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FIU coach Willie Simmons on FAMU departure: ‘Left on solid footing.’

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  • Willie Simmons, now the head football coach at Florida International University, returned to Tallahassee as a keynote speaker.
  • Simmons previously coached at Florida A&M from 2018 to 2023, leading the team to a national championship in his final season.
  • He left FAMU for a running backs coach position at Duke to gain Power Four experience before landing the FIU head coaching job.
  • Simmons discussed the modern challenges of college football, including retaining players due to the transfer portal and NIL.

Welcome back to the Capital City, Willie Simmons.

On Tuesday, Sept. 23, the first-year Florida International head football coach was the keynote speaker at the Tallahassee Quarterback Club, hosted at the Champions Club at Florida State University’s Doak Campbell Stadium.

The Quincy native spent the 2018 to 2023 football seasons in Tallahassee as Florida A&M’s head coach, going 45-13.

The former Shanks High School star quarterback, who went on to play collegiately at Clemson and The Citadel, became an honorary lifetime Tallahassee Quarterback Club member in December 2023. He joined legendary FAMU football coach Jake Gaither and renowned FSU football coach Bobby Bowden with that honor.

“No matter where I go in my coaching career, this will always be home for me,” Simmons, 44, told the packed Tallahassee Quarterback Club audience.

Before joining the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision coaching ranks, Simmons led one of the golden eras of FAMU football.

After being hired away from Prairie View A&M in 2018, Simmons coached the Rattlers to five consecutive winning seasons after FAMU hadn’t enjoyed one since 2011.

In his final year at FAMU, Simmons’ Rattlers captured their first-ever Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship and Celebration Bowl trophies en route to the program claiming its 16th Black College Football National title.

“One of the biggest questions that I get asked a lot is why I left FAMU,” Simmons said. “Obviously, we had a lot of success there ― built that program back up to national prominence. That was one of the proud moments of my coaching career, being able to walk away with a national championship.”

Two weeks after confetti fell from the rafters of Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium onto the Rattlers after completing a comeback victory over Howard 30-26 to win the Celebration Bowl, Simmons departed on Monday, January 1, 2024, to become the Duke Blue Devils running backs coach on head coach Manny Diaz’s staff.

In late January 2024, FAMU promoted Simmons’ assistant head coach James Colzie III to become the program’s 19th full-time head coach.

Looking to advance his career, Simmons’ move to become a Power Four assistant was a necessary step to climb the coaching ladder after inquiring with athletic directors, search firms, and peers. That assisted in his decision to leave the HBCU for Duke.

Simmons had been a head coach on the Football Championship Subdivision level with Prairie View and FAMU and an FBS offensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State.

However, Power Four experience eluded him. The former FAMU head coach helped the Duke Blue Devils finish with a 9-4 record and 5-3 in the Southeastern Conference in 2024.

“At a certain point in my career, I had to start thinking about what’s next,” Simmons reflected.

“The end goal was never to retire at FAMU. My goal was to build the program. And we felt we did that. So, I really started to think, going into that last season, that if the right opportunity presented itself, I may have to explore it. So, after a lot of prayer and talking it over with the family, I felt it was the right decision. Because I felt that we had left FAMU on solid footing and a good foundation.”

He described Duke as a “great experience.” Simmons began getting calls to gauge his interest in forthcoming Group of Five jobs midway through his lone year with the Blue Devils.

FIU, which competes in the Conference USA, was a job Simmons was highly interested in and ultimately landed on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, replacing Mike MacIntyre after three consecutive 4-8 seasons.

The FIU hire was a full circle moment for Simmons, allowing him to return to his home state at the Miami-based public university, and saw him accept the job he was a candidate for three years prior, in 2021.

The FIU Panthers are 2-2 in Simmons’ first quartet of games, last losing 38-16 at home versus the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens on Saturday, Sept. 20. FIU’s glowing moment thus far has been defeating Florida Atlantic in the Shula Bowl (38-28) on Saturday, Sept 13, for the first time since 2016.

“In the back of my mind, I’ve always had FIU circled,” Simmons said. “I’m a Florida boy through and through, and I always felt that the program had the potential to be one of the top Group of Five programs in the country.”

Willie Simmons discusses NCAA Transfer Portal and NIL in college football

Simmons has seen many eras of college football as a player and coach.

However, none has been like the current landscape of the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness, which promotes player empowerment and financial compensation.

For example, Simmons discussed how he foresees having to make an exerted effort to retain FIU star defensive backs Jessiah McGrew and Mister Clark.

A true freshman, McGrew is a Tallahassee product out of Florida High School.

“Starting mid-October, what players on our current roster do I have to go and re-recruit? I have to start recruiting my current roster before the season ends,” Simmons explained. “All of the players that we identify as guys who have the potential to be poached, I now have to do official visits with them again ― take their parents out to eat, wine and dine them, and talk to them about what it will take to keep them in our program.”

FIU is a newer institution, opening in 1972, and introducing a football program in 2002. FIU began competing in the FBS in 2004.

With the University of Miami 15 minutes away in Coral Gables and other FBS and Power Four programs across Florida, Simmons is educating FIU alumni and stakeholders on how to support the program financially and through general player support.

“That’s the new age of collegiate athletics,” Simmons said. “We’re recruiting our own roster harder than next year’s roster. That’s everywhere in America.”

Willie Simmons still has a deep-rooted love for Tallahassee

The chill-mannered Simmons represents Quincy loudly and boldly.

And he is loyal to Tallahassee, as 28 minutes down Interstate 10 separates the two cities.

In 2023, FAMU and FSU’s football teams enjoyed conference titles, with the Rattlers winning the SWAC under Simmons and the Seminoles claiming the Atlantic Coast Conference trophy led by head coach Mike Norvell. That was the eighth time both Tallahassee football teams won conference championships in the same year.

FAMU and FSU are in action in Week 5 of the college football season.

The Rattlers are 1-2 and fresh off a bye week with an opportunity to turn their season around during Saturday, Sept. 27’s SWAC home opener on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium versus the unbeaten Alabama State Hornets (2-1), who are projected to be one of the league’s top teams. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. on HBCU GO and 96.1 JAMZ.

The eighth-ranked Seminoles are a perfect 3-0 and host their ACC opener versus the Virginia Cavaliers (3-1) at Doak Campbell Stadium this Friday, Sept. 26. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

“I would put Tallahassee, Florida, up against any city in the world when Florida State and FAMU are winning football games,” Simmons said.

“Crime is down, businesses are booming, the sweet tea is sweeter ― everything about this place is better when these two programs are doing well.”

Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.

Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.





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Historic college football rivalry ends after schools fail to reach agreement

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One of college football’s greatest rivalry games is set to come to an abrupt end as it was about to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

The annual Notre Dame vs. USC football rivalry game is no more after the schools failed to reach an agreement on future matchups, ending one of college football’s most recognizable traditions, according to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger.

Representatives from both schools had been involved in negotiations to preserve the rivalry over the last several months, but could not agree on terms going forward, at least temporarily ending a football series that had been ongoing since 1926.

Gone, but not for good?

Yes, there is some hope that we could see USC and Notre Dame on the same field in the future.

Administrators from both schools did reach an agreement to resurrect the series as soon as the 2030 season, according to the report.

Until now, just a world war and a global pandemic had prevented Notre Dame and USC from playing each other every season, but now the pressures of the modern college football season, and its postseason format, appear to have played a role.

Whose fault is this?

Concerns about scheduling and how the game would affect College Football Playoff positioning were the decisive factors in bringing an end to the rivalry, according to the report.

Most of that concern seemed to arise from the USC side of the equation, which felt that certain precedents established by the selection committee in punishing teams for losses put the program in a disadvantageous position.

USC hinted this would come

USC head coach Lincoln Riley signaled as much when speaking on the future of the rivalry last year.

“There [have] been a lot of teams that sacrifice rivalry games,” Riley told reporters at Big Ten Media Days last summer.

“As we get into this playoff structure, and if it changes or not, we get into this new conference, we’re going to learn some about this as we go and what the right and best track is to winning a national championship, that’s going to evolve.”

Still, even amid those comments, reps from USC signaled a desire to keep the Notre Dame rivalry, and Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman was adamant on keeping the matchup, too, reflecting the position of his school.

Instead, Notre Dame is poised to finalize a home-and-home series with BYU over the next two seasons that will take the place of USC on its schedule, according to the Yahoo report.

We saw this coming

A recent Sports Illustrated report indicated that USC was hesitant to pledge itself to a long-term agreement with Notre Dame, citing concerns over the future of the College Football Playoff format and the Trojans’ existing schedule and travel demands.

“I want to play USC every year because I think it’s great for college football, that rivalry, USC-Notre Dame,” Marcus Freeman said.

“Before I even got to Notre Dame, everybody watched that game. Everybody remembers moments from that game that just stick out in their mind.”

Another college football tradition bites the dust

Losing a historic rivalry of this pedigree would be another stark reminder of the very strict conditions that schools have to work in in a new environment where playoff selection, and appeasing the College Football Playoff committee, is king.

Known as the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football, USC and Notre Dame have met almost every year since 1926, with World War II and the Covid pandemic being the only exceptions.

Now, to that list of historical anomalies, the very format of modern college football itself could be the decisive factor that puts this great rivalry on the shelf.

(Yahoo)

Read more from College Football HQ



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Oregon Loses Two More Players to Transfer Portal Amid College Football Playoff Run

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The Oregon Ducks are coming off of a 51-34 win over the James Madison Duke at Autzen Stadium on Saturday in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

The Ducks now advance to face the No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders in the CFP Quarterfinals at the Orange Bowl in Miami, FL. on Jan. 1, but two more members of the Oregon secondary won’t be in attendance.

Oregon defensive back Sione Laulea

Oregon defensive back Sione Laulea runs during practice with the Oregon Ducks Tuesday, April 2, 2024 in Eugene, Ore. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

Per reports from On3’s Hayes Fawcett, Oregon cornerback Sione Laulea is entering the portal and won’t be with the team for the rest of the CFP. Joining him in the portal will be Oregon safety Kingston Lopa, who will have three years of eligibility left. He also won’t be with the Ducks during what hopes to be a run to the National Championship.

Laulea, who arrived to Eugene before the 2024 season, was the top JUCO cornerback prospect out of San Mateo College headed into his first year at Oregon.

Sione Laulea Chose Oregon for Development

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning walks off the field after a timeout as the Oregon Ducks take on the Washington Huskies on Nov. 29, 2025, at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

He told the media before this season that he chose the Ducks because he thought it was the best fit for him from a developmental standpoint.

“I transferred from junior college, and the biggest fit for me was just development, because I feel like I used two years, so with two years left in eligibility, I feel like I had to make the most out of my two years,” he said. “So the place that was going to develop me the most and where I fit most in the scheme, and I felt like this was a place, especially with the coaching staff, with Tosh (Lupoi) being such an aggressive caller, and (Chris Hampton) as a secondary coach.”

“I feel like it’s been great,” he continued. “As you guys know, there’s not a lot of experience in our back end, specifically the corner room, but there’s some dogs either way, whether we touch the field or not. You can see it clearly in practice that everyone’s making plays on the ball, and it’s pretty much neck and neck.”

MORE: Three Biggest Takeaways From Oregon’s Playoff Win Over James Madison

MORE: Oregon Coach Dan Lanning Is Turning Heads For Ducks’ Playoff Entrance

MORE: National Championship Betting Odds After Oregon’s Win Over James Madison

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However, things never quite worked out for Laulea. He appeared in 10 games with Oregon while posting just 10 total tackles (five solo), three pass breakups and one pick. His only interception as a Duck came in the 38-9 win over No. 20 Illinois last season.

As for Lopa, he arrived to Oregon as a four-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting class out of Grant Union in Sacramento, CA.

Oregon ducks transfer portal kingstopa lopa sione laulea dan lanning james madison dukes college football playoff

Dec 20, 2025; Eugene, OR, USA; James Madison Dukes head coach Bob Chesney and Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning greet one another after the game at Autzen Stadium. | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

He received some notable praise from Oregon head coach Dan Lanning during the spring.

“It’s just what he does every day in practice. You know, the part that we get to see, and Kingston to be an unbelievable player for us. You know, he’s had a really good spring so far. But you know, he earned those moments by what he did in practice,” Lanning said.

Lopa appeared in 13 games this season while posting 12 total tackles and one pass breakup.



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Florida wide receiver Naeshaun Montgomery plans to enter NCAA Transfer Portal

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Florida wide receiver Naeshaun Montgomery is planning to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, On3 has learned. He caught three passes for 26 yards in 2025.

Montgomery played high school football at Miami Central (West Palm Beach, FL), where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 262 overall recruit in the 2025 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted algorithm that complies all major recruiting media services.

He had a bunch of different premier programs interested in his services as a recruit. We’ll see who comes calling this time around for the wide receiver.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

More on Naeshaun Montgomery, NCAA Transfer Portal

Meanwhile, the NCAA Division I Administrative Committee passed dates for the one-time-only college football transfer portal back earlier in October. As it stands, the 2025-26 college football transfer portal will last 15 days. It’ll span Jan. 2 to Jan. 16, the NCAA announced.

Moving forward, the entire Division I football notification of transfer windows is slated for Jan 2-16. As has been the previous standard, athletes on College Football Playoff teams still playing would have 5 days beginning the day after their team’s final game to enter the transfer portal.

Additionally, players have 15 days to enter the portal, but they’re not under a deadline to commit when they enter. Traditionally, the deadline for committing is how late a school can enroll a player through admissions.

One caveat is that if a head coach is fired, the transfer portal will not open for players immediately. The NCAA revealed that moving forward, players will only have 15 days to enter the portal after a coaching change, instead of the former allocation of 30 days. Players will also have to wait five days after a new coach is hired or announced. 

Finally, graduate transfers also cannot enter the transfer portal until Jan. 2 with the new one-time-only portal window. All these new guidelines are bound to shake things up, but the transfer portal will still remain as interesting and entertaining as ever.





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6 Tennessee players who increased their NIL value, including DeSean Bishop

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Dec. 22, 2025, 5:00 a.m. ET





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Miami WR Malachi Toney Announces Career News Amid College Football Season

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The No. 10 seed Miami Hurricanes defeated the No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies 10-3 in the first round of the College Football Playoff. It was a defensive battle, ultimately decided by a late fourth-quarter score and red-zone interception by Miami.

With the score tied at 3 and 1 minute, 44 seconds left in the game, Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass thrown by quarterback Carson Beck.

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Up next for the Hurricanes is a Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic matchup against the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes. It’s an uphill battle, as ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Hurricanes a 29.5% chance of winning.

Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (10).© Robert Myers-Imagn Images

Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (10).© Robert Myers-Imagn Images

Before his heroic performance, though, the wide receiver revealed an exciting Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) update. In a joint Instagram post, Toney revealed a new NIL partnership with Hellstar, a popular clothing brand that has a sports training component.

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“We are so proud to announce our first Hellstar Sports College Athlete NIL signing – Malachi Toney🌟.,” the post caption read. “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.”



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What Colorado’s Athletic Department Valuation Says About Buffaloes’ Growth

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In the growing landscape of college athletics, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals play a vital role in sports. Some programs are set up better than others based on a program’s valuation. Programs with higher valuations can help some of the top-performing teams stay successful.

CNBC released its valuation rankings for the country’s athletic departments, showing their growth from the 2024 fiscal year. The Colorado Buffaloes are ranked No. 47 in the nation, a rise from No. 55 in 2024.

Colorado Buffaloes valuation NIL transfer portal Deion Sanders Coach Prime Big 12 College Football Basketball Folsom Field

Nov 25, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion ‘Coach Prime’ Sanders on the field against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images | Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images

Breaking Down Colorado Buffaloes’ Valuation Ranking

Colorado’s 2025 valuation is $574 million, with a year-over-year value change of 22 percent. The program’s 2024 revenue is set at $147 million, with a 16 percent year-over-year revenue change.

A program’s valuation determines its monetary worth, and it is important to look at the growth, which shows that Colorado is trending in the right direction. It is also important to note that the valuation rankings are based on all of the athletics, not just the football program.

Where Colorado Ranks In The Big 12

Colorado Buffaloes valuation NIL transfer portal Deion Sanders Coach Prime Big 12 College Football Basketball Folsom Field

Sep 20, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders before the game against the Wyoming Cowboys at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

When focusing on the Big 12 conference, several of the programs are in the same vicinity with their valuation ranking.

  • No. 39 Kansas: $620M
  • No. 41 Oklahoma State: $600M
  • No. 42 Baylor: $585M
  • No. 46 Iowa State: $575M
  • No. 47 Colorado: $574M
  • No. 49 Texas Tech: $570M
  • No. 50 TCU: $568M
  • No. 55 Arizona: $529M
  • No. 57 BYU: $500M
  • No. 58 West Virginia: $481M
  • No. 60 Utah: $451M
  • No. 62 Kansas State: $435M
  • No. 63 Arizona State: $430M
  • No. 68 Cincinnati: $280M
  • No. 70 UCF: $262M
  • No. 73 Houston: $222M

MORE: Colorado Gets Hit With Biggest Transfer Portal Loss Yet

MORE: Michael Irvin Gets Real On Blame Surrounding Shedeur Sanders

MORE: Deion Sanders Faces Recruiting Problem After Omarion Miller Transfer News 

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While from the top valuation of Kansas to the bottom, which is Houston is a significant difference in the Big 12, the conference teams are still in a similar vicinity overall. With it having to do with all athletics, the programs that have consistently strong teams, such as Kansas’ basketball team, make sense to have a higher valuation.

Colorado Buffaloes valuation NIL transfer portal Deion Sanders Coach Prime Big 12 College Football Basketball Folsom Field

Nov 23, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his players warmup prior to the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Colorado Buffaloes at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nick Tre. Smith-Imagn Images | Nick Tre. Smith-Imagn Images

Looking at the Big 12 as a whole shows that the Colorado Buffaloes are in the top five for their valuation and trending upward. 

Calling Back To Deion Sanders’ Comments On Fairness

While valuation is not the same as revenue, seeing the difference in the conferences does call back to Colorado coach Deion Sanders’ comments on the fairness between programs. The schools in the top five for their valuation are either in the Big Ten or the SEC, and all are in the billions. 

“You talk about equality,” Sanders said during the Big 12 media day. “All you have to do is look at the playoffs and see what those teams spent, and you understand darn near why they’re in the playoffs. It’s kind of hard to compete with somebody who’s giving $25, $30 million to a darn freshman class.”

Colorado Buffaloes valuation NIL transfer portal Deion Sanders Coach Prime Big 12 College Football Basketball Folsom Field

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders looks on against Texas Tech in a Big 12 football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Jones AT&T Stadium. | Stephen Garcia/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Although the valuation is on the programs’ overall athletics, Sanders has been outspoken about money when it comes to building the football program. With the Buffaloes facing a mass exodus through the transfer portal, Sanders has highlighted that several players are leaving because of money.

The positive side is that the Buffaloes’ valuation is growing with a 22 percent increase. This shows that the school’s athletics overall are being valued higher, and will help lead to more money poured into the program. With more money, the Buffaloes can put more of an emphasis on NIL as they look to build their roster and compete in the Big 12.

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