Over the past few years, the SEC’s reputation has not matched its on-field results. The conference’s reign atop college football has now officially come to an end. The debate over whether the SEC is still the most dominant conference in college football is over. The SEC’s failure to place a team in the national championship game for a third consecutive year has settled it.

For nearly two decades, the SEC ruled the sport under the conference mantra “It Just Means More.” The mantra was built by the conference’s superior talent and its unmatched level of passion. Their dominance was largely driven by the perceived recruiting advantage resulting from their geographical location. Proximity to recruiting hotspots in the South has enabled programs to consistently accumulate elite talent year after year.

That advantage led to an SEC team being crowned the national champion 13 of the last 19 years. However, the SEC’s dominance has slipped away over recent years. Why? July 1, 2021. The date the back door closed and the front door opened.

The SEC’s biggest advantage was never geographical location or its mantra of just meaning more. It was the SEC acceptance of if you’re not cheating you’re not trying. The understanding within the SEC that bending and sometimes breaking the rules was acceptable allowed the SEC to thrive for two decades. What most programs in other conferences frowned upon was overlooked in the SEC.

The instituting of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) took away the SEC’s biggest advantage. Every school could now use monetary resources to get top talent to commit to their programs. And with it, the SEC’s ability to stockpile talent evaporated.

Recruiting Edge Lost With NIL

How does the SEC dominate for two decades with no end in sight, then tumble back to reality in just three years? Simply, they lost the paid-to-play advantage. There was a belief that  the SEC was using NIL before NIL was something you could use. But no one could say for sure, that is, until former LSU coach Ed Orgeron let the cat out of the bag.  

In the first nine years of the CFP, the SEC failed to have at least one team in the final. This year’s national championship will be the third straight year the SEC has failed to have a team advance to the final. The Big Ten, on the other hand, has had and will have a team playing in all three. The Big Ten has also won the last two national championships.  

The SEC plays semantics in its effort to stay atop of college football. But the “best” means producing elite national championship contenders capable of winning it all and actually doing it. Something the Big Ten has accomplished each of the last two years, Michigan two years ago, Ohio State last season, and now Indiana has a chance to make it three straight for the Big Ten. The SEC is the deepest conference, considering five teams reached the College Football Playoff. What the SEC failed to do was to create a truly elite team that made it.

College football’s transfer portal season has taken some odd twists and turns this year. Now it’s entering … tax season?

In one of the latest oddities, schools in certain states began trading “no state income tax” social media posts as a way to entice players in the portal. Currently, nine states don’t levy income taxes: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

The Houston Cougars, UNLV Rebels and UCF Knights — all universities within one of those nine states — posted about their lack of state income taxes on X on Saturday, featuring an image of either a mascot or cheerleader lifting a comically large bag of cash above their heads.

UCF started the movement with a post on Saturday morning featuring its mascot, Knightro. Houston and UNLV soon followed suit, as did the UTEP Miners, FIU Panthers and North Texas Mean Green.

🤝 https://t.co/rqQdM0cpCQ pic.twitter.com/OgtMjGVhdx

— Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) January 10, 2026

How effective will that pitch be? UCF, Houston and UNLV were all outside the top 40 of 247Sports’ portal rankings as of Saturday night, so any little bit helps. Central Florida was the highest at No. 47 in the 247Sports rankings, followed by Houston at No. 49 and UNLV at No. 86. Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Houston were all in the top 10 of On3’s portal rankings.

College athletes are not only taxed on their NIL earnings, but also on anything they receive of value. If an athlete receives a new car, for example, they have to pay taxes on it in accordance with its value.

Arkansas has tweaked its tax code so that NIL income is tax-exempt as an incentive to induce athletes to sign at the University of Arkansas or other in-state schools.

There was no indication that income taxes were the reason behind another buzzy portal storyline earlier this week: Quarterback Demond Williams changing his mind about entering the portal and deciding to stay with the Washington Huskies. On Tuesday, Williams announced he was entering the portal — four days after signing with the Huskies, a Washington source close to the negotiations told The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman. On Thursday, he said he was “excited to announce that I will continue my football journey at the University of Washington.”

The Huskies were prepared to pursue legal action against Williams to enforce the contract, a source briefed on the situation told Feldman. Williams could have owed the school up to $4 million for transferring, according to Big Ten rules that state that if a player intends to transfer before the end of a payment period, he owes the remaining amount on his contract, unless the school agrees to accept a buyout from the player or the player’s next school.

Williams and his team ultimately decided to stay in Seattle — where he won’t have to pay state income taxes.

Boston College finished the 2025 season 2–10 (1–7 ACC) in what was a down year for the program under former NFL head coach Bill O’Brien.

The Eagles had gone 7–6 in back-to-back seasons, including O’Brien’s first year in 2024 after arriving from Ohio State, where he served as the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. 

However, the 2025 campaign marked Boston College’s worst season since 2012.

Despite the disappointing results, athletic director Blake James announced that Boston College will retain O’Brien for a third season and increase its financial investment in the football program ahead of 2026.

Still, with both the offense and defense struggling to produce consistent results throughout the year, a wave of players elected to seek new opportunities via the transfer portal, including redshirt-junior wide receiver Ismael Zamor, who announced his decision to enter the portal on January 6.

Zamor, listed at 6-foot, 193 pounds, enrolled at Boston College in 2022 out of Everett (Mass.) High School, where he was rated a three-star prospect and the No. 129 wide receiver nationally in the 247Sports Composite rankings.

He chose the Eagles over nearly a dozen other scholarship offers, including Michigan, Syracuse, Temple, Buffalo, and UMass.

Despite being viewed as an intriguing developmental prospect coming out of high school, Zamor primarily contributed on special teams during his time at Boston College, appearing in limited games and failing to record a reception across four seasons with the program. 

He now enters the transfer portal as a redshirt junior.

Aside from Zamor, who saw limited action during his time in Chestnut Hill, Boston College has now seen 29 players depart via the transfer portal, including several notable contributors. 

That group includes wide receiver Reed Harris (committed to Arizona State), running back Turbo Richard (committed to Indiana), tight end Ty Lockwood (committed to Arkansas), tight end Stevie Amar Jr. (committed to UCLA), and safety Omarion Davis (committed to Penn State), among others.

Richard was the Eagles’ leading rusher in 2025, totaling 749 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 145 carries (5.2 yards per carry), while also adding 213 receiving yards and two receiving scores. 

Harris, meanwhile, finished as the team’s second-leading receiver, recording 673 yards and a team-high five touchdowns on 39 receptions (17.3 yards per catch).

This level of turnover following a 2–10 season is significant for two primary reasons. 

First, it strips Boston College of experienced contributors across multiple position groups, most notably at the skill positions, tight end, and throughout portions of the defensive front seven and secondary.

Second, it signals a program reset of sorts, as more than two dozen players are effectively voting with their feet in search of better fits, greater stability, or clearer paths to playing time.

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Fernando Mendoza turned down major NIL offer from Miami to join Indiana.

Fernando Mendoza has become the top quarterback in college football. The Indiana Hoosiers star captured the Heisman Trophy and is now one win away from leading Indiana to its first national championship in program history.

Indiana will meet the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on January 19, a matchup that adds an extra layer of intrigue.

Not only is the national championship game being played in Miami’s home stadium, it also represents a homecoming for Mendoza. He attended Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, where he won a state championship — the same school Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal attended.

Mendoza’s father was teammates with Cristobal at Christopher Columbus, while his mother played college tennis at the University of Miami. Mendoza grew up just a mile from the university’s campus.

That background raises a natural question: How did Mendoza end up at Indiana instead of Miami — and now find himself facing the Hurricanes in the biggest game of his career?

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Fernando Mendoza Wasn’t Offered by Miami

Coming out of high school, Mendoza was a three-star prospect, ranked as the No. 135 quarterback in the country and the No. 250 overall player in Florida, according to 247Sports. Despite his local ties, the only Power Four program to offer him a scholarship was California Golden Bears, where he ultimately committed.

At the time, then-Miami head coach Manny Diaz and his staff never extended an offer and were even hesitant to bring Mendoza on as a walk-on, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.

Mendoza entered the transfer portal last December, and many believed he could land with his hometown team, which was searching for a replacement for Cam Ward. That scenario never materialized, even though Miami eventually made an offer.

Miami Was Turned Down by Fernando Mendoza

Miami was desperate to replace its Heisman Trophy finalist from the 2024 season and reportedly made Mendoza a lucrative NIL offer, according to Newsweek’s Ben Dogra.

“Mendoza made $2.3 million from Indiana, but he only made $100,000 at Cal,” Dogra said. “But he was offered more by the University of Miami and turned it down. That’s why they got Carson Beck.”

So why didn’t Mendoza choose Miami? Dogra said the decision had everything to do with development, despite the Hurricanes’ larger offer.

“Let’s just say Indiana was a better fit,” Dogra said. “If you’ve got a kid from Florida that goes to Cal broke for three years and then transfers to Indiana, and his NIL money is going significantly up — let’s say $2 million-plus — but he was offered $3 million-plus at Miami, his hometown, there’s a reason he didn’t take it.

“The reason he didn’t take it is because he had a better chance to become a more successful quarterback and grow to get ready for the next level. And that’s exactly what happened. So that’s coaching.”

Mendoza is now widely viewed as the projected No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, a selection currently held by the Las Vegas Raiders.

Before the draft becomes the focus, Mendoza has one more goal: leading Indiana to its first national championship. At this point, he is already considered a Hoosiers legend. If he delivers a title in his hometown — against the team that once passed on him — that legacy will only grow larger.

Shane Shoemaker Shane Shoemaker is a sports journalist covering college football and the NFL for Heavy.com. His work has also appeared in The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, USA TODAY, and ClutchPoints, along with high school sports coverage for the Marion Tribune. More about Shane Shoemaker

Nearly 5,000 Division I college football players have officially entered the NCAA transfer portal since it opened for business on January 2. The numbers are vast, but the cream of the crop always rises to the top.

There are a few positions that aren’t as deep on the open market this year, including offensive tackle and linebacker. The top players at those spots are becoming increasingly coveted by teams looking to flip their rosters ahead of the 2026 season.

MORE: 3,500-yard college football transfer QB announces commitment after All-American season

In a recruitment that has provided plenty of twists and turns, one of the most desired defenders in the portal continues to explore his options.

According to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, Pittsburgh junior linebacker transfer Rasheem Biles is expected to visit Miami on Sunday, the final day before a dead period. Biles previously took trips to Texas, Michigan, and Colorado. He also cancelled a visit to Florida State.

The Hurricanes are gearing up for a national championship appearance against the Indiana Hoosiers next week, but are pulling double duty in the portal. Miami is a known spender in the NIL era, while the Longhorns and Wolverines have plenty of funds as well.

A big payday appears to be exactly what Biles is searching for, going into his final season of eligibility. There’s a good chance he’ll be able to cash in, considering his production at Pittsburgh over the last three years. Biles is ranked No. 1 among linebackers in the transfer portal, per On3.

MORE: Big 10 starter eyeing three major programs in college football transfer portal

In just ten games this past season, Biles totaled a career-high 101 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 4 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, and three defensive touchdowns. He tied for the most pick-sixes in the country, earning a second-team All-ACC selection. Biles ranked in the top five in the conference in total tackles and tackles for loss.

Biles broke onto the scene in 2024, recording 82 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 9 pass deflections, and 1 interception that he returned for a touchdown.

The Ohio native tied the Pittsburgh record for blocked kicks in a single season during his true freshman campaign. He blocked three punts, getting his hands on a kick against West Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida State.

Biles stands at 6-foot-1, 215-pounds. He will have one season of eligibility remaining.

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As Curt Cignetti and Indiana put together a storybook run to the national championship game, Mark Cuban watched closely. He has made multiple donations to his alma mater’s football program, including one ahead of this year’s transfer portal cycle.

Cuban graduated from Indiana in 1981 before becoming an entrepreneur and owner of the Dallas Mavericks. Over the last two years, since Cignetti arrived in Bloomington, he has contributed to the school amid the Hoosiers’ historic turnaround.

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But when Cuban cuts checks for IU, he told SiriusXM College Sports Radio he doesn’t ask for much in return. Simply, he just wants one thing: to win.

“I just say the same thing all the time. … I just say, ‘Win, motherf—ers,’” Cuban said ahead of Friday’s Peach Bowl. “That’s it.”

Indiana has certainly done that this year. The Hoosiers improved to 15-0 with the Peach Bowl win over Oregon, which they dominated from the start. IU forced three turnovers from Dante Moore, including a pick-six on the first play of the game, en route to the 56-22 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. That sent Indiana to the national title game, where Miami will await Jan. 19.

Mark Cuban: ‘I’m the luckiest dude in the world’

Prior to Curt Cignetti’s arrival, Indiana was the losingest program in college football history and had never won 10 or more games in a season. But over the last two years, the Hoosiers are 26-2 with two College Football Playoff appearances – and they still have one more game to go.

For Mark Cuban and other alumni, it’s an opportunity to show out and support. The IU faithful seemingly took over Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Friday’s game, proving the power of having the largest alumni base in the country.

“Look, I’m the luckiest dude in the world,” Cuban said. “To be able to be in this situation – and I know they’ll be good to me and all that kind of stuff. I get the nice suite. I have to pay for it, but at least I get first crack at it. The reward is, when we win, every Hoosier fan everywhere – my buddies, my boys. I played rugby at IU, so all my teammates, a bunch of them are here. They flew in from all over.

“All my buddies that I grew up with, went to IU with, lived with in Dallas. They’re all here. They all flew down. Come on, now. You don’t live forever. These are the moments.”