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How Nolan Smith plans to get TSU to the NCAA tournament and beyond

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How Nolan Smith plans to get TSU to the NCAA tournament and beyond


AI-assisted summaryNolan Smith aims to lead the Tigers back to the NCAA tournament, emphasizing a “win now” mentality.He plans to leverage NIL and the transfer portal to recruit top talent and build a competitive program.Nolan Smith is a former Duke basketball Blue Devil All-American with a blueprint to get the Tennessee State big blue Tigers back in the NCAA tournament.

That may sound as corny as it does ridiculous considering TSU has earned only two NCAA tournament berths in its history with the last coming 31 years ago when the Tigers lost to Kentucky in the first round. The other trip came the year before and ended with a first-round loss to Seton Hall.

None of that matters to Smith, who was officially introduced on July 21 as TSU’s new coach after replacing Brian “Penny” Collins, who resigned in June to accept a position with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.

Smith, who led Duke to the 2010 national championship, is not talking about getting it done at some point down the road. He envisions immediate success for a program that posted a 17-16 record and advanced to the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament in 2024-25.

“The first thing I want to say is that athletic director (Mikki Allen), president (Dwayne) Tucker, we all share the same vision, which is win now,” Smith said. “When we first met, we all had lunch and all we talked about was winning. Winning championships and going to the NCAA tournament.”

Smith did not hesitate to put pressure on himself to meet those lofty goals.

“Relationships here are always going to be our priority,” he said. “Something that happens with my resources and relationships that I have all around the country to get the best of the best to come play here. Who’s to say if you get the right guys that TSU can’t go to an Elite Eight or the Final Four in today’s climate.”

The NIL and transfer portal era, Smith said, has changed the game, making it possible for smaller programs such as TSU to compete with much bigger programs.

“It’s going to take resources,” he said. “It’s going to take some (NIL) collective money,” Smith said. “We need all of those things in order to build something very special. At the end of the day, when we get the support, we’re going to be able to get the guys in that we want.”

Smith inherited three returning starters, including two of the leading scorers − Aaron Nkrumah (10.9 ppg.) and Carlous Williams (10.8) − and seven others who saw action.

Allen said Collins did a good job near the end of his tenure laying the foundation for a program capable of earning an NCAA tournament berth and is confident Smith will keep that momentum going.

“When I talked with Coach (Mike) Krzyzewski, he said Nolan has a special ability to attract people, to lead people,” Allen said. “He lights up a room. He never meets a stranger. He knows how to connect. We’ve got to do it with talent. Nolan’s a phenomenal recruiter, and I feel and know that he’s going to get us back to the NCAA tournament.”

Smith, who also coached at Duke along with Louisville and Memphis, outlined his recruiting plan.

“First TSU’s going to sell itself, this great city is going to sell,” he said. “Then I have to hire a staff that is hungry and ready to go out and get guys that fit the culture, understand the athletic mindset.”

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.

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Former five-star prospects set to enter the college football transfer portal

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The NCAA has adjusted its transfer portal window following the 2025 college football season, creating just one transfer period compared to multiple windows in previous years. The next transfer portal window will open on Friday, January 2, 2026, and stay open until January 16. 

Although the portal has not yet opened, players have been declaring their intentions to enter the portal for several weeks. Among those who have already made their intentions to transfer public are several players who were rated five stars, the highest recruiting rating possible, coming out of high school. Here are the former five-star prospects who are expected to enter the transfer portal when it opens on Friday.

DJ Lagway, QB, Florida

Florida finished the season 4-8 in DJ Lagway's first season as the starter at quarterback in Gainesville.

Florida finished this past season 4-8 in DJ Lagway’s first season as the starter at quarterback in Gainesville. | Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Expectations from the Florida faithful were high when DJ Lagway was named the starter entering the Gators’ 2025 season. Coming out of Willis High School in Texas, Lagway threw for 8,392 yards and 100 touchdowns in his prep career, earning Gatorade National Player of the Year honors as a senior. Ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect in the country by On3 and No. 3 by 247Sports, Lagway spent his true freshman season learning under veteran starter Graham Mertz before assuming the reins to the offense as a sophomore. 

The 2025 season got off to a rocky start for Florida, however, with the Gators losing three of their first four games and head coach Billy Napier losing his job midway through the regular season. The issues that plagued Florida during its 4-8 campaign this past season ran deeper than just quarterback play, but Lagway’s performance did not meet expectations. The 6-foot-3, 247-pound passer threw 16 touchdowns against 14 interceptions while starting all 12 games

Dylan Raiola, QB, Nebraska

Dylan Raiola started the first 22 games of his Nebraska career before a broken leg sidelined him in November.

Dylan Raiola started the first 22 games of his Nebraska career before a broken leg sidelined him in November. | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Among the biggest names entering the Transfer Portal this cycle is Nebraska sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola. The son of former NFL offensive lineman Dominic Raiola, the younger Raiola was a five-star prospect out of Buford High School in Georgia, ranking No. 2 overall in the 2024 recruiting class according to Rivals and No. 7 overall according to 247Sports.

Raiola had an interesting recruitment, originally committing to his home-state Georgia Bulldogs before changing his commitment to his father’s alma mater, Nebraska, just before National Signing Day in December, 2023. Raiola would go on to start as a true freshman for the Cornhuskers, and has thrown for 4,819 yards, 31 touchdowns and 17 interceptions during his two seasons in Lincoln. His sophomore season came to an end with a broken leg suffered during Nebraska’s Nov. 1 game against USC. News of his plans to enter the Transfer Portal broke in mid-December, not long after Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule fired his uncle, Donovan Raiola, as the Cornhusker’s offensive line coach. 

CJ Baxter, RB, Texas 

After a breakout freshman campaign, injuries and competition limited CJ Baxter's production the past two seasons for Texas.

After a breakout freshman campaign, injuries and competition limited CJ Baxter’s production the past two seasons for Texas. | Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

One of four running backs from the Texas Longhorns’ 2025 roster to declare their intentions to enter the transfer portal, CJ Baxter Jr. was the most highly-touted of the group coming out of high school. Rated five-stars and ranked among the Top 32 prospects in the country by ON3, 247Sports and Rivals, Baxter committed to the Longhorns just before the start of his senior year of high school after a recruitment that drew interest from schools across the country.

The 6-foot-1, 227-pound Baxter flashed the potential early in his Texas career that earned him five stars as a recruiting prospect. He started six games his freshman season, rushing for 659 yards and five touchdowns en route to Big 12 honorable mention all-conference honors. A pre-season injury derailed Baxter’s sophomore campaign, however, and by the start of the 2025 season he found himself fighting for carries in a crowded Longhorn backfield, finishing the season with just 196 rushing yards and just one touchdown.

Cam Coleman, WR, Auburn

Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal on Monday, Dec. 29.

Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal on Monday, Dec. 29. | Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

After announcing his intentions on Monday, former five-star wide receiver prospect Cam Coleman immediately became one of the biggest names expected to enter the Transfer Portal this week. In two seasons at Auburn, the 6-foot-3, 201-pound Coleman racked up 93 receptions for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns, leading the Tigers in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns this past season.

Coleman’s collegiate productivity was widely predicted coming out of high school, where he was ranked five-stars by all the major recruiting services, with Rivals (7th), 247Sports (5th) and On3 (3rd) all including the Phenix City, Ala., product in the Top 10 of the 2024 recruiting rankings. He committed to Auburn in December of his senior year after previously having been committed to Texas A&M. Auburn changed head coaches this year, firing Hugh Freeze in November and bringing in Alex Golesh right after the regular season concluded.

Tunmise Adeleye, DL, UNLV

Former five-star Tunmise Adeleye is expected to transfer for a fourth time when the portal opens on Friday, January 2.

Former five-star Tunmise Adeleye is expected to transfer for a fourth time when the portal opens on Friday, January 2. | Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

The oldest player on this list, Adeleye was part of the same 2021 recruiting class that produced current NFL stars like Emeka Egbuka and Caleb Williams. Ranked as the No. 25 overall player and No. 3 strongside defensive end in that class by Rivals, Adeleye would go on to sign with Texas A&M, helping the Aggies to a Top 10 recruiting class ranking that cycle.

Adeleye would not stay long in College Station, however. In fact, the 6-foot-4, 275-pound prospect is now looking for his fifth collegiate home after spending time at Michigan State, Texas State and, most recently, UNLV thus far in his college career. This past season with the Rebels Adeleye earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors while collecting 25 total tackles, including two sacks.



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Can NIL Buy a National Championship?

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SAN ANGELO, TX — In the high-stakes world of college football, where talent is the ultimate currency, the introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals in 2021 has transformed recruiting and roster-building into a financial arms race. 

As the 2025 season winds down with the College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinals looming, one question echoes across the Lone Star State: Can pouring millions into NIL truly buy a national championship?

Texas (the entire state, not the university) provides a compelling case study, with four powerhouse programs—the University of Texas Longhorns (UT), Texas A&M Aggies (A&M), Texas Tech Red Raiders (TTU), and Southern Methodist University Mustangs (SMU)—each wielding significant NIL war chests but yielding varied results. From booster-fueled spending sprees to community-driven collectives, their approaches highlight the promise and pitfalls of this pay-to-play era.

As of today, the Texas Tech Red Raiders remain in contention for the national title, set to face the Oregon Ducks in the Orange Bowl CFB quarterfinals at 11 a.m. Central Time on January 1.

NIL is a Billion-Dollar Game Changer

Since the NCAA greenlit NIL, the market has exploded, projected to hit $1.7 billion for the 2024-2025 season, with over $1.1 billion funneled into football alone. Proponents argue it levels the playing field by compensating athletes fairly, while critics decry it as a system where deep-pocketed boosters “buy” rosters, eroding the amateur spirit. 

Adding fuel to this evolution is NIL revenue sharing, stemming from the landmark House v. NCAA settlement approved in June 2025. Effective July 1, 2025, this system allows Division I schools to directly distribute a portion of their athletic department revenues—up to a cap of $20.5 million for the 2025-26 academic year—to student-athletes across sports. This cap is expected to increase by 4% annually, with potential exceptions, and is designed to compensate athletes more like professionals while maintaining some regulatory oversight through the new College Sports Commission. 

Unlike traditional NIL deals, which involve third-party endorsements and sponsorships from brands or collectives, revenue sharing comes straight from school funds (e.g., ticket sales, media rights, and sponsorships), functioning more like a salary pool. 

Schools opting in (most Power Four programs have) must report third-party NIL payments to ensure transparency, but the system coexists with NIL, allowing total athlete compensation to exceed the cap through combined efforts. 

This has led to “payrolls” where revenue sharing covers base pay, and NIL handles bonuses or incentives, though critics argue it exacerbates inequities between resource-rich and smaller programs. In Texas, oil money and alumni networks have propelled programs to the forefront, yet success isn’t solely about the dollar amount—it’s about strategy, coaching, and execution.

Comparing the NIL Approach of Four Texas Teams

Texas’s college football landscape illustrates diverse strategies in blending revenue sharing with NIL. All four programs have opted into the settlement, leveraging the $20.5 million cap to boost recruiting and retention amid the expanded CFP.Team

This table compares the NIL approach of Texas athletic programs (it’s responsive, so use your mouse or finger to scroll right and left)

Team Revenue Sharing Cap Utilization Key Approach Details Integration with NIL 2025 Impact Highlights
UT Longhorns Full $20.5M, part of $35-40M total football payroll Phasing out NIL collectives in favor of direct revenue sharing; focuses on structured contracts for efficiency. Combined with Longhorn Sports Agency (launched June 2025) for brand deals and content creation; alumni/tech boosters fund extras. Enabled 10-2 record and CFP berth; high-profile deals like Arch Manning’s $3.5M+ NIL boosted talent influx, though playoff exit showed limits.
A&M Aggies Full $20.5M, with min. $2.5M to women’s sports; spread across six programs Community-driven distribution tied to performance/academics; uses Teamworks for streamlined payments. $39.1M in NIL support FY24-25 via Aggie NIL and Playfly; focuses on guaranteed contracts and retention. Fueled 11-2 season and playoff spot; tripled NIL from prior year, but late losses highlighted distribution inefficiencies.
TTU Red Raiders Full $20.5M integrated into $55M planned NIL + sharing for 2026 Booster-led (e.g., Cody Campbell’s influence); one-year contracts for 97 football players; new corporate unit for growth. Merged Matador Club into Red Raider Club; smashed NIL records with $28M football spend in 2025. Powered 12-1 record, Big 12 title, and CFP quarterfinal; rapid escalation transformed program, though donor dependency raises sustainability questions.
SMU Mustangs Full $20.5M via Student-Athlete Benefit Fund Integrated revenue/NIL/brand unit; focuses on holistic athlete support and corporate partnerships. Boulevard Collective and Mustang Partners (launched Dec. 2025) for deals; Scout platform streamlines earnings and education. Boosted ACC debut with 10-2 record, playoff berth; historic revenue jumps (157% football tickets), portal success, but chaos concerns from NIL/portal dynamics.

The Longhorns’ Corporate NIL Powerhouse

The Longhorns, now in their second SEC season, boast what many consider the nation’s top NIL budget: an estimated $35-40 million dedicated to their football roster for 2025. 

Through the Texas One Fund and a partnership with Learfield’s Longhorn Sports Agency (launched in June 2025), UT has adopted a professionalized model, emphasizing brand-building, financial literacy, and high-profile endorsements. Star quarterback Arch Manning’s deals alone reportedly exceed $3.5 million annually, drawing transfers and blue-chip recruits.

This investment paid dividends with a 10-2 regular season, an SEC Championship Game appearance, and a CFP berth. However, playoff shortcomings—including a first-round exit—raise questions about ROI. A high-ranking UT source disputed the $35-40 million figure earlier this year, calling it “irresponsible reporting,” but insiders maintain it’s the benchmark for SEC elites. 

“Texas is built for the long haul,” said one analyst. “NIL keeps them competitive, but championships require more than money—ask the Yankees in baseball.”

The Aggies’ “12th Man” Community Approach to NIL

About 100 miles east of Austin, in College Station, the Aggies have taken a more diversified tack via Texas Aggies United, amassing $51.4 million in total NIL revenue from July 2024 to June 2025—nearly tripling the previous year’s haul. An overwhelming 96% ($49-50 million) flowed to men’s sports, with football claiming the lion’s share through guaranteed contracts tied to performance and academics.

This “retain at all costs” philosophy, bolstered by alumni and corporate sponsors, has secured talents like quarterback Marcel Reed and wide receiver Mario Craver.

The result? An 11-2 campaign, a playoff spot, and early-season dominance, only to falter with late losses to rivals Texas and in the CFP first round.

Critics point to gender disparities (minimal funding for women’s sports) and question if the broad distribution dilutes football’s edge in the brutal SEC. Still, A&M’s model emphasizes sustainability, positioning them as a top-5 NIL spender nationally.

“It’s not just about the check—it’s about building a culture,” an Aggies booster noted, echoing the program’s “12th Man” ethos.

All of the Oil Money Funding Texas Tech’s NIL Program

In Lubbock, the Red Raiders represent the underdog story of NIL efficiency. Led by billionaire alum Cody Campbell’s $25 million donation to The Matador Club, TTU shelled out over $28 million on its football roster in 2025, with plans for $55 million in combined NIL and revenue sharing next year. This aggressive, booster-centric approach—often dubbed “buying the roster”—focused on portal acquisitions and defensive reinforcements, transforming a mid-tier Big 12 team into contenders.

The payoff was undeniable: a 12-1 record, Big 12 Championship dominance (34-7 over BYU), and a CFP quarterfinal berth against Oregon in the Orange Bowl on January 1. While detractors label it “money over culture” and warn of donor dependency, Tech’s rise suggests targeted spending can yield outsized results in a less stacked conference.

“We’ve proven NIL can accelerate success,” said head coach Joey McGuire post-title. “But it’s the relationships that seal it.”

With the Orange Bowl looming, TTU could prove NIL’s championship potential taking on another NIL powerhouse for a slot in the National Championships semi-finals in January.

Oregon Ducks: The Nike-Backed Contender

As Texas Tech prepares to clash with the Oregon Ducks in CFB Quarterfinal game at the Orange Bowl, it’s worth examining Oregon’s robust NIL framework, which has positioned them as a formidable CFP opponent. Backed by Nike co-founder Phil Knight, Oregon’s primary NIL collective, Division Street, was established in 2021 and has evolved into one of college football’s most efficient operations. 

This booster-led model emphasizes innovative marketing and brand partnerships, leveraging Knight’s influence and Nike’s resources to attract top talent. In 2025, Oregon ranked fourth nationally in NIL spending for roster building, per an On3 survey of industry stakeholders, trailing only Texas, Texas Tech, and Ohio State. 

Oregon has fully embraced revenue sharing under the House settlement, distributing the maximum $20.5 million cap while integrating third-party NIL deals to exceed it, potentially reaching $30 million or more in total athlete compensation. 

Enhancements include adding a NIL partnerships manager and content producer in October 2025, partnering with Learfield Impact for technology and marketing support. 

Key players like quarterback Dante Moore boast NIL valuations over $2.3 million, reflecting the program’s appeal. 

This strategy has fueled Oregon’s undefeated regular season and top seeding in the CFP, but as offensive coordinator Will Stein noted, misconceptions about their NIL dominance overlook the program’s culture and coaching. 

Facing TTU’s NIL-fueled surge, the Ducks’ approach tests whether corporate-backed innovation can outpace oil money in pursuit of a title.

SMU Mustangs: The Rising Contender Fueled by NIL

NIL has been a game-changer for the SMU Mustangs, particularly in their 2025 transition to the ACC after a strong Group of Five run. The program’s aggressive adoption—via the Boulevard Collective and new Mustang Partners initiative—has driven record revenues, with football season tickets doubling and overall income surging 157% in their inaugural ACC year. This financial boost enabled high-profile portal acquisitions and retention, contributing to a 10-2 record, ACC contention, and a CFP berth—their first as a Power Four member. Partnerships like Scout NIL provide tools for earnings management and life skills, empowering athletes beyond the field. However, NIL’s double-edged sword has sparked debates: While it fueled opportunity and structured pay via revenue sharing, it also introduced “chaos” through the transfer portal, with rapid roster turnover challenging team cohesion. Overall, NIL has elevated SMU from mid-major to contender, proving smaller programs can compete with strategic spending in the revenue-sharing era.

Does the Money Translate to Championships?

Comparing the quartet: UT’s $35-40 million bought SEC relevance but no hardware; A&M’s $51.4 million (heavily football-skewed) delivered consistency but exposed vulnerabilities; TTU’s $28 million-plus propelled them furthest, claiming a conference crown and deeper playoff run; SMU’s strategic NIL surge secured a playoff spot in their ACC debut. Halfway through 2025, fans throughout the state of Texas got their “money’s worth” with four in-state teams vying for glory, but NIL’s role sparks debate. As one Reddit user pondered in a hypothetical DIII scenario, “How much NIL would it take to build a champion?”—the answer seems: Enough to attract talent, but not without coaching alchemy. 

NIL made college football mirror pro sports: Money helps, but doesn’t guarantee titles—look at MLB or the NBA. With the state of Texas’ new NIL rules looming for 2026 and the transfer portal opening January 2, the experiment continues. For now, NIL can buy contention, but championships? We’ll gain another clue on New Year’s Day at the #4 Texas Tech vs. #5 Oregon semi-final in the Orange Bowl at 11 a.m.





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Wyoming Won’t Consider FCS Despite Severe Lack Of NIL Money

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Wyoming NIL Money Football FBS FCS
iStockphoto / © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Wyoming is at a serious disadvantage when it comes to NIL. The Cowboys have less money available to pay their athletes than (at least) two nearby universities on a lower level of college football.

Meanwhile, those (at least) two schools are lobbying for their spot in the Mountain West.

This unique situation creates something of a college football case study. At what point is an unsuccessful program forced to move up or down based on financial wealth? Is it time to create a relegation system?

Wyoming is rich, but still broke.

It is no secret that college football is no longer an amateur sport. Players are getting paid, sometimes millions of dollars, and the teams with the most amount of money are able to purchase the best players. Having the best players typically leads to success. Money can buy a national title.

That puts Wyoming in an awkward spot. According to David Madison of the Cowboy State Daily, the Cowboys spend only $1.4 million on its entire roster.

That is the relative cost of just one superstar player in power conferences.

Meanwhile, schools like Montana and Montana State are spending closer to $2.2 million in NIL on their respective rosters. I would guess North Dakota State is not too far behind.

There is one key difference between Montana, Montana State and Wyoming. The former two compete in the Football Championship Subdivision. The latter competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Two schools that compete on a lower level of competition spend nearly twice as much as the Cowboys. And it doesn’t make sense because there is plenty of money in/around Laramie. So where is it?

Due to this lack of NIL money, there is a lot of chatter about the idea that Wyoming could move down. The Cowboys might have more success in the FCS against teams with similar NIL budgets than they do in FBS. It’s not a crazy thought!

However, there is still more money to be made as a losing FBS program than a winning FCS program.

Mountain West schools like Wyoming receive approximately $3.5 million annually from the conference’s television deal with CBS and Fox. Big Sky schools like Montana and Montana State make less.

It makes more sense for the Cowboys to stay right where they are.

“The better question is, why are Montana, Montana State begging to get into the Mountain West?” AD Tom Burman Burman told the Cowboy State Daily. “I can tell you that the top tier of the FCS is willing to pay money to join the Mountain West.”

He is not wrong.

According to Sam Herder, North Dakota State is quietly raising the money necessary to make the job to the FBS. According to Matt Brown, the price to “buy into” an FBS league hovers around $10 million.

Thus, it is actually better for Wyoming to lose every game in the FBS than drop down to the FCS. The boosters need to step up and fund a winning program.





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Major college football program predicted to be clear frontrunner for 4,000-yard QB

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The NCAA transfer portal officially opens for college football players on Friday.

In the final three weeks before the portal opens, quarterbacks began to announce their decisions to enter the transfer portal. DJ Lagway, Dylan Raiola, Sam Leavitt, Josh Hoover, and Rocco Becht will all seek new programs in 2026.

Another quarterback who will be shuffling in the 2026 offseason is South Florida signal-caller Byrum Brown. He will have one season of eligibility remaining at his second school.

While the portal is not officially open yet, Auburn is emerging as a clear destination for Brown next season. The connection to the Tigers is obvious, as former Bulls head coach Alex Golesh accepted the vacancy left by Hugh Freeze on Nov. 30.

Max Olson of ESPN cited the connections between Brown and Auburn in a recent projection for quarterbacks in the transfer portal. Olson said that Brown playing anywhere other than Auburn in 2026 would be a surprise.

Byrum Brown in the 2023 Boca Raton Bowl.

South Florida Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown (17) drops back to pass against the Syracuse Orange | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

“Brown has stayed loyal to his coaches and rejected past portal interest,” Olson wrote. “Now the 32-game starter is ready to prove he can compete at the highest level as a senior.”

The 6-foot-3, 231-pounder arrived under a staff led by Jeff Scott at South Florida in 2022. He played in the maximum four games needed to keep a redshirt, passing for 404 yards, five touchdowns and an interception while rushing for 179 yards and three touchdowns.

Golesh arrived in Tampa during the 2023 offseason. Brown was the Bulls’ starter that season and threw for 3,292 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and rushed for 809 yards and 11 touchdowns. South Florida finished the season 7-6, and Brown set single-season records for passing yards and touchdown passes.

Brown’s 2024 season was derailed by a broken bone in his left leg five games into the season. He totaled 836 pass yards and two touchdown passes while he ran for 269 yards and three touchdowns.

Injuries did not hinder Brown from producing for the Bulls in 2025. He logged 3,158 pass yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions and accumulated 1,008 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground in 12 games. He was named All-AAC Second Team and College Football Comeback Player of the Year for his efforts in 2025.



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Marcus Freeman announces return to Notre Dame for 2026 after receiving NFL interest

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Marcus Freeman reportedly told NFL franchises that he is staying at Notre Dame, according to SI’s Pat Forde. Freeman and Notre Dame reportedly agreed to a restructured contract that puts him in the “top tier” among compensation for college head coaches.

Freeman later tweeted from his official Twitter/X account, seemingly confirming the news. “2026…run it back. Go Irish (clover emoji),” he wrote.

That’s pretty good news for Notre Dame fans, who last saw their team win their 10th straight game before opting out of bowl season. Freeman will now attempt to lead the Fighting Irish to the College Football Playoff and a national championship next season. The work at the college level continues.

Prior to Christmas, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Freeman was expected to be a top candidate for the New York Giants’ vacancy. That is now no longer the case.

Marcus Freeman running it back at Notre Dame, says no to NFL

Freeman, this season, led Notre Dame to a 10-2 finish in 2025. That included 10-straight wins following an 0-2 start, narrowly (and controversially) missing out of the College Football Playoff as the first team out. The year prior, Freeman led the Fighting Irish all the way to the national championship game before coming up short against Ohio State.

Since becoming Notre Dame’s head coach in 2021 — his first stint as a head coach period — he’s compiled a 38-10 record along the way, including a 5-2 record in the postseason. Because the Irish missed out on the College Football Playoff this season, the program opted out of their bowl game.

“As a team, we’ve decided to withdraw our name from consideration for a bowl game following the 2025 season,” the program said in a statement. “We appreciate all the support from our families and fans, and we’re hoping to bring the 12th national title to South Bend in 2026.”

As far as the Giants are concerned, they won only their third game of the season, a 34-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. They’re bound for a high draft pick and a rebuild under a new coach, but it won’t be Freeman. But man, the drama continues in New York as Jaxson Dart’s father recently called out Danny Kanell over the latter’s comments about the rookie QB.

All Freeman has to do now is worry about Notre Dame this coming fall. The Giants’ search continues.



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USA Today ranks every college football head coach hire from best to worst this cycle

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The 2025 coaching carousel proved to be a chaotic one, with 32 jobs out of the 136 FBS programs making changes. Now, the dust has seemingly settled, and USA Today took the opportunity to rank all of those hires from best to worst.

Of those coaching changes, 17 are at the Power Four level. In particular, the SEC and Big Ten saw heavy turnover this cycle, with some surprise openings coming as well. So, there’s no doubt that the coaches involved in this cycle are going to shape the landscape of college football from here on out.

These types of moves are always subjective and what amounts to success at one program can be a disappointment at another. It will also take a few seasons to properly evaluate how everything worked out. All of that is worth remembering as USA Today worked to paint a picture of these hires as best it can in the moment.

The 2025 season was a shock for Penn State, firing James Franklin midseason. Still, he’s an incredibly well-regarded coach who has found a ton of success in his career. Now, he has an interesting new home at Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech is a Power Four program but it’s also looking at a rebuild. Still, after making the College Football Playoff semifinal in the 2024-25 season, there’s no doubt that Franklin can find that success once again.

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin's staff is (nearly) in place (© Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images)
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin’s staff is (nearly) in place (© Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images)

The Lane Kiffin coaching saga this offseason dominated the media cycle as he moved from Ole Miss to rival LSU. There was a reason so much emphasis was put on Kiffin, though. He’s been an incredibly successful coach.

Now, the expectation at LSU is going to be to win right away. Certainly, he’ll be given every resource to do so. It’s no mistake that USA Today thinks so highly of the hire.

The Michigan job is one of the best in the country. That’s what made it so interesting to follow when it opened late amid Sherrone Moore being fired for off the field reasons. So, landing on Kyle Whittingham ended up being a win.

USA Today has this as the third-best hire of the cycle. That makes a lot of sense, given that he helped Utah rise from the Mountain West to being a Power Four conference champion. Now, with his 177 career wins, Whittingham is on his way to Ann Arbor.

USA Today ranks Jon Sumrall as the fourth-best hire of this cycle. The former Tulane head coach is coming off a season where he led the Green Wave to the CFP. With that success and ties to the SEC, the hire makes a lot of sense on paper.

Florida is going to be a rebuilding effort for Sumrall. There’s expected to be a lot of roster turnover. So, it may take some time, but Sumrall seems fit to get the job done.

UCLA head coach Bob Chesney at his introductory press conference
UCLA head coach Bob Chesney at his introductory press conference on Dec. 9, 2025. (Credit: Matt Moreno | BruinBlitz)

The UCLA Bruins were one of the earliest teams to make a coaching change. In the end, they landed on Bob Chesney, the James Madison coach.

Coming from a CFP run with James Madison, Chesney looks like one of the best young coaches in the game. Predominantly tied to the Northeast, with stops at Holy Cross, Assumption, and Salve Regina, Chesney is now tasked with a Power Four rebuild.

The Penn State coaching search took several twists and turns. In the end, the Nittany Lions landed on Matt Campbell. So, despite that long process, USA Today and several other experts think they made an excellent hire.

Matt Campbell previously turned Iowa State into a contender within the Big 12. That’s no small task. Now, it’s time for him to try and take Penn State from consistently good to elite as a program.

The Michigan State Spartans made a move from Jonathan Smith after two seasons. To replace him, they landed on a longtime Big Ten head coach, Pat Fitzgerald. USA Today has it as the seventh-best hire of the cycle.

Fitzgerald is best known for his time at Northwestern. From 2006 to 2022, he went 110-101 there. That included a lot of success that goes beyond what Northwestern traditionally found. Now, he’s looking to bring that experience with him to Michigan State.

Charles Huff, Memphis
© Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Memphis has the highest rated hired, according to USA Today, amount Group of Six programs. The Tigers hired Charles Huff, formerly of Marshall and Southern Miss, who found tons of success in the Sun Belt. Now, the hope is that he can spark Memphis to an American Championship.

Memphis is in a pretty solid situation as a program. The Tigers won double-digit games in each of the last two seasons. As a program, they haven’t missed a bowl since 2013. Now, Huff wants to get them into the CFP.

Florida moved on from Billy Napier after an unsuccessful tenure. He landed on his feet, though. James Madison brought in Napier to try and replicate the success that both previous coaches have had at James Madison and that Napier had in the Sun Belt.

The Dukes are coming off a Sun Belt Championship, CFP appearance, and sending their last two coaches to P4 jobs. So, success is the expectation. Napier will now need to live up to that.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys moved on from legendary head coach Mike Gundy. This comes after a pair of frustrating seasons for Oklahoma State. In his place, they brought in Eric Morris to replace him moving forward.

USA Today is fairly high on Morris, coming in at 10th. The former North Texas head coach is coming off a year where he produced one of the best offenses in the country and played for a conference championship. So, now, he’s hoping to bring that spark to Stillwater.

Rest of USA Today head coach hire rankings

11. Jason Candle, UConn
12. Jim Mora, Colorado State
13. Blake Anderson, Southern Miss
14. Collin Klein, Kansas State
15. Neal Brown, North Texas
16. Alex Golesh, Auburn
17. Mike Jacobs, Toledo
18. Casey Woods, Missouri State
19. Morgan Scalley, Utah
20. Ryan Silverfield, Arkansas
21. Jimmy Rogers, Iowa State
22. Will Stein, Kentucky
23. Tavita Pritchard, Stanford
24. Brian Hartline, USF
25. Tosh Lupoi, Cal
26. Pete Golding, Ole Miss
27. John Hauser, Ohio
28. Ryan Beard, Coastal Carolina
29. Alex Mortensen, UAB
30. Kirby Moore, Washington State
31. JaMarcus Shephard, Oregon State
32. Will Hall, Tulane



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