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Marcus Freeman Hopes to Continue Traditions, Including Rivalries, Independence

Joel Klatt Lead College Football Analyst I’ve been among the many who’ve been impressed with what Marcus Freeman has built in South Bend through his first three seasons as Notre Dame’s head coach. In fact, I was so impressed with how he coached this season that I said following Notre Dame’s national title game loss […]

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I’ve been among the many who’ve been impressed with what Marcus Freeman has built in South Bend through his first three seasons as Notre Dame’s head coach. In fact, I was so impressed with how he coached this season that I said following Notre Dame’s national title game loss to Ohio State that I think he could win a championship soon if he opts to stay in South Bend.

So, we decided to bring “Big Noon Conversations” to South Bend and interview Freeman for the premiere of the show’s third season. As Freeman prepares for his fourth season as the head coach of the Fighting Irish, he and I touched on numerous items throughout our 30-minute conversation. We discussed Notre Dame’s independent status, the future of its rivalry with USC, learning from his early losses as head coach and carrying on the program’s tradition.

Here are some of the highlights of my conversation with Freeman.

Parts of this interview were edited for brevity. 

Klatt: I’ve gotta tell you, and I didn’t want to tell you before you sat down, because I didn’t want to steal this line and I hate to break it to all of you out there. This is my singular favorite spot in college football, the locker room at Notre Dame Stadium.

Freeman: I appreciate that. We’ve gotta make sure we get that message out there a little bit more. 

It’s incredible, and they did a little bit of this before you became the head coach, but mixing the old with the new, going out the door and down the tunnel and all the history. Yet, it’s a modern program that’s excelling. I feel all of that when I walk into this building and it’s just quintessentially college football, which is really cool. 

That’s what we want it to be. You can’t get away from the things that have made this place special. You embrace it. You celebrate it. You show it off. But you also want to continue to be relevant. You want to continue to be new, trendy and attract young talent. Notre Dame does a magnificent job of doing that. 

You say “attract young talent.” What I’m fascinated by is that when I walk in, the history hits me and I love it. But when you get a young kid out here, how long does it take for them to grasp what this place is? 

It depends on who it is. Sometimes, their parents understand it, which can resonate with the young person. But a lot of these young people now, they have no clue about the old Notre Dame – the history and how this program was built. The success it’s had and its 11 national championships. We haven’t won a championship since [1988]. How do you continue to make this relevant? It’s important that we explain to the young person what makes this place special.

Do that for me. Let’s say I’m a dad and I have a kid, or I’m a kid that you’re recruiting. How do you explain the special, unique nature of this place?

I think it goes so far beyond the football program. We spend time talking about the history of Notre Dame football, how it was built and the reason why we’re independent. We were looking for teams to play and we were willing to drive or go on a train from coast to coast, from Navy or Boston College all the way out to Southern Cal, in order to find an opponent. That’s how the Notre Dame football program was built, in independence. That’s why we want to keep that independence as much as we can. That’s what makes this place so special.

But I often talk about the education, networking and people that are intertwined with Notre Dame because that’s, to me, what makes this place so different. Everybody that comes to our program aspires to be a first-round pick. If you’re good enough, you will be a first-round pick. We’ve got plenty of them to show you. But what else do universities provide you? And that’s what we’ve got to make sure we continuously educate young people on. No. 1, the percentage of people that are those first-round picks or are those draft picks, but also the realization that football is going to end. It’s going to end before you know it. So, what else do these high educational institutions provide you? 

That’s what we want people to understand, what makes this place different. They like to talk in terms of stars. This is a five-star football program; we get that. But there’s also a five-star education, and here are the benefits of obtaining an education from this university.

The 94-year-old Notre Dame Stadium has gone through plenty of renovations over the years, but the iconic “Play Like A Champion Today” sign that its players tap before taking the field remains. (Photo by Erick W. Rasco /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images).

You touched on independence, which was something I wanted to touch on with you. You kinda referenced it there, but how important is it for you guys to retain your independence? 

It’s what this football program was built from. As long as we can, we will [remain independent]. I have a lot of confidence in our administration and Pete Bevacqu, our AD, that he’ll always keep us in a position to be successful. So, as long as we can keep that independence, we will. But if there’s ever a time where we’re at a disadvantage because we’re not in a conference, I’m sure he’ll make a decision, along with our president, to join one of these conferences and position ourselves to not be negatively impacted by being independent. 

What is the biggest threat to that? Where does a disadvantage pop up?

Being at a disadvantage to make the postseason because you’re not in the playoff or if there comes a time teams won’t schedule you because the Big Ten or SEC are saying “we’re going to play nine games and a crossover game and who cares about Notre Dame.” Well, then there’s going to be a point where we’re forced to join a conference. Until that point happens, which doesn’t look likely, we’re going to stay independent for as long as we can.

Do you feel like independence fits with the future of the sport because of what you said there with crossover games and scheduling?

I could see it trending that way. I don’t know when that time will be. But when you start adding in TV money and scheduling, there’s a lot of money involved with college football. There might come a time where an outside entity takes college football away from the NCAA. I don’t know, the future’s uncertain. I could see a college football system where everyone’s independent and, similar to the NFL, someone else is scheduling games and when you play each other. All of a sudden, it’s not based off TV deals with your conference anymore. It’ll be based off regional location and things like that.

You guys recently made the scheduling agreement with Clemson, which I think is great. We’d love to see more games like that involving premium brands. Are there any other teams that you’d like to play every year? 

I feel like you’re trying to get a certain team that’s been buzzing (laughs). You think about rivalries, and I’m sure you can go back to when you played high school football or even earlier. I think back to my high school years. I was from Ohio and played at a high school called Huber Heights Wayne. Our big rival was Centerville Elks. The guys that have come from Centerville that you might know are AJ Hawk, Kirk Herbstreit, Mike Nugent and some really great players. That was a huge rivalry. Then, you go to Ohio State and you play Michigan every year. 

The thing about rivalry games is that nobody cares what the record is. You win that game, you view that season as a success. 

Michigan last year with Ohio State.

Amen. So, for us, one of them that’s continuously brought up here over the last month or so is the rivalry with USC. Before I even got to Notre Dame, there are memories I have in my head of great plays in the USC-Notre Dame rivalry. I think it’s important to continue that rivalry.

If they ask my opinion, I want to continuously play USC every year. It takes both parties to tangle. It’s to fit both institutions. They’re in a conference, we’re not, when we play – all of those different things. But I think it’s important that we continue to have this rivalry. 

Notre Dame and USC don’t have any games scheduled against each other following the 2026 season, putting the future of one of college football’s top rivalries in doubt. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)

You guys just made an incredible run in the College Football Playoff. You played for a national championship. What do you know now about the head coach of Notre Dame that you wish you could tell that guy after the loss to Marshall in your first year in 2022?

Probably one very clear statement: The greatest things in life take time and there is no such thing as instant gratification if you’re talking about creating something great. You learn so much more from the losses. You can’t lose or you’re not going to have a job. But losing is a part of continuous growth. Nobody enjoys it, but there’s a desperation that every individual naturally has when they’re in the dumps, when they’ve lost and feel embarrassed. I think I’ve had my most growth as a leader from some of those difficult losses.

But if you would’ve told me when I was hired as the head coach here that I would play in a national championship game in Year 3, I would’ve been like, “Heck ya, that’s an awesome start.” But if you also would’ve said that you had nine losses on your record before you did that, oof, that’s hard to swallow. But that’s what it took. That’s the experience that I’ve had to go through, and we’ve had to go through as a program to put ourselves in the position we’re in now. We’ve got to continue to use those experiences from the past as a new foundation for the future.

Is there a moment or game that stands out where you feel you learned the most?

I think each loss might have taught me something different. The very first loss to Oklahoma State, we’re up big. We’re up 21 getting ready to go into half, they end up scoring and we’re up 14 at half. I’m like, “Man, this is easy, the head coaching thing.” Then, all of a sudden, you find a way to lose that game and you go, “Oh, this is not as easy as you thought.” We play at Ohio State in the first game in the following year. We’re up, I think, in the third quarter, 10-7 maybe. We’re up in the third quarter and I’m like, “We’re good.” We ended up losing, [but I thought] we’re going to be great. 

Then, you lose to Marshall. And I think, that loss, I had never won a game as a head coach, and you start losing a little bit of faith, like “Do I know what it takes? What’s going on? We’re a better team than how we just played. What is it going to take?”

Marcus Freeman lost his first home game as Notre Dame’s head coach to Marshall in 2022. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

So, you learn through those losses. Then, you lose to Northern Illinois this past year. The lesson I learned from that was how to handle success. We weren’t ready. I wasn’t ready to handle success as a head coach. That was the first time in my three years as head coach that we had won that big game early. … This is the first time that we had won that big game. Everyone’s saying you’ve got an easy schedule, you’re going to the playoff. Then, you don’t prepare mentally and physically the right way. The football Gods taught us a great lesson. I think every loss, you learn something different.

You came up short against Ohio State in the National Championship Game. What did you learn in that game?

In those biggest games and those biggest moments, you’ve gotta play your best. You can’t make mistakes against a team like Ohio State. You think about that first drive on offense, I think it was a 19-play drive. We execute, we’re physical, and we go down and score. Defensively, we didn’t play our best. Credit to Ohio State. They had some elite playmakers. They played really, really well. I wish we could go back and play our best. The outcomes might still be the same, but there were moments in that game where I thought that’s not how we play all year long. 

But listen, we fought until the very end. We were down 14 at half, 21 [later on] and it was an eight-point game. This group isn’t going to quit. Ever. As I think about it, it’s like, OK, what didn’t I do to prepare them the right way for that opportunity? What didn’t I do as the head coach to make sure we were ready to play our best in that moment? Was the game too big? Did I make it too small? I think of many different reasons. I want everyone in our program to think that way, “What didn’t I do to make sure I was prepared to take advantage of that opportunity?” It’s really hard to get there.

So, it’s something I’ll always remember. We made some changes. We already debriefed from that game. If we’re in that situation, here are some different things as we prepare for it. At the end of the day, you’ve got to play your best when you’re playing the best. 

You got some interest from the NFL from that run. Instead of asking you specifically about that, here’s how I would rather ask you this question: What are the one or two things we need to fix in college football to make sure the Marcus Freemans of the world stay?

I always think about our staff and how I, as the head coach, do the best job possible to make sure our staff enjoys coming to work here. Part of that is trying not to overwork them. Sometimes, college coaches can overwork their staffs. We’re going to work hard. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. Nothing great in life is easy. But how do we continue to look at the calendar and make it in a way that there’s some time of balance for the assistant coaches? They’re the ones that are on the road 24/7 constantly. We’ve got to create some type of balance for those coaches and I think we are. I see us trending, from my first year to now my fourth year, in a direction that’s trying to create some type of balance for assistant coaches and that’s important.

But how do we continue to have a college football structure that helps young people continually become self-sufficient? I think back to my time at Ohio State. I was a pretty big recruit. There was a thought in my head, “I’m going to walk in here and start.” Well, you’ve got three linebackers, two of them were first-round picks – AJ Hawk and Bobby Carpenter – and the other was a third-round pick, Anthony Schlegel. I wasn’t good enough to start. I had to learn for two years to embrace my role and continue to work, even though I wasn’t playing as much as I wanted. How do I, as an individual, take advantage of my opportunities and get better? That’s how you become self-sufficient. You overcome challenges. There was no thought for me to get up and go somewhere else. 

That’s the greatest thing I had to learn to do. Stay there, overcome some adversity, take advantage of the opportunities that I got, graduate and get a degree. I just don’t want a structure that’s created where when things get hard, it’s easy to pick up and go somewhere else. I think it’s important that we create rules and some type of structure that continues to promote self-sufficiency for young people and overcoming obstacles.

Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame lost to Ryan Day and Ohio State in the 2025 National Championship Game (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images).

When I first came to Notre Dame, I was like, “I don’t want to like Notre Dame.” But when we got here a couple of years ago to prepare to call Notre Dame’s game against Wisconsin, you were the defensive coordinator at the time, we did some interviews and I’m walking around, “It’s not that cool.” Then, we go to the Grotto, the Basilica, we walk in this locker room and I walk out on the field. I was like, “Dang it, this place is so awesome.” I still feel that way. It’s a really special place.

It is. It’s an honor to be a part of this place. You’ve got to be cautious about how much you brag about it because somebody that hasn’t been here to understand might be taken aback because the way people have so much passion about this place. I think back to before I became the defensive coordinator here. I used to be like, “Notre Dame fans are over the top. These guys are crazy.” Then, you get here, and it’s such a passion for this place and university. 

Joel Klatt is FOX Sports’ lead college football game analyst and the host of the podcast “The Joel Klatt Show.” Follow him at @joelklatt and subscribe to the “Joel Klatt Show” on YouTube.

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Kirk Herbstreit recalls rumors involving Nico Iamaleava before CFP game: ‘Disgusting to me if true’

One of the wildest stories of the college football offseason was Nico Iamaleava’s spring departure from Tennessee. There were reports of Iamaleava’s transfer being the product of an NIL dispute. There were also claims that the decision was not financially motivated. Much of the college football world, particularly outside the Tennessee fanbase, was caught off […]

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One of the wildest stories of the college football offseason was Nico Iamaleava’s spring departure from Tennessee. There were reports of Iamaleava’s transfer being the product of an NIL dispute. There were also claims that the decision was not financially motivated.

Much of the college football world, particularly outside the Tennessee fanbase, was caught off guard when it was initially reported that Iamaleava was considering entering the NCAA transfer portal during the spring window. During the Iamaleava drama, Josh Pate of CBS Sports revealed that Iamaleava nearly sat out the College Football Playoff game against Ohio State to renegotiate his NIL deal.

Kirk Herbstreit also heard about behind-the-scenes drama with Iamaleava before the game at Ohio State. During an appearance on the Try That in a Small Town podcast, Herbstreit recalled what he heard was going on in Knoxville before the CFP game.

“I’ve heard from close sources it was more about Nico’s dad going to Josh (Heupel) back in December before they played Ohio State. Like, ‘Hey listen, you got to get better at offensive line and better receiver. You got to get better around him if you want us to stick around,’ Herbstreit recalled.

“Which blows my mind that a college quarterback’s dad would do that to a head coach. And I think at the end of the day, when they got into spring ball, it was still more of you haven’t brought people in to make him and this offense better. Again, I don’t know if that’s true, but that’s what I was hearing.

“So I don’t think it was necessarily about the money. I think it was more about is Nico going to be able to play well enough to eventually be a first pick in a draft with the players that they had around him. That’s disgusting to me if that’s true.”

Iamaleava is now at UCLA and Tennessee has Joey Aguilar. But if College Football 26 is any indication, we’re sure to hear Iamaleava’s Tennessee exit brought up throughout the season.

Andrew OlsonAndrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.





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Will Alabama Basketball truly be only the SEC’s fifth-best team?

Alabama basketball fans are primed to expect the Crimson Tide to make another Final Four run. Nate Oats recruited a strong signing class and added quality pieces through the Transfer Portal. There are good reasons for optimism. Juxtaposed against such optimism is the SEC will again be a gauntlet. Last season, with a Strength of […]

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Alabama basketball fans are primed to expect the Crimson Tide to make another Final Four run. Nate Oats recruited a strong signing class and added quality pieces through the Transfer Portal. There are good reasons for optimism.

Juxtaposed against such optimism is the SEC will again be a gauntlet. Last season, with a Strength of Schedule ranked No. 1 by Ken Pomeroy, KPom ranked Alabama No. 4 offensively, No. 28 defensively, and overall, college basketball’s No. 6 team. With a better defensive performance, the Crimson Tide might have gained an NCAA Tournament 1-seed and made it to the Final Four. Pomeroy’s final ranking slotted Alabama as the SEC’s 4th-best team.

What about Alabama Basketball and 2025-26?

In early July, USA Today published a 2025-26 college basketball preseason ranking with Alabama as the SEC’s No. 2 team and No. 8 overall. With the Crimson Tide having to replace an average of over 60 points per game from last season’s roster, No. 2 in the SEC is a lofty preseason ranking.

Not all college basketball experts agree. More recently, Jon Rothstein, who knows more than a thing or two about the world of college basketball, stated that going into the 2025-26 season, Nate Oats’ team will be the SEC’s fifth-best. Above Alabama, Rothstein has Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Auburn. ESPN Top 25 rankings by Jeff Borzello agree with Rothstein about Alabama. Borzello has Florida, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Auburn above the Crimson Tide.

Two months ago, I believed the Gators would not reload enough. With Alex Condon withdrawing from the NBA Draft and the $2M-plus transfer addition of Boogie Fland, Florida could be as good as last season. While it pains me to admit it, Rothstein is probably correct about Arkansas, Kentucky, and Auburn as well. All three programs have excelled at roster building. Mark Pope is too good a coach for Kentucky’s massive NIL investment not to pay dividends.

With no exact numbers, it is fair to believe the Gators, Wildcats, and Razorbacks have far outspent the Crimson Tide. There are reasons to claim that a lower payroll number for Nate Oats does not equal a below top-tier roster. Oats has filled needs with transfers and freshman recruits. Miami transfer, Jalil Bethea, and FSU transfer, Taylor Bol-Bowen, will either start or be in a top-seven rotation. Summer workouts indicate Tarleton State transfer Keitenn Bristow can compete with SEC-level talent. Rothstein predicts a big impact bump from Aiden Sherrell, who he describes as a great fit for Nate Oats’ system.



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The meteoric rise of Lamine Yamal

Yamal’s rise commercially is underscored by his huge social media following, totaling 71.8 million across Instagram and TikTok. (Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Lamine Yamal, an incredible talent in the world of soccer, has rapidly ascended to prominence, showcasing his skills with FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team. At just 18 years old, Yamal has already […]

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The meteoric rise of Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal, an incredible talent in the world of soccer, has rapidly ascended to prominence, showcasing his skills with FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team. At just 18 years old, Yamal has already secured two league titles and a UEFA European Championship, marking him as one of the most accomplished young athletes in the sport.

His career so far has not only been defined by his on-field achievements but also by his impressive commercial appeal, which has attracted partnerships with globally recognized brands such as Adidas, Visa, and Konami.

Yamal’s Flourishing Personal Brand

Yamal’s rise in the commercial sphere is underscored by his substantial social media following, which totals 71.8 million across Instagram and TikTok. Since making his professional debut in April 2023, Yamal’s online presence has surged, reflecting both his athletic prowess and his engaging personality.

This combination has made him an attractive prospect for brands eager to align themselves with a rising star in the sports world.

With Yamal now having turned 18, he can expand his sponsorship portfolio to include categories that were previously unavailable to him, such as the gambling and alcoholic beverage industries.

According to GlobalData, these sectors both invest over $2.5 billion annually in sponsorship agreements, presenting a significant opportunity for athletes looking to enhance their commercial profiles.

However, he is unlikely to engage with the gambling or alcoholic beverage industries because of his Muslim faith. With his young age, he is likely to attract sponsorship from other industries keen to reach a younger demographic.

Current Sponsorship Landscape

As of now, Yamal has secured six active sponsorship deals, which collectively yield an annual value of $6.5 million. Below is a detailed breakdown of his endorsement agreements:

Lamine Yamal – Annual Sponsorship Values (US$M)

Brand Annual Value (US$m)
Adidas 2,000,000
Visa 1,500,000
Konami 1,000,000
Beats Electronics 1,000,000
Powerade 500,000
Oppo 500,000

Yamal’s partnership with Adidas is particularly noteworthy; he has become one of the brand’s key ambassadors and, remarkably for his age, has his own signature boots, the F50 LY304. This achievement is a testament to his star power and potential in the sport.

Yamal’s most recent endorsement deal, worth $1 million per year, is with Beats Electronics, which has allowed him to feature in a recent campaign for the brand titled “Lamine Records.” Other high-profile athletes who are ambassadors for Beats Electronics include LeBron James (NBA) and Josh Allen (NFL).

Comparisons with Other Young Stars

Yamal’s early commercial success invites comparisons with other athletes who have made significant impacts in their respective sports at a young age. Kylian Mbappé, for instance, was instrumental in France’s 2018 World Cup victory at just 19 years old, which propelled his commercial appeal and led to lucrative deals, including a multi-year agreement with Hublot worth $1.14 million annually.

Similarly, Emma Raducanu captured global attention by winning the US Open at 18, subsequently signing endorsement deals with prestigious brands Tiffany & Co., Dior, Evian, and British Airways, worth a combined $3.53 million annually.

These examples illustrate the lucrative opportunities available to young athletes who achieve early success, but also highlight the challenges of maintaining performance and brand value in the face of injuries and fluctuating results, as has been the case with Raducanu.

The Broader Commercial Landscape of Soccer

The commercial potential of soccer is immense, particularly for its top stars. Cristiano Ronaldo, regarded as one of the greatest players in the sport’s history, boasts a staggering social media following exceeding 1 billion.

His marketability has attracted numerous brands, leading to a lifetime deal with Nike reportedly worth $1 billion—an agreement that places him alongside other sports icons like Michael Jordan and James. Ronaldo’s extensive current sponsorship portfolio includes partnerships with brands such as Binance, Visit Saudi, and Castrol.

The Path Forward for Yamal

While Lamine Yamal’s commercial appeal is undeniable, the key to his sustained success will lie in his ability to perform consistently at an elite level. As he navigates the pressures of professional soccer and the expectations that come with competing at the highest level of the sport, Yamal has the potential to become one of the highest-paid soccer players in the world.

By continuing to excel on the field and strategically expanding his sponsorship portfolio, he can solidify his status as a leading figure in world soccer in sporting and commercial terms. As he embarks on this exciting chapter of his career, sports fans will be watching closely to see how he balances his athletic ambitions with the opportunities that arise from being a global sports icon.


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New Ohio State commit reportedly took ‘significantly less’ money and for good reason

People in Columbus are probably still buzzing quite a bit after the Ohio State football team was able to pick up a new commitment from 4-star wideout Jerquaden Guilford last week. The speedster had plenty of other suitors, but he knew in his heart that OSU is the place for him. He ended up committing […]

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People in Columbus are probably still buzzing quite a bit after the Ohio State football team was able to pick up a new commitment from 4-star wideout Jerquaden Guilford last week. The speedster had plenty of other suitors, but he knew in his heart that OSU is the place for him.

He ended up committing to the Buckeyes despite other schools putting more NIL money on the table for him too? That appears to be the case. According to Rivals’ Greg Smith, the 6-2, 190-pounder indeed had bigger and better NIL offers in front of him, but he chose Ohio State for one particular reason: to be coached up by the one and only Brian Hartline.

Brian Hartline gets a major assist for Jerquaden Guilford committing to Ohio State

It is any surprise that Guilford has being coached up by Harline being a major reason why he’s going to suit up for the reigning national champs down the road? Absolutely not. Hartine has been a stud for Ryan Day and he’s all set to take over as the OC in town.

There’s pressure on him to deliver this upcoming season running the offense, but the Ohio State faithful are quite confident that he’ll get the job done. In terms of developing WRs, everyone knows Hartline is pretty darn elite in that department.

Jeremiah Smith is coming off a historic freshman season with the Buckeyes and he’s now all set to have a monster sophomore season for Day and Co. too. In 2026, 5-star Chris Henry Jr will be ready to make plays for Ohio State as well.

Add in the fact that Guilford and others will also be new on the roster and things are already looking fantastic for Ohio State for years to come. Guilford was also high on Penn State, but again, he knew Ohio State was the best place for him to get developed. He’s still got his senior season on the way, then he’ll make the move to Ohio from Indiana and be prepared for Hartline to help him take his game to the next level.





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Colin Cowherd Is Dead Wrong About Big Ten “Money”

Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd has been known to dish out a few hot takes over the years. Take, for example, his infamous “Hey LeBron, Ben Simmons is here. We’re good, bro,” a few years back. Classic stuff! Or maybe you prefer his “some of you owe Lincoln Riley an apology” soundbite from last football season. […]

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Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd has been known to dish out a few hot takes over the years.

Take, for example, his infamous “Hey LeBron, Ben Simmons is here. We’re good, bro,” a few years back.

Classic stuff!

Or maybe you prefer his “some of you owe Lincoln Riley an apology” soundbite from last football season.

The arrogance emanating from my computer screen after watching that is palpable.

Well, folks, Cowherd is at it again, though I will say this one is a little more subtle and nuanced than the first two.

There is A LOT to unpack here, so I will go through a few of my “favorite” points of his and refute them one at a time.

“The best offensive player is a Buckeye, the best defensive player is a Buckeye.”

This reminds me of those years when people would (incorrectly) clown the rest of the SEC for touting conference supremacy when Alabama was winning a majority of the championships.

Great, Colin! The best offensive and defensive players each play for Ohio State.

That’s one Big Ten team out of 18.

The best quarterbacks are all in other conferences, and besides Drew Allar, who is documented to be up-and-down at best, I am not sure another Big Ten team would crack a top-10 list of signal callers.

The best running back resides in South Bend, Indiana, while some of the best defenses belong to SEC teams and Clemson.

The Big Ten is a fantastic conference and is super deep this season, but the proliferation of top players is more widespread than our friend Colin here would have you believe.

Which leads me to his next point.

“Their recruiting… is through the roof. Their NIL is through the roof.”

The Big Ten is definitely one of the best recruiting conferences in the country, no doubt, but to frame it as if all of a sudden the conference has come out of nowhere and dethroned the SEC is laughable.

Let’s take a look at this past cycle’s recruiting rankings, courtesy of 247Sports.

Eight of the top 12 teams were from the SEC, including the top three (Texas, Georgia, and Alabama, in that order).

Only Ohio State, Oregon, and Michigan found their way into the top-10, and you have to scroll all the way down to 13 (USC) to find another Big Ten team.

Ever since Urban Meyer arrived in Columbus, the Buckeyes have been one of the top recruiting outfits in the country, so that’s nothing new.

The only new kid on the block, relatively speaking, is Michigan, who needed an unheard-of $10 million NIL infusion from a literal multi-billionaire in order to not crack the top-five.

Dominant stuff!

“They (Texas) scored 14 points in 32 straight SEC games. Ohio State held them to 14 points.”

This one is just splitting hairs from Colin, but it’s worth addressing nonetheless.

Texas played three ranked SEC teams in the back half of last season: Georgia twice and Texas A&M once.

They scored 15, 19, and 17 respectively in those games.

They also played unranked Arkansas and only scored 20 points.

Acting like Ohio State holding the Longhorns to 14 points is some Herculean task is pretty misleading stuff from Cowherd.

It was also a tie game heading into the fourth quarter and the total yards ended up being 289-283 in favor of the Buckeyes, so, a domination, it was not.

You know who Texas did dominate?

The Michigan Wolverines.

Perhaps Ohio State fans are familiar with that program?

“Big Ten schools are bigger, it’s easier to fund-raise for NIL… Big Ten money is Hollywood, tech, and financial centers. There’s a lot of car dealerships in the SEC.”

And thus we have arrived at Cowherd’s central argument here… and it is hot vomit!

Check out the list of top 10 spenders in college football in terms of NIL numbers.

Not exactly a list dominated by Big Ten schools, huh?

By my count, it’s a tie between the SEC and Big Ten with four a piece.

There must be a ton of “car dealerships” in Austin and Lubbock, right, Colin?

This is exactly the kind of dumb ass, coastal elitist crap I would expect from a guy like Cowherd.

“Oh, the South is full of dumb, poor hillbillies! Only teams from New York and Los Angeles can spend money on football!”

Has he ever been to an SEC campus? Those psychos would literally die for their team to win a national championship and their alumni bases are pretty flush with cash, too.

It’s not like Columbus, Ann Arbor, Madison, and State College are all bustling metropolises, either.

My absolute favorite part of his argument is when he name-drops New York and Chicago as cities that support his argument.

Rutgers and Northwestern? Really?

First, Rutgers is in Piscataway, which isn’t exactly uptown Manhattan.

Second, those are two of the worst Power 4 football programs of the past decade, so pointing to them as the harbingers of the SEC’s demise made my eyes roll so hard they practically fell out of their sockets.

Even if the Big Ten has tech money behind it – which is a moot point since states like Texas, Tennessee, and Florida are all welcoming tech companies by the truckload with their tax-friendly policies – it wouldn’t mean too much anyway.

These tech nerds, coastal liberals, and vapid celebrities don’t give a damn about recruiting and football the way the South does.

It’s the same reason USC had a top-five class last cycle and then fell to 13th by the end of it; no one in Los Angeles has the same bloodlust for national titles as the people of Athens or Tuscaloosa do.

Stick to the NFL, Colin.

College football would be a lot better off without ignorant casuals such as yourself speaking about things you know so little about.





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Dates, Times, and Storylines to follow

On Tuesday Morning, the ACC Conference gathers in Charlotte, NC for the league’s annual Media Days event. The 2025 ACC Media Days may be the most exciting event yet, between the big headlines Nationally paired with some of the moves made in the Conference. The star power at ACC Media Days will stack up with […]

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On Tuesday Morning, the ACC Conference gathers in Charlotte, NC for the league’s annual Media Days event. The 2025 ACC Media Days may be the most exciting event yet, between the big headlines Nationally paired with some of the moves made in the Conference. The star power at ACC Media Days will stack up with any other conference headlined by Bill Belichick and Dabo Swinney.

The event should give everyone insight into how each coach views their team heading into the season as everyone can convince themselves they’re a College Football Playoff contender in the expanded 12 team model. Ahead of ACC Media Days, we have you covered with key storylines to follow, which coaches and players will speak, and how to tune into the ACC Media Days.

3 Storylines to Follow at ACC Media Days

1. Bill Belichick’s first ACC Media Days appearance

The fact that Bill Belichick one of the greatest coaches in football history is now coaching at the college level is still to crazy to accept. While Arch Manning was a massive draw at SEC Media Days, Bill Belichick will truly have everyone’s attention ahead of his first season. Belichick will be asked about the transition to the college game, his views on recruiting, the transfer portal, NIL, and more likely than not, Jordon Hudson.

2. What will Thomas Castellanos say next?

Former Boston College Quarterback and Florida State starter Thomas Castellanos has been the quote king of the offseason with his shots at Alabama and Kalen DeBoer along with stating that he was trying to instill confidence in his new team. At ACC Media Days, Thomas Castellanos will certainly make headlines once again the only questions is over who will be his next target.

3. How confident is Dabo Swinney ahead of Clemson’s big year?

Dabo Swinney has gotten a ton of hate over the past few years, even from his own fanbase as Clemson has slipped a bit from their place at the top of the sport. As Clemson looks like National Championship front runners, we may see a new side of Dabo Swinney as his naysayers may not have anything left to say.

Tuesday’s ACC Media Days Schedule:

ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips will kick off the week by giving his annual forum at 9:00 AM Eastern Time. Given how hectic this offseason has been, Phillips will give his insightful takes on the House Settlement, NIL, expanding the College Football Playoff, and more.

The Miami Hurricanes are the first team to kick off the the event as Mario Cristobal takes the stage at 11:00 AM. The Hurricanes will bring Georgia transfer Carson Beck, LB Wesley Bissainthe, OL Francis Mauigoa, and DL Ahkeem Mesidor to the event.

The SMU Mustangs will follow Miami fresh off of their first season which resulted in an ACC Championship Game appearance and a College Football Playoff appearance. Rhett Lashlee will take the stage at 12:00 PM Eastern while he brings QB Kevin Jennings, LB Alexander Kilgore, S Isaiah Nwokobia, and OL Logan Parr to the event.

Frank Reich will make his debut as Stanford’s Head Coach at ACC Media Days on Tuesday at 1:00 PM Eastern Time. The program has a ton of questions as Head Coach Troy Taylor was fired in March amid allegations that he mistreated his staff. Joining Frank Reich at the event will be OL Simione Pale, TE Sam Roush, LB Tevarua Tafiti, and CB Collin Wright.

The California Golden Bears will follow Stanford onto the stage at 2:00 PM led by Head Coach Justin Wilcox. Former Ohio State QB Devin Brown, DL Aidan Keanaaina, LB Cade Uluave, and QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. Justin Wilcox bringing two quarterbacks to the event is fascinating like Deion Sanders bringing two QBs as Devin Brown is the expected starter but, the true Freshman attending always leads to intrigue.

Tony Elliott and the Virginia Cavaliers are the final program to speak on Day 1 of the event taking the stage at 3:00 PM. Joining Elliott in Charlotte are QB Chandler Morris, DL Mitchell Melton, OL Noah Josey, and DT Jahmeer Carter.

Wednesday’s ACC Media Days Schedule:

Mike Norvell and the Florida State Seminoles will take the stage to lead off the second day of the event at 10:00 AM. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos, DL Darrell Jackson Jr, OL Richie Leonard IV, and DB Earl Little Jr will speak at the event as well. Given how much Thomas Castellanos has made headlines this offseason, seeing the Seminoles new quarterback at the microphone will be interesting.

Following up Mike Norvell and the Seminoles are Jeff Brohm and the Louisville Cardinals at 11:00 AM. The Cardinals will be bringing transfer Quarterback Miller Moss, WR Chris Bell, LB TJ Quinn, and LB Antonio Watts. It’ll be most interesting to hear from Miller Moss on his move across the Country and how he’s adjusting to Louisville’s offense.

Fran Brown and the Syracuse Orange get the spotlight at Noon Eastern after an exciting offseason for the program. DB Duce Chestnut, LB Derek McDonald, DL Dion Watson Jr, and QB Rickie Collins will make the trip. Syracuse bringing Rickie Collins is interesting as Fran Brown named him the starting quarterback but, brought in Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli in the Spring.

Pat Narduzzi and the Pitt Panthers get to follow up Syracuse at 1:00 PM and it’s always entertaining whenever Narduzzi is in front of the microphone. Pittsburgh is bringing RB Desmond Reid, DB Javon McIntrye, LB Kyle Louis, and OL Lyndon Cooper.

Georgia Tech’s turn comes at 2:00 PM Eastern after their exciting season under Brent Key. The Yellow Jackets may have one of the most exciting groups of athletes in attendance with QB Haynes King, WR Malik Rutherford, OL Keylan Rutledge, and LB Kyle Efford. This group has the top end talent to make a run in the ACC and it’ll be exciting to hear about how Key feels about his roster this season.

Wake Forest will get to end the second day of ACC Media Days at 3:00 PM when new head coach Jake Dickert takes the stage. Joining Jake Dickert in Charlotte will be DB Nick Anderson, RB Demond Claiborne, OL Devin Kylany, and DB Davaughn Patterson.

Thursday’s ACC Media Days Schedule:

An action packed Day 3 of the ACC Media Days begins with Bill O’Brien and the Boston College Eagles at 10:00 AM. WR Lewis Bond, LB Daveon Crouch, DB KP Price, and OL Logan Taylor will join Bill O’Brien in attendance.

Virginia Tech and Brent Pry will get to follow Boston College at 11:00 AM ahead of a pivotal year for Brent Pry and the the Hokies. Pry will be joined by QB Kyron Drones, LB Jaden Keller, WR Donavon Greene, and DL Kelvin Gilliam Jr.

At Noon, the fun truly begins as Dabo Swinney gets on stage as the Clemson Tigers head into a season where they’re National Championship front runners. Joining Dabo Swinney is a loaded group headlined by QB Cade Klubnik, DE T.J. Parker, WR Antonio Williams, and DL Peter Woods. Dabo Swinney will always steal the show but, it’ll be interesting to see his tone as he has a group capable of taking him back to the top of the sport.

Dabo Swinney gets followed up by another electric personality in Manny Diaz and the Duke Blue Devils. Duke will bring its prized offseason addition QB Darian Mensah, OL Brian Parker II, CB Chandler Rivers, and DE Wesley Williams. Mensah was one of the most talked about transfers of the offseason which will make his availability interesting.

The show will be stolen at 2:00 PM when Bill Belichick takes the stage for his first ACC Media Days as North Carolina’s Head Coach. Bill Belichick brings with him QB Gio Lopez, WR Jordan Shipp, DB Will Hardy, and DB Thaddeus Dixon. Hearing Bill Belichick talk about his team and the adjustments he’s making will make for an entertaining session.

Finally, wrapping up the ACC Media Days and the run on Carolina schools are the NC State Wolfpack at 3:00 PM. Dave Doern brings with him star TE Justin Joly, LB Caden Fordham, DL Brandon Cleveland, and QB CJ Bailey.

How to watch the 2025 ACC Media Days

ESPN’s ACC Network will be broadcasting live from the ACC Media Days starting at 9:00 AM Eastern Time and running through 5:00 PM. ACC Networks is an additional channel which means you may or may not be able to view the event depending on your TV or Streaming provider.

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