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NIL

'Humble and Hungry'

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'Humble and Hungry'


LAS VEGAS — In the immediate aftermath of Indiana’s season-ending loss to Notre Dame during the opening round of last year’s College Football Playoff, its lightning rod head coach, Curt Cignetti, trudged into the visiting media room at Notre Dame Stadium with hollow guts and wounded pride. 

For the better part of five months, Cignetti and his players had transformed into nationwide darlings while authoring one of the greatest turnarounds the sport has ever seen. But on this December evening in South Bend, as the 12-team format was unveiled for the first time, the Hoosiers endured a one-sided whipping. All that separated Cignetti & Co. from a more humiliating scoreline were two late touchdowns once the outcome had long been secured.  

“The hardest thing on a night like this is saying ‘goodbye’ to your kids,” Cignetti said to begin the news conference after sharing a postgame embrace with his family. “They’re hurting because their old man got his a– kicked.”

The emptiness of it all transported Cignetti back to a lowly moment from 2011, during his first season as a collegiate head coach, when he allowed a similarly painful defeat to hover over his program, much to the detriment of everyone involved. Then in charge at IUP — that’s Indiana University of Pennsylvania for anyone unfamiliar with Division II football — Cignetti wallowed in the wake of a 20-6 loss to Slippery Rock in which the Crimson Hawks’ quarterbacks combined to throw four interceptions. It gnawed at him for days. 

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“I just couldn’t let it go,” Cignetti said when retelling the story at Big Ten Media Days last month. “And it hurt us the next couple of weeks, too, you know? You can’t let this one [against Notre Dame] hurt you. It’s over, you file the lessons away, you learn and you grow from it.”

That was the message Cignetti and his players conveyed to reporters inside the South Seas Ballroom at Mandalay Bay, where far more attention was paid to the Hoosiers than anybody could have imagined prior to last year’s remarkable ascendance. By winning 11 games for the first time in school history and earning an at-large berth in the College Football Playoff — something traditional powers like Miami and Florida still haven’t done — Indiana catapulted itself to a level of relevance normally reserved for the school’s basketball program, a five-time national champion. And with that kind of attention comes an intoxicating blend of scrutiny and expectation most frequently bestowed upon teams and coaches for whom winning is an annual tradition. 

How close Cignetti can come to replicating what happened in 2024, when the only defeats Indiana suffered were against Notre Dame and Ohio State, two teams that went on to reach the national championship game, will be among the Big Ten’s most interesting storylines this fall. That the Hoosiers were picked sixth in both preseason league polls circulated last month will not preclude them from being comfortably included in the national top 25 when the preseason AP Poll surfaces next week, something that has only happened once since 1969 and only three times overall.

But in typical grandiose Cignetti fashion, the idea of simply matching a campaign he described as “the best season in Indiana history” isn’t lofty enough for his liking. 

“I get questions [about] ‘How are you going to sustain it?’” Cignetti said. “We’re not looking to sustain it. We’re looking to improve it. And the way you do that is by having the right people on the bus, upstairs in the coaches’ offices, downstairs in the locker room. Having a blueprint plan and process, high standards of expectations [and] never lowering your standards.”

Head coach Curt Cignetti of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts during the fourth quarter against Michigan. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

For Cignetti, improving rather than sustaining began with intense player-retention efforts sought to both dissuade key contributors from entering the transfer portal while simultaneously rewarding veterans who passed on the NFL Draft to spend another year at Indiana. The former was successful enough that Cignetti said the Hoosiers didn’t lose “a single player that we wanted to keep,” even though 27 players wound up exiting the program, including five who ended up at Power 4 schools — tight end Sam West (Mississippi State); offensive tackle Austin Barrett (Iowa State); cornerback Jamier Johnson (UCLA); quarterback Tayven Jackson (UCF); wide receiver Donaven McCulley (Michigan). McCulley was the highest-rated former Hoosier in the portal at No. 285 overall, according to 247Sports. 

Indiana’s portal strategy was buoyed by strong financial offers to players who might have been chosen in the middle or late rounds of the draft. Leading receiver Elijah Sarratt, who caught 53 passes for 957 yards and eight touchdowns, said he and Cignetti reached a monetary agreement shortly after the loss to Notre Dame that cemented his decision to return. The Hoosiers also brought back three potential draft picks on defense in edge rusher Mikail Kamara (nation-leading 68 quarterback pressures), inside linebacker Aiden Fisher (team-high 118 tackles) and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds (first-team All-Big Ten). 

Indiana DE Mikail Kamara #6 pressures Michigan QB Davis Warren #16 during the first half at Memorial Stadium. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

“I think last year [the mindset] was to go in here and win a couple games, you know?” Kamara said. “Maybe go and win a bowl game. If we’re being quite honest, I think that was kind of the goal. And once we started rolling, the goal started to change a little bit. So I think the way that it changed is we expected to win games and we expected to win games big. And we expected to make the playoffs and try to go to the national championship, right? 

“So I think the difference is that mindset that we had maybe midway, maybe in the back end of the season, is the mindset that we have going into the first game this season: Win a championship and that’s it.”

Predictably, that mindset starts with Cignetti himself and a challenge the head coach issued to everyone within Indiana’s program. Regardless of what the outside world is saying about the Hoosiers — and many analysts believe they could be in the mix for a second consecutive playoff berth — Cignetti wants them to approach each day “humble and hungry versus noise and clutter,” which means understanding that last year’s success guarantees Indiana nothing in 2025 and beyond. 

His message is already being carried out by some of the team’s best players, a handful of whom are still holdovers from Cignetti’s last job at James Madison and followed him to help overhaul the culture at Indiana. For Kamara, who enters 2025 as one of the conference’s most feared edge rushers, that has meant improving his conditioning and body composition so that he can play to his full potential for all four quarters, an improvement he believed was necessary after admitting he faded late in games last year. For Sarratt, whose goal is to become a first-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft, that has meant shoring up his blocking, sharpening his route running and becoming more consistent as a pass catcher to avoid the untimely drops that resulted in him falling just short of 1,000 yards — a statistic that he said still irks him. 

“We don’t want to go to the College Football Playoff and lose in Round 1 again,” Sarratt said. “That’s not the goal. The goal is to win a national championship. That’s what we’re working hard to do every single day.”

Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt (13) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during a game against Michigan. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Their belief that Indiana is a program capable of contending for the playoff most seasons began trickling down to the team’s newcomers during spring practice, where Cignetti welcomed a high school recruiting class that ranked 49th nationally and a transfer portal class that ranked 25th nationally — two spots behind Texas and one spot behind Ohio State. The additions of high-profile transfers like former Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza (No. 22 transfer, No. 4 QB), former Notre Dame offensive lineman Pat Coogan (No. 138 transfer, No. 9 IOL) and former Maryland tailback Roman Hemby (No. 236 transfer, No. 15 RB), all of whom will start for Indiana in 2025, are a direct result of the program’s headline-generating trajectory in 2024. 

In listening to the Hoosiers speak at Big Ten Media Days, where they exuded far more confidence than Indiana players of yore, any concern Cignetti might have had about a hangover from the loss to Notre Dame seems like it can be safely erased. They filed those lessons away, they’ve learned, and they’ve grown — just as Cignetti did when he lost to Slippery Rock so many years before. 

“If you are resting on your laurels,” Cignetti said, “and you got the warm fuzzies based on what social media is telling you, or what you read on social media, and you think it’s just going to happen again because it happened before, [then] you ain’t going to be a very happy camper when the season is over. My job is to make sure that doesn’t happen. 

“I know I got to improve in a lot of ways, but I’m really good at keeping the main thing the main thing and being a watchdog for complacency and stomping it out. When we go to camp and we get ready for that first game, these guys will be thinking like we need them to think.”

And that means dreaming of a national championship. 

Michael Cohen covers college football and college basketball for FOX Sports. Follow him at @Michael_Cohen13.

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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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