The transfer portal giveth and it taketh away. 

Players are now jumping ship for more playing time or more NIL money at a higher clip than any point in college football history. It’s more important than ever for coaching staffs to navigate the crowd and nail every addition.

Here’s a look at four questions Mountain West teams have yet to answer after plucking what they hope are difference makers out of the portal. 

Can RB Malik Sherrod Rejuvenate His Career At Boise State?

Sherrod carried the load for Fresno State’s backfield in 2023, producing 966 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns to go with the Bulldogs’ first kickoff return for a touchdown since 2008. He finished last season with just 196 rushing yards and four touchdowns after injuries kept him out of all but four games. 

The sixth-year senior transferred to Boise State where he has a real chance to rejuvenate his career. The Broncos have shown a willingness to lean on the running game in recent seasons, and they return four offensive linemen with starting experience, including left tackle Kage Casey, who could be one of the best in the Mountain West. 

The biggest hurdle Sherrod will have to clear is Boise State’s packed backfield, which includes junior Jambres Dubar and young, explosive backs Sire Gaines and Dylan Riley.  

Will Transfers Lead UNLV Back To The Mountain West Title Game?

UNLV has lost to Boise State in the Mountain West championship games the past two years in a row. The Rebels are hoping a rebuilt roster under the leadership of new head coach Dan Mullen will lead them to another shot at a conference title. 

The Rebels lost 10 of their 11 All-Mountain West players from last season, but they’ve brought in a stacked transfer class, which includes former five-star recruits like linebacker Justin Flowe (Arizona) and cornerback Denver Harris (UTSA) as well as explosive running back Keyvonne Lee (Mississippi State/Penn State) and quarterbacks Anthony Colandrea (Virginia) and Alex Orji (Michigan).  

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Can New Mexico Field Another Electric Offense?

New Mexico is in rebuild mode again after losing head coach Bronco Mendenhall to Utah State and a litany of starters to the transfer portal. None will be more difficult to replace than quarterback Devon Dampier (Utah), running back Eli Sanders (USC), and wide receiver Luke Wysong (Arizona).

New head coach Jason Eck may have found his answers at running back and wide receiver after plucking Montana State’s Scottre Humphrey and Kansas State’s Keagan Johnson out of the portal. Humphrey posted 1,827 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground the past two seasons. Johnson caught 53 passes for 586 yards and three touchdowns the past two seasons at Kansas State after beginning his career at Iowa.

The Lobos still have questions to answer at quarterback. Former Idaho starter Jack Layne followed Eck to New Mexico. He’s joined on the roster by JUCO transfers Gabriel Motschenbacher and James Laubstein.  

Has San Jose State Found Its New Go-To Receiver?

One of the best stories in the Mountain West last season was San Jose State wide receiver Nick Nash’s ascension to national prominence. The former quarterback ranked No. 2 in the country with 104 catches and 1,382 receiving yards and led the nation with 16 touchdown catches.

San Jose State quarterback Walker Eget needs a new go-to target this season, and the Spartans may have already found one in former Purdue wide receiver Leland Smith. 

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound native of Houston played in all 12 games for the Boilermakers last season, catching six passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns. Smith was a junior college All-American in 2023 after hauling in 26 passes for 655 yards and nine touchdowns at Fullerton College.   

For the second time in as many days, Southeastern Louisiana has pulled off a massive upset against LSU. This one is going to sting the Tigers a little more, though, being an elimination game. They are now out of the NCAA Tournament, crashing out after hosting the regional.

Drama ensued in both games but the latest one certainly takes the cake. Getting the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, a groundball is hit to first base. The winning run scores quite easily, although there was still a challenge on the play from LSU.

Wanting to know if the runner left first base early, the umpires went into a review. There was not much to see as the play was soon confirmed. Everybody was called safe, Southeastern Louisiana got their eighth run, and a party ensued.

The Lions will live to see another day due to the victory. However, there is still a lot of work to do and a mountain to climb. Nebraska is waiting on the other side in the Baton Rouge Regional championship. Two Southeastern Louisiana wins are going to be required for them to advance. A loss, in the first or second contest, would send Nebraska into the Super Regionals.

As for the home team, the season ends in the most disappointing of fashions. For the second time in three seasons, LSU has not made it out of a regional despite hosting. Funny enough, back in 2024, they got into the Super Regionals despite being away from Baton Rouge.

LSU enjoyed successful season before suffering upset losses

Despite the tough ending, the 2025 season was still full of great moments for LSU. There is a reason they were hosting a regional, earning the No. 10 overall seed. Even so, the NCAA Tournament experience may not have lasted as long as they liked.

The final record will be an incredible 42-16, dating back to the season opener on Feb. 7. Weirdly enough, there was an early season game against Southeastern Louisiana. LSU was able to escape back then, winning 3-2.

Elsewhere, the SEC record finished bang on .500, winning 12 games and losing 12. Four conference series went in their favor, including a sweep of Kentucky to get the party started. Two games were played at the SEC Tournament too in Athens, beating the Mississippi State Bulldogs before running into the buzzsaw known as the Oklahoma Sooners.

In a college football era where star players are lured by massive NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals, Penn State’s biggest names are making headlines for a very different reason. Drew Allar, Nick Singleton, and Kaytron Allen have chosen loyalty over lucrative offers—let’s explore what drove these standout athletes to stay with the Nittany Lions.

Adam Breneman Spotlights How James Franklin’s Culture Is Winning Over Penn State’s Stars

Recently, analyst Adam Breneman took to Instagram to share a revealing excerpt from his interview with Penn State head coach James Franklin. The post quickly gained traction, sparking conversations across college football. Breneman highlighted how, despite the ever-growing influence of NIL money and the transfer portal, Penn State’s stars have chosen to stay in Happy Valley.

The Instagram post, which drew from Breneman’s “Next Up” show and the must-watch YouTube interview “The James Franklin Interview Every Penn State Fan Needs to Hear”, underscored Franklin’s culture-first philosophy.

Rather than focusing on financial incentives, Franklin has built a program centered on genuine relationships, trust, and personal growth. This approach, Breneman notes, is what keeps top talents like Allar, Singleton, and Allen committed to the Nittany Lions.

Franklin’s message is clear: Penn State is about more than just football- it’s about transformation. “I care so much about the kids, and their journey, and their experience… I still want it to be as transformational as we possibly can be here at Penn State,” Franklin said. This commitment to his players’ holistic development is resonating, even as rival programs dangle bigger paychecks.

The Power of Relationships Over Riches

For Franklin and his staff, success isn’t measured by the size of NIL deals but by the strength of the Penn State community. Every player on the roster, according to Franklin, is likely walking away from some amount of money. Yet, they remain because they value the unique experience and camaraderie that Penn State offers.

This culture-driven approach is rare in today’s college football landscape. While other programs overhaul rosters with transfers and chase the next big NIL signing, Franklin’s selective strategy and focus on continuity have fostered loyalty. Players like Allar, Singleton, and Allen aren’t just staying for another season—they’re investing in their growth as athletes and people.

Players consistently describe Franklin’s personal investment in their lives. Linebacker Kaveion Keys shared, “He’s going to recruit you different. He’s going to send you posts, quotes every day. He’s not going to stop calling, texting you, just seeing how you’re doing and just checking in on you. And that’s all that matters.”

KEEP READING: ‘It Feels Wrong’—Why Insiders Are Suddenly Putting James Franklin’s Penn State at No. 1, and Not Ohio State

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A 12-run third inning catapulted the No. 24 Oklahoma State softball team to a record-setting 16-8 win over Indiana in an elimination game played at Bogle Park Saturday.
 
All 12 of OSU’s runs in the third came before the first out was recorded to set an NCAA Tournament record. It was the fifth-highest single-inning scoring output for any team in NCAA Tournament history and the most for OSU in any inning of any game since a 14-run inning against Omaha in 2018.
 
The Cowgirls’ total of 16 runs against the Hoosiers Saturday established a new school record in an NCAA Tournament game and OSU’s 18 hits set a season high and was just two short of the school record for any game.
 
The win advanced the Pokes (35-19 overall) into tomorrow’s regional final against Arkansas. The Cowgirls will need to beat the homestanding Hogs twice. The first game is scheduled for 3 p.m., with the if-necessary game starting shortly after its conclusion.
 
Additionally, the win was Kenny Gajewski‘s 400th as OSU’s head coach.
 
Indiana (34-20) got on the board with a pair of runs in the first inning, but the Cowgirls went on to claim their 13th win of the season in a game in which they trailed by two or more runs. Every OSU starter scored at least one run in the game, with Megan Delgadillo scoring three and Amanda Hasler, Rosie Davis, Tia Warsop and Rachael Hathoot scoring two apiece.
 
Hathoot set a career high with four hits in the game, with Delgadillo, Davis, Karli Godwin, Warsop and Audrey Schneidmiller adding multi-hit performances of their own. In a game loaded with offensive explosiveness, Hasler’s third-inning grand slam was the biggest blow of them all. It was her 16th home run of the year and OSU’s first grand slam of the season. It was the Cowgirls’ first grand slam in an NCAA Tournament game since 2022. Hasler’s slam was followed immediately by a home run from Davis just two pitches later.
 
RyLee Crandall picked up the win for OSU to improve to 7-4 on the year. Indiana was forced to make five pitching changes in the game, with Brianna Copeland (18-10) saddled with the loss.
 
For season-long coverage of Oklahoma State Softball, visit okstate.com and follow @CowgirlSB on X and @osusoftball on Instagram. For tickets, visit okstate.com/tickets  
or call 877-ALL-4-OSU. 

 

	1	2	3	4	5	6		R	H	E	L
Oklahoma State	0	1	12	1	0	2		16	18	1	7
Indiana	2	0	0	6	0	0		8	10	0	3

WP: Crandall (7-4); LP: Copeland (18-10); SV: None 
HR: OSU – Davis (9), Hasler (16) 
HR: IU – None 
Duration: 2:36; Attendance: 2,932  
 

TUCSON, Ariz. – The No. 17 Ole Miss softball team exploded for five runs in the fifth inning to rally and defeat No. 23 Grand Canyon, 7-4, and advance to the winner’s bracket in the NCAA Tucson Regional.

Aliyah Binford went 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Ashton Lansdell launched a home run and delivered stellar defense to power the Rebels (38-17, 11-13 SEC) past Grand Canyon (46-7, 21-2 WAC) to victory.

The Rebels earned their first NCAA Tournament win since 2023 and improve to 7-2 all-time in NCAA Regional opening games.

The Rebels were held scoreless though the first four frames as the Lopes mounted a 3-0 lead, looking to extend the nation’s longest-active win streak at 23 games.

However, Lansdell sparked the comeback with a leadoff homer in the fifth.

Following some timely hitting from Angelina DeLeon and Jaden Pone, Lair Beautae delivered an RBI single to make it 3-2.

After a steal by Addison Duke, the Rebels used strong baserunning to pounce on a wild pitch and tie the game at 3-3.

Binford was next to the plate and delivered the go-ahead hit, placing a single through the left side for a 4-3 advantage.

Lexie Brady took over from there, driving in Binford with an RBI double off the right field wall to make it 5-3.

GCU threatened with two on and nobody out in the sixth and cut one from the Rebel lead, but Brianna Lopez limited the damage with an inning-ending strikeout.

Lopez finished the day after going 6.1 innings, allowing just three earned runs and striking out three to secure her fourth consecutive 100-strikeout season.

Nevertheless, Binford got it right back and more with a two-RBI single in the bottom half of the frame. Binford was set up by hits from DeLeon and Taylor Malvin, who each tallied two-hit days.

The Lopes had one last chance with a runner on third and one away in the seventh. Lansdell stepped up to deliver her second, game-changing play, as she made a spectacular diving catch and touched third upon landing for a game-ending double play.

The Rebels will take on host and national No. 13 seed Arizona on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on ESPN.

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Saturday’s game between Boston U. and Omaha entered a weather delay in the third inning. It’s the second game of the day in the Norman Regional of the 2025 NCAA softball tournament, and it is set to resume at 7:05 p.m. ET.

At the time of the delay, the two teams sat at a 0-0 tie with one out in the top of the third inning at Love’s Field in Norman. Players then returned to the field for warmups at about 6:45 p.m. ET ahead of a 7:05 p.m. ET restart.

Omaha and Boston University lost their opening matchups in the Norman Regional, leading to the matchup in an elimination game. The Terriers suffered a run-rule loss against host Oklahoma while the Mavericks came up short in a 1-0 thriller against Cal.

Oklahoma and Cal got things started Saturday in Norman Regional action, and the Sooners’ offense broke out in a big way. Kasidi Pickering led the way with six RBI, including a grand slam as part of a six-run sixth inning for OU, as the Sooners pulled off a run-rule victory over the Golden Bears to advance to the Regional Final.

In addition to the grand slam, Pickering also had a solo home run to her name in addition to an RBI hit. Her approach at the plate paid off in a big way and has OU on the verge of another Super Regional berth.

“So she is just an easy watch, you know? Just really sees the ball well,” Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso said after the game. “She’ll identify balls and strikes very easily. You can hear it. But her hands are quick and her body is strong, and it looks, like you said, very simple. It does.

“It looks very easy, but she definitely works on it, hits a lot on her own. I know Gabbie does as well, and it takes that kind of effort and commitment and I think swinging so much, that’s why it looks easy because she does it so much.”

Boston U. and Omaha is the second game of the day at Love’s Field. The winner will advance to take on Cal in another elimination game afterward with a spot in Sunday’s Regional Final against Oklahoma on the line.