveal their plans to return next season.

“I don’t think anything in elementary education taught you how to negotiate contracts in college. Even as you look at the past of you being a head football coach, everything you’ve gained experience on — and then you get into this world of new college athletics — and unless you’re a head coach that backs away and says, ‘Hey, I am just gonna coach football.’ You have to be so in line with your chief of staff, your GM, director of player personnel… You have to talk more than you ever have, and have meetings more than you ever had,” P.J. Fleck said.

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Minnesota has seen notable players like Bucky Irving, Phillip Daniels, and Athan Kaliakmanis enter the transfer portal over the years, but it’s routinely among the best programs in the country at retaining players. For example, past and present Gophers stars Justin Walley, Tyler Nubin, and Darius Taylor have turned down more lucrative offers to stay at Minnesota.

“It’s just a new era of college athletics, and we’ve embraced it. I think Gerrit Chernoff and his staff do an amazing job. Our retention rate, as of right now, is really, really high. Everybody does it on their own time frame. That’s one thing I’ve learned,” Fleck said.

“Everybody has representation. Everybody has their own view of not necessarily what they’re worth, and what they want to be able to get out of that, and what they value, and you respect that.”

Many fans and traditionalists are frustrated by what college sports have become, but it’s the new reality. It’s essentially one-year contracts for every player on your team, and they’re able to re-negotiate every offseason, with no salary cap or clear market. Fleck has historically had boundaries with the amount of information he shares about the inner workings of his Gophers’ program, but he shared a legitimate inside look on Wednesday.

The Gophers are currently in the stage of the offseason where they’re re-recruiting the entire roster. We likely won’t know the details or specifics of the contracts, but it was interesting to hear Fleck peel back the curtain.

Gophers news, rumors and analysis





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