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K-State Soccer Meets with the Media on Monday

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MANHATTAN, Kansas – K-State soccer head coach Colleen Corbin and the team’s leadership council met with the media on Monday afternoon in the Buser Family Park Team Theater. Below is a transcript of Corbin’s media session. K-State opens its 10th season of action on Thursday, August 14, at 6:30 p.m., against Oral Roberts.

Coach Corbin: “The first week of practice has been awesome. The girls are excited, competitive, energetic. We have a lot of new faces, both in true freshmen as well as some incoming transfers that have added some experience, some talent, some depth, as well as just some personality. And so it’s been pretty fun just to have the group together. We got to go to Italy and compete this summer, which was a good kind of intro for everybody. So we didn’t really feel like we were starting from ground zero when the team got back in the end of July, but it’s been fun to just build on the things that we felt like we were kind of able to establish in Italy, so culture things, soccer things just kind of standards of excellence and behavior and how we’re going to show up and compete every day. And we got to test those things against Missouri State the other day, which is awesome. Missouri State’s a competitive program. Consistently goes to the NCAA tournament. So it was a good trial run for us to just get out there and kind of get our feet wet and let the freshmen, especially, kind of get those first jitters out of just competing against another Division I opponent. So it’s been really fun. There’s been a lot of teaching, again, a lot of excitement, a lot of energy, and just, I know our group is anxious to continue to grow and build and play more games, because that’s what the fall is about, is trying to win matches and put our best foot forward and be competitive every day. So excited for what the future holds for the group.”

Q: One of your players recently indicated to me that your intense and that you could build a consistent winner here at Kansas State. What do you see from the early signs of this team that let you know that this is a team capable of winning at a consistent level?

Coach Corbin: “I think just the openness to be receptive to new things, to demand more of each other. I think that’s something that this group has gotten way more comfortable with in the last six months. The last six months, is just expecting excellence from one another and being able to hold each other accountable to those standards. Everybody wants to win, right? And one of the things we said in the locker room the other day was, everybody loves to eat, not everybody loves to hunt, right? And so we want to hunt. We want to hunt every day. And I think just the consistency that the group has been able to show in the approach to what we’re doing, the day in, the day out, the little things, the mundane, because it is. It’s about the process, right? If we’re going to be a championship program, then it’s about doing the things, the little things consistently. Sorry, doing the little things consistently well all the time. And I think that there is a real hunger from the group to want to do those things.”

Q: Going back to the word intensity, for a moment, a player described you as, what are some other words that describe you and where does that intensity come from? And maybe, what are some other character attributes that you possess that make you the coach you are?

Coach Corbin: “I’m a winner. I like to win. Again, everybody likes to win. But I think in my experiences, both as a player and as a coach, I’ve been privileged to train under competitive coaches, to work with competitive coaches, to be in environments that operate at a really high level, you know? And we’re all a culmination of our experiences, right? And I think for me, again, I’ve had the benefit of having been mentored by some really incredible people, and also being fortunate to have coached some really competitive athletes. And so I think for me, I think that everything I do comes with a little bit of intensity, for good or for bad, but I also think I put a lot of value in the process and in the journey and making sure that there’s joy in that. And so, for me, I tell the girls all the time, I don’t believe that it has to be one or the other. It doesn’t have to be hypercompetitive or only fun like I really believe that you can mesh both at a high level. And so I think for me, that’s what we’re seeking every day, is to really enjoy the grind. I think the girls have been receptive of that.”

Q: What are your takeaways from the first exhibition match?

Coach Corbin: “I think we understand, collectively as a group, like our overarching playing model, I think there is a pretty high understanding of what we’re trying to do. I think for us, when we went back and watched film this morning with the group, a lot of it is about little details, right? Whether that’s small individual micro movements or being able to see past a certain line, understanding your role outside of just your role. How you respond to someone else’s movement, what does that mean for you? And really just trying to continue to build the cohesiveness and the collectiveness. Because I think that’s ultimately what makes the best teams, right, is that it feels like they’re in flow. It feels like they understand each other again at a microlevel. And that’s the hardest part about this very condensed preseason is we don’t have a lot of time to get to that point and so we know what we look like in mid-August, hopefully isn’t what we look like in mid-November. And so just continuing to build those relationships, I think, is going to be really crucial as we head into Mizzou. And today we did a pretty functional training session with a lot of teaching with some main heavy hitters we took out of that Missouri State game, and I think that helped just being able to have conversations around those things and really dive into the nitty gritty.”

Q: Coach, being with your team now for a few months, what do you feel like your team’s identity or strength?

Coach Corbin: “We’re going to press. We’re going to run at people. We’re going to make it uncomfortable. We have some very elite athletes in our front line that we expect to make the back line of opposing teams uncomfortable. We want there to be a relentless mindset and winning the ball back, because we surely are going to turn it over at some point. And so just this heightened work rate, this heightened energy, this heightened competitiveness that I think people will enjoy seeing. I think there’s also, you know, when we are in possession, when we do have the ball, there being a structure and a space that’s set up to help us keep the ball, while also allowing players individual talent and they’re special to shine like we want to emphasize creativity, we want to emphasize decision making, and that’s not going to look the same player to player. And so even in our training environment, we try really hard to make things in context like we don’t want them to ever just be going through the motions without there being pressure, without there being decisions to be made. And so I think that’s something that we’re hopeful that everyone sees when they come out to watch our team play, is the relentlessness out of possession, trying to win the ball back, and then the confidence and the composure and the creativity in possession with the ball.”

Q: You said you brought in a lot of youth. What kind of challenges does that bring, but what excitement does that also bring?

Coach Corbin: “The transition to college soccer from club soccer is challenging, no matter how you slice it, right? And I think again, the way that we are demanding our players competing is exhausting, quite frankly. And so, you know, these are girls that are used to rolling out of school, you know, at 3:00, 3:30 and driving to a club practice and dinking the ball around for an hour and a half and going home. And that’s just not what it looks or feels like at this level, right? Like you have film and you have team meetings and you have team meals, and you have rehab and you have prehab, and you have individual meetings, and we have book club and, like all these things that are really mentally exhausting. And so I think that’s, at least in my experience, the hardest transition, usually, from being a senior in high school to being a freshman in college, especially at this level, is just the demand that’s put on you, yes, physically, but also more so mentally and emotionally. It takes a pretty big toll. So I think those are very normal struggles that our kids are going through. But also, I think there is this class of freshmen went through a coaching change, and that’s tough, right? No one asked for that, but they’re still here, and they still want to compete and help us win. And so it’s been fun, really, for me to get to know them, because I didn’t recruit them initially. So that’s been an enjoyable process for us and our staff, just really kind of getting to know their personalities more on a human level.”

Q: You guys brought in two new goalkeepers and have one returning from last year’s team. What’s that competition just been like?

Coach Corbin: “Awesome! It’s been great. They compete with each other every day. There’s also a really great culture within our goalkeeper group. Ali (Hanif), our goalkeeper coach, does a really phenomenal job, honestly, of creating their own identity within themselves. All three of them are great kids, you know. Maddie (Sibbing) our transfer from UMKC was formerly at SLU when I was there for a couple months, and so I had more of an understanding about kind of what she brings to the table, and she’s been a great addition for us. And then Grace, kind of got sidelined in the spring. We ran into a couple injuries that, you know, slowed her down a little bit, but she’s gotten back into the fold and is competing at a high level. And then Reese (Potts), has been here and has kind of seen what it was like before, and sees what it’s like now, and knows that expectations are higher, and is able to kind of add some perspective, right? I think across the board, all three of them, I’m partial because I’m a goalkeeper, but like, they’re all good kids, and they all want to win, but they all also bring joy and laughter, like none of them take themselves too seriously, which is important in our position, because things are hard most of the time, right? And so being able to find joy in that process, I think, is important. And like I said, Ali, our goalkeeper coach, does a really good job of making sure that that environment stays in the right headspace.”

Q: What specific changes have you seen within the group that has made you most proud of a culture’s development so far?

Coach Corbin: “Yeah, great question. I think the accountability is a huge one, both to themselves and to their teammates. This is the first time that I put a standard or an expectation on, just like the fitness level coming in, they had to hit a certain standard in order to be able to step on the field and play. And that had never been the case before, and every single player passed the fitness test, so every single field player is eligible for competition, which you know, as a coach, you don’t know, like we’re set those expectations, because we know that’s what it needs to be, but it’s up to the players to put in the work and show up and and care about it. And I think that example, in and of itself, to me, I know how much work it took for them all to get to a place where they could pass that fitness test, especially when they’re out working on their own right. And so just the time, the dedication, the belief, the buy in. 

“You know, we have a leadership council group that I think you guys are going to talk to here in a little bit, who have really leaned in and helped kind of set the standard for what it looks like within the team. You know, I think the best cultures, the best championship programs, are player-led, right? The coach sets standards and sets expectations, but we’re not around 24/7, right? We don’t know what’s going on outside of the locker room. We don’t know what’s going on on the field, quite frankly. And so it’s important that they understand the standards and expectations and implement them within the group. And I think within the group. And I think our leadership group has done a phenomenal job so far of continuing to hold people accountable and also set standards for the rest of the group. And then I think just the human experience, which, like sounds so silly, but just the trust that they’ve had in each other to really show up as their most authentic self, which, like I’ve preached since the day I got here that none of them are like the other. And it would be really silly for us to just expect that people are going to show up in one way or another and fit into some kind of box. And so I really challenge them to be confident and comfortable being themselves, no matter how weird or quirky or awkward it feels like that’s what brings us together, right? That is the human experience, and so I’ve been really proud of how they’ve just, like, grown and flourished and become confident in who they are, and saying off the wall things and busting a dance move at practice, or whatever it is that, like, makes people laugh and brings people joy. And that’s been really fun for me to watch as well.”

Q: You mentioned you mixed lineups in Italy to encourage chemistry experimentation a little bit. How do you plan to translate and have adaptability into your regular season training and game strategy or philosophy?

Coach Corbin: “We definitely want to find a rhythm. We want to find a First 11 that feels, you know, cohesive within the group. I think we mixed up lineups against Missouri State as well, just to continue to try to build those relationships and those connections, and it did feel a little disjointed, we didn’t really establish possession. There wasn’t a real rhythm that we were able to gain from that. But that’s okay, you know, we have again, another game against Mizzou, and as the non-conference unfolds that will continue to build. But, you know, the adaptability is huge. We have to be able to make subs and make changes and have it work, right? You don’t want to make changes, and all of a sudden you feel like everything falls apart, and everyone has to have the same understanding of what the expectations are. And so once we do get into a First 11 that we feel confident in, every player also understands that they play a role regardless of how many minutes they actually spend on the field, both in their body language and their voice and their communication. And when they do get an opportunity that they better step in and elevate what’s going on on the field, right? You don’t ever want the level to drop. And so we don’t call them subs, we don’t call them bench players. They’re game changers, and that’s their job to come in and change the game. And so lineups might change from game to game depending on who’s healthy or who’s flying or whatever that looks like, but the expectation is everybody’s ready to compete and play on any given day.”

Q: Regarding Paige (Dickson) and Andra Mohler, can you describe what they bring to the table and just what it means to you that they’re seeing this thing through and continuing on and buying into this program?

Coach Corbin: “We don’t have a lot of seniors on our team. It’s a pretty young group and I think I appreciate Paige and Andra and Kay (Khaliana Garrett). Kay’s our other senior that those three have believed, that they’ve bought in, that they’ve wanted to be a part of the change they recognize. Like success might not be immediate. Success might not just fall into our lap, you know, this fall. They might not get to be a part of holding a trophy, but they want to be a part of building a legacy. And that takes a special person to put in the amount of work that they’re putting in and know that results are not guaranteed, right? They could. They could have gone somewhere where there’s an established culture of winning and ride out their last season into the sunset and have a way higher likelihood of getting a ring or a trophy, and they didn’t, because they care about K-State, they care about these girls. They care about what this program means, and so I appreciate as a coach, like their belief in us and their belief in our vision. And it’s also been really cool for me to just see both of them become real leaders, because those are conversations that they had with me early on in the spring. You know, I want to do this, and I want to be this person, and I want people to look up to me. Okay, well, that’s great, but you have to do something about that. And they both have, you know, the group respects them a lot. They communicate with me on a really high level. They’re a very active voice for the rest of the group, which is important in leadership. Then even on the field, like just the accountability that they’ve taken in their journey and their process, and not making excuses, and, you know, not saying, ‘Well, I’ve never been that player, or I can’t do this.’ Like, well, have you tried? Right? Like, have you actually tried? And if both of them look at me and say, ‘No,’ which they have to then turn around and make some changes and be different humans now than they were six months ago. Like that’s been a really impactful experience for me as a coach, and I’m excited for their leadership this fall.”

Q: What are you going to be thinking about before that first game?

Coach Corbin: “Just gratitude. Gratitude for the experience. Gratitude for the opportunity. Gratitude to the players, my staff. I mean, my staff has worked tirelessly, you know, for us to try to get this as close to being right as we can when that first whistle blows. We’re all a culmination of our experiences, and my journey has been a wild one, for sure, with a lot of pit stops and just being able to reflect and be appreciative of every experience I’ve had, good or bad that’s led me to that moment. I think the thing I’ve been very intentional about communicating to our group is that we’re going to win games. I know we’re going to win games. We’re also going to lose games. I know that to be true as well. And what I’m conscious of is that this group cannot be defined by either one. We can’t be defined by our success. We can’t be defined by our losses, our failures. We are going to be defined by how we respond. How do we show up the next day? We’re not going to get too high. We’re not going to get too low. And that is, to me, one of the most challenging things in sports, especially with a group that has so much they want to prove, there’s so much they want to leave out on the table. And again, there’s going to be disappointment, there’s going to be let down, and there’s also going to be pure joy and elation and excitement, and those are heavy emotions in both directions. And the second we start to teeter off course, it’s going to be really hard to rein it back in and get back on track, and so just being conscious of those things, you know, as we head into that first game, and like I said, expressing gratitude and enjoying the experience.”

 



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$1.6 million WR makes NIL announcement before College Football Playoff

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42 minutes ago

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December 20, 2025

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Alabama and Oklahoma are about to kick off the College Football Playoff on Friday evening and ahead of the big match-up, one notable player shared some NIL news. With Tide coach Kalen DeBoer facing a particularly big game, stakes are high for Friday’s battle. But at least one player has already had a productive Friday.

Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams announced an NIL endorsement deal on social media on Friday afternoon. Williams, who has been tagged with a $1.6 million NIL value by On3, added another corporate endorsement to his already crowded NIL roster. With the eyes of college football heading to Alabama’s battle with Oklahoma, Williams had a timely component in his statement.

Williams’ new NIL deal is with Eat Just, Inc. which develops and markets plant-based alternatives to eggs and meats. Williams’ Instagram post depicts the talented wide receiver apparently chowing down on what appears to be a chicken alternative from Eat Just.

Among Williams’ other NIL deals include EA Sports (for whom he was a cover athlete for EA’s College Football 26 game), Uber Eats, Beats by Dre, New Era, and clothier Hollister.

On the field, the 6′ wide receiver continues to show flashes of the massive talent that earned him a starting spot as a 17-year old for the Tide in 2024. But he has struggled with consistency. Last season, Williams finished with 48 receptions for 865 yards and eight receiving scores, with two more rushing touchdowns. In 2025, he has 42 catches for 631 yards and four touchdowns.

Wiliams will not be eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft, but figures to be a significant Draft prospect based on his speed and ball skills.

Alabama is facing a fourth loss in consecutive seasons. During Nick Saban’s nearly two decades, he did not have a four-loss season after his initial 2006 campaign. With rumors of Kalen DeBoer being a strong candidate for the Michigan coaching job, there’s plenty on the line during Friday’s game.

Alabama is a slight underdog in Friday’s College Football Playoff first-round battle. WIlliams could provide a key to the game. In Alabama’s three losses this year, Williams has not exceeded 45 yards receiving or caught a touchdown. So it’s safe to say that Tide fans, as well as Eat Just, hope that Williams eats well on Friday evening.

Williams

Alabama WR Ryan Williams announced a big NIL deal ahead of Friday’s big game. | Brett Davis-Imagn Images





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CNBC ranks Top 25 college athletic programs by valuation

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2 hours ago

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December 19, 2025

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As the 2025 calendar year rounds out, CNBC has ranked the top-25 college athletic programs by valuation. Texas has skyrocketed to the No. 1 spot, worth $1.48 billion. This number is 16% more than it was last year ($1.28 billion). Ohio State‘s valuation grew by 2%, but it still fell from No. 1 to No. 2.

Per CNBC, “the 75 most valuable athletic programs for 2025 are worth a combined $51.22 billion, 13% more than the value of the top 75 in last year’s rankings”. With more money poured into programs by the day with an emphasis on NIL, this isn’t quite a surprise.

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The entire list is below. Of note, it includes five programs from the SEC, including two valued at more than $1.3 billion, per CNBC.

The University of Texas comes in at No. 1 in the rankings, worth $1.48 billion. The athletic program brought in $332 million worth of revenue in 2024, helping usher in a 16% YOY (year-over-year) value change. Last year, the program was ranked No. 2 (+1).

It shouldn’t be a surprise that Texas sits atop all programs, as starting quarterback Arch Manning ranks No. 1 in On3’s NIL Valuations ($5.3 million). Manning, in his first season as the Longhorns’ starting quarterback, passed for 2,942 yards and 24 touchdowns with seven interceptions this season. Manning is one of two Texas athletes ranked inside the Top-100, alongside EDGE Colin Simmons.

© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

THE Ohio State University comes in at No. 2 in the rankings, worth $1.35 billion. The athletic program brought in $255 million worth of revenue in 2024, helping usher in a 2% YOY value change. Last year, the program was ranked No. 1 (-1).

Although the program slipped one spot, Ohio State is still a juggernaut. Star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith ranks No. 3 in On3’s NIL Valuations ($4.2 million) and is one of three Ohio State football players ranked inside the top-13. Quarterback Julian Sayin sits at No. 10 ($2.5 million) and defensive back Caleb Downs sits at No. 13 ($2.4 million).

Texas A&M University comes in at No. 3 in the rankings, worth $1.32 billion. The athletic program brought in $266 million worth of revenue in 2024, helping usher in a 5% YOY value change. Last year, the program was also ranked No. 3.

With the football program heading to the College Football Playoff for the first time ever, Texas A&M remained the third most profitable athletics program in the country. Quarterback Marcel Reed ranks No. 19 on On3’s NIL Valuations ($2.1 million) and Paul Hornung Award winning receiver K.C. Conepcion ranks No. 52.

The University of Georgia comes in at No. 4 in the rankings, worth $1.16 billion. The athletic program brought in $242 million worth of revenue in 2024, helping usher in a 22% YOY value change. Last year, the program was also ranked No. 7 (+3).

Georgia jumped three spots after bringing in $242 million worth of revenue in 2024. This was massive in hauling in USC transfer receiver Zachariah Branch, who has been a massive contributor for the Bulldogs’ College Football Playoff team. Branch, who ranks No. 85 On3’s NIL Valuations, hauled in 73 catches for 744 yards and five scores this year.

Nov 26, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) reacts in the second half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the 2025 Players Era Festival championship game at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The University of Michigan comes in at No. 5 in the rankings, worth $1.16 billion. The athletic program brought in $239 million worth of revenue in 2024, helping usher in a 9% YOY value change. Last year, the program was ranked No. 4 (-1).

Although Michigan fell one spot from last year’s valuation, it still ranks second among Big Ten programs. Star forward Yaxel Lendeborg, who ranks No. 17 On3’s NIL Valuations ($2.3 million), has been a superstar for the Wolverines on the basketball court. Lendeborg is averaging 16.4 points and 7.2 rebounds for an undefeated squad under head coach Dusty May.

The University of Notre Dame comes in at No. 6 in the rankings, worth $1.13 billion. The athletic program brought in $235 million worth of revenue in 2024, helping usher in a 17% YOY value change. Last year, the program was ranked No. 6.

Feelings are still hurt around the Notre Dame football program after being snubbed from the College Football Playoff, but that’s nothing a little cash can’t fix. The ND athletics program hauled in $235 million worth of revenue last season, but it remained at No. 6. Heisman Trophy finalist running back Jeremiyah Love was Notre Dame‘s highest ranked player in On3’s NIL Valuations ($1.6 million).

The University of Tennessee comes in at No. 7 in the rankings, worth $1.12 billion. The athletic program brought in $234 million worth of revenue in 2024, helping usher in a 19% YOY value change. Last year, the program was ranked No. 9 (+2).

Tennessee‘s athletics program is evaluated at $1.12 billion, good for fourth most in the Southeastern Conference. Freshman forward Nate Ament is the highest earning player in the athletics program, ranking No. 64 in On3’s NIL Valuations.

Feb 19, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) reacts in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans at the Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The University of Southern California comes in at No. 8 in the rankings, worth $1.10 billion. The athletic program brought in $242 million worth of revenue in 2024, helping usher in a 19% YOY value change. Last year, the program was ranked No. 12 (+4).

USC jumped four spots after a massive 2024 calendar year, which brought in $242 million worth of revenue. This ushered in a 19% YOY value change, one of the biggest of all the teams in the rankings. Quarterback Jayden Maiava was the program’s highest earning player, ranking No. 21 in On3’s NIL Valuations ($2.1 million)

The University of Alabama comes in at No. 9 in the rankings, worth $1.09 billion. The athletic program brought in $235 million worth of revenue in 2024, helping usher in a 11% YOY value change. Last year, the program was ranked No. 5 (-4).

In what could maybe be called the Nick Saban effect, Alabama dropped four spots in this year’s rankings. Quarterback Ty Simpson, who passed for 3,268 yards and 26 touchdowns this season, ranks No. 14 in On3’s NIL Valuations ($2.3 million).

The University of Nebraska comes in at No. 10 in the rankings, worth $1.06 billion. The athletic program brought in $221 million worth of revenue in 2024, helping usher in a 12% YOY value change. Last year, the program was ranked No. 8 (-2).

Finally, the Cornhuskers come in ranked No. 10 with a $1.06 billion valuation. Although it ushered in $221 million, they fell two spots to No. 8. Former quarterback Dylan Raiola, who just entered the Transfer Portal, was the program’s highest-earning player this season. He ranked No. 9 in On3’s NIL Valuations ($2.5 million).

Programs 11-25

Jun 22, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Jay Johnson hoists the trophy after winning the College World Series at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

11. Penn State University ($1.06 billion)
12. Louisiana State University ($1.05 billion)
13. University of Oklahoma ($1.01 billion)
14. University of Florida ($975 million)
15. University of Kentucky ($910 million)
16. University of Oregon ($880 million)
17. University of Wisconsin ($875 million)
18. Clemson University ($860 million)
19. University of Iowa ($835 million)
20. University of Illinois ($815 million)
21. University of South Carolina ($812 million)
22. Auburn University ($810 million)
23. Stanford University ($805 million)
24. University of Arkansas ($800 million)
25. University of Washington ($795 million)



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Josh Hoover Enters Transfer Portal | TCU Football Faces Change

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December 19, 2025

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Well, the Dear John letter on Instagram we’ve all been dreading dropped on Thursday.

“First, I want to thank God for the opportunities that he has blessed me with to play this game. I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to represent TCU for an incredible 4 years. It has been a dream to be able to play and graduate from this university and I will forever be grateful for that.”

But — there’s always a “but” — TCU quarterback Josh Hoover continued, “I will be entering the transfer portal.”

So, there it is. Well, hell. This one hurts because Hoover represented stability in a volatile era of name, image, and likeness, and the specter of the transfer portal. He was “our guy” in a sports culture where “our guy” barely exists anymore.

But alas … . 

Josh Hoover is a fantastic person. We wish him the best. 

Our man Ken Seals of Azle and then Weatherford High, who traveled back here by way of Vanderbilt, is presumably the starter for TCU’s Alamo Bowl game against Southern Cal. (Everybody remembers the last time TCU lost its starting quarterback right before the Alamo Bowl. It was epic.)

Thankfully, Kansas — the band, that is — taught us all about transience in 1977. Nothing lasts forever, especially in today’s college athletics’ revenue sports. Once upon a time, our guys stayed with us until the eligibility ran out. Today, our college athletes more resemble Mickey Rooney or Jennifer Lopez. (Can you believe that Mickey Rooney found eight wives?)

It’s TCU one day. Indiana the next?

The clickbaiting stations got on this immediately: Where will Josh Hoover land?

Miami, Oregon, Texas Tech. No, Lord, no … not Texas Tech!

The leader in the clubhouse appears to be Indiana, once a hotbed of college basketball. Bob Knight is somewhere beside himself — that is, red-faced and expressing his emotions, shall we say, with the harshest language ever known to man — that the Indiana football program is, one, No. 1 in the country; and, two, that the football coach there is making something like $93 million over eight years.

However, Curt Cignetti has made the Hoosier State a destination for football transfers.

Indiana is also the school Hoover initially committed to as a senior at Rockwall Heath. He had been lightly recruited with only two major suitors — SMU and Indiana. At the helm at SMU at the time was, of course, Sonny Dykes. When Dykes took the TCU job he reached back out to Hoover, who jumped at the chance to come to Fort Worth. He recalled to us in September that on his recruiting visit he “loved it here.”

Things are different at Indiana since Hoover’s change of direction. Different coach and drastically different direction.

Just last year, Hoover turned down a lucrative offer to go to Tennessee. He declined it, he said, because he had already committed to returning to TCU. And the pull of money isn’t the only reason he’s leaving. With one year of eligibility remaining, he likely wants to polish his NFL prospects by playing in bigger games.

That’s not to say that can’t or won’t happen here. But a place like Indiana — whose quarterback this season just won the Heisman Trophy — is likely to open the year in the top 10, playing in the media-darling Big Ten Conference.

Suffice to say, Hoover will be an attractive option for a lot of programs.

His 9,629 passing yards and 71 touchdown passes will likely be the most of any QB in the portal. In 2024, he set a school record with 3,949 passing yards. Hoover also has 17 wins over the past two seasons.

“I want to Thank Coach Dykes for giving me the opportunity to play at TCU. I want to thank Coach Briles and the rest of the coaching staff for pushing me to be my best on and off the field.

“Lastly, I want to thank my teammates for all of the memories that we’ve shared together. This place has allowed me to meet some of my best friends, and I will always be grateful for that. I’ve prayed about this and decided that I will be entering the transfer portal.

“God Bless & Thank you TCU”

We’ll shed a tear, take a sip, and move on. It’s the only option.

So long, farewell, Josh Hoover.

Auf Wiedersehen, goodbye.





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NIL

Darian Mensah’s millions give college football players leverage over NFL

Published

3 hours ago

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December 19, 2025

By


Updated Dec. 19, 2025, 4:05 p.m. ET





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NIL

Arch Manning Channels Inner Tom Brady With Selfless NIL Decision

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4 hours ago

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December 19, 2025

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In today’s day and age of college football, the landscape of the sport has dramatically changed.

Now, instead of loyalty, coaches are forced to battle against the tampering of their best players in order to keep them from entering the portal for a big pay day.

And, as has been seen with USC and Texas A&M, players are also now announcing contract extensions to simply forgo that portal temptation, and stay with the school they are currently playing for.

Fortunately – and refreshingly – Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning is taking a different approach.

According to reports from Inside Texas reporter Justin Wells, Manning is set to take a reduced payment from the Longhorns’ 2026 revenue-sharing pool in order to free up money to help his team both retain its own star players, as well as attack the transfer portal to improve the roster for a 2026 championship run.

A Tom Brady-Like Approach From Arch Manning

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning looks to make a pass in the second half against the Georgia Bulldogs | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

This move is eerily reminiscent of former NFL superstar Tom Brady, who was famous for taking pay cuts throughout his career in order to help his team acquire players in free agency in hopes of winning a championship.

Dallas Mavericks superstar Dirk Nowitzki also took a similar approach during his time in the NBA, helping Mark Cuban to add firepower to the roster by taking a massive pay cut.

The only difference is that this is college football, and in an era of a ‘look at me and my bank account’ mentality from the vast majority of college football, Manning’s selfless approach is a sight for sore eyes.

Manning Selfless Despite Elite Season

This is especially true considering the fact that Manning deservedly earned a major pay raise in his first season as the starter, completing 227 of 370 passes for 2,942 yards and 24 touchdowns with seven interceptions. He also rushed for 244 yards and led the Longhorns with eight rushing touchdowns, and had a receiving touchdown, accounting for 33 total scores for the season.

And, he was able to do all of that behind a leaky offensive line that ranked 67th in the country in pass blocking grade per PFF, while allowing 159 total pressures and 22 sacks – numbers that could have been much higher if Manning did not have such elite pocket presence and escapability. Not to mention, the offense being encumbered by the worst rushing attack the school had since 1944.

But instead of using that as leverage, like so many other players in the sport, Manning is giving Texas the Brady treatment – allowing them more money to dedicate towards NIL in the transfer portal in hopes of bringing in help to fix the team’s issues up front on the offensive line and in the running game, with potentially multiple additions at the running back spot.

Not to mention, it potentially allows Texas to make some major improvements at wide receiver, linebacker, and defensive back.

His decision also makes it much easier for Texas retain current players on the roster, who have no doubt been receiving tampering-level overtures from other schools and agents.

And it will be made possible in part thanks to a selfless act from Manning, who has now made he desire to win a national championship quite clear.



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$54 million college football HC predicted to be candidate for high-profile NFL job

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5 hours ago

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December 19, 2025

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The college football coaching carousel spins on, but now some of that speculation includes one of the most prestigious positions in the NFL which came open this year, and a rising star in the NCAA is now being connected to the vacancy.

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is someone who should be considered in contention to become the next coach of the New York Giants franchise, according to college football analyst Josh Pate.

Freeman in play for the Giants?

“I just think Marcus Freeman is gonna be in play for the Giants job,” Pate said during an appearance with Bussin’ With The Boys. 

“I think a lot of people in the college football administrative world know that/expect that. The agency world knows that/expects that. Not a done deal. I’m not going Schefter. 

“If it’s even a remote possibility, and it certainly is, then that means the Notre Dame job may be open, as well. The coaching cycle is not close to done yet.”

NFL insiders seem to agree

The talk connecting Freeman to the Giants is not just random speculation at this point.

Freeman has also emerged as one of the most prominent names on the shortlist being assembled by the Giants franchise itself, according to The Athletic.

That is something to keep an eye on, as the NFL coaching bonanza is only just getting started, and Freeman is considered one of the best young coaching minds in circulation at any level.

LSU, Penn State, and Florida were all reportedly in communication with Freeman through his representatives when those schools were in the market for a coach, and the Giants could be next.

What Freeman has done at Notre Dame

Freeman has just completed his fourth season at the helm of the Fighting Irish program and boasts a 43-12 overall record, winning more than 78 percent of his games.

Freeman led Notre Dame to a No. 2 national ranking and an appearance in the national championship game against his alma mater a year ago.

His team went 10-2 this season and seemed poised for another berth in the College Football Playoff, before the committee reversed course on Selection Day and left the Irish out of the field, leading the school to decline playing in a bowl game. 

What Notre Dame is giving Freeman

Freeman, who will turn 40 next month, signed a contract extension with Notre Dame last year that will lock him in with the school through the 2030 season, but if this carousel has proven anything, it’s that almost any contract can be gotten out of.

Notre Dame is a private school and is not obligated to publish its coaching salaries, but insiders contend his deal pays him $9 million per season and is worth a total of a reported $54 million.

But that raise is already somewhat out of date after Indiana recently inked Curt Cignetti to a new deal that will pay him $11.7 million per season.

The most recent reporting contends that Notre Dame and Freeman have not yet reworked his deal with the school, but that both sides are interested in coming to a new arrangement by the new year.

The faster they do that, the faster they can end talk of his leaving.

Read more from College Football HQ



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