NIL

College football winners, losers in Week 1: LSU flexes national title-caliber defense, Arch Manning falls flat

Published

4 months ago

August 31, 2025

College football has never been more unpredictable as the transfer portal and NIL deliver massively transformed rosters. And with that, Week 1 gave us one of the most electric weeks of college football that we’ve had in years.

Right off the top, five AP Top 25 teams fell before the end of Week 1, including three in the top 10. Texas became the first preseason No. 1 team to lose its opener since Miami fell to BYU in 1990.

But even down the board, there were major shakeups. Auburn looked the part of a complete team in a dominant win against Baylor. North Dakota gave Kansas State a tremendous scare. Tulane crushed Big Ten foe Northwestern by three touchdowns. Every game is a moment to be shocked.

College football rankings: Ohio State, Florida State set for big moves as Texas, Alabama drop in top 25 polls

Chip Patterson

With that said, there were winners and losers across college football. LSU’s win over Clemson will factor into the national championship race. Austin Peay’s upset of Middle Tennessee is just a tremendous moment for the program. Big or small, here are the stories you need to know.

Winner: LSU

At long last, Brian Kelly finally won an opener at No. 9 LSU. It couldn’t have come at a better time. Under the lights of No. 4 Clemson’s Death Valley, LSU stakes its claim. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier helped lead a critical touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to cap off a 14-0 run and win the game.

LSU invested major money into its defense, especially on the defensive side of the ball. In the biggest moments, the unit showed up. Clemson completed only 50% of its passes and rushed for barely one yard per carry. The biggest moment came on the final play, when — who else — Harold Perkins Jr. was sent on a blitz that forced Cade Klubnik into an incompletion.

After beating Clemson, LSU should seriously enter the AP top 5 and join the list of national championship favorites. If this is the defense we’re getting, there’s no reason the Tigers can’t win it all.

There was perhaps no way to truly live up to the impossible expectations of Arch Manning, but his first road start left much to be desired. Manning had only 38 yards passing and an interception through the first three quarters

Manning managed to turn things on in the fourth quarter, connecting with receiver Parker Livingstone for a 32-yard touchdown catch and finishing with 170 yards. Still, his performance was marred by baffling inaccuracy, poor decision making and a general lack of meeting the moment.

During the game, Manning’s Heisman odds shifted like they were a cryptocurrency, swinging from +500 to +1300 from throw to throw. Texas is a defensive-led team, but the performance by Manning cost them the game. He will have to quickly regroup and find his confidence before SEC play starts.

Texas quarterback Arch Manning had an afternoon to forget at Ohio State on Saturday.
Getty Images

The story of the offseason was the unexpected departure of No. 24 Vols quarterback Nico Iamaleava. If Week 1 is any indication, Tennessee might have lucked into a massive improvement. App State transfer Joey Aguilar was sensational, throwing for 247 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-26 win over Syracuse.

The moment where everything changed was early in the second quarter. Aguilar launched a bomb to Braylon Staley that traveled more than 50 yards through the air for a 73-yard touchdown. The throw was arguably the best that the program has seen since Hendon Hooker left for the NFL in 2022. Vols fans should feel excited.

Loser: Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer

Replacing Nick Saban was always going to come with complications, but the beginning of Phase 2 DeBoer was a total disaster. The No. 8 Crimson Tide went on the road in Week 1 and laid one of the most shocking eggs of the weekend. Alabama lost 31-17 against the Seminoles, who were coming off of a 2-10 season.

After the loss, DeBoer’s Alabama has now lost four straight games where it was favored by double-digits, a staggering sum. What on paper is the most talented roster in the country was plagued by mental mistakes, softness and miscues. Alabama has quickly become unrecognizable under DeBoer. The question becomes, now what?

Few players ran their mouths more over the offseason than Castellanos, the Boston College transfer who took over at Florida State. After shocking No. 8 Alabama in a 31-17 decision, Castellanos earned himself a heck of a victory lap. Castellanos was masterful in the win, passing for 152 yards and rushing for 78 yards with a touchdown. His runs were highly effective, with five of his 16 carries directly leading to first downs or touchdowns. Now, Florida State will certainly enter the national conversation and likely return to the AP Top 25 for the first time since the 0-2 start last year.

Life without Ashton Jeanty was always going to be an adjustment, but the first game of the next era was a colossal dud. The Broncos walked into South Florida and looked completely overmatched in a 34-7 loss at Raymond James Stadium. Boise State struggled to tackle USF quarterback Byrum Brown and finished with only 122 yards rushing.

But while the performance was disappointing, it was the lack of composure that stood apart. Boise State turned over the ball three times, went 6-of-17 on third down and committed more penalties. The Broncos even outgained USF — and finished with 10 more first downs — but mistakes doomed them.

The one bright spot from this performance is that it was so bad that you can almost throw it out. But in one swoop, Boise State forfeited its place as the Group of Six’s premier program. The next four months will be spent trying to climb back.

Winner: The American

Boise State’s rise put more attention on the Mountain West last season, but Week 1 proved that the American still has a case as America’s best Group of Six league. South Florida picked up a massive win over Boise State, opening the door for the CFP bid wide open. Tulane obliterated Northwestern 23-3 for a big win. Rice looked resurgent under first-year coach Scott Abell, riding the option to a 14-12 win over Lamar. Even UTSA in a loss to Texas A&M showed real upside to reach the College Football Playoff.

Army’s title defense is on life support after losing to Tarleton State, but several teams proved themselves as contenders for the conference. Memphis, North Texas and Navy will have their shot to add to the list when they finally play quality opponents in the coming week.

Loser: Bottom of the Big Ten

There’s long been a gap between the haves and have-nots of the Big Ten, but the former Big Ten West schools were largely a disaster. Northwestern was the headliner, getting obliterated 23-3 against Tulane. However, Rutgers needed every second to pull off a 34-31 win over Ohio, which featured a first-year coach. As of publication, UCLA is getting walloped by Utah. Minnesota needed a late run to pull away from Buffalo. Nebraska got bailed out by a late interception against a Cincinnati team considered in the bottom tier of the Big 12. Wisconsin only had three points at halftime against Miami (Ohio).

The Big Ten has been pushing for additional bids in the College Football Playoff. On nights like this, it’s easy to see why. For every national championship contender in the conference, there are two schools that struggle against far less monied opponents. Building a quality strength of schedule will only get more difficult for the conference if the middle class continues to underperform.

Consider this slot an honorary place after No. 22 Iowa State outlasted No. 17 Kansas State in the annual Week 0 Ireland game. However, on a day where many elite programs struggled with ranked FCS opponents, Iowa State’s total demolition of FCS No. 5 South Dakota, a 55-7 decision, was very impressive.

After the defense led the way to a hard-fought 24-21 victory over Kansas State in Week 0, quarterback Rocco Becht got to empty the clip against a solid South Dakota defense. Becht completed 19-of-20 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns. Tight ends Gabe Burkle and Benjamin Brahmer were especially good, combining for 11 catches for 132 yards and three touchdowns.

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell was optimistic that this team could actually be an improvement from the one that went 11-3 last year. The early returns are tremendous.

Winner: FCS upsets

It’s not unusual for FCS teams to upset FBS opponents, but the stories from this weekend were notable.

Coming into the season, Austin Peay had not won a single game against FBS competition since 1987. On Saturday, they snapped that streak, demolishing Middle Tennessee to the tune of 34-14. The Governors held them to 153 total yards and 0-12 on third down. It was a historic win for second-year Govs coach Jeff Faris.

However, that pales in comparison to Tarleton State. The Texans only moved up to Division I from their longtime homes in Division II during the 2020-21 school year. Coach Todd Whitten, in his 15th year with the program, quickly built them into an FCS power. However, their upset victory over Army — the 2024 American champ — is a pivotal moment in the history of the program. Running backs Caleb Lewis and Tre Page III combined for 196 yards and two touchdowns to deliver the incredible win in double-overtime.

Georgia Tech didn’t exactly get off to a masterful start during a 27-20 win over Colorado as the Yellow Jackets turned it over three straight times. However, the bowling ball King rose to the occasion as usual. King exploded for 156 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, including a breakaway 45-yard run with 1:07 remaining to pick up a massive road victory and start a highly anticipated season off with a win.

King’s dad, John, is a legendary high school coach in the state of Texas at Longview High School. Earlier this week, he was diagnosed with cancer, but planned to continue coaching. He wasn’t able to be at Haynes’ game as he led his state powerhouse to a 41-16 win over Lufkin, but it was a great moment for the family to see Georgia Tech start off strong.

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NIL

Arch Manning takes NIL pay cut to boost 2026 Texas Football roster

Published

6 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Your Sports Nation

There are plenty of examples of a star in pro sports taking less money in order to help the overall roster. But it isn’t something that’s hit college football yet … until now, thanks to Arch Manning. Manning has asked to take a reduced portion of the Longhorns’ direct payout pool.

Manning’s aim at taking less NIL funds is to help improve the roster around him. Just like Patrick Mahomes, who regularly gives up millions to help the Kansas City Chief’s roster. Tom Brady did it with New England. Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Jalen Brunson, Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger have all helped the rosters around them by taking less.

In the pros, there are salary caps to negotiate. While college has no salary cap (yet), there is a finite amount in the NIL house pool. Texas can only spend what it has available. And while that pool is one of the biggest in the nation, Texas still follows a budget.

No doubt, Manning will be hoping the Texas coaching staff uses some of the freed up football revenue sharing funds on the offensive line. The line struggled in front of Manning all season and certainly inhibited his development early in the season.

Two offensive linemen are gone after the Citrus Bowl and Texas might lose a third. Left tackle Trevor Goosby was named first-team All-SEC is now contemplating going pro. Running back Jadan Baugh from Florida is also on Texas’ radar. The talented RB won’t be cheap.

Of course, it’s not like Manning will starve. The redshirt sophomore has one of the highest NIL valuations in nation. Manning has NIL deals with Red Bull, Panani, Uber and Warby Parker. Manning made north of $3.5 million in NIL deals in 2025, according to the Houston Chronicle.

With a big name that attracts major brands, Manning doesn’t need his big deals supplemented. But most college athletes are paid by the common pool of funds. Manning frees up some of that money for transfers.

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Manning Pay Cut: Texas QB asks for less NIL money to help boost roster

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Top 5 transfer portal landing spots for TCU quarterback Josh Hoover

Published

7 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The NCAA Transfer Portal claimed another big name on Thursday night.

TCU star quarterback Josh Hoover has announced he intends to move on from the program. Hoover spent the last four seasons with the Horned Frogs, taking over as the starter midway through the 2023 campaign and putting up big numbers in each of the last two years.

In 36 career games, Hoover has completed 771/1183 passes for 9,629 yards with 71 touchdowns to 33 interceptions. He added eight more scores on the ground. There’s a very real likelihood that Hoover’s the most productive quarterback returning to the sport in 2026.

Hoover ranks in the top 5 in TCU program history in touchdown passes and total offense. He’s expected to be a coveted option in the portal.

Where are five landing spots that make sense for Hoover?

Indiana Hoosiers

Back in the College Football Playoff with a different starter for the second consecutive season, Indiana has put together one of the most impressive runs in the sport since Curt Cignetti took over the program.

The undefeated Hoosiers produced their first Heisman Trophy winner in school history last weekend as star quarterback Fernando Mendoza ran away with the award. Mendoza has another season of eligibility remaining, but is projected to be a top selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Indiana has already been linked to Hoover, per CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer.

Miami Hurricanes

Miami has lived in the transfer portal over the past few years, investing plenty of time and money into building a contender for Mario Cristobal. The moves finally worked out in 2025 as a massive financial commitment to secure Carson Beck from Georgia helped power the Hurricanes to the playoffs.

Though the conclusion of the 2024 season was a disappointment, former Miami quarterback Cam Ward was developed into the No. 1 pick in the most recent NFL Draft. Beck will likely get a shot at the professional level as well.

With little proven depth on the roster, it makes sense to bring in another experienced quarterback like Hoover to keep the Hurricanes on the right track. Miami has proven it’s willing to pay up.

Oregon Ducks

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Oregon is a known quarterback factory, sending former stars such as Marcus Mariota and Justin Herbert to the NFL. That hasn’t changed since Dan Lanning took over the program in 2022.

The Ducks have had a quarterback drafted in back-to-back years, with Bo Nix going in the first round in 2024 and Dillon Gabriel being selected within the top-100 picks in 2025. Lanning could do it again next April with Dante Moore, who is nearing the end of a career year.

If Moore does leap to the professional level, Hoover would be a solid fit. Nix, Gabriel, and Moore all began their college careers at different schools and later transferred to Oregon, a similar path Hoover is embarking on.

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire | Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Suiting up for a playoff contender is pretty cool. Having a chance to win championships and staying home in the process might be even cooler.

Texas Tech has firmly entrenched itself as a program to reckon with in the modern age of the sport. The Red Raiders have plenty of money, and they’ve shown they’re willing to use it to pull in elite talent from the transfer portal and high school ranks.

With Behren Morton exhausting his eligibility following the playoff run, Texas Tech has to decide if it wants to turn the program over to another transfer or a homegrown talent like Will Hammond.

Either way, Hoover is from Texas and he’s already in the state.

Houston Cougars

An outlier among four other programs that have a chance to win it all, Houston is on the come-up. The Cougars haven’t been shy about writing checks, evidenced by the program signing five-star quarterback Keisean Henderson during the Early Signing Period.

Redshirt junior starter Conner Weigman does have one season of eligibility remaining and has stated he intends to return next season. Decisions are quick to change in this era, so never say never.

Would Houston bring in Hoover while Henderson develops for a season? Or should the program stick with Weigman as a veteran leader for Henderson?

Weigman just joined the program as a transfer last year. He was fine, but unspectacular this fall, and an upgrade could help the Cougars break their ceiling.

South Carolina Upstate visits Youngstown State after Carroll’s 31-point outing

Published

8 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Your Sports Nation

South Carolina Upstate Spartans (8-6) at Youngstown State Penguins (7-5, 2-1 Horizon League)

Youngstown, Ohio; Saturday, 1 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Youngstown State hosts South Carolina Upstate after Cris Carroll scored 31 points in Youngstown State’s 80-77 overtime loss to the Robert Morris Colonials.

The Penguins are 4-0 on their home court. Youngstown State scores 80.2 points and has outscored opponents by 10.9 points per game.

The Spartans are 2-5 on the road. South Carolina Upstate is fifth in the Big South scoring 79.6 points per game and is shooting 46.2%.

Youngstown State averages 10.4 made 3-pointers per game, 3.8 more made shots than the 6.6 per game South Carolina Upstate gives up. South Carolina Upstate has shot at a 46.2% rate from the field this season, 3.3 percentage points greater than the 42.9% shooting opponents of Youngstown State have averaged.

TOP PERFORMERS: Carroll averages 3.0 made 3-pointers per game for the Penguins, scoring 16.4 points while shooting 48.6% from beyond the arc. Rich Rolf is averaging 10.8 points over the last 10 games.

Mason Bendinger is scoring 16.1 points per game and averaging 3.1 rebounds for the Spartans. Carmelo Adkins is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Penguins: 6-4, averaging 81.3 points, 33.6 rebounds, 15.2 assists, 9.1 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.7 points per game.

Spartans: 5-5, averaging 75.4 points, 33.5 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 6.1 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 43.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.2 points.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Arch Manning agrees to reduced NIL share to help Texas build roster

Published

9 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Your Sports Nation

In a college football world where NIL numbers keep climbing, Arch Manning is going the other way.

Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns reacts before the Texas Football Orange-White Spring Football Game

Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images

The Texas quarterback has agreed to take a reduced share from the Longhorns’ revenue-sharing pool for the 2026 season, according to Justin Wells of Inside Texas. Manning was entitled to a full portion of the program’s revenue cap but opted to scale it back in an effort to give Texas more flexibility to strengthen its roster.

It is a move that stands out in the current landscape. It is also one Manning can afford to make.

Manning remains one of the most marketable players in college football and has a long list of endorsement deals that will continue to pay handsomely. Even with less money coming directly from the school, he is still expected to earn millions in 2026.

This is not the first time he has shown restraint, either. Manning has consistently been selective with his NIL opportunities since arriving in Austin.

The timing matters. The 2026 season is widely expected to be Manning’s last at Texas before he makes the jump to the NFL. From that perspective, the decision is straightforward. He wants the best possible team around him for one more run at a national championship.

Manning has already demonstrated his commitment to the program. He waited his turn behind Quinn Ewers for two seasons without entertaining a transfer and now is willing to sacrifice a portion of his compensation for the good of the roster.

On the field, the growth showed. After a shaky start in 2025, Manning finished with 2,942 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. Texas rebounded from a 3-2 opening to win six of its final seven games, punctuated by a decisive win over Texas A&M.

It is not a common move. It is a very Arch Manning one.

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Miami WR Malachi Toney inks NIL deal with Hellstar

Published

10 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Ahead of the College Football Playoff opener, Malachi Toney added a notable NIL deal. The Miami wide receiver has inked a partnership with apparel company Hellstar.

Toney is Hellstar’s first NIL athlete, the Los Angeles-based brand said in an Instagram post. He became a crucial part of the Hurricanes’ offense during the regular season, helping lead the program to a College Football Playoff appearance as the last team in the field.

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It was part of a decorated freshman year for Toney, who’s emerging as one of the top young stars in the sport. Repped by NETWORK, he has a $878,000 On3 NIL Valuation.

“We are so proud to announce our first Hellstar Sports College Athlete NIL signing – Malachi Toney,” Hellstar wrote in its announcement. “We had the privilege to coach @malitoney10 while he was apart of our high school 7 on 7 program, so now seeing him shine on the collegiate level we couldn’t be more proud.

“We will continue to do our part to help these young athletes stay on the right path, and shine their light to the rest of the world. From Liberty City to the stars!”

It’s the latest notable NIL deal for Toney amid his freshman season. He also secured a partnership with Leaf Trading Cards in October.

More on Malachi Toney’s freshman season

Through his freshman year at Miami, Malachi Toney emerged as a top target for Carson Beck. He led the Hurricanes with 84 receptions for 970 yards, and his seven touchdown catches put him atop the ACC. Toney also added 89 rushing yards this year, as well as a rushing touchdown against Louisville.

Those numbers helped Toney become an On3 True Freshman All-American this year. In addition, he was a central figure in Miami’s run to the College Football Playoff.

“Toney’s quickness and playmaking instincts make him dangerous after the catch. He accounted for 350 yards after the catch with an average depth of target of 6.6, according to Pro Football Focus,” On3 | Rivals’ Charles Power wrote. “Whether working out of the slot or moving around the formation, the South Florida native has proven nearly impossible to contain. His playmaking ability was pivotal to Miami’s playoff push as he became the focal point of the Hurricanes’ passing attack.

“Given his play as a true freshman, it’s safe to say the Fort Lauderdale American Heritage product will enter next season as one of college football’s premier wide receivers. Toney’s performance as a true freshman is even more impressive considering that he should still be in high school, having reclassified into the 2025 cycle late in the recruiting process.”

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Arch Manning taking pay cut after first Texas season didn’t go as planned

Published

11 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Arch Manning is taking a pay cut.

The Texas quarterback agreed to take a reduced share of the team’s revenue-sharing pool “as part of an effort to help the Longhorn football program do whatever it takes to support a 2026 championship run,” according to On3’s Justin Wells.

The savings “could be used on transfer portal talent or as part of retention efforts” for the Longhorns, per Wells.

This season, athletic programs were capped at $20.5 million in revenue-sharing, although that number is likely to increase next season and beyond.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 28: Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns looks on during the third quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) — Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns looks on during the third quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Getty Images

Manning, the nephew of NFL icons Peyton and Eli Manning and the grandson of legendary quarterback Archie, is one of the most marketable athletes in college sports.

On3 currently gives Manning an NIL valuation of $5.3 million, which leads all student-athletes.

Although he is getting less money from Texas, Manning still holds NIL deals with brands like Red Bull, Uber and EA Sports, among others.

However, Manning sometimes struggled in a season that started with Heisman hype and the Longhorns ranked No. 1 in the nation.

Texas finished the season 9-3 and out of the College Football Playoff, a disappointing midseason loss against a poor Florida team all but ended their chances of being in the 12-team field.

Manning’s season was underwhelming as well, throwing for 2,942 yards with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The news comes after Manning’s father, Cooper Manning, told ESPN earlier this week that his son would return to the Longhorns in 2026 for his junior season despite previously mulling entering the 2026 NFL Draft.

“Arch is playing football at Texas next year,” Cooper said.

Texas finished No. 13 in the end of season rankings and will be on the sidelines for the College Football Playoff, which kicks off on Friday.

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