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Travis Johansen says USD 'exceeded any expectations' with talented transfer portal class

VERMILLION, S.D. — Long before spring practice began and the chaos of the transfer portal during this period was in full swing, University of South Dakota head football coach Travis Johansen knew he had work to do. After losing numerous seniors to graduation last year, the freshly minted head coach knew he wanted to focus […]

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Travis Johansen says USD 'exceeded any expectations' with talented transfer portal class

VERMILLION, S.D. — Long before spring practice began and the chaos of the transfer portal during this period was in full swing, University of South Dakota head football coach Travis Johansen knew he had work to do.

After losing numerous seniors to graduation last year, the freshly minted head coach knew he wanted to focus more on the spring portal period to reload the roster at the beginning of the year. However, following many departures during the spring, the task became that much more difficult.

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“A small venture turned into a bigger one,” Johansen said.

There were multiple factors contributing to what kind of players USD wanted to bring in. Obviously, talent, scheme and culture fit are always important, but Johansen also said the NCAA House Settlement played a role as well. Under the settlement, college football rosters would be cut to 105 players, with many schools cutting 20 or more to hit that number. That saw a wave of entries into the portal, including players that Johansen said they recruited in the past.

USD also wanted to bring in a crop of players with multiple years of eligibility remaining. Many of the Coyotes’ additions have two, three and some with still a full four years left in college football. That was a major focus for Johansen and the coaching staff.

“We still want to stay true to who we are, and that’s a developmental program,” Johansen said. “Seeing the potential of players, getting it out of them and being able to keep them in our system for four years, we feel like we get the best out of guys when we do that.”

Two major needs for the Coyotes were the offensive and defensive trenches. With only a single returning starter on the offensive and currently none on the defensive line, USD went to work.

Even before the spring, the Coyotes added two linemen from the University of Iowa in Caden Crawford and Jeff Bowie. USD then went out and added former Washington State lineman Jackson Cowgill — brother of current USD tight end Mason Cowgill — who will have four years remaining.

Along with him, Nathan Laperi made eight appearances for North Texas during his true freshman season, collecting two tackles. Finally, 6-foot-7, 240-pound Calen Presser joins after two seasons at Arkansas State, where he didn’t see any game action, but Johansen said his frame and style of play will mesh well with USD’s system.

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“To be able to find somebody and people talented enough to keep our aspirations online isn’t an easy venture,” Johansen said. “The way we went about it, we couldn’t be happier.”

The offensive line was another challenge, especially with the competitive market for depth in the offensive trenches. USD made headlines during the spring when Bryce Henderson, Joe Cotton and Jordan Larsen all departed for new opportunities. All three of them landed at Power Four programs and will likely be competing for starting nods.

USD added one lineman before the spring, former Merrimack College center Brandon Smith, designed to be a direct replacement for Joey Lombard. Despite those other departures, Johansen said that after the spring, the staff felt like the returning crop of talent was going to hold down the fort. Even so, USD made three additions that will boost the competitiveness in the room.

“We felt confident that we could go do it without the additions, but when we kind of got into the recruiting of it, and we were able to get (Wyatt) Lawson from FIU, Brock Woolf from Kansas State and Almarion Crim from UT-Chattanooga, those guys are all game-ready, talented players,” Johansen said. “We’ll be deeper than we ever have been with game experience and talent.”

There was also the issue of the defensive secondary. The Coyotes lost mainstays of the secondary, including safeties Dennis Shorter and Josiah Ganues. Along with those two, cornerback Mike Reid also graduated and all-conference cornerback Shahid Barros entered the portal. That left numerous gaps to fill.

Going down the list, the Coyotes added many defensive backs to the secondary, including standouts such as former Michigan State cornerback DJ Kennard, former Washington State safety Ashton Jett Paine, former Iowa Western cornerback Jaylen Boehm-Peterson and Lamar University safety DeJuan Lewis, among others.

One of the consistent factors, especially among the corners, is size and length. Kennard, Boehm-Peterson and Jett Paine all stand at least 6-foot-2. That lengthy defensive back type worked well with the 6-foot-2 Reid last season, who also earned an undrafted free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers largely because of his size.

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Mike Reid pre-snap

Mike Reid lines up before a defensive play in a 2nd-round FCS Playoff game between South Dakota and Tarleton State in Vermillion on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.

Nathan Swaffar / Mitchell Republic

While not specifically looking for length, Johansen said those bigger players give USD a lot of flexibility in the secondary, especially in the cornerback room.

“We’ve added guys with length that can be DBs, and maybe not just corners,” Johansen said. “Guys that can play in certain positions on third down and we don’t feel like they’re a liability. Anytime you get a DB, having positional flexibility helps; get your best players on the field. … That group of people, we feel confident. We felt confident in our top four leaving spring ball, but really looking at being eight, nine, 10 deep.”

USD has also brought in multiple offensive playmakers. That includes notable players in tight ends Dallas Holmes and Jackson Accuardi, running backs Jaylen Anderson and Reid Watkins, athletic dual-quarterback Ty Robinson and a few more additions that will be announced in the next few weeks.

Although it will be difficult to get a full judgment on who works out until they hit the field, Johansen said some of the additions that had the benefit of going through spring ball already appear to be well on their way to making major contributions next season.

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South Dakota offensive lineman Brendon Crispe blocks Caden Crawford during a USD spring practice on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Vermillion.

Nathan Swaffar / Mitchell Republic

“From the guys that have been here, DeJuan Lewis on defense will certainly help us. Caden Crawford on defense will certainly be impactful for us,” Johansen said. “Feel very confident in Brandon Smith’s spring and what he did at center. The guys that were here with us in the spring that we were able to see, we feel confident in those guys.”

While the class isn’t fully complete yet, Johansen labeled this transfer period as a major success and provided more than he could have hoped for, both talent-wise and with how long the process took.

“Our staff did an incredible job, probably exceeded any expectations I certainly had of the way we would get the class together,” Johansen said. “I thought we would be working well into June and maybe get last takes late before (fall) camp started. But that’s certainly not going to be the case and we’re going to have a really productive summer because of it. I think we’ll all see it paying dividends in the fall.”

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NCAA tables tournament expansion, delaying March Madness decision with 72, 76-team options still possible

The NCAA Tournament is remaining at 68 teams — for now.  Both the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball committees met this week to discuss potentially expanding the NCAA Tournament field beyond its current 68-team format. Remaining at 68 or expanding to either 72 or 76 teams before 2026 or 2027 was on the […]

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The NCAA Tournament is remaining at 68 teams — for now. 

Both the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball committees met this week to discuss potentially expanding the NCAA Tournament field beyond its current 68-team format. Remaining at 68 or expanding to either 72 or 76 teams before 2026 or 2027 was on the table, but ultimately nothing was decided, NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt said Thursday. 

“The NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Committees met this week, with the men’s meeting taking place in Savannah and the women’s meeting in Philadelphia,” Gavitt said in a statement. “The topic of expanding the field for each championship was discussed at length but no decision or recommendation was made. The still viable outcomes include the tournaments remaining at 68 teams or expanding the fields to either 72 or 76 teams in advance of the 2026 or 2027 championships.”

Expanding the tournaments has been a hot-button topic for the past several years. The NCAA did increase the field from 64 to 68 teams back in 2011 with the creation of the First Four. The women’s tournament similarly expanded to 68 teams in 2022. 

Here’s the math and data that prove why the NCAA Tournament doesn’t need to expand

Matt Norlander

Here's the math and data that prove why the NCAA Tournament doesn't need to expand

Further tournament expansion has been subject to much debate, with public sentiment seeming to largely oppose the idea. Nonetheless, NCAA and conference leaders have continued to discuss the possibility with media partners. Even NCAA president Charlie Baker said he “sees value” in an expanded field. 

While there is no official deadline for the committees to make a decision, Baker told Yahoo Sports last month that a decision on whether or not to expand the tournaments for 2026 needs to be made by the middle of August.

Gavitt told CBS Sports in February that there are many financial factors at play, including the revenue distributed to the participating schools. The more teams added to the tournament, the less money there is to share per school.

“Expansion, even in a modest level, is complex, more complex, I think, than has been recognized and reported, because it is expensive,” Gavitt said. “It’s expensive because of additional team travel, per diem, game operations, but also the basketball performance funds, the units that are earned throughout the men’s and women’s basketball championships.”





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College Football Playoff Predictions: Which Team has the Clearest Path to the CFP?

July is a time for discussion and debate as we consider what’s ahead in a 2025 college football season that will undoubtedly be filled with plenty of thrilling results and conclude with the second – and likely final – iteration of the 12-team College Football Playoff. Is this the year Steve Sarkisian and Texas finally […]

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July is a time for discussion and debate as we consider what’s ahead in a 2025 college football season that will undoubtedly be filled with plenty of thrilling results and conclude with the second – and likely final – iteration of the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Is this the year Steve Sarkisian and Texas finally get over the hump and reach the mountaintop? With a new quarterback under center and a pair of new coordinators in place, can Ohio State be the first program to repeat as national champions since Georgia did it in 2021 and 2022? 

These are some of the top debates currently going on as kickoff is now less than 50 days away. But as media pundits across the nation begin to roll out their preseason polls and reveal their national championship picks, it’s important to take a look at the path each team must take in order to make this year’s CFP. 

With that, we asked our college football writers the following question: Based on schedule, roster and playoff structure, which team is best positioned to make the CFP this year?

FOX Sports’ Laken Litman, RJ Young and Michael Cohen debate the topic below:

Michael Cohen: Clemson

Cade Klubnik #2 of the Clemson Tigers throws the ball during the first quarter against Louisville.  (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)

Given the strength and depth of both the SEC and the Big Ten, two leagues whose members will pepper the preseason AP Poll when it is released later in the summer, the exercise of selecting a program with the clearest path to the College Football Playoff is largely about identifying the most talented team beyond those confines, a school immune to the rigors of such brutal scheduling. The 11 most difficult schedules in the country for 2025 will all be played by SEC schools, according to the strength-of-schedule metric compiled by ESPN, and 30 of the top 32 schedules overall belong to programs from either the SEC or the Big Ten. The only outliers are Syracuse at No. 17 and Florida State at No. 24, both of whom play in the ACC. 

A bit further down the list, at No. 40 overall, is presumptive ACC favorite Clemson, a team that is both the defending conference champion and a trendy national championship pick given the addition of highly touted defensive coordinator Tom Allen (formerly of Penn State) and the return of star quarterback Cade Klubnik, who threw for 3,639 yards with 36 touchdowns and only six interceptions while leading the Tigers to the College Football Playoff last fall. An argument can be made that Klubnik, now a senior, is among the best returning starters in the country alongside Garrett Nussmeier of LSU and Drew Allar of Penn State. The season-opening showdown between Klubnik and Nussmeier on Aug. 30 at Clemson could go a long way toward shaping early-season Heisman Trophy discussion and NFL mock draft debates. 

But aside from the undoubtedly tricky opener, Clemson has an extremely manageable schedule the rest of the way. The Tigers avoid perennial offseason winner Miami, which is chasing the first College Football Playoff appearance in school history, and host arguably their two toughest conference opponents at home in SMU on Oct. 19 and Florida State on Nov. 8. It’s entirely possible that the stiffest tests of Clemson’s season will come in bookend games against LSU in late August and the rivalry game with South Carolina — another trendy playoff pick behind emerging quarterback LaNorris Sellers — in late November. Anything less than another trip to the College Football Playoff would be a disappointment for head coach Dabo Swinney, considering how nicely the stars have aligned for his program in 2025. 

RJ Young: Oregon

Dante Moore #5 of the Oregon Ducks warms up during the Oregon spring game at Autzen Stadium. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)

Combine a sweetheart schedule with a program that has won 10 or more games in the Pac-12 and Big Ten across the last five full seasons, and you’re likely to get more of the same.

The toughest team the Ducks have on their schedule is Penn State, a team it knows it can beat. The following week, the Ducks will host an Indiana team that has to cross two time zones. Yes, they’ve got a cross-country flight from Eugene to Piscataway, New Jersey, to play Rutgers, but you’re not going to pick against the Ducks here. No one will.

The Ducks ought to be a pretty safe bet to finish 11-1 and squarely in the conversation to host a first-round playoff game.

Yes, Dante Moore has to show he’s good enough to pilot the offense, and there will be new wideouts on the outside, with Evan Stewart sustaining a season-ending injury this offseason and Tez Johnson off to the NFL. But they got better in the secondary with the addition of Dillon Thieneman, who is the second-best safety in the sport behind Caleb Downs. Over the past two years, Thieneman has accounted for 210 tackles and six interceptions. If he didn’t play at Purdue, you’d hear more people crow about it. This is also a defense that was adept at putting quarterbacks on the ground with 40 sacks last year. With Matayo Uiagalelei and Bear Alexander on the defensive line, they ought to come close to that number again.

There aren’t many programs that have been as consistently good without winning a national title as Oregon has since the inception of the CFP. Add to this, the Ducks have won as many Big Ten titles in the past decade as Penn State, and it’s just their second year in the league.

Laken Litman: Penn State

Kaytron Allen #13 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball against Notre Dame in the Capital One Orange Bowl. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

The Nittany Lions are a popular preseason pick to win the national championship this year. James Franklin’s team is ranked No. 1 in several preseason polls and appears to have the roster and coaching staff to back it up.

After making a CFP semifinal run last year, this team wants to go further in 2025. Quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton return, which will be massive for this offense, especially if Allar can take another step in his development as a passer. He’s already projected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and has some new weapons to help him out with several notable wide receiver transfers. Defensively, coordinator Jim Knowles has joined the program from reigning national champion Ohio State, which immediately gives Penn State more clout on that side of the ball. Not for nothing, Knowles knows the Buckeyes inside and out and can provide insight on the matchup when those Big Ten rivals play in Columbus on Nov. 1. Penn State is 1-9 against Ohio State over the past 10 years and a win on the road would be season-defining. 

The Nittany Lions have a winnable regular-season schedule, making their overall outlook positive. They host Oregon on Sept. 27, providing an early barometer of where this team actually is, and then have a pretty steady month of October before the showdown in Columbus. They’ll host Indiana, which is coming off its best season in program history last year, but Penn State doesn’t have to play Michigan or Illinois. Perhaps the selection committee will dock PSU in the end for not having a strong non-conference schedule – Nevada, Florida International and Villanova are the first three opponents, – but Franklin should have a strong enough team that realistically should win the conference for that not to matter in the long run.

Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of “Strong Like a Woman,” published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman.

RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the podcast “The Number One College Football Show.” Follow him at @RJ_Young.

Michael Cohen covers college football and basketball for FOX Sports with an emphasis on the Big Ten. Follow him at @Michael_Cohen13.

Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!



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Deion Sanders’ Strong Take On Texas Tech’s Insane NIL Spending Spree

The Texas Tech Red Raiders have made headlines this offseason with their work in the transfer portal and on the high school recruiting trail. Aided by an influx of NIL (name, image and likeness) money, coach Joey McGuire owns college football’s second-ranked incoming transfer class (per 247Sports) with 21 commits and has been nearly as […]

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The Texas Tech Red Raiders have made headlines this offseason with their work in the transfer portal and on the high school recruiting trail.

Aided by an influx of NIL (name, image and likeness) money, coach Joey McGuire owns college football’s second-ranked incoming transfer class (per 247Sports) with 21 commits and has been nearly as dominant in the 2026 recruiting cycle. Most notably, class of 2026 five-star offensive tackle commit Felix Ojo rocked the NIL landscape last week when he landed a three-year, $5.1 million guaranteed revenue-share agreement with Texas Tech.

A longtime friend of McGuire due to their Texas high school football backgrounds, Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders was asked about Texas Tech’s impressive work in the transfer portal during his Big 12 football media days press conference on Wednesday.

Deion Sanders Feelings Texas Tech's NIL Spending Spree College Football Salary Cap Colorado Buffaloes Transfer Portal

Jul 9, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; Colorado head coach Deion Sanders speaks with the media during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images / Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

“Joey’s got some money!” Sanders said. “He’s spending that money! I love it. Once upon a time, you guys were talking junk about me going in that portal. Now, when everybody goes in the portal, it’s OK. It’s cool when they do it, but it’s a problem when I do it. Ain’t that a rap song? First of all, let’s get this straight: I love me some Joey McGuire, one of the best coaches in our conference. I’ve seen him excel from high school all the way to where he is now, and he’s a winner. I absolutely love it. I love him because he’s a man of standard.”

Sanders was initially pointing to the backlash he received during his first offseason at Colorado when he cleaned house with over 50 incoming transfers. That ultimately led to success in Boulder, and first-year head coaches (plus McGuire) are now copying Sanders’ blueprint this offseason, including Purdue’s Barry Odom (54 transfer commits), West Virginia’s Rich Rodriguez (52) and even North Carolina’s Bill Belichick (41).

NIL and revenue-sharing money play a significant role in determining the number of players a team can add each cycle. In Texas Tech’s case, the Red Raiders have benefited from a number of wealthy boosters donating to the program, including billionaire Cody Campbell. According to USA Today Sports, Campbell and his donor team have $55 million in NIL contracts across Texas Tech’s entire athletics program. Colorado isn’t quite there, to say the least.

“Can you (McGuire) send a few of those dollars to us so we can get some of those players too?” Sanders joked.

MORE: Deion Sanders Gives Positive Update On Health Issues At Big 12 Media Days

MORE: Deion Sanders Shares Truth About Colorado Buffaloes After Losing Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter

MORE: Deion Sanders Wants Salary Cap In College Football, Transfer Portal Investigations, NFL Rules

Deion Sanders Feelings Texas Tech's NIL Spending Spree College Football Salary Cap Colorado Buffaloes Transfer Portal

Jul 9, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; Colorado head coach Deion Sanders leaves the stage after speaking with the media during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images / Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

At the same time, “Coach Prime” shared his support for a salary cap in college football, adding that the wealthiest programs are ultimately the ones that reach the College Football Playoff.

“I wish it was a cap,” Sanders said. “The top of the line player makes this, and if you’re not that type of guy, you know you are not going to make that. That’s what the NFL does. The problem is you got a guy that is not that darn good, but he could go to another school, and that gives him a half a million dollars. You can’t compete with that. It don’t make sense.”



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Big 12 Coaches Jealous of Texas Tech’s NIL Spending

Share Tweet Share Share Email The Texas Tech Red Raiders are heading into the 2025 college football season with huge expectations after an off-season of massive spending for some of the top players in the transfer portal. But after Texas Tech’s huge spending binge, the question is, how do the other Big 12 coaches feel […]

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The Texas Tech Red Raiders are heading into the 2025 college football season with huge expectations after an off-season of massive spending for some of the top players in the transfer portal.

But after Texas Tech’s huge spending binge, the question is, how do the other Big 12 coaches feel about it.

In an outstanding piece in The Athletic by David Ubben, several anonymous Big 12 football coaches expressed jealousy at how much money Joey McGuire had to spend this offseason.

 

What Big 12 Coaches Told The Athletic

Coach 1: “It’s awesome if you got it,” said one coach. “I wish I had it, oh, my gosh.”

Coach 2: “Good for them. I’m jealous.”

Coach 3: “Ridiculous. …They’re not just outbidding, they’re outbidding (other teams) by 3X. Wild, but it will be interesting. If the players are good kids, about the right things and about winning, I think it’ll go great. If they’re about themselves, the first time adversity hits will define them.”

Coach 4: Another suggested that “the pressure that’s going to come with all the money Texas Tech spent is going to be tough.”

Coach 5: “Asinine.”

Coach 6: “I don’t know what to believe. I don’t even know how it’s possible. Those are big numbers. There will be a lot of young men taking pay cuts when they get done playing college football.”

Texas Tech athletes will earn roughly $55 million in NIL across all sports in 2025-26, including $20.5 million in direct revenue sharing under the recently approved House settlement.

 

Texas Tech’s Football History

The Texas Tech Red Raiders wrapped up their 2024 football season with an 8–5 record, including a 6–3 mark in Big 12 play under third-year head coach Joey McGuire. The Red Raiders boasted one of the most explosive offenses in the country, averaging 37.6 points per game — fourth-best in the FBS — led by quarterback Behren Morton and standout running back Tahj Brooks, who rushed for over 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns. However, defensive struggles, particularly in the secondary, plagued the team, culminating in a 39–26 loss to Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl.

Texas Tech is still trying to win its first-ever Big 12 Championship. Texas Tech football last won a conference championship in 1994, when they were co-champions of the Southwest Conference (SWC)

That title came just two years before the SWC dissolved and Texas Tech joined the newly formed Big 12 Conference in 1996.





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LSU hires Sam Petitto in latest move to bolster football staff for recruiting – Crescent City Sports

(Photo: Michael Bacigalupi) Over the past two weeks, LSU has made significant moves to bolster its support and recruiting staff for the football program, reflecting head coach Brian Kelly’s ongoing efforts to modernize the program in the era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), revenue sharing, and the NCAA Transfer Portal. The latest addition is […]

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Brian Kelly
(Photo: Michael Bacigalupi)

Over the past two weeks, LSU has made significant moves to bolster its support and recruiting staff for the football program, reflecting head coach Brian Kelly’s ongoing efforts to modernize the program in the era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), revenue sharing, and the NCAA Transfer Portal.

The latest addition is Sam Petitto from Ohio State. Below is a recap of the trio of recently reported hires:

Key Hires

  1. Kevin Bolden – Assistant General Manager
    LSU hired Kevin Bolden, previously the Coordinator of Recruiting Strategy at Ole Miss, as Assistant General Manager. Bolden, a Mississippi native, worked under LSU’s Senior Associate Athletic Director for Football Administration, Austin Thomas, during his tenure at Ole Miss in 2022 and 2023. His expertise in transfer portal and high school recruiting is expected to enhance LSU’s recruiting operations, which have already secured the No. 1 Transfer Portal class in 2025. Bolden’s hire is part of LSU’s strategy to maintain its dominance in the transfer market.

  2. Jeff Martin – Rehire in Recruiting Role
    LSU rehired Martin, a key assistant staffer from the 2019 national championship team, in a recruiting-focused role. Martin’s return, reported by On3’s Shea Dixon, brings familiarity and proven recruiting prowess to the program. His experience is expected to strengthen LSU’s efforts in securing top talent, particularly for the 2026 recruiting class.

  3. Sam Petitto – Director of Scouting and Personnel Strategy
    LSU added Petitto, formerly with Ohio State, as Director of Scouting and Personnel Strategy. Petitto’s hire, reported on July 11, 2025, underscores LSU’s focus on enhancing its scouting and personnel operations. His experience with the national champion Buckeyes, where he led on-campus recruiting activities, adds a high-caliber professional to the Tigers’ front office. This move aligns with the program’s modernization efforts to navigate the evolving landscape of college football.

Context and Impact

The additions of Bolden, Martin, and Petitto signal a strategic emphasis on recruiting and personnel management, critical in an era where the transfer portal and NIL opportunities heavily influence roster construction. LSU’s recruiting success is evident in its top-five 2026 recruiting class and the No. 1 Transfer Portal class, bolstered by commitments from seven top-100 transfers.

The staff changes also reflect a broader trend of LSU targeting experienced professionals with ties to successful power conference programs and Louisiana roots, ensuring both expertise and cultural alignment. These moves are expected to support head coach Kelly’s “College Football Playoff or bust” expectations for the 2025 season, as the Tigers aim to improve coming off of a 8-4 campaign last season.

Conclusion

LSU’s recent hires of Bolden, Martin, and Petitto demonstrate a proactive approach to strengthening the program’s recruiting and support infrastructure. As the Tigers continue to reshape their personnel department, these additions position the Tigers to remain competitive in recruiting top talent and navigating the complexities of modern college football. Fans can expect these hires to play a significant role in sustaining LSU’s recruiting momentum and building a roster capable of contending for a national championship in 2025.



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Q&A with UCF athletics director Terry Mohajir

FRISCO, Texas — It’s been a busy time for UCF athletics director Terry Mohajir, who has been working through the seismic changes associated with the college landscape due to the NCAA v House settlement. The Sentinel caught up with Mohajir at this week’s Big 12 Media Days to discuss several topics. Here is an abbreviated […]

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FRISCO, Texas — It’s been a busy time for UCF athletics director Terry Mohajir, who has been working through the seismic changes associated with the college landscape due to the NCAA v House settlement.

The Sentinel caught up with Mohajir at this week’s Big 12 Media Days to discuss several topics. Here is an abbreviated version of that conversation:

Revenue-sharing kicked off on July 1. What has the process been like so far at UCF?

“We’ve been working on it for almost a year and a half, so we’ve had a lot of different plans and strategies. During this whole process, we still didn’t know all the terms of the House settlement. About a month before the settlement was signed, we had a pretty good idea, but it’s been such a fluid process. We received new guidance almost weekly over the past year and a half about things they were going to do or things they were considering. It was a lot of ups and downs. I think we’re prepared and ready, and feel good about our direction.”

You’re covering the full $20.5 million revenue pool, correct?

“Yes. We’re covering the full rev-share. We worked hard at that. Next year it goes up 4% so we’ve got to put together a plan for next year.”

Florida’s Board of Governors approved an amendment that would allow public institutions like UCF to dip into auxiliary funds to help cover the cost of the revenue-share pool. Do you plan to take advantage of that rule?

“We were involved in that process. It’s another option for funding, but you have to have the funds to fund it. We’ll work with our university and we’ll be strategic about it. It’s another option to take advantage of it if you have the funds.

“We have no shortage of ideas on how to use the funds, but you have to have funds readily available that aren’t already allocated for something else. Because even in auxiliary funds, the color of money inside an auxiliary fund may be designated for a certain area that you’re not allowed to use.”

Brett Yormark eyes enhanced role for Big 12 in College Football Playoff landscape

Under the House settlement, name, image and likeness (NIL) deals are processed through a new program in NIL Go, which serves as a clearinghouse for these deals. How has that gone so far in the process?

“We’ve already put five deals through there. Four have been approved and one is pending. The range has been $600 to $10,000 and we’ve had a $10,000 deal go through so far.

“It’s working [the process] and it’s doing what it’s supposed to do, that’s why I’ve been so optimistic about this new age of college athletics and this new age of college sports. The College Sports Commission that we have, I think it’s working. So, we’ll see. We’re doing it the right way and hopefully everybody continues to do so and follows the terms of this House settlement.”

What are the latest updates on the ongoing construction projects?

“As far as I know, we’re still on track. I haven’t heard anything different, and I think we’re in good shape.”

Are there other projects that you’re working on as well?

“We’re moving along the promenade from Ken Dixon Way to the stadium. Then, we’re creating another pathway from behind the soccer field and the parking garage, which will run from the Village area to help move fans along. They don’t want to walk in the grass and stuff.

“We hired a company to do a master plan for us for athletics to reimagine the whole athletics village area. That’s everything from baseball to softball, the whole space.”

The school revealed new uniforms for this upcoming football season. What’s been the reaction?

“Contrary to what people think, I do not pick the uniforms each week. I let the coaches and the team’s leadership handle all that. My primary goal is to adhere to the black and gold theme. We have such great colors. I want us to stick with black uniforms as much as possible. … You look at our league, they all want black uniforms. Those who don’t have black in their palette wish to be black. So we’re very fortunate to have that.

“Our design team is working with Nike and they’ve done a great job. We still have some more reveals to go, which I think our fans will like.”

Have there been discussions about doing a Space Game Trophy for the Houston game?

Scott Frost: Low expectations for UCF are chance to embrace underdog role

“We’re open to anything. Whenever you’re looking at that kind of content, you want to monetize it. Do we want to relinquish our university designation to share it with someone else? Because if you have an annual space game, you have to play it annually and that’s not a guarantee. We didn’t play Houston last year, so that would mean we would have to rotate. I mean, as much as we’re open to it, I’m not sure if it’ll really works.”

Commissioner Brett Yormark discussed the possibility of playing more international games. Are you in favor of such a move?

“I have raised my hand like [Arnold] Horshack from ‘Welcome Back, Kotter’ every time they talk about international games. Yes, absolutely.

“The biggest thing for us is we don’t want to give up a home game, because we’re so dependent on our football game receipts. Obviously, some of the other schools have different types of funding models at their university, so they might be willing to give up their home game, but I think there’s a real, real opportunity.”

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.



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